On the Team
Good Morning,
Most of us have watched sporting events in which one person dominates the game. Superior athletes are real; it seems as if something different was placed inside them at birth. We have also seen the amazing running back helped by the unknown lineman; the great batter still needs a good team fielding the ball, otherwise they would lose every game; even the superior solo tennis player must have a coach.
We are not all equal, but we can all participate and help the team. There is no star who accomplishes much without a team beside him. The same philosophy is true in the ministry.
Matthew 10:40 “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.”
vs. 41 “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”
I do not need to be the prophet, but I can be important in the life of the prophet; and in so doing, I gain blessings and rewards from Heaven. In a church, there is usually only one preacher; he does the majority of the preaching and teaching; but nursery workers are also vital if the pastor is to have peace and keep the attention of the congregation. Janitors, PA men, ushers who collect the offering, and musicians who sing and play all have important roles in making the church a great place!
Paul writes to the Ephesian church about their usefulness and the fact that every member is a vital part of the whole.
Ephesians 4:16 “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 unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Paul taught many of the same lessons to the Corinthian church, likening the ministry to a farmer who plants the seed and another waters it, but ultimately it is God Who makes things grow.
1 Corinthians 3:6 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
vs. 7 “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”
vs. 8 “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”
vs. 9 “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”
The fact that we are laborers together with God is a great thought. We need each other; we all have different talents and duties
1 Corinthians 12:4 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
vs. 5 “And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.”
vs. 6 “And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”
vs. 7 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
vs. 8 “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;”
We are all given different gifts by the Holy Spirit and yet, in the end, God is the one Who makes the ministry work!
In a team, a church, or a family, no inferior parts will be found. God blesses us for doing well that which He designed us to do. Faithfulness is what God desires, faithfulness to do and be what He designed us to be. Obviously, if a part is missing, the team suffers. We all matter far more than we realize.
Pastor