Group greater than self

Introduction
What is a Group?
A group is a collection of people who interact with one another; accept rights and obligations as members and who share a common identity.
Criteria for a group include:
• formal structure
• 2 or more persons
• common fate
• common goals
• interdependence
• recognition by others

Stages of group development
Bruce Tuckman (1965) developed a 4-stage model of group development. He labeled the stages:
1. Forming: The group comes together and gets to initially know one other and form as a group.
2. Storming: A chaotic vying for leadership and trialing of group processes
3. Norming: Eventually agreement is reached on how the group operates
4. Performing: The group practices its craft and becomes effective in meeting its objectives.
Tuckman added a 5th stage 10 years later:
5. Adjourning: The process of "unforming" the group, that is, letting go of the group structure and moving on.
Forming - stage 1
There is high dependence on the leader for guidance and direction. Little agreement on team aims other than received from leader. Individual roles and responsibilities are unclear. Leader must be prepared to answer lots of questions about the team's purpose, objectives and external relationships. Leader directs.
Storming - stage 2
Decisions don't come easily within group. Team members vie for position as they attempt to establish themselves in relation to other team members and the leader, who might receive challenges from team members. Clarity of purpose increases but plenty of uncertainties persist. Cliques and factions form and there may be power struggles. The team needs to be focused on its goals to avoid becoming distracted by relationships and emotional issues. Compromises may be required to enable progress. Leader coaches.
Norming - stage 3
Agreement and consensus is largely formed among the team. Roles and responsibilities are clear and accepted. Big decisions are made by the group. Smaller decisions may be delegated to individuals or small teams within group. Commitment and unity is strong. The team may engage in fun and social activities. The team discusses and develops its processes and working style. There is general respect for the leader and some of leadership is more shared by the team. Leader facilitates and enables.
Performing - stage 4
The team is more strategically aware; the team knows clearly why it is doing what it is doing. The team has a shared vision and is able to stand on its own feet with no interference or participation from the leader. There is a focus on over-achieving goals, and the team makes most of the decisions against criteria agreed with the leader. The team has a high degree of autonomy. Disagreements occur but now they are resolved within the team positively and necessary changes to processes and structure are made by the team. Team members look after each other. The team requires delegated tasks and projects from the leader. The team does not need to be instructed or assisted. Team members might ask for assistance from the leader with personal and interpersonal development. Leader delegates and oversees.
Adjourning - stage 5
Tuckman's fifth stage, adjourning, is the break-up of the group, hopefully when the task is completed successfully, its purpose fulfilled; everyone can move on to new things, feeling good about what's been achieved.

The importance of groups from a biblical perspective
Principle 1: It is God-like to be group minded.
The Godhead is a group consisting of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. They are different yet the same. They function as 1 unit. In Genesis, we learn how the Trio worked to create the cosmos. The Father spoke (Genesis 1:3-26) and the Spirit hovered (Genesis 1:2) but concerning the Son we read, "All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that was made". (John 1:3). In making man, He said, "Let US make man in Our image after our likeness" (Genesis 1:26). The Trinity is a small group.
After creating man, he was found to be incomplete until a woman came into the scene. Man is like the Godhead in this respect. He is at his best as a small group called family.
After founding the family unit in Genesis 2:18-24, God moved on to recognize the extended family. In saving Noah’s family, he and his wife, his sons and their wives were all saved. (Genesis 7:7).
In the New Testament, upon being born-again, a believer becomes a host to the Holy Spirit. A Representative of the Trinity comes to live within. This makes every believer a group even when single! (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Ephesians 4:4-6. There are 7 Ones in these verses:
One Body, One Spirit, One Hope, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God.

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” Psalm 133:1
Beyond this, we are all members of the Body of Christ. Ephesians 4:3-6. “You are called to belong, not just believe” (Rick Warren).
Principle 2: Loners are losers; networkers are net winners.
Two are better than one, because together they can work effectively.
If one of them falls down, the other can help him up….
Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone.
A rope made of three cords is hard to break. Ecclesiastes 4:9 TEV
Life is not for loners. Life is like a symphony. “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it”. H.E. Luccock.
There are gifts deposited in each of us that require other people’s input for us to maximize output and reach our utmost potential. How do humans develop? A baby is deposited into a loving family to groom and develop. Then he leaves for school to receive other inputs from other adults outside the family. He develops friends who also help shape his mind and hone his skills. He joins clubs, churches and associations where he learns more of life’s lessons. He gets married, linking up with another human to go through the battles of life. He becomes a parent, starting the cycle all over again.
Principle 3: Fellowship is God’s home address.
There are 2 addresses for the Almighty on earth: the praises of his people and fellowship. God inhabits the praises of His people and He also inhabits their coming together. “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst”. Matthew 18:20. Internet church can never fully duplicate a local church. Where is “their midst” when you attend an internet church? Is God sitting on a server somewhere? You miss God when you miss church.
Principle 4: Tough times never last; group people do.
“If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble” Ecclesiastes 9:10.
There comes a time in life when we all need the assistance of some other person to come along and help through adversity. Visions often need platforms but platforms are easier for those who have linked up with other people.
Barriers to Group Dynamics
Pride Proverbs 16:18, James 4:6. “Teamwork: Simply stated, it is less me and more we”. (Unknown). The following are barriers to benefitting from any group: competitive spirit, un-forgiveness, impatience, lack of vision and direction, too quick to judge (Matthew 1:7), mis-communication, gossip and tale bearing, immaturity in love (1 Corinthians 14:20).
Benefits of the Group
1. Group effort is the most powerful building tool in the history of creation. The tower of Babel demonstrates the power of many people working as one. Genesis 11:6. “The locusts have no King, yet go they forth all of them by bands” Proverbs 30:27. The acronym, TEAM, means Together Everyone Achieves More. One locust is easily destroyed by one person but a swarm of locust made Pharaoh to ask God for mercy (Psalms 78:46, Exodus 10:14-15, Joel 2:25)
2. Leverage. “How could one person chase a thousand of them, and two people put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up?” Deuteronomy 32:30. In this equation, 1 = 1000 but 2 = 10000. Teams share the burden and divide the grief.
- Doug Smith
3. The impossible becomes possible when individuals within a group are prepared to sacrifice for the common good. When a swarm of locusts reach a river, they search for the bank for a likely spot to cross, then fearlessly cast themselves upon the water where they form floating islands of insects, most of which usually succeed in getting to the opposite bank, though many perish in the attempt. Goals are almost always achievable for the group as long as necessary sacrifices are made by some of the members. “There is no I in Teamwork”. (Unknown).
4. Every minister needs a support. “If you don’t kick things around with people, you are out of it. Nobody, I always say, can be anybody without somebody being around”. (John Wheeler). Aaron and Hur supported Moses by lifting up his hands in the battle against Amalek (Exodus 17:10-12). Joshua and Caleb supported the ministry of Moses by declaring a positive report. David and Jonathan were covenant friends. Elisha poured water over Elijah’s hands and served him. Timothy labored with Paul, his mentor. “A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle”. (Japanese proverb).

What to do within a group?
1. Maximize your strength and minimize your weakness. Celebrate diversity. There is a reason our fingers aren’t equal. “You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note”. (Doug Floyd)
2. Act like Christ did within the Godhead (Philippians 2:5-8)
3. Be quick to praise, slow to blame. (James 1:19). “If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, they did it. (Coach Bear Bryant).
4. Lead by serving (Matthew 23:11). “Wearing the same shirts doesn’t make a team”. (Buchholz and Roth). Don’t be neutral. Be committed. Someone wrote this poem:
There was a very cautious man Who never laughed or played. He never risked, he never tried, He never sang or prayed. And when he one day passed away, His insurance was denied. For since he never really lived, They claimed he never really died.
5. Be tenderhearted (Philippians 2:2-4, 1 Peter 3:8).
6. Be adaptable. (1 Corinthian 9:22).
7. Avoid strive (2 Timothy 2:24, 1 Corinthians 1:10-11).
8. Always act in love (John 13:35, 1 John 4:7-8, 1 Cor 12:25-26).
9. Sow accord so God does not hate you. (Proverbs 6:16-19).
10. Find common ground (Amos 3:3). A boat doesn’t go forward if each one is rowing their own way. (Swahili proverb).
Conclusion
John 17:11, 21-23
“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are on”.
“That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me”.
The standard for our group formation is not the country club goal of tolerating each other. This is not a call for some form of affirmative action on unity. We are to be one in our group just as Christ is one with the Father. It is not simply putting up with people so we can fulfill some selfish ambition. It’s not using people in the name of the Lord. It’s being inter-dependent on others within the Body to the extent we are willing to lay down our lives for them just as Christ laid down his for us. It’s not lip service; it’s life service. “And all who believed were united and they had everything in common” Acts 2:45.
When we function as God wants us to, miracles and spectacular testimonies will abound, millions will be saved, prayer venues will be shaken, no one will go to bed hungry among us and the Lord will be glorified. I believe a people in these last days can come together in such a kindred spirit that God will take note of them just as He noticed the people who came together to build the Towel Babel. We saw a glimpse of this in the Acts of Apostles when many wonders were accomplished because the brethren were in one accord. May you and I be willing and available in the day of His power, Amen.

Obedience: The Foundation of Life

Obedience is the foundation of life

In Luke 6:46-49, the Lord Jesus told a parable of 2 houses. One was built with foundation, the other was not. The one built with foundation represents the man who hears and obeys the Lord. The house without foundation represents the individual who either cannot hear or refuses to obey God.

When life is good, there is no difference between the 2 houses. Each house stood firm without serious challenges. When things are going on well, no one issues the lack of foundation. However, when the storms of life come, the lack of foundation destroys the house that does not have it.

Obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit is the foundation of life. Those who learn to follow the voice of the Lord when times are good are able to stand in the day of trouble. This is because they have the ability to listen to what the Spirit is saying to them. Such individuals can therefore receive comfort, solace, assurance and instruction from the Lord without much ado. Please note that hard times come to all persons whether disobedient or not. Hardship happens to all without exceptions. Survival during difficult times depend on our ability to hear from the Lord what He wants us to do and not to do. Logic, networking, consultation, counseling etc all have their place and limitations. Learning to hear and obey the Lord is priceless. It comes from a lifestyle of regular feeding on the Bible, prayer and fasting. If you and I can adopt a lifestyle of:
Praying constantly
Meditating on the bible day and night
Fasting regularly,
We shall grow to become very sensitive to the voice of the Lord within and we shall be ready to take on the world no matter what storms may buffet us.

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Unforgiveness: The most costly of all human faults

Unforgiveness means bearing grudge against another human being. It is not letting go of an offense toward us. It is very costly to our spiritual well-being.
There are 4 consequences of unforgiveness:
1. If you don’t forgive, you become unforgivable. God forgives forgivers only. Matthew 6:14-15.
2. Those who can’t forgive can’t receive from God. Unforgiveness is a hindrance to answered prayers. It shuts off God’s blessings. 1 Peter 3:7.
3. Your offerings are unacceptable when you harbor grudges. God only accepts gifts from those who forgive themselves and others. Giving is a sacrifice. Abel-like sacrifices come from those who forgive others. Matthew 5:23-24.
4. Unforgivers will not go to heaven. Why? Hebrews 12:14 declares that only those who are holy and follow peace with all men shall see the Lord. How do you go to heaven if you cannot see the Lord?

N.B. Forgiveness is for the benefit of the forgiver. It does not relieve the offender of the consequences of his/her actions. Forgiveness is different from trust. We are commanded to forgive everyone; we’re not asked to trust everybody. May we all increase in this grace in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Mistakes of Life

The wise men started with wisdom. God showed them a star which led them to Jerusalem. Methinks the same star could have led them to Jesus but they chose to consult with Herod. Why ask man for direction on a journey started by God? It’s like Abraham asking others for direction to the land of promise. How would they know? Were they the one that instructed him to leave his father’s house for a land “that I will shoe thee?” We all have a tendency to seek man’s help after starting with God.
The mistake of the wise men led to fulfillment of the Scriptures. The threat of Herod, the sojourn in Egypt, and the fury that led to the massacre of 2-year-old boys and under; all were foretold in the Bible. All things, our tests, trials, mistakes, blessings, testimonies and triumphs, work together for our good. Don’t be afraid to take risks and launch into the deep. Our mistakes are the necessary ingredients for divine intervention. The lies of Abraham made him richer. The adultery of David produced Solomon. The disgraceful lifestyle of Rahab routed her into the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not what you did in the past but how you respond to your future that matters.
Along the journey of life, there are booby-traps, bumps, curveballs, disappointments and unexpected snags. We need to remember that we have a high priest who is aware of our infirmities. Our role is to always look up to the Almighty God who is well and able to lead and guide us despite our failings.

Seeing is believing

Provision follows vision. In order for the promises of God to come to pass in our lives, it is important that we believe them. To believe is to have an inner conviction (vision). There are 3 instances when God helped humans to believe by giving them an opportunity to preview the promises. The first involved Abraham. In Genesis 15:5-6, “He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness”. Genesis 15:5-6. Note the relationship between Abraham looking at the stars and his subsequent belief in God. The seeing preceded the believing.

The second occasion involved Moses. “Then the LORD spoke to Moses saying, Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I am going to give to the sons of Israel; you shall send a man from each of their fathers' tribes, everyone a leader among them." Numbers 13:1-2. The last example was described in Joshua 2:1. ”Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho " Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho " So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there".

While the Lord may have promised you certain things, have you prepared to receive such promises by spying them out? Can you see them within you? Preview precedes preoccupation. You must see to acquire. While the promises of God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus, they need to be yea and amen in us (inner vision) before they come to pass in our lives. If you can’t see the mark, you can’t press towards it. (J. Mason). You pray until you see; your vision then leads to provision. The Lord Jesus taught the same principle in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you”. The sequence is pray, believe, and then receive.

What you see inside is what you get outside. You cannot receive from God without faith. What is faith? Faith is an internal photocopy (substance) of things you will see physically at a later date, the evidence (inner vision) of things not yet seen in the physical. Hebrews 11:1. You must take possession inside before you take possession outside because things which are seen are made of things which are not seen. Hebrews 11:3. In Colossians 1:17, we learn that the whole creation holds together in nature because the hold together first IN CHRIST. The cosmos will disintegrate if Christ lets go on the inside of Him. Therefore, your future should be a present reality within you.

How do we receive the vision for our lives? By waiting on God. Waiting precedes vision. The Bible is a vision generator. God, through His Spirit within is a vision manufacturer. Vision comes not by discussing with men but by discussing with God. If it comes from Him, He will bring it to pass. He gave Abraham vision in Genesis 13:14-17, “After Lot separated from him, GOD said to Abram, "Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. I'll make your descendants like dust—counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. So—on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I'm giving it all to you."

Vision requires maintenance. There is no cruise control for it. No auto pilot. Vision dissipates over time. Circumstances often discourage vision. Learn to maintain your focus by a. writing the vision b. confess it over and over. This is equivalent to walking the land. c. Praise/worship. 2 Chronicles 20:15-19, “He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!” Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD. Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout”

Your life is only as successful as the worship it generates. The battles of life are not mine to fight, the Lord fights for me. He is my Fighter, Warrior, General and Knock-Out Puncher. I have no way of paying Him but to praise Him. Praise brings you to God’s presence (you enter His gates with thanksgiving) and brings God’s presence to you (He inhabits the praise of His people).

My prayer is that you will learn to develop a God-given vision in every area of your life. The inner vision is what makes the Word of God flesh in us and activated the promise.

The 3 Vices that block our receiving from God

There are three virtues that guarantee reward from God: giving, prayer and fasting. (Matthew 6:4,6,18).
“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” Matthew 6:3-4.
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” Matthew 6:6.
“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” Matthew 6:18.
While these Bible verses clearly state that God is a Rewarder of all those who pray, fast and give, there are certain vices that prevent a believer from benefitting from these rewards. Regardless of how much you pray, if you have an ulterior or selfish motive, you will not be rewarded. James 4:3.
When you fast but you remain tightfisted, stingy, and ungenerous, you do not get your reward. Isaiah 58:3, 6-10.
If you are generous but have a spirit of unforgiveness, you will not get a reward. Matthew 5:23-24.
Ponder on these truths as you pray, fast and give.