Huddle Up: Moving Toward the Goal Line

Last fellowship, we learned about how we're all on God's team, with God as our coach and Jesus Christ as our captain. In this article, I want to talk about what every winning team does: they huddle up, get on the same page, and move that ball down the field together toward the goal line. Turn to Philippians 2.

You know, in football, before every play, the team comes together in a huddle. They look each other in the eye, they get the plan from their captain, and then they break that huddle with one purpose – move the ball forward. They're not worried about individual stats. They're focused on one thing: reaching that end zone.

Let's all turn to Philippians 2:2. Let's read this together: "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."

That's huddle talk right there! Same mind, same love, one accord. Turn to Romans 12:4-5: For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

We come together, even though we all don’t play the same position, we’re members in one team, we get our hearts aligned, and then we move forward together. Turn to 1 Corinthians 12. 

Now, here's what makes our team so powerful – we don't all have the same strengths, and that's beautiful! Different positions, different strengths. Turn to 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. Let's read: "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all."

And I love that phrase 'diversities of operations.' When you dig into the original language using Strong’s Concordance, that word 'operations' points directly to “the working” or “the effect in operation” of holy spirit. So Paul is saying God gives each of us a distinct, particular, different way that holy spirit works through us. It's the same holy spirit, but it operates differently through each person on the team. Turn to Matthew 16.

I'm not strong at speaking in tongues with interpretation, but others in our fellowship are. Maybe you’re good at making people feel good—you heal people with your words and actions. Perhaps you’re good at believing—you always know the right thing to say. Someone else might be great at knowing what to do—they're ready to help make the best decision out of love.

Think about it – even Jesus picked disciples who were different types of people who work differently with different strengths. Let’s turn to and read Matthew 16:16 - here's Peter being bold: "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter spoke up when others were quiet.

Now turn to John 13:23 - here's John: "Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved." John had that close, quiet relationship with Jesus.

And look at John 20:25 - here's Thomas making the difficult decisions: "The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe."

Each one had their own particular way... So what happens when a team full of different players decides to truly huddle up and get on the same page? Well, the Bible gives us the greatest huddle story of all time.

Turn with me to Acts 1. This is right after Jesus rose from the dead and Peter had just had his worst game ever – denied Jesus three times. But look what the team did. Let's read in Acts 1:14: "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."

They huddled up! All their different strengths came together in one accord.

Now turn to Acts 2. Let's see what happened when they stayed in that huddle. Let’s read in Acts 2:1-4: "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

The coach… sent in… the play! The Holy Spirit came because they stayed together with one accord, each ready for their particular operation of the spirit.

Now look at Acts 2:14. Peter – the same guy who fumbled three times by denying Jesus – look what he does in Acts 2:14: "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words."

Peter's particular operation resulted in boldness and speaking out, and he used it while standing with his teammates. And look what happened – turn to Acts 2:41: "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

That's what happens when a team with different members work together as a team. 

But here's the thing about our team – we're playing for something even bigger. Turn to Ephesians 1:9-10. This is our ultimate goal line: "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might… gather together… in one… all things… in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him."

That's our touchdown! When the time comes, we'll all be gathered together in one – heaven and earth, all together in Christ. That’s the glory. That’s the hope of glory. That’s God.. in Christ… in you. The hope of glory, when we all are perfected in one. 

John 17:22-23 reads: "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one..."

But you know what? God's been planning this team victory from the very beginning. Turn to Isaiah 40:5 - let's read this together: "And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."

See that word "together"? God's glory – God’s touchdown celebration – that happens when we all see it together! Not individually, but as a team.

And turn to 1 Corinthians 15:28. This is what that ultimate glory looks like: "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all… in all."

That's the final score! When God becomes all in all – that's His glory fully revealed. And it happens when we're all together as His team.

Turn to First Corinthians 1:10 – let's read this together: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

Perfectly joined together – that's what a huddle does, bringing all our different operations of holy spirit into one unified team.

So here's my encouragement for you: Celebrate the distinct, particular ways holy spirit works through each person in your huddle. Use your operation to help move the ball forward. Stay in that huddle with your fellow believers. Keep that one accord. And remember – we're all moving toward that ultimate touchdown when God's glory will be revealed and we'll all be gathered together in Christ.

Amen?