David Fuller International Ministries,Inc.

Members of his Body

Ephesians 4:11-16 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹²For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ¹⁶From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

None would argue the fact that Christ is the head of the church. However, we must be careful to remember that every believer is part of His body. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. ¹⁴For the body is not one member, but many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

The key to revival in these last days is for the church to function as the body of Christ. Jesus said that He would be with us always, not just when we are together in church. See Matthew 28:20 “..lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” He is with us all the time, so we are equipped to do His work wherever we see a need.

In many churches the laity depends upon the pastor or the evangelist to do the work of the Lord. This is a hindrance to what God desires to do. The fivefold ministry (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) must equip the laity to help do God’s work in the earth.

Note what Jesus said about the believers in Mark 16:17, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.” He did not limit these signs to the fivefold ministry; but He promised that all who believe could expect to see God work miracles through their lives. The Bible says that the believers went everywhere and God worked with them with signs following. Mark 16:20

The Bible teaches a divine order for the church. The pastor is the under shepherd to the Chief Shepherd. However, God twice said that He hated the doctrine of Nicolaitans. See Revelation 2:6,15. This doctrine was the suppression of the laity. The extreme of this doctrine is seen in the Dark Ages when the priest would not allow the laity to read the Bible. However, there are still traces of it in the church today. Maybe it is not a deliberate suppression. Yet, it does exist because the average Christian does not realize that the power of God can flow through them to do the works of the Lord. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..
” Hosea 4:6

A few years ago a man came to the Lord in the church where I was the pastor. He had been an alcoholic since he was a teenager. The Lord delivered him and filled him with the Holy Spirit. His grandmother was in a hospital over one hundred miles away. She had been in a coma for some time. He was not a minister, but he was a believer, though just for a few months. I encouraged him to go and pray for his grandmother. He went into the hospital room and laid hands on her and commanded her to come out of the coma. She opened her eyes and acknowledged his presence. She was not a believer. He gave her his testimony. She knew of his problem with alcohol. He told her to ask Jesus to forgive her of her sins and to invite Him into her heart. She did and God filled her with the Holy Spirit. She spoke with tongues and prophesied. A few days later she was baptized in the whirlpool in the hospital. Not many days later she died and went to be with Jesus. She would have been lost if her grandson had not functioned as a part of the body of Christ. She could not arise and go to church, but a believer went to her.

We are His body. He physically is absent from this world; but He is very much present in His body, the church.

Peter and John prayed for the lame man where they found him, at the Gate Beautiful in Acts three. Believers should be taught that they can function as His body wherever they are, in the market place, workplace, at school, jails, everywhere. This is how revival will take place, believers going everywhere doing the work of the Lord. I pray for people wherever there is a need and they are open for prayer. I have prayed for people in restaurants, on airplanes, and the marketplace.

Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. ¹³And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14.

It is time for people to be taught their responsibility and privilege as believers. It is time for every member of the body, both minister and laity, to do His work!

David Fuller