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27 John Vorster St27 John Vorster StPlattekloof EXT. 1Plattekloof EXT. 17500 7500

www.kanaanministries.orgkanaan@iafrica.comTel : Tel : (021) 930 7577(021) 930 7577Fax:Fax: (021) 930 7070(021) 930 7070

KANAAN MINISTRIESKANAAN MINISTRIESTHE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYSTHE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS

Presented by Amanda BuysPresented by Amanda Buys

Eph. 4:16Eph. 4:1616 For because of Him the whole body (the 16 For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), church, in all its various parts), closely joinedclosely joined and and firmly knit togetherfirmly knit together by the joints and by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when ligaments with which it is supplied, when each each part part [with power adapted to its need] [with power adapted to its need] is working is working properlyproperly [in all its functions], [in all its functions], grows to full grows to full maturity, building itself up in lovematurity, building itself up in love..

TTHE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS HE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTHIN GROWTH

1 Pet. 4:10-111 Pet. 4:10-1110 As each of you has received a 10 As each of you has received a giftgift (a particular (a particular spiritual talentspiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), , a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided gracetrustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].11 Whoever 11 Whoever speaksspeaks, [let him do it as one who , [let him do it as one who utters] oracles of God; whoever utters] oracles of God; whoever renders servicerenders service, , [let him do it] as with the strength which God [let him do it] as with the strength which God furnishes abundantly, so that in all things God furnishes abundantly, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christmay be glorified through Jesus Christ (the (the Messiah). To Him be the glory and dominion Messiah). To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever (through endless ages). Amen forever and ever (through endless ages). Amen

God does not give us His Grace through God does not give us His Grace through supernatural zapping!supernatural zapping!

God shows His grace through His people.God shows His grace through His people.

Sometimes people teach that we don’t need Sometimes people teach that we don’t need other people at all, that Christ alone is other people at all, that Christ alone is sufficient or that His Word or prayer is sufficient or that His Word or prayer is enough. They actively and directly lead enough. They actively and directly lead others to not depend on people at all. others to not depend on people at all.

But the Bible teaches that all these things are part of the But the Bible teaches that all these things are part of the process of how people grow, process of how people grow, including other peopleincluding other people..

TTHE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST HE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTHPLAYS IN GROWTH

ConnectionConnection

People’s most basic need in life is relationship.People’s most basic need in life is relationship. People People connected to other people connected to other people thrive and growthrive and grow, and those not , and those not connected wither and die. It is a medical fact, for connected wither and die. It is a medical fact, for example, that from infancy to old age, health depends on example, that from infancy to old age, health depends on the amount of social connection people have.the amount of social connection people have.

The New Testament teaches us that the Body of Christ is The New Testament teaches us that the Body of Christ is a place where people are a place where people are deeply connected to each deeply connected to each otherother, supporting each other and filling each other’s , supporting each other and filling each other’s hearts. hearts. This connection also impacts people who are in This connection also impacts people who are in recovery from addiction or compulsive behaviourrecovery from addiction or compulsive behaviour. .

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When people are cut off from others and When people are cut off from others and their souls are starved for connectedness, their souls are starved for connectedness, the need for love turns into an the need for love turns into an insatiable hunger for somethinginsatiable hunger for something (sex / food / drugs / alcohol).(sex / food / drugs / alcohol).

Ironically, one problem we often see in Ironically, one problem we often see in the Christian community is that people the Christian community is that people get more into religion and less into the get more into religion and less into the connectednessconnectedness that the Bible prescribes. that the Bible prescribes.

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Col. 2:19 Col. 2:19 19 And not holding fast to the Head, from 19 And not holding fast to the Head, from Whom the Whom the entire body, supplied and knit entire body, supplied and knit togethertogether by means of its joints and by means of its joints and ligaments, ligaments, grows with a growthgrows with a growth that is that is from God.from God.

We need to see connectedness as the We need to see connectedness as the foundationfoundation of how people grow. of how people grow.

TTHE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS HE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTHIN GROWTH

Discipline and StructureDiscipline and Structure““Self-discipline” is always a fruit of Self-discipline” is always a fruit of ““other-discipline”.other-discipline”.

Heb. 12:11Heb. 12:1111 For the time being 11 For the time being no discipline no discipline brings joybrings joy, but seems grievous and , but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it painful; but afterwards it yields a yields a peaceable fruit of righteousnesspeaceable fruit of righteousness to those to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s willconformity to God’s will in purpose, in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].living and right standing with God].

AccountabilityAccountability

Find an Find an accountability partneraccountability partner..

The Body of Christ is the disciplinary agent.The Body of Christ is the disciplinary agent.

Matt. 18:15-16Matt. 18:15-1615 If your 15 If your brother wrongs youbrother wrongs you, go and show him his , go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.you, you have won back your brother.16 But if he does not listen, 16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed or two others, so that every word may be confirmed and upheldand upheld by the testimony of two or three by the testimony of two or three witnesses.witnesses.

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Grace and Forgiveness

Many Christians do the vertical confession of 1John vertical confession of 1John 1:91:9, when they confess to God, but not to othersconfess to God, but not to others.

Grace can be available to us, but we might not be available to grace. We can be around a lot of acceptance and grace, but until the hurt and guilty hurt and guilty places of our hearts are exposed, we do not places of our hearts are exposed, we do not experience graceexperience grace, and the gap between our head and our heart continues.

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Grace and ForgivenessGrace and Forgiveness

God’s uses other people to dispense His grace. God’s uses other people to dispense His grace.

God made us stewards over the administration of His God made us stewards over the administration of His grace.grace.

While the head works with “information gathering”, While the head works with “information gathering”, The heart works with “experience gathering”. The heart works with “experience gathering”.

To connect with God’s love, we not only To connect with God’s love, we not only need people, but also need our hearts to need people, but also need our hearts to be available to those people. be available to those people.

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2 Cor. 6:11 – 13 2 Cor. 6:11 – 13 11 11 Our mouth is open to Our mouth is open to youyou, Corinthians [we are , Corinthians [we are hiding nothing, keeping hiding nothing, keeping nothing back], and nothing back], and our our heart is expanded wideheart is expanded wide [for you]![for you]!12 12 There is no lack of There is no lack of room for you in [our room for you in [our hearts],hearts], but you lack but you lack room in your own room in your own affections [for us].affections [for us].13 By way of return then, 13 By way of return then, do this for me—I speak do this for me—I speak as to children — as to children — open open wide your hearts also wide your hearts also [to us].[to us].

Support and StrengtheningSupport and Strengthening

When we support something, When we support something, we hold it upwe hold it up. . Support is required throughout the growth Support is required throughout the growth process.process.

1 Thess. 5:141 Thess. 5:1414 And we earnestly beseech you, brethren, 14 And we earnestly beseech you, brethren, admonish (warn and seriously advise)admonish (warn and seriously advise) those those who are out of line [the loafers, the disorderly, who are out of line [the loafers, the disorderly, and the unruly]; and the unruly]; encourage the timid and encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, [and] be very patient with weak souls, [and] be very patient with everybodyeverybody [always keeping your temper]. [always keeping your temper].

Many people, however, find themselves Many people, however, find themselves cut off from the cut off from the church and the healing and protective functions it church and the healing and protective functions it providesprovides. In their isolation – or at least the isolated . In their isolation – or at least the isolated growth plan they are using – growth plan they are using – they are easy prey for the they are easy prey for the gates of hell to overpower themgates of hell to overpower them. .

The Body of Christ heals itself just as a physical body The Body of Christ heals itself just as a physical body does. The antibodies against infection come in the form does. The antibodies against infection come in the form of of disciplinediscipline and and structurestructure as individuals, who as individuals, who confronted in love, help the person stand against the confronted in love, help the person stand against the ““infections” of sin in their life. infections” of sin in their life. They put boundaries and They put boundaries and limits up against the evillimits up against the evil. .

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Grace and loveGrace and love bring healing anti-inflammatory agents to the wound. They mourn with those that mourn. They bring teaching and truth to the wound and help it to rebuild stronger cells through teaching giftsrebuild stronger cells through teaching gifts.

Many sincere spiritual people struggle for years with problems they are trying to overcome by Bible study and prayer. Those are necessary, but that is not all the Bible tells us to bring to the situation.

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The rest of the Body with all of its healing The rest of the Body with all of its healing agents needs to be added and then the agents needs to be added and then the limb can be restored to health.limb can be restored to health.

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