We, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Romans 12:5 ESV)
The word or term "Body" is not mere metaphor. The members of His Body stand
in relation to Christ just as our physical bodies stand in relation to our own
selves – the means of manifestation, expression, and transaction. This truth is
very discriminating, and goes to the root of all matters of life and service.
"Working for the Lord," "praying to the Lord," etc., will be seen to have a
deeper law which governs their effectiveness. We cannot take up work for Christ
– plan, scheme, devise, organize or enter upon Christian enterprise
– and so command the Divine seal and blessing. We cannot pray as we incline,
even though it be to the extent of passion and tears, and so secure the Divine
response. Failure to recognize this is bringing multitudes of people to despair
because of no seal upon their ardent labors, and no answer to their prayers. In
the unfolding of the laws of His own effective life the Master put tremendous
emphasis upon the fact that the words that He spoke, and the works that He did,
were not of (out from) Himself, it was the Father both speaking the words and
doing the works.
So for all the future of His work He prayed that His disciples might abide in
Him. Thus the law of effective and fruitful life, service, prayer, etc., is that
there shall be such a oneness that we only do – but surely do – what He is
doing. We must know in our spirit just what Christ is doing, how He is doing it,
the means which He will use, and His time for it. Moreover, our prayers must be
the prayers of the Lord Himself prayed in us and through us by the Holy Spirit.
This is surely made very clear as being the realm in which the Church in
apostolic times lived. This
will demand a considerable sifting of all undertakings in the name of Jesus, and
will require that nothing is done until the mind of the Lord has been made
known. But this will secure a hundred percent effectiveness, and issues which
will never perish. For the practical purposes of God in this age Christ is the
One Body holding fast the Head, and the business of every member is to realize
more and more fully the meaning of this incorporation and oneness of identity....
Ours it is to see that we are utterly in Christ, and living by the Spirit. All
the rest will be spontaneous.