Partnership in the Gospel
Some relatively simple - but hard-hitting - questions are posed by Paul in Romans 10:14-15:
How, then, can they call on the one they have nol believed in? And how can they believe in tin- one of whom they have not heard? And how can (hey hear without someone preaching to them'.' And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
The answer to each question is equally simple, "They cannot." A person cannot hear and believe without someone proclaiming the gospel message to them. A preacher cannot go unless he is sent. This fact makes the senders and those who go of equal importance. Without people to send them the preachers stay at home and keep quiet. If they don't have anyone willing to go, the senders have no voice. Those who go give legs to those who have the financial resources and the desire to spread the gospel. In the service of the king no one ever walks alone. As God gives the vision to one, prepares the armor bearers to help realize the vision.
The Bible tells us in Exodus 17:8-13:
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Moses was given the dream, yet God never expected to stand alone. As a called and anointed man of God enters in an office ordained by God, the Lord knows his weakness. He sets His agenda designed for success and fulfillment of the dream, then raises a team to rally round the cause.
There is never any shortage of critics who will find fault with a dream or vision birthed in a man of God when unveils his dream to others. You don't need to look far for these narrow-minded "Dr. Do-littles" and plenty of others will be queuing up to join their ranks. Jesus spoke about the narrow way but not the narrow mind. My challenge to you in this chapter is: "Do you dare to get involved with God's dream?" He is looking for the armor-bearers who will help make the dream a reality.
It takes courage and insight to be actively involved with a dream from God. The option to do nothing can never be an option for you if you accept the challenge. God has given us a dream to take the gospel to the nations if the world in unprecedented and innovative ways. And the Body of Christ must understand that no one is ever expected to do it alone. What about you?
A servant of God has defined prosperity like this: "True prosperity is the ability to use God's ability and power to meet the needs of mankind, regardless of what those needs may be". King David possessed a quality and an attitude that forced the blessings of God upon him.
In 1 Chronicles 28: 2 and 3 the heart of King David concerning the kingdom is laid bare:
King David rose to his feet and said, "Listen to me, my brothers and my people. 1 had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, 'You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.'
Reading further into the chapter we see that it was David's son Solomon who went on to build the temple which David had longed to build. But it is David's attitude that jumps out of the Bible for me. Even though God told David that he could not build the temple, He never told him that he could not make a contribution.
1 Chronicles 29:2-3 says:
With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God - gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stone of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble - all of these in large quantities. Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple..."
David's attitude was this, "I am getting involved!" He did not sit idly waiting to see how everything would turn out. He was determined to get involved. If he could not build it, then he would pay for it. That attitude would be blessed.
A lot of people do nothing because they haven't heard God speak to them. But God is not going to be angry with you for giving too much! If the dream before you is good for God, good for people and good for you, then Just do it! It is His will. We don't always have to wait for an audible Voice in order to get involved.
The scripture also teaches is 2 Corinthians 9:7 that:
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
We need big "kingdom-thinkers" in the field of giving. Colonel Gadaffi of Libya pledged one billion dollars to one of the leaders of the Islamic movement in America to further their cause. This kind of action in the Body of Christ will reap rewards on His return. Think big enough for God to fit into your thoughts. If God has called you to be a sender, then treasure what God has entrusted to you. The world is waiting for the manifestation of your gift. You can touch eternity!
Jesus told the parable of the shrewd manager to His disciples in Luke 16:1-9:
There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg - I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.' "So he called in each of his master's debtors. He asked
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