SESSION SUMMARY · • The story of the fall of Jericho gives us principles on how to walk together as a church in the divine flow. HOW TO WALK TOGETHER IN THE DIVINE FLOW (JOSHUA

WE BELONG CONFERENCE

SESSION 3 — THE DIVINE FLOW

INTRODUCTION

• Godsavedusandplacedusinafamily.• Weneedtolearnhowtowalktogetherasone(takingupourpositions)andoperateinthedivineflow.• ThestoryofthefallofJerichogivesusprinciplesonhowtowalktogetherasachurchinthedivine

flow.

HOW TO WALK TOGETHER IN THE DIVINE FLOW (JOSHUA 6)

1. Victory Through Being in Divine Order (Joshua 6:1-21)Thespiritualworldisaworldofdivineorder.Thereisasystemofdivineordertofollow.DivineorderisGod’splanforourdeliverancefromtheenemy’splanbytherestorationofdivineauthorityandindividuallibertysubjectedtothisauthority(asillustratedbythebattleofJericho).

a. Walkinginthedivineorderofoneness(vs.1-5)God’sinstructionstobringdownJericho’swallsinvolvednotonlythearmy,

(C)2019RiverLifeChurch.AllRightsReserved.ForInternalDistributionOnly.

KEY POINTS• Whenwewalktogetherinthedivineorderofoneness,inGod’spresenceandinsubmission,wecan

expectspiritualvictory.• Wemustapproachissuesandcriticismsintherightway-elliminategossip,adoptaGodlyattitude

andapproachtowardsdisagreementswithleadersBiblically.• Cellgroupsandministriesmustalignwiththechurchandministertotheindividualsaswellastothe

churchasawhole.• Planyour schedulearound thechurch’sministry seasons (eg.highevangelism focus inEasterand

Christmas).• Cellsgroupsdiscuss the sermonduring cellmeetings to alignwith and to foster unitywithin the

church.

SESSION SUMMARY

but thepriests aswell.All of themworked together asoneunderGod.On the seventhday,everyoneshoutedinunisonandbroughtdownthewalls.

SpiritualWarfareApplication(SWA)– AnointingflowsdownfromtheheadoftheChurchtoeachmember(Psa.133:3).Weoperateinspiritualauthoritywhenwetogetherarealignedinproperrelationshipwithoneanother–justlikehowGodisinJesusandhowJesusisinGodoperatingasone(John17:21).

– Whenmemberswalkinoneness,weteardownthespiritualstrongholds.Thisistheruleofdivineorderandsubmission. Ifweare living inobediencetoGod’swill, thenwewillhavespiritualauthorityoverallourspheres.

b. WalkinginthedivineorderofGod’sPresence(vs.6-16)ThepeopleofGodovercametheseeminglyinsurmountableopposition(Jericho’smightywalls)bytotalrelianceonGod.ThefocusisGod’spresence,asrepresentedbytheark,whowaswithHispeopleastheyacteduponHisinstructions.

SpiritualWarfareApplication(SWA)– GodisaGodoforder.AsweseekHispresencetoknowHim,wewillseeHishanddirecting,arrangingandorderingourlives(Exo.25:21-22).

– GodisrevealingtheorderoftheKingdomandbringingitforHisglory.

c. Walkinginthedivineorderofsubmission(vs.15-21)OperatinginonenessandobedienceasthousandsmarcheddefencelessandsilentlyaroundthecityofJericho.Theyobeyedtheirleader,Joshua,andneverquestionedGod’smethods–whichwasanunusualbattlestrategy.

SpiritualWarfareApplication(SWA)– Christplacesmenandwomenintopositionsofauthority.Aleaders’authorityisinthespiritandtheirnaturalfunctionistoserveandtohelpothersgrowintomaturity(Heb.13:17).

– We must respect our leaders in their anointing before we canreceive(Acts3:6).InsubmittingtoGodandtheHolySpirit,wecarryagreaterweightinthespiritualrealmastheSpiritflowswithinus.We’llhaveauthorityovereverythingwithinourGod-givensphere.

– Theoppositeofthespiritofsubmissionisthespiritofrebellion.TheBiblecallsitthesinofwitchcraft.Weneedtohonourtheofficeofaleader,eveniftheleaderisflawed.Respectingtheofficefreesusfrompreferenceandthatfreedomallowsustodotherightthings.

2. Cell Group Structure• JesussetsanexampleofthebiblicalroleoftheservantleaderbywashingHisdisciples’feet(John

13:14).



• Thereare5layersinthestructureofthechurch:– In-MostCore:EldersBoard&SeniorLeaders– SecondCircle:Congregational&ZonePastors– ThirdCircle:AreaOverseers– FourthCircle:CellLeaders– FifthCircle:CellGroups

• OrderlyFlow:Criticismsandissuesaresettledinward,whilepraiseandencouragementaretobeexpressedoutwardly,andineverything,wepointupwardtowardsGod.

3. Process for Resolution of Issuesa. PrinciplestoResolve:Issues&Criticisms

– Addresscriticismsandissuesinternally(inwards)withinthecellfirst–fromcellmembers,tocellleaders,toareaoverseers,thentozoneleaders.Issuesareresolvedinprogressivelayers.– Mostcriticismsareagainstasystemoraperson(s).Forcriticismsdirectedprimarilyagainstasystem,dealwiththeissueinternally(inwards).Forcriticismsdirectedtowardsaperson,thepersonwhoisthesubjectofthecriticismmustbeinvolvedastheissueisdealtinternally(inwards).– Undernocircumstancesshouldgossipbetolerated.Gossipiscriticismspreadamongotherswithoutinvolvingthepersonwhoisthesubjectofthecriticism.Itissinful,unbiblical,anddestroysunityinthebody.Whengossipisdetected,itshouldbeaddressedimmediatelybyanyindividualwithinthecell.

b. ExerciseEncouragementandPositiveEvaluationOutwards– Makeitahabittoencourageoneanotheroutwardly(Eph.4:29).Indoingso,itcreatesacultureofencouragementthusfulfillingthelawofJesustoloveoneanotherasHehaslovedus.

c. InEverythingPointUpwards– NoissuemaybeaddressedorresolvedunlesswealignourselveswithGodthroughprayer,relyingonHisdirectionthroughHisWord,andaskingforwisdomthroughHisSpirit.

d. WhatToDoWhenWeFindOurselvesinDisagreementWithOurLeader– Makesurewhatyouaredisagreeingwithissomethingthatpersonactuallysaid,andnotexpressingapersonaldispleasuretowardsthatperson.CheckitagainstScripture(theultimatetest).

– Refrainfromrebukingaleader(wheneverandwhereveryoufeellikeit)ifyoudisagreewithhim/her(Matt.18:15-16).

– Weallhaveourpersonalstyleofdoingthingsorpreferencesofhowthingsshouldbedone.Bysaying,“Idon’tlikethat”,itisself-focusedandnotaboutthemissionofthe


church.Itslowstheflowofgoodideasandshutsdownconstructivecriticism.Italsomakesthedisagreementfeelmoreconfrontationalthannecessary.Whenwebanish“Idon’tlikethat”fromourvocabulary,itforcesustolookfordeeperandbetterreasonsforthedisagreement.

– Instead,wecanaskthefollowing:⇒ Howdoesthisfitourmission?⇒ IstheresomethingI’mnotseeinghere?⇒ Howcanwedothisbetter?⇒ Whatpartsofthiscanbeturnedintosomethinggreat?

4. How a Cell Group Relates with the Larger Church Communitya.Howdoesacellrelatewithothercells?

– Acellgroupmustorientthememberstothevision,focusesandministriesofRiverLife.

– Acellgroupmusttakecaretobeasgraciousaswecantowardseachothersothatthereisnocompetitionbetweencellsortheencouragementofmemberstomigratefromtheircell.

– Acellgroupshouldnotencourage“grouphopping”.– Acellgroupmusthaveconnectionwithothercellgroups.

b.Howshouldacellgrouprelatetotheministriesofthechurch?

– Thefocusofcellsistobuildcommunity,whereasthefocusofaministryistoserveandedifythechurchasawhole(collectively).

– Bepartofthechurch.Nocellgroupisisolatedonitsown.Beinvolvedinallchurchactivities.

– Beactiveinserviceoutsidethecellgroup.– Beawareofthegreaterneedsofthechurch.

c. Howshouldtheministriesofthechurchrelatetothecells?– Involvementratherthanjustrecruitment.Developyourmembers;notjustdeploythem.– Involvewholegroups(eg.families,awholecell,etc)ratherthanjustindividuals.– Creatingpresenceandrealconnectionsratherthanjusttransactionalappearances.Communicateconstantlywiththecells.

5. Two Cell Ministry Applicationsa. HighSeasonsforEvangelism

– ThehighseasonsforevangelisminourministryyearareoftenEaster,ChristmasandotherHolydays.Cellgroupsshouldnotmissthesehighseasons.Doyourbesttoplanholidaysaroundhighministryseasons.


b. Sermon-basedCellGroups– Discussingthesermonduringcellmeetingsunifieschurchteachingsandsharpensthefocusofthechurch.

– Itprotectsagainstheresyastherecouldbemanypotentialerroneouspointsmadebyindividualviewpoints/interpretationsofthesermon.

– Itencouragescellmemberstobepartoftheworshipgatheringandnotisolatethemselvestojustattendingthecellmeetings.

RESPONSE/CONCLUSION

1. Wecannotwalkinthespiritofdivision,speakagainstleadershipandthenexpecttoseeunityinthechurch.WecannotoperateinthespiritoftheenemyandthenexpecttoseethepowerofGod.

2. God’smove is tobring forth aplurality of leadership to serve theworld, throughwhomChristwillgoverntheworld.

3. Leadersareservantleaderswithdelegatedauthority.WemustfightagainstthespiritofindependenceandstandinthedivineorderofonenessandsubmissionwithGodsothatweflowwithHisSpirit.

Documents

SESSION SUMMARY · • The story of the fall of Jericho gives us principles on how to walk together as a church in the divine flow. HOW TO WALK TOGETHER IN THE DIVINE FLOW (JOSHUA