20/12/2021 - THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIP

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And I spoke to you at that time, saying: ‘I alone am not able to bear you. Deuteronomy 1.9

In God’s work, besides the indispensable participation of the Holy Spirit, we need partnerships. Jesus gave us this example when He sent His disciples, two by two – to precede Him in the cities He would visit. No doubt, the Master knows better than we do – the way to do His work, resisting temptations and blessing those He sends to our meetings. King Saul was ignorant of the fact that obeying is better than sacrificing (1 Samuel 15.22).

The writer of Ecclesiastes talked about this subject: Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor (Ecclesiastes 4.9). Therefore, if we want a better reward from the Lord’s hand, we have to accept His guidance. We can never say: “It was impossible, the situation didn’t allow” or: “The devil prevented us from doing the work”. The Bible guarantees: if two of us agree on something, it will be done by the heavenly Father (Matthew 18.19).

Paul and Barnabas were successful in their evangelization work, carried out where Christ was still unknown. Together, the apostles could go anywhere God sent them, despite the danger. Similarly, today this should be the case for those who preach the Good News. After all, the three fold cord is not easily broken: the two that were sent and the Lord, who called them (Ecclesiastes 4.12).

The healing of the paralytic at the Beautiful Gate helped to establish in Jerusalem faith in Christ. Such an example makes it clear that this orientation will prosper everywhere, for this sick man was well known there, and the Jewish authorities themselves confessed that the benefit done to him was undeniable. Now, Peter and John went up to the temple together, in full agreement. So, all it took was one of them to command the man to be healed (Acts 3.1-10). Hallelujah!

It´s sad when a person chosen by the Lord takes the glory for himself. When this happens, the person spoils the divine plan to shake some region, or even the world. It is always good to start over, listening to the Bible, because the statements it contains will never pass away, though the Heavens and the Earth pass away (Matthew 24.35). It is written: For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, (Ecclesiastes 4.10).

Demas loved the present world and left Paul alone (2 Timothy 4.10). After almost two thousand years, would he do it again? Where is he now? Why should there be division in the church if the Holy Spirit is the one who guides it? If God corrects a person and he rebels against the leaders of the work, against whom does he rebel? So says the Word:  A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment (Proverbs 18.1).

No one should change the rules of Scripture, otherwise he will be found in rebellion and will by disqualified. Never accept the devil’s suggestions to rebel against God’s work, because he plans to harm it. Jesus warned: Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!  (Luke 17.1) Flee from sin!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares