LET GO, PARTNER WITH GOD
Definition of Partnership
A partnership is a form of business where two or more people share ownership, as well as the responsibility for managing the company and the income or losses the business generates.
The Bible defines partnership as fellowship
The Greek word for partnership is koinonia which means participation, social
intercourse or benefaction. King James defines partnership as communication
When I partner with God, I am communicating with Him
There are some good partnerships and some bad partnerships
The first partnership of man was with God in the Garden of Eden
Genesis 1:26
God had the plan, the resources and the power
He created everything and partnered with Adam to take care of His creation
Adam was God’s worker
Adam didn’t bring anything to the table but what God gifted him with.
Partnerships have rules
Genesis 2:17
Rule number 1 Follow God’s command
Do not eat from the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil
Partnerships have an objectives
Genesis 1:28
Take care of the garden
Rule over the animals
Partnerships require people to help. God gave Adam Eve.
Genesis 2:18
Adam broke the partnership agreement.
Eve was deceived by the serpent and ate from the tree of knowledge and Good And Evil
Adam followed Eve’s deception and partnered with the devil
The moment Adam ate from the tree, he broke fellowship with God
and partnered with the devil.
Partnerships break down when there are lies and deceptions
Eve was deceived, but Adam told the first lie. Genesis 3:10
Adam said they hid from God because they were naked
PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD
Malachi 2:15
It is because the Lord is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
When you partner with God, He looks after you
He will tell you when you are wrong.
In any earthly marriage, there are always problems. The temptation will arise. We must
keep our focus on God. The devil is always lurking to tear the marriage apart.
For those of you who are not married. Make Jesus your husband
John 3:29-30
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends to the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.
Jesus is a mighty good husband. Your first partnership must be with God.
Partnership with Jesus requires
waiting
listening
Humbleness
The result of a partnership with Jesus is joy.
PARTNERSHIP IN EARTHLY MARRIAGE
1 Peter 3:7
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
In 51 years of marriage (42 with my first wife and 9 with my second) one of the things
that I have learned is communication is key.
Everybody brings something to the table
Capitalize on each other's strengths
Learn to listen
Never put down your partner's thoughts and ideas
Never see your partner as an enemy
Don’t get frustrated because your partner sees things differently than you
You don’t always have the best idea.
You may not always be right
There is more than one right way to do something.
Compromise, compromise, but compromise on right.
Why does God say women are the weaker partners?
Is it because of strength? No
Is it because of intelligence? No
Is it because of creative ability? No
Is it because of business sense? No
It is because of God’s Sovereign Design For Family
1 Corinthians 11:7-10
7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.
1 Corinthians 11:13-16
Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice — nor do the churches of God.
This has nothing to do with control. It has to do man proper role.
It is my belief when a man ceases to be loving and nurturing of his wife and family,
he has abandoned his leadership role
1 Corinthians 11:3-4
Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
NIV
DEFINE A POWER COUPLE
A husband and wife who works together for the glory of
God.
Remember if you are not married, you are a couple with Jesus
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOSPEL
Philippians 1:3-7
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Requirements of Partnership with the Gospel
Remembering the work of others
Prayer
Thanksgiving
Trust
God planned good work just for you
Guarantee of completion
When you serve God you can’t fail
God accepts what you do for Him
Serving the Lord brings joy
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHURCH
2 Corinthians 8:23-24
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
We work together for Christ
We are brothers and sisters in Christ
We are representatives of the Church of Christ
We honor Christ with our works
Our work is proof of our love
We should take pride in the workers of Christ
We are examples for the world to see
PARTNERSHIP WITH BELIEVERS
Philemon 17-21
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back — not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21
Welcome other believers
Ignore any wrongs, charge it to yourselves
Talk to each other
Be refreshed by the work of other believers
BAD PARTNERSHIPS
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WORLD
Proverbs 29:5-6
Whoever flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is snared by his own sin,
Partnership with the world is doom to fail if God is not the center.
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEVIL
Proverbs 2:16-18
16 It will save you also from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.
18 For her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
God defines any partnership with the world as adultery.
THE GREAT REWARD OF PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD
Partnership with God leads to eternal life.
Partnership with world is temporary and can lead to death.
John 10:27-29
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
Romans 2:7-8
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
There is nothing wrong with partnerships, as long as your end is with God,
and the partnership objective is for the good of others.
YOUR OBJECTIVE OF PARTNERING WITH GOD
Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
NIV
CLASS QUESTIONS
The question is if I partner with God doing His work, where does that leave me?
Will I have time to do what I want to do, if spend my time working for God?
Where is the fun in working for God?
Rev. M. Mitchell
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