In John's gospel we read "Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."
What do we see the Father doing? And do we join in or carry on as usual? Is it something different He is doing 'today' or is it something He has been doing for some time ... a trend as it were? It is a mixture of both no doubt, but to have the capacity to have a discerning heart is a wonderful gift, and one that needs to be nurtured ...
As I sat at home one morning last week, looking out across the fields (I am blessed to live in a very beautiful place) the mist was filling the valley between the hill and the trees ... Eventually the sun rose and broke through, bringing it's warming light, which then had two effects - it dispelled the mist and brought clarity to the vision before me - in other words in place of the hazy vision of greenness I could pick out the detail the grass and trees ... That is what we need in all of the matters that face us each day ... Clarity and vision ... Sometimes that comes through knowing the word and applying it - sometimes this comes through specific revelation by the Spirit.
So, what has that meant for me this week? A big item on the agenda of my mind has been the idea of partnership ... Working together to achieve a mutually beneficial goal, which might not even be possible if i were working alone...
The obvious of partnership being the way in which a marriage works out ... At it's best, when two people are "pulling together" mutually supporting each other and moving in the same direction it is a wonderful thing. As soon as one gives up, for whatever reason, it becomes an incredible pressure and burden to carry. Marriage is hard work at times, but so rewarding and worth every bit of effort ... Perhaps I find it easy because I have such a great wife!! (or perhaps I am just a great husband!!!)
Anyway, in ministry it is the same ... Partnership is hard work, and costs us something of our independence to be in it but well worth the effort ... This last week I have been blessed to be talking with a variety of people about a multitude of possibilities ... Each look as though they could have huge potential ... But it is difficult to know for sure what is strategic - often the mundane can become the most strategic whereas that which initially appears so exciting can 'fizzle out'!
So what has been on the agenda to look at?
Partnering with the Chinese Church in the UK to envision more people for cross-cultural mission.
Partnering with local Theological colleges to deliver an accredited Internship programme for developing "Leadership through Cross-Cultural mission."
Partnering with other Mission agencies to develop the scope and content of the Go Mission Festival.
Partnering with local Church leaders and Missions groups to discover what opportunities there will be to capitalise on the potential that London 2012 brings - when thousands will be arriving on our doorsteps from all over the world. What can we do to demonstrate the realities of our Faith to them?
In each case we have the vision, for some it is still very much in the mist, for other arrangements the Sun (or Son) is shining His light to reveal more of the detail. That's the journey!
As RT Kendall quoted in his book 'The Anointing' ... "it is the responsibility of every generation to discover what the Spirit is doing and then align themselves with Him."
Partnering is itself, I believe, one of the 'things' that the Lord is leading the Church/Mission groups to do in increasing measure. Partly because it is more effective, but more importantly it is a demonstration that we are, first and foremost, one body, united in Christ.
May the Lord grant you wisdom and discernment, and the desire to change in order to move with what you see Him doing.
- Press on!
Follow me on Twitter @johnbagg
What do we see the Father doing? And do we join in or carry on as usual? Is it something different He is doing 'today' or is it something He has been doing for some time ... a trend as it were? It is a mixture of both no doubt, but to have the capacity to have a discerning heart is a wonderful gift, and one that needs to be nurtured ...
As I sat at home one morning last week, looking out across the fields (I am blessed to live in a very beautiful place) the mist was filling the valley between the hill and the trees ... Eventually the sun rose and broke through, bringing it's warming light, which then had two effects - it dispelled the mist and brought clarity to the vision before me - in other words in place of the hazy vision of greenness I could pick out the detail the grass and trees ... That is what we need in all of the matters that face us each day ... Clarity and vision ... Sometimes that comes through knowing the word and applying it - sometimes this comes through specific revelation by the Spirit.
So, what has that meant for me this week? A big item on the agenda of my mind has been the idea of partnership ... Working together to achieve a mutually beneficial goal, which might not even be possible if i were working alone...
The obvious of partnership being the way in which a marriage works out ... At it's best, when two people are "pulling together" mutually supporting each other and moving in the same direction it is a wonderful thing. As soon as one gives up, for whatever reason, it becomes an incredible pressure and burden to carry. Marriage is hard work at times, but so rewarding and worth every bit of effort ... Perhaps I find it easy because I have such a great wife!! (or perhaps I am just a great husband!!!)
Anyway, in ministry it is the same ... Partnership is hard work, and costs us something of our independence to be in it but well worth the effort ... This last week I have been blessed to be talking with a variety of people about a multitude of possibilities ... Each look as though they could have huge potential ... But it is difficult to know for sure what is strategic - often the mundane can become the most strategic whereas that which initially appears so exciting can 'fizzle out'!
So what has been on the agenda to look at?
Partnering with the Chinese Church in the UK to envision more people for cross-cultural mission.
Partnering with local Theological colleges to deliver an accredited Internship programme for developing "Leadership through Cross-Cultural mission."
Partnering with other Mission agencies to develop the scope and content of the Go Mission Festival.
Partnering with local Church leaders and Missions groups to discover what opportunities there will be to capitalise on the potential that London 2012 brings - when thousands will be arriving on our doorsteps from all over the world. What can we do to demonstrate the realities of our Faith to them?
In each case we have the vision, for some it is still very much in the mist, for other arrangements the Sun (or Son) is shining His light to reveal more of the detail. That's the journey!
As RT Kendall quoted in his book 'The Anointing' ... "it is the responsibility of every generation to discover what the Spirit is doing and then align themselves with Him."
Partnering is itself, I believe, one of the 'things' that the Lord is leading the Church/Mission groups to do in increasing measure. Partly because it is more effective, but more importantly it is a demonstration that we are, first and foremost, one body, united in Christ.
May the Lord grant you wisdom and discernment, and the desire to change in order to move with what you see Him doing.
- Press on!
Follow me on Twitter @johnbagg
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