Fit Church

We are continuing our series on “The Body Works.” Last week we talked about the importance of being spiritually fit. As we finish off this series over the next couple weeks about the body of Christ, I want to go to 1st Corinthians 12. This chapter gives us the best picture in the Bible of what the body of Christ is like and how it’s supposed to function. Paul actually relates the functioning of the spiritual body to a physical body with eyes and hands and feet. These body parts represent the members of the body of Christ - that you are gifted to do something unique within the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12: 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

The key verse that we're going to deal with today is the last verse, that the manifestation of the gifts is given for the profit of all. To make something “manifest” means it is shown, it is on display. The Holy Spirit is showing you something, it's giving you something, it's breathing something into you - to each one of us separately and personally there has been an enlightenment by the Holy Spirit. Actually, if you look up that word in Greek and the root word is “light.”

Manifestation is light. God has thrown a light switch on and He's made something manifest to you in your spirit. A “manifest” is also something on a ship or a plane pertaining to the cargo. It's the inventory of the contents. When you leave a port, the agent will give the ship pilot a manifest. It's an inventory as to what the contents are – cargo and passengers; to clear customs in another country, you must show your manifest.

 Paul is saying here that God has given something to you at salvation; a spiritual deposit - He has enlightened your spirit with it and He expects you to show it to others. We are supposed to use our gift in the Body of Christ, so the body can be built up and be strengthened.

Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “Show Me the Manifest.”

Blessings, Kevin