Many of us have been taught that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1879. Since the writing of our earlier history books, we've learned that there were probably more scientists involved in the greater work that surrounded the invention of the light bulb. First of all, a light bulb requires a power source to supply the electricity needed to run the light bulb. Once Scientists discovered that static electricity could be transformed into an electrical current, we were well on our way to progress.
Much like electricity, ministry is the conductor of power that is intended to supply the needs of our communities. However, with so much diversity in the body of Christ, we often find it necessary to redefine the value systems that we desire to express. Take the word, conductor. This is not a word that we frequently hear being used in the body of Christ, if at all. Yet, what defines the word, conductor, also defines several functions of ministry that we see in operation within the Church today.
Conductor:
- a person who conducts; a leader, guide, director, or manager.
- an employee on a bus, train, or other public conveyance, who is in charge of the conveyance and its passengers, collects fares or tickets, etc.
- a person who directs an orchestra or chorus, communicating to the performers by motions of a baton or the hands, his or her interpretation of the music.
- a substance, body, or device that readily conducts heat, electricity, sound, etc.: Copper is a good conductor of electricity.
From the order that ministry becomes activated through, to the order that brings greater demonstration of the smaller part, we see the same arrangement from beginning to end. Even Webster’s Dictionary follows a pattern, or a spiritual DNA that we see present in how the foundation ministries build.
Regarding the definition of conductor, as listed above, we can use the same pattern of progression to show how ministry evolves in the saints. The usage changes, but the pattern remains. We find that as we progress from one administration to the next, the function of ministry may vary, but the spiritual patterns of the Kingdom remain. This enables us to identify the Times and Seasons that the Holy Spirit ministers to a body through. Replacing the definitions of "conductor" to be more conducive to ministry, the definitions help us to identify more with the works of Christ through the fruit that becomes present. In doing so, the definition of Conductor would read like this:
Conductor:
1. A person who conducts: a leader, guide, director, or manager.
2. One who employs; to make use of an instrument (such as employing a hammer to drive a nail): Where diversity is embraced, prophetic community is often the first fellowship that we see forming. Corporate ministry becomes “employed”, or manifest where people carry the ministry within themselves. In community, all must occupy the same ground together. In order to accomplish this, all must labor together to mutually carry the ministries of Christ as a Priesthood. When this is so, all “see the Father” in order to ACT on revelational truths as one corporate, unified body. The Holy Spirit frequently uses such ministry to reveal unity in our members, as opposed to uniformity.
The Holy Spirit moves in Believers through prophetic dreams and visions that are mutually shared within a community. Such community becomes the vehicle that corporate ministry is likened to in respect to dreams of vehicles such as buses, trains and planes. However corporate the dreams and visions within a fellowship, each individual appropriates revelation in relationship with their own gifting and purpose.
When God is preparing his people to be mobilized, He gives us an understanding of the Kingdom that is mutually shared with a body of people. The Koinonea fellowship that follows produces the mutual ground that all must occupy together. Spirit-led ministry is always progressive, and the Holy Spirit will manifest ministry beyond the abilities of man.
The prophetic dimension prepares a people to walk together with vision in order to discern prophetic times. Vision also equips us to discern Christ in his body where we respect a greater Priesthood, a greater order, or greater administrations of ministry. Building apostolic community is accomplished where people are established in the Kingdom from faith to faith and from glory to glory in respect to their own spheres of influence and individual purpose.
3. The Orchestra. While basic ministry equipping prepares us through gifts, the same gifts used in right fellowship produces a spiritual sound that exceeds one individual part or gift. Ministry that has been expanded or multiplied through community reveals the fellowship that empowers all to “hear the music“, or the sound of heaven. It‘s much easier to learn to play an instrument where you can hear the song. It’s also easier to discern the body where we hear all the instruments playing together.
4. Christ, the substance. Even as copper is a good conductor of electricity, Christ manifest in his body also conducts heat (glory), power, and the sound needed to progress a body forward.
It seems that when the Holy Spirit is moving to prepare God’s people to launch out into the deep, the revelation of the Kingdom will often parallel something that is already present in the earth. Jesus often taught the Kingdom by identifying with unilateral communities. Even as he created metaphors through principals that each community mutually shared in, he likewise became the other side of the coin that served to bring the quickening spirit of the Second Adam, who is Christ. In our rising in Christ‘s ascension, before God demonstrates his own strength, power and glory, we often see our own Adam nature. Humility goes before honor. In whatever level of lifestyle and community is being revealed, God is faithful to restore us to his original purposes.
From Foundation Builders to Engineers of Mobility
As with building any community, we must be careful of what we build on our foundations. Any community that grows together will experience stress points that identify specific areas of growth. Where one administration of ministry easily carries a grace for ministry for a season, the signs of the times will tell us when change is on the horizon. Once the current we have enjoyed for a season suddenly becomes static again, it’s time to revisit Presbytery.
The Presbytery that is formed through Elder’s teams are not connected to any one person’s ministry. Presbytery provides a venue for ministry that will reproduce after Christ in respect to the community that ministry is to serve. In the fullness of times, where new growth and new fruit begins appearing, Presbytery provides the substance and presence of Christ to empower us to once again become Conductors of God’s power and glory for the purpose of producing greater ministry.
Thank you, Father for the strategy needed to bring all revelation to pass in this coming New Year….from glory to glory and from faith to faith.
Peace and blessings,
Cindy Allen
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