Christ the Head, Church the Body #4 — Stephen Kaung

Will you please turn to Acts, the book of Acts. Chapter two, we'll read from verse 42 through verse 47. Chapter two, verse 42. And they persevere in the teaching and fellowship of the Apostles in breaking of bread and prayers.

And fear was upon every soul and many wonders and signs took place through the Apostles' means. And all that believed were together and had all things common. And so their possessions and substance and distributed them to all according as anyone might have need.

And every day being constantly in the temple with one accord and breaking bread in the house, they received their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. Praising God and having labor, favor with all the people.

And the Lord added daily those that were Romans, chapter 12, Romans chapter 12. We'll read from verse 3. For I say through the grace which has been given to me, one that is among you, not to be high thoughts above what he should think, but to think so as to be wise, as God has dealt to each a measure of faith.

The Church as One Body in Christ

For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same. Thus we, being many, are one body in Christ, and each one. But having different gifts, according to the grace which has been given to us, whether it be prophesy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.

Or service, let us occupy ourselves in service, or he that teaches in teaching. Or he that exhorts in exhortation, he that gives in simplicity, he that leads with diligence. Let love be unfading, abhorring evil, cleaving to good.

As to brotherly love, kindly affection towards one another. As to honor, ease taking the lead in paying it to the other. We'll read verse 11. As to diligent zealousness, not slothful, may we have a word of prayer.

Dear Lord, our hearts are full of gratitude that sinners such as we were are being called to attend thy feast. We do thank thee that thou dost give thyself to us in such a way. Lord, what can we say? We just want to tell thee how much we appreciate thee.

We do pray that all thy purposes, that thou hast purpose concerning us, will be fully fulfilled. It is not for our sake, but Lord, it is for thy sake. If there is anything yet being undone, may thy Holy Spirit do it now.

We ask in the name of our Lord Jesus. I find it very difficult to speak after the Lord's Table. At the Lord's Table, we have before us a demonstration of the theme that we have been fellowship with. At the Lord's Table, we see our Lord, how he gave himself to us.

He truly is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. And to us, he is more than that. He is the Lamb in the midst of the throne. His love has conquered us, and we cannot but worship him. Jesus is truly Lord.

At the table, we break the same bread. Though we are many, yet we are one bread. We communed fellowship with one another in love. Dear brothers and sisters, the head, we see it this morning. And I hope in our spirit, we do see it.

I recall at the beginning of the 18th century, there was persecution in Europe. And many believers had to flee for their lives. A man by the name of Zinzendorf, he opened his estate to receive those refugees.

These refugees came from different countries, with different backgrounds. They all loved the Lord. And because of the Lord, they forsook everything. Now these people gathered together in debt. All gathered together while they were at the table.

The love of Christ embraced one another, confessed to one another. And on that day became, from that body, the Moravians, the Gospel. I always long to see when God's people are together at the table. That his love will meld us together.

And may the Lord show mercy to us. If you look into the heart of God, what do you see there? You see only one thing. His beloved Son. In the center of God's heart, there is. You cannot see anything else.

Everything is for his Son. His Son is the heir of all things. And all things will be summed up in him. Dear brothers and sisters, have we seen the heart of God? But if you look into the heart of God, into the heart of our Lord Jesus, what do you see there?

You see the Church. He loved the Church. And gave himself. This is the mystery of how we need to love Christ. Because he is the one whom the Father loved. And how we need to love. Because this is what our Lord loved.

Christ the Head and the Church as His Body

So what we are fellowshipping together is not something. It is something that should occupy our whole life. By doing that, we really not only know our God, but we also. Even though my responsibility is on the body.

But I want brothers and sisters to understand that we should never, never lose sight. We do not want to see the body bigger than the head. Because this is an object of our life. Because this is an affront to God.

We need to see Christ. He should occupy our whole being. And only in Christ Jesus we see. So always remember. This is something we should never, never forget. We only see the body through the head. The body comes out of the head.

And the body is. We have been sharing on body vision. In the road to Damascus, the apostle Paul was given that heavenly vision. In that vision, first of all, he did not see first Jesus of Nazareth. And to him, this Damascus vision is for everyone.

Dear brothers and sisters, He is the Lord. He is your Lord. Your whole life. Because He is with you. This vision should always be a thank God. So according to Luke. Incarnated body. Began to teach incarnated body.

Now he is going to write another. It's a continuation of the first one. The Lord Jesus continues to do. But it is in a different body. Not only belong to the Lord. We have a direct. So with the vision comes the calling.

Something for us to see. The very vision. Something being added. Because when God created man. Of life into. Christ. Together. As the body of Christ. To live out. All the riches of Christ. And how can one individual.

Contained. All that fullness. The body. That can express. Individual thing. Individual. It is very very limited. Makes the whole body. To live out. Contained. But also. In the beginning. The name Christian.

We call ourselves Christians. Actually it is a nickname. Give up people. By the world. So many Gentiles. Coming to the Lord. The world look at them and said. Who are they? They are not Jews. Therefore they cannot be considered.

As part of Judaism. Now who are they? So finally. They give them a nickname. Oh they are Christians. They are Christ men. Because. When they open their mouth. It is Christ. And when they gather together.

It is Christ. When they sing hymns. It is for Christ. When they pray. They pray to Christ. And they live for Christ. Occupied with Christ. So they are Christians. That is where. Our name Christians come from.

At that time. It was a shame. Remember. King Agrippa said well. With your little persuasion. You want to make me a Christian? That is a shameful name. But to us now. It is glory. But in the beginning.

There was not that name Christians over. Read the book of Acts. You will find in the beginning. There were followers. Of the Lord Jesus. And they were in Jerusalem. They were in Antioch. They were everywhere.

The Way of Life of the Christian Body

Now how. How would the world identify them? You know. The world always like to. Put a label upon somebody. Because without a label. They cannot. And if they cannot get hold of it. They feel a little bit threatened.

So when the world look at. The people. The followers of the Lord Jesus. At that time. How. How would they describe these people? You find they call them. The people. Of the way. In. Acts chapter 9 verse 2.

He was persecuting. Those followers of the Lord Jesus. Was persecuting followers of the Lord Jesus. Whom did Saul persecute? Now in verse 2 of chapter 9 of Acts. He came to the high priest. And asked of him letters to Damascus.

To the synagogue. So that if he found any. Who were of the way. Both men and women. He might bring them bound. To people of the way. This is being repeated. Several times in the book of Acts. And for your reference.

You can find that. Chapter 19 verse 9. Verse 23. And chapter 22 verse 4. And chapter 24. Verses 14 and 22. The way. The people of the way. The people of the way. Those who are of the way. Now what do you mean by the way?

Now in Chinese. Means truth. But here it is. Not truth. It is way. Our Lord Jesus says. I am the way. The truth and the life. So this is the way. Now what does it mean? It means a way of life. When I first came to this country.

I was meeting with a group of believers. And most of them were Americans. There were some Chinese there. So when I met with them. Often times. When. A few brothers. And myself. Were together. And we were fellowshipping.

And discussing. What should be done. And. The brothers. From America. They will. Tell me. This is not the American way. I often argue with them. I say it is not a matter of American way. Or Chinese way.

It is. Is it the Christian way. Brothers and sisters. You know. Every country has its way. And we think our way. Is always the best. So. But. Here you find our body. That is so different. From all the countries of the world.

It is composed. Of people out of every nation. Every tribe. Every tongue. But when they are together. You find they. They live a different way. Not the American way. Not the Chinese way. Not the European way.

Not the Asian way. But you find. They have a different way. A different way of life. The world has never seen such a way. It is different from every way. You can think of on this world. In the world. How do you see.

How do you find. You can't find such a way. And yes. Strangely. In spite of the differences of culture and background. But when they come together. As the body of Christ. You find that they rise above all these distinctions.

And they are not bound by any of these customs. And they all follow a certain heavenly way. Well of course. There will be some flavor there. Yeah. If that gathering is composed mostly of Chinese. Background.

Probably they will be more quiet. If they were composed mostly from South America. When they meet they are more lively. But whether they are more reserved or more lively. You find there are certain basic similarities among them.

They live a different way of life. So we are told that during the second century. There was some people trying to describe those Christians. They say now who are these people. Because they are so different.

Even though they live in their native country. And yet they are aliens and foreigners. They keep the law of the country. But actually they live above more than what the law requires. They live a life of righteousness.

Of purity. They love everybody. But they are hated by all. Now brothers and sisters. You find this is a way of life. A Christian way of life. And it is for all believers. At every age. And throughout the whole earth.

So the body has its way. We as believers. We live differently from the world. We live differently from the Chinese. We live differently from the Americans. We live differently from the Brazilians. And you find that.

Wherever you put us. We are different. Because we are walking the heavenly way. Dear brothers and sisters. The body is to live. And this is our testimony. We would like to go to the word of God. And see.

How is this way of life. And whether we are really living in it. If you look in the church in Jerusalem. Because. When you think of. This way. You better begin from the beginning. You find that. On the day of Pentecost.

There were 120 believers. Now these 120 believers. They had followed the Lord. Maybe for a few years. They were veterans. They were veterans. They were veterans. And. In one spirit. They were baptized.

Into one body. Formerly they were just 120 individuals. If you look at each individual. Each one. Is a spiritual giant. We may say. But now when you look at them. You lose sight of these individual giants.

You find they are. In 120 members. All the one body of Christ. When Peter stood up. The 11 apostles stood with him. Peter was the one who spoke. But the 11 stood by him. To show that we are one. What you say is what we say.

We are one mind. One speech. And then on the day of Pentecost. Three thousands were added. Now they were new believers. And yet you find. They were together. Whether you had. Believed the Lord for many years.

Or whether you just newly. Born again. You find they were together. And they persevered. They continued. In the teaching. And. The fellowship. Of the apostles. Dear brothers and sisters. What were these people doing?

Apostolic Teaching and the Unity of the Church

They continue on. With the teaching. And the fellowship. Of the apostles. Because at that time. It was the apostles who taught them. Now what is the teaching of the apostles? Here you discover. That the teaching is singular number.

But the apostles. Are trolling the mother. Remember. They were at least. Twelve apostles at that time. But their teaching. Is one. Not that Peter. Has his teaching. And John has his teaching. James has his teaching.

Everyone has his teaching. No. No. You find their teaching is one. It is true. That to each there is a specialty there. We say that Peter is the apostle of hope. Because his experience with Christ. He found that Christ is really his hope.

Many times he was disappointed. Many times he failed. He even denied the law three times. But the law restored him. His hope is in Christ. So in his teaching you find hope is very evident. You read 1 Peter.

And you find that. We say John is the apostle of love. Because he leaned upon the breast of the Lord. He knows the love of Christ so much. And when you read his gospel or his epistles. You taste of love.

Brothers and sisters. It is true that each apostle has his special. Specialty. Has his special emphasis. And yet you find the teaching is only one. Why is it so? Because all that they teach is what they have received from the Lord.

You remember the apostle Paul said. What I have delivered to you I have received from the Lord. The apostles have nothing of their own to teach. They do not have their own teaching. They only teach what they are taught by the Lord.

And the teaching is the teaching of Christ. But it is being taught by the different apostles. Dear brothers and sisters. You know even Martin Luther. He was very glad with Paul's teaching. But he thought James' teaching was rubbish.

He said he can fight the reformation with Galatians. But the epistle of James is an epistle of straw. How can you fight with it? He thinks that these two apostles teach different teachings. But thank God we know better.

We know that whether it is Paul or James. Whether it is Peter or John. They have only one teaching. It is the teaching of Christ. It is Christ. We know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. And here you find all these people.

They continue on in the teaching of Christ. Dear brothers and sisters. The problem today is. Everyone seems to have his own teaching. And you find some people say I prefer this teaching. And I prefer that teaching.

Some say I am of Paul. Some say I am of Harlow. Some say I am of Cephas. And some say I am exclusively of Christ. Brothers and sisters. Is Christ divided? Is his teaching divided? No his teaching is one whole.

It is so full. That it covers many many areas. And yet it is one teaching. So they just follow the teaching of the apostles. That is the way to live the body life. How do we live this body life? By the teaching of Christ.

Whatever the word tell us. We follow. And then we are in the way. You find not only the teaching of the apostles. But also the fellowship of the apostles. You know. Teaching alone. May give you the impression.

That it is something for you to think over. And to ponder over. But actually there is no action. But there is the fellowship of the apostles. The teaching has to be balanced with the fellowship. And here again you see the same thing.

But the apostles are plural number. Many apostles. One fellowship. Not that Paul has his own fellowship. So now you belong to Paul's fellowship. And you belong to Peter's fellowship. No. No matter how many apostles there are.

The fellowship is one. What is that fellowship? In 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 9. We are all called. Into the fellowship. Of God's Son. Jesus Christ. We are all called into the fellowship. Of God's Son.

Jesus Christ. We do not belong to this fellowship. Or that fellowship. We belong to one fellowship. And this is the fellowship of God's Son. Jesus Christ. That is His fellowship with His Father. And now this fellowship is tended to us.

And we are included in that fellowship. He shares His Father with us. So that we may know God as our Heavenly Father. The Father shares His Son with us. So that we know who the Son is. And what He is to us.

And we have a part in Him. That is fellowship. It is delivered to us through the apostles. Because in 1 John chapter 1. John said. What we have seen and heard and contemplated. And what we have known.

The Word of Life. We have reported to you. That you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son. So brothers and sisters. That they have fellowship with the Father and the Son.

They deliver to us. That we may have fellowship with the Father and with the Son. And we may fellowship with them. And we may fellowship with the Father and the Son. So it is one fellowship. Dear brothers and sisters.

Thank God. We can share together. We can be taught together. We can practice what we are taught in the fellowship. And that is body life. That is how we live in the body. And especially in two things.

They are very very demonstrated. One is breaking of bread. Dear brothers and sisters. Why do we break the bread together? Because the breaking of bread. Is not only following the teaching. But also practicing the fellowship.

Our Lord Jesus said. This do in remembrance of me. As we break bread together. We have communion with the Lord. And with one another. It is in the spirit. So brothers and sisters. The Lord's table is very very important to us.

Unfortunately you find among Christians today. The Lord's table is very much neglected. By taking part at the Lord's table. We demonstrate that we live in the body. We hold fast the head. We have communion with the head.

And communion with the members of the same body. Before we break the bread. This bread represents the physical body of Christ. And in that body. He was broken for us. It is a demonstration of his love for us.

He gave himself to us. To be our life. To be our food. But after we broke the bread. Even though on the plate. The bread is disappeared. But when God looked down from heaven. He saw the bread among the people.

Every one of us has a piece. And putting together is the bread. That is the church. One bread. One body. And we are all fellowshiping in that one body. Dear brothers and sisters. So every lost day. We demonstrate our body living.

And another thing that will express our body living. And that is prayer. Now the prayer here is not our personal prayer. Of course personally we need to pray. But the prayer here is corporate prayer. That we come together to pray as one.

And that is the prayer. If two of you agree on earth. On anything. And the Lord will hear us. Of course according to his will. So brothers and sisters. Again you find this is something being neglected among God's people.

Usually on the lost day. Maybe some people just come for the teaching. At the lost table only a few. But after the lost table when you have the message. The place was filled. And then during the week you have prayer meeting.

And you find only a few birds were there. Most people do not care about it. How can you say you are living the body life. If you do not join together in prayer. Brothers and sisters. It is most important that we come together.

And pray as one body. And these are the two most practical things. To show forth that we continue on the teaching. And the fellowship of the apostles. When you read chapter two of the book of Acts. What do you see there?

How these people live? You find that they were together. And they were not only together physically. They were together in spirit, in heart and in soul. And with one accord they were together. And you find they were completely delivered from selfishness.

Deliverance from Self-Possessiveness and Individualism

Self-possessiveness. You know a very basic human instinct is self-possessiveness. This is mine. It belongs to me. You look at the children. They are playing together. And they share their toys. But after a while.

You find something happens. And one child says this is mine. And another says this is mine. Now we have that instinct. To possess. But here you find something wonderful. They were all delivered from self-possessiveness.

They were delivered from that individualistic ideas. They were together. They share together. They love one another. They are one. They broke the bread. They met together in the temple. Most likely in Solomon's Temple.

Solomon's Portrait. And they met together at every house. They broke bread from house to house. And they enjoy their food with thankfulness. They live in such a way. That the world look at them. They have never seen such a scene before.

No matter many were added. It is their way of life that attracts people. More than just what they preach. It is their life together. That touch people's heart. Now that you find in the church in Jerusalem.

And of course Jerusalem has this peculiar circumstances. Because on the day of Pentecost. Jews came from all over the world. They came to attend the feast. But when they believe in the Lord Jesus. Many people did not go back to their home.

They all stay in Jerusalem. So those who live in Jerusalem. Will open their home. My home is yours. Come and live with me. And they share food together. And because of the need there. So some people will sell their properties.

So that the need will be met. Brothers and sisters. Whether we should practice to share everything in common. Is another matter. But during revival. Such thing usually happen. And if there is a need. Such thing to happen.

But the important thing is. Are we deliver from our individualism. I my mine. Are we so delivered. That we can see we are members of one another. And really love one another. Not in words. But in deed.

Now this is the Christian way of life. This is the body living. And when the body is so lived. It is so healthy. That it began to grow. Many were added. The same thing happened in Antioch. If you turn to chapter 11.

You find when the gospel is preached. Was preached to Antioch. In the beginning those Jewish people. Who believe in the Lord Jesus. They went there. They only preach to the Jews. But there were Greeks.

They were in Jerusalem during Pentecost. Probably they were devout Greeks. And now they believe in the Lord Jesus. So when they went to Antioch. They preached to the Greeks. And the Holy Spirit began to work.

And many turned to the Lord. So when the church in Jerusalem heard about it. You know they sent Barnabas there. I think it is very very interesting. Because the church in Jerusalem does not send John and Peter there.

And if they sent John and Peter there. Probably it means that now. You believe in the Lord Jesus. Now you come under our wing. We the church in Jerusalem is the mother church. Now your Antioch is the daughter church.

You come under our jurisdiction. No. They sent Barnabas. Barnabas was a Hebrew Jew. A Hellenistic Jew. And he has the Greek background. So he will understand these people better. And he was a man with big heart.

He was a saint. He was a person of consolation. So the church sent him there. Not in the sense of trying to absorb the church in Antioch. But rather to show sympathy. To show we are one. We want to help one another.

And Barnabas was a good man. And he was full of the Holy Spirit. So he helped them. When he saw the things he was glad. He was not envious. He was glad. And he encouraged them. To continue on. With purpose.

Abiding in the Lord. And the Lord began to add people in. And Barnabas realized it was too much for him. So he went to Thassos to find Saul. And asked Saul to come and work together with him. Now Barnabas was not going to say this is my territory.

But he was going to say this is my territory. So he went to Thassos to find Saul. It is mine. Nobody can come. No. He realized his limitation. He was humble enough. To ask a younger brother to come and help.

And for one year. They were with the people. They were teaching the disciples there. And these people believed in the Lord Jesus. They were so taught. They grew so spiritually. They manifest Christ in such a corporate way.

So the world said these are Christians. They earned that name. Brothers and sisters. We are called Christians. Do we earn it? Are we worthy of it? Sometimes I think I am not worthy to be called a Christian.

This is the truth. This is the body living. So here you find in the book of Acts. We have those examples. Oh how I thank God. That before the epistles. You have the gospel in the book of Acts. Because this is the way God always works.

He would do it first. And then he would teach us. To tell us what has happened. This is the right order. Because if you reverse the order. You teach first. There is always the problem. Of trying to put the teaching into practice.

By your flesh. And that turns it into law. And letter. And the letter kills. But here you find first the life. And then tell you what that life is. The potentials of that life. The life of Christ. The life is already there.

So everything comes out. Instead of put on. Brothers and sisters. Our problem is everything is put on. And it is not something that comes out from within. So it is man made. It is not a matter of life.

Living Out the Life of Christ

So here we see. How God's people live together. As the body. And then the epistles. Begin to teach us. Tell us what has happened. And we should follow. This life. Then life will grow. And grow and grow.

So then if you turn to the epistles. You find the epistles is full of the teachings on body living. Usually you find the first part of each letter is on life. And the second part is on living. And he does not teach us how to live.

Before we have life. Because if that is the case. We are not what it is. And we try to be like that. It is like a monkey trying to act like a man. Brothers and sisters. This is not so. So you find when you read the epistles.

First it tells us what that life is. For instance in Romans. The first eleven chapters. Tell us what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. What is Christ to us? And after we receive all the mercies of God.

Then we are exotic? No. We are begged. Are we just being exotic? Being encouraged? Or are we being begged? So you find in Romans chapter twelve. Therefore brotherly. By the mercies of God. I beg you. To present your body as a living sacrifice.

After you present your body as a living sacrifice. Then what happens? You discover. You are now in the body. Now how are you going to live that body life? Do not be high minded. And do not look upon yourself as bigger than what you really are.

But to think wisely. Do not think that you are the body. You are the body. You are only a member of the body. So be faithful as a member. If God gives you the gift of prophecy. Then prophesy according to the proportion of faith.

If God makes you an eye. Then look for the body. Do not try to be an ear. Be faithful. And according to the proportion of faith. If God makes you a member to serve. Maybe a hand or a foot. Then serve diligently.

Every member does its part. And it is all for the increase of the body. Let love be unfaithful. Let brotherly love be there. And let us serve the Lord diligently. Dear brothers and sisters. This is living the body life.

You are not just living alone. And everything is just for your own self. You find you are living with God. With the other members of the body. So we need to love one another. And encourage one another.

And if you continue on with the book of Romans. You will find we need to receive one another. As Christ has received us. To the glory of God. Brothers and sisters. This is something that we have sinned very much.

We do not receive one another. If our brother or our sister. Has a different understanding of the word of God. Or has a different experience than of ours. We say you are not of us. We have no fellowship.

We cannot receive you. Brothers and sisters. How we hurt the head. Receive one another. As Christ has received us. To the glory of God. If you read 1 Corinthians. Yeah we will say 1 Corinthians certainly does not tell us body living.

These believers in Corinth. They were so carnal. They live everything opposite to the very principle of the body life. But thank God. Through the negative we learn the positive. So here you open 1 Corinthians.

Chapter 1 to chapter 4. You find it talks of division. God's people are divided. Some say I am of Paul. Some say I am of Apollo. Some say I am of Cephas. Some say I am of Christ. Paul brought me to the Lord.

So I am for him. Some say Apollo helped me with his teaching. So I follow Apollo. Some say Peter is the orthodox one. Because he comes from Jerusalem. And he was one of the early apostles. And so we trace to the very orthodoxy.

So I am for Peter. And some people are superficially or super pseudo spiritually. You don't know. I am of Christ. Christ is bigger than Peter. He is more orthodox. He is bigger than Apollo. He is bigger than Paul.

I am for Christ. So you are all out. Is Christ divided? Are you so small? Paul is yours. Apollo is yours. Cephas is yours. Everything is yours. And you are Christ. And Christ is God. Brothers and sisters.

That's body living. In Christ we are one. Then you continue on chapter 5 to chapter 7. You find these people who are called Christians. They live to the shame of the Lord Jesus. They will sing in the mist that you couldn't even find in the world.

And they don't care. They sue one another in the Gentile courts. They are very loose in their living. Brothers and sisters. Certainly this is not body living. But what is body living? Paul said. Our Passover.

Now we are in the feast of unleavened bread. The church is like three meals. Offer to the Lord. So purge out the leaven. We must live our life as with unleavened bread. With sincerity and truth. Brothers and sisters.

This is what the church is. In the body life. There should be no leaven. All the leaven has to be destroyed. That we may keep the feast in purity and sincerity. So that we may keep the feast in simplicity and purity.

And then you find from chapter 8 to chapter 9. How the children in Corinth indulge themselves. How they want to enjoy life. They enjoy good food. They want to have parties. So they went to the temple and eat things offered to idols.

They thought they had the knowledge. There was no discipline. So Paul said. I discipline my body. To put it under me. If my brother will stumble. Because I eat meat. I would rather not eat it. I have to live by love.

Not by knowledge. Chapter 8. Chapter 10 to 14. You find there was confusion there. At the break of a bread there was confusion. Because in the beginning you find. They usually put the love feast. And the table together.

But the love feast became something wild. Those who were rich. They eat by themselves with wine. Until they are drunk. And those who are poor. They sit there watching. And after that they broke the bread together.

Isn't that a contradiction? So Paul said no. What we have received. And delivered to you was not that. Only the table. The love feast is another thing. The table. So from there on you find. These two things are separated.