TEAM WORK

7/20/99

Hi Loved Ones,

Sometime this year I heard the Lord say the Word, "Synergy" in connection with a season of joining. I was not familiar with the word so I looked it up in the dictionary. It means that the sum of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. In other words, when something is joined together it has a greater force, impact or energy than the same components separately.

When chemists create medications, often they will join more than one substance together in order to be more effective. The two combined actually work better in the body than if they are taken separately. Their combined synergistic effect magnifies the results.

Prophetically speaking, this year the Lord is joining people, ministries, giftedness, leaders, etc together to prepare for His greater impact. I have also seen this play out in simple gatherings of musicians, prayer meetings, corporate worship, home groups, etc. He is truly blessing the act of joining together with other believers to seek Him corporately.

I believe this is the beginning stages of His army joining together in unity, where we will march side by side as one unit, without jealously or strife. — Where we won’t be focused on each others gifts, but be focused upon Him. — Where our pursuit is seeking Him, and the gifts just pour out because we are in His Presence. — Where we each do our part and give space for others to do their part.

It is very exciting to be a part of this joining. More and more I see that we each have our own gifts and they were not meant to duplicate or match another’s like a cookie cutter mold, rather they were meant to puzzle together, connect and enhance Who the Lord is. One person may see a picture vision, another hear just one Word, and then another may have the interpretation. One may have a prayer, one may have a song. Another may war over particular needs for deliverance, another may share a dance unto the Lord. We each are beautifully created to express a portion of Who He is, and we were MEANT to join together. None of us have the whole picture, and it is in the joining that we receive more of HIM. It is so good when we share our individual expressions of what the Lord is saying. Together the overall message has a greater impact upon us all. It is awesome to be a part of this joining together.

There is a lot to say about the word "Synergy." I have mentioned it several times in passing in my posts. However, I was quite surprised when I received the following e-mail from a gal who had been reading the 1999 postings at my site and I felt the knowledge of what she shared was something we all needed to hear!

Subj: Regarding "Synergy" (Your 3/10/99 posting)

Date: 7/4/99 12:22:11 AM Pacific Daylight Time

To: SW Author

Hi Sandy!

I have been reading your 1999 postings at your web site and am so tremendously encouraged and blessed with what you have shared there. I was beyond excitement when I read the 3/10/99 posting where you said the Lord spoke the word "synergy" to you!

Here are my notes on synergy written 10/21/95:

"SYNERGY"

For some time I have used the term "Synergistic effect" when referring to the body of Christ working together. The end result of our efforts is so much greater than merely the sum of the parts. I have many times questioned that word - synergism - and have even asked the Lord if it is an acceptable word and an acceptable interpretation. I have even had some niggling thoughts that it may be a "new age" term and not be proper to use in reference to the Lord.

Well, tonight as I was reading Matthew Henry's commentary and randomly reading some of the passages he wrote regarding divine revelation, and WHAMMO! The Lord blazed that Greek word off the computer screen - "synergoi"! I looked at it and thought, "That looks like the root for "synergy!" I turned to Strong's and saw why I had never seen it before. Strong's lists the Word as "sunergoi." I had forgotten that the Greek letter "U" is also translated as our "Y"! (Like "dunamis/dynamite)

I got out Webster's Dictionary and looked up the word "synergy" and sure enough, the word comes from the Greek word "synergia." It means "combined or cooperative action or force."

All this time when I have referred to the synergistic effect which seems to be at work in the body of Christ, I didn't realize that it is because it is scriptural! This Greek Word is recorded 13 times in the New Testament, all having to do with fellow-workers. One of the scriptures is 1 Cor 3:9: For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. (NKJ)

[They are labourers with God, synergoi-- co-workers, fellow-labourers (v. 9)

(from Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:5-10 PP4)]

We are fellow workers ("synergoi") with God! And the effect is synergism! Webster's Dictionary defines synergism as "the simultaneous action of separate agencies which, together, have greater effect than the sum of their individual effects."

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY:

syn•er•gy (sin'_r-jEE) n., [pl.] syn•er•gies.

1. The interaction of two or more agents or

forces so that their combined effect is

greater than the sum of their individual

effects.

2. Cooperative interaction among groups,

especially among the acquired subsidiaries

or merged parts of a corporation, that

creates an enhanced combined effect.

So as we work together with one another and we are all fellow workers ("synergoi") with God, His supernatural ability coupled with our cooperative actions "make tremendous power available - dynamic in its working!" Synergism in its truest and purest expression!

Abba, You are so faithful to always confirm Your Words to me! Thank You for showing me that "synergism" is indeed a "divine revelation" from You! I love You so much!

Thank you Sandy.

{Name}

~~~~~~~~~~

JOINING

[From Words to Ponder, volume one by Sandy Warner]

I have given you a precious gift by placing you in unity with your brethren. Like scrambled eggs, the Words I give you combine with others and you are like salt to one another, giving each other preservation from the enemy schemes as well as flavor to each other’s lives.

Enjoy this good and wonderful gift of joining with others. Flourish in it for that is what I meant it to be. — A body, a healthy body functioning as one unit; rushing here for healing; rushing there for nourishment. — A Word of encouragement, a Word of confirmation.

There is no competition in the joining process. Merely an acceptance of one another and a mutual respect for one another’s gifts and perspectives. How good it is to see it fit so perfectly when all have lain aside their own ambitions to serve the whole. How good it is to lay aside the superstars and raise Me as your Standard. I rejoice to see you work together and function as one. Thank you.

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." (1 Corinthians 12: 12-14)