Partnership is “to fellowship, to share something with someone.” This example is repeated in Scripture, where the people partnered with one another and shared in what had to be accomplished. 1 Corinthians teaches this principle, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship (partnership) of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1:9).In Philippians 1:5, Paul thanks this church for their “partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” All believers are partners in ministry as we use our resources and opportunities in accordance with our abilities and callings.
You are in partnership with God by being His light to a sinful world. When Jesus left this world to return to the Father, He left behind three things: the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and a small group. Jesus told this group that the kingdom was already among them. What did that mean? He was letting them know who He was, the Messiah, that He was in communication with the Father, and through prayer, the kingdom was coming. Everywhere Jesus went, people were submitting to the rule, reign, and authority of the King. Jesus tells us to pray for the advancement of His kingdom.
Are you praying, “…Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9-10) God allows us to partner with Him in His kingdom work. He longs for us to believe that in prayer, you can become a partner in the invasion of His kingdom here on earth. Jesus tells His followers to pray for laborers, and Paul encourages you to pray for open doors:“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds” (Col. 4:2-3).
Partnership in advancing the kingdom means you have one hand reaching up to God for His help and the other reaching down to help someone find the Savior. Kyle Reno, in the One Cry podcast, stated, “God has decided that there is something that starts, is sustained, and brought to culmination only as His people partner with Him in prayer.” E.M. Bounds stated, “God has bound Himself to the law of prayer.” There are some things that God simply will not do unless we pray. If you live a prayerless life, then you will receive less than God intended.
Jesus understood that the kingdom had come in Him. Everywhere He went, spiritual oases were springing up, and truth was being embraced. Paul understood this principle of partnership as well. In Philippians 2:13, he reminds us of God’s responsibility and our responsibility, making it clear that it is God working in us, but verse 12 tells us to work out our own salvation. Jesus not only came to usher in the kingdom to the greatest extent possible through prayer and obedience, but He also came to show us what it looks like to carry out the Father’s will. He said, “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49).
In the Passion Code, O.S. Hawkins stated, “Jesus not only comprehended the Father’s will, but He came to perform it. The primary purpose of the Advent was ‘to do the Father’s will.’” Jesus’ primary goal was not to save us but rather to be obedient to the Father’s will. The greater issue is not discerning what you do not know but obeying what God has made crystal clear. Hebrews 10 speaks of the sacrifice Jesus made for all of mankind. In verse 7, “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.” Focus on obedience, then on discovering new spiritual insights.
Here is what you do know. You have a God-given assignment. Ephesians 5:27 tells us, “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” The Bible Exposition Commentary says, “A ‘glorious church’ comes from the fact that she is cleansed and set apart unto God. Jesus will present the church as a radiant bride to Himself. His bride will carry splendor in eternity ahead. Her glory is the glory of Christ and His work. The church is positionally clean now and will obtain the perfection of Christ Himself experientially later.”
Where do you begin? Pray that the radiance of the light of God will shine brightly through your life and your ministry. Partner together to pray, go, disciple, and then repeat the process. God desires to use your partnership to bring about His purposes through the salvation of souls, the transformation of your communities, and a spiritual awakening in our nation. Jeremiah 29 is where God’s people were going into captivity, but they were not to feel sorry for themselves. Rather, they were called to pray for their city, and do you know why? To partner with God and to know that when the city had peace, they would have peace, and when the city prospered, they would prosper.
Pray specifically for your city. Kyle Reno challenges us to do that every time you pass a water tower: stop and pray for that community. Are you and your church praying specifically for your city, your community, your community leaders, and for those who are far from God? Maybe place a wooden cross in front of the church for people to nail the name of someone who needs Jesus to it. Think of how exciting it will be when you begin sharing with the congregation the names that were on the cross who have bowed their knees to Jesus and made Him Lord of their lives.
Why does this kind of movement happen? Because some believers began partnering with God in prayer. What area of town do you need to pray for? What lost people do you need to be praying for by name? What other churches do you need to be lifting up in prayer every day?
