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.””
God’s “help” toward His people “Israel” is a statement of, & a witness to His “mercy.”
God’s “help” toward “Israel” thru many instances & events, in differing periods of time, affords “Israel”, & by their witness, ALL people, a “remembrance” of God’s “mercy.”
God Himself “remembers” His “mercy” promised to His people, & therefore has given “Israel” “help.”
The word translated as “servant”(paiv) in verse :54, is interesting.
•Unlike the more common word for a ‘servant’(doulov), paiv also designates ‘a child’ of any age!
•The word calls attention to descent, or relationship, & so it designates a person, or in this case, the nation of “Israel.” And thus it is heavily implied that “Israel” is seen by God as someone younger/immature/not yet adult & in need of ‘parental’ direction, as would a “servant.”
•IF “Israel” is here intended to be designated a ‘child’(paiv) or child-like “servant” of their heavenly Father, THEN they would definitely be the recipients of God’s “mercy”, in the sense that all ‘children’ are in need of their ‘parent’s’ “mercy.” And thru “Israel”, God extends His “mercy” to ALL thru Jesus, God’s only Son!
•God did in fact will/call/bring this nation/people/‘child’—“Israel”—into existence!
•And throughout “Israel’s” existence, God has indeed, compassionately, lovingly, & miraculously, “helped” them. God has done that, so that “Israel” & all the world, would have a reminder or a “remembrance of “His” great “mercy”!
:54—WORDS—
“Helped”—antilambanomai—1) To lay hold of, hold fast to anything; 2) To take a person or thing in order as it were to be held, to take to, embrace; 3) To help, to be a partaker of, partake of (the benefits of the services rendered by the slaves). Strong—To take hold of in turn, i.e. Succor; also to participate:-- Help, partaker, support. Used 3X.
“Servant”—paiv—1) A child, boy or girl—1a) Infants, children; 2) Servant, slave—2a) An attendant, servant, spec. a king's attendant, minister. Paiv as well as teknon emphasizes the idea of descent, but gives especial prominence to age, denoting a child as one who is young. Paiv is also often used of a servant. The number of years covered by the term paiv is quite indefinite. Its diminutives paidion & paidarion are used without appreciable difference to denote a young child. (Paidiskov in classical Greek &) paidiskh, in which the diminutive force is largely lost, cover the years of late childhood & early youth.
“Remembrance”—mnaomai—1) To remind. Strong—To bear in mind, i.e. recollect; by implication to reward or punish:-- Be mindful, remember, come (have) in remembrance.
“Mercy”(See :50)—eleov—1) Mercy: kindness or good will towards the miserable & the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them. Eleov manifests itself chiefly in acts rather than words. Strong—Compassion (human or divine, especially active):-- (+ tender) mercy.
:55—“As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham & to his seed forever.””
This informs verse :54, in that God’s “mercy” was partly seen(& ‘probably’ foremost in Mary’s thinking & experience) in God’s speaking to the patriarchs...the forefathers of Israel, thru whom God worked. Particularly to “Abraham” & “his seed” for every age throughout time.
*Thus Mary spoke better than she knew, that all those of faith in Christ Jesus, would also be the “seed” of “Abraham”!
•God’s “merciful”(:50) “help”(:54) toward “Israel”, specifically recalls the initial calling of Abram(& reiterated in the Abrahamic covenant(Gen. 15)).
•God’s “merciful”(:50) “help”(:54) toward “Israel”, also specifically recalls subsequent encounters(Gen. 18:18; 22:18; 26:4), where “Abraham”(‘Father of a multitude’) is told that in him, “all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”(Gen. 12:2-3).
The patriarchal beginnings are lodged in “Abraham” & thus in his offspring. The result being: the people of “Israel”, & thru Christ, ALL the children of God!
Gal. 3:8—“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.””
(AGAIN)Rom. 9:6-8—“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.”
*Rom. 4:13-14—“For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void & the promise made of no effect,”
*Gal. 3:16—“Now to Abraham & his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.”
*Gal. 3:18, 28-29—“For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”.....“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, & heirs according to the promise.”
:55—WORDS—
“Spoke”—lalew—Strong—To talk, i.e. Utter words:-- Preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.
“Seed”—sperma—1) From which a plant germinates; 2) The semen virile. Strong—Something sown, i.e. Seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, Offspring; specifically, A remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting):-- Issue, seed.
“Forever”—eiv touv aiwnav/eiv ton aiwna—Lit=‘Into The Ages’—“Into”—eiv—Preposition—1) Into, unto, to, towards, for, among. Strong—To or Into(indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or figuratively--Purpose(result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases; a primary preposition.—+—“The”—o,—OR—feminine--h, —OR—neuter--to—Definite Article—1) This, that, these, etc. Strong—the definite article; The(sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).—+—“Ages”—aiwn—Noun Masc.—1) For ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity; 2) The worlds, universe; 3) Period of time, age. Aiwn is usually better expressed by age, it is the world at a given time, a particular period in the world's history. Kosmov has very frequently an unfavorable meaning, denoting the inhabitants of the world, mankind in general, as opposed to God. A similar meaning is often attached to aiwn, it means the spirit of the age, often in an unfavorable sense. Strong—properly--An age; by extension--Perpetuity (also past); by implication--The world; specially(Jewish)--A Messianic period(present or future).
Argumentation:
*Eph. 1:3-14—“Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy & without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom & prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven & which are on earth--in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”.....
*Eph. 1:15-21—“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus & your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom & revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, & what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead & seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality & power & might & dominion, & every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”
*1Sam. 2:1-3—“And Hannah prayed & said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. “No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the LORD is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed.”
*Ps. 34:1-3—<<A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, & he departed.>>—I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it & be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.”
Eph. 3:20-21—“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever & ever. Amen.”
*2Cor. 4:6-7—“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God & not of us.”
2Cor. 12:9—“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Eph. 6:10—“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord & in the power of His might.”
Illustration:
Power & Character worthy of Magnification:
When I was a kid(11+ years of age) I DREAMed of having a Honda Trail 70! It was a 70cc minibike that was actually a scaled-down real motorcycle. It had a key & a kickstart! It wasn’t one of those homemade two-tube frames that was retrofitted with a Briggs & Stratton engine! For a couple of years, I begged my Dad to let me have one. I worked as hard as an 11-12 year old could to save up my money!
Even though I ‘magnified’ the minibike’s many wonders for my Dad, he never let me have it....because he knew I’d get killed or maimed riding it! GOD’s MAGNIFICATION
•Similarly, You will definitely get 'killed or maimed' when you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior & Lord!...And that’s a good thing! That 'death' is pictured when we undergo the waters of baptism. Baptism is a symbol of & pictures/illustrates that the old you(committed to sin) is 'buried'(under the water) & done away with—when you commit yourself to Christ Jesus! And by Him, You are then raised(resurrected) to new life(out of the water), as a result of burying the old person of sin, by the power of Jesus!
GOD’s MAGNIFICATION
Application:
?Do YOUR Ministry Partnerships MAGNIFY GOD together?...OR Do you Magnify your own fleshly agenda?
?Are YOU a committed Partner in God’s service?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
The IMB team leading a Hindu to Christ!...
Likewise, God’s people have great potential when they work together & face obstacles together, in God’s service!
Action:
Ministry Partnerships share...
3. GOD’s MAGNIFICATION[part-3--:54-55](:46-55)
d. His Regard for the CHOSEN(:54-55)
1. EXCITEMENT(:39-40)
2. BLESSING(:41-45)
3. GOD’s MAGNIFICATION[part-1--:46-50](:46-55)
a. His Regard for the LOWLY(:46-49)
b. His Regard for the FAITHFUL(:50)
3. GOD’s MAGNIFICATION[part-2--:51-53](:46-55)
c. His Regard for the WEAK(:51-53)
Pt#3[part-3--:54-55] Presented 03/09/2025am to:
Salem Baptist Church
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Pt#s3-4 Presented 02/13/2011am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
