PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD - AN UNBEATABLE TEAM
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OUTLINE
1.ISAAC - ENJOY PROSPERITY IN FAMINE
2.JOSEPH - SUCCESS IN ALL SITUATIONS
3.MOSES - GO BACK AND CONQUER YOUR FAILURE
4.JOSHUA - TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE
5.GIDEON - MINORITY BECOMES MAJORITY
6.SAMUEL - GOD BACKS YOU UP
7.DAVID - AGAINST ALL ODDS
THE MESSAGE
PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD - AN UNBEATABLE TEAM
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1. ISAAC - ENJOY PROSPERITY IN FAMINE
Isaac was living in the land of famine. But God promised to be with him and bless him. Therefore even when he was surrounded by famine and crop failure ,Isaac received a hundredfold return when he sowed.The situation around him did not control and dominate his life because God was with him. He enjoyed prosperity in the land of famine.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Genesis 26: 1-3 , 12-13
Now there was a famine in the land besides the previous famine in Abraham's time and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar.
The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live.
Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham.
Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.
The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy.
2. JOSEPH - SUCCESS IN ALL SITUATIONS
The situation in the life of Joseph kept changing. He was a favoured son in his father's home. Soon he became a slave in potiphar's house. Later he became a prisoner on false accusations. But
because God was with him in all situations he was successful in everything he undertook.His partnership with God was the secret of his success.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Genesis 39: 2-4
The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.
When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did,
Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.
3. MOSES - GO BACK AND CONQUER YOUR FAILURE
Moses ran away from Egypt and from Pharoh in fear and was in the wilderness hiding . Now God told him to go back to Egypt and set his people free. Moses had a bitter experience of failure and rejection in Egypt. He must have been very reluctant to go back and face the same situation from which he ran away. But God led him back and helped him to conquer in the same area where he failed.He successfully led his people out of bondage.The secret was that God was with Him now. Previously he had tried in his own strength and failed.In the time of Jesus the disciples tried all night to catch fish and failed. But they tried again this time with the Lord's help and caught a great number of fish.When the Holy Spirit came on the disciples on the day of Pentecost they were witnesses first in Jerusalem. It was in Jerusalem that they deserted Jesus , denied Him and were hiding in fear of the Jews. But God made them fearless witnesses first in Jerusalem and helped them conquer their failure.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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EXODUS 2:11-15
One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people.
Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?
The man said,Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian? Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.
When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well.
Exodus 3;11-12
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?
And God said, I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.
LUKE 5:4-7
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.
Simon answered, Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
MATTHEW 26:31-35 , 56
Then Jesus told them, This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.
Peter replied, Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.
Truly I tell you, Jesus answered, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.
But Peter declared, Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.†And all the other disciples said the same.
But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
ACTS 2:14
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
4. JOSHUA - TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE
Joshua was facing a new challenge in his life.He had to take the enormous responsiblity of leading the vast people of Israel.He knew the difficulties that Moses himself had with these people.He was fearful about the whole situation. But God encouraged him to take up the challenge. He reminded him about his presence with Moses and promised to be with him in the same way.It was not Moses who performed those mighty miracles but God working through Moses. Moses in his human strength was helpless as anyone else.Therefore the same God who worked through Moses promised to work through Joshua and encouraged him to take up the challenge.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Joshua 1: 5,9
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
5. GIDEON - MINORITY BECOMES MAJORITY
Gideon was the least of a poor family with his entire comunity being oppressed by the Midianites.In this gloomy and hopeless situation the angel of the Lord appears to him and calls him a mighty man of valour because God was with him.Gideon did not realise the presence of God in his life.He wondered why his people were facing so many difficulties if God was with them.God had to convince him that he could overcome the Midianites when God was on his side.With God the minority becomes a majority.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Judges 6:12-16
When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.
Pardon me, my lord, Gideon replied, but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.
The LORD turned to him and said, Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?
Pardon me, my lord, Gideon replied, but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.
The LORD answered, I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.
6. SAMUEL - GOD BACKS YOU UP
When Samuel was beginning his ministry the Lord was with him and helped him to establish his office of a prophet. He ensured that every word of Samuel was fulfilled. By ensuring the fulfillment of his prophecies the Lord established his reputation and credibility as a prophet and all of Israel acknowledged Samuel as a prophet of the Lord.Thus the Lord backed up Samuel and established his ministry.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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I Samuel 3;19-20
19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel's words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD.
7. DAVID- AGAINST ALL ODDS
God was with David when he was facing a formidable enemy in King Saul. Though he was only a youth with little human resources with which to defend himself , he had God as his partner and patron and he was able to face all dangers and attacks and come out victoriously against all odds.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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I Samuel 18; 14 ,28-29
In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.
When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,
Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.
