Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 12:18; Rom. 12:3; 2 Cor. 10:13; Eph. 4:7, 16

Ⅰ　

As members of the Body, we must allow ourselves to be limited by the other members, not going beyond our measure:

A　

God has placed all the members of the Body even as He willed—1 Cor. 12:18:

１　

The Head sets us in our special place in the Body and points us to our special function—Rom. 12:4; 1 Cor. 12:15-17.

２　

Each one of us members has our own place in the Body of Christ; it is assigned by God and should be accepted by us.

３　

Since such an assignment is according to God's will, every member is necessary—vv. 19-22.

４　

Every member has a definite place, a definite assignment, and a particular portion with which he serves the Body of Christ.

５　

Each member has his own characteristics, and each has his own capability; these characteristics constitute the place, position, or ministry of each member—Rom. 12:4-8.

B　

A basic requirement for the growth and development of the Body is that we recognize our measure and not go beyond it—Eph. 4:7, 16:

１　

We must be willing to be limited by our measure—Rom. 12:3, 6a.

２　

As soon as we go beyond our measure, we go beyond the authority of the Head and move out from under the anointing.

３　

When we go beyond our measure, we interfere with the order of the Body.

４　

To think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think without a sober mind is to annul the proper order of the Body life—v. 3.

Ⅱ　

Like Paul we should move and act according to how　much God has measured to us, staying within the limits of God's ruling, God's measuring—2 Cor. 10:13:

A　

When we give a testimony about our work, experience, or enjoyment of the Lord, we must testify within measure, that is, within a certain limit.

B　

Although we expect the work to spread, we must learn how to be under God's restriction; we should not expect a spread that is without measure—vv. 13-15:

１　

If we spread the work according to the Spirit, there will always be a certain limit—cf. 2:12-14.

２　

Inwardly, we shall have the consciousness that the Lord intends to spread the work only to a certain extent; inwardly, we do not have the peace to spread the work beyond a certain point.

３　

Outwardly, in the environment, the Lord may cause certain matters to restrict the spread of the work; the environment does not allow us to go beyond a particular boundary line—cf. Rom. 15:22-24.

C　

In the church service, we need to realize that God has measured out only so much to us, and we should not overstretch ourselves—12:3-4, 6a.