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November 2017 181 KB printable .pdf

In the October 2017 teaching, we learned that each born-again Christian must declare God's goodness and gentleness, which leads a man or woman to repentance. We have the privilege of living in this day and time to hold forth this Word of life! Men and women can come to God and receive the spirit of power, love and a sound mind because of His goodness and gentleness. This leads them to repentance or a change of heart or mind. This is how God's Word is our refuge and strength.

This month's teaching will continue to look at the Word of God as our refuge and strength. How do we get into the Body of Christ? See March 2016 for a teaching on this subject. We will review some scriptures on the One Body in Christ. Let's start with Romans 12:5:

So, we, being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another.

All born-again believers are members of that one body. All born-again believers are one in Christ. Let's read 1 Corinthians 12:12:

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also, is Christ.

In the Bible, as far as God is concerned, you were born Judean or Gentile. Jesus Christ has reconciled both Judean and Gentile to God in one body. This is in Ephesians 2:16:

And that he might reconcile both [Judean and Gentile] unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.

All born-again believers are in one body in Christ. Look at Ephesians 4:4:

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.

God's Word says there is one body, one Spirit, and one hope. God only made one body of Christ. The one body is the church, and all born-again believers have one Spirit and one hope, which is the return of Christ for born-again believers dead and alive. According to the Bible, in this one body, there is neither Jew (Judean) or Greek (Gentile). There is neither bond or free. There is neither male nor female. We are all one in Christ Jesus (see Galatians 3:28). The one body in Christ means that we all have the same spirit. We are to be like-minded, have the same love and are of one accord having one mind when it comes to God's Word (see Philippians 2.2). In this one body, we are to let the peace of God rule in our hearts and be thankful. Let us read Colossians 3:15:

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

The calling of believers is before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 tells us:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

God chose us. He called us. We did not choose Him! He chose us before the foundation of the world in His foreknowledge. I am thankful to God for choosing me before the foundation of the world that I should be holy and without blame before Him in love. What a great big wonderful God we have! The one body is the greatest thing God ever did through Christ Jesus.

The born-again believers are already seated in the heavenly in Christ Jesus. When Christ ascended, we ascended with him. And when Christ was seated in the heavenly with God, we were seated there. This is the greatness of being a born-again believer in the body in Christ. Ephesians 2:6 clarifies this:

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

One body in Christ gives us all the spiritual benefits. The born-again believers are to be rooted and grounded in love. Ephesians 3:17 tells us more:

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith [believing]; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.

In this one body, we are "rooted and grounded in love." This love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation is the greatest thing there is in the body of Christ among the believers. We must believe God's Word, then we can experience the exceeding greatness of his power! Ephesians 1:19-21 expands on this to say:

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own 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 world, but also in that which is to come.

God's Word says Christ is far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. God's Word also says once you are born-again of God's Spirit, it is Christ in you the hope of glory (see Colossians 1:27). So, we are far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Isn't that wonderful? We just don't understand the power we have in the name of Jesus Christ! This happened when God raised Jesus from the dead, and sat him at His own right hand! Turn to Ephesians 1:22-23:

And hath put all things under his [Christ] feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Jesus Christ is the head over all things to the church, which is his body. God is the head over His son, and His Son is the head of the body of believers. That's what God's Word says! That's what it means! It's one body! Ephesians 3:9-12 says:

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things.

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness [we have it!] and access [through Christ we have access to God] with confidence [if we ask anything in Jesus Christ name he will do it] by the faith [believing] of him.

Once we are born-again and belong to the one body in Christ, John 14:13-14 tells us:

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name [the name of Jesus Christ], that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

What have you got to lose? Ask according to God' Word, in the name of Jesus Christ, believe that you have received it, and you shall receive your request. Always remember the words of John - "If ye shall ask any thing [according to God's Word] in my name, I will do it." The Apostle Paul tells us, in Ephesians 4:11-12:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

We have these five gift ministries in the body of Christ until Christ returns. Ephesians 4:13 provides these details:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

These five gift ministries are available until the return of Christ. Ephesians 4:14 continues to say:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

If you believed the doctrine of men and women, you shall be deceived. The Word of God is our doctrine and our refuge and strength. Ephesians 4:15 states:

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

This doesn't mean you tell everything you know. The truth is told in love. You are to tell the truth in love. Ephesians 5:17 provides clarification:

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Telling the truth is based on knowing God's Word. Knowing God's Word informs us about what the Will of the Lord is. The Word of God is the Will of God. So, we speak the truth with the knowledge and understanding of God's Word. Once we know God's Word, we act on it and we manifest it in our lives. We open people's understanding of God's Word through our talk and walk. In this way, our actions can bring people to God so they can know His Will.

John 14:12 is often quoted. By understanding the ways in which you are one in the body of Christ, you gain a greater appreciation of this verse:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

The Bible tells us that the calling of the one body and believing in the name of Jesus Christ means we can do the works Jesus did and greater works than these shall we do! We can do what Christ made available to us. As born-again believers who are one in the body of Christ, we are called to hold forth this Word of life. These greater works that we do are to give people a chance to be born-again of God's Spirit and come to the knowledge of the truth. We are to tell people what God has commanded us to tell them.

Acts 10:33 tells us Cornelius said to Peter:

Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God."

Cornelius wanted to hear all the things that were commanded of God, not man or woman! Being in one body, God's Word is our refuge and strength, as it instructs us and provides the path upon which to walk, talk, and find shelter. And being in one body, we are all together.

In summary, we are one body in Christ. God called the believers before the foundation of the world. God's Word says Christ is far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come (Ephesians 1:21). God's Word also says it is Christ in you the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Because Christ is in us we are far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

Let us pray. Almighty God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and our father, who has chosen us before the foundation of the world. You have made us joint heirs with Christ, and have raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That we may know the exceeding greatness of your power to us who believe, according to the working of your mighty power. You have placed us far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Thank you, Father, for calling us to one body in Christ. May we be strong in you, and in the power of your might. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Next month's teaching will continue to build our understanding of the Word of God as our refuge and strength.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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