Historically, no outpouring of God has lasted very long apart from intentional Kingdom Synergy. What is ‘synergy’? I’m glad you asked. Synergy happens when two or more entities decide to join their visions for the purpose of an agreed upon outcome. They realize that doing this greatly enhances the outcome they could ever achieve alone.
Many places in the New Testament, believers were instructed to be of one mind and heart. As a matter of fact they were told to do nothing but pray together in the Upper Room until they came into oneness-‘Kingdom Synergy’.
‘After His death, he (Jesus) presented Himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, He talked to them about things concerning the Kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together He told them they were on no account to leave Jerusalem, but “must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon.’ (Acts 1:3-5, Msg.)
If you can be patient with me for a moment, I’ll share a bit of “Ron’s” (loosely held) theology. My experience is my experience. I’m not saying any one has to agree with or mirror mine.
At the center of any encounter with God’s Presence, Outpouring and Glory is a fresh and cleansing filling/immersion in Holy Spirit! It is this shared or ‘common’ experience (or Baptism) that removes the barriers between us and opens our heart to Kingdom Synergy.
This fresh filling comes in at least four distinct experiential dynamics; Baptized into Jesus (a fresh immersion into our identity in Jesus-“As therefore you have received the Christ, even Jesus our Lord, live and act in vital union with Him.” Col. 2:6, WNT), Baptized into Holy Spirit (“Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.” Eph 5:18, NLT) Baptized into the Body of Christ (“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” 1 Cor. 12:12, TNIV) and Baptized into the Father’s love (“Know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Eph. 3:19, NIV)
‘The whole congregation of believers was united as one - one heart, one mind! They didn't even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, "That's mine; you can't have it." They shared everything.’ (Acts 4:32, Msg.)
Following is a glimpse of our journey toward Kingdom Synergy. We are being drawn back to the place of the early church-waiting in the Upper Room until we can see a much larger and synergistic view of what God is up to in the earth. We are beginning to receive a renewed vision of the Kingdom! At the same time we are being humbled enough to become inclusive in that view, as opposed to being exclusive.
As we wait with ‘one heart and mind’, Jesus reveals issues in our life that are not yet Kingdom; but instead are rooted in a myopic ‘self’ perspective. He is after the same thing in us that He was with the early Apostles in that Upper Room. He knows more than we how desperately we need a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. That baptism will come as we join our lives and visions with the bigger issue of His Kingdom coming on earth as it is Heaven.
He is shaking our individualism and biases so that He can immerse us in what only He can provide for these days-the gift of Kingdom synergy in the Father. Let’s stop moving out alone and move as he connects us and baptizes us with Holy Spirit. I am waiting in the Upper Room for the outpouring. I am not saying it is easy to wait; but there is fresh great grace for those who will. I believe we are on the very brink of an outpouring unlike any in history!
That does not mean that we all have to look the same or do our part of Kingdom work the same-it does mean that He is getting our minds and hearts ready for joining with other’s in Kingdom co-laboring. He is always placing us in the Body and Kingdom as He wills. ‘A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together…The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together. (adapted from 1 Cor. 12) We are Christ’s body on earth, and when we function with one heart and mind, He empowers us with Kingdom synergy-way beyond our wildest hopes or dreams. How about waiting, praying, fellow-shipping and sharing some meals together-as we freshly receive the gift of the Father and together build the Kingdom of God. What a wondrous and glorious mandate is ours!
In the grip of Papa’s grace, Ron Ross
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