Partnering With God In Warfare

Introduction

GOD IS SEEKING PEOPLE TO PARTNER WITH HIM

God has always been on the lookout for people to partner with Him. The whole of the Bible from Genesis down to Revelation is about God seeking people to partner with Him. It is about God seeking:

 Partners to manage His resources – This was why when God created man in Genesis 1:26-28, He gave man power to subdue and exercise dominion over the works of His hand.

 Partners to jointly own what He owns - Romans 8:17 tells us that we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Meaning that God wants us to have and enjoy all the glory, honour, power and riches that are in Christ Jesus.

 Partners to work together with Him to accomplish His plans and purposes (Philippians 2:3)

 Partners to fellowship with Him on the highest level of intimacy - The highest form of partnership that can exist between two people is that of a marriage partnership where two people cleave together and become one flesh (Genesis 2:24). This is the kind of intimate partnership God seeks with us; this is why our relationship with God is described in terms of a marriage relationship in several Bible passages. In Isaiah 54:5, God is called our Maker and Husband. And several times in the book of Revelation, believers are referred to as the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7-9, Revelation 21:2, 9).

DIVINE PARTNERSHIP IS INITIATED BY GOD

If someone has an idea to establish a museum for children and the person comes to you to express their intention to go into this business venture, how you can fit in, the advantages/benefits that will come to you if you join him to set up and run the museum, it is the person who made the first approach that is the One who initiated the partnership.

Divine partnership is initiated by God. He is the One who chooses or selects us to be His partners. He is the One who makes the first approach. John 15:16 tells us we did not choose God, He choose us… Ephesians 1:4 also tells us of how we were chosen by God before the creation of the world…

Through His Word, God tells us what His “business” idea, plan and goals are, how we can fit in, what role we can play in this partnership, and all the benefits we will enjoy if we agree to partner with Him.

DIVINE PARTNERSHIP IS PURELY AN ACT OF GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE

One of the main reasons why people enter into partnership agreements is because very few people have all the resources, skills, knowledge, experience or connections to run a successful business. Like the person with the idea to start a museum for children. The person has this good business idea but may not have the necessary funding to set up and operate the business. Hence, he seeks out someone or people to partner with him.

Most times, people are advised that in a partnership whether business or marriage, you look out for a partner that will bring something different to the table. A partner that will complement you in those things you are weak or lacking in.

So the question in divine partnership is what resources, strength, experience, knowledge wisdom or skill do we have which God doesn’t have or is lacking in that He needs us to partner with Him? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! God wanting to partner with us is purely an act of divine mercy and grace.

God isn’t asking us to partner with Him because we have physical strength – Isaiah 40:28-30 tells us that God is the only One who never gets tired and weary. Even youths; those that are ordinarily considered to have so much zeal, energy and stamina do get tired and weary. But the Almighty God, as old as He is, never for one day gets so tired He needs to stop and take a nap (Psalm 121:4) or take time off work (John 5:17).

God isn’t asking us to partner with Him because we are knowledgeable, intelligent, smart or wise – Job 21:22 says can anyone teach knowledge to God? We don’t even know ourselves as much as God does. We don’t even know the numbers of strands of hair on our head, but God knows (Matthew 10:30). 1 Corinthians 1:25 tells us how our wisdom and knowledge stands next to that of God. The verse says the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

God isn’t asking us to partner with Him because we have money or riches – When we hear the net worth of the billionaires of this world, we could be amazed, impressed or challenged to hear how stinking rich they are. But nobody’s riches impresses God. God can’t be impressed because you can’t even put a figure to His own net worth. How can you estimate the net worth of a God who says in Deuteronomy 10:14 that the heavens, even the highest heaven, the earth and everything in it belongs to God? Or how can you value the riches of a God who says the silver and gold is His (Haggai 2:8). Not only can you not put a figure to God’s net worth, if God decides to, in one day, He can take away all the wealth of the richest person on earth.