Teamwork

A group of us got together to “practice” praying. Actually, it was more like “experimenting.” The topic for the night was redemptive gifts, as in Romans 12.6-8. Whatever your beliefs about spiritual gifts, it is always a blast to try figuring them out among friends. My guess is that it isn’t an all or nothing deal, meaning you don’t have all of one and nothing of the others. I think we can have a blend of giftings, but we tend to major in one. We may be born with one primary gift, but we might also be able to develop in other areas to a lesser degree, even if it isn’t our focus. I don’t know with absolute certainty, but I think I hover somewhere between exhorter and prophet with a bit of leader mixed in, if the context is appropriate.

This time we were focusing on one guy, praying for a physical healing. This stuff doesn’t take a lot of faith on our part for God to actually do. It just takes a lot of faith on our part to actually see Him do it. What really struck me about our time together was the way God used us as a team. One person suggested a situation, another interpreted and applied it, and another followed through with prayer for healing. Overseeing us all was another one, who directed us according to our input. You could almost tangibly sense the Spirit of God moving. It was pretty amazing, and we haven’t even see the healing yet.

One of the things I’m praying for as I start moving in a new career direction is teammates who can work in a similar fashion. I don’t necessarily want a group of people who will always agree with me, although like-mindedness toward the same goal is essential. I want people who can operate freely in their varying strengths so that the whole of our efforts is greater than the sum of its parts. I know I have strengths and weaknesses, and I need others to come alongside me for mutual strengthening and encouragement.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 1 Corinthians 3.6