CONFERENCE IN COLUMBUS


	CONFERENCE IN COLUMBUS OHIO JANUARY 28 - 29, 2006 THE BODY OF CHRIST Message Three: The Practicality of the Body of Christ in the Local Church Life I. Putting on the new man which was created according to God "And put on the new man, which was created according to God……" (Eph. 4:24) A. By being renewed in the spirit of our mind. "And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (Eph. 4:23) B. Practicing being members one of another. "……for we are members one of another." (Eph. 4:25) C. Not being drunk with wine, but being filled in spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with your heart to the Lord. "And do not be drunk with wine, ……but be filled in spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with your heart to the Lord," (Eph. 5:18-19) D. Nourishing and cherishing all the members of the Body, as Christ loves the church. "For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ also the church," (Eph. 5:29) E. Putting on the whole armor of God. "Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil," (Eph. 6:11) II. Honoring all the members as well as ourselves A. Knowing we were all baptized into one body. "For also in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,……" (1 Cor. 12:13) B. Knowing God has placed all the members in the body, even as He willed. "But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, even as He willed." (1 Cor. 12:18) C. Experiencing the Body life by having the same care for one another. "……that the members would have the same care for one another." (1 Cor. 12:25) D. Suffering with the suffering member and rejoicing with the glorified member. "And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it." (1 Cor. 12:26) E. Realizing that no member can be cut off from the organic Body, since even if the foot and the ear may say, "Because we are not certain members, we are not of the body," it is not that because of this they are not of the body. "If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, it is not that because of this it is not of the body. And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, it is not that because of this it is not of the body." (1 Cor. 12:15-16) F. Treasuring the ministry of all members. Watchman Nee says: "Every member has a particular portion with which he serves the Body of Christ. The eyes see, the ears hear, and the nose smells. Each organ has its function, and each has its portion. The eyes serve the body by seeing. The ears serve the body by hearing. The nose serves the body by smelling. Each has its own responsibility, and none can replace another. Member A cannot be member B, and member B cannot be member C. Each member has his own characteristics, and each has his own capability. The characteristics and capabilities constitute the place, position, or ministry of each member. The characteristics of a member are the ministry of that member, which is the supply it renders to the Body. The ministry of a member dictates his place and position in the Body. The portion of each member in the Body is not for himself, but for the whole Body." (Nee, The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, Volume 44, p. 821) III. Pursuing the prophesying, even more the prophesying as a prophet "Pursue love, and desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy……. And as to prophets, two or three should speak, and the others discern. But if something is revealed to another sitting by, the first should be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged." (1 Cor. 14:1, 29-31)