It Takes a Team ∙
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy, growing, and full of love. – Ephesians 4:16
Numbers 1:50-54
Put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Covenant, along with all its furnishings and equipment. They must carry the Tabernacle and all its furnishings as you travel, and they must take care of it and camp around it.
Whenever it is time for the Tabernacle to move, the Levites will take it down. And when it is time to stop, they will set it up again. But any unauthorized person who goes too near the Tabernacle must be put to death.
Each tribe of Israel will camp in its designated area, each with its own family banner.
But the Levites will camp around the Tabernacle of the Covenant to protect the community of Israel from the LORD’s anger. The Levites are responsible for standing guard around the Tabernacle.
So the Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
The Legacy of Ben-Hur: A Tale of Excellence and Teamwork
The 1959 film Ben-Hur, starring Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, remains one of the most iconic American religious epics of all time. Adapted from Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, the movie achieved unprecedented success, earning 12 Academy Award nominations and 11 wins, a record at the time.
A Cinematic Masterpiece
Ben-Hur was the most elaborate and ambitious film production of its era. With a staggering budget of $15,175,000, it set new standards for scale and grandeur. The production required the construction of the largest movie sets ever built, the use of over 200 camels and 2500 horses, and the involvement of approximately 10,000 extras. Among its many highlights, the nine-minute chariot race remains one of the most celebrated action sequences in cinematic history.
The Andalusian Horses: A Lesson in Teamwork
The chariot driven by Judah Ben Hur was pulled by four magnificent Andalusian horses, each named after stars: Aldebaran, Altair, Rigel, and Antares. Upon first seeing the horses, Judah admired their beauty and strength but quickly identified a critical issue. He observed, “Your horses are very fine, but they are not a team.” Recognizing the need for unity, Judah proposed a solution: “Antares, the slow one, should run on the inside where he can steady the others.”
Judah’s experience as a skilled charioteer, honed through victories in the Circus Maximus in Rome, enabled him to train the Andalusians to work as a cohesive unit. He partnered with Ilderim, the horses’ owner, who agreed to let Judah drive his chariot in the Circus in Jerusalem. Together, they developed a training method that relied solely on hand guidance, without using a whip. Through discipline, strategy, and teamwork, the horses were transformed into a unified force capable of achieving victory.
Biblical Parallels: Teamwork in the Tabernacle
The importance of teamwork is a recurring theme in Scripture. When the Father has goals and objectives, He invites His children to participate in His plan. He equips them with unique gifts and provides a clear strategy to achieve His purposes. This principle is exemplified in the construction, transportation, and assembly of the Tabernacle during the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness.
The Father gave explicit instructions for the Tabernacle’s assembly, as recorded in Exodus 40:18-34. A team of Levitical priests was assigned specific responsibilities, ensuring the work was carried out in an orderly and efficient manner. Each individual performed their assigned tasks, contributing to the collective effort. The Levites, as the priestly tribe, formed a highly organized group capable of assembling the entire Tabernacle in a single morning. The dismantling process, performed in reverse, required only a few hours.
REFLECT & PRAY
When people with different talents and skills unite around a common goal, they can achieve remarkable results.
Father, thank You for bestowing spiritual gifts upon each member of Your Forever Family. Help us to recognize these gifts and use them effectively in Your service. Encourage us to work together in unity, accomplishing Your goals and bringing honor to Your name.
INSIGHT
Spiritual Gifts: The Father’s Design for Unity and Growth
In the New Testament, the Father gave spiritual gifts to the children of the King, equipping them to serve and build up the body of Christ. These gifts are likened to the parts of a living body, each fitting together perfectly to ensure the health and growth of the whole. Every member has a unique role, and when the team works in harmony, the body thrives. However, when unity is absent, the body falters, as emphasized in Ephesians 4:16: “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual gifts are given to equip God’s people for service and to build up the church, the body of Christ. These gifts are not for personal gain but for the collective growth and maturity of the church. Paul explains this in Ephesians 4:11-16:
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy, growing, and full of love.
As William Barclay notes, “A body is only healthy and efficient when every part is thoroughly coordinated. The Church is like that, and the Church can be like that only when Christ is really the head and when every member is moving under his control, just as every part of a healthy body is obedient to the brain.”
What Is a Spiritual Gift?
What is a spiritual gift? A spiritual gift is a supernatural ability given to each child of the King at the moment of salvation. Paul clearly states that each child of the King has at least one spiritual gift, 1 Corinthians 12:7: “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” It is the power to serve or act through the Holy Spirit.
Those with spiritual gifts can also teach and train others to do what they do. For example, some are given the gift of evangelism, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:11:
“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.”
Evangelism involves sharing the good news of the gospel and helping others enter the Father’s Forever Family. While not everyone has the spiritual gift of evangelism, all believers are called to do the work of an evangelist, as Paul instructs in 2 Timothy 4:5: “/As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
Dr. Bill Bright, the founder of Cru, had the gift of evangelism. He created The Four Spiritual Laws, a simple tool that enabled even those without the gift of evangelism to share the gospel effectively. His work empowered countless individuals to spread the good news, leaving a lasting legacy.
The Greek Words for “Gift”
In the New Testament, two Greek words are translated as “gift”: pneumatikaand charismata.
- Pneumatika refers to spiritual gifts in general, emphasizing their connection to the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:1: “Now concerning spiritual gifts [pneumatika], brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.” - Charismata highlights the grace of God in bestowing these gifts.
Romans 12:6: “In his grace, God has given us different gifts [charismata] for doing certain things well.”
Spiritual Gifts vs. Natural Talents
What is the difference between a spiritual gift and a natural talent or ability?
- Natural talents are innate abilities or skills that individuals are born with. These talents are part of a person’s natural makeup and are often evident early in life. They can be developed and refined through practice, education, and experience. Natural talents are not limited to any specific area and can manifest in a wide range of fields, including the arts, academics, music, athletics, and interpersonal skills.
- Spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities given by the Holy Spirit at the moment of spiritual rebirth. These gifts are not based on natural ability or human effort but are divinely imparted to believers for the purpose of serving God and building up the body of Christ.
The Father’s Forever Family: A Diverse Team
The Father’s Forever Family is a remarkable and diverse group of individuals, each uniquely gifted to contribute to His plan. Just as the parts of a body must work together for the body to function, so too must the children of the King collaborate to achieve the Father’s purposes. When each member utilizes their spiritual gifts in harmony with others, the church becomes a powerful force for good, reflecting Christ’s love and unity.
The story of Judah Ben-Hur and his remarkable Andalusian horses highlights the importance of teamwork in achieving success. Just as the Andalusian horses had to move as one to win, the children of the King are encouraged to work harmoniously to fulfill the will of the Father.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 