God's Economy - January 19, 2025

When you think about the body the way God has made it it truly is an economy you need one to balance with the other to get the job done so that it might equal what is required of it upon close examination of what Paul has written here I think that we could all probably think about the human body our body and the way it is organized as well now that we are into January 2025 I think most of us have had that opportunity to share with friends or family what our New Year's resolutions are going to

be if you read up on that I think you find that up at the top of the list for most people especially in the United States losing weight and getting healthy seem to be right up there as something that most of us want to do it is wonderful isn't it that God made us in a state of change that these bodies and our lives are always changing our very bodies the cells within it everything about us is changing and I have even read that our entire body our skin which is a living organ changes completely within 21

days all of the cells that are renewing it is no wonder that we serve a god of change a God who loves us so much that sees us and loves us as we are right now God loves you but God also knows what you can become and there's music Heavenly music that's okay I had someone with a ringtone of r i I think we would all have to stand and salute or something but God did make us to be able to change and that is the beauty of our creation the fact that in God's economy God chose to do his work to build his

kingdom to change this world to let people know that God wants you to be a part of his family even us we Sinners that we are because the Apostle Paul also called us out in the Book of Romans and said that we all sin and fall short of God's expectations for our life but he doesn't give give up on you or me God knows that you can be transformed by the working of the holy spirit in your life so let's think about that in terms of the body of Christ This is not just you as an individual because you see when we are

together Christ put us together to be a community to be a body we need each other because none of us by ourselves can do everything we need one another I look out at you and I see so many people beautiful people that God has made you have been given gifts and talents you've been given you've been given experiences you have abilities that we need God needs here at this church take take a look around at the body of Christ now choir you're in a position position where everybody is looking at you so

don't just look at the choir if you can in a very indiscret way kind of look over your shoulder and take a look at the body of Christ around you aren't we beautiful aren't we wonderful the way God has created us and more importantly God has called us here to this place in Mount Dora Florida for this particular particular time in all of creation so that we might do the Lord's will here and be the body of Christ be live out being the body of Christ now let's think for a minute what it takes to be a body to be a healthy

body well first of all to be a healthy body you need for all of the parts of your body to be working correctly because those of us who have gone to the doctor or gotten your blood drawn you know if one of those areas isn't working as it should then you are going to have illness and sickness and the doctor is going to have to give you some advice on how to bring everything back into equilibrium as the body of Christ we must live as one Cooperative body all of us doing our part because we are all

needed there's a liic that says this that conveys somewhat of this what can happen if we don't act as a body of Christ there once were two cats from Kil karney each thought there was one cat too many they fought and they spit they clawed and they bit till instead of two cats there weren't any as one scholar once said remember that when Jesus prayed for the church he prayed that they may be one they may be one now he wasn't speaking just about the Presbyterians he was talking about the body of Christ

Universal that we may be one even though we do things a little differently than our brother and sisters in the Catholic faith or in the Baptist tradition we who serve Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we are all United and Jesus wants us to be one one scholar said that Jesus called us to be one but Satan believes in walls Satan will look for ways to divide us and separate us and deteriorate the work that God wants to do do through us now here's where I need to speak to you I did this at the 9:00 so you know I I

said the very same thing to them but I received a very distressing message recently that there are those at the 11:00 service and the 9:00 service that see themselves as we go to the 11:00 service they go to the 9:00 service and we are not the same my friends that is not being one we are all the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Dora 9:00 11:00 all one church we will not let Satan divide Us by placing walls between us you see that's another thing about the body not only does it need to be all healthy to be able to work as it it

should but we know that there are these little things called parasites or viruses that can get into the body and make it very sick gossip division all of these kinds of things criticisms those are parasites or viruses that can make a church very very sick we know based on what Paul has said in the admonitions of how we are to love one another we are to be patient with one another we are to make make amends for one another we are to serve with honor one another now I know if the other person would just do it right

everything would be fine but of course that right means doing it the way I want to do it no no no no no we need to be patient and make amends for differences in the body Body of Christ certainly Jesus understands that we are not all doing everything as he would have us do we know that the way that we learn how to be the body of Christ is by living as the body of Christ experience in the Christian walk is the way God forms us shapes us leads us now that we are into to the New Year those of you who want to lose that 16

lounds you know that that doesn't happen overnight does it we as the body of Christ we're not going to instantly do everything as Jesus would have us do but just like getting your body in shape losing that weight you know by concentrating on doing the right things eating the right Foods getting the exercise you need and the sleep that you need day by day you start to see the pounds fall off you start to see your body changing the same thing is true with the body of Christ day by day as we live together love each other work together

make amends for one another support each other in love we will see that we will become a stronger church and we will start to see what God wants to do through the first First Presbyterian Church of Mount Dora my friends this is a wonderful passage for us to realize that we are a part of the vital work that God is doing and how do you know what you can do to get stronger in Christ go to the word he's put it there for you the Bible the Bible is God's Living Word it's not just like a book like you have on your Shelf

at home you know your favorite your favorite mystery novel The Bible is different it is dynamic it is alive it is working when you go to the Bible the Holy Spirit of the creator of everything is there with you helping you to understand and apply the word for your life how exciting is that I encourage you please get those Bibles off the shelf dust them off and start reading a little bit at a time or join our Chronological Bible study that starts up again no uh February 6th or join the men's bible study or Presbyterian women

any place where you can go to the word of God and let God speak to you and guide you as you live out your life and don't forget to talk to the Lord he's there he want wants to hear from you the Lord wants to hear from you and will speak to you as well I am so thankful that here we are as a family of Faith as the body of Christ what a joy it is to serve in the Kingdom together will you join me in prayer let us pray Lord God we do thank you for calling us as a body may we be healthy always looking to

you to guide us shape us Lord help us to become more and more like you every single day of our life.