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

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.

Friendship or Facebook

Real friendship
Proverbs 14:24
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
 but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Qualities of AHAVE [friend closer than a brother]
1. Deep relationship
1 Samuel 18:1
18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.
Do I have a have relationship with my small group? if I can’t deep with my brothers, how do I can lead them deeply? We need to learn deeper question.
2. Courage to speak the truth in love
Proverbs 27:5-6
5 Better is open rebuke
 than hidden love.
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
 but an enemy multiplies kisses.
3. Willing to sacrifice
John 15:13
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Remain in Jesus

John 15:9-11 NIV
[9] “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. [10] If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. [11] I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

What is the purpose that we need to remain in his love? Jesus is the source of our true joy and his joy to be in us.

1. If I have true joy, joy cannot be hidden.
Joy is not the absence of problem but the evidence of God present.
Psalm 4:7 NIV
[7] Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. [8] In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Joy came from God.
Joy is not equal to happiness.

James 1:2-4 NIV
[2] Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. [4] Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Proverbs 17:22 NIV
[22] A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
People who are cheerful able to heal people around them but crush spirit always dries people up, even surrounding happiness will be sucked by crushed spirit.

2. Joy cannot be fake
Joker, bad character from batman, has appear to be smiling but deep down in our heart we are hurting, crying and destroyed.

Psalm 32:3-5 NIV
[3] When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. [4] For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. [5] Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Proverbs 28:13 NIV
[13] Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
We need to be open about our struggle, open about your life, obey the word then you will have joy as god will come to life.