CHAPTER TEN

THE DIVINE DISPENSING OF THE ALL-INCLUSIVE CHRIST BECOMING THE FACTOR FOR THE GROWTH AND THE BUILDING UP OF THE CHURCH

OUTLINE AND SCRIPTURE READING

1. The all-inclusive Christ being the divine dispensing as the foundation for the building up of the church, uplifting and supplying the believers with the nourishing element for their growth in life-1 Cor. 3:11, 6-7:
   
   1 Corinthians 3:11
   For other foundation no one is able to lay besides that which is being laid, which is Jesus Christ.
   
   1 Corinthians 3:6-7
   I planted, Apollos watered, but God made to grow; (7) so that neither is the one who plants anything nor the one who waters, but the One who makes to grow, God.
   1. Not only as the foundation for saints to be built up-1 Cor. 3:12a;
      
      1 Corinthians 3:12a
      But if anyone builds on the foundation...
   2. But also becoming the divine dispensing which transforms the believers in the divine life into the precious materials for the building up of the church-1 Cor. 3:12b.
      
      1 Corinthians 3:12b
      ...gold, silver, precious stones...
2. The all-inclusive Christ equipping the believers with the divine dispensing of the Spirit who dispenses the spiritual gifts to the believers, supplying them with the spiritual capacity, for the building up of the Body of Christ-1 Cor. 12:4, 7-11:
   
   1 Corinthians 12:4
   But there are distributions of gifts, but the same Spirit.
   
   1 Corinthians 12:7-11
   But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for profit. (8) For to one through the Spirit is given a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; (9) to a different one faith in the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing in the one Spirit; (10) and to another operations of works of power, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits; to a different one various kinds of tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. (11) But the one and the same Spirit operates all these things, distributing to each one individually as He purposes.
   1. Not only having a part in the Lord’s ministry in the building up of His Body through the gifts and functions of the dispensing Spirit-1 Cor. 12:5;
      
      1 Corinthians 12:5
      And there are distributions of ministries, and the same Lord.
   2. But also having a part in the operation by which God accomplishes His eternal economy through the same gifts and functions-1 Cor. 12:6.
      
      1 Corinthians 12:6
      And there are distributions of operations, but the same God, who is operating all things in all.
3. The divine dispensing of the all-inclusive Christ in the beholding of His glory by the believers who seek after Him and serve Him, enabling them to receive His divine element and be transformed into His image from glory to glory-2 Cor. 3:18:
   
   2 Corinthians 3:18
   And we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit.
   1. Constituting them ministers of the New Testament for the building up of the Body of Christ-2 Cor. 3:6.
      
      2 Corinthians 3:6
      Who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
   2. Enabling them to bear the New Testament ministry which bears Christ’s glorious image and which dispenses Him-2 Cor. 4:1.
      
      2 Corinthians 4:1
      Therefore, having this ministry, as we received mercy we do not lose heart.
4. The all-inclusive Christ being the divine dispensing as the treasure within the believers in their serving and preaching of Him-2 Cor. 4:7a:
   
   2 Corinthians 4:7a
   But we have this treasure in earthen vessels...
   1. Constituting them ministers of the New Testament-2 Cor. 3:6.
      
      2 Corinthians 3:6
      Who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
   2. Enabling them with the excelling power to fulfill their New Testament ministry of the preaching of the gospel for the building up of the church-2 Cor. 4:7b, 2-4.
      
      2 Corinthians 4:7b
      ...that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
      
      2 Corinthians 4:2-4
      But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience before God. (3) And if also our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those who are perishing, (4) in whom the god of this age has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the illumination of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine in them.
5. The all-inclusive Christ being the divine dispensing as God’s sufficient grace to be Christ’s power-2 Cor. 12:9:
   
   2 Corinthians 12:9
   And He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ might tabernacle over me.
   1. Not only as the believers’ power for laboring more abundantly for God-1 Cor. 15:10;
      
      1 Corinthians 15:10
      But by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace unto me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
   2. But also becoming the rich enjoyment and harvest of the believers in their labor for God-1 Cor. 15:58.
      
      1 Corinthians 15:58
      Wherefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.