What is a body?

[Dr. Thomas Galt]

John 10:10 (KJV)

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This verse of scripture has been used so many times, and I feel rightfully so, as a basis for a basis on a message for an abundant life, spirit soul and body. But I would like to take a moment to look at it in a different light. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. That’s his job. That’s what satan is all about. To steal, kill and destroy. And you find that happening in families, businesses, our own personal lives, and sadly to say in the body of Christ.

In Numbers 13 we read, 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. God spoke to Moses and told him to send into the promised land 10 spies to search out the land, catch these words, “which I give unto the children of Israel.” He gave the land. He gave it by promise. They were right on the edge of the promised land that belonged to them. So the spies went out and searched the land. Then you read in Num 13:26-29 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.” They saw that it was a land flowing with milk and honey, just as promised. It says in verse 27 “and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.” They brought back evidence of what was in the land. But one word spoken destroyed the unity that was to be there founded on the promise of God’s gift to the children of Israel. NEVERTHELESS. At that moment the unity in group was broken. But two, only two out of the spies stood strong in the unity with God and knew that they could be overcomers.

We as a body of believers in Jesus Christ stand at the threshold of a mighty move of God. We also stand at the threshold in danger of loosing what God wants for us. The scripture at the beginning says “I am come that they might have life”. What does that mean to us today? Like I said I would like to look at it from a different perspective. The word I would like to look at is THEY. When Jesus prayed His prayer in the Garden He prayed basically three parts to that prayer. One for Himself, one for His disciples, the apostles, and one for the whole body of Christ. The one central theme throughout that whole prayer was, UNITY OF THE BODY. When the body is unified then it works as a whole. When the unity in the spies was broken they lost out. The whole body of the Children of Israel lost out. It took them longer to get to the promised land.

When a cancer begins to work in a body then it begins to break down the very basic fiber of that body. There is a cancer that is at work in the very fiber of the Body of Christ I believe. That cancer is eating away at the very nature of the body. When a body works in unity then the body stands strong and powerful. In just about every town that I was pastor of a church there was a meeting about once a month of all the clergy in that town and in some cases surrounding towns. We would, supposedly, come together for unity. But sadly to say in many cases that did not happen. It would turn out to be, my church is bigger than your church, our church had this program you didn’t. It was this church pitted against that church, this denomination pitted against that denomination. Some would get mad and accuse ministers of taking members away from their church. So much disharmony within this group of ministers that I often thought “Of course the cause of Christ is not working here. There is no unity even among the clergy for Christ.” I have always believed that the body of Christ should be working together for HIS GLORY, not to one up the other. I would often get put down, or have ministers talk about me behind my back because I was trying to get the body to work as one unit, like Jesus prayed we should.

When the time comes and we all gather around the throne of God He isn’t going to have “heaven’s police” standing there directing traffic and saying “Those of this denomination over here. Those with that belief over there. And you that are left over go there.” We are going to be together in one accord, worshiping the one and only true living God. I look at it this way. Can you imagine what it would be like if you were walking down the street and all of a sudden your right foot said, “No, I want to go this way,” and your left foot said, “No we are going that way.” What a mess that would be. Or if when you sat down to eat and you, if your right handed, right hand said “No I don’t want to put the food in the mouth where it’s needed, I want to put it in the ear.” What a mess. Well, my friend, if the body of Christ doesn’t work together as one unified body, the that is exactly what is happening. We end up being like the children of Israel wandering out in the wilderness for many years. Yes, we are going to have differences of opinion. Yes, I may not believe exactly as you believe that the scripture says. But we can rally around one common theme. Jesus Christ and Him lifted up. It’s not a denominational thing. It’s a Jesus thing. I didn’t worry about numbers in the church. I didn’t worry if one person left this church and went to another. I did wonder why and would try to find out honestly. I wanted to find out if I had offended them or why. But it wasn’t about the numbers in MY church. It wasn’t my church. It was Jesus’ church. Each and every organization, each and every ministry that is put into place for what ever reason should rally around the word, and Jesus and Him crucified for our sins. Like I said. I may not believe the same as you, but we can work together as a UNIFIED BODY for the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ. To see souls saved, lives touch, the broken hearted healed.

The world has enough division in it. Why should we be the same? We live in the world but are not a part of it.

[Dr. Henry, President of the AOCI]

Amen. That's what we are here for. Tks for being a part. God bless.

[Dr. Thomas Galt]

Dr. Henry that's what this AOCI is for. To bring into unity the body of Christ and it's ministers as one no matter who they are around the world.

[Dr. Henry, President of the AOCI]

Way to preach unity brother! United we stand. Amen.