And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes  4:12 

Mark 3:13-17; John 13-17

Recurrent Thought

Significant human achievements are usually done through the efforts of more than one person. Kingdom work, is effectively advanced through team work and strong partnerships.

Jesus created a team through which he envisaged to unleash multiplied passion for Kingdom work. As he began his ministry, Jesus knew that redeeming mankind was his sole responsibility to bear, alone; however, he also knew that the broadcasting of the message of salvation, would need many hands, humanly speaking. Therefore, Jesus deliberately set up a team of twelve (12) men through whom he would impact the world with the message of the Cross. What Jesus put together is now commonly called a team.  A team is a group of people with a high degree of interdependence geared toward the achievement of a goal or completion of a task. A team is a small number of people with complementary skills, who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approaches for which they are mutually accountable.

The sole reason Jesus put this team together was to multiply the results of his efforts. The apostles were followers under training; however, they also became a community of his operations.

As he worked with the disciples, despite what they were at the beginning, he trusted they would become effective workers, together. He was to leverage on the power of synergy. Synergy is when two or more entities cooperate to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. This is what the scripture in Deuteronomy 32:30 refers to when it states that “How could one have chased a thousand, and two have put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had given them up?

Similarly, children of light must also be willing to work in teams to leverage on the power of this synergy. 

Let us now go fast forward, three Years later, just before the end of his ministry. This is recorded in chapters of John 13-17. Here we are introduced to an in-house conference Jesus had with his disciples. In this meeting with the apostles, he was closed to the world, but alone with his own. Jesus dissolved the personal agendas and prepared them as a team. This is in essence what is called a cell: It is a group of people who have laid down their personal agendas to work together as a team. 

It is essential to understand that all over the world people know the importance of partnership. Organizations collaborate to share the power of partnerships. Countries partner in their economic survival. An example of the power of partnerships is the cooperative movement now rising.  There is great power in partnered strength. 

As Jesus prepares the team before his death and resurrection, he recounts truths he had spoken to them over the three years. Here are Five Significant Principles of Partnerships

1. Principle of Serving and Caring for Others (John 13: 1-4)
   • For their Passover Celebration, they used a borrowed eating-place. It is likely that disciples never considered preparing any person for foot cleaning. 
   • Jesus uses the incident to share the importance of caring and serving. All partnership is based primarily upon a willingness to surrender personal promotion, privileges or rights and to look seriously at the needs of others. 
   • Christians who have no partners despite being surrounded by other believers will always be lonely. The moment I serve you (wash your feet) our relationship goes to another level: we are no longer acquaintances, we are partners. 
   • Believers create partnerships that help people in critical personal challenges such as when one is sick, bereaved, or when in any other personal crises etc. Jesus modeled this lifestyle and told the disciples to do likewise. See the Bible says his love in serving was motivated by love. He loved his own to the very end. 
   • Jesus knew himself (Identity). Serving others begins by knowing who we are first. Jesus knew where he had come from first, what he came to do and where he headed (Purpose and Destiny). Thus, it was no problem to engage in activities that looked menial. 
   • Knowing who we are gives us security and frees us to do what God wants us to do. Only secure people serve others well. The secure are in towels while the insecure are in titles. 
   • In our Super12 Cell we a become a team of strong believers with the ability to care for one another.
2. Principle of Encouraging One Another (John 14: 1)
   • Jesus talked about hope. He noticed their obvious disappointment on the mention of his departure. He said do not let your hearts be troubled. 
   • In the next passages he poured in their lives lots of encouragements
   • He showed them a new focus of heaven (14:2). The disciples are afraid that he is leaving, but he encourages them that it is ok for they have a reward in heaven. 
   • He encouraged them in the possibility of answered prayers. 13, 14.
   • He also assured them of the coming of the Holy Spirit (26)
   • Partnership is a place and community of inspiration. 
   • Remember in the Super12 Community, you access inspiration shared by members. As a team, the cell develops the ability to inspire each other.
3. Principle of Bearing Fruit to Benefit Others (John 15: 1-2, 16)
   • Jesus uses a image of vine, its branches and the fruits that are produced as an example of great partnership
   • Partnership is a source of great productivity. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go out and bear fruit John 15: 16.” 
   • As stated earlier, Moses declared that when we hearken to the Lord “One man would chase a thousand but two men will chase ten thousand. Deuteronomy 32:30. 
   • The production of two people is not equal to their efforts added together. Instead, their partnership causes a multiplication. This is the power of synergy: the sum of the whole us greater than the sum of the parts. The cell system will provide the atmosphere for synergy.
   • The Super12 community is anchored on this very truth. The team becomes stronger and its effectiveness is amplified as the members work and mature together
4. The Principle of Protection (John 16:1)  
   • As Jesus ministers to them, he expresses concern that his disciples should not be “offended.” And find it a cause for falling away
   • The word used in the Greek means to trap another
   • (falling away). Christ knew that everyone has the potential to be trapped. Everyone has blind spots, areas of temptation that we do not see without the discernment of others. 
   • A spiritual family, or cell group provides a safe place for people to be open and transparent at the first hint of temptation: this is “preventive maintenance” not damage control.” Spiritual partnerships afford protection.
   • The Super12 Cell is a place of refugee and a place of protection
   • A well knitted cell of strong believers develops ability to endure together.
5. Principle of Praying for One Another (John 17)
   • This chapter is a classical Illustration for intercession. It is a deep well of clear intercession for friends.
   • Instead of praying for the whole world Jesus prays for his closest partners. 
   • Jesus asked the father to prosper and protect his partners. Read John 17: 9-12. 
   • Jesus declared, “ If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt 18: 19-20).
   • The Super12 Cell is a cell of intercession. You will come see that a cell of strong believers develops ability to revive one another.

Conclusion 

• Actionable attitudes that make this teams work well the following: Availability, Dependability, Vulnerability and Responsibility 

Altar Time

• Lord make me be a blessing to others.