Ministry Partnerships-1

MINISTRY PARTNERSHIPS-I—Luke 1:39-40(:39-56)

RECAP:

Around Christmas, 2023, Salem was met with a series of sermons entitled, ‘MEETING The DEMANDS For GOD’s PLAN’(Lk. 1:26-38).

In those sermons, we looked into some early events surrounding the birth of Jesus thru the eyes of Luke. And there we found:

•God’s plan for man demands...

1. A JEWISH CONTEXT(:26-27)

2. A VESSEL Of GOD’s CHOOSING(:28-30)

3. A UNIQUELY PARTICULAR SON(:31)

4. A FULFILLED/eternal REIGN(:32-33)

5. A UNIQUELY MIRACULOUS WAY(:34-35)

6. CONFIRMATION Of GOD’s ABILITY(:36-37)

7. SUBMISSION To GOD’s WAY(:38)

Today, we are going to examine the continuation of that ‘plan’ thru the eyes of Luke, as it played out in history.

Attention:

Two guys were partnered, working side-by-side in a factory.

One says to the other, “I know how to get some time off from work.”

His partner says, “How do you think you’ll do that?”

He then proceeded to show him...by climbing up to the rafters, & hanging upside down.

The boss walks in, sees the worker hanging from the ceiling, & asks him what on earth he was doing?

The guy answered, “I’m a light bulb.”

Wide-eyed, the boss replies, “I think you need some time off.”

So, the man jumps down, clocks out, & walks out of the factory.

So the man’s partner, began walking out too.

The boss, obviously perturbed, asks him, “And where do you think you’re going?

The man’s partner matter-of-factly states, “Boss, I’m going home too. I can't work in the dark.”

Those who work together as partners, often share common traits.

Likewise, Ministry Partnerships often share the same mindset, giftedness, & talents. Ministry Partnerships are particularly bound together by doing what they do, in the name & power of the Lord Christ Jesus!

Need:

Ministry Partnerships can sometimes be challenging.

BUT they are always rewarding!

Ministry Partnerships always teach us a great deal about our partners in ministry, as well as about what it means to be a partner to God’s work in ministry. But Ministry Partnerships especially reveal the extent & nature of our dependencies upon God.

Ministry Partnerships show us much about our weaknesses & our strengths. They help us to rely on one another as we work toward common goals. Ministry Partnerships decisively show us the power of God to overcome human weakness. Ministry Partnerships help to reveal our true giftedness & our passion in the Lord.

Elizabeth & Mary shared their experiences as ministry partners in God’s service.

Ministry partnerships foster an atmosphere for sharing experience in God’s service.

Ministry partnerships foster a sharing of experience in God’s service.

What exactly do ministry partnerships share?

Ministry partnerships in God’s service share...

1—Ministry Partnerships share...

EXCITEMENT(:39-40)

Explanation: (:39-40)Excitement/Enthralled/Exhilaration

:39—“Now Mary arose in those days & went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,”

:39—“Now Mary arose in those days...”

“Mary”—Is the virgin woman who was betrothed to a man by the name of Joseph(:27). “Mary” & Joseph, her betrothed, were both blood relatives of king David(the well-known king of united Israel ~1000-961BC)!

“Arose”—“Mary” did not simply ponder what had been revealed to her by the angel. She wanted to confirm the announcement! When we have good news, we want others to know about it!

“Arose”—anisthmi—2Aorist Active Participle - Nominative Sing. Fem.—1) To cause to rise up, raise up—1a) Raise up from laying down, 1b) To raise up from the dead, 1c) To raise up, cause to be born, to cause to appear, bring forward; 2) To rise, stand up—2a) Of persons lying down, of persons lying on the ground, 2b) Of persons seated, 2c) Of those who leave a place to go elsewhere—2c1) Of those who prepare themselves for a journey, 2d) Of the dead; 3) At arise, appear, stand forth—3a) Of kings prophets, priests, leaders of insurgents, 3b) Of those about to enter into conversation or dispute with anyone, or to undertake some business, or attempt something against others, 3c) To rise up against any one. Strong—To stand up(literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive).?From—ana—properly--Up; but by extension, used distributively--Severally, or locally--At(etc.); a primary preposition & adverb.—&—isthmi—Strong—To stand(transitively or intransitively), used in various applications(literally or figuratively); a prolonged form of a primary staw(of the same meaning, used for it in certain tenses).

“In those days”—That is, at the time when Mary had received the news of her favor in God’s sight(:28-38).

:39—“...and went into the hill country...”

“Mary” left Nazareth(:26) for the “hill-country” “of Judah.” She intentionally came to Elizabeth’s home there.

•The “hill country” parallels the western side of the Jordan River & Dead Sea, extending southward roughly from the Jordan’s southern half & down about ? of the Dead Sea’s N-S length, ending just north of Beersheba. It includes the cities of Jerusalem, Bethlehem & Hebron. The “hill country” stretches a total of around 40-50 mi. from north to south, & averages 11-14 miles in width westward from the Dead Sea & Jordan River. The “hills” in this region range from 2,500 to 3,000 ft. above sea level. “The hill country” “of Judah” would have been that section just to the west of the Dead Sea but separated from it’s shores by the Judean wilderness—Holy Land Photos.org & gospelgrace.com