Discerning the Lord’s body: by James Lantz
The Lord has entrusted us to follow his instructions and enjoy the benefits of royalty with him in the Kingdom of God.
The new covenant we share through Jesus suffering and shed blood came at an extremely high cost to the Father and our Lord Jesus! Since God spared nothing even to the point of Jesus death, his grace has no limits except our faith and ability to receive from him. Eph. 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power (dunamis) that worketh in us, 2Cor. 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work; Think about it, there is no sin God will not forgive, except the one of him who refuses to repent. There is no sickness God will not heal, except the one of him who refuses God’s way. Of course this same principle applies to God’s grace of receiving the Holy Ghost baptism and financial blessing. This is good news, it is not God who withholds from us, we have been qualified to receive of our covenant blessings. Mt.13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Notice immediately after this Jesus said to his disciples (doers of the word) but blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears for they hear. Dullness is directly related to unwillingness and disobedience. Good news, we can ask God to open the eyes of our understanding.
The Holy Spirit tells us we are to properly discern the Lord’s body so that we may be strong and healthy and live our life out. 1 Cor. 11:28 – 32 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eatheth and drinketh damnation (judgement) to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (dead or put to rest). For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Back in the fifth chapter there is an example of how God turns one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that they will repent and their spirit will be saved in the day of the Lord. So often we think temporally and God thinks generationally. Three things relating to Christ body. 1. We must discern that Christ body was broken so that ours might be whole. Our faith begins where the will of God is known. We have the prophet Isaiah seeing into the future and saying he (Jesus) hath borne our griefs (diseases), and carried our sorrows (pains) and with his stripes we are healed. We have the gospel accounts of Jesus sacrificing his body for us. Both Matthew and Peter testify that healing has already been purchased for the believer. Mt. 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. In order to receive healing we must properly discern that it has been purchased for us. In other
words, we don’t have to try to persuade God to heal us but rather conform to him and receive. Jesus said that we are to believe that we receive healing and we shall have healing. (Mk.11:24) Most people want to see or feel that they are healed before they believe they are healed, but that is completely opposite of the general way healing is appropriated. There must be a release of faith, a point where you receive healing in the present tense, when you take it as yours. What God has given by grace must be received by faith. Just as Christ shed his blood for the remission of our sins he also gave his body for us.(Luke 22:19) 2. We must discern that our brothers and sisters in Christ are the body of Christ. Rom. 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Eph. 4:12–16 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: …But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. When Jesus arrested Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, he said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Again in Matthew’s gospel Jesus said, when you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me. Jesus sees his people as his body! According to the scriptures, our being in our proper place as a supplying joint and fulfilling our part in this earth can make the difference of being healed or dying early. Heb.12:9…shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live.
1 Cor. 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. Sometimes Jesus told people to follow him, and some he told, go back to your home and tell your friends what great things God has done for you. If we are out of our place, or refusing to do our part, we are out of our grace. We have been given a ministry of reconciliation, are we taking that message everywhere we go? Refusing to love stops what God wants to do through us. Refusing to forgive is the only sin Jesus mentioned in connection with his teaching in Mark 11 concerning how the God kind of faith works. Mk. 11:25 And when you stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. The writer of the Hebrews, by the Spirit of God tells us our healing is directly related to our ability to receive correction (make changes) and get after the things of the kingdom of God. Heb. 12:11-15 … Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled If the root of bitterness is still there, it will show up in your life again. If you suffered a divorce or some injustice, forgive and pray that God will be merciful to those who wronged you. Forget the past, rejoice, give thanks, and enjoy God’s blessings. Another area we need to be diligent in is our prayer life. First of all, supplications, prayers intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. Are you praying for others first? (1 Tim. 2:1) Submitting to God ordained authority (Apostle, prophet…Civil, Family etc.) is also a part of discerning Christ body.
Pro. 25:19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in times of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
- Discern that our physical body is the Lord’s 1 Cor. 6:15 – 20 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. … ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. Through our covenant with the Father our bodies have been purchased by the Lord Jesus. Similarly in the marriage covenant our body belongs to our spouse as well as the Lord, so you can see why God said for his children to only marry in the Lord. The Apostle Paul said that he (spirit man) rules over his body so that after preaching to others he might not be cast away. Well, it wouldn’t be right to talk about the proper stewardship of our bodies without mentioning diet. People pretty well know that drunkenness and gluttony are a sin but what about diet. Many christians say we are not under the law so we can eat all kinds of meats and so called food. Many are bringing the message of how to properly care for our body in regards to diet, exercise, and rest. PTL! Our freedom in Christ was not purchased for us to fill our bodies with harmful, toxic chemicals just because its fast, easy and taste good. Many of the same people who own cigarette companies own food companies. They hire top chemist, psychologist, and marketers who add good tasting and addictive ingredients so you can’t eat just one. Keep in mind that when the scripture says all things are lawful that not all things are profitable. (see 1 Cor. 6:12) Rom.10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. The law is still holy, just, good, and spiritual but it is not the basis for our righteousness. (Rom.7:12-14) Just look around you and realize the natural laws of sowing and reaping (what you put in your mouth) are still very much in operation. Gal. 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Discern Christ body and enjoy life!
