Timeless Truths Series: Body Building - The Workout #3

This week presents excerpts from a series titledBody Building.

Series Theme: “…we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

Ephesians 4:15-16

<See also 1 Corinthians 12-13 where Spiritual Gifts are discussed.>

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV.

Last we explored

1. UNITY – The GIFT of the Spirit (12:1-13)

As Jesus faced the cross, He prayed for His disciples, He prayed for the coming church, He prayed for us, and His prayer was for Unity.

2.    DIVERSITY – The GIFTS of the Spirit (12:14-31)

The Body is dependent upon each of us discovering and utilizing our gifts as God has appointed us.

This week we tackle

3. MATURITY – The GRACES of the Spirit (13:1-13)

Chapter 13 of First Corinthians is probably used most often in wedding ceremonies. Some would say the theme of the chapter is love. I would argue that it is Maturity. Paul knew that the church at Corinth was a church with many gifts, but little maturity. He writes these words to them…

If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

I Corinthians 13:1-3

• No matter how engaging or how exciting your spiritual gift is, if you don’t have love, it is useless, even destructive.
• That’s what happened when the disciples began to fuss about who was the greatest.
• Many of you’ve heard lots of sermons where pastors have talked about the uneducated, motley crews that Jesus chose to be disciples. While the disciples may not have been highly educated, they were highly gifted
• Their gifts were never very productive until they surrendered to the work of the Holy Spirit.
• When the Holy Spirit came on them that allowed them to then operate in the graces of the Spirit and the results are still being seen today.

It is accurate to say…

Love is the CIRCULATORY system for the Body of Christ.

• Diversity can keep us from unity, but not if we are mature.
• Maturity means we choose to love even when we don’t feel love.
• There will be sometimes when you don’t feel love for some members of the Body.

Body Building Principle: Love the GIVER, not the GIFT.

• Far too many people that have fallen in love with their gift or maybe even someone else’s gift.
• They have forgotten about the Giver of the Gift.
• Gifts can be seductive. We can fall in love with them and even worship them, but it is always a mistake.
• Gifts are not given for personal benefit.
• Gifts are given so that we might make our contribution to the Body of Christ.

We are now in the season of Advent. 

What better time to use your gifts to honor Jesus, the greatest gift of all time.

Special thanks to Dr. Keith Newman for the primary teachings used in this post. I invite you to his blog, which he's titled, Curious Sojourner.

Next Thursday's Timeless Truths Series: Body Building - The Reward - Part 1

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