Copyright 2018 Theresa Harvard Johnson
Read Part I: The Critical Importance of Your Tribe
Read Part III: When tribes become cults
Deuteronomy 1:15 says, “So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and appointed them heads over you, leaders of thousands and of hundreds, of fifties and of tens, and officers for your tribes.”
Don’t panic.
I am using this passage of scripture as an illustration concerning “how” the Lord sets people apart in groups, not to talk about hierarchical groupings or the specific situation taking place in this passage. There is a universal concept conveyed here that we see throughout every element of our society today: The separating of individual groups, clans or tribes for a specific work or a specific purpose.
When the Lord brings these types of divisions among his people, he does so to build a necessary function within the Kingdom – not to create ungodly cliques. Exodus 31 provides an excellent picture of what CREATIVE divisions looked like, how creatives trained together and how the Lord separated them in the first congregation. HE IS STILL DOING THIS TODAY!
The God kind of tribes provide opportunities for believers to grow and develop in environments conducive to their specific callings.
When I was a young believer years ago, I truly enjoyed the equipping I received in the local church. There came a time, however, when I longed to be among those who had callings like my own. Unfortunately, I could not find that type of fellowship in my local environment. As a result, I became a part of a subgroup that could help nurture that calling while I was still an integral part of my local community.
It saved my life.
That group carried what I needed, and I could thrive there in my “specialty area.” The group attracted the anointing of Holy Spirit that was specifically for prophetic, creative believers. Holy Spirit also released a level of the authority within that group that not only moved me forward in my own gifting, but that was also able to activate the collective group in effective ministry within the worship arts.
Finding the correct, specific tribal community where one fits can have this kind of effect. In other words, it is not something that can be gained from aligning with random people.
The authority found in one’s tribe can propel those in the tribe greater heights and depths in their calling, and when they are operating as one community the impact can be profound.
Finding your Christ-centered scribal family:
- Brings acceptance in your metron
- Fosters a different level of accountability in a specific calling
- Fosters an understanding of gifts and callings in community as well as individually
- Provides opportunities to learn specifics about your metron
- Bring alignment and clear focus to your calling, purpose
- Initiates a powerful, corporate anointing specific to your area
- Accelerate your growth and development
- Speaks DIRECTLY into your specific calling consistently, accurately
- Provides accurate, relevant and timely intel about your specific calling
- Can provide a resting place conducive to your specific creative type
- Can speak into the natural and spiritual elements of your specific calling, purpose
The authority of God-ordained tribes provides so many opportunities for development and growth when we need it. They are also EFFECTIVE in the arenas in which they are called. Let us not neglect the beauty found here due to immaturity, lack of knowledge or religious ideas.
WE ARE ONE BODY with MANY PARTS! EACH PART CONTRIBUTING TO THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE!
