THE BODY OF CHRIST

Yesterday, at the end of worship services, I made the official announcement to my congregation that I have cancer. After sharing the details I asked the Deacons to anoint me with oil and pray for healing according to the Scriptures ("Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up."James 5:13-15)

We placed two chairs for Karen and I at the front and the Deacons did a wonderful thing. "Because the Body is One," Sherman said, "We should all come and pray for our pastor." the entire church body surrounded us and prayed for my bride and I. We were overwhelmed. People whom I'd never heard pray before lifted heart-felt prayers for us both.

Over the years I have not been impressed with my pastoral skills. I can preach, but I hate administrative chores. I am not a Sanguine, glad-handing, people-person. I am a timid, cold-call witness. I've often wondered if I would be missed. Yesterday, my church family humbled me to my core.

Afterward, I regretted the fact that we had no photograph of the event. But that is often how life is. When you are in the midst of the wonderful, who thinks to stop it all for something as mundane as a photo opportunity?

"Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many... If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 26

GOD’S CHURCH TRIUMPHANT

Through the ages the Church has seen her ups and downs.
She has been hailed as the Bride of Christ,
and vilified as the opiate of the people.
BUT GOD’S CHURCH IS STILL ALIVE.

She has been hunted in the streets,
and driven into the catacombs of Imperial Rome.
Her members have been burned to illuminate Nero’s garden parties,
and savaged by ravenous lions;
slandered as cannibals over the Lord’s Supper,
and branded as atheists because of fidelity to her One Lord.
The whole might of the Roman Empire was brought to bear
in order to terrify it’s subjects concerning the consequences of following Jesus Christ.
AND YET, GOD’S CHURCH IS STILL ALIVE.

The Adversary has employed every trick and every weapon
in his vast arsenal in order to destroy the church of Jesus Christ.
Through the centuries and around the globe
She has been driven underground by persecution.
At times she has been painted and draped in scarlet,
set upon a throne and encouraged to indulge her desires.
She has experienced every pain and temptation
in an unholy attempt to shake her allegiance to Christ, her bridegroom.
AND STILL, GOD’S CHURCH IS ALIVE.

No amount of persecution or prosperity will ever
succeed in destroying the Blood bought Church of  Jesus Christ.
Her Lord, Jesus Christ himself, has promised that
the very gates of hell could never prevail against her.
Hear me!  The purest sweetest water is that which
has forced it’s way through solid rock.
Opposition can never stop us.
GOD’S CHURCH IS STILL ALIVE.


Frazzled Parents; you’re not wasting your time worshiping
with your children.  You’re training them for life.

Lonely Housewife; Jesus Christ touches the world through
the investment you make.  Take heart.

Confused Husband; reject the world’s call to selfishness.
Be a Godly man.

Single Mother;  You’re not abandoned.
God has given you a family.

Busy Student; don’t give in to futility about the future.
You have a blessed hope in Christ.

Frustrated Christian; don’t surrender to problems which shake your faith.
Follow in the footsteps of those holy saints who have gone on before you.
GOD’S CHURCH IS STILL ALIVE.

ALIVE AND WELL.