Wanted: A Ministry Partner
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, help me see that most tasks you give me I cannot do alone, and I need a partner. Amen
Acts 11:21-26 NIV: “The Lord’s hand was with them (The Church at Antioch), and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the Church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”
Acts 13:2-5 NIV: While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So, after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
Romans 16:1-2 NIV: “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.”
REFLECT:
When Barnabas was sent to Antioch to help the church leadership, he realized it was a task much larger than he could handle on his own. He knew he needed a ministry partner to meet the challenge and he searched out Saul to come and help him. The partnership worked so well, God gave them a new challenge to take the Gospel to Asia and Europe.
This ministry partnership was so successful that both continued with it, although Paul and Barnabas separated with Barnabas continuing with his cousin Mark, and Paul continuing with Silas and Timothy. Reading through Paul’s letters you can see that God provided him with a variety of ministry partners as he took the Gospel to the Gentiles.
God continues doing this today. A pastor friend of mine told me God had always provided him with the confidant he needed to help him in his ministry. He said it seemed when one moved on the Lord provided him with a replacement. He felt he needed this to have a successful ministry. So do we as we handle ministry tasks.
APPLY:
As God gives you new ministry opportunities, be conscious of his leading to a ministry partner you need to meet the challenge.
CLOSING PRAYER:
God, help me realize that most ministry opportunities you provide will call for a ministry partner to meet them. Amen