We all hear different ministers talking about partnership. They’ll talk about the ones they have and how they need more. One day, I asked the Lord to give me a revelation of what real partnership is all about. The first thing He said was that all partnerships has to start with me first, then I can send you other partners to continue with the vision I have given you. You must understand that the vision is my will here on earth for you and all that I call to be a part of it with you. One of the biggest things to learn about partnership is that it is far more than just giving money. It includes combining the gifts that we have which will build the partnership. Let’s look at 1st Corinthians 12:1-11, but we’re going to just focus here on verses 4 - 7 and pick back up with verse 11. Verse 4) Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5) And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. Verses 8 - 10 talk about what the gifts are and how they work. And then verse 11) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” So, we can see that partnership is never just about the money. The Lord began to show me in the New and Old Testaments on how we have to partner with him first before we can partner with others. We’re going to bounce around in Acts and Ezekiel. This will give us a good picture of how powerful partnership is and how important it is to start with a personal relationship with God. Acts chapter two opens with a personal relationship with God in the fullest. Verse 1) And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. What we need to notice is the word “they” in verse one. It represents two different types of relationship’s here. First, we see a personal responsibility by each one to come to this place on their own and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, we see it also meant that it was for the whole group to be there. I’ll explain how all this develops from a personal to a group partnership. Each one that got baptized or filled with the Holy Spirit deepened their own relationship with the Lord. As a group, they all got to see each other being filled with the Holy Spirit. Because they each saw this happen to each other, they knew that something special had taken place, a bond was developed between them and they knew that each had deepened their relationship with God and this turned into a group partnership. We have to understand when they saw this it created a power of agreement; who was going to deny this. And this is vitally important to partnering with each other. Now, we are going into Ezekiel to learn more about why we need that personal relationship with God. Here in chapter 37, God took Ezekiel out in the Spirit to a valley where he saw a great number of dry bones. In verse 3) And he said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. 4) And again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5) Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6) And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD 7) So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8) And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9) Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they my live. God is telling Ezekiel come and partner with me; I’ll do work through you and will work through others as well. This type of feeling we have about partnering with the Lord is the same feeling we should have partnering with others. Now, let’s deepen this up with partnering with others. We’ll go back to Acts 2, verse 38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Through this passage we see it begins with developing a relationship with God and then going into a relationship with others. By the time you get to verse 46, we see just how partnering really builds the Kingdom of God right here on earth. Now, one more time back to Ezekiel 37. We’ll start in verse 15) The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 16) Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17) And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. 18) And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? 19) Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. 20) And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. From this, I hope you see how working together develops a real sense of family and friendships that will last for generations. The real test may be when we need to partner with someone we don’t know. We definitely need to depend on God to help us build these partnerships here on earth. Jason.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Jason HolstineMy heart's desire is to see that you walk in the purity of God's word and to strengthen it into your life, so that you're able to see all of God's promises blessing you richly as you advance in his word. CategoriesArchives
April 2024
|