Kingdom Partnership

DAVID AND HIS MEN

Friend, David and his men came home to Ziklag and discovered that the Amalekites had invaded the South, burned down the city, and taken their wives, sons, and daughters captive. David and his men wept bitterly until they had no more strength to weep. But David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord said, "Pursue, for thou shalt surely overtake them and without fail recover all." So David took his 600 men and pursued after them. He continued the chase with 400 men, leaving 200 tired men behind.

They pursued, defeated all the Amalekites except for 400 who escaped, and they recovered all, gaining great spoil. After the victory, the 400 men who went with David said, "We will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children." David rebuked them, recognizing that it was the Lord who gave them the victory. He then declared that they would share the rewards equally, and this practice of sharing equal rewards after battle became a law in Israel to this day. – 1 Sam. 30:1-26. But you see, the battles fought in the Old Testament are a foreshadowing of the battles we face in the New Testament – Heb. 10:1.

In the Old Testament, they fought against armies of men, using swords and arrows as weapons of war. But here in the New Testament, we fight against principalities and powers, and we employ the whole armour of God. Among these weapons is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God – Eph. 6:12-18. In the light of the New Testament, David represents a minister, and his men represent partners in his ministry. Ministers are on a rescue mission to save souls, but they cannot achieve it alone—they need partners. The rewards of preaching the Gospel and being a blessing to many are not for the preacher alone but also for those who partner with him to ensure he fulfils his mission.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PARTNERSHIP

The body of Christ has only one goal: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" – Mk. 16:15-18. Every member of the body is on a mission to fulfil that assignment. You see, the human body is made up of cells, tissues, organs, and systems. A group of cells makes up a tissue, tissues make up an organ, and organs form a system. The body of Christ is like the human body; it is made up of four components: Members, Sheepfold/Company, Gifts/Ministers, and The Head.

Members: "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." – 1 Cor. 12:27. Members are the basic units that make up the whole body of Christ. Every child of God is a member of the body. Even Jesus is a member of the Church.

Sheepfold/Company: "And being let go, they went into their own company" – Acts 4:24. An assembly of members makes up a company or a sheepfold. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" (Heb. 10:25). The whole Church is called the "general assembly," while a group of members in the body is called an assembly/company/sheepfold. This could be your local church, prayer group, travelling ministries like Paul and his company, or departments or units within the church.

Gifts/Ministers: "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men" – Eph. 4:8. Among the members of a company, God has set some to be gifts or ministers. "God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers..." (1 Cor. 12:28). Apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and pastors are GIFTS in the Church. A company or a sheepfold in the church is led by a gift/minister.

The Head: "He (Jesus) is the head of the body, the Church" – Col. 1:18. The whole Church is led by its grand Commander, Jesus, the head of the Church. Now, together the whole body—members, companies, gifts, and the Head—works together to fulfill the Great Commission, which is "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" – Mk. 16:15-18.

THE PURPOSE OF KINGDOM PARTNERSHIP

"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ"

– Eph. 4:12.

Companies in the church were formed for the work of the ministry. They pray together, plan together, and contribute finances to ensure they play their part in the Great Commission. One of the fundamental teachings for ministers or gifts in the Church is to discover their mission, place of primary assignment, and the message they are sent to preach.

Members are also expected to discover their mission, which could be in other sectors of life, not necessarily in pulpit ministry. Members are to identify their company and the minister/gift assigned for them to follow. Remember, Jesus, the Head, said, "I will give you pastors according to mine heart" – Jer. 3:15. Just as you don't choose your parents, you don't choose your ministers/gifts.

The beautiful thing about these ministers/gifts is that God sends them to you! Many have seen them in visions and dreams, just as Jesus sent the angel to tell the centurion to send for Peter. Jesus, as a minister/gift, went to people who were meant to be in his company and told them, "Follow me." Some did, and some did not.

Often, God speaks to you, saying, ‘Go and submit yourself under this man of God.’ Here's what Jesus said: "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city" – Matt. 23:34.

Jesus has sent a gift your way, but some of you kill and crucify them. You speak ill of them, magnify their humanity, and capitalize on it! When Jesus went to Nazareth, they did the same—they trivialized him and his ministry, running him out of town.

Friend, the only person without a company and a gift leading him in the church today is Jesus, the Head of the Church. Even ministers have their own company and gifts leading them. One of the reasons the Head set this system in His body is for the work of the ministry!

PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now." – Phil. 1:3-7.

The word "fellowship" means "partnership." The Weymouth translation says, "for your cooperation in spreading the good news," indicating that they cooperated with his ministry from the first day he stepped into their country. They were partners in spreading the gospel. Remember, I said that members in the body are led by ministers so that, through partnership, they can all do the work of the ministry, which is to "go ye into all the world and preach!"

But you can't preach the gospel without finances. The Bible says, "My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad" – Zech. 1:17. God put you in a church and in a ministry to partner with them to spread the Gospel. That was the way the Head of the Church designed it. You might think, "Well, this is just a scheme of the Church to make money." Can I help you, sweetheart? All this time that you have not been giving to the gospel and supporting your pastor, did the gospel stop?

"Go ye" has been on since the day Jesus said it. Partnership in the Gospel is not a means to get money from you, but to get money to you!

This is very important. Look at it: The Philippian Church understood it. Paul said they were the only church that communicated with him concerning giving and receiving. In fact, he mentioned that they sent to the necessities of his ministry once and again, and he gave the reason: "Not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account." – Phil. 4:15-17.

MINISTERS ARE SENT ONES

Every agenda of God attracts divine supplies. Jesus asked His disciples, "When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything?" And they said, "Nothing." – Lk. 22:35. The word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, "Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan." – 1 Kings 17:3.

Notice he was sent to a specific place, and "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose" – Rom. 8:28. This proves that without any human aid, God provides for the sent! At one time, angels brought food to Elijah every day. The Lord moved on Elijah again and sent him to Zarephath, which was in Sidon, saying, "Behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee."

Now, you might think that the Lord sent Elijah to take advantage of the widow's resources, as some people believe their pastor is just after their money. But this widow was about to eat her last meal and die. Think about what the media would say if they saw a preacher take money from a poor widow.

The prophet said to the widow, "Make for me first…for thus saith the Lord God the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth." She did as he said, God provided, and they ate for many days. (1 Kings 17:9-15).

Friend, with or without you, a sent one will always receive provision. Angels and ravens will come, and manna will fall from heaven! Why? Because he is a sent one. But when you partner with a sent one, God sees you as He sees him—you become a sent one!

Ravens will begin to feed you. You will receive supernatural supplies; your oil will not fail, nor will your meal waste! This is what Paul meant when he said, "Not because I desire a gift, but that fruit may abound to your account."

HOW TO BECOME A PARTNER

Friend, when you partner with a sent one, God sees you as He sees him—you become a sent one! Partnership with a minister who is sent is 100% to your benefit, not his! You must let this truth settle in your spirit.

Jesus had His twelve disciples, the seventy, and many women who partnered with Him by ministering to Him with their substance. Do you think that if they stopped, Jesus' ministry would crumble? If that's your mentality—that these ministers sent by Jesus need your money to survive—then you have not yet understood.

Partnership in the gospel with a minister sent by God, who is in his place of assignment and doing what God asked him to do, is not about getting money off of you but about getting money to you.

It is meant to connect you to grace and anointing. With or without you, the ministry will thrive and prosper, but anytime God places a demand on you, He is ready to take you to your next level. But are you ready? Are you still seeing this as just a scheme because it is your last meal? If not, then here are the steps to becoming a partner:

• Identify your sent one!

• Believe in the sent one!

• Believe that partnership in the gospel is for your benefit.

• Determine in your heart to send a gift to the minister and ministry periodically—weekly, monthly, or yearly.

• Be a part of the ministry team.

• Pray for the minister and ministry.

I hope you got something out of this. Remain blessed.

Jesus is Lord!

Min. Roi