SHARING - THE KEY TO PEACE AND FRUITFULNESS
Sharing, the Key to Peace and Fruitfulness - Ps Seth A. Ofei Badu
Jesus said
His body was broken for us as the Bread of life from Heaven, which gave life to
all who ate. Believing in Jesus is equal to eating His body. All those who
believe in Him have therefore eaten the same body and have become part of the
same body, His body, and therefore have a shared life. Therefore Christ is in
all, manifesting Himself in diverse ways in us as in the gifts of the Spirit. .
Jesus’ typical habit of taking and sharing bread was a deliberate symbolic
emphasis on the need for the disciples to share their lives always. To be
fruitful, we must work hard also at our harmony and remain united. There are no
other options.
Main Reading:
John 6:1-16 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Jesus had
the typical habit of taking and breaking/sharing bread
·
At
the feeding of the multitudes (John 6:11)
·
At
table with the Disciples (Luke 22:19)
·
At
table with the Emmaus road Disciples (Luke 24:13)
·
At
the seaside with Peter and the disciples who had left to fish (John 21:13)
This
typified the Church
·
One
of the four cardinal practices after Pentecost, that made the Church grow (Ac.
2:42)
·
Part
of the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper
·
Jesus’
used Bread as reference to His Body (John 6:35, 41, 51)
·
The
Church referred to herself as the Body of Christ (Eph 5:23, Col 1:18, 24)
Obviously,
the Church had got the message that Jesus wanted to pass along through the
symbolism of Bread and His Body, that they could function well only as a team,
a family, members of the same body:
·
None
could function successfully alone (John 15:5)
·
Their
testimony could stand only if they lived harmoniously (John 13: 35)
·
In
sharing as represented in the feeding of the multitude, there is increase, enough
for all, and even more for those who were to come (John 6: 11-13)
·
No
one by virtue of his gift or ability can claim take himself out of the body and
remain a disciple (1 Cor. 12:14,15)
What do we share?
·
Possessions
– Be the one to take the step to give, not to receive
·
Our
Lives
o
In
Fellowship: Wait for the weaker brethren. Be the one to make peace and do not
wait to be apologised to.
o
In
Outreach: Follow the example of Christ (1John 3:16) Be the one to make friends
and do not wait to be approached (Matthew 18:15)
Promised Blessings of Sharing
1. Life forevermore (Ps. 133:1-3)
2. Fruitfulness (John 15:5)
3. Answered Prayers (Matthew 18:19)
Taking Steps to share
1. Accept the absolute necessity of
sharing your Christian life and ministry in order to be fruitful (John 12:24)
2. Evaluate your own sharing attitude
and practices in the light of what Christ gave and gives, and determines to
make up for all shortcomings as the Lord supplies grace for you to grow in
this.
3. Work at it consistently:
a. Make it a point not to offend people
and be the first to approach the offended
b. Give your substance regularly to
those in need
c. Make friends in the beloved and learn
to cover for their weaknesses, rather than exposing them
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