Contact details:

1
KANAAN MINISTRIES THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST
PLAYS
Contact details 27 John Vorster St Plattekloof
EXT. 1 7500 www.kanaanministries.org kanaan_at_iafr
ica.com Tel [phone] Fax [phone]
Presented by Amanda Buys
2
THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Eph. 416 16 For because of Him the whole body
(the church, in all its various parts), closely
joined and firmly knit together by the joints
and ligaments with which it is supplied, when
each part with power adapted to its need is
working properly in all its functions, grows
to full maturity, building itself up in love.
3
1 Pet. 410-11 10 As each of you has received a
gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious
divine endowment), employ it for one another as
befits good trustees of Gods many-sided grace
faithful stewards of the extremely diverse
powers and gifts granted to Christians by
unmerited favor. 11 Whoever speaks, let him do
it as one who utters oracles of God whoever
renders service, let him do it as with the
strength which God furnishes abundantly, so that
in all things God may be glorified through Jesus
Christ (the Messiah). To Him be the glory and
dominion forever and ever (through endless
ages). Amen
4
THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
God does not give us His Grace through
supernatural zapping! God shows His grace
through His people. Sometimes people teach that
we dont need other people at all, that
Christ alone is sufficient or that His Word or
prayer is enough. They actively and directly
lead others to not depend on people at all.
But the Bible teaches that all these things are
part of the process of how people grow,
including other people.
5
THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Connection Peoples most basic need in life is
relationship. People connected to other people
thrive and grow, and those not connected wither
and die. It is a medical fact, for example,
that from infancy to old age, health depends on
the amount of social connection people have.
The New Testament teaches us that the Body of
Christ is a place where people are deeply
connected to each other, supporting each other
and filling each others hearts. This
connection also impacts people who are in
recovery from addiction or compulsive behaviour.

6
THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
When people are cut off from others and their
souls are starved for connectedness, the need
for love turns into an insatiable hunger for
something (sex / food / drugs /
alcohol). Ironically, one problem we often see
in the Christian community is that people get
more into religion and less into the
connectedness that the Bible prescribes.
7
THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Col. 219 19 And not holding fast to the Head,
from Whom the entire body, supplied and knit
together by means of its joints and ligaments,
grows with a growth that is from God. We need
to see connectedness as the foundation of how
people grow.
8
Discipline and Structure Self-discipline is
always a fruit of other-discipline. Heb.
1211 11 For the time being no discipline brings
joy, but seems grievous and painful but
afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of
righteousness to those who have been trained by
it a harvest of fruit which consists in
righteousnessin conformity to Gods will in
purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right
living and right standing with God.
9
THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Accountability Find an accountability
partner. The Body of Christ is the disciplinary
agent. Matt. 1815-16 15 If your brother wrongs
you, go and show him his fault, between you and
him privately. If he listens to you, you have won
back your brother.16 But if he does not listen,
take along with you one or two others, so that
every word may be confirmed and upheld by the
testimony of two or three witnesses.
10
Grace and Forgiveness Many Christians do the
vertical confession of 1John 19, when they
confess to God, but not to others. Grace can be
available to us, but we might not be available
to grace. We can be around a lot of acceptance
and grace, but until the hurt and guilty places
of our hearts are exposed, we do not experience
grace, and the gap between our head and our
heart continues.
THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
11
THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Grace and Forgiveness Gods uses other people to
dispense His grace. God made us stewards over
the administration of His grace. While the head
works with information gathering, The heart
works with experience gathering. To connect
with Gods love, we not only need people, but
also need our hearts to be available to those
people.
12
2 Cor. 611 13 11 Our mouth is open to you,
Corinthians we are hiding nothing, keeping
nothing back, and our heart is expanded wide
for you! 12 There is no lack of room for you
in our hearts, but you lack room in your own
affections for us. 13 By way of return then,
do this for meI speak as to children open
wide your hearts also to us.
13
Support and Strengthening When we support
something, we hold it up. Support is required
throughout the growth process. 1 Thess.
514 14 And we earnestly beseech you, brethren,
admonish (warn and seriously advise) those who
are out of line the loafers, the disorderly,
and the unruly encourage the timid and
fainthearted, help and give your support to the
weak souls, and be very patient with
everybody always keeping your temper.
14
THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Many people, however, find themselves cut off
from the church and the healing and protective
functions it provides. In their isolation or
at least the isolated growth plan they are using
they are easy prey for the gates of hell to
overpower them. The Body of Christ heals itself
just as a physical body does. The antibodies
against infection come in the form of discipline
and structure as individuals, who confronted in
love, help the person stand against the
infections of sin in their life. They put
boundaries and limits up against the evil.
15
THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Grace and love bring healing anti-inflammatory
agents to the wound. They mourn with those that
mourn. They bring teaching and truth to the
wound and help it to rebuild stronger cells
through teaching gifts. Many sincere spiritual
people struggle for years with problems they are
trying to overcome by Bible study and prayer.
Those are necessary, but that is not all the
Bible tells us to bring to the situation.
16
THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
The rest of the Body with all of its healing
agents needs to be added and then the limb can
be restored to health.