Every time the Lord sends a word to a church, a city, a person, a nation, or a family, that word is tested. Matthew 13:21 says "For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles." That means that the word will be tested!
As we learned through the scriptures from Luke 5 on Sunday, we can make it through trials if we have partners! Being part of a team, whether it's a marriage team, a learning team, a prayer team, a giving team, a leadership team, or a ministry team, will provide us the ability to do more, and not be destroyed by the test of fire.
Another key scripture to understand is Matthew 10:40-42: "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."
So, how do I receive the benefits of others making up a "team" in my life? To begin the journey, I must understand the meaning of the word "receive."
In the original Greek it means:
- to admit
- to show hospitality, credence, or endurance
- to await with confidence or patience
- accept, allow, look (wait) for
- to move forward to, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at something or someone
- to get hold of; not subjectively or passively, but more violent
- to seize or remove, accept, attain, bring, catch, forget, have, hold, or obtain.
So, Proverbs 18:24 becomes more understandable when I understand what "receiving" others into my life looks like. That scripture states "A man who has friends must himself be friendly." We must be active, showing hospitality, enduring, awaiting, looking for, moving towards others, getting ahold of, seizing, attaining, catching, and obtaining others in my life and in my local church community.
To sit alone, wait for others, or be upset because someone is not reaching out to me is not how I "receive" others in my life!
Life Center is growing. We are changing. We are becoming an army of saints who will accomplish the will of God for our lives. I don't like trials. But I am willing to let them have their work in my so I can become all He intends. I also understand that over the course of my life, without partners, I may have thrown in the towel at different times. Today, I want to encourage you to "receive" receive the benefits of real "team" in your life too!
Going the distance,
Pastor Derrill
