They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” (Genesis 11:3-6)

Nothing is impossible for us to achieve if we all believers come together as one body; the issue is that we must all have right intentions. Unity rooted in evil desires will destroy us, but unity in Christ will make us strong. God will always honor good intentions over vain pursuits.

1. You must position your life to match the team’s goals before you will receive a position on the team.

This concept is very similar to forming a soccer team. First and foremost, you need to have a team before you can participate in any competition. In the scriptures below, we see that our Lord Jesus began His ministry by forming a team of disciples after spending the whole night praying.

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: … (Luke 6:12-13)

The Lord chose 12 men to be a part of His team, and He called the team players apostles.

Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. (Acts 1:21-23)

Two more were nominated to the team based on their track records, Barsabbas and Mattias, and there were criteria for their selection. These two had their lives in position, and their lives were living testimonies of Christ before they were selected.

2. Get into training.

It is all about how good you really are, not how good you think you are. If your ministry lacks power, it will be very difficult for you to be effective. The Early Church was very effective; they were full of the Holy Spirit and demonstrated the reality of Christ’s resurrection through miraculous signs and wonders.

Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (1 Corinthians 4:18-20)

There is no point in keeping busy if we are not being effective for the Kingdom. Faith without actions means nothing (James 2:17). An athlete must train before he enters the playing field, lest he quickly become injured in the intensity of the game. In the same way, we must pray that the Holy Spirit will fill our hearts and our lives before we can truly begin ministering to others. Scripture says that those who seek Him will find Him, and He will flow as a river of living water.

3. Get in the game.

Our lives are not about our appointment to a position, but our participation in the game. To keep your position on the team, you have to consistently perform well, fulfilling your position and supporting your teammates. All of us are called to ministry, to baptize others in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and in order to do that, we must learn to walk in the Spirit, responding all the time to the call of the Holy Spirit to do the will of God.

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus

said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45)

It is all about getting involved in the game. Do not just be a spectator; spectators buy the team jersey, but they are not true members of the team. They arrive in time for kick-off, they make noise, but they never get to hold the trophy. In order to receive the trophy and share in the glory of victory, you have to get on the field and play the game.

The Bible says that we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). We are to live beyond the moment of salvation; we are called to serve others who are lost as well. There will be no crown in Heaven for those who do not do the work of God.

We achieve greatness when we become the servants of others. We need to be slaves before we can be trusted as masters. In Matthew 5:5, Jesus says that the humble will inherit the world.