HOW TO HEAL A BROKEN BODY
Folks, the body of Christ is no different! The Bible tells us that every saved individual is part of the Body of Christ, 1 Cor. 12:12-14.”For as the body is one, and hath many members” So, since that is true, when there is an injury to one of our members, it effects the whole body of Christ. Now, I know that a problem in my life does not touch the entire body of Christ located throughout the world. What we need to understand is that this church is a body of Christ in miniature. While a problem in your life or mine does not touch the whole church around the world, it sure does have an effect on this local church.
Please note that the first word of our text is the word “Brethren”.
I. V. 1a THE BODY INJURED
A. A Stumble – Fault – “A false step.” This word refers to a transgression of the limitations God has placed on our lives. Literally, this word means “To stumble.” The picture is of a believer who stumbles, or makes a false step in his or her walk with the Lord. It is the idea of taking a step beyond the boundaries established by God and of going off into sin. James 1:13-16 “drawn away of his own lust”
B. A Surprise – Overtaken – “To overtake by surprise; to overpower before one and make their escape.” This word was used of a criminal being caught red-handed in the commission of a crime.
C. A Sorrow – Restore – “To set a broken bone or a dislocated joint.” This is a medical term that tells us specifically that there is a problem within the body.
Remember Achan from the book of Joshua? His surely thought that his sin was a private matter, or so he thought. But, in truth, his sin brought defeat and death to the nation of Israel. What he thought was a private matter had major public repercussion, Joshua 7:1-26.)
Proverbs 28:13, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” When sin is confessed, and it should be, just as widely as it is known, it accomplishes several things.
- It puts the believer back into a right fellowship with the Lord! (1 John 1:9)
- It begins the process of healing in the body of Christ. The other members of the body come to the aid of the injured part.
- It shuts up the gossips and talebearers – Pro. 26:20, there are some people who love nothing better than to tell the latest story of sin and woe. What these people fail to realize is that they are just a guilty as the poor sinner they are talking about. When sin is confessed and handled God’s way, the gossips have no more ammunition and are forced into silence.
I. The Body Injured
II. V. 1b-2 THE BODY INVOLVED
(Ill. When there is an injury in the body, the body responds to that injury. Ill. A backache – it effects every member of the body. Ill. Slamming your fingers in a car door. When this happens, every member of the body instantly gets involved! So it is in the Body of Christ. When one member is injured, the rest of the body is to respond to that member. Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”; 1 Corinthians 12:26, “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”
A. A Condition – Spiritual – this word refers to those individuals within the body of Christ who are living their lives under the control of the Holy Spirit. It does not mean that they are perfect, it does mean that they are exhibiting the Fruit of the Spirit in their walk with the Lord – Gal. 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
B. A Command – Restore – “To set a broken bone or a dislocated joint”. This word carries with it many word picture. Some of which are:
- To strengthen worn down people.
- To mix medicines to produce a healing balm.
- To outfit a boat, or put things in order.
- To mend a broken fishing net.
C. A Challenge – The spiritual believer is to restore the erring brother in a “spirit of meekness”. We are to look well to ourselves and remember that “today it is may be you, tomorrow it may be me!”
D. A Christlikeness – v. 2 – In this verses, the spiritual Christians are commanded to “bear”, or to help carry the “burdens” of those who have fallen. This word “Burdens” refers to a weight that is too heavy to be carried by an individual. The picture here is of an injured body part being unable to bear the load it normally would. - The Woman at the well – John 4
- The woman taken in adultery – John 8
- The sinner who anointed His feet – Luke 7
- Zaccheaus – Luke 19
When these events, and many others, are considered by the student of the bible it becomes clear that Jesus was consistent in His treatment of the sinner.
First, it should be noted that Jesus was always honest with them. That is, He never glossed over their sins. He did not pretend that their sins did not exist. Second, He always loved them and forgave them. Third, He always treated them with respect and love.)
I. The Body Injured
II. The Body Involved
III. V. 3-5 THE BODY INSTRUCTED
(Ill. Now Paul moves on in his discussion of these matters, to talk to the church as a whole, He offers some much needed instructions to those who are willing to hear them.)
A. V. 3 About Personal Opinion – The idea of this verses is this: Never look down on a fellow believer just because he has fallen into sin. When we look down on them, we are displaying an attitude that says: “I am better than that! I would never do what they have done!” The Word of God tells us that that is a dangerous attitude to possess! In fact, the person who thinks that they are above committing some sins is in great danger of doing just that! Notice: 1 Cor. 10:12; Pro. 16:18. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
(Ill. Simon Peter – Matt. 26:31-35, also Matt. 26:69-74)
B. V. 4 About Personal Obedience – The idea in this verse is that every man should live his own life in obedience to the Lord. When we do, we will be able to rejoice in a life well lived. When we live lives that are pleasing to the Lord, then we won’t have to look around to find someone who lives worse than we do to compare ourselves to so that we can feel good about ourselves!
(Ill. If I will please the Lord with my life, then I can rejoice in that life. Then, I can exhibit the love of Christ to others because I will not “rejoice in iniquity”, 1 Cor. 13:6.)
C. V. 5 About Personal Obligation – Romans 14:12 “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God”
This verse appears to contradict verse 2. However, a closer look reveals that no such contradiction exists. Paul is telling us that there are some weights that are too heavy to be carried alone, v. 2. However, there are some burdens that must be carried alone. The word “burden” in this verse refers to “a soldiers pack.” Our duty before God is to live for the Lord as individuals, making the most of our lives here for His glory!
(Ill. The whole idea of this statement is that in the end, it won’t matter what kind of life your fellow Christians lived, all that will matter, for you, is how you lived your own life! When you are through with this life, you will face God alone. He will not ask you what you think about your neighbor’s sin. He will ask you how you responded to your neighbor’s sin! I will face God on the basis of what I have or have not done. I will stand alone, and so will you!)
Conc: As I try to bring these thoughts to a close, I realize that this message has hit pretty close to home for many of you. With that in mind, let me close by telling you what I believe the Lord would have us do in response to this truth today.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.