EACH ONE PART

David Hutson

1 Corinthians 12: 7-12, 18, 22, 27; 14: 26 Ephesians 4: 15, 16

I wonder for myself, beloved, whether I fully realise the implication of being a member of the body of Christ. Every member of our natural bodies has a function, and, may I say, a contributing function, to the well-being of the body as a whole. So one is concerned as to what one may contribute in view of the working of the body of Christ, concerned that we might all be exercised as to what we are contributing in relation to the working of the body as it finds its expression in our localities, as it may do as we seek to walk, as we often say, in the light of the assembly, so that we may experience something of what it says here: "so also is the Christ".

I read these verses because they seem to indicate that there is no member which has not something particular given to it by the Spirit. It says, "But to each", not to some, but "to each the manifestation of the Spirit is given for profit". Then it goes on to enlarge on it: "For to one, by the Spirit, is given the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge" and so on. "But to each the manifestation of the Spirit is given for profit".

So I would have to find out what it is that has been given to me for profit, for the profit of the body. I remember beloved Mr Percy Hardwick saying on at least one occasion that we are not to have passengers in the assembly. Every member is a contributing member, even the receptive members. These that are referred to as the eye and the ear are receptive members, but think how, even in a physical sense, the function of the whole body is impaired if these members are not in function. They are, in that sense, a contributing factor to the well-being of the body as a whole.

So our exercise would be, beloved, as to what we are contributing as we come together at a time like this, not excluding the sisters; their part is not vocal, but they are not here just, if I may say respectfully, for what they may receive; there is exercise in their coming. Those of us who have audible part in the assembly are thankful for what we feel in the way of support from the body of the saints including the sisters; so that in that sense they have something to contribute. They are not here merely receptively but contributively to the atmosphere in which the Holy Spirit may be free and operating among us, in which we may prove the experience of drawing upon the headship of Christ. Sisters are here contributively: we are all in it in that way. That would be the concern - as to what we may contribute.

So it says, "For even as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is the Christ". Having said that, the Spirit divides "to each in particular" - not to some, but to each. These words "each" and "particular" strike me in this section. It used to be asked in times gone by, Have we found our place in the body? Perhaps we need to be reminded of that. I am being searched myself as to whether I can really say that I have found my place in the body as to its expression in the local company. It says, "For also the body is not one member but many" (v 14), and then, "But now God has set the members, each one of them" - again that word 'each' comes in - "in the body, according as it has pleased him". So it is not in any way arbitrary, but God has ordered it; He has operated by the Spirit; God has set the members. It says, "But to each the manifestation of the Spirit is given"; it speaks of the Spirit dividing; but then it says "God". We remember who the Holy Spirit is and God is operating by the Spirit, setting the members, each one of them, in the body, according as it has pleased Him. Then it says, "Now ye are Christ's body, and members in particular", so that each one is to find his or her place and just what their function is in the body.

Of course, at Corinth there was Jew and Gentile and church of God, and all believers were together there and it could be said in a way in which it cannot be said now, that "ye are Christ's body". The apostle could not come into this company as gathered tonight and say, "ye are Christ's body", but nevertheless, what it says, that we are members in particular, remains, so that there is to be functioning as we come together.

Hence I read in chapter 14: ''What is it then, brethren? whenever ye come together, each of you" - that word 'each' comes in again - "each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to edification". It is a question of what we have when we come together. It is not that we necessarily contribute what we have, but we have something, and it is available in the way of substance. We may have some impression but may not give expression to it; we just have to wait. A brother whom we value said that he had a word once and held it for a year before bringing it forward, but he had it all that time: each one of you has something. It says also as to "a revelation to another sitting there" (v 30). Something may come as a result of the hymn or the prayer, something coming in at the time for which we are glad to make room, but the great point is that each one of us has something as we come together. So we come together as contributors. We come together to hear what the Lord would say to us and that is right, but what are we contributing to the atmosphere, to the working, to the functioning of things, in view of that word coming, in view of the Lord being free among us and the Holy Spirit in liberty so that the word may come?

But, as we are often reminded, in Ephesians it is a different matter, speaking of the body in relation to the Head. In Corinthians we have certain things like the eye and the ear which are part of the head, so that it is a different thing; it is just the natural and physical body being brought forward to illustrate the working of things in the locality. But now in Ephesians it says, "but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to him in all things, who is the head, the Christ". What a wonderful thing that is - all that would come in as we make way for Him and as we are all in our places and functioning and available. It would all be coming in from Himself, as it says, "from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to the working in its measure of each one part" - again "each" comes in. The body of Christ on earth at the present time comprises every believer indwelt by the Spirit; we cannot see it, but Christ can see it, and the Holy Spirit can see it. The chapter opens with "using diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace" (v 3), so we would always have before us every member of the body. Our hearts have been enlarged of late to see the expansiveness of what the Lord has here in His body, in every member; so few are available to us, we have to own that, but thank God for those that are available in whom we can work out these things together, "holding the truth in love". And then, "the working in its measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love". Well, that is wonderful. I believe it is working at the present time: "works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love". The body in this sense comprises every believer. It is a wonderful thing that, as we are each functioning in our own part as members of the body of Christ in this setting, there is that which is working for the increase of the body. Although all the members are not available, divisions having come in, there is no breakdown in the body. The house is in ruins, but the body is held together by the Spirit, in the unity of the Spirit, but it says it "works for itself the increase of the body". I believe, as every member is functioning, there is, can I say carefully, more of the body available in expression for the heart of Christ. It makes more room for the Spirit. It is "the increase of the body to its self-building up in love".

I just have the impression, dear brethren, that we need to realise, as forming part of the assembly, that anything which is added to us on an occasion like this is for the increase of the body, that is the body as a whole, and anything which is added in the way of substance is all adding to that glorious vessel which is soon going to come down out of the heaven from God having the glory of God. It is not simply what I may acquire myself. There is that which is formative in each one of us, but what is being formed in each one of us is in view of what is going to be brought into display in that glorious vessel. So we can look beyond the breakdown and the ruin and see that there is here actually - may I say simply in this very room if anything is added tonight in substance to any one of us? - there is something which is being added which is going to come out in display in that glorious vessel so soon. I believe we need to keep these large thoughts before us, and it works out and stands related to "the working in its measure of each one part". We all have a measure. There is the working of things in our localities and what we can bring and what we contribute, but then there is the wider sphere in which it is working, and working in view of there being more for the heart of Christ in relation to His body at the present time and more added in relation to that glorious vessel which is soon going to come out of the heaven from God having His glory.

May we keep these large thoughts before us and may they help us to find our part contributively in what is here in the light of these things at the present time. In the Name of the Lord Jesus.

 

LONDON

19 February 1991