Today’s Scripture

Psalm 19         Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10      1 Corinthians 12:21-31           Luke 4:16-30

 

Read 1 Corinthians 12:21-31 from The Message by Eugene Peterson.

 

            Found at the workbench in the basement, on the wall in the garage, or on shelves here and there are those nuts and bolts and parts and pieces that came from “somewhere” and are looked through to repair the “somethings” that break in a home.  It may be a small item that breaks, but the house does not work well without it.  So, the spare parts department comes into play, getting those broken parts back working as they should again.  And, if the spare parts department doesn’t have the piece, off to the local hardware store one goes and guess what, you purchase several extra spare parts while there as you remember, “This needs that and that needs this.”  How important it is to keep all of the little things put together and in good condition.

 

            Through Paul, God tells us how important each part is for his church.  Today’s reading is a continuing from last week’s reading about the Spirit’s gifts each person has.  Just as no one spiritual gift is greater or lesser than another in the worship and faith lives of a congregation, no one person is greater or lesser than another as we gather together as a congregation, as a church body, as the entire body of Christ, the whole Christian church on earth.

 

            Just as your body is composed of many different parts that are intricately interconnected, interdependent, inter-complimentary, and interrelated, so is the body of the church.  Each member/person is a body part in Christ, in the church.  We are all interconnected, interdependent, inter-complimentary, and interrelated.  It is like the poem, “No man is an island.  No man stands alone.” 

 

            It is in and through baptism that the Holy Spirit does this work, connecting all believers into one faith, into one body.  Just as copper is not heat but conducts heat, the Holy Spirit is the medium through which God delivers his blessings.  By this connection as one body there is no pecking order, no hierarchy, but all parts working together.  And God has given all just that one Spirit to drink.  As we recall from Psalm 23 our cup overflows with God’s blessings which are more than we can imagine, more than we could ever need.  In that regard God gives his Holy Spirit to indwell in each so that all believers’ lives overflow, are drenched with the Spirit and all he brings.  It is like a total emersion and a total covering.  Fruit of the Spirit are evidence of him in the lives of the faithful and are listed as:  “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”  [Galatians 5:22-23].  Jesus tells of those who believe in him, “'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water,"  [John 7:37-39].  The Holy Spirit working in and through individual believers and in and through the church produces works and words that bring others to know Jesus, the son of man, the son of God, our redeemer and savior.  It is not a trickle.  It is a flowing river with great force and momentum that cannot be stopped and cannot be held back.

 

            Is my prayer any greater or less than any of yours?  No.  Is your prayer any greater or less than any other person’s?  No.  Is the choir’s anthem any greater or less than any voice in the pew?  No.  All voices are joined together as one voice singing thanks, petitions and praise to God.  Is the person who folds the bulletin any greater or less than the one who prepares it or hands it to you as you enter?  No. 

 

            Likewise, if the preparer or the folder or the hander-outer, any one does not do that part, is the bulletin any good?  No.  It takes all parts to complete the work and the Holy Spirit works through all that the bulletin is a component that brings the love of Christ to all here and to many others.  That is how the Holy Spirit works through all members of the church. 

 

            However, are some positions in the church higher profile or more visible than others?  Yes.  What would an usher or greeter be if we did not see them and the work they do?  Are some positions kind of invisible, quietly working behind the scenes but still integral to what goes on here?  How many of you see the Altar Guild at work but you see the evidence of their work as the elements and vessels for the Lord’s Supper are prepared, the chancel area maintained and banners displayed that remind us of God’s blessings?  Do you see a great number of members praying in their homes, their cars, at their places of work?  Not necessarily, but we pray together and individually the petitions brought publicly and among acquaintances knowing that God hears, he listens to, and has already answered those prayers in ways that we see and in ways that we still wait to see.  In all things done in faith, it is the Holy Spirit who works that will in each one’s being and pulls these together to complete the one body, the church.

           

            The Holy Spirit does not give all people the same gifts and abilities.  It would be like having a body that is one big eye, or tongue.  The Spirit provides that all parts needed are there, and brings all parts to work together.  When one part is called from this earth to eternal rest, another part is brought in. 

 

            When one part hurts or suffers, so do the other parts.  When each part is healthy and strong, the church is strong.  When any singular part is weak or inoperative, the entire body suffers.  When one or more parts do not function properly or completely, other parts try to compensate and sometimes are hurt or break down also.   

           

            Immanuel has many strong parts.  Immanuel has many “spare parts” that are used to keep Jesus’ body going.  Immanuel also has its share of weak and missing parts.  Do all participate in daily devotions and prayer?  Are all of us involved in fellowship and Bible study outside of services?  Do we have adults active leading an active youth ministry?  Are offerings keeping up with the expenses of the various mission and ministry activities of this congregation?  Are we always faithful and frugal in using those gifts and resources available to us?         As any one’s body here, many parts are working well, and some parts are hurting and even missing.  The church in ways does well, and in other areas the weak and missing pars cause the entire body to strain and groan as it cannot do all the things a body is supposed to be doing.

 

            Let us pray and strive to complete this body of Christ here at Immanuel and throughout the entire world.  We pray that the Holy Spirit continue to work in and through each one so that the gifts he brings are used to God’s glory, proclaiming his love in Jesus to each other and to many who have yet to hear and believe.  In Jesus’ undying love.              Amen.