Power Partnerships Series

INTRO

ƒ{ As we continue in our series, I would be remiss if I didn't suggest

o That the #1 key to survival is investing in relationships

o Everybody's going to need somebody sometime

o If you're a self-made man, you haven't made much

o Lean on me when you're not strong.

ƒ{ I want to look beyond friendship and consider

o Power Relationships

ƒ{ It may be hard for our western culture to grasp this.

ƒ{ But it will help you become a survivor.

ƒ{ Because many of the things God does in our lives he does through people

EXAMPLE: Nobody has ever gotten a check sign by Jehovah Jirah

God uses people and relationships

ƒ{ Sometimes Spirit filled people

o Get so focused on God that we forget people

ƒ{ You can't disrespect people

o And get where you are going

ƒ{ Many are hindered in God's plan for them

o Because you kill God's messenger

„X Or people He wants to use to get there

ƒ{ I want you to understand a spiritual law of power partnerships

ƒ{ One of the things that's keeping you down

o Is you're not connected to the right partnerships.

Here are some power partnership principles you need to be a survivor:

1. All Good Things Flow From Relationship

* When God found you...he found you alone

* When He saved you...he saved you alone

* But He called you into the family of God

* 2 are better than 1

2. A Power Partnership is God's Blessing for Transition

* There are some transitions you will never make without someone's help

* I know you are talented, smart, etc

„X 1 set 1000 to flight

„X 2 send the legions fleeing

A. David

o Has to make a transition from shepherd boy to King

o So God brings a power partnership

„X Not a brother

„X Not a peer

o But someone who is higher

o A Samuel -- has already anointed a king

o If you keep hanging out with

„X Broke

„X Negative

„X Average

„X Lukewarm

* People

o Ask yourself; "Where are they taking me?"

o It's no problem having them as friends

o But you need a POWER RELATIONSHIP -- PARTNERSHIP

o When David failed...

o Another prophet, named Nathan, came in and helped him through repentance

o Jonathan -- transition out from Saul's table.

o Someone is always there to help David at the next level of transition.

B. Joseph

o Baker and the Butler

C. Paul (Paul's Conversion)

o A street called straight

o There was Ananias to help him get the scales off his eyes

o Barnabus became the bridge that got him into the church

o To begin to preach the gospel

D. Ruth

o Naomi

o Enabled her -- I will not go back!

E. Abraham

o Melchizedek

o Melchizedek blessed him

„X Before Abraham went to the next level

3. Dormant Potential can be Unlocked by the Right Relationship

* Somebody else has already been on the level that you are trying to go to.

* 1 Kings 19

* Elisha -- potential for greatness but plowing a field

* Elisha recognized this was a potential for a power partnership

* Elisha recognized that Elijah was at a higher level

* One of the reasons so many people never climb higher

o Is because we don't believe anybody is on a higher level than we are

* There are some people who are:

„X Smarter

„X Richer

„X Wiser

„X More favored

* Than YOU

* Not because God loves them more

* But because His anointing is on them in that area

* Probably because they've been through something

* To have power partnerships you have to resist the temptation to:

o Equalize

o Minimize

* Quit tearing people down

* If you kill the messenger because they are not perfect

o Then you will miss their message!!!

* If your insecurity raises up

* You won't follow

* And you never go up!

* So, Elisha follows Elijah

Note the 4 place he follows him through:

1. Gilgal (verse 2)

ƒ{ The place of sacrifice

ƒ{ The place the flesh was cut

ƒ{ Power partnership will require sacrifice

ƒ{ You can't have power partnerships on your time

ƒ{ If you're going to meet, someone important will tell you when to show up

ƒ{ If you are called to meet with the president and he set a time

o You can't call in because you had to get a hair cut

ƒ{ When you want what's in someone, you have to start at Gilgal

EXAMPLE: Pastor Leon Crawford

Tommy/Mathew Barnett

ƒ{ Your ego is keeping you in the wilderness

ƒ{ Power partnership is not a pal

o To compliment you