SESSION SUMMARY · • The story of the fall of Jericho gives us principles on how to walk together...
Transcript of SESSION SUMMARY · • The story of the fall of Jericho gives us principles on how to walk together...
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WE BELONG CONFERENCE
SESSION 3 — THE DIVINE FLOW
INTRODUCTION
• Godsavedusandplacedusinafamily.• Weneedtolearnhowtowalktogetherasone(takingupourpositions)andoperateinthedivineflow.• ThestoryofthefallofJerichogivesusprinciplesonhowtowalktogetherasachurchinthedivine
flow.
HOW TO WALK TOGETHER IN THE DIVINE FLOW (JOSHUA 6)
1. Victory Through Being in Divine Order (Joshua 6:1-21)Thespiritualworldisaworldofdivineorder.Thereisasystemofdivineordertofollow.DivineorderisGod’splanforourdeliverancefromtheenemy’splanbytherestorationofdivineauthorityandindividuallibertysubjectedtothisauthority(asillustratedbythebattleofJericho).
a. Walkinginthedivineorderofoneness(vs.1-5)God’sinstructionstobringdownJericho’swallsinvolvednotonlythearmy,
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KEY POINTS• Whenwewalktogetherinthedivineorderofoneness,inGod’spresenceandinsubmission,wecan
expectspiritualvictory.• Wemustapproachissuesandcriticismsintherightway-elliminategossip,adoptaGodlyattitude
andapproachtowardsdisagreementswithleadersBiblically.• Cellgroupsandministriesmustalignwiththechurchandministertotheindividualsaswellastothe
churchasawhole.• Planyour schedulearound thechurch’sministry seasons (eg.highevangelism focus inEasterand
Christmas).• Cellsgroupsdiscuss the sermonduring cellmeetings to alignwith and to foster unitywithin the
church.
SESSION SUMMARY
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but thepriests aswell.All of themworked together asoneunderGod.On the seventhday,everyoneshoutedinunisonandbroughtdownthewalls.
SpiritualWarfareApplication(SWA)– AnointingflowsdownfromtheheadoftheChurchtoeachmember(Psa.133:3).Weoperateinspiritualauthoritywhenwetogetherarealignedinproperrelationshipwithoneanother–justlikehowGodisinJesusandhowJesusisinGodoperatingasone(John17:21).
– Whenmemberswalkinoneness,weteardownthespiritualstrongholds.Thisistheruleofdivineorderandsubmission. Ifweare living inobediencetoGod’swill, thenwewillhavespiritualauthorityoverallourspheres.
b. WalkinginthedivineorderofGod’sPresence(vs.6-16)ThepeopleofGodovercametheseeminglyinsurmountableopposition(Jericho’smightywalls)bytotalrelianceonGod.ThefocusisGod’spresence,asrepresentedbytheark,whowaswithHispeopleastheyacteduponHisinstructions.
SpiritualWarfareApplication(SWA)– GodisaGodoforder.AsweseekHispresencetoknowHim,wewillseeHishanddirecting,arrangingandorderingourlives(Exo.25:21-22).
– GodisrevealingtheorderoftheKingdomandbringingitforHisglory.
c. Walkinginthedivineorderofsubmission(vs.15-21)OperatinginonenessandobedienceasthousandsmarcheddefencelessandsilentlyaroundthecityofJericho.Theyobeyedtheirleader,Joshua,andneverquestionedGod’smethods–whichwasanunusualbattlestrategy.
SpiritualWarfareApplication(SWA)– Christplacesmenandwomenintopositionsofauthority.Aleaders’authorityisinthespiritandtheirnaturalfunctionistoserveandtohelpothersgrowintomaturity(Heb.13:17).
– We must respect our leaders in their anointing before we canreceive(Acts3:6).InsubmittingtoGodandtheHolySpirit,wecarryagreaterweightinthespiritualrealmastheSpiritflowswithinus.We’llhaveauthorityovereverythingwithinourGod-givensphere.
– Theoppositeofthespiritofsubmissionisthespiritofrebellion.TheBiblecallsitthesinofwitchcraft.Weneedtohonourtheofficeofaleader,eveniftheleaderisflawed.Respectingtheofficefreesusfrompreferenceandthatfreedomallowsustodotherightthings.
2. Cell Group Structure• JesussetsanexampleofthebiblicalroleoftheservantleaderbywashingHisdisciples’feet(John
13:14).
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• Thereare5layersinthestructureofthechurch:– In-MostCore:EldersBoard&SeniorLeaders– SecondCircle:Congregational&ZonePastors– ThirdCircle:AreaOverseers– FourthCircle:CellLeaders– FifthCircle:CellGroups
• OrderlyFlow:Criticismsandissuesaresettledinward,whilepraiseandencouragementaretobeexpressedoutwardly,andineverything,wepointupwardtowardsGod.
3. Process for Resolution of Issuesa. PrinciplestoResolve:Issues&Criticisms
– Addresscriticismsandissuesinternally(inwards)withinthecellfirst–fromcellmembers,tocellleaders,toareaoverseers,thentozoneleaders.Issuesareresolvedinprogressivelayers.– Mostcriticismsareagainstasystemoraperson(s).Forcriticismsdirectedprimarilyagainstasystem,dealwiththeissueinternally(inwards).Forcriticismsdirectedtowardsaperson,thepersonwhoisthesubjectofthecriticismmustbeinvolvedastheissueisdealtinternally(inwards).– Undernocircumstancesshouldgossipbetolerated.Gossipiscriticismspreadamongotherswithoutinvolvingthepersonwhoisthesubjectofthecriticism.Itissinful,unbiblical,anddestroysunityinthebody.Whengossipisdetected,itshouldbeaddressedimmediatelybyanyindividualwithinthecell.
b. ExerciseEncouragementandPositiveEvaluationOutwards– Makeitahabittoencourageoneanotheroutwardly(Eph.4:29).Indoingso,itcreatesacultureofencouragementthusfulfillingthelawofJesustoloveoneanotherasHehaslovedus.
c. InEverythingPointUpwards– NoissuemaybeaddressedorresolvedunlesswealignourselveswithGodthroughprayer,relyingonHisdirectionthroughHisWord,andaskingforwisdomthroughHisSpirit.
d. WhatToDoWhenWeFindOurselvesinDisagreementWithOurLeader– Makesurewhatyouaredisagreeingwithissomethingthatpersonactuallysaid,andnotexpressingapersonaldispleasuretowardsthatperson.CheckitagainstScripture(theultimatetest).
– Refrainfromrebukingaleader(wheneverandwhereveryoufeellikeit)ifyoudisagreewithhim/her(Matt.18:15-16).
– Weallhaveourpersonalstyleofdoingthingsorpreferencesofhowthingsshouldbedone.Bysaying,“Idon’tlikethat”,itisself-focusedandnotaboutthemissionofthe
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church.Itslowstheflowofgoodideasandshutsdownconstructivecriticism.Italsomakesthedisagreementfeelmoreconfrontationalthannecessary.Whenwebanish“Idon’tlikethat”fromourvocabulary,itforcesustolookfordeeperandbetterreasonsforthedisagreement.
– Instead,wecanaskthefollowing:⇒ Howdoesthisfitourmission?⇒ IstheresomethingI’mnotseeinghere?⇒ Howcanwedothisbetter?⇒ Whatpartsofthiscanbeturnedintosomethinggreat?
4. How a Cell Group Relates with the Larger Church Communitya.Howdoesacellrelatewithothercells?
– Acellgroupmustorientthememberstothevision,focusesandministriesofRiverLife.
– Acellgroupmusttakecaretobeasgraciousaswecantowardseachothersothatthereisnocompetitionbetweencellsortheencouragementofmemberstomigratefromtheircell.
– Acellgroupshouldnotencourage“grouphopping”.– Acellgroupmusthaveconnectionwithothercellgroups.
b.Howshouldacellgrouprelatetotheministriesofthechurch?
– Thefocusofcellsistobuildcommunity,whereasthefocusofaministryistoserveandedifythechurchasawhole(collectively).
– Bepartofthechurch.Nocellgroupisisolatedonitsown.Beinvolvedinallchurchactivities.
– Beactiveinserviceoutsidethecellgroup.– Beawareofthegreaterneedsofthechurch.
c. Howshouldtheministriesofthechurchrelatetothecells?– Involvementratherthanjustrecruitment.Developyourmembers;notjustdeploythem.– Involvewholegroups(eg.families,awholecell,etc)ratherthanjustindividuals.– Creatingpresenceandrealconnectionsratherthanjusttransactionalappearances.Communicateconstantlywiththecells.
5. Two Cell Ministry Applicationsa. HighSeasonsforEvangelism
– ThehighseasonsforevangelisminourministryyearareoftenEaster,ChristmasandotherHolydays.Cellgroupsshouldnotmissthesehighseasons.Doyourbesttoplanholidaysaroundhighministryseasons.
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b. Sermon-basedCellGroups– Discussingthesermonduringcellmeetingsunifieschurchteachingsandsharpensthefocusofthechurch.
– Itprotectsagainstheresyastherecouldbemanypotentialerroneouspointsmadebyindividualviewpoints/interpretationsofthesermon.
– Itencouragescellmemberstobepartoftheworshipgatheringandnotisolatethemselvestojustattendingthecellmeetings.
RESPONSE/CONCLUSION
1. Wecannotwalkinthespiritofdivision,speakagainstleadershipandthenexpecttoseeunityinthechurch.WecannotoperateinthespiritoftheenemyandthenexpecttoseethepowerofGod.
2. God’smove is tobring forth aplurality of leadership to serve theworld, throughwhomChristwillgoverntheworld.
3. Leadersareservantleaderswithdelegatedauthority.WemustfightagainstthespiritofindependenceandstandinthedivineorderofonenessandsubmissionwithGodsothatweflowwithHisSpirit.