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
“Hill country”—oreinov—Adj. Accusative Sing. Fem.—1) Mountainous, hilly; 2) The mountain district, hill country.—Strong—mountainous, i.e. (feminine by implication of cwra[room/a space/territory]) the Highlands(of Judaea) probably from an obsolete orw(to rise or "rear"); A mountain(as lifting itself above the plain). Used 2X--Lk. 1:39, 65. .?From—orov—A Mountain.
:39—“...to a city of Judah,”
We are never told the name of the “city” where Zacharias & Elizabeth lived. The “city’s” name was either unknown to Luke, or more than likely, unimportant to Luke’s purposes here.
However the “city” “Mary” traveled to, was located within the environs of what was recognized as “Judah” by the Jews themselves, but known as ‘Judea’ by the Romans, who occupied Israel in “In those days.”
•“Judah’s” northern border ran roughly from the Brook(wadi) of Mockmur, to the southern end of the Dead Sea, & included all the land that was sandwiched between the Jordan River & the Mediterranean Sea.
:39—“...with haste...”
“Mary” heard the angel Gabriel’s pronouncement that she would birth ‘the Son of God’ by means of the Holy Spirit(:30-35). She was also told that Elizabeth, “Mary’s” formerly barren(:7) relative, was now pregnant(:36). And so, “Mary” was overcome by an urgency to share her excitement about God’s plan. So she quickly made her way into “the hill country” of “Judah”, to a particular, but unnamed “city of Judah”, “with haste.”
That is, “Mary” did not hesitate or falter over her encounter with the angel Gabriel. She took his words & her response(:38; 2:19) very seriously.
•So she no doubt, sought the confirmation of her exciting news thru her relative, Elizabeth(:36, 40)! And likewise, “Mary” also sought to share in Elizabeth’s excitement as well!
•Rom. 1:11-12—“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established-- that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you & me.
1Cor. 16:17-18—“I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, & Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. For they refreshed my spirit & yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.”
Phm. 1:7—“For we have great joy & consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.”
:40—“& entered the house of Zacharias & greeted Elizabeth.”
“Zacharias” had encountered the angel Gabriel at ‘the Altar of Incense’ in the Holy Place of the Temple(:8-17). There Gabriel had rendered “Zacharias” mute until the birth of he & “Elizabeth’s” son, John-the-Baptist(:18-22).
•At the point of Mary’s visit, recorded in verse :40, “Zacharias” had been mute for at least 6mths. of his wife, “Elizabeth’s” pregnancy.
“Mary” traveled to Judah particularly to see “Elizabeth.” “Elizabeth” was “Mary’s” kin(:36—“Relative/Cousin”—Kinsman related by blood.). She thus entered “Zacharias’” & “Elizabeth’s” home.
Mary “greeted Elizabeth”—They embraced one another(as closely as one can with Elizabeth being 6mths pregnant!).
“Greeted/Saluted”—aspazomai—1Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative 3rd Sing.—1) To draw to one's self, 1a) To salute one, greet, bid welcome, wish well to, 1b) To receive joyfully, welcome. Used of those accosting[aggressively address] anyone; of those who visit one to see him a little while, departing almost immediately afterwards; To pay respects to a distinguished person by visiting him; Of those who greet one whom they meet in the way; A salutation was made not merely by a slight gesture & a few words, but generally by embracing & kissing, a journey was retarded frequently by saluting. Strong—To enfold in the arms, i.e. by implication--To salute, figuratively--To welcome.?From—A(as a particle of union)—& a presumed form of—spaw—To draw(out).
Argumentation:
Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26-29; 3:5-6, 12-13—““He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’”.....““He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’”..... ““He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, & on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’”.....““And he who overcomes, & keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-- ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’--as I also have received from My Father; & I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”.....““He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, & I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father & before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”.....““He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, & he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God & the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”
•Those promises ought to bring a ‘God-driven excitement’ to your heart, that is shared among you all, as fellow ministers!
Ex. 18:5-9—“& Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons[Gershom & Eliezer] & his wife[Zipporah] to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife & her two sons with her.” So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, & kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, & they went into the tent. And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh & to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, & how the LORD had delivered them. Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.”
Php 1:27--2:2—“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come & see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, & not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, & that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me & now hear is in me. Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection & mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
Neh. 4:16-17—Israel upon returning from 70yr. Babylonian exile—“So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, & wore armor; & the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. Those who built on the wall, & those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, & with the other held a weapon.”
Rev. 3:20—““Behold, I stand at the door & knock. If anyone hears My voice & opens the door, I will come in to him & dine with him, & he with Me.”
Jn. 15:11—Jesus said—““These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, & that your joy may be full.”
Ezra 3:8-11—?in the 530sBC?—“Now in the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, & the rest of their brethren the priests & the Levites, & all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began work & appointed the Levites from twenty years old & above to oversee the work of the house of the LORD. Then Jeshua with his sons & brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, & the sons of Judah, arose as one to oversee those working on the house of God: the sons of Henadad with their sons & their brethren the Levites. When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, & the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising & giving thanks to the LORD: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.”
2Jn. 12—“Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper & ink; but I hope to come to you & speak face to face, that our joy may be full.”
Rom. 15:30-32—“Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, & through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, & that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, & may be refreshed together with you.”
1Cor. 12:26—“And if one member[of the body of Christ] suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
•It is exciting to know that God is using your gift & that His plan is incomplete without it!
Rom. 12:15—“Rejoice with those who rejoice, & weep with those who weep.”
•After all....when Gabriel had spoken to “Mary”, he made specific mention of God’s work with “Elizabeth”(:36-37)! Who better to celebrate with?!
1Cor. 12:7—“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:”
Illustration:
Excitement at Being used of God.
We merge our giftedness with others, to form a complete witness to God’s greatness.
•Ministry Partnerships share EXCITEMENT....
... When I was serving a church in the Grady Baptist Association in south Georgia, we did a ‘Cross Over Grady County’ series of evangelistic events. We divided the county into quadrants. From each quadrant, most every SBC church participated. It was thrilling just to see so many people consistently involved. All churches would benefit from the outreach. It was thrilling to see so many people involved from every part of the county!
•Ministry Partnerships share EXCITEMENT
Evangelism training. All participants merge to yield their collective knowledge, giftedness, & mission.
•Ministry Partnerships share EXCITEMENT
My participation at Seminary. I quickly discovered that my calling was something that I needed to share with those of similar calling, & they shared with me. We thoroughly enjoyed our time sharing life with other families attending the seminary. We all remained caught up in the EXCITEMENT of God’s desire to use us in so many ways & so profoundly.
•Ministry Partnerships share EXCITEMENT
Application:
?Do YOUR Ministry Partnerships share The EXCITEMENT of God’s service?
?Are YOU a committed Partner in God’s service?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Remember the man pretending to be a ‘light bulb’, & his partner who wouldn’t work ‘in the dark’!
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!
Action:
Ministry Partnerships share...
1. EXCITEMENT(:39-40)
Pt# 1 only! Presented 01/09/2025pm to:
Salem BC
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
