I always get very discouraged when someone shares their heart about something that is a problem, but they never give any solutions. It's like they dumped on me and really challenged me, and then......nothing. God opens our eyes to the things going on around us and when we seek and knock He will open some doors to a greater understanding of how to "fix" things with His wisdom. His wisdom is not short term, it is eternal. That's why we must get back to the place of asking Him for His wisdom and His direction. Today I want to try to give a glimpse of what happens when we get on His "bandwagon."
God has equipped each of us in very unique ways to follow His plan in reaching our world. In that plan He has some basic or foundational things that must be added to our daily life to get on a synergetic path to a whole new level of serving. Here is a good definition of the synergy I am talking about.
The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is
greater than the sum of their individual effects.
God has made us able to work with Him and each other in accomplishing His purpose for us and for His church. If we stop at US, then we are not allowing His wisdom to be complete. He takes the unique qualities of His people and fits them together as a catalyst to cause a spark that ignites His church to function in a very forward moving and forward thinking way. This is what I call Synergetic Service. Here is a cool verse that makes helps come into focus.
1 Corinthians 12:14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If 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? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
When all the pieces are in place a great "happening" takes place in your life and in the body. Everyone suddenly realizes where they are in this great plan and they have a desire to follow that plan wherever it goes. I believe the plan or vision doesn't come from a small group of paid staff members. I don't even believe this plan comes from a group of elders or deacons. I believe this plan comes from the church. Yes, the church. The leaders will be a significant "guiding" force in the discovery of the plan and the implementation of the plan, but they won't devise the plan on their own. What happens if one of them leaves? The plan goes with them and the next guy will have his own plan, which has a good chance of stopping the synergy if His life purpose is different. No, everyone bows to plan, which in this case, is actually bowing to God and His Word. Doesn't that sound familiar? You probably read about this overall encompassing act of giving God glory, reverence, praise, and honor in the Bible. You probably sang some worship songs last week in church that talked about it also. You probably had to bow before God in your prayer time at some point and just honor Him. Giving Him all this trust is not something we just sing about or talk about. We put it into practice through this Synergetic Service.
If we are going to follow His commands and as individuals be "the church." If we are going to invest our lives and our times into helping the church be "the church." Then the segmented attitudes and selfish desires of our hearts are going to have to bend to conform to His overall plan. Any other way of living or serving will not work!!! We have seen evidence of trying to fix it and continue to devise new plans that are short termed at best to "make it better." It won't work!
What works is each of us digging into the individual purpose God has for our lives and combining that with a servant heart that wants to join hands with other believers in following God. When we join hands in that way we no longer have an agenda. Our agenda is God's agenda. How do we start this synergy?
Pray for a servant's heart. A heart that is all about God and others.
Lifestyle that is Bible focused and world impacting. More God, less World.
Humility replaces selfishness. We bow to the overall purpose and God is in charge.
Belief in the fact that we can do more together than apart.
Living for the long haul. This isn't a fad or a trend. It is WHO I AM!
You say, "I'm not in a church that is planning or ministering in this way." Go to your leadership and say, "I want to be a part of something great and it starts today." If they look at you funny and don't give you some ways to serve out your burden, then you may need to search for a church that is following The Great Commission and not the great omission, because you may be wasting time.
If we are the body, why aren't his arms reaching? This is more than a Casting Crowns song. This is where the "rubber meets the road." It will never begin if you don't start driving. Synergetic Service is each of us coming alive and the Body fitting it all together to be "The Church."
The pilgrimage continues....
David Warren
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