Today’s selected reading continues in the first New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Corinth. More specifically today’s passage begins with the twelfth verse of the twelfth chapter and continues through to the thirteenth verse of the thirteenth chapter. “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. 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. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the handle, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body/ If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the. Members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body?” “(1 Corinthians 12:12-19).

 

            “But now are they many members,  yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: and those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. ANd whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now are ye the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12:20-27).

 

            “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:28-31).

 

            “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth no itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, be rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophesies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).

            When you come to this particular section of the first epistle written by the apostle Paul written unto the Corinthian saints you will find him beginning to express unto them the tremendous beauty surrounding and centered upon the spiritual body of Christ. It is absolutely impossible to read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and not be absolutely captivated with the words and language the apostle Paul used to describe the spiritual body of Christ. In all reality everything the apostle Paul had written up to this point had been leading and building up to this mammoth truth concerning the spiritual body of the Lord Jesus Christ. From the words which we find in the beginning and opening chapter through the eleventh chapter we encounter the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the language the apostle Paul used to describe how the body should operate and function in the midst of the earth and the direct connection each individual member of the body of Christ had with and to each other. It is absolutely impossible to read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and not encounter and come to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the spiritual body of Christ which was expressed by the apostle Paul within this epistle. What’s more is within and throughout this epistle the apostle Paul rebuked and corrected the Corinthian saints for those things which would hinder and destroy the work and operation of the body of Christ in the midst of the earth. Moreover it is absolutely necessary and imperative we recognize and understand the tremendous truth surrounding the spiritual body of Christ and how the spiritual body of Christ is indeed centered upon its Head which is indeed the person of Jesus who is both Christ and Lord.

 

            As I read the words which are found within this epistle I am brought face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the spiritual body of Christ as it was written by the apostle. Paul. In all reality the words which are found within this epistle strike at the very heart of a church that was enriched in all knowledge and all understanding and which even came behind in no spiritual gift and yet despite all of this it was a church that could not be regarded as spiritual but carnal. The words and language we find within this epistle call and draw our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the spiritual body of Christ and how each of the individual members are intrinsically linked and connected one to another. You cannot read the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthian saints and not encounter and come face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the role, the function and the importance of the spiritual body of Christ—and not only the spiritual body as a whole but each individual member of that body. It is within the twelfth chapter the apostle Paul shifts gears and transitions to speaking of the importance of each individual member and how they are intrinsically connected to each other. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws our attention to the beauty surrounding and centered upon the body of Christ and its individual members and how unique they are and how they are fitly joined together. Perhaps one of the greatest truths that is found within this epistle is that each individual member of the body of Christ has their own unique role, function and place within the body and there is not one member that is of more importance, worth and value than another.

 

            In order to continue with writing these words I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to three distinct passages of Scripture which are found in certain other epistles the apostle Paul wrote unto the churches of those generation. In the twelfth chapter of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Rome we find him writing concerning the spiritual body of Christ and the importance of the members of the body of Christ to each other as well as to the whole. With this being said I am convinced we must also consider the words which are found in the fourth chapter of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Ephesus for within this passage the apostle Paul describes the body and how it is fitly joined together that it might move and operate the way the Head of the body—Jesus who is both Christ and Lord—intended it to. I am also convinced that there is a great need to recognize and consider the words the apostle Paul wrote in the second chapter of the epistle written unto the Philippian saints for it’s within this epistle we are brought face to face with the mind of Christ and how we as the saints of God should move and operate with each other in this life. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the spiritual body of Christ and how the spiritual body of Christ is indeed a living organism that not only grows within the earth but is also made up of many members. With this in mind I invite you to consider the above mentioned passages of Scripture beginning with the words which the apostle Paul wrote in the epistle written unto the saints which were at Rome:

 

            “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. For I say, though the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or minister, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacherth on teaching: or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:1-8).

 

            “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhors that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferrring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; pa;Trent in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice. And weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:9-21).

 

            “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the band of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up for above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) and he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelist; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:1-16).

 

            “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:17-24).

 

            “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil.  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that It may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and calm our, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:25-32).

 

            “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind, Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me” (Philippians 2:1-18).

 

            There is a great need for us to recognize and pay close attention to the words which are found within these passages of Scripture for within them we are brought face to face with the absolutely wonderful and powerful truth surrounding the spiritual body of Christ and how it should operate and function within the earth. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful reality of the spiritual body of Christ being united together under the head which is Jesus who is both Christ and Lord. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely astounding truth surrounding the spiritual body of Christ and how the body is made up of many members who must needs recognize they have been called to live in community one with another. There is perhaps no other greater difficulty facing the spiritual body of Christ than knowing and learning and understanding what it truly means to live in community and fellowship one with another. In all reality if you were truly honest with yourself and with the Holy Spirit do you truly know and understand how and what it means to live in community and fellowship with the one true and living God—and not only with the one true and living God but also with His saints? Do you truly understand what it is and what it means to live in communion, fellowship and community with the individual members of the spiritual body of Christ?

 

            I sit here today thinking about the words which are found within the writings of the apostle Paul and I am brought face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the reality of the spiritual body of Christ and how it is indeed made up of many members which although they are unique and different were created that way that they might be joined one to another the way they were designed to. Perhaps the best way to express and explain this is using the example of a puzzle. If you have ever gone to the store and purchased a puzzle—regardless of how many pieces the puzzle actually is—and have brought it home and opened it you realized and understood that in order to complete the picture featured on the front of the box you needed to use all the individual pieces which were present in the box. Each of the individual pieces had their own unique shape and a portion of the overall design on it that only has significance when it is connected and joined to the other pieces. What’s more is each of these individual pieces has their own unique shape and design and are part of a much larger picture that can only be formed when the individual pieces are joined together. Not only this but each individual piece is shaped in such a way that not only its shape but also its image is used to present the larger and corporate picture. Each individual puzzle piece does not present nor does it show the picture featured on the front of the box for it contains only a portion of the picture. If we are being truly honest with ourselves we must needs recognize that none of us as the individual members of the body of Christ has within and upon us the picture of the whole which is the image of the invisible God as manifested within and through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Each individual member of the body of Christ has a portion of the image of Christ imprinted upon it and more often than not it is only when those individual members of the body are joined together that the image and picture begins to be clear.

 

            The more I think about and consider the words which are found within these passages the more I am captivated with the reality and concept of a puzzle—and not only a puzzle but even something like a lego set. You can go into your local Target, Walmart or any such store and purchase a puzzle or lego set and when you get home with it and open the box you will find all the individual pieces contained within the box. The sole purpose of the individual pieces is to be joined together precisely as they were designed that together they might build and form the picture which was featured on the box. I find it absolutely incredible to think about the truth that when you think about a puzzle you will notice that each individual piece has its own unique shape and design. What’s more is that each individual piece as formed in such a way that it would connect with a minimum of two other pieces. This is actually quite interesting when you think about it for in every puzzle each piece contained within the box is designed to connect and come together with at least two other pieces. Even the corner pieces are designed to connect to another to their right or left or to their top or bottom. Those pieces which are at the top, bottom or sides of the puzzle are also designed to connect to others as they not only connect to what is above them and what’s below them but also what is next to them. Pieces in the center of the puzzle might connect with a maximum of four different pieces as they will be joined together with another pice which is above them, below them and to either side of them. What makes this all the more intriguing when you take the time to think about it is that each individual puzzle piece was designed to connect and be joined together with at least two other pieces with some being designed to connect and be. Joined together with a maximum of four other pieces.

 

            I fully realize that the reality and concept of puzzles might seem like a stretch when you take the time to think about it, however, I am convinced that a puzzle is perhaps one of the greatest illustrations and examples of how and what the body of Christ should look like and function. The puzzle box has on the front of it the design, the pattern and picture which was designed by the maker of the puzzle and until the puzzle is actually put together the picture cannot be realized nor seen. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for each individual piece of the puzzle not only has its own unique shape, and not only has its own unique place in the puzzle itself but also has upon it a portion of the image of the overall picture featured on the front of the box. NO individual piece can be the larger puzzle as a whole and no individual piece can present or show the whole and complete picture featured on the front of the box. I am convinced the same is true of each individual member of the body of Christ for each individual member of the body of Christ has their own unique shape that they might be fitted and joined together with other pieces. What’s more is that each individual member of the body has a portion of the image of the whole imprinted and implanted upon it that when they are joined together with others the picture of the whole begins to become visible and clearly seen. There is no individual member of the body of Christ that can present and show the whole picture of the image and nature of the living and eternal God and more often than not it is only when we are joined together to other members that the image even beings to be seen and demonstrated within the earth.

 

            With all of this being said I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the concept of each individual puzzle piece being created and formed in such a way that it would be connected to at least two other pieces. Building upon this concept and extrapolating it even further I would dare suggest and say that each individual member of the body of Christ is formed and built in such a way that they connect with at least two other members. Oh would it shock and surprise you if I told you that you were created to connect and be connected with at least two other members of the body of Christ at minimum? Of course we know that there are many members of the body of Christ and of course we know that within each church building there are multiple members of the body of Christ and that we are part of the much larger spiritual body of Christ. With this being said, however, I would dare say and would dare contend with you that each individual member of the body of Christ has been designed to be connected and joined together to at least two other members. This is something we must needs recognize and pay close attention to for it calls and draws our attention to the fact that regardless of whatever church we are associated with we are and have been called to be joined together with at least two members present within it. This is something which warrants strong consideration for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding our own unique role, function and relationship to and with the body of Christ. We must needs recognize and understand that we have indeed been called to be part of the spiritual body as a whole, however, we were designed and formed to be joined and connected together with at least two other members.

 

            I am sitting here today thinking about and considering the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and I am brought face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding each individual member of the body of Christ and how each individual member of the body of Christ has indeed been called to be connected, fitted and joined together with other members of the spiritual body of Christ. What’s more is I firmly believe that each and every one of us has been called to be connected and joined together with at least two other members of the spiritual body of Christ. There is something incredibly powerful that takes place when we begin to allow ourselves to be joined together with the members of the body of Christ—and not only being joined together with other members of the body of Christ but be joined together with those members we were called and created to be joined together with. I firmly believe that each and every member of the body of Christ has been called and formed to be connected to at least two other members of the body of Christ for they were each formed and fashioned to be directly connected to each other. Each and every member of the spiritual body of Christ has been called to be connected to at least two other members of the body of Christ and if you think about it—if each individual member of the body of Christ is meant to be connected with at least two other members of the body of Christ then that means I was designed to be connected to a minimum of two other members, you were designed to be connected to a minimum of two other members and when we begin coming together we find ourselves beginning to show a wonderful and powerful picture that was ordained and appointed by the living God.

 

            Having said and written all of this I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the words which are found in the thirty-seventh chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Ezekiel. It is within with the thirty-seventh chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Ezekiel we find the vision of the valley of dry bones which was given to Ezekiel. You will recall that Ezekiel was taken by the very Spirit of the living God and brought to a dry valley that was filled with bones which were scattered abroad throughout the valley floor. When Ezekiel looked upon the vast expanse of the valley floor he saw countless bones that were dry and disconnected one from another. Initially Ezekiel did not know nor did he understand the purpose of the vision nor what he was looking at, however, it would be when the work ordained and appointed in the midst of the valley took place he not only understood that which the living and eternal God wanted to teach him but he also saw the overall picture the living and eternal God wanted to show him. There was indeed a picture and image present within the valley that could not be seen nor could it be realized while each of the individual bones were separated and disjointed from each other. So long as the bones remained scattered abroad throughout the valley the underlying and overall picture that Ezekiel was to see would and could not be realized. It wouldn’t be until the work of the Spirit would take place in the valley that the picture which the living God desired to show him would actually be realized and understood. Oh this is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones is perhaps the single greatest scripture example of what it looks like when the individual members of the body of Christ are joined together. It is with this being said I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the thirty-seventh chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Ezekiel beginning with the first verse:

 

            “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, and caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy unto these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the LORD God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: and I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and ay to the wind, Thus saith the LORD God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe u -on these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the LORD God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:1-14).

 

            The picture presented here within this passage of Scripture isn’t fully recognized and understood simply by reading the words which are found in the first fourteen verses of this chapter. It is within these fourteen verses we find the bones coming together—bone unto his bone—as Ezekiel prophesied according to the word of the LORD. As Ezekiel prophesied there would be the sound of a great shaking and rattling as the bones would begin coming together—each bone to that bone which it was fitly joined together and connected to. What’s more is that as Ezekiel prophesied sinews and flesh would come upon the bones and ultimately skin would come upon that which had come together in the midst of the valley. There in the midst of the valley there was an exceeding great army that was present before Ezekiel, however, it was a vast army without the breath of the living God. It would not be until Ezekiel prophesied unto the wind that the four winds from the four corners of the earth would come and the Spirit of life would breath unto them that they would be a vast army standing before Ezekiel in the midst of the valley. What’s more is that once the army was present in the valley standing before Ezekiel the LORD would declare unto Ezekiel that this army represented the whole house of Israel who had declared that their bones were dried and their hope was lost and they were cut off for their parts. The LORD would instruct Ezekiel to prophesy unto the children of Israel and declare unto them how he would open their graves and would cause them to come up out of their graves and bring them into the land of Israel. Moreover the children of Israel would know that the true and living God was indeed the LORD when He opened their graves and brought them up out of their graves and put His spirit within them and they lived. This is something we must needs recognize and understand for when you continue reading in this particular chapter you will find that first the bones came together, sinews and flesh came upon those bones, skin came upon them and the breath of the living God would be breathed in them, however, there would be an even greater picture that would take place—namely the uniting together of the two houses of Israel as they would be brought together once more as one people as they returned from their captivity as one people and would return unto the land as one people. Consider if you will the following words which are found in this same chapter beginning with the fifteenth verse:

 

            “The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions; then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: and join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the LORD God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. And the sticks wherein thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD God; behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with t heir detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore” (Ezekiel 37:15-28).

 

            There is a great need for us to recognize and understand the words and language that is found within this passage of Scripture for it helps to further illustrate this particular concept expressed through the idea of a puzzle. I am absolutely convinced that this concept of a puzzle is something we must needs recognize and understand for it is perhaps one of the purest and truest examples of what the body of Christ looks like and how the body of Christ is and should be joined together. I am absolutely convinced that each individual member of the body of Christ is not only shaped and formed a specific way, and not only is designed and intended on being connected and joined together with at least two other members but each individual member of the body has a portion of the image of the invisible God as evidenced and manifested through the person of Jesus Christ implanted upon them. Each individual puzzle piece has present upon it a portion of the image of the picture as a whole and this is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for there is no individual piece of the puzzle that in and of itself has the whole picture upon it. There is absolutely no member of the body of Christ that has the whole image of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God and it is only when each individual member is joined together with other members that the image begins to be visible. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it brings us face to face with the fact that we as the individual members of the body of Christ have indeed been called to be joined together with other members of the body of Christ—not only that the whole picture might be visible but also that the structure might be completed. If there is one thing we must needs recognize and understand is that it is only when individual pieces of the puzzle are joined and brought together and all pieces have been joined together that the structure of the puzzle is completed and the image is finally visible.

 

            I am absolutely gripped and captivated with and by the tremendous truth surrounding this reality and how it is only when the individual members of the body of Christ are joined together that the structure is able to be completed and when the picture and image becomes visible. There is and there has never been any individual member of the body of Christ who in and of themselves have been able to present the whole picture and image designed and ordained by the living God. The living and eternal God has designed the spiritual body in such a way that it only works the way it was designed to when the individual members are joined together one to another. The spiritual body of Christ cannot move, operate and function together the way it was designed and created to without and apart from each of the individual members being joined and coming together. Oh that we would recognize and understand this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the spiritual body of Christ and how it is made up of individual members which were designed, ordained and appointed to be joined one to another. This is why the words which the apostle Paul wrote within this epistle are so incredibly unique and powerful when you take the time to think about it for they call and draw our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the need for us to diligently strive and endeavor to maintain the unity of the body that there be no schisms, divisions nor contentions, nor strife nor anything else that would destroy the spiritual body of Christ. One of the greatest tactics and strategies of the enemy is to keep the individual members of the body of Christ from being joined together with other members. If the enemy and adversary can keep you from being joined together with those members you have been ordained to be joined together with the enemy can thwart the image from being realized and manifested in the midst of the earth.

 

            I firmly believe that one of the greatest struggles and battles we must face within this generation is the tremendous assault and attack on the individual members of the body of Christ. The enemy and adversary can and does in fact seek to keep each of the individual members of the body of Christ separated from each other. The enemy knows that if he can keep the individual members of the body of Christ separated from each other he can possibly thwart the manifestation of the spiritual body of Christ in the earth and can even prevent the operation of the body within each generation. One of the greatest tactics and strategies of the enemy and adversary is to keep each individual member of the body of Christ isolated alone and by itself. If the enemy and adversary can keep each individual member of the body of Christ isolated and by itself he can keep it from being connected to the other members that member was ordained and appointed to be connected to. If the enemy can keep multiple members of the body of Christ isolated and separated from those members they were destined and ordained to be joined together he can not only keep them from entering into that for which they were called, ordained and appointed but if he can keep enough members of the body of Christ separated and isolated he can prevent the operation and manifestation of the body of Christ from being realized and actualized in the earth. This is something we dare not and must not neglect nor ignore for it brings us face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the need for us as the individual members of the body of Christ to fight and strongly resist any urge to be isolated and separated from the other members of the body of Christ. We as the saints of God and we as the disciples of Christ have indeed been called to be joined together with other members of the body that those parts of us that were designed to be connected to others might be filled and that the image imprinted on us might be joined together with the image that was implanted upon you.

 

            Perhaps one of the greatest truths that strikes at the very heart of this is when Jesus called the disciples to follow Him. There would be those who would like to think that His invitation to walk with and follow Him was an invitation to follow Him alone and that was the end of the matter. The truth and reality, however, is that Jesus didn’t merely call the disciples to walk with and follow Him but He also called and invited the disciples to walk with and fellowship with each other. The twelve disciples who were chosen by Jesus to walk with and follow Him were indeed designed and intended to walk with and fellowship together with the other disciples whom Jesus had called. It wasn’t simply about each individual disciple in and of themselves but it was about the disciples as a whole who would walk with and follow Jesus and in the process of walking with and following the Lord Jesus they would be able to walk with and fellowship together with each other. What’s more is that making the decision to walk with and follow Jesus would also mean walking with and fellowshipping together with those who would make the decision to walk with and follow Jesus. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful reality that when we make the decision to walk with and follow Jesus we made the decision to walk with and fellowship together with the other members of the body of Christ. No man nor any woman has been called to walk with and follow Jesus alone for each and every member of the body of Christ was designed and created to walk with and fellowship together with each other as members of the body of Christ. Each and every one of us has indeed been called to walk with and fellowship together with the other members of the spiritual body of Christ and we were not created nor were we intended on being an island to and unto ourselves.

 

            The more I think about this the more I am brought face to face with the fact that we as the individual members of the body of Christ have indeed been called to be joined together with other members of the spiritual body of Christ. There is and there has never been any individual member of the body of Christ that has been called to live this life isolated, alone, and separated from the other members of the body of Christ. I firmly believe that each and every one of us has been called to be joined together with at least two other members of the body of Christ that together we might begin to present the image of the invisible God to the world around us in the generation in which we are living. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the fact that each individual member of the body of Christ was specifically created and formed to be joined together with another member of the body of Christ. Despite the fact that we would like to think that we can somehow live this life alone and isolated from each other the truth of the matter is that we have not been called to be those who move through this life and even within this generation alone and by ourselves. What’s more is that I as an individual member of the body of Christ need you as another member of the body of Christ and together we can be joined together to form that which the living God has created and ordained upon the earth. What’s more is think about what would begin to happen if you and I began to be connected to other members of the body of Christ. If I have been called to connect to two other members then that means that each member I have been connected to will connect to at least one other member who themselves are designed and connected to other members. Think about the corner pieces of a puzzle and how each corner piece was designed to be connected to two other pieces. Those pieces which have been joined together have not only been connected to that first piece but are able to be connected to two other pieces. One corner piece can begin the process of other pieces being joined together and connecting to other pieces of the puzzle that with each and every connection the structure begins even more sound and the picture begins to take shape before us.

 

            With all of this being said I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the absolutely astounding truth surrounding us as individual members of the body of Christ and how we ought to give ourselves to be those who seek to understand who and what we have been called to be connected and joined to. There is absolutely no room for us as the saints of God and as the disciples of Christ to completely and utterly ignore the responsibility we have to be joined together to other members of the body of Christ for we have all been called to be joined together with other members that together we might begin to manifest the image and purpose of the living God within the earth. IN order for the spiritual body of Christ to truly operate and function within the earth the way it was designed and intended to it requires each individual member of the body being fitly joined together each to those members they were designed, ordained and appointed to be connected to. We must not ignore nor despise this when you take the time to think about it for it brings us face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the reality of the body of Christ and how it is fitly joined together as one body that is manifested within and upon the earth. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the need we have to be joined together with the other members of the body of Christ that together we might not only be part of the spiritual body of Christ manifested within the earth but together we might manifest the image of the invisible God. When Jesus came to the earth He was the image of the invisible God and He declared that if any man saw Him they had seen the Father. With this being said, however, Jesus ascended unto the right hand of the Father and it is now up to the spiritual body of Christ to be the representation and manifestation of the image—not only the image of the invisible God but also the image of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God.

 

            I sit here today thinking about how absolutely incredible this truly is for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth that is found in the first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthian saints. The entire epistle was centered upon the reality of the spiritual body of Christ and that which could potentially destroy it within and upon the face of the earth. Within this epistle the apostle Paul emphatically and clearly wrote concerning the spiritual body of Christ and the members of the body which were present in the city of Corinth. What we must needs understand is that the saints of Corinth had allowed themselves to be divided and had allowed contention, strife, schisms and the like to be present and manifested among them in the earth. The apostle Paul sought to correct them and to bring them into the place where they would indeed be joined together once more in unity, in the bond of peace and in the unity of the Spirit. The apostle Paul was inviting them to join themselves once more to fellowship, to community, to relationship with each other. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for when we come to the eleventh chapter of this epistle we find one of the greatest opportunities to come together in unity—the Lord’s table as we partake of the Lord’s supper. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for one of the greatest places unity, community, fellowship and the bond of peace should and ought to be manifested is at the Lord’s table as we as the saints of God partake of the Lord’s supper that we might show His death until He returns and comes again. With this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the eleventh chapter of this first epistle beginning to read with and from the seventeenth verse:

 

            “Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come” (1 Corinthians 11:17-34).

 

            I am absolutely convinced there is a great need to pay attention to the words which the apostle Paul wrote in this passage of Scripture for they highlight and underscore one of the greatest demonstrations and manifestation of community and fellowship in Scripture—the Lord’s supper. On the night in which He was betrayed Jesus celebrated the Passover meal together with His disciples and during that supper He not only took bread, blessed and broke it making the declaration that it represented His body which would be broken for them but He also took the cup and distributed it amongst His disciples declaring that this was the cup of the New Testament in His blood which was shed for the remission of sins. So often and so long as they did this in remembrance of Him they would show His death until He returned. What’s more is we must needs recognize that the Lord’s table and the Lord’s supper wasn’t simply for the disciples on the night in which Jesus was betrayed but it was for each and every disciple who would believe on Jesus and would call upon His name thereafter. The Lord’s supper and the Lord’s table is one of the greatest demonstrations and manifestations of community and fellowship within and amongst the body of Christ and is something we must needs recognize and understand as we have indeed been called to be those who not only celebrate and remember the body and blood of our Lord but also recognize and understand the significance and importance of it as it pertains to being members of the spiritual body of Christ.

 

            With all of this being said I find it absolutely necessary to call your attention to the words which the apostle Paul wrote in the thirteenth chapter of this epistle for despite the myriad of spiritual gifts an individual member and/or the body of Christ itself can manifest within their generation there is something even greater than any spiritual gift. We as the saints of God and those who are the disciples of Jesus must needs recognize and understand that we could possess all the spiritual gifts and could move and operate in them and yet if we do not have love we are nothing. There are many who would like to brag and boast of the many spiritual gifts that are in operation in their lives and yet they are such who lack the love of Jesus within their hearts and souls. There are men and women who would like to think that the spiritual gifts evidenced and manifested in their lives is enough and yet it would be Jesus Himself who declares that not every one who says to Him “Lord, Lord” would enter into the kingdom of His Father—only those who do the will of His Father. Moreover Jesus would also speak of those who prophesied in His name, those who cast out devils in His name and those who did many good works in His name and yet such could not only be commanded to depart from His presence but would also be declared to be those who were workers of iniquity. In the thirteenth chapter of this first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthian saints we find the apostle demonstrating and declaring the importance of love within the heart and life of that one who names the name of Jesus Christ and those who are called to be the saints of the living God. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it brings us face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding that the greatest demonstration and manifestation of the spiritual body of Christ—not only to and with each other but also to those in the world is that of love. The words which the apostle Paul wrote in the thirteenth chapter of this epistle are such that demonstrate the supreme quality and characteristic of love within the hearts and lives of the saints of God and those who are disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the thirteenth chapter of this first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Corinth:

 

            “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long,a nd is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).

 

As I bring this writing to a close I feel it is absolutely imperative to call and draw your attention to the truly wonderful reality that we have indeed and have in fact been called to be joined together with the members of the spiritual body of Christ. Each and every one of us has been uniquely formed, fashioned, shaped and molded that we might fit perfectly together with other members of the body that the body of Christ might be edified, might be strengthened and might become everything it has been created to be according to the divine will of the Father. Each and every one of us has been given a measure of the image and person of Jesus who is both Christ and Lord and it is when we join ourselves together with other members of the body of Christ that image begins to display something that stands as a witness and testimony in the earth. Each and every one of us has been called to be joined together to at least two other members of the body of Christ, however, there is absolutely no limit to how many members we can indeed be connected to. Just as each bone within the human body is uniquely joined together to other bones and the ankle bone can’t be connected to the hip bone so each and every one of us has been called to be joined together with those members which we have been fitly joined together to. We must needs endeavor and strive to join ourselves to other members of the spiritual body of Christ and must needs recognize that we have not been called to be separated nor isolated from the spiritual body as a whole nor the individual members that make up the body. Oh that we would recognize our place in the body of Christ—and not only our place within the body of Christ but also that role, that function and that purpose we have been given within the spiritual body of Christ in this generation in which we are presently living.