Build Bridges not Walls

1 Corinthians 12:12-31 NIV
[12] Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. [13] For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body---whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free---and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. [14] Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. [15] Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. [16] And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? [18] But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. [19] If they were all one part, where would the body be? [20] As it is, there are many parts, but one body. [21] The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don't need you!” [22] On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, [23] and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, [24] while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, [25] so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. [26] If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. [27] Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. [28] And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. [29] Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? [30] Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret? [31] Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

Human body is really complex. Every single part of body is connected. 

The most challenging in church, among obeying God commandment, overcome sins and also relationships among one another. Relationship is the most challenging because person is full of emotions and a lot of feeling inside. 

Despite all there things, we are called to love one another.

John 13:34-35 NIV
[34] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1. Bridges connect

It is about friendship, and it bring people together. 

2. Walls separate 

Wall separate. Whenever people build walls, it separate one party to another party.

Isaiah 59:1-2 NIV
[1] Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear. [2] But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

Walls will cause us lonely, as it build some disconnection

3. Building bridges of connections, acceptances and vulnerabilities.

Three things about human:

1. Different in characters
2. Emotional creatures
3. Sensitive

Known Only to God

Nehemiah 11:1-4 NIV
[1] Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. [2] The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. [3] These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem (now some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon's servants lived in the towns of Judah, each on their own property in the various towns, [4] while other people from both Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem): From the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez;

In this period, people are excited in a revival back to God. Nehemiah and Ezra did not do it alone. They were joined by a great host of people who dedicated themselves also to the service to God. 

If we want to serve, not because we want to be recognized but to really serve and giving our heart totally.

Nehemiah 7:1-2 NIV
[1] After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. [2] I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.

1. There are those who are drafted.

Nehemiah 7:1 NIV
[1] After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed.

Matthew 20:25-28 NIV
[25] Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. [26] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--- [28] just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

2. There are those who volunteer

Nehemiah 11:2 NIV
[2] The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

Volunteer requires effort, time, sacrifice, money etc.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 NIV
[57] But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

April Fools Day 2015

Matthew 5:22 NIV
[22] But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Psalm 14:1-2 NIV
[1] The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. [2] The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

God using word fool is pretty strong, it is not a good word to be used or address to one another.

Luke 12:13-21 NIV
[13] Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” [14] Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” [15] Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” [16] And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. [17] He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' [18] “Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. [19] And I'll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ' [20] “But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' [21] “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

He does not call him that because:

• he is dishonest.
• he is failed to plan ahead

In our society, this guy might be the one of very successful people.

1. A foolish person is a thankless person

Twelves time in short passage this man said 'I' or 'ME' or 'MY' or the like

2. Foolish person is blinded by lies

12 apostles does not have a place to stay, but this person having such abandon life, and yet he wants build bigger barn to ensure he can store more wealth.

3. Foolish person is forget about others

Verse 19. It explain that the person want to take life easy and it is all about him. He forget others.

4. The foolish person forget about future.

Verse 20. This very night the life will be demanded from you. 

The person is building something that only last temporary but should build something that last forever.  

Get Save Today

John 12:32-33 NIV
[32] And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” [33] He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

John 3:13-15 NIV
[13] No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven---the Son of Man. [14] Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, [15] that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

Only thru Jesus that we can get saved.

Numbers 21:8-9 NIV
[8] The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” [9] So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.