Ministry Partnerships-5(2025)

MINISTRY PARTNERSHIPS-V—Luke 1:39-56

--Luke 1:46-55[part-3--:54-55]

Attention:

An International Mission Board article dated Oct. 7, 2019 states:

•“It was the second day of our evangelism training for women in South Asia, & to our surprise, one of the women who had said she was a Hindu the day before, stood on this day. The translator asked when she became a believer, & the lady responded, “Last night.” She said she had never heard the story of Jesus before our first training session, but after hearing about him all day, she went home that night & prayed, & now she believes in him...

•At lunch, our translator spoke more with the lady. She found out that the woman decided to add Jesus to her list of gods that she worshiped, but not to accept him as the one & only God.

•After lunch, we gathered the women together to clear the confusion. Our translator showed them in Scripture that we shall have no other gods before God, & when we believe in Jesus, He covers all of our sin, & He is enough. She explained that in order to accept Jesus, we have to reject all other gods.

•At this point, tears formed in the woman’s eyes. She explained that her son was deathly ill, & she could not reject her gods because she promised them she would do three acts of worship if they would save her son. She said that she has one more act of worship to do & asked if she could do this third act & then follow Jesus. After the translator explained more, the woman asked if she could reject her gods but ask a family member to complete the acts of worship. She was terrified for her son’s life.

•Our team shared the story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man, & we explained to the woman that God has the power not only to forgive sins, but also to heal, & she can trust him. We also just hurt alongside the woman. I cannot imagine how scared she must have been.

•Then we saw God’s power work in her heart. At the end of the conversation, she said, “Even if it means my son’s life, I reject those gods & follow Jesus.”

When God’s people work together in partnership, there is great potential for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God!

Need:

Ministry Partnerships bring both challenge & reward!

Ministry Partnerships teach us about the importance of Christian teamwork, as we work toward common goals. They reveal the significance of depending upon God.

Those partnerships can help us to see the personal weaknesses & strengths that God has blessed us with, & that He works thru & with.

Ministry Partnerships help divulge & complete our passions & giftedness in the Lord.

Ministry Partnerships show us the power of God to overcome our human weakness.

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

Ministry partnership fosters a sharing of experience in God’s service.

BUT, What exactly do ministry partnerships share?

Previously we’ve discovered that...

Ministry Partnerships share...

1. EXCITEMENT(:39-40)

2. GOD’s BLESSING(:41-45)

3. GOD’s MAGNIFICATION(:46-55)[parts 1&2--:46-53]

a. His Regard for the LOWLY(:46-49)

b. His Regard for the FAITHFUL(:50)

c. His Regard for the WEAK(:51-53)

Today, we will continue looking at the fact that:

3—Ministry Partnerships share...

GOD’s MAGNIFICATION(:46-55)

THRU:

d. His Regard for the CHOSEN(:54-55)

:54—“He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,”

Remember that in verses :46-55, Mary is declaring some valid reasons for magnifying the Lord God...

God has indeed “helped” His people, “Israel.”

•God purposely raised up the nation of “Israel” from one man—Abraham—so that “Israel” would be God’s “servant.”....So that God would have an undeniable witness in the world!...

•And, so that God would be recognized as “Israel’s” physical & spiritual “help” in the world as a standing testimony to mankind...of God’s promises fulfilled, ability, love, care, forgiveness & , His heart!

Therefore “Israel” cannot get away from the fact that God “has” & will use them, to openly declare God’s “mercy.”

God’s “mercy” toward “Israel” has been manifested thru:

1)“Israel’s” spiritual ‘wellness’ by & in God’s power....

As well as thru:

2)“Israel’s” spiritual ‘neglect’ of their God, to operate in their own flesh-driven power!

*A vital aspect of this discussion regarding “Israel”, is that we must remember that just because a person is an Israelite, does not necessarily mean that that person is acceptable or pleasing to God!(Rom. 9:6-33)...

*Rom. 9:6-8, 27, 30-33—“But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.”.....“Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.”.....“What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith[in Jesus Christ!]; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone & rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him[Jesus!] will not be put to shame.””