Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Ephesus. More specifically today’s passage begins with the seventeenth verse of the fourth chapter and continues through to the fourteenth verse of the fifth chapter. “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, but 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).

 

            “Be ye therefore followers of God, as a dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” Ephesians 5:1-14).

 

            When you come to this particular portion of Scripture you will find the apostle Paul transitioning into the practical part of this particular epistle. If you take the time to read the epistles which the apostle Paul wrote you will find that they were structured in such a way that he would present the theological context first to set the framework for the language used throughout the epistle. We cannot and must not miss and lose sight of this for understanding this particular concept helps us to understand the various epistles the apostle Paul wrote unto the various churches. Perhaps the single greatest example of this is found in the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Rome. You cannot read the words which are found within this epistle and not encounter and come face to face with the truth that at the beginning of the epistle the apostle Paul highlights and underscores certain theological truths which he desired the saints which were at Rome to understand. I would say it isn’t until you come to the eighth chapter of the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Rome you truly begin to see this shift into the practical elements of the epistle. In all reality I would dare say that the first eight chapters of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Rome were centered upon theological truths and the believer’s relationship to the one true and living God through Jesus the Christ. Chapters nine through eleven deal with the relationship of the nation and people of Israel with the living God and how although they were the people of the covenant and promises of God they had forsaken and turned away from Him. It isn’t until we come to the twelfth chapter of the epistle where you will find the apostle Paul shifting gears and calling the saints which were at Rome to pay attention to how they lived their lives and conducted themselves within the earth.

 

            I sit here today thinking about this and how absolutely incredible it is when you consider these truths for they bring us face to face with the incredibly powerful reality surrounding the theology of Paul within his writings. What’s more is that it would be the theology which the apostle Paul presented in his epistles that would not only bring his readers and audience into the place where they recognized and understood their relationship to and with the living God but also their relationship to and with their brother and their neighbor. The more I read the words which are found within the epistles written by the apostle Paul the more I am brought face to face with the fact that we cannot have a proper relationship with our fellow man without and apart from a proper and right relationship with the one true and living God. This is something we have a great need to recognize and understand for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful reality surrounding our relationship with man and how at the very heart of it is our relationship to and with the living God. There is absolutely no mistaking this particular truth and how absolutely incredible it is for it confronts us with the reality that we cannot and must not expect to have a proper and right relationship with our fellow brothers and sisters until and unless we have a right relationship with the living God. It is for this reason I am convinced that the single and greatest commandment is to love the LORD our God with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul and with all our strength. The second commandment is likened unto the first as the second commandment calls us to love our neighbor as ourself, however we cannot hope to do or get the second commandment without and apart from getting the first commandment right.

 

            As I read the words which are found within the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Ephesus I cannot help but come face to face with the absolutely incredible truth surrounding the apostle Paul’s desire to first present the readers and audience with their relationship with the living God and their place with Christ before describing their place within the body. Oh I would dare say that if we aren’t aware of our position in Christ we cannot and will not recognize and understand our position within His body which is not only manifested within and upon the earth but also in the heavens above. There is a great need for us to recognize that until and unless we know and understand who we are in Christ and what our position in Christ truly is we cannot and will not understand our position and place within the body of Christ. There would be those who would seek to understand—or try to understand—their place within the spiritual body of Christ and yet they have absolutely no idea who they are in Christ. Moreover such individuals have absolutely no understanding or knowledge of their position in Christ and would dare seek to try and understand their place within the spiritual body of Christ. Oh I would dare say that the one is predicated and founded upon the other for the one is essentially the foundation upon which the other is built and is manifested within our hearts and lives. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it is for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the reality that our position and place with Christ must indeed be recognized and understood within our hearts and spirits for only to the degree and measure we understand who we are in Christ are we able to truly recognize and understand who we are in the body.

 

            I read the words which are found in the epistles and writings of the apostle Paul and I can’t help but be confronted with the tremendous and wonderful truth surrounding the believer’s relationship with the living God and how that relationship is predicated and founded upon the person and work of the Lord Jesus. It is because of the work which the Lord Jesus Christ did upon the cross and through His suffering that we are able to have right relationship to and with the living God. It was the suffering and sacrifice of the one true and living Christ of God that made the way for us to have relationship with and access to the One who sits upon the throne. This is absolutely imperative for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful reality concerning who we are in Christ. It is once we understand and recognize what the Father has done for us through and by the person of Jesus Christ we are then in fact enabled to understand who we are in Christ. The more we recognize and understand the work which was accomplished by Christ upon the cross the more we will come into the knowledge of who we are in Christ. There is perhaps no greater knowledge that is and can be found within the heart and spirit of the believer of Christ than recognizing and understanding who they are in Christ. In all reality I would dare say that there are very few within our churches and congregations who truly understand and recognize who they are in Christ and their position in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are men and women who might indeed be genuine in their worship and might even be genuine disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and yet they don’t know who they are in Christ. There are countless men and women among us within our churches who desperately need to know and understand who they are in Christ for it is when they know and understand who they are in Christ and begin to walk in that knowledge they will truly begin to come into who and what they were called to be.

 

            With this being said I am absolutely convinced that if you have been ransomed, redeemed and rescued through the power and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ the enemy and adversary might very well cut his losses and recognize that there is perhaps no chance of enslaving and bringing you into bondage again. I have written how I believe that if the enemy and adversary watches you be ransomed, redeemed and rescued by the power of the living God through the work of Christ upon the cross he can and will seek to bring you into bondage in one of two ways. The first way the enemy can and will seek to bring you into bondage is through bringing you into bondage and slavery unto sin and iniquity. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for even though you have been rescued, ransomed and redeemed by the power of the blood and cross of the Lord Jesus Christ that by no means suggest the enemy and adversary cannot and will not seek to enslave and ensnare you into sin in the sight of the living God. With this being said we must needs recognize that the enemy and adversary can and will seek to bring you into bondage unto the Law which produces within you both legalism and hypocrisy. If the enemy is not and cannot be successful in bringing you into bondage to sin then his next attempt will be to bring you into bondage unto religion and cause you to become just like the scribes and the Pharisees were within and during the days of our Lord Jesus. In addition to all of this we must needs recognize and understand that the enemy and adversary can and will seek to keep and prevent you from understanding your position in Christ and who you are in Christ. It is when a believer truly begins to know and understand who they are in Christ—and not only know who they are in Christ but begin to walk in that knowledge they are able to truly function the way they were created by the living God within the earth.

 

            I am sitting here today thinking about and considering the words which are found in the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Ephesus and I am brought face to face with the reality that the apostle begins and opens this epistle seeking to reveal unto these believers their position in Christ. The apostle Paul earnestly and desperately sought to bring these saints into the place where they understood who they were in Christ and their position in Him that they might begin to walk and operate in that place. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws us into the place where we too must understand who we are in Christ. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely powerful it helps us to recognize and understand that which is absolutely critical and vital to our lives here upon the earth. I am convinced that when we begin to understand who we are in Christ and when we begin to understand our position in Christ we can and will begin to truly walk in that for which we were called and created by the living and eternal God. What’s more is that as you read the words which are found within this epistle you will find that this was even a prayer which the apostle Paul prayed for these dear saints. Although the apostle Paul was not and could not be in their presence and although the apostle Paul was in prison when writing this epistle he would devote himself to prayer for and on behalf of these dear saints. The apostle Paul earnestly and diligently prayed and interceded on behalf of these saints before the throne of the living God that they might truly understand who they were and their position with Christ. It is with this being said I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the prayer(s) which the apostle Paul prayed for these dear saints as he would lift them up before the throne of grace in prayer and intercession:

 

            “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:15-23).

 

            “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehended with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:14-21).

 

            There is something we must needs recognize and understand concerning the words which are found in these passages of Scripture for they bring us face to face with the heart of the apostle Paul for the Ephesian saints. The apostle Paul writes how he heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and their love for all the saints and did not cease to give thanks for them making mention of them in their prayers. The apostle Paul did not stop there for the apostle Paul would go on to write and declare how his prayer for them was that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ—the Father of glory—might give to them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The apostle Paul earnestly prayed that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened that they might know what is the hoe His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ. Please don’t miss and lose sight of that which the apostle Paul desired to write and speak unto the saints which were at Ephesus for that which these words reveal is that He desired them to enter into the knowledge of that which the living and eternal God had done for them. The apostle Paul desired that the God their Lord Jesus Christ—the Father of glory—would give to them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The apostle Paul desired that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened that they would know what is the hope of His calling, what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.

 

            I read the words which are found in this particular portion of Scripture and I can’t help but encounter and come face to face with the absolutely wonderful reality surrounding the apostle Paul’s desire for the saints which were in Ephesus. What’s more is we must needs recognize and understand that the apostle Paul didn’t merely desire this for the saints which were at Ephesus but the apostle Paul also desired similar things for the other churches which he labored and travailed in that they might be presented before and unto the Lord Jesus Christ as a bride that was without spot or wrinkle. The apostle Paul would include in certain of his epistles prayers and thanksgiving which he would offer for and on behalf of the saints which were present in certain places which he himself traveled and came unto during his time of ministry. I am convinced that before we continue any further in this epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Rome we must needs carefully consider the prayers the apostle Paul prayed for the churches which were present in the world in which he lived. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it brings us face to face with the heart and mind of God for us as those who believe and as those who are called by Him in this life. I firmly believe that we must needs consider the words which are found within the epistles and writings which the apostle Paul wrote unto the various churches—specifically the prayers he prayed for them—as the prayers which he prayed for them showed and demonstrated his love and affection for the saints. What’s more is it not only showed his love and affection for the saints but it also showed the heart he had for them that they might truly be those who understood and recognized who they were in Christ and their position in Him as those who believe and are called by His name. Oh with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the epistles and writings of the apostle Paul unto the churches as they are found in the New Testament:

 

            “I thank My God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and in all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:3-11).

 

            “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the way you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit” (Colossians 1:3-8).

 

            “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk-in worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones of dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:9-18).

 

            “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait forHis Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-10).

 

            “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:3-12).

 

            It is absolutely necessary to recognize and understand the words which are found in these passages of Scripture for within them we are brought face to face with the tremendous reality of the apostle Paul and his earnest desire for the saints of God in all the churches to know who they were in Christ. The apostle Paul earnestly and eagerly desired that the churches would enter and come into the knowledge of who they were in the beloved and that they would recognize their position and inheritance that is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is something which warrants strong consideration on our part as it brings us face to face with the incredible reality of the apostle Paul and his desire for the saints of God to know the inheritance they have in the person of the Lord Jesus. Oh I can’t help but wonder how many men and women truly understand and recognize what is truly available to them in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot help but wonder how many men and women truly understand what has been made available to them in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ because of the work which He did on the cross two thousand years ago. I firmly believe that we as the saints of God must needs recognize and understand who we are in Christ and what has been made available to us in and through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and this is precisely what the apostle Paul desired the saints which were at Ephesus to come into the knowledge and understanding. You cannot read the words found in this epistle and not come face to face with the tremendous reality of that which the apostle Paul earnestly and eagerly desired the saints which were in Ephesus to recognize and understand within their hearts and spirits.

 

            I sit here today thinking about and considering the words which are found in the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Ephesus and I am brought face to face with the wonderful and powerful truth surrounding the desire of the apostle Paul for these saints to know and recognize that which they had in Christ and who they are in Christ. I firmly believe with all my heart that the enemy and adversary can and will seek to do anything and everything to keep the saint of God from knowing and understanding who they are in Christ and what’s available to them through Him. If the enemy can keep you from knowing and understanding who you are in Christ then he can also keep you from truly understanding and recognizing your place in the body of Christ. I believe that understanding our place in the body of Christ is intrinsically linked and connected to understanding who we are in Christ and only to the degree and measure we understand who we are in Christ will we truly understand our place in His body. If you understand who you are in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ you can and will understand who you are in His body of whom He is the head and you will begin to operate and move in that for which you are called. Oh we must needs understand and recognize that we as the saints of God are destined to have and find our place within the spiritual body of Christ and at the very heart and foundation of that place is knowing who we are in Christ. What’s more is that if we know who we are in Christ then there is absolutely no one who can or will be able to tell us who we are otherwise. There is a great need for us to know and understand who we are in Christ for it is when we truly understand who we are in Christ we are indeed able to operate in the gifts and calling which has been placed upon our lives. It’s with this being said I would like to call and draw your attention to the following words which are found in the first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthian saints as well as the words which are found in the twelfth chapter of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Rome:

 

            “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to honk soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts different according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or minister, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:1-8).

 

            “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:9-21).

 

            “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the HOly Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as he wills” (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).

 

            “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-00-and have been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honors to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the member suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:12-31).

            What adds even more weight to that which is found in these two passages of Scripture which are found in the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints of Rome as well as the first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Corinth is that here in this epistle written unto the saints of Ephesus the apostle earnestly desired that they would know and understand their place within the body of Christ. You cannot read the words which are found in the fourth and fifth chapters of this epistle and not encounter and come face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth of the spiritual body of Christ and its role and function in the earth. The more you read the words presented within this epistle the more you can and will be found in a place where you recognize the function of the spiritual body of Christ within and upon the earth. There is something truly astonishing and captivating about the words which we find here in this passage of Scripture as it brings us face to face with the beautiful composition of the spiritual body of Christ. I continue to be captivated with the idea of the spiritual body of Christ being best described and explained through the example of a puzzle. If you go to your local retail store and purchase a puzzle you will notice that on the front of the box is the picture of what the puzzle should look like. The picture on the front of the box is indeed part of the process that is needed to actually reproduce the image placed thereon. In all reality the sole purpose of the pieces of the puzzle are to come and be joined together that when they are all joined together as one the picture on the front of the box is reproduced and created. Each individual puzzle piece has a portion of the image on the front of the box imprinted on it and it is only when each puzzle piece is connected to the others that they are indeed able to bring forth the image that is contained upon the box. What’s more is that each individual puzzle piece is formed in such a way that it is to be connected to at least two other puzzle pieces. Some puzzle pieces can only be connected to two pieces while others can only be connected to three pieces and others are connected to four pieces.

 

            I sit here today thinking about and considering the spiritual body of Christ and how it is best illustrated through the example of a puzzle for each member of the body of Christ has been uniquely formed and fashioned in such a way to come and be joined together to other members of the body. What’s more is that each member of the body of Christ has a certain portion of the image of Christ imprinted upon them that the image of Christ might be manifested and represented in the earth. What we must needs recognize and understand is that no individual member can truly present the image of Christ within the earth the way it was designed and intended on being manifested. There is not a single member of the spiritual body of Christ that is indeed able to produce and manifest the image of the invisible Christ in the earth alone and in and of themselves. As the individual members of the body of Christ come and are joined together that image begins to be a little clearer in the earth. The more the members of the body of Christ come together and the more they are joined together the way they were created and intended on being joined together the more the image of Christ is able to be demonstrated and manifested upon the earth.  This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it brings us face to face with the fact that we must needs get alone with God in the secret closet of prayer and ask who we are to be joined together with in the spiritual body of Christ. I truly believe that we are to get alone with the living and eternal God in the secret close of prayer and truly ask Him who we are to be joined together with in the spiritual body of Christ. It makes no difference whether or not you are to be joined together to two members of the spiritual body or whether you can be connected to three members or even four members. At the end of the day it’s not each individual member separate and apart from each other for all have one purpose and one function—to come and be joined together as one and as a whole that the image on the box might be manifested and produced.

 

            I am finding myself searching my heart and truly asking the living and eternal God who I am supposed to be joined together in the spiritual body of Christ. With this being said it’s important to understand that this in no way suggests that we are to be joined together to those members of the spiritual body while neglecting and ignoring the spiritual body as a whole. You will notice that in the example of the puzzle all the pieces were gathered together in the box despite the fact they were separated from each other and not yet joined together. The pieces are gathered together in the box and you bring home all the pieces in one box until you open the box and then take all the pieces out that you might begin working with them to join them together. Although each individual piece is joined together to at least two other pieces it is only to the degree and measure that all the pieces are fitly joined together that the image of the puzzle is truly brought to light before you. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of when reading the words which the apostle Paul wrote in the epistle delivered unto the saints which were at Ephesus. While it is indeed true that we have been called to be joined together to at last two other members within the spiritual body of Christ it is only when and to the degree and measure that we come together we are indeed able to bring forth the true image of the Lord Jesus Christ in the earth. This is precisely what the apostle Paul is writing and speaking about in the fourth chapter of this epistle as he speaks of the joining and jointing together of the spiritual body of Christ.

 

            With this in mind I invite you to consider the words which the apostle Paul wrote in the fourth chapter of this epistle as well as the words which the apostle Paul wrote in the fifth chapter. It is in the fourth chapter the apostle Paul writes and speaks of the joining together of the members of the spiritual body of Christ and their need to enter into that for which they were called. What’s more is that it is in the fifth chapter of this epistle the apostle Paul goes on to speak of the spiritual body of Christ as the bride of Christ which is to be presented unto Him as a bride that is without spot or wrinkle. With this being said we must needs recognize and understand that in the thirty-seventh chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Ezekiel we find the vision of the valley of dry bones which Ezekiel saw. Ezekiel was taken by the LORD in the Spirit to a valley in which he saw a very many bones that were scattered throughout the valley all across the valley floor. It would be there in the valley when Ezekiel initially arrived that he would see these countless bones scattered across the valley floor without truly understanding the meaning of the bones before him. I cant help but wonder what Ezekiel thought when he entered into and came to this valley and saw the very many bones that were not only scattered across the valley floor but also very dry. Did Ezekiel know within his heart and spirit that these bones were joined together at one time and were destined to come together once more? Could Ezekiel see the individual bones being joined together according to the word of the LORD before the LORD spoke unto him and instructed him to prophesy to the bones  that they might come together and that sinews and flesh might come upon them? I can’t help but wonder what Ezekiel thought when he entered into the valley and saw these very many bones which were very dry and scattered across the valley floor. What we must needs recognize is that it wasn’t until the prophetic word was spoken the bones would come together bone to his bone and flesh and sinews would come upon them. It wasn’t until the prophetic word was prophesied to the breath of God that breath would come into the lifeless forms in the midst of the valley and they would stand upon their feet an exceeding great army.

 

            With this at the forefront of your thinking right now I invite you to turn and direct your attention to the following words which are found in the fourth and fifth chapters of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Ephesus. Moreover I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the thirty-seventh chapter of the prophetic book of Ezekiel beginning to read with and from the first verse. I am absolutely convinced that when we consider these passages together we begin to see and recognize the mystery of the spiritual body of Christ and the importance of the individual members and their coming and being jointed together. The spiritual body of Christ is made up of many members, however, those members were not destined nor were they created to remain separated from each other. Each and every member of the spiritual body of Christ was indeed designed and created to be joined together with other members of the same body that when they come together and through their coming together the image of the invisible Son is manifested in the midst of the earth. The individual members of the spiritual body of Christ have been designed and created in such a way to be joined and jointed together with other members of the body that together they might not only present the image of the invisible Christ unto the world but might also accomplish that for which the body was formed in the first place. Having said this I now invite you to turn and direct your attention to the following words which are found in the above mentioned passages of Scripture:

 

            “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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 to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. (Now this, He ascended—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelist, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful piloting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and king together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:1-16).

 

            “Wives, subunit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also love the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkled or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:22-33).

 

            “The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valleys; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, they were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? So I answered, O LORD God, you know. Again He said to me, Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the LORD God to these bones: Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I. Looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the king dove red them over; but there was no breath in them. Also He said to me, Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the LORD God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet an exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:1-10).

 

            “Then He said to me, Son man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off! Therefore prophesy and say to them, Thus says the LORD God: Behold, O my people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it, says the LORD” (Ezekiel 37:11-14).

 

            There is a great need for us to recognize and pay close attention to the words which are found in these passages of Scripture for they call and draw our attention to the tremendous truth surrounding the spiritual body of Christ and the many members which comprise it. I continue to believe that each individual member of the spiritual body of Christ has been uniquely created in such a way that they can be joined together with at least two other members of the same body. I firmly believe that each and every member of the spiritual body of Christ does in fact have a measure of the image of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God within and upon them and it is only to the degree and measure of their coming together that the image of the beloved Son begins to be manifested within the earth. Although the spiritual body is one with many members each individual members has been called to be joined together with other members and with each jointing and connecting of the members of the body of Christ it begins to form within the earth that for which it was created and destined to form. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it brings us face to face with the awesome and powerful truth surrounding the function and role of each individual member of the body of Christ. With this being said we must say and it must be understood that each member of the body of Christ has their own unique place within it that cannot be occupied by anyone else but them. There is no one else that can occupy your place in the spiritual body of Christ as you were uniquely created and formed to occupy a place that only you can occupy. There is absolutely no one else who can do within the body what you yourself were meant to do nor is there anyone else who can occupy that placed in the body you were meant  to occupy. Consider the example of a puzzle and how there is no other piece in the puzzle box that can occupy that place which each individual piece was created to occupy.

 

            As I prepare to bring this writing to a close I am drawn once more to the imagery of the puzzle and the many individual pieces which make up the puzzle. When we think about the individual pieces of the puzzle we must needs recognize that not only has each piece been uniquely formed and created to be joined together to other pieces but there is no other piece in the puzzle that can occupy the place each piece was created to occupy. Each piece was uniquely created to be joined together with other pieces and each piece was meant to open a connection to other pieces within the puzzle. In a similar manner the connection we make with other individual members of the body of Christ can in fact cause a chain reaction with other members of the spiritual body of Christ where the individual members are in fact joined together as they were created to. In the example of a puzzle it must be understood that each piece was created in such a way to fit precisely where it was to fit and there is no other piece that can fit in that particular place. It makes no difference whether it is a corner piece, or an edge piece of even one of the pieces in the middle. If you try and put the wrong piece in a place where it was neither formed and fashioned to fit nor where it was designed to be you will find that it simply will not work. How many times have you put together a puzzle and have tried connecting a piece of the puzzle that was not designed to fit? How many times have you perhaps tried multiple times to connect different pieces to places and pieces they weren’t created to connect to? The puzzle only works and only comes together when the individual pieces are placed exactly where they were created to be placed and joined together with those pieces to which they were created to be joined to.

 

With all of this being said I find it appropriate to close this writing with the emphatic declaration that we as the individual members of the body of Christ need the other members to help us step into what we have been called to do in the kingdom of God. There is not a single member of the spiritual body of Christ that has not been created and fashioned to operate alone as each individual member of the body of Christ desperately needs others to help step into that for which they were called and created. Each individual member of the spiritual body of Christ needs the other members of the body for it is when we are jointed together with other members that we can challenge each other to step into what we have been called to and become who we were created to be. There is a great need for us as the spiritual members of the body of Christ to be joined together and be jointed together with other members of the body that we might challenge each other to growth, to maturity, to holiness and to righteousness. Perhaps one of the most unrecognized and understated realities of the spiritual body of Christ is that we might be like iron sharpening one another and speaking the truth in love that we might grow up into a new man in Christ. We must needs put off concerning the former conduct the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind that we put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness. We as the spiritual members of the body of Christ have been called to come into and become a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and must come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. We must needs speak the truth in love that we might grow up in all things into Him who is the head. The whole body is joined and king together by what every joint supplies and this is something we must needs recognize because each and every one of us has something to supply and offer the body of Christ that no one else can supply. The decision we must needs make is whether or not we will be joined together to the body of Christ and whether or not we will allow the Spirit to bring forth from and within us that which we are able to supply to the members of the body of Christ.