Linking Together
The third guiding principle of Influencers is: We link together with likeminded men. When the crisis comes and courage is required God expects his men who are seasoned and mature to be the reliable ones.
In the Navigators’ wheel analogy of the Christian walk, the hub is Jesus Christ. He is the center of our lives to deliver the power of God’s Holy Spirit to the rim representing obedience to God. The two vertical spokes are Prayer and The Word of God to connect our vertical relationship with the Lord. The two horizontal spokes of witnessing and fellowship solidify our relationships with others.
Pete often spoke to men’s groups and women’s groups. The men’s groups were generally less well attended than the women’s groups. God has made men and women different with different strengths and weaknesses. One of women’s strengths is meaningful relationships.
When Jesus walked this earth, the multitudes flocked to him to hear his unique message and to witness the miracles he performed to demonstrate the power of God. He became so popular that the people wanted him to be their political leader. However, Jesus said, that’s not why I’m here. When they asked him, then what’s your plan? He pointed to a group of lowly fishermen and a despised tax collector. He said, those guys over there, they’re the plan. According to Corinthians, God choses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. For the wisdom of men is foolishness to God and the foolishness of God is wiser than men.
The heat of battle pulls men together. When you ask war heroes why they risked their lives in battle, they never say, for the honor of my country. When pressed they will say, I did it for my brothers in arms… he’s got my back and I’ve got his. The essence of a successful team is as they say in the military, “I’ve got your six.” The six o clock position means “I have my brother’s back.”
You’ll never be the man of God that God called you to be without other brothers in Christ. For my brother, I’ll gladly go the second mile and carry his pack. I’ll risk my life to save his…. Therefore bear ye one anothers’ burden and thus fulfill the law of Christ. Jesus said, my yoke is easy and my burden is light… He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.
All winning teams pull for the success of their team mates. Team sports are not about individual performances, but about everyone doing his job so that the team can win. Solidarity and selfless chemistry for the good of the team are hallmarks of teams that win consistently.
The devil’s ploy is to divide and conquer. He roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The lioness hunts by singling out and separating one animal from the herd. Apart from from the herd an individual is easy prey. Without the protection of the herd, an individual cannot withstand the onslaught of the enemy.
A winning team has a camaraderie and an affiliation for one another. Love is the tie that binds the winning team together. It’s important to remember the lessons of how those who loved us taught us to be better men. Psalm 1 says, “BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
You’re most like the ones with whom you choose to spend time. Be careful who your enemies are but even more careful who your friends are. Evil company corrupts good morals. Children are most affected by their circle of friends.
God created us for fellowship. Paul exhorted the Christians in his letter to the Philippians: “IF there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”. (Philippians 2:1-5)
Jesus said, I call you friends. What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Mercy, grace, and love cover a multitude of sins. Learning about the grace and mercy of God is the beginning of understanding the love of Christ.
Ninety percent of men do not have a best friend. BFF’s are a godly assignment. They support each other through the trials of life with the love of God. They are faithful and true through good times and bad. Even though they have differences, best friends quickly reconcile after each offense. True faithful friendships are developed over time.
At Pete’s strategic director’s meeting of Influencers last month, the purpose was for each man to tell his own story of God’s Holy Spirit helping himself to their lives. Each individual in the body of Christ has a different story of how the Holy Spirit has worked in him and through him to will and to do of God’s good pleasure. The importance of each of our stories is that we are joined together in his-story…. for collectively we are the body of Christ. Jesus Christ is the crossroads of history.
As Christians, we each have a different function within the church, the body of Christ. Ephesians 4 teaches that our purpose is to edify, build up, encourage and comfort each other with the love of God.
We have been called together with a high and holy calling, to love God above all and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Our liberty in Christian fellowship is to serve one another in love…
…that together we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
