Compiled by: Herman Abrahams (Pastor), Cornerstone Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 740, Westridge 7802, Rep. of South Africa.
E-Mail: Mentorship2003@yahoo.co.uk
Note to the reader:
If you have been blessed with this sermon compilation, I would be honoured to receive an e-mail from you merely telling me where in the world you are based- I do not need any other information. This is simply so that I can have the pleasure of giving thanks to Almighty God that all over the globe the ministry which he has entrusted to me, is blessing the body of Christ and helping to extend the Kingdom of God.
Thank you.
Herman Abrahams,
Cape Town, South Africa.
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PAUL’S APOSTOLIC MINISTRY: THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP
By: Herman Abrahams
Read Philippians 1:3-11
IN THIS PASSAGE PAUL IS ADDRESSING A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE PARTNERED WITH HIM IN MINISTRY THRU PRAYER, FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND GENERAL APPROVAL.
A) Thanksgiving and Prayer for his partners
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Philippians 1:3-11 (NIV)
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (niv)
A1. PARTNERSHIP - Philippians 1:5 (Amplified
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Bible):
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Phil 1:5 [I thank my God] for your fellowship (your sympathetic cooperation and contributions and partnership) in advancing the good news (the Gospel) from the first day [you heard it] until now.
1. The Philippians identified with Paul’s mission, they co-operated with him, they partnered with him thru praying for him and giving financially towards his upkeep in spreading the gospel and winning souls.
2. How wonderful to know that the Apostle of God is praying for me !! That some of the favour and anointing that is on his life will be passed on to me !! Don’t you think that God will respond favourably to the prayer of one whose heart has been gladdened by the generous help and giving of others? (See vs 3-4; Paul has a thankful and joyous heart for the help received from the Philipppian church).
3. Paul is using business financial language to describe the Philippians relationship to Paul in terms of their financially contributions to his apostolic ministry
‘1:5 Fellowship is a commercial term for a joint-partnership in a business venture in which all parties actively participate to ensure the success of the business. In the Christian community, the word expresses intimacy with Christ (1 Cor. 1:9) and other believers (2 Cor. 8:4, 1 John 1:7). In this case, Paul may be using the word fellowship to refer to the financial contributions the Philippians had given Paul from the first day until now (4:14, 15). Immediately upon becoming Christians and continually thereafter, the Philippians had dedicated themselves to living and proclaiming the truth about Jesus Christ, and specifically to helping Paul in his ministry.’ (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. 1999. Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary . T. Nelson Publishers: Nashville).
A2. SHAREHOLDERS - PHIL 1:7 (Amplified Bible):
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Phil 1:7 It is right and appropriate for me to have this confidence and feel this way about you all, because you have me in your heart and I hold you in my heart as partakers and sharers, one and all with me, of grace (God’s unmerited favor and spiritual blessing). [This is true] both when I am shut up in prison and when I am out in the defense and confirmation of the good news (the Gospel).
1. WE ARE SHAREHOLDERS WITH THE APOSTLES IN THEIR VICTORIES AND IN THE FAVOUR AND ANOINTING THAT IS ON THEIR LIVES!! TAP INTO THAT ANOINTING BY PRAYING FOR THE APOSTLES, IDENTIFYING WITH THEIR WORK IN THE LORD AND BY SOWING FINANCIALLY INTO THEIR MINISTRY!!
A3. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE APOSTOLIC NEEDS?
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Living Expenses - especially those who are serving in that capacity on a full-time basis.
Travelling costs
Giving Training
Produce teaching and other materials
Write and Publish books
Feed the poor
Care for orphans – build children’s homes
Care for aids vicitims
Etc
A4. WHAT WILL THE PARTNERS DO?
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Monthly Prayer Meeting, Or When Required
Monthly Contribution
Partner Gatherings,
Become “Family” of the Apostles through their close and active support.
Need for a Partnership Co-Ordinator
Read Philippians 4:3-11
B) PAUL AMPLY SUPPLIED – PARTNERS ACCUMMULATE
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CREDITS
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Philippians 4:15-20 (NIV)
Phil 4:15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; Phil 4:16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Phil 4:17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. Phil 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. Phil 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
PHIL 4:15-20 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE)
Phil 4:15 And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only. Phil 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time. Phil 4:17 Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account]. Phil 4:18 But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights. Phil 4:19 And my God will liberally supply ( fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever (through the endless eternities of the eternities). Amen (so be it).
B1. CREDITS TO THE GIVER’S HEAVENLY ACCOUNT (4:15)
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In vs 15 Paul is using bookkeeping language/business, accounting language when he speaks of ‘giving and receiving’ or ‘debit and credit’. When we partner with the apostolic through our ministering to the needs of the apostle, God credits our heavenly account. Accountants will tell us that to balance books, for every credit there must be a corresponding debit. We become God’s creditor – God does not leave a balance outstanding; he rewards generously!!
a) Quotes from: KJV Bible Commentary. 1997, c1994. Thomas Nelson: Nashville
vs 15. ‘Concerning giving and receiving’ Paul uses bookkeeping terms to express their dealings with him.’
vs 17. ‘Not because I desire a gift. This is delicate courtesy; Paul is not seeking another gift. But I desire fruit that may abound to your account. The fruit is the returns on their investments. God is a good bookkeeper; He will settle all accounts, and He pays big dividends.’
b) Quotes from: Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. 1999. Nelson’s new illustrated
Bible commentary . T. Nelson Publishers: Nashville
4:15 giving and receiving: Paul considers the relationship between himself and the Philippians to be a two-way street, with both parties actively involved in the sharing of both material and spiritual gifts.
4:16 my necessities: Even the apostle had needs, and God used others to meet them.
4:17 Paul has in mind in this verse the material gift that the Philippians sent to him. account: Paul uses business terminology. The Philippians’ gift was producing spiritual profit just as money deposited in a bank account accrues interest. But Paul was not as concerned with their gift as with the development in the Philippians of the spiritual ability to give.
c) Note:
Phil 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Paul is saying this in the context of ministering to his (the Apostle’s) needs – partnering with him in the Gospel !!
d) See attached Accounting/Bookkeeping Illustration of how God responds to our giving to the Apostolic Ministry.
B2. PARTNERS SHARE IN THE SPOILS !!
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Thru your giving you receiving credit for:-
every sick body that gets healed;
every soul that gets saved;
everyone who is set free;
everyone that the apostle brings a cup of water to in His name;
every prisoner that is visited, and
every sick person who is visited in hospital.
B3. THRU YOUR PARTNERSHIP YOU CAN TAP INTO THE
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APOSTOLIC ANOINTING
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Anointing:-
For healing and healing ministry
For Teaching
For the Prophetic
For Wisdom
For SALVATION - Because you sowed into the salvation of others – God will save your family members
C. BIBLE COVENANT PARTNERS
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C1 Let’s see what the Lord said to Moses about
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his covenant partners:
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NUMBERS 31:25-27
The LORD said to Moses, 26 “You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community are to count all the people and animals that were captured. 27 Divide the spoils between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community.
Just like Moses’ warriors, when Apostles obey the word of the Lord and, possibly risk their lives on the spiritual battlefields, those who remain at home in the congregation, at their workplace from Monday to Friday, or at home with the children, share in the same reward.
Partners at home share the rewards of those at war on the front lines.
C2 Joshua applied the same principle with his
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covenant partners
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JOSHUA 22:8
When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, 8 saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth—with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing—and divide with your brothers the plunder from your enemies.”
C3 And also David
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1 Sam 30:21-24
21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them. 22 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David’s followers said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.”
23 David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. 24 Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.”
D. APOSTOLIC MINISTRY - NOT A HOLIDAY - OFTEN HAS
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MANY HAZARDS & INCONVENIENCES –
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Loss of sleep.
Encounter hostilities.
Inconvenience – bad living conditions, no toilets.
No water for washing or drinking.
Etc.
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By: Herman Abrahams
Phone: +27 –(0)82 663 4108
E:Mail: hermana@telkomsa.net
