EXPOSITION FROM THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS

PART 3 - DISCERNING THE BODY OF CHRIST

Ephesians 4:16



In chapter 3 of Ephesians , Apostle paul began to tell the Ephesian church the role God has called him to play in bringing them to the fullness of this knowledge. He called it the mystery of Christ. 


Don't let us forget that the Ephesians church is a Gentile church and that any one who is not a direct (Biological) descendant of Abraham is a Gentile. 


So everything Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian church, He wrote it to you and I because we are not direct descendants of Abraham; we were grafted in, Romans 11:15-20, Galatians 3:14.


I have to say this, so that as we study the Epistles instead of seeing Apostle Paul talking to one Asian church over 2000 years ago, we will see him talking to us directly. 


That is how to read the Bible to make what we read profit us, when we begin to see ourselves as the one that the scriptures is talking to and not someone else.


If he tells the Ephesians church to put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts (Ephesians 4:22), then it is you and I that he is talking to not just the church to which he wrote the letter directly. 


To further buttress this, there are times that after a letter has been read in a church, Apostle Paul will instruct that the same letter be read in other churches as well, Colossians 4:6


This is to show us that what he speaks to one he speaks to the rest, nothing like 'tell them'.


If truly we understand this, it will break down the wall of partition that denomination has erected between us.


God may give a word to Pastor A and instruct him to share it with others. If Pastor B forbids his members from listening to that message, their growth will not be complete because they have refused to receive from the other joints in the body. 


They may have eyes alone but because they rejected those that are legs they will only see but not be able to move. 


This is exactly what 1Corinthians 12:-30 is saying. 


The supply comes from Jesus who is the head of the church and every part of the body through their joints receive it.


Every joint needs what the other joints are supplying to be able to function perfectly, Colossians 2:19. 


We know in part so we teach in part, we prophesy in part and we see in part, 1Corinthians 13:9&10.


The best of us still see darkly as in a mirror. Until we see Jesus face to face, that is when we shall know even as we are known by God, 1Corinthians 13:12. 


What God has in mind is the maturing of the saints and the edification of  the body of Christ, that is why He allowed denominations to bring to us different aspects and dimensions of Himself, Ephesians 4:12,13&16


Denomination is not meant to separate us but to build us up, Ephesians 2:14-16. 


No one man can be a compendium of God's knowledge, He distributes it to many and as we learn to put aside our differences and embrace what other joints in the body is supplying we will grow in balance not lopsided growth, Ephesians 4:16, Ecclesiastes 3:11.


We will always be edified because the solution to any and every challenge is in the Body of Christ but may not necessarily be in your particular denomination. 


We must change our mindset from denomination to kingdom. It is called the body of Christ, not the hand of Christ or eyes of Christ or mouth of Christ.


We must move past our denomination and be ready to embrace and receive what other joints in the body is supplying.


This does not mean we should just accept everything we hear or are taught or we see hook, line and sinker. 


It still remains our resposibility to proof all things and hold fast to that which is Good, 1Thessalonians 5:21. 


The bible admonishes us to test all spirits and this we do through the lens of scriptures and the witness of the Holy Spirit, 1John 4:1-3. 


The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth and will only bear witness to truth, 1John 5:6, John 14:17. 


Apostle John in one of his letters said I have not written unto you because you do not know the truth but because you know the truth and that no lie is of  the truth, 1John 2:21. 


You can hear something you have never heard before and still know it is the truth, not because you already have head knowledge of it before but because the Holy Spirit and the scriptures bear witness to it as truth. 


We must know how to discern the Body of Christ to be able to maximize all that Jesus has supplied to His body by His Spirit, Phillipians 1:19.


Without discerning the body we will never be that bride of Christ, the new Jerusalem which is from above who is equal in length and in breadth, Revelations 21:2&16. 


Inability to discern the body, embrace it and receive from it is the reason many are weak and sickly and many sleep among us, 1Corinthians 11:29&30


Even though it is Zion, but there are still sick people in Zion, there are still those who mourn, even there are sinners in Zion, Isaiah 33:14, Isaiah 61:3.


The solution to any and every problem is in the Body but may not be in your own denomination. 


We must humble ourselves and with wisdom learn to receive from other joints in the body. 


Back to what I was saying before, as I go on to teach; anywhere I mention the Ephesian church just put yourself there. 


Having said all these, and in order to keep this message short I will stop here for now and by God's grace we will continue the teaching on Chapter 3 of Ephesians in my next post. 


Meanwhile, you are going to pray for yourself that God should open your eyes and your mind to be able to discern the Body of Christ, to embrace the body and not cast any part of the body away because it doesn't look like your denomination. 


PEACE


SALVATION PRAYER


Anything short of you being born again and living a life of holiness and purity hurt Jesus so much. But you can make things right here and now by saying this simple prayer and mean it genuinely from your heart:


 Lord Jesus I come to you today. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I cannot help myself. I repent of all my sins and I forsake them. Jesus, I invite you into my life, be my Lord, be my Saviour. 


Wash me by your precious blood, forgive my sins and write my name in the book of life. From this day, I promise to follow you all the rest of my life. Help me Lord, in Jesus name, Amen. Congratulations you are now born again!


PEACE


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