1 CORINTHIANS 12:26-27 - TAKE PART IN EACH OTHER'S SUFFERING AND JOY

 

S-If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭26-27‬ NIV)

O- one part suffers / rejoice - other part suffers and rejoice
We are part of body of Christ

A- These verses teach how we as a church forms the body of Christ. We are all different and have various talents and are to be used for the glory of God and to encourage each other. If we see that one person is backsliding in faith we should not avoid and ignore him rather support him at this difficult phase and bring him back. when we see any one suffer we need to support in whatever way possible and most importantly pray for them. We are one and need to be at each other's service.

In the same way when any one member does something marvelous and praiseworthy then he should be honored and not be looked upon with jealousy. When we are reminded that we are one body in Christ and each have different role, our outlook will change towards fellow members and we will have the same fellowship that the beginning believers had in Acts 4:32 being believers of one heart and mind.

P- Abba father, I pray for my church at this time. Let us all be reminded of these verse and support each other in suffering and rejoice together while we share joy. Moreover let me be able to uphold the church in prayer at all times so that we never lose the focus of being Christ's body. Help us all to grow spiritually strong and mature in you.
In Jesus mighty name, AMEN.

Exodus 17:12 BODY OF CHRIST IS INTERDEPENDENT

S - Exodus 17:12New International Version (NIV)

12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

O – Hands grew tired – they held his hands – remained steady

A – Each one of us have a special role to play in the body of Christ. God has blessed each one with unique special gifts and we need to use it to support each other and glorify God. While Isarealites fought, Moses spiritually supported them and when he was tired Aaron and Hur held him.

   None of us are perfect and each have their own weaknesses. We need to support each other even in moments of weaknesses. Uphold the troubled in prayer and encourage them in the Lord with loads of Love and through the Word.

P – Abba Father, Enable me to use the talents you have given me to glorify your name. Enable me to support my fellow belivers to grow spiritually. Bless me to pray for them and help and encourage them in all the ways possible.

In Jesus’ precious name

AMEN.

WEEK 4 THE BODY OF CHRIST

Week 4  of Made for Community!! The body of Christ!!!

Summary after the week's study will be updated here!

LUKE 6:35 LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

S - Luke 6:35 (NIV)

³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

O – 1. Love your enemies

2. Do good to them

3. Lend to them without expecting anything back.

4. Reward will be great

5. Will be children on most high

6. He is Kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

A – We can love the people who are nice to us and treat us well. But can we be equally be nice to the ones who mistreat us, who hates us and make us suffer? No!! our flesh doesn’t allow that. But that is what Christ call us to do. We need to be good to people no matter what they did to us and never expect anything back from them. We need to die to our fleshly nature not to hold the grudge against them. We are the children of the most high and He calls us to transform to His image. He died for us who did not deserve this precious sacrifice. How cruel the people were to the Lord!! And How they crucified Him who did nothing but heal and love people!!! Did He stop then and ask “Why am I doing all this for these unworthy lot?” No, He didn’t!! He died for us, He knows our weakness. When we do in the same manner He will be honored and He will reward us for it.

P – Precious Heavenly Father, How tough it is to forgive and forget what people have done and love them with all our hearts. Yes, When I see the person I can remember the wrong that they had done. Let me able to see them through your eyes, how you see - not the sin in us but your own image. Help me to see them as your children and lead them to you. I know I have the strength of the Holy Spirit within me and I can love just as you have loved each one of us.

In Jesus mighty name,

Amen

PROV 27:17 SHARPEN ONE ANOTHER

S – As Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

O – One iron sharpens another

A – We are called to encourage and correct one another. We sometimes overlook the wrongdoings of our friends or loved ones since we feel that by correction we may hurt them. But this is not what the word teaches us. We need to sharpen each other. If we feel that a loved one is back sliding in faith then we should correct them and bring them back. It might be difficult to implement but the end result is very good.

P – Father Lord, Enable me to correct anyone so as to bring them into correct faith and also help to accept the correction when it is done to sharpen me. Enable me to be rooted in the word so that I may be sharpened in knowing your will and in turn sharpen others.

In Jesus name I pray

AMEN

ECC 4:9-10 - TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE

S -  Ecc 4:9-10
9 Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
O - 
1. Two is better than one
2. Good return for their labor
3. One fall – other helps.
A-
  God has created us to be social beings. After He created Adam, God said in Genesis Vs 2:18 "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." and later He made Eve. In this way God has created in us a need to be loved, to be with each other and to help one another. Nothing should keep us busy so as to miss this companionship. This is also very helpful with spiritual life partners, where when one is down the other can encourage, when one is back sliding the other can bring him back. They can encourage each other to bring back their focus on the Lord. 
                   In my life I have been blessed with a blessed family, good friends, supporting colleagues and encouraging fellow believers. But many a times, the busyness of life has kept me distracted and I took it for granted that I am too busy to have time with them. I would like to make an intentional effort with God’s grace to be in companionship with whomsoever God has placed in my life and extend a helping hand or word of encouragement to any one in need.

P - 
Abba Father,
I realize that I have a lot to grow in this area. I want to love and help all the people that I have in my life. Help me to understand them and to lovingly help them in whatever situation they are in.  Open my eyes to empathize and understand others. In all my words and actions, Let your glory be revealed and let the focus always be upon you.
In Jesus’ precious name I pray
AMEN.

ROMANS 15:7 ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER

S - Romans 15:7New International Version (NIV)

⁷ Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

O – ACCEPT OTHERS AS CHRIST ACCEPETED YOU

      BRING PRAISE TO GOD

A – God has placed us in a community and has a special purpose for us. It is very easy to accept people of similar background, nationality, interests etc. We can go along with them well. What about the people who are different from us? Do we accept them to our group or do we neglect them? Christ never discriminated us based on how we are- good or bad, rich or poor, young or old. He died for all us equally – believers and Non believers. We, who are called to transform to His image, should do the same. We need to accept all in the same way and in this way we bring glory to God. I will, with the help of the Holy Spirit, treat all alike and love them all in the same way and in this way I bring praise to His precious name.

P – Abba Father, Help me to be like you father. I want to see everyone through you eyes of compassion and love not their outward appearance or behavior. Enable me to never be biased in my behavior but get along with everyone for your glory, Father. Let your glory be revealed in all my relationships.

In Jesus’ Precious name, I pray

AMEN

PHIL 2:3-5 MINDSET OF JESUS - HUMILITY

S - Philippians 2:3-5New International Version (NIV)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

O - 
 N O
1. Selfish Ambition
2. Vain Conceit
3. Look at our own interests
YES
1.  Humility
2.  Value others above ourselves
3.  Look at interests of others
4. Have same mindset as Christ Jesus

A – This current world has become a world of selfies where the highlight is on self. It is more about “What About me?” attitude that we have. We want to be happy. What is our rights? How can this benefit me? Etc  But this is not what Christ wants us to be. We are to value others above ourselves. Its quite a difficult task because our flesh find its very difficult to let go of pride and ego. But this not what we as believers are called for. We need to put on the mindset of Christ. We have experience his love and compassion and this is the same we need to give others. My mentor explained about justified anger today in class where she mentioned that justified anger is when we are right and other is for sure not and hence it is very difficult to let go of that anger. But no we need to look upon God and remember that he died for us while we were yet sinners. We did not deserve it but he did because it was the right thing to do and He valued our lives higher to his out of His great love for us, Same way we need to let go of all the pride and value others above us.

P – Father, You portrayed humility, love and compassion at all times and I really don’t deserve it. Help me to pass on the same to people around me.  Enable me to be of service to others and always treat them with humility and keep their interests above mine. Enable me to have a deep relationship with you so that I may produce the fruit of the spirit so that I may be able to serve the community you have placed me in.
In Jesus precious name I pray
AMEN

JOHN 13:14-15 EXAMPLE OF SERVANTHOOD

S - John 13:14-15 (NIV)

14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

O – 1. Now that I washed ….You also should

2. set you an example.

A - As we continue our life with Christ as the Lord, we are called to transform into His image. This image is not a strange or fictional image but one which was shown by our Lord in His human form while in his flesh. Hence it is not something which is impossible to achieve but requires more dying to self or overcoming fleshly desires of pride, ego etc. If our Lord could bring himself down to such a lower position of washing His disciples feet then how much more should we His mere creations?

   I need to break my comfort zone and bring myself to be more helpful to others. Whether small or Big, I will imbibe service as a regular part of my life. I will lean on the Holy Spirit without whose help I cannot do it.

P – Abba Father, I know that I have a lot to learn in this section of serving others. Enable me to reflect this servant hood mentality of yours and be of support and service to others. Enable me to be fully led by the spirit so as to overcome my fleshly weakness of pride.
In Jesus Name I pray, AMEN

JOHN 15:5 APART FROM HIM WE ARE NOTHING

S - John 15:5 (NIV)

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

O – Jesus = Vine, We = Branches

Remain in Him and Him in us

Bear much fruit

Apart from Him we can do nothing

A - We, as branches, need to stay connected to the Vine, Jesus, to be bear abundant fruit. We can abide in him and him in us only through our faith in Him. This faith is derived from the knowledge of Him through the word. By earnestly seeking Him in the word, His commands are hidden in our heart and we learn to walk in a path of Trust and Obedience. This is the process of sanctification where we enter into a process of being transformed into His image. We can try to be  do things by our abilities, strength , power and influences, But it will not yield good results, But when we learn to trust Him and surrender ourselves to His control and yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit then we are operating on His strength and this never run outs.

P – Abba Father, I want to stay connected to you by all means. I know that I am nothing without you. Enable me to seek you in the word and always communicate with you in humble prayers. Let there be no thoughts separating me from you as we need to be in prefect union. I pray to be filled up with your loving presence so that I may live a life according to your will and bear the fruit of the Spirit.

In Jesus name I pray

AMEN

EPHESIANS 3:18-19 IMMEASURABLE LOVE OF GOD

 

S - Ephesians 3:18-19 (NIV)

 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

O – 1. Power to grasp the width / length / height / depth of God’s love

2. Together with Lord’s holy people

3. This is love that surpasses all knowledge

4. filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 

A – These verses are so beautiful. Just reading it can bring a smile on your face and make you feel the love. How awesome!!!! It highlights that we need His strength and power (which is none other than the Holy Spirit) to feel the fullness of His love. No human brain can comprehend the height, depth, width or length of our heavenly father’s love for us. These verses goes on to explain that we not only have to understand this awesome love but need to experience this love of Christ to be filled with fullness of God.

       I would apply it to me life in this manner. I will never base my happiness on the love of the world or any material aspects. My father’s love for me is beyond measurement and I want to be basked in it. Nothing can take the place of this love.With the help of the Holy Spirit I will understand and fully experience my father’s love. And this love is not only for me to enjoy but together with all Lord’s people which means that I have to share this joy with many others so that they too may understand and experience it themselves. Unless we are rooted in this deep love of the Lord we cannot be filled with His holy presence.

 

P – Abba Father, I am so privileged to be your daughter who is loved to such an extent. Your word promises it and you always keep your promises. You are a faithful God. I know that I can understand and experience this love through your promising word and help me to plunge deep into your word and seek you. Enable me, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to never forget this love and not place my happiness on on anyone or anything. During times of stress let me able to sit down and just simply feel this divine love. Only you Lord can give me this guaranteed love and I simply love you.

In Jesus precious name, AMEN

 

 

JOHN 14:18 GOD MAKES A HOME IN US

S – John 14:18 (NIV) I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:23 (NIV) Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

O - 1. Come to us
     2. Loves Jesus = Obey His teaching
     3. In turn the Father will love us
     4. Come and Make a home in us

A – Once we choose to obey Jesus and accept Him as a savior and Lord of our life, The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us. We are now a new creation. We are not ruled by sin anymore but by our Lord. The Holy Spirit is the guide and counselor, who will convict me of any wrong doings and lead me to the right path. I will surrender my whole self to be led by the Holy Spirit. This gift of Holy Spirit is out of greatest love of the Lord through Jesus Christ and is given to us until His second coming. In this way we are never alone since He has made a home in us.

P – Abba father, Thank you for providing us with a guide and advocate to remind us of your commands. Enable me to surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that I may live a life according to your will. I experience your great love at all times as I know that you live in me. Enable me to grow more mature in you each day as I transform into your image.
In Jesus precious name I pray
AMEN

EPHESIANS 2:6-7 INCOMPARABLE RICHES OF HIS GRACE

 

 

S - And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6-7 NIV)

O - 1. God raised us up with Christ.
2. God seated us with Him in Christ.
3. This is to show incomparable riches of His grace
4. It is expressed by kindness to us in Christ Jesus

A - We had fallen into the deep pit of sin. But our father who had created us in His own image didn't want to lose us and he, out of His love, raised us up with Christ and placed us in heavenly places. His incomparable riches can be seen over the ages and this revelation is out of His greatest kindness to us.

P - Dear Lord, help me to understand the greatest privilege I have in you through Lord Jesus Christ. Enable me to understand your grace on my life which is really undeserving. Let me never be distracted by any matters of this world so as to take away my focus on your loving kindness.
In Jesus' precious name I pray, AMEN

MADE FOR COMMUNITY - STUDY

 

Hi Readers,

 

I am doing the Made for Community study from Love God Greatly Blog

http://www.lovegodgreatly.com/2015/01/week-1-made-community-god/#comments

I just love it. See Posts on my Quiet Times in SOAP Format

 

Yours Sincerely

Pri_Ash