The Church of the Living God (Part 3)

1 Timothy 3:15 tells us, "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

In part 1, we learned about our living God, who established His church. In part 2, we discussed what the church really is. In this final installment, let's discuss what it means to be part of God's church, part of the Christ's body here in the earth...

1 Cor 12:12-14 - For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.

Typically, when we think about 1 Corinthians 12 we think about the discussion of the nine gifts of the Spirit. However, as the chapter progresses, we see in verses 12 through 31 a wonderful discussion of how each of the members of the body of Christ (the church) fit together in a harmonious relationship that maximizes the potential for ministry.

Paul says all the members of the body are significantly important: In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. (Verse 22)

So, we see that just because you're not a teacher, pastor, or someone mightily used in the gifts of the Spirit, you still have talents and gifts from God; you are not only expected to use these to minister in His kingdom, but you are vitally important to the body!!!

1 Cor 12:25-26 - This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

We are in this together, and we need each other for ministry. I've heard people say they were reluctant to pray for others, say a powerful visiting evangelist, because they felt they were lower down in the chain of spiritual power. That's nonsense!!! I really believe it's also a trick of the enemy to keep us from ministering to one another. In fact, at the end of several epistles, after the apostles just finished expounding the word to the saints, they ask for prayer from the saints!!! Here's one example:

1 Thess 5:25 -  Brethren, pray for us. (See also, Rom 15:30, Eph 6:19-20, 2 Thess 3:1, Heb 13:18)

Ministry is simply service, and the Bible is very clear that there is a virtually limitless number of ministries. A couple of unheralded ones are spoken of in our passage from 1 Corinthians: the gifts of helps (helping others) and governments (leadership). We don't typically think of these as gifts from God, but Paul lists them right alongside apostles, miracles, and diversities of tongues in 1 Cor 12:28. If you desire gifts that you don't already have, Romans 2:11 tells us there's no respect of persons with God, so seek God for what you want, and if it's His will, He'll give you what you need to work effectively in His kingdom.

So, never minimize the gifts God has given you. Use them to the fullest, unlocking their full potential through prayer and fasting, and take your rightful place in the body of Christ. You have power when you pray, fast, and study the Word. The church needs you!!!