The Church, the Fullness of Christ - 2/8/26 - Meadows Baptist Church - Pastor Charlie Branch

Welcome to the podcast of Meadows

Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. We're so glad you joined us

today. If you enjoy today's message, be

sure to subscribe, follow, and share

with your friends. Now, let's join

Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from

God.

Amen. Not going to put a damper on the

service, but um turn to Ephesians

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1 if you would please. And uh

not not telling you you can't testify.

You testify if the Lord is directing

your heart to do so.

Share this text with you this morning.

and uh

I uh was praying about the service today

and just kind of what direction the Lord

would have us to go in and uh

sort of gotten out of rhythm and uh

preparation. I've been able to study the

word and I've enjoyed that. just been

able to spend time in God's word, not

having to put a sermon together. I've

enjoyed that, but um you get out of the

routine of it, sometimes it gets

difficult and to get back and uh I just

felt the Lord pressing me to come back

to this this text and and uh this is

actually this this particular text. I

preached this text. I think it was the

third message I preached when I first

came to this church. Um, April of 2024,

I guess it was. And, uh, God put this

back on my heart again. And I just woke

up with this on my mind this morning.

Not this text, but this thought was on

my mind. I just woke up and was thinking

about the day and and u what service was

going to be like and just sort of musing

in my mind about

today. And I just this thought

overwhelmed me for just a minute just um

how much I thank God for the church.

>> And uh you realize what we're doing this

morning is the reason Jesus died.

>> Amen.

>> I mean just stop and think about that

for a minute.

Jesus, God's son, came to earth and

lived his life here on earth to die so

that we could be doing what we're doing

this morning, this afternoon. And uh the

truth is we take it way too lightly.

>> Way too lightly. And uh I want to share

this thought with you, this message here

this morning. Lord gave me some more

thoughts here in this this text. And uh

this is probably one of my favorite

scriptures in all the word of God. And u

I'm telling you, when it comes to your

life and mine, the only way that you'll

ever serve God faithfully is if you know

who you are in God.

>> And I think a lot of people don't really

serve God because they've never really

got a grip on what God has made them to

be and what he does for them and what

they can be. You see, everything in our

life is dependent upon him. We have no

ability to do anything in and of oursel.

And uh you cannot live the Christian

life by yourself. You will fail, fall,

and fumble every time uh that you try to

live the Christian life in the arm of

the flesh. But that does not that does

not do away with who God has made us to

be. And I want to read just two verses

for sake of time this morning in

Ephesians chapter 1 verse 22 and 23.

Ephesians 1:22

And uh I've uh brother brother Mike told

me that I had to preach at least an hour

and a half. And so I'm going to save

about 45 minutes of introduction and

give you about maybe 20 or 30 minutes of

message here. Amen. And maybe we'll have

a 15minute invitation. Amen. I tell you

what I'd be all right with. I'd be all

right. Somebody get saved this morning.

>> And uh I tell you this, uh you say,

"Preacher, what do you mean you'd be all

right with that?" Well, you sit all

winter long and all last year long lost

and here you are find yourself again.

and we've been out of church for three

weeks uh basically and you found

yourself back in church again and uh why

in the world would you wait another week

>> and uh I'm telling you I'm telling you

just get saved. Amen. And man, I

appreciate the testimonies and uh praise

the Lord for it. Ephesians chapter 1

Ephesians 1:22

verse 22, the Bible says in verse number

22, Paul writing here to the church at

Ephesus, he says, "And hath put all

things under his feet." I don't know

about you, but I'm glad that

everything's went on here lately in our

world. It's it's well in his control.

>> And uh let me remind you, he knows what

he's doing. Amen.

>> And uh Abraham said, "Shall not the

judge of all the earth do right?" I'll

say this, he'll always do right. Amen.

>> Hath put all things under his feet and

gave him to be the head over all things.

Notice those little three little words.

to the church, which is his body, the

fullness of him that fillth

all in all. And I want to preach on this

thought for just a little while. And I

was thinking about it this morning. And

you know the devil, when you preach a

message you've dealt with before, a text

you've dealt with before, the devil

says, "Well, everybody's already heard

that." Well, about half of you ain't

never heard this. Amen. And uh there a

lot of new people here. And I was

thinking about that just bless the name

of God. How many new people's come in

here since the Lord brought us here?

Amen. And I want to share this thought

with you this morning out of verse 23.

The Bible says we're the fullness of him

that fillth all. And I want to deal with

that thought, the fullness of Christ,

the church, the fullness of Christ.

Let's pray and ask the Lord to help us

this morning. Father, thank you for this

time. Thank you for the word of God.

Thank you, Lord, for this church. Thank

you for the testimonies this morning.

And God, I think we would all be at this

morning. We need some help. Lord, we

come to this place, Father, and we're

thirsty, God. I realize, Lord, at our

very best, God, we've been able to study

and pray each day, Lord, as we've been

away. But God, we are hungry, Lord, for

the preaching of your word. And I myself

am this morning. And and God, I stand in

desperate need of your touch. I pray

Lord for a little while God that you

would touch my throat God and and take

this uh chain off of me for just a

little while that I might preach and

give me liberty. Pray you give me power

this morning uncction. Fill me with the

Holy Ghost. Rid me of the flesh. And

God, I just pray you get glory unto

yourself. And we pray for all our

shutins, those that's homebound this

morning due to the snow. I pray you'd be

with them. And God, I pray most of all

for that one that's lost this morning.

God, I pray you'd deal with their heart.

And I pray you'd bless these that

testified this morning. I thank you for

the genuiness, Lord, of their heart,

their desire to be in the house of God.

And Lord, it's I it echoes, Lord, from

my heart this morning. I just want to

say thank you for allowing us to be

here. God, I know, Father, you could

have come in those days we were out. And

Lord, I'd have hated, Father, to leave

this world. God, I'd been I'd been

thankful to leave this world, but God,

I'd have hated to leave this world, not

been able to be at church. And God, I

thank you. Give us another opportunity

to be back in the house of God. and I

bless your name for it. Thank you for

giving sinners another chance to be

saved.

>> Amen.

>> And Lord, thank you for giving your

people, Lord, it's not right with you,

another opportunity to get right. And

Lord, I pray you'll help us this

morning. Get glory to yourself. And I

thank you for it because I love you and

I ask it in Jesus name. Amen.

>> Amen.

>> Ephesians chapter 1 this morning, of

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

course, the Apostle Paul is writing here

to the church of Ephesus. And in this

text I deal with normally in this

message I always go back to verse number

15. Of course he is writing this letter

to the church at Ephesus. He's he's he's

giving him them his desires for their

spiritual growth. And he begins here in

this chapter. He's going to lead up to

what he says in verse number 22 and 23.

But he he he knows some things verse 15

and 16. He he says in verse 15, he said,

"Where I wherefore I also after I heard

of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love

unto all the saints, cease not to give

thanks for you, making mention of you in

my prayers, that the God of our Lord

Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may

give unto you the spirit of wisdom and

revelation." And notice that last phrase

of verse 17, in the knowledge of him. I

want to say this this morning. Knowledge

has been cast down by a lot of our

independent Baptist churches in these

days. There's some people that would say

that, you know, it's not salvation is

not an intellectual thing. But I want to

say this to you this morning that the

Bible says faith cometh by hearing

>> and hearing by what?

>> By the word of God. And so if

salvation's going to enter your life,

the word of God's first going to have to

enter your mind. and from your mind the

word will enter your heart. And so if

you do not know that you're lost and you

do not know that you need to be saved,

you cannot separate intellect from

salvation. There must be a knowledge.

And Paul says much about the knowledge

of Christ in his epistles. He writes in

to the Philippian church in chapter

Philippians chapter 3 in verse number

Philippians 3 · chapter mention

10. He said this. He said that I may

know him in the power of his

resurrection and the fellowship of his

sufferings, being made conformable unto

his death. And so Paul, he he would know

him personally. And I'll say this this

morning, as salvation is a personal

thing, it is our responsibility

after that we've been saved to further

our knowledge of him personally. And the

Apostle Paul, wouldn't you agree if

anybody knew the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul

did? Paul was acquainted, very well

acquainted with the man from Galilee.

And he knew Jesus. And but he still had

to say at the end of his life down as he

had traveled many years in the ministry

for Christ that he wanted to know him

more. Amen. And he said this in that

same chapter, he said, "I count not

myself to have apprehended." He said,

"But this one thing I do." What what did

he say? face and I'm pressing toward the

mark for the prize of the high calling

of God in Christ Jesus. And what is

that? It's the knowledge of Jesus. And

I'll say this this morning. If you have

neglected to use these days that we've

had of rest to increase your knowledge

of him, you have failed your

Christianity. Amen.

>> If you have not taken the opportunity

that's been delivered unto you TO DRAW

NEAR TO GOD, I'll say this this morning,

that's nobody's fault but your own.

Amen. And I want to say this, you can

start today. Amen. But I I think about

he he would know he would know Christ

personally. He says much about the

knowledge of Christ personally, but he

he would also say that not only for

himself, but for the church, he would

say that Christ he would know him

preeminently. 1 Corinthians chapter 2

1 Corinthians 2 · chapter mention

and verse number two, he said this. He

said, "I would know nothing among you

save Jesus Christ and him crucified."

When when the world looks at at this

church, I'll say this. When I look at

this church, I desire to see nothing

else more or less than Jesus. Amen.

That's why I got brother Galen to get up

there and sing that song this morning.

Because the truth is many times our

conversations and sadly even our

testimonies are about us or about our

family or about our works or about our

blessings. And really that's not a

testimony.

>> Amen. A testimony is about

>> and him alone. Amen. And I want to say

this, the central focus of Meta's

Baptist Church, regardless of what you

think or how you may feel this morning,

is Jesus. And there is nothing that I

would know of this church that I would

desire to know than that Jesus Christ is

the preeminent one in this place in

every person's life. Amen. We're to know

him preeminently. We're to know him

personally. But I would say this. We're

to know him and praise. I'm reminded of

what Paul said in Philippians chapter

number three.

Verse number 10. He said this in verse

number Philippians chapter 3 and verse

Philippians 3 · chapter mention

number eight. He said, "Yeah, doubtless

and I count all things but loss for the

excellency, notice this, of the

knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." Paul

had attained much in this life as Saul

of Tarsus. God had given him a family

line and his heritage. We know that he

was a Hebrew of the Hebrews and God had

allowed him to be raised in that family.

He said, "But my pedigree and my

personality and even my person, the

gifts that I've been given," he said,

"Every bit of that dung compared to

knowing Jesus." Amen. Let me say this to

you this morning. Whatever you have,

whoever you may be in this life, it

ought to be counted but done in the face

of the knowledge of the Lord and Savior

Jesus Christ. The highest attainment,

the the deepest glory AND THE GREATEST

DEVOTION A MAN CAN know in this life is

to know Jesus and to know him deeper.

Amen. I like the old song number six in

the Redback himnel. I want to know more

about my Lord. I believe that was Paul's

desire. Amen. And I'll say this as the

church this morning. It ought to be our

desire to know him. And you say, "Well,

what is that relevant with the message

this morning?" Well, we're going to get

there in just a minute. But Paul deals

with the knowledge of Christ in this

chapter. And he he notes three things in

this chapter concerning the knowledge of

God. I want to give you these this

morning. Then we'll get into the

message. I consider first of all that

the knowledge of God according to

Ephesians chapter number one is given

through prayer. Notice what the Bible

says verse number 16 Paul says I cease

not to give thanks for you making

mention of you in my prayers colon that

the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the

father of glory may give unto you the

spirit of wisdom and revelation in the

knowledge of him. So, I would say first

of all this morning that if you're going

to know him, you're going to have to be

a praying person. Amen. The only way

that you will know the Lord Jesus Christ

is through prayer. And you say,

"Preacher, well, the Bible teaches us

that it's his word is how that we'll

know him." Well, let me just say this to

you. There's men in this world that know

this Bible backwards and forwards. And

matter of fact, the devil knows it

better than anybody does. But let me say

this to you. He does not know Jesus

Christ in a personal relationship

manner. If you are going to know Jesus

Christ, the knowledge of him is only

attained through prayer. James said it

this way in James chapter number one and

verse number five. What did he say? If

any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of

God that giveth to all men libery and

upgradeth not and it shall be given him.

And so if you lack wisdom, what is

wisdom? It's the knowledge of Jesus.

Amen. If you lack wisdom, you're to ask.

How do you ask? It's a prayer. Jesus

said, "Ask and you shall receive. Seek

and you shall find. Knock and it shall

be opened unto you." He said, "Call unto

me and I will answer thee and show thee

great and mighty things which THOU

KNOWEST NOT." WHAT ARE THOSE GREAT AND

MIGHTY things that we don't know? Well,

it's about him. Amen. It's what what is

the essence of what I'm saying to you

this morning? If you're going to know

him, you're going to have to spend some

time with him. Amen. Amen.

>> The knowledge of Christ is given through

prayer. And I'll say this, you ought to

pray for yourself that you would know,

you ought to pray uh in your own time

that you would have a greater knowledge

of Christ. But you also ought to pray

for others that they ought they have a

greater knowledge in Christ. Paul is

interceding for the e the Ephesian

church here in the text that that God

may give unto you the spirit of wisdom

and revelation in the knowledge of him

that they might know him more. Not only

the knowledge of God is given through

prayer, but it also has a glory promise

on on with it. Notice what the Bible

says in verse number 18. The eyes of

your understanding being enlightened

that you may know what is the hope of

his calling and what the riches of the

glory of his inheritance in the saints.

You seek to know Christ in his person is

to know Christ in his plan.

>> Amen. Because you can't separate Jesus

from his kingdom. Amen. The Bible says

in Matthew chapter 6 and verse number 33

Matthew 6 · chapter mention

to seek you first the kingdom of God and

his righteousness. Well, who is that?

That's Jesus. Amen. He is the kingdom of

God. And so, if you're going to know the

person, you will also know the plan. But

you won't only know the person and the

plan, but you'll know its power. You'll

see the express image of Christ in your

life. And so, there is a promise of

glory for those that believe. And what

is that? Notice it again in verse number

18. He said the eyes of your

understanding being enlightened. There's

some things that would be revealed. What

is revealed? What does he say? The hope

of his calling. What is that? That's the

expectancy of salvation. Let me remind

you that word hope in your Bible is not

the hope that we know in this day and

time. It's not a hope so hope. Amen. But

this hope is an earnest expectation.

It's a steadfast foundation. It's

something that cannot be moved. And he

said that you may know what is the hope

of his calling. That is salvation. And

then not only the hope of his calling

but what the riches of the glory of his

inheritance. And that inheritance is our

sanctification. You see it was for

ordained before the foundation of the

world that we be conformed into his

image. What did he say in Ephesians

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2 and verse number eight? For by

grace are you saved through faith and

that not of yourselves. It's the gift of

God not of works lest any man should

boast. He said, "Wherefore you are for

ordained before." Let me turn there and

read it. Chapter 2 and verse number 10,

for we are his workmanship, created in

Christ Jesus unto good works, which God

hath before ordained that we should walk

in them. And so his calling, his

salvation, his inheritance is our

sanctification that is preserved for us

in heaven. But then there is his power

that's mentioned in verse number 19. And

I want to remind you all of this has to

do with the knowledge of Christ. Look

what he says. And what is the exceeding

greatness of his power? Notice this. To

usward who believe.

We're to know his calling. We're to know

his inheritance. That inheritance that

Peter says incorruptible, undefiled, and

reserved in heaven for you. We're to

know not only his calling and his

inheritance, but we're to know his

power. And all of these are attainable

on one term. What is the term? It's the

knowledge of him.

>> Notice it again. Verse number 19. And

what is the exceeding p greatness of his

power to us who believe? Notice this.

According to the working of his mighty

power. Now, of course, he reveals

redemption in verse number 20, which he

wrought in Christ when he raised him

from the dead. There's redemption and

resurrection. And then there is

revelation in verse 20. And set him at

his own right hand in the heavenly

places.

Let me remind you, he's still seated

there.

>> Amen. Some of y'all look like you've

been sucking on lemons for about six

months. Cheer up. Amen.

It's not a sin to grin. It's not It's

not wrong to be glad. Amen.

>> Hey, I'm still saved. Amen. Hallelujah.

I just thought I'd take time out there,

man. Y'all looking at me crosseyed. All

right. Is this right? Amen. This

morning,

>> I'm saying this afternoon or whatever

time it is. Amen. On whatever day this

is in the month of February. Amen.

This is the power of God that is

imparted to us. It's imparted. It's

exclusive. It is given to us in the

knowledge of Christ. Everything in your

Christian life is wrapped up in that one

thing,

>> knowing him. And I want you to get this

this morning. He lays out here in the

text, verse number 21, that he's far

above all principality. Christ is

exalted. That principality means the

beginning of authority, the commencement

or the chiefs of authority. Of course,

we know that those are the minions that

rule in the the uh high places of this

world, the Satan's wicked ones far above

all principality and power and might and

dominion. That means all of those that

have authority in this world. And if

that's not enough, he says, "And every

name that is named,

Christ is above it. Everything is under

his feet. Notice what he says in the

text. Not only in this world, but also

in that which is to come. So it's not

just present, but it is eternally.

Christ is above. Notice what the Bible

says in verse number 22. And hath put

all things under his feet. So he is

sovereign. First of all, he's in

control, but under him everything is

made to submit. What does the Bible tell

us? that every knee shall bow and every

tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ

is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

The entirety of creation will one day

bow at his feet in submission to the one

who is completely and totally sovereign.

You understand this morning? You must

realize and understand in order to be

saved that Jesus Christ has complete

control over this world. I think we've

forgotten that in this day and time.

Amen. You say, "Preacher, why does so

many bad things happen?" Well, it's

because of sin.

>> Amen. And I'm going to remind you just

like we know very well this morning the

fact that one of these days God's going

to take it like a four cornered sheet

and he's going to pick it up and go like

this and all of it's going to go

>> and be destroyed.

You say, "Preacher, what are you saying

all that for?" Well, I'm reminding you

who he is. First of all, remind you how

that we know him. But I want to remind

you thirdly, who are we this morning?

Look what he says in verse 22. And hath

put him put all things under his feet

and gave him to be the head over all

things to the church. Now I was reading

this actually this morning and I was

looking at this statement. Now remember,

everything that God has has been

entrusted to Christ. Notice it again.

Hath put all things under his feet. But

notice that next phrase. What's your

Bible say? and gave him. Now, what does

the Bible say in John 3:16? Somebody

John 3:16

tell me. For God so loved the world that

he gave his only begotten son that

whosoever believeth him should not

perish but have everlasting life. Now,

if God has put everything under Christ's

feet, and yet he is giving Christ,

notice what who he has given to in verse

number 22, and gave him to be head over

all things to the church. Now, let me

just give you some sanctified

imagination here. Remove that phrase to

be the head over all things. Notice that

text again. And gave him to the church.

You know who the sole proprietors

of Jesus are this morning?

>> Do you realize that he belongs to us?

Amen.

>> You say, "Preacher, what's the truth in

that?"

God gave him to us.

>> God presented his son,

>> Amen.

>> to this world first as a baby in a

manger and then as a sinless human

living his life in perfection and then

on Calvar's cross as a sinless

sacrifice. And in heaven, he has

PRESENTED AS THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST WHO

MAKES intercession for his children. You

say, "What is that?" Well, every bit of

that is given to you and I.

>> Notice the verse. And gave him to be the

head over all things to the church.

And the Bible says in verse 20, which

23, which is his body, the fullness of

him that fillth all and all. Now, I want

to give you just a couple of things here

and I'll be done this morning. I want to

say number one, Christ is the blessing

that God has delivered unto the church.

You say, "What do you mean by that?"

Well, I can give you this example. First

of all, that his salvation by the cross

was given to the church so that we might

be delivered from sin. The Bible tells

us in Ephesians chapter 2 and verse

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

number 13, but now in Christ Jesus, you

sometimes were far off are made nigh by

the blood of Christ. And so the church

is the the purpose of Jesus dying. But

you understand that Jesus is this word.

And who has this Bible been entrusted

to? It's been entrusted to the church.

It's been imparted to you and I. It's

been written on our inward parts. And it

belongs to us. He has g he gave him to

be the head over all things to the

church. He is the blessing that has been

imparted to the church. Now I want you

to think about that. Think about the

gift that we have this morning. The fact

that Christ belongs to us. You say,

"Preacher, what do you what do you

what's the point you're trying to make

by that?" Well, if everything belongs to

Christ,

if everything's under his feet, if

everything has to bow in submission to

him, and then he belongs to us,

don't we have the most immeasurable

power

>> at our fingertips that the world has

ever known?

>> You say, "Preacher, what does that

mean?" Well, that means that anything in

the realm of righteousness you can

possess this morning.

>> Amen.

Ain't none of y'all hooking up with this

this morning.

What did Jesus say? He said, 'You have

not because you ask not.

And how do we know him?

Through prayer.

>> And he is the blessing. He is the gift

to the church. Not only he is the

blessing to to the church, and this is

simple, real simple this morning, but we

are the body of Christ. Look what he

says. And gave him to be the head over

all things to the church. Verse 23.

Which is his

body.

Now, what does that denote this morning?

Well, there's a figure here that's

presented. We are his body. As Christ is

the head, he is the one that's in

control. We are under him. We carry him,

but he controls us.

>> He is the head. We are the body. The

figure is of the of the human organism

that Christ is the one who in in

control. But he is the only one that

leads the body. He does not do the

functions but he is the one who leads

the functions. And notice that there's

the figure. Then there's the fullness in

verse 23 which is his body, the fullness

of him. Now that word fullness means

completion.

And so if we complete Christ, what does

that mean? We're perfect.

If there's the completion of Christ,

that means there is perfection. Christ

is the epitome of perfection. And if we

are the completeness of him, that means

that we too have been made perfect. And

how is that? There is completion because

of perfection produced by redemption.

>> We've been purchased back. And so

because his new life has been imputed

into us, we are now connected to him.

Who has ever seen? And let me just don't

get crude in your mind with me, but how

many of you know that a a body without

the head cannot function?

>> Amen.

>> That's right. This morning, it cannot

function. And so there is the function

of the body in verse number 23. The

figure, the fullness, and notice the

function which is his body, the fullness

of him. Notice this, that fillth all in

all. Now that means that Christ is the

one that fills all. Now, I want you to

think about this. All right? We know

this this morning. Christ is alone is

alone the one who can fill an empty

soul.

>> Amen.

>> What did John say in John chapter number

one? And of his fullness have all we

received. Grace for grace. He is the

only one that can fill the empty soul.

But what does this teach us? If he is

the head and we are the body, that means

that we are the means. We are the method

by which he ministers to the world.

You say, "What do you mean, preacher?

The church, the fullness of Christ,

Christ has no voice in this world

without the church."

Notice 1 Corinthians chapter 3.

1 Corinthians 3 · chapter mention

1 Corinthians chapter 3 and verse number

1 Corinthians 3 · chapter mention

five.

Paul said, "Who then is Paul? And who is

Apollos? But ministers by whom ye

believed,

even as the Lord gave to every man.

Notice verse number nine. For we are

laborers together with God. You are

God's husbandry. You're God's building.

So if Christ is the head and we are the

body, that means there's no ministry

accomplished

without the church.

>> You say, "Preacher, how can that be?"

What did Jesus tell his disciples? He

says, "It's expedient for you that I go

away." Why is it expedient? Why was it

expedient for him that he that for us

that he go away? Because he said he

said, "Greater works than these shall ye

do because I send to my father." The

ministry of the church would have never

been accomplished

by Christ as an alone man on this earth.

He has called the church to be the one

to make his ministry. Now I say this

this morning this message I've said

before that number one we are the

purpose why he died Christ died for the

church his death was to purchase the

pardon for the church first Ephesians

Ephesians 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3 and verse number 11 according

to the eternal purpose which he purposed

in Christ Jesus our Lord the church we

are the purpose why he died but not only

that we are not only the purpose why he

died but we're the proof that he lives

You know how the world knows that Jesus

is alive? It's because the church is

here.

>> And what did Jesus tell Peter? He said,

"Upon this rock, I'll build my church."

And what'd he say? And the gates of hell

shall not prevail against it.

>> Let me say this. As long as Jesus lives,

the church will live.

>> Amen.

>> And on this side, as long as the church

lives to a lost and dying world, you

know what that means? Jesus is still

living.

>> Amen. So, you know what that tells me?

It doesn't matter what the weather does.

>> It doesn't matter what this country

does. It doesn't matter what the

government does or the president does.

Let me tell you something. God's going

to have his church

>> somewhere, some way, somehow until he

decides

>> to take us home.

>> Because as long as Jesus is living, the

church is living.

>> You say, "Preacher, how is that?" Well,

we're his body. He's the head. If the

head is living, the body's living.

>> Some of y'all pick up on that in a

minute. Amen. Some of y'all's bodies are

dead, but your head's living. Okay.

Amen. Some of you's heads are dead, but

your body's living. Amen.

>> Do you hear what I'm saying?

As long as the head is alive,

the body's alive.

I'm not talking about this morning in

doctrinal terms. I'm talking about in

spiritual terms.

>> As long as Jesus lives, what did he say

in John chapter 10 verse number 10? He

John 10 · chapter mention

said, "The thief cometh not but for to

steal, to kill and destroy." He said,

"But I am come that they might have life

and they might have it more abundantly."

And on heaven's side, as long as he

lives, and he will always live, we can

live.

But on this side, as long as we live, as

long as the church lives, Jesus lives

amidst the lost and dying world. We are

the purpose why he died. We are the

proof that he lives. But let me say

this, we're the promise that he's coming

again.

As long as the church is still present,

you know what that means? Jesus ain't

come yet.

>> That's right.

>> As long as the church is still present,

you know what that means for the future?

That there's coming a day when he will

come back.

He is the fullness. Notice that in verse

23, he fillth all and all. He is THE ONE

THAT ALONE CAN FILL THE EMPTY SOUL. HE

IS ALONE alone the one THAT CAN FILL THE

GOD-SHAPED void that's in the heart of

every person. But the Bible says that

we, those who have been filled,

we are the fullness of him.

I wrote this in my notes.

We are the fullness

because he filled us.

>> We complete Christ because he completed

us. You say, "Preacher, what does this

mean for us this morning?" Well, CH

Macintosh said this, and I think this is

one of the greatest statements I've ever

read concerning the church.

He said, "There are three substantial

reasons for life of holiness." Number

one, he said, "I am not to dishonor him

to whom I am united." That's God the

Father. Number two, he said, "I'm not to

grieve the spirit by whom I am united."

That's the Holy Ghost that we are united

to God the Father by. But thirdly, he

says that I'm not to grieve the members

to whom I am united. Say, "What does

that mean, preacher?" Well, you're

united to God, but you know what? We're

united together.

>> Amen.

>> And here's the fact that we miss. You

see, we're united through the Holy

Spirit. We're united unto God, but we're

united united together as the church.

Ephesians 4 and verse 16. From whom the

whole body fitly joined together and

compacted by that which every joint

supplieth according to the effectual

working in the measure of every part

maketh increase of the body under the

edifying of itself and love. Do you

understand? When you are not present,

you know what that means? There's a hand

gone. There's an arm gone, there's a

foot gone, or there's a leg gone.

When the body is not together, that

means there's a missing part.

>> Now, what do we know about a body this

morning? Without all the pieces, it's a

lot harder to function, isn't it?

>> And the truth is this morning, we are

the fullness of Christ. We complete

Christ. Now, let me ask you this.

Does Christ go around with an incomplete

body?

The imagery of this text, Paul is saying

in verse number 23, he said, "We are the

fullness of Christ." And what does he

remind them of in chapter 2 and verse

number one, notice that first two words

of chapter 2 of Ephesians, verse number

one, "And you," who is that? That's the

church hath he quickened who were dead

in trespasses and sins. He's saying,

"You're the fullness of Christ now, but

you need to remember who you was."

>> You know, it do some of you good to

remember who you were. Amen.

>> You say, "Preacher, why is that?" It's

because you've become so judgmental and

so hyperritical

>> that you can't function in the body.

>> You can't function in the body. BECAUSE

EVERY JOINT, EVERY part has to meet the

need of the body as a whole. Without the

hand, there is no reaching. Without the

foot, THERE'S NO WALKING. WITHOUT THE

HEART, THERE IS NO BLOOD PUMPING.

WITHOUT THE LUNGS, there's no breathing.

I'm saying IT TAKES THE ENTIRE BODY.

AMEN.

>> Because if we're the body,

that means that the ministry of the

gospel is up to us.

What's the truth of anatomy? The head

goes wherever the body goes.

The head gives whatever the body gives.

In your life and mine, in the life of

this church, our purpose is is to

complete Christ.

And the truth is that positionally we do

complete him. But let me ask you this

practically. Do you complete him?

He says and and I like what he said. He

said there are three substantial reasons

for a life of holiness. He said I cannot

dishonor God. I cannot grieve the Holy

Spirit and I cannot grieve those who I'm

who I'm connected to.

Let me ask you this morning where do you

stand?

You see, the truth is for every one of

our lives, if we refuse to be the

fullness, that means that his body has

become disenjoined,

dismembered.

And I don't know about you, but I'm

about tired

of looking at a dismembered church.

Say, "Preacher, that's a nice blunt

message for you to bring to us on the

day we come back.

Let me ask you, is it the truth?

I'm tired of the church going around

missing a hand,

limping, cause the legs out of joint.

You say, "Preacher, what makes the

difference

when every joint decides that we're

going to get in line with the head?"

You know what happens when the body

fails

neurologically? When the body fails, you

know what's happened? It has lost

connection

to the head.

When there is no nervous system

connection to the head, those functions

of the body are limited. And that's what

we're seeing this day and time.

>> People that want to be a part of the

body, but they're not connected to the

head.

Let me ask you this morning, where you

stand.

You say, "Preacher, you don't know where

I'm at." No, I don't. But he does.

>> Every head bowed and every eye closed

for just a moment a time.

We are the fullness of Christ.

We are his body.

That means that we are the function

of his faith.

What he has produced, what his will is

is what we are to obey.

Sometimes we get ahead of him and we

stumble.

Sometimes we get behind him and we

stumble.

But at the end of the day, anytime we go

away from his his direction, you know

what happens? We'll stumble.

But let me remind you, you're not the

only one connected to this body.

And when you stumble,

others fall.

When you become disenjoined,

others become disattached. If you

realize this morning, daddy, mama, you

might be the arm, but what about that

wrist and that hand that's connected to

you? If you get out of the way, what's

going to happen to that hand?

See, the truth is for all of our lives

this morning, the understanding of the

will of God comes down to this, that we

must all be obedient personally

to him.

Let me ask you this this morning. And

you say, "Preacher,

I know I'm not right with him. Preacher,

I know I'm not right with God, and I

need to get right with God. Preacher,

would you pray for me this morning?"

Wonder if anybody be honest with God.

You slip your hand up and back down.

God sees that.

Say, "Preacher, I'm not right with God.

You pray for me."

God sees those hands.

Let me say this to you this morning.

You can make it right today.

You say, "Preacher, what's the

motivation to make it right? Why why

should I do my why why should I change

the way I live just to fit

those around me?"

See, that's where you're wrong.

And as long as your mindset you're

trying to fit somebody else, you're

going to be wrong.

The reason you have to change is because

he changed you.

And maybe the reason you don't want to

change is because he's never changed

you.

You're not really a part of his body.

Say, "Preacher, I don't know Jesus as my

savior. I've never been saved.

There's not a time that I can take you

to. There's not a place that I remember

where I asked God to forgive me of my

sins and cleanse me.

Say, "Preacher, would you pray for me

this morning?" Somebody be here like

that this morning. Preacher, I'm not

saved. I don't know God.

Preacher, I'm not saved.

Anybody slip your hand up and right back

down. I'll pray for you this morning.

Let me say this. Jesus is right for

whatever's wrong.

Some of you that are cold and hard and

bitter,

you make the body real stiff.

You need to get right with him today.

Father,

Lord, I know this service has been real

different,

but God, I believe this is what you put

on my heart.

And Lord, just as much as we're

connected to you as the church, Lord,

we're also connected to each other,

Lord, brothers and sisters in Christ.

And God, when one brother, sister gets

out of line and out of joint, father, it

hinders the rest of the body.

Lord, the body becomes broken because of

those that are out of joint.

Lord, I pray this morning, God, that

those that are out of joint or out not

right with you, I pray they'd get right

with you today.

Whatever the need is, Lord, I pray.

Please, Father, help and meet the need.

But I would love to shouted and swung

from the chandeliers today,

but God, this is what I know.

Lord, you'd rather give us what we need

that we can get help from,

we can be strengthened from. We can go

forward for you, Lord, than just give us

a little comfort to go on. Lord, I don't

want a seditive,

God. I want surgery.

I want I don't want something to just

ease the pain, but God, I want you to

deal with the problem.

And Lord, I pray that you deal with

whatever's present here. Lord, I don't

know what it is, but God, you do. And I

just pray you'd work it out.

I pray for that one that's here today

and lost. I pray they'd get right with

you, get saved, trust you before it's

too late.

Lord, I thank you so much for being so

good,

for blessing us so abundantly,

Lord, allowing us to be your fullness.

God, I have fell short every day. But

God, I'm thankful. Lord, you still say

that you complete me and I love you,

Lord. And I thank you for that promise

today

and I give you praise.

Please help our church in the days to

come. We'll give you thanks. We ask it

in Jesus name. Amen.

>> Thank you for joining our service today.

We'd love it if you'd join us in person

the next time you are able at Meadows

Baptist Church. Our physical address is

2988 Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. Our service times are Sunday

school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning

worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening

worship at 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday

evening Bible study at 7:00 p.m. For

more information, visit us at

meadowsbaptisturch.com.

Thanks again for tuning in.