It's amazing how God always goes before us. He prepares the way, so that we can walk in it. We have been praising the Lord for blessing us with the one year anniversary of Calvary Chapel Kings Lynn! For having waited as long as we did to get here, this year has gone by like a whirlwind. I began to think about our experiences here. All that has happened, and it then made me think about the early New Testament Church. Over and over again in the Bible, Gods people met with one mind, in one accord, with one mouth, in one place, and one purpose.
“Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:1-11
Paul's joy was full when he heard that the Christians of Philippi were being like-minded. I'm sure that Gods' joy is full when His kids do the same thing today. This scripture made me think about 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, unity and diversity in one body.
I love science, and I've always loved learning about how things work in our bodies. The body works in perfect unity, with one purpose, to keep us alive. Each part of our body is diverse. Each part is needed for our benefit. Take the big toe for example, you wouldn't think that it's important. It's on the end of our foot. But if we didn't have our big toe, did you know that we would not be able to walk! Consider our eye lashes. Another member that you wouldn't think is that important. The eye lashes keep dust particles from going into our eyes. Have you ever wondered why you have hairs in your nose? They are your first protection against allergens. These weak parts of our bodies are needed. “No, much rather, those members of the body which seem weaker are necessary.” 1 Corinthians 12: 22
Every member of the body has a specific purpose, and function because our brain tells them to do so. Our mind tells us to breathe, to pump our blood around our body, and it tells us to eat if our stomach is hungry. Jesus does the same to the spiritual body, the Church. Just as the body works in perfect unison, we are to do the same as the Body of Christ today.
The body should not only look out for its own interests, but the interests of others. The nose doesn't just think about it's self. It gets a order from the brain to inhale, and it does. So that the lungs can become full of oxygen, to saturate the blood, to make something as simple as doing dishes possible. The lungs are then told to exhale, and they do. Carbon dioxide leaves the lungs, and exits the nose. If are lungs were to remain full of carbon dioxide, we would die. This simple function of breathing, is essential to life. If the nose said, “The lungs aren't functioning well, they think I'm useless.” Or if the lungs said, “I will not work with the nose.” Then the body would die. Each member of the body does not only look out for its own interests, but the interest of the body as a whole.
It's important for the body of Christ to realize that when we look out for only ourselves, we begin to kill the body. Every member of the body of Christ is valid, and important. We also have to realize that our sin affects the whole body. Sin is like a cancer. We all know what cancer does to the body. I am praying for the Lord to help me in these areas. I encourage you to do the same.
How is it possible to have one mind, be in one accord, with one mouth, in one place, and one purpose? Jesus the One and Only. If our total focus is His Name being Glorified. His Name being spread over all the earth. His fame and not our own, then we should strive to see that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Then we will never act selfishly or try to be personally more popular than Him or think that we are ever better than any part of the rest of the body. We will know that it is only Him, all for Him and through Him we can love with a pure heart.
Please pray for us at Calvary Kings Lynn. Pray for unity in the body here. Pray for the missionaries here, and then ones who will come. Pray that we would cut the sin out of
our lives, so that we don't hurt the body here. That we would have one mind, that we are last of all, and servants to all. In one accord, in agreement and harmony with each other. Having one one mouth, lifting up one voice, in praise, and preaching the gospel. In one place, having the people of Kings Lynn etched on our hearts and minds forever. Finally in one purpose, that all would come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. He has gone before us, and prepared our way that we should walk in it.
All my love, Madi.