How could one chase a thousand,
And two put ten thousand to flight,
Unless their Rock had sold them,
And the Lord had surrendered them?
Deuteronomy 32:30 (NKJV)
God is bringing the church into an understanding
and greater revelation of "Team Ministry"
as we cross the threshold into the 21st Century.
It is evident according to Deuteronomy 32:30 that Unity/Teamwork
does not simply increase our authority but rather Unity/Teamwork
multiplies our authority. One puts a thousand
to flight and two, not two thousand but, ten thousand!
The greatest works of God will not be accomplished in
this hour among a few "superstars" showboating
their ministries, but rather thru unified, anointed
teamwork as the "Bright and Morning Star"
shines thru our team Ministry efforts! God truly does
His greatest works in the midst of those who are not
concerned who gets the credit but are passionately committed
to seeing the need met and work accomplished to the
Glory of God.
God is anointing team ministry in this
hour to accomplish the seeming impossible task of reaching
our lost world. I can have the tendency to be a "loner"
due to personality and past life experiences.
The first taste I had of team ministry
was in 1993 when brother Billy Cole invited me to be
a part of the team going to Ethiopia. I had been traveling
internationally for three years conducting several small
( 200-1,000 people) tent crusades in various parts of
the world. I will admit, the team concept was awkward
for me at first. This was partly due to the various
personality and ministry differences that we ministers
have. Nevertheless, by my fifth yearly trip to Ethiopia,
I was fully becoming convinced God wanted to use the
"Team Ministry" concept to accomplish true
Apostolic revival and harvest. Something became awakened
within me.
The in 1995 I made my first attempt
to form an ministry team for an Overseas Holy Ghost
Crusade. The first thing I noticed was, the degree of
anointing in the services was on a much higher level
I had ever experienced and the results were greater.
A week later I conducted one crusade service in the
same country and was overwhelmed by the feeling of "nakedness"
and loss of authority I felt. Nothing about the service
or spiritual atmosphere could compare to what had occurred
under the protective covering of the "Ministry
Team". I concluded that there are dimensions of
anointing and results that God will not trust any single
individual with but in the safety and covering of team
ministry, where no one person can get the glory, He
can accomplish more. This year the Lord has allowed
me to form three separate teams of Ministers and Intercessors
for three separate Overseas crusades. We are so excited
about the potential for Harvest!!
Even when I enter revivals here in America
in which I travel alone, I recognize what Paul meant
when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 that we are laborers
together,
"5 Who then is
Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed,
even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted,
Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then
neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that
watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he
that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every
man shall receive his own reward according to his own
labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye
are God’s husbandryb{b husbandry: or, tillage},
ye are God’s building.
(The King James Version).
When I enter a Pastors pulpit, I become
an laborer together with that Pastor. It becomes a work
of unity and teamwork. Each ministry has its part and
place. True harvest can be reaped in this atmosphere
of mutual honor and respect. Brother Charles Mahaney
has made the statement that, "When I step into
a pulpit to preach a revival, I am as called of God
to that city for that week as the Pastor is". While
this may come across to some as being "arrogant",
it really is the simple understanding that the Pastor
and Evangelist are "laborers together" for
God's Harvest!
This is also why Paul wrote in I Corinthians
2:16 "For
‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may
instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ."
(NKJV)
No one person can ever hold the complete
picture or package. "We" ministry is the Spirit
chosen ministry of the 21st century. The
strength and authority released from team ministry must
be understood and given place in the effort of revival
and harvest.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 records, "Though
one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand
him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
(NKJV)
There is a southern parable that holds
an powerful lesson on unity/teamwork. There were four
bulls who lived in a field. These four bulls were close
comrades and did everything together. A local mountain
lion often tried to prey on the bulls but, every time
the mountain lion attempted to attack an bull, the other
bulls, in defense of their friend, would attack the
lion with their sharp horns and drive the mountain lion
off. One day the lion devised a plan. He went to one
bull and whispered in his ear that one of the other
bulls was against him and had spoken an hurtful word
about him. He one by one spoke this falsehood to each
bull. Soon each bull was at odds with the other bull
and became offended. Then one by one each bull went
to a separate corner of the field and stood alone. Then
the lion one by one easily killed each bull.
There is strength, power and protection
in unity/teamwork. Our heart prayer is, "God help
melt our sprits together in Team Ministry for the sake
of souls in this last hour!"
Sincerely,
John Arcovio
