“Work with, not against"

Bible reading: Romans 12:1-8 (esp v.5)

“In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."

1. What partnership is

2 Cor. 13:14

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the KOINONIA of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Sharing, participating, holding in common, communion, fellowship

Phil. 1:5

Because of your KOINONIA — partnership — in the gospel from the first day until now...

An action word, rather than an armchair word.

Romans 12:5

IN CHRIST we, though many, form one body and EACH MEMBER [melos - limb, part, therefore PARTNER] belongs to all the others.

ESV — members of each other

  • Diversity comes together in unity

  • Priesthood/laity division of every religion is removed.

  • a measure of faith given to each one (12:4 Holman)

Three aspects:

(1) Partnership in Christ. A special attribute. Spiritually we are a new creation — we chose Christ, He chose us to partner with Him on the basis of our new identity.

(2) Partners as those who are closely coupled, roped together, everyone holding the others. All with a measure of faith.

(3) Partnership with the way God chooses to work.

It's spiritual. There are spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12), ministry gifts (Eph 4) but here we are talking about our own spiritual DNA in the foundational gifts mentioned in the passage. (Explained in everyday terms). Other people are different — annoyingly so at times — but that diversity comes together in a powerful unity.

2. What destroys partnership

The three 'Is':

Independence — what I like best and what I know best. A lot of 'I'. James 4:1, 6, 8

Insecurity — is normal. The enemy turns it into fear and anxiety (based on lie). Aloneness as orphan, togetherness with Father. 1 Peter 5:7. John 4:18

Indisposition — not willing or not able. Ruled by fear or led by the Spirit? Gal. 5:16

3. Why God smiles on partnership

Partnership is the way God chooses to work.

We each carry our own load (context: sin) Gal. 5:5

We bear one other's burdens Gal. 5: 2

Jesus tells us to come to Him with them, for Him to lighten Matt. 11:28-30

  • Looking for the bigger picture, kingdom dimension

  • Where are the partners God has placed?

  • Start to see His greater purpose

Takeaway

“Work with, not against."

Work out what God's purpose is, and His way of bringing it about, and work with Him.