The Dream takes Teamwork

Two are Better than One

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

We were never meant to be the best solo act in Christianity. Some of the greatest moments in the history of this world come from teammates.

In hip hop you have Outkast, the Wu-Tang Clan, a Tribe Called Quest, The Geto Boys and NWA. There’s no ashford without simpson, no Teena Marie without Rick James, without Earth and Wind there would be no fire. Just like these iconic musical artist we also need someone! Life was not meant to navigate in a solo way.

In sports you have Mike and Scottie, Shaq and Kobe, Steph and Klay.

As great as a gospel artist that Fred Hammond is, he still had commissioned, Kirk Franklin still had the family, even during my attendance here at this historic school Dr. Evans, Dr. Maxwell, and Dr. Foster were a team!

When I think about How I Got Over, I know it was the fact that God placed a good team around me.

The bondage of Israel under the oppressive system in Egypt by Pharaoh needed a team to overcome. God is not looking for a superhero, God is looking for a community of people who are willing to attach themselves to the mission of freedom rather than be the hero.

As we reacclimate ourselves to in-person worship, going back to the office, going to school in person, engaging the community we need to prioritize a collective attachment to the mission and this mindset that idolizes one person when all impactful work takes a team.

3 thoughts I want to introduce:

Liberation is not a solo act.

Leadership requires collaboration

The task never outweighs the mission

Liberation is NEVER a Solo Act

It’s important that as much as the face of movements are heralded no one has ever had world changing impact by themselves!

Exodus 6:30 “But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?””

This wasn’t the first time that Moses brought up in shortcoming, but let us understand that God has already taken into account our shortcomings.

God knows we have issues, God knows we aren’t perfect! We have to know that God has put us in position because He knows we possess the strengths to achieve the goal, and where we lack skill God’s power makes up for it.

God wanted to deliver the people but used Moses as a tool of liberation because he was raised in Egypt, Moses understood the ins and outs of the kingdom. We never know how God will use our traumatic experiences to be a tool of liberation for the next generation.

Moses was not perfect, he was a murderer, he was raised in Egypt while his family members and the rest of the Hebrew community lived in a state of oppression. We are not in control of who God decides to use.

Understand that purpose with God does not begin with a question or seeing if we are okay with the task at hand, God gives us a task and it is up to us to have faith to walk in purpose to see the task through.

The conversation with Moses and God began from a place of obedience: verse 30 states, “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king” Here’s the point! Moses had the relationship to make the demand, leadership is about relationships! The best leaders have the ability to build relationships in touch situations.

Understand that Moses is dealing with Imposter Sydrome, defined as the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills:

Leadership Requires Collaboration

God knows his creation. Understand that God chose Moses to lead the people, but He also called Moses to collaborate with Aaron his brother! Exodus 7:1 “So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.”

Understand leader, not matter how great you preach, how awesome of a leader you are. Understand mother, father, sister, brother, or friend no matter how great you are you need someone to minister to you as well.

Leaders you need someone beside you that is an inspirer that can inspire you or even speak for you when you can’t speak for yourself.

To achieve any dream yo have to have to some inspired folks around you who believe in the mission just like you do.

“An Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of the land”.

God has unlimited Power, when we come to grips with the fact that even when the enemy suceeds God allows it to set us up for a greater victory on our end we understand that there is no problem outside the reach of God.

When God gives us over to our own charge, our own control, we always become hard of heart toward the will of God. It is the natural result of fallen humans refusing to allow God to control our lives.

When Scripture tells us that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, what it means is that God allowed Pharaoh to have his way. We understand that anytime God allows us to have our way it always ends up in a disaster. Just like a parent raising a child, eventually you have to let them bump their head on their own.

What we can’t forget is the fact that if God can pull you out of bondage why do we lose faith about God leading us to paradise or a place of peace. It’s humbling to know that just like God controlled the footsteps of Moses, He also controlled the the actions of Pharaoh.

We just have to listen: Exodus 23:22 “But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.”

The pride of the enemy is a remarkable thing to watch. God shows us his power to believers and unbelievers. Understand that you might not believe today but every knee will bow and every tongue will confess!

Understand that if we want to have great impact we have to be willing to collaborate. How can we call each other family and not work with each other.

Every movement in the bible had collaboration attached to it.

David and Jonathan collaborated.

In the book of Joshua we are introduced to a collaboration with a woman named Rahab.

Ruth and Naomi had to collaborate.

Jesus and His disciples collaborated.

Paul and Timothy collaborated.

Jael and Deborah collaborated!

The bible is filled with collaborative stories. How I get over is working together! NO ONE IS A SOLO ACT, this is not the Grammy’s this is the kingdom of God and if we are going to share the gospel we have to be willing to work with one another.

Romans 12:4-5 “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”

Moses may have had a speech impediment, but God provided an Aaron that was eloquent.

Understand that Aaron wasn’t as strong a leader as Moses, Aaron would give in to the people, but thank God for Moses that consistently talked to God for direction!

3 John 1:8 “We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.”

Navigating the wilderness took collaboration, some of us are navigating the wilderness of virutal spaces, new ways to do ministry amongst all the pastoral challenges that life throws at us! There is strength in collaboration.

The Task Never Outweighs the Mission

Understand that just because God chose you to speak on Moses’ behalf you aren’t Moses and when we begin to grow envious of postion that’s when the movement crumbles.

Everyone can’t be Jesus. Everyone can’t be Paul, everyone can’t be Martha! We need some folks that will fill in where the need is.

Michael Jordan might be heralded as the greatest baskebtall player, but he needed a Dennis Rodman and a Steve Kerr.

Kobe needed Pau Gasol, Steph Curry needed a Klay Thompson! Everyone needs someone!

Everyone serves a purpose on a team. We all have our shortcomings and imperfections.

Moses had a speech impediment, he was tentative in his leadership style at times. But for every shortcoming Moses had, Aaron had a few too. Moses took too long with God and Aaron let the people build an altar, he needed instruction, he needed guidance. The shortcomings of each other and the task of the mission never outweighed the goal of liberation!

We need leaders that aren’t worried about position but can share God with leaders.

Aaron needed a word from God just like Moses needed a word from Aaron. Don’t get too busy that you don’t give yourself an opportunity to be mentored or ministered to.

Exodus 4:16 “So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God.”

You might have an important task but it does not outweigh the mission! The mission is always greater than the man and the task .

Jesus never let the popularity of the task get in the way of the mission! The mission is Caanan, the mission is heaven. The task might bring popularity but I have to stay focused on the end result.

I’ll never forget when Bill Belichek had won his 6th Super Bowl ring, they asked him how he felt about winning number six and his response was I’m happy we won but we’re behind on off season preparation for next season. Yes the Super Bowl was a great accomplishment but his vision of remaining a winner was bigger than the task of one game. We can never let the celebrations and wins of ministry blind us from the true mission of sharing Jesus to liberate people from the bondage of sin!