I Need You to Survive

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

Today's Passage: 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27
Memory Verse: 1 Cor. 12: 21

A few years ago, this song circulated among the Christian community, given to the body of Christ by God through Pastor Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir.  It seems to be the right kind of sappy song to leave you with a fuzzy feeling at the end of the service, and so it is no doubt sung at that time, with everyone holding hands and smiling at one another.  Yet, the sad truth is that we don't really feel towards each other the way the song suggests.

The verse goes: "I pray for you, you pray for me -- we're all a part of God's body.  Stand with me, agree with me.  We're all a part of God's body.  It is His will that every need be supplied.  You are important to me.  The chorus continues: "I pray for you, you pray for me -- I love you; I need you to survive. I won't harm you with words from my mouth.  I love you; I need you to survive."  Yet again, how often do we even take the time to get to KNOW each other in our churches?  Many come to a particular church on a regular basis.  Some may even tithe to that ministry and call that place their church home.  But they come late, and before the blessing is pronounced, they're out of there -- slipping through the side or back door as quickly as possible.  Actions speak louder than words, and what this behavior is communicating is that they're really not interested in getting to know the people at that church.  If this is the case, how are relationships going to be formed so that we can begin to pray for one another?  Bishop Ray said something so profound this past Sunday when he was ministering to us on the importance of relationships.  In the world, we are diligent in finding people who are like-minded.  If we like to drink, we'll have drinking buddies.  If we like to go to clubs, we'll have a crew we can depend on to go with us whenever we need them.  But when we come to Christ, for some reason we think we don't need this same kinship.  Some even go so far as to call it being "clickish" when they see groups of believers hanging out together on a regular basis.

On the other end of this issue, we see that there are those who take the risk of laying down their pride and joining in relationship with other believers.  They are the ones who become active and are quite faithful in ministry.  However, there is still a different kind of attitude in the way they see one another.  Rather than walk in covenant with one another, realizing that being in unity is not an option, there is a spirit of distrust and a quickness to form opinions.  We judge one another without having all the facts, and jump to conclusions, already having a "jump ship" button ready if something is said or done to us by someone in the ministry.  How come it's so easy to remember the shortcomings and faults of our brothers and sisters, holding grudges against them and breaking relationship?  Don't we realize that there is no way we will receive the blessings we need from God if there is a breach between us?  God won't even accept our offering if we have ought against one another.  Ecclesiates 4:12 says that the enemy's attacks won't even work if we are in kinship with one another.  So the opposite must be true if we separate from one another, right?

It is the strong belief of the pastoral staff at Abundant Life Ministries that we must begin to form sincere covenant relationships if we really want to see an outpouring of God's spirit and power in our churches in these last days.  Today's passage reminds us that as part of Christ's body, no one part can declare independence from another part.  We truly need one another to function properly.  It's NOT okay for the ear to say that the toes are not important.  The digestive system and the lungs can't gang up on the heart and begin to backbite it.  If the heart is weak, guess what?  The whole body will be sluggish and ineffective.  It's time to begin to restore relationships with parts of our body that have been cast aside, so our body can be whole again.  I'm so ready to see the 21st century church operate like the Acts church -- thousands being added daily, and everyone joining their resources together so that no-one is lacking.  But it won't happen until we all begin to say to one another -- and truly mean it -- "I need you to survive."

Prayer: Father, we repent for the many times we thought ourselves to be more important than some of our brothers and sisters in the body.  Flood our hearts with grace to see one another the way you see us.  May our lips be quick to lift up one another in prayer, encouraging and strengthening the weaker ones until they are what you made.  And You all alone will get the glory for this, because we will truly make You famous.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.