Collectively, we are Fruitful—Together
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.
(The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 12: 1-3 NASB)
You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.”
God has a plan. Everyone has a role.
Let me say that again so we do not miss it.
Everyone has a role. & God has a plan.
How are we doing? How are we doing, walking in the role the Lord has given to us to do within the plan He has established for His church, the body of Christ? Are we walking faithfully, using the spiritual gifts the Lord has gifted to us through His Holy Spirit? The Bible tells us how God brings people to the church on purpose—FOR HIS PURPOSE.
“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
(The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 12: 27-31 NASB)
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
All are not apostles, are they?
All are not prophets, are they?
All are not teachers, are they?
All are not workers of miracles, are they?
All do not have gifts of healings, do they?
All do not speak with tongues, do they?
All do not interpret, do they?
But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.”
It is a truth; we are to serve God through the church.
It is a truth; God does not make mistakes in where He places us (you and me).
We are to work together, using the gifts of the Holy Spirit that have been individually given to us, and as we do, we are working in unity. Charles Spurgeon, a great Bible theologian, once said: “the church is still the dearest place on earth,” because the church is the body of Christ and the bride of Christ. Therefore, we gather together, and we serve together, and we accomplish that which God has given to us to do within the place where He has placed the body. “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” (The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 12: 27 NASB)
Discerning what is best is not something we do individually (sometimes, yes) but collectively as the body of Christ. We exist in Christian community, and because we need other brothers and sisters-in-Christ who are listening to God (as we are), who are discerning through the Spirit (as we are), and who are entrusted with the gospel (as we are). Thus, what is our chief-most purpose in life? Well, that’s an easy question to answer. We are to glorify God and to enjoy God forever.
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
(The Letter of Paul to the Philippians 1: 9-11 NASB)
so that you may approve the things that are excellent,
in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ,
to the glory and praise of God.”
The body of brothers and sisters-in-Christ who attend worship with you are the body of Jesus Christ, collectively serving, collectively discerning, collectively abounding in real knowledge and understanding of God’s Word, collectively sincere in love, collectively blameless, collectively filled with the fruit of righteousness, and collectively glorifying and praising Almighty God.
The function of the Christians gathered as a church is to know the right way to go, and so, God, knowing our frailty of existence, helps us to grow in love and in knowledge, and in discernment. Collectively, we discern what is best for the church, for the body of Christ, and as we do, we reap a result. We live in a way that honors God & we bear His fruit, abounding in love through Christ’s grace. This is a work of the Holy Spirit. This is the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is best when, collectively, we are fruitful—together.
“But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
(The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 12: 31 NASB)
[The Excellence of Love]
And I will show you a still more excellent way.”