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Body Builders in the Kingdom In the United States, we are obsessed with our looks. Millions of dollars are spent on advertising products that will help us feel healthier, and become more intelligent, successful, or beautiful. We spend hours finding the right clothing and the best colors for our hair. Our bodies are of utmost concern. We go on fad diets and purchase the latest exercise equipment hoping to stay physically fit and deny gravity’s inevitable downward pull. Sometimes I question what it would be like if we had this kind of focus and passion for being bodybuilders in the Kingdom of God. The Church Is The Body of Christ. Read I Corinthians 12-27. As individuals have different abilities, gifts, personalities, ethnicities, and traditions. The Bible tells us that we are all part of the body of Christ. We may be different, but every part is necessary. When one part of the body (church) suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are should be glad. When we function together as a united whole, we are representative of the depth and diversity of God’s character. We are the body of Christ. We not only respect and honor our diversity with the context of our unity, but we celebrate it! The Body Can Become Weak It would be wonderful if we had a perfect body with no flaws or imperfections. Unfortunately, we are faced with the reality of our situation every time we look in the mirror. Likewise, the body of Christ has weaknesses and imperfections as a result of sin. The Bible says that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) As much as we strive to be excellent as God’s representatives, too often we show just how human we are. The church becomes weak and ineffective when we allow our selfishness, pride, gossip, greed, laziness, a critical spirit or any other destructive sin to rule our behavior. This happens more frequently than we would like to admit. That is when the whole body suffers. God Has a Solution In our own strength we will always miss the mark. God knew this, so he not only provided us with Jesus, a perfect Savior to take away our sin, but he also gave each of us spiritual gifts for ministry. (Ephesians 4:7) Some have been given special abilities as apostles: to others he has given the gift of being able to preach well; some have special abilities in winning people to Christ, helping them to trust him as their Savior; still others have the gift of caring for God’s people as a shepherd does his sheep, leading them and teaching them in the ways of God. (V. 11) Why is it that he gives these special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God’s people will be equipped to do better work for him, building up the church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity; until finally we all believe alike about our salvation and about our Savior, God’s Son, and all become full grown in the Lord-Yes to the point of being filled full with Christ. (V 12-13) Then we will no longer be like children forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different, or has cleverly lied to us and made it sound like the truth. (V 14) Instead we will lovingly follow the truth at all times- speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly- and so much becoming more and more in every way like Christ who is the head of the body, the church. Under his direction the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing, full of love. (V 15-16) The Purpose of Ministry Gifts The passage in Ephesians tells us there are three main purposes God has for giving us these gifts.
The gifts are not given for the benefit of the individual, but are intended to benefit the whole body. When these gifts are used to build up the people of God, they are serving God’s purpose. A bodybuilder experiences success as a result of utilizing a variety of resources. They may have a trainer, or a nutritionist who helps them reach their goal. They are smart enough to know what their strengths and weaknesses are and to surround themselves with the expertise that others can provide for them. Without this assistance, the bodybuilder would probably not succeed. It is a team effort. Likewise, it takes the working of all the ministry gifts to build the Kingdom of God. No one person can do it alone. The apostle needs the prophet to hear what the Lord is speaking to the church. The evangelist has his place in bringing the lost to Christ, but without the pastor/teacher, the new convert would have no place to be strengthened or to grow. Although we may have natural abilities in any of these areas, the gifts given by God are far beyond our natural abilities. They are supernatural endowments we receive in order to accomplish the work of the Kingdom, but they must be used in unity to build up the church.
The ministry gifts must also work together to grow us up and mature our faith. If we are immature in our attitudes and behaviors, or use these gifts for our own gratification, we will become weak. We also weaken the entire body. A weaken church cannot accomplish anything God desires. It is so internally wounded that it doesn’t have the power to be effective. The gifts serve to build and mature the corporate body, so we can be united in the strength, passion and purposes of God. Maturity requires discipline and a willingness to put away the things that make us ineffective. If a body builder only used part of the resources he had at his disposal, how successful would he be? If he worked out 5 hours a day, but didn’t listen to the advise of his nutritionist, would he be as effective? Certainly not! No serious body builder would consider doing such a foolish thing. We have to utilize all our ministry gifts to be effective and grow into a mature body of Christ.
Using the gifts properly will insure that we will not be relying on our own abilities, but we will minister from an overflow of the Spirit. We will be so full of Christ that there will be no room for the ugliness or weakness that sin produces. In this abundant spiritual state the church will be well able to do the work of ministry and do it with Holy Spirit strength and power. Why Should We Be Body Builders? We should want to be serious about building the body of Christ for two reasons. First, the passage tells us that we can be easily swayed if we aren’t grounded in a mature fellowship. We can be lied to or deceived, hurt or offended when we are not actively working toward unity. When we are using our gifts to build the body, we solidify our own stability and growth. Second, we should be bodybuilders for Christ because the time is short. It will not be long before the Lord returns. He is coming back for his church and we should desire to be the spotless bride he desires. We should desire to be strong and able to reach everyone who has not yet been saved. It’s a matter of eternal life or death! We have more than enough reason to want to be God’s Kingdom builders when we realize how much he has done for us. How Do We Get Started?
Paul gives us a picture of how disciplined Christians should seek to be in order to become Kingdom builders. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for the heavenly rewards that never disappear. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I’m not just shadow boxing or playing around. Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to. (I Corinthians 9:25-26) We cannot expect to be spiritual bodybuilders without effort. It will take work to grow and mature both personally and corporately. We will have to practice the spiritual disciples of prayer, meditation, and scripture reading. It may require times of fasting, periods of solitude and silence. It will always require service to others. These are the foundational building block of Kingdom building
While God wants us to train intensely and utilize all the gifts he gives us, he is also a God of balance. If a bodybuilder lifts weight that are too heavy, they run the risk of getting hurt. The stress can cause damage and produce pain. On the other hand, if they are only lifting loads that are too light for them, they are not increasing their resistance or building their strength. Too Heavy or Too Light? It’s the same way for Kingdom builders. There are Christians who come to church just to enjoy the worship and to receive from the body, but they never give back to it. They may look strong on the outside, but they are not carrying their share of the responsibilities necessary for a church to mature. These people do not challenge themselves, so they don’t grow in maturity or strength. They are not willing to be body builders, but in effect they weaken the body. There are those who try to carry too much of the load and are hurt in the process. The gifts of ministry are never to become an obligation, a burden, or a platform for martyrs. Matthew 11:28-29 says, “Come to me and I will give you rest- all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke for it fits you perfectly and let me teach you, for I am gentle and humble and you shall find rest for your souls. For I give you only light burdens.” **Remember: Ministry flows out of the abundance of our relationship with Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Different people have different gifts and have differing abilities to carry the load. God does not expect you to do it all. Spiritual bodybuilding is a team effort, so that God gets the glory and the whole body benefits, not just a few individuals. He will never give you a task that will make you unbalanced.
Successful bodybuilders cannot survive on wimpy meals, empty calories, or junk food. The right combinations of proteins, amino acids, and nutritional supplements are essential if they are to be in top condition. In the same way, Christian bodybuilders have to feed their minds, bodies, and spirits with the right things. What are you feeding on? Milk? (The easy stuff to swallow) For everyone who uses milk is unskillful in the Word of righteousness for he is a babe. But the strong meat belongs to those who are full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised or trained to discern good and evil. (Hebrews 5:13-14) Emotional ugliness? And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you were sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice; And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake forgave you. (Ephesians 4:30-32) But dear brothers, I beg of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won’t be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and in purpose. (I Corinthians 1:10) Those in the church that feed on the rottenness of negativity, bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, hurt, resentment, and anger will weaken and corrupt the body, which will become sick. Christians must feed on the goodness of God, his grace, mercy, and peace. They must feast on the truth of his Word, the strength of his might, and have faith in one another as well as in the One who is Faithful and True. (Jesus) Good Food. Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
Encourage each other in the Lord. Never be envious of a ministry gift that someone else has. God knows exactly what gift he has specifically designed for you to benefit his Kingdom. Desire what God desires for you and remember that you are only part of the big picture. All the ministry gifts work together for the building of the body. There are no superstars in God’s economy! How Will We Know We’re Building the Body Correctly? The easiest way to tell if you are an effective body builder is this. Everything will be in order. The church will be united, working in one accord under the apostolic headship appointed by God. The operation of ministry gifts will be evident in the purposeful equipping of the saints to grow in spiritual knowledge. There will be a passion from within the church to evangelize those who are outside its walls and within the community. There will be an obvious love of God, love for each other, and a desire for a deeper level of spiritual intimacy. What Will The Body Look Like? It will look like Jesus! It will be true to the Word, Will, and Way of Christ. It will function as God’s vehicle of love and redemption to the world, and it will be the spotless Bride that Christ is coming back for. Are You Ready To Be God’s Body Builder?
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Website Revised: 10/22/2010. Copyright © 2005 [Susan Bottger Ministries]. All rights reserved. |