MINISTRY PARTNERSHIPS-II—Luke 1:41-45(:39-56)
Attention:
An out-of-towner pulled over to the side of the road to take a few pictures of the serene rural landscape. Unfortunately it had rained recently, & after getting out to take his pictures, he noticed that the car began slipping away from the road & eventually ended up in the ditch!
A local farmer happened to be nearby & came to help with his big draft horse named Buddy. He explained to the man that Buddy would pull his car out directly.
He hitched Buddy up to the car & yelled, “Pull, Nellie, pull!”—Buddy didn't move.
Then the farmer hollered, “Pull, Buster, pull!”—Buddy didn't respond.
Once more the farmer commanded, “Pull, Harley, pull!”—Again, not a movement from Buddy.
Then the farmer nonchalantly says to Buddy, “Okay Buddy, pull!” And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.
The motorist was most appreciative. But he was very curious about one thing. He asked the farmer, why he had called his horse by the wrong name three times.
The farmer said, “Oh, Buddy is blind, & if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try!”
•Buddy put himself fully into the work, whenever he was convinced that his partners were involved too!
•Likewise, Ministry Partnerships accomplish a great deal, when they work together in the Lord!
Eccl. 4:9-10—“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
Need:
Ministry Partnerships can sometimes be challenging.
BUT they are always rewarding!
They always teach us a great deal about working together in ministry, but they especially reveal the extent & nature of our own 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 partnership fosters a sharing of experience in God’s service.
BUT, What exactly do ministry partnerships share?
Last time we met, we found that:
Ministry Partnerships share...
1. EXCITEMENT(:39-40)
Today, we’ll find that,
2—Ministry Partnerships ALSO share...
BLESSING(:41-45)
Explanation: (:41-45)
:41a—“And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb;...”
Upon “Elizabeth’s” hearing “Mary’s” “greeting”, the “baby” in Elizabeth’s “womb” “leaped.” Baby’s in the womb can hear, & intimately sense & are moved by their mother’s emotional state, etc.
•That “leaping” of the pre-born John-the-Baptist(:13, 60-64) is given a little more press in verse :44. There “Elizabeth” informs “Mary” that even in the “womb”, her baby, John was so cognitive/aware, as to “leap” “for joy.”
That “leap” or ‘kicking’ by John in Elizabeth’s womb, had a significance beyond the usual movement of a child in the womb.
•John “leaped” “for joy” because even in the womb, he genuinely recognized “Mary” as carrying Jesus, the promised Messiah of Israel! For those who may think that explanation to be far-fetched, remember that before John’s conception, the angel Gabriel had told John-the -Baptist’s father, Zacharias, that John “will also be filled with the Holy Spirit” “even from his mother’s womb”(:15).
:41b—“...& Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
As a consequence of John’s movement, “Elizabeth” herself became “filled with the Holy Spirit.”
That is, “Elizabeth” allowed the Holy Spirit full control of her being, & thus He would give her the words to say(:42ff.)
•This calls to my mind, Jesus’ encouragement regarding the disciple’s witness.
Lk. 12:11-12—“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
WORDS:
“Greeting”(See :44)—aspasmov—1) A salutation, either oral or written. Strong–A greeting (in person or by letter):-- Greeting, salutation.
“Leaped”(See :44)—skirtaw—Verb—1)To leap. Strong—To jump, i.e. Sympathetically move(as the quickening of a fetus). Used 3X--Lk. 1:41, 44; Lk. 6:23.
“Filled”—plhyw—1) To fill; 2) To be fulfilled, to be filled.
:42—“Then she spoke out with a loud voice & said, “Blessed are you among women, & blessed is the fruit of your womb!””
By the leading/prodding of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth “loudly” & unashamedly prophesied...
Elizabeth proclaimed 2 specific things....Firstly, that:
1) Mary was indeed “blessed” “among women”;
•That Mary is “blessed” “among women” reveals the extreme privilege of her unique pregnancy. That “blessing” is a statement that, of all “women” on earth, Mary is particularly “blessed” of God. Mary’s faith in God, is beneficial to God’s specific & sovereign need.
•When those around Mary would begin to question, & possibly ridicule her, that word from the Holy Spirit would, no doubt, put things into perspective for her & give her great comfort.
Secondly, Elizabeth also prophesied that...
2) “The fruit” of Mary’s “womb” was “blessed” as well.
So by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth particularly recognized that Mary’s child(Jesus) was also “blessed” of God.
•Thus Mary was indirectly reminded of her God-ordained responsibility for raising her uniquely ‘holy’ child in a properly godly environment(along with Joseph).
*Those words, that came to Mary, thru Elizabeth’s obedience to the Holy Spirit, are things that Mary would need to receive for her encouragement.
•The Holy Spirit can convict any one, & any number of God’s children, about what needs to be done or said. But those things need to be done &/or shared in a proper setting. And they need to be done &/or shared in a manner befitting God’s intent.
•To further complicate matters, sometimes we may allow our own personality to so color a statement or action, that even though we are representing God’s truth, we do not represent it well! And in doing that, we offer God’s truth in a manner that confuses the issue at hand!
•The fallout from that confusion, is one reason God’s people are continually reminded that they are to ‘love one another’!(Jn. 13:34; 15:12; Rom. 12:9-10; 13:8; 1Thes. 3:12-13; 4:9; 1Pet. 4:8; 1Jn. 3:10-11, 14, 23; 4:12, etc.)
•Jn. 13:34-35—“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
*We are ignorant & blind to the potential ‘blessings’ of God on our lives & others, UNTIL we obtain the eyes & heart of God, thru His Holy Spirit!
WORDS:
“Blessed”(See :45—makariov)—euloghtov—Lit. = ‘well-speak’—Adj.—1) Blessed, praised. Strong—Adorable. Used 8X.?From—eulogew—1) To praise, celebrate with praises. Strong—To speak well of, i.e. religiously--To bless(thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper).
:43—““But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?””
“But why is this granted to me,...”...“should come to me?”
Elizabeth expresses her HUMILITY at being accepted & chosen of God, to share in the joy & wonder of God’s visitation! What a ‘blessing’ it was for Elizabeth, to have Mary come to her!
“that the mother of my Lord...”
In that instant, Elizabeth knew that Mary was the “mother of” her “Lord”(kuriov)! Until they exchanged their testimonies to God’s work, Elizabeth had ‘probably’ not previously known that God was working in Mary. But by their sharing, & by the Holy Spirit’s informing Elizabeth upon Mary’s arrival, both testimonies confirmed each other!
•Bottom line:—Elizabeth understood God’s hand was upon both herself & Mary, to bring about something miraculous that was key to God’s plan. And that, particularly so, as Mary had relayed her encounter with Gabriel(:45). And it is not too far a stretch to say that Elizabeth shared the details of her encounter with God thru Gabriel’s encounter with her husband Zacharias(:11-25).
Lk. 1:15-17—regarding Elizabeth’s promised son, John—““For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, & shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit & power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ & the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.””
:44—““For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”
Elizabeth openly related to Mary, what she & John had experienced upon Mary’s arrival—during their “greeting”(:41).
•Elizabeth’s “babe”(John) had “leaped”(:41) in great “joy” or exultation, even while in her “womb.”
*If a child within the womb can be filled with the Holy Spirit...A child within the womb can react to God’s presence...thus a child is a child at conception & not a ‘thing’/nuisance/hindrance...to be discarded at will.
WORDS:
“Voice/Sound—fwnh—Noun Nominative Sing. Fem.—1) A sound, a tone—1a) Of inanimate things, as musical instruments; 2) A voice—2a) Of the sound of uttered words; 3) Speech—3a) Of a language, tongue. Strong—A tone(articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication--An address(for any purpose), saying or language;?English prefix or suffix=‘-Phone, or ‘Phono-’.
“Sounded/Reached”—ginomai—2Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative 3rd Sing.—1)To become, i.e. To come into existence, begin to be, receive being; 2) To become, i.e. To come to pass, happen—3a) Of men appearing in public; 4) To be made, finished—4a) of miracles--To be performed, wrought; 5) To become, be made. Strong—To cause to be(“gen”-erate), i.e. reflexively--To become(come into being).
“Leaped”(See :44)—skirtaw—1Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Sing.—1)To leap. Strong—To jump, i.e. Sympathetically move(as the quickening of a fetus). Used 3X--Lk. 1:41, 44; Lk. 6:23.
“Joy”—agalliasiv—Noun Dative Sing. Fem.—1) Exultation, extreme joy, gladness. At feasts, people were anointed with the “oil of gladness.” Strong—Exultation; specially, Welcome:-- Gladness, (exceeding)joy. NAS95—Exultation, exuberant joy. Used 5X--Lk. 1:14, 44; Acts 2:46; Heb. 1:9; Jude 1:24.?From a compound of—agan—Much.—&—allomai—‘To leap or spring up.’
:45—“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.””
It becomes obvious here that sometime during their ‘greeting’(:41) Mary & Elizabeth, mutually exchanged information.
Mary’s encounter—:30-35
Elizabeth’s encounter—:13-17
Mary’s personal “belief” brought God’s “blessing” to her, as well as to Elizabeth from her.
Elizabeth also proclaimed that Mary was “blessed” because of her personal trust(“believed”) in the fact that God would “fulfill” what the He had spoken thru the angel.
•God’s angels so faithfully relate/relay what is the mind/voice of God, that their word can be said to be spoken directly by God.
*“Blessing” comes to us as the result of personal faith in God’s truth, God’s design, & our willing & even unwitting involvement with it! The “blessing” comes to those who truly trust that God will honor His word(“fulfillment”), regardless of whether we can wrap our minds around it or not!
What occurred in Mary’s life was not a random choice on God’s part. That is to say, God’s choice was built & balanced upon Mary’s faithfulness to God’s will(“blessed is she who believed”). God knew that Mary would “believe” His message thru the angel Gabriel, & that she would surrender herself to “those things which were told her from the Lord.” Mary trrusted “the Lord’s” will(:38) would be done thru her.
*We can be blind-sided by God’s choosing us for a task, simply because we have not had opportunity for involvement in such work previously. However there must always be a beginning point for every work of faithfulness.
Those new opportunities for service are indeed “blessings”, because they are granted to us by the ability & power of God. The “blessings” you receive from God, are also meant to be a blessing for others!
WORDS:
“Blessed”(See :42—eulogew)—makariov—Adj.—1)Blessed, happy. Strong—Supremely blest; by extension--Fortunate, well off. Used 50X.?A prolonged form of the poetical—makar(meaning the same).
*A person who is “blessed” finds all their ‘fortune’ in God & in God’s plan.
“Believed”—pisteuw—Strong—To have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. Credit; by implication, To entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):-- Believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
“Fulfillment”—teleiwsiv—Noun Nominative Sing. Fem.—1) A completing, a perfecting–1a) Fulfillment, accomplishment, 1b) The event which verifies the promise, 1c) Consummation, perfection. Strong—the act--Completion, i.e. of prophecy--Verification, or of expiation--Absolution. Used 2X--Lk. 1:45; Heb. 7:11?From—teleiow—To complete, i.e. literally--Accomplish, or figuratively--Consummate(in character).
“Told”—lalew—Perfect Passive Participle - Dative Plural Neuter—1) To utter a voice or emit a sound; 2) To speak; 3) To talk; 4) To utter, tell; 5) To speak. Strong—To talk, i.e. Utter words.?Lalew means an extended or random harangue, while legw means to relate, in words[usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas epw & fhmi generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while rew is properly--to break silence merely].
Argumentation:
*Deut. 15:12-18—““If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you & serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. And when you send him away free from you, you shall not let him go away empty-handed; “you shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your threshing floor, & from your winepress. From what the LORD has blessed you with, you shall give to him. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, & the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this thing today. And if it happens that he says to you, ‘I will not go away from you,’ because he loves you & your house, since he prospers with you, then you shall take an awl & thrust it through his ear to the door, & he shall be your servant forever. Also to your female servant you shall do likewise. It shall not seem hard to you when you send him away free from you; for he has been worth a double hired servant in serving you six years. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do.”
*Lk. 11:27-28—“And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice & said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, & the breasts which nursed You!” But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God & keep it!”
*Lk. 6:20-26—“Then He[Jesus] lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, & said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, & cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day & leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn & weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.”
•The ‘Blessings’ spoken of here are not merely the ‘blessings’ that both the righteous & the wicked share—the sun rising & setting, air to breathe, the seasons, the rain, consistencies of temperature, etc. This “blessedness” is unique to the servant of God! It cannot be experienced by any who are NOT servants of God!
Haggai 2:19—“‘Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, & the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’””
•As a child of God, you may not currently be experiencing the FULL physical ‘fruit’ of God’s ‘blessing’, BUT it is guaranteed that you can & will receive even His physical blessing in the future! His blessing is promised by God in Christ!
Ezra 6:13-16—“Then Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai, & their companions diligently did according to what King Darius had sent. So the elders of the Jews built, & they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet & Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built & finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, & according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, & Artaxerxes king of Persia. Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.[515 BC] Then the children of Israel, the priests & the Levites & the rest of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.”
Illustration:
Last week I mentioned the ‘Excitement’ that was generated thru our Association’s ‘Cross Over Grady County’ series of evangelistic events. Because we witnessed so many of God’s people ministering together to bring about the same goal of evangelizing our entire county.
The churches that took part in that series of evangelistic events, all BENEFITTED from the outreach, so that a huge blessing took place, in that....
1)Many people got saved & began attending church.
2)Those who had gotten away from church, began to participate again.
3) & Many lost people began attending church!
•Ministry Partnerships share BLESSING
It is a ‘Blessing’ to witness the growth of a church(personal & physical), simply because God has brought it about! God’s people continually witness that growth, thru being faithful to work together in God’s power & strength, & for His sake.
•Ministry Partnerships share BLESSING
Every time God’s people turn on the Television, Christians should realize they are blessed to know God’s truth—the difference between right & wrong, foolishness & wisdom. God in Christ, & not society, is that deciding factor!
•Ministry Partnerships share BLESSING
Application:
?Are YOU a Partner sharing The BLESSING of God’s service?
?You a confirmed partner with others in God’s service?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Remember Buddy the blind horse put himself more fully into the work, whenever he was convinced that his partners were involved too!
Likewise, Ministry Partnerships accomplish a great deal when they work together in the Lord!
Action:
Ministry Partnerships share...
2. BLESSING(:41-45)
1. EXCITEMENT(:39-40)
Pt# 2 only! Presented 01/16/2025pm to:
Salem BC
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Pt#s 1-2 Presented 01/23/2010pm to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
