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'PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL'
Philippians 1: 1
– 8
The
most significant day
-
The most
significant day in the life of a missionary
is the day of their commissioning the day of
their commissioning – the sending out.
-
The most
significant day in the life of a Church is
when it has the privilege to represent God
in the sending
Sending is a
covenant / partnership
-
It is a
heavenly contract not drawn up by man but by
God Himself.
-
As God’s
people we need to understand its
implications.
What is partnership?
-
Partnership is a contract of mutual
fellowship - it is not Church mission
statement.
The contract
is fellowship, communion, or companionship; a
quality relationship in which two parties hold
something in common and exercise familiar
interaction. It is bound together in the blood
relationship of “family” – bound and empowered
by the blood of Jesus.
Partnership,
or fellowship, is not something you do
intermittently – like switching on and off a
light switch. It is a continuous state of rich
relationship.
a) It is something you propagate.
b) It is a
living organism.
c)
It
is spirit to spirit.
d) It is
something you experience together – mutual
giving and receiving.
e) The
sharing of common experiences. A bond of
understanding forms from sharing common
experiences.
f) It is a
unity of life.
g)
It is belonging and
having a common identity.
In Philippians
3:10
fellowship is described as sharing together in
our sufferings.
In 1 John 1:
6 – 7 it says that fellowship is created by
walking in the light together.
In 2 Cor 6:14
it says that we are to be yoked together.
In Acts 2:42
The
believers devoted themselves to the apostles
teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking
of bread and to prayer.
Partnership / fellowship is not something just
to “feel” warm and cosy about, it is action
too. New Testament partnership / fellowship were
marked by generous giving to each other.
SUMMARY OF FELLOWSHIP
It is the
highest, most companionable, intimate, and
fulfilling relationship we can enjoy together as
the Body of Christ.
It signifies
a depth of love and commitment that seeks to
uplift, honour and respect one another in unity
and in the holy fear of the Lord. 1 John 1:7
“Walk in the light together”.
Jesus’
relationship with His Father is our prime
example of partnership. Theirs was an
interactive participation – with
interdependency, displayed in unity. John 17:11
“I and my Father are one”. Father sent Jesus on
a mission to bring us back to the Father – but
when Jesus went – so did the Father. He never
abandoned Him to the task – He walked alongside,
empowering and enabling.
What does this mean for
us?
Two important
facts churches and missionaries need to know:
-
The
sending congregation is Biblically called by
God to send out missionaries in the spirit
of fellowship.
-
The Holy
Spirit sends. The Church, representing God
sustains and cares for the missionary. Being
a representative means we love just like the
One we represent.
The sending
church and the missionary are Biblically linked
together in partnership / fellowship.
Bottom-line Truth
-
A missionary is
a “called one” – a person separated on
behalf of God and the congregation to do a
specific task in another part of the world.
-
When the
missionary leaves for the field the Church
goes too! The sending church is on the
field in the body and person of their
missionary.
-
The
missionary is sent out under the
blood-family love contract, in a spirit of
fellowship.
-
It must
be an interactive and interdependent
relationship.
-
John 15:
4-5 reminds us that fellowship / partnership
with God and the believers is essential to
fruitfulness.
-
1 John
4:12 reminds us that sacrificial love is an
evidence of fellowship.
-
God’s
family thrives on fellowship. God intends
for us to live together as partners.
-
Biblical
partnership / fellowship promotes life,
purpose and well-being (Shalom).
Set apart never cut
adrift
The tendency
of many churches is to send and set adrift. The
resulting casualties on the mission field are
deplorable. Missionaries exist on their own,
maintaining themselves physically, emotionally,
emotionally and spiritually and it is not right.
A missionary is set apart for ministry but
should never be separated from the life-line of
Biblical fellowship!
There is no
lonelier place than where you feel cut off from
fellowship. When earthly fellowship dries up,
inevitably our own relationship with God
suffers. Fellowship with God is vitally linked
to our fellowship with each other.
In our
travels we have found neglected missionaries who
feel orphaned. Many express, “we are out of
sight, and out of mind”. Friends, partnership
with missionaries is more than a cheque in the
bank. It is a commitment of SEPARATING, SENDING
and SUSTAINING. It is relationship. The spirit
of true fellowship expresses itself lavishly as
a reflection of the wonderful Father Son and
Holy Spirit relationship. It is a partnership
for the long-haul.
Practical
response to bless your missionary:
-
Be
faithful and real in prayer - it comes from
real communication. Allow your missionary
to be real about their situation. Wait on
the Lord for Word of encouragement and send
them out promptly.
-
Be
faithful and realistic in financial support.
Is it a love or liability relationship with
your missionary? Most missionaries are
under-funded. How you measure your support
it will be measured to your church. Help
your missionary establish what is enough for
their living expenses; help set a realistic
budget. Help your missionary raise their
support. Be prepared to write letters of
commendation. Annually review and increase
your church support. At least give a “cost
of living” raise each year. Missionaries’
bills go up just like yours do!
-
Make a
provision for work and rest. Set aside an
amount of money to send your missionary on a
spiritual retreat or to attend a Bible
Conference where they can be spiritually
fed.
-
Make a
field visit.
Some expressions of love only can happen
close up and personal. Budget to send out
encouragers from your congregation. Do not
send those who just want to play tourist!
During a field visit
you can:
I.
Say things you can’t say over the
telephone.
II. Embrace
and feel the warmth of love.
III. See
facial expressions.
IV. Feel a
reassuring hand.
V. Pray,
break bread together, reaffirm your commitment
to covenant relationship.
VI. Have time
to ask deeper and more personal questions.
VII.
Take
time to listen.
VII. Share in
the mutual confession of sin – extending
forgiveness for misunderstandings and rifts
caused by distance.
XI. Take the
opportunity to understand missionary’s work,
environment, ride the public transport, meet
their friends, go shopping, attend their church,
gain a cross-cultural experience. This makes
your support and prayers so much more real.
-
Concern
yourselves for the missionary’s practical
needs. Take up offerings and send one-off
love blessings for specific items. (e.g. a car
or computer)
How do you grow
in any relationship?
It takes the
investment of time, sharing, communication,
sacrificial giving, remembering special days,
and doing things together. Let’s get Biblical
in our separating, supporting and sustaining of
our “sent ones”.
Jan Rowland - Director
Mission Encouragement Trust
03 January 2005
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