GIG226 From One, to Many, Into One

Web Description: In Christianity there is a strong emphasis on individual ministry. However, the Scriptures show God’s emphasis moving from one individual to many. Then the beginning of the Church showed us the many becoming one. With the Lord’s help, let us follow His leading from our own individuality to real body ministry to the oneness of Christ.

 

Show Notes: When God met Abraham, the entire focus was on Abraham as an individual fulfilling God’s plan. When his descendants multiplied and moved forward in the plan of God, the focus on an individual transitioned to a focus on the many. Likewise, when Yeshua (Jesus) was on the earth, the focus was on Him as an individual. But when His disciples were baptized in the Holy Spirit, the great anointing that was on Christ was transferred to them, and the plan of God began to happen through the many.

 

Abraham as an individual did not possess and fill the Promised Land. His descendants did. And Christ as an individual had to ascend to the Father so that the Holy Spirit could fill a people to become the many-membered Body of Christ. God has always transitioned from an individual to a people. Yet it is difficult for us to get out of focusing on the singular individual. Even within the Church today we tend to emphasize individual ministries rather than really getting into body ministry.

 

Our focus needs to be on body ministry because God wants to lead us into the next step, which is the transition from many individuals into oneness. Christ’s prayer to the Father was that we as His Body would be one. And we have to see that this is the conclusion that everything He did for us is leading to. The revelation of Christ to the world happens as we become one just as the Father and Christ are one. Let this be imparted to our spirits as we pray for His Kingdom today.

 

Key Verses:

 

•       Genesis 22:17. “I will greatly multiply your seed … as the sand which is on the seashore.”

•       Leviticus 23:5–11. “You shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.”

•       John 12:24. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

•       Leviticus 23:15–17. “You shall bring in from your dwelling places two loaves of bread for a wave offering.”

•       Acts 1:1–11. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses.”

•       Acts 1:14–15. “A gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together.”

•       Acts 2:1–4. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”

•       Acts 4:23–25. “They lifted their voices to God with one accord.”

•       Acts 4:31. “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”

•       Ephesians 4:13–16. “The head, even Christ, … causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

•       John 17:11–21. “They may all be one … so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

 

Quotes:

 

•       “In the plan of God, we go from one—a focus on one individual or one ministry—and that transitions into many. Then the many must transition back into one.”

•       “All that has transpired in the story of God is coming to this conclusion: there must be a body of people. That body must be fitted and held together by that which every joint is supplying.”

•       “What's happening to the many? They are becoming one. And that is what the purpose all of this was about in the mind of Christ.”

 

Takeaways:

 

1.    We emphasize individual achievement and individual ministry. But it is important for us to see that God’s plan has always been to transition from one to many.

2.    The Feast of Weeks shows the transition from the singular first fruits of grain to the two loaves of bread made from many grains. Christ was the singular first fruits who pleased God and did His will completely. At Pentecost His followers received power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, signifying the transferring of anointing from Christ as a singular ministry to His many-membered Body.

3.    This transition resulted in a great congregation of people who were serving the Lord. Then there was another transition as this congregation was together in one place, in one accord, in one mind and heart. When they prayed together, the power of God was released by that oneness.

4.    The next step is that the many become one. The Body of Christ cannot continue on as a multitude of individuals. It must become one for the purpose of God to be finalized.