Connecting To Purpose As great as the skills may be of an individual athlete of a team sport, their talent is of little worth if not joined with that of other team members. Though fully trained as a special forces Navy Seal, all those hard-earned abilities are designed to be completely dependent upon the abilities of others in order to make a strategic impact. Someone may be the CEO of the largest company in the world, but without thousands filling strategic roles, there would be no company at all. The fulfillment of the greatest personal potential will be contingent upon essential strategic connections. By unifying with others in a common vision, mission and goals, possibilities are enabled that could never exist without this connection. This truth was, of course, understood by our Father, and made to be part of His plan for each of us. Rather than just requiring us to somehow make it on our own, He first of all made it so that we could be joined together with Christ. Though the world would have tribulation, we could be of good cheer, knowing that we were connected with the One who had already overcome the world. (Jn 16:33) However, He also made it so that we could be joined together with His body and be perfected in love to represent an overcoming Christ to the world. We are not limited to what we can muster alone, but we’ve been connected with special team members that will join with us in fulfilling Jesus’ passion and showing the world His love. Notes Jesus’ Passion – A Connected Body John 17:21-23 21 I pray for them all to be joined together as one even as you and I, Father, are joined together as one. I pray for them to become one with us so that the world will recognize that you sent me. 22 For the very glory you have given to me I have given them so that they will be joined together as one and experience the same unity that we enjoy. 23 You live fully in me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that you have sent me, for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love that you have for me. Each additional element – exponential impact Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NKJV) 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Power in numbers Leviticus 26:8 8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you. Cannot participate with the opposition and expect victory. Matthew 12:25 25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. Satan’s scheme – disable his enemy’s strength and bring division. Matthew 12:29-30 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. Christ’s purpose – form a dwelling place for the Father with us a whole Ephesians 2:13-22 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Not isolated, but joined as living stones of God’s spiritual house. 1 Peter 2:4-5 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Purpose in Christ – unity with God/unity with each other 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Overview: Full potential is realized when connected with supporting team members. Enemy’s scheme is to divide and turn a house against itself. The invader must take down the strong man before the house will fall. To not be connected is to be against and on the side of the opposition as a drag or weight. Jesus came to join us to the family of God. As a new creation in Christ, we’ve been reconciled to God. In our unity with the Father, we become part of His exponential growth plan as ministers of reconciliation. Prayer: “My heart rejoices, Father, in the work You have done to make me One with You in Christ. Help me to connect with You in every part of my life, finding provision, strength and protection as I help to connect others with You as well.” Declarations: I am continually drawn to the unity that is Jesus’ passion for me with Him and His body. In Christ I have become a living stone that, together with the whole body of Christ, is forming a great dwelling place for the Father. I have been reconciled to the Father in Christ and connected with a purpose of overpowering significance. I am connected to the Father in heart and vision, totally committed to fulfilling His planned purpose for me on His team.