PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL
TEXT: Exodus 4.27 - 5.1
INTRODUCTION:
Who does ministry? Is it the pastor, or other staff member. That would be many responses by people. However, we are all to be involved in ministry. We are all called to fulfill the mission of Jesus Christ. Our involvement in ministry must be a partnership in order to be successful. If ministry is a one-man show then it will not be successful.
As we look at our Scripture, we must realize that we must be a partner in the ministry of the Gospel. Our churches are dependant on this principle. We will look at what a partnership is and how we can be a partner with our Pastor.
WHAT IS PARTNERSHIP?
“Being a partner means a person has ownership in something to the point of having a vital interest and investment in making it succeed.” (Mark Walker)
1. Moses and Aaron went together.
a. They went to the elders of Israel.
“And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.” (Exodus 4:29)
b. They went to Pharoah.
“And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.” (Exodus 5:1)
2. Peter was joined by the others
“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words.” (Acts 2:14)
3. Partnerships must have one purpose, without division
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)
4. For a partnership to succeed, there must be unity.
A. “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)
B. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)
“Maximum success is not achieved by one man doing the work of twelve, nor twelve men doing the work of one, but every man striving to reach his maximum potential.” ( J. Ralph Brewer)
HOW TO PARTNER WITH THE PASTOR?
1. Total Dedication to God
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)
The word used here for “beseech” – means “to implore, urge, or beg.”
We must realize that dedication must be:
Continuous
Wherever we are
Lived for God by serving God
A. Jesus wanted them to follow Him.
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
B. We must dedicate totally.
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)
C. The rich young ruler could not do it.
“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” (Mark 10:21)
D. Enoch showed how to do it.
“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24)
2. Be transformed
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
A. We need the mind of Christ.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)
B. What was the mind of Christ.
“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my business?” (Luke 2:49)
C. Help those in need.
“But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” (Matthew 9:12)
3. Be humble
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12.3)
If we think to highly – we will attempt to much and fail, it we think to little – we will attempt nothing or not contribute as needed.
A. Humble yourself.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:10)
B. Do it for God.
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
C. Jesus humbled Himself for us.
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:6-7)
D. We preach Jesus.
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:5)
What we do must not be for the sake of ourselves, but for the organization.
4. Be yourself
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us . . .” (Romans 12.4-6)
A. We are the body of Christ.
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 12:12)
B. Be satisfied with what God has for you to do.
“For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” (1 Corinthians 12:14-21)
C. The body should fit together as God created.
“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:16)
CONCLUSION:
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:6)
All Christians have opportunities and abilities to minister to one another in various ways.
“What a marvelous truth that when we go, we do not go alone; when we work, we do not work alone. All the power, blessings, and resources that are resident in God are available to us.”
If we can truly become partners in the Gospel than we can have:
a church that wants to build His kingdom in their town,
a church that wants to glorify Jesus,
a church that desires to bring honor to His name,
a church that wants to win the lost,
a church that wants to see people sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit,
a church that wants to see people healed and delivered for His glory,
a church that desires the gifts and fruit of the Spirit flowing through its members.
It is still possible today for a church to come together with different backgrounds and personalities and let the Holy Spirit create us like a symphony. You can take a group of musicians with varied instruments, allowed them to play at will, they will only produce chaos and no musical harmony. But let the leader step to the podium and call the orchestra to attention and direct them, then the sound becomes a glorious and beautiful harmony that will thrill the ears of the listener.
If we will allow the Holy Spirit to direct our lives in the same manner, what comes forth is beautiful and delightful to the eyes and ears of God.
