Introduction to Partnering with Jesus and Others in the Gospel 2

David W Palmer

(Hebrews 3:14 GWT) “After all, we will remain Christ’s partners only if we continue to hold on to our original confidence until the end.”

(Philemon 1:1–2, 24–25 NLT) “… I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, {2} and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, ... {24} So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers. {25} May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

Jesus has “partners”; and Paul had “co-workers” and “fellow soldiers” in his ministry for Jesus. This shows that their ministries were not solo works; they were team works. We need to look at exactly how this cooperative effort functioned in both the labouring and in the rewards and benefits.

In Philippians 2, the Holy Spirit explains that Jesus [temporarily] emptied himself of his divine privileges to fulfill his Father’s dream and gospel mission. But it also reveals that at the conclusion of his assignment, he was reinstated to full privileges … and more; God promoted him to the name above all names, and named him the sole beneficiary of his entire estate:

(Philippians 2:8–11 NKJV) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. {9} Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, {11} and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(Hebrews 1:1–2 NKJV) God … has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.

Father rewarded Jesus for his humble, sacrificial obedience to his gospel mission. In the same way, Jesus rewards those who partner with him in this same mission; he gives them joint-heir privileges in the inheriting of all things. We note that in the following passage, the Holy Spirit says this benefit is for “children” of God; that is, those who are born again, who imitate Father like Jesus did in John 5:19–20—those who are led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14):

(Romans 8:17 NKJV) And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Our wonderful Lord and senior gospel partner, Jesus, then teaches us how to walk in what he has made available to his faithful partners (See: Mark 11:22–26). Our exemplary Lord drew on heaven’s provision for his entire earth mission—from the stable, shepherds’ marketing, wise men’s provision, his exile in Egypt, his upbringing, to his ministry—which included feeding multitudes. But our divine partner only received his full reward after he concluded his assignment to earth. Similarly, although our full reward will be enjoyed in the eternal future, we can access, enjoy, and use aspects of what he bequeathed to us in the here and now—as is needed, and as our gospel assignments allow. (Look for the words: “now in this time” in the following passage):

(Mark 10:29–30 MKJV) And Jesus answered and said, “Truly I say to you, There is no man that has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the gospel’s sake, {30} but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions, and in the world to come, eternal life.”

This looks straight forward and extremely generous … almost unlimited; but the only catch is that our rewards, blessings, and inheritance package are held securely for us in God’s spiritual realm. They all clearly belong to us in Christ—he is the inheritor of all things, and we are joint-heirs in him. But they can only be transferred into earth’s natural realm through God’s prescribed way. Jesus taught us how to gain access to it through God’s otherwise impenetrable perimeter. The key to this is simple; only those who love him, who pursue intimacy with him, and who are willing to express pure faith in his words can avail themselves of what he has deposited for them.

Thankfully, Jesus shows us how to do this; and the Holy Spirit has several more details to add. But basically, we need a pure heart of absolute trust in Father God and Jesus to walk in our divine privileges—as and when our gospel assignments allow. (For example, our assignment doesn’t allow us to enjoy full privileges when we voluntarily undertake mission trips; we live in conditions and conveniences at times far inferior to our normal home. In other words, we temporarily forego all the comforts of home, just like Jesus did when he came to earth.)

Gospel partnership is God’s plan to benefit everyone: the graced, gifted, anointed, and called ministers will be sent with full support and supply, and they will be covered with sincere, believing prayer; their partners will have additional covering and shared grace; and the recipients will hear the gospel free of charge. God is a genius; his way is partnership; his trinity modeled this for us.

My prayer is that as you read this series of devotional teachings, our loving Father will give you his Spirit of wisdom and revelation that you may “operate in a full knowledge of every good thing in you have in Christ Jesus” (Phm. 1:6 MKJV).

(Philemon 1:4–6 ISV) “I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, {5} because I keep hearing about your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus. {6} I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every blessing that is ours in the Messiah.”