Partners in the Gospel - The Primary Team-Mates

Philippians 1:3-6
Pastor Conrad Mbewe
SBFYC 2007 Session 3 - Wednesday AM

Today I want us to notice that in the context Paul is talking primarily about partners, those who work along beside him. The Philippian church was partnered with Paul in the work of the gospel. There were those who comprised his team on the ground.

1. Within the context of the team on the ground is first the believing wife. The wife who has trusted Christ savingly and understands their "oneness" in the work. Paul understood this by the absence of a believing wife. 1 Corinthians 9:1-6 Paul gives a list of those things he has given up for the sake of the work. One of those is a believing wife. We can almost feel is pain.

The man finds in his believing wife a partner unlike any other he can have on earth. In my first point I want to plead that you think about that possibility that God is calling you to be a co-worker of the gospel in this way, alongside one who preaches the gospel. Pray about this. Instead of vehicles and things pray that God would deprive you of these things.

Further, read the biographies of the great women missionaries who co-labored alongside their missionary husbands. Se if you can find where they were discontent because they did not have the things of this world. No, you will find joy and peace.

Also, surrender yourself so much to His gospel that whatever He calls you to, you are ready. "Lord, I am willing. Here am I, send me." It is a common thought that to marry a minister of the gospel is to end your life before you even begin to live it.

And so I say to you think along these lines. A believing wife is the most important team-mate on the ground. There are exceptions like William Carey's wife who were totally unprepared for the mission field. But do not let those exceptions rob you of the joy to be found in being the primary team-mate for a primary worker.

2. Others on the team
Now Paul, being deprived of a wife, nonetheless had a team on the ground. In Acts 15, when Paul went out from Antioch, he carried Barnabas and John Mark with him. As we move along through Acts we see others involved. Acts 20:4-5 we see that Sopater, Pyrrhus, Aristarchus and Secundus, Gaius and Timothy, Tychius and Trophimus went ahead of Paul and Luke. What a team! In Acts 18 we find another group. And notice the woman in Romans 16 mentions Phoebe(who is generally believed to have taken this letter to the Romans), Prisca and Aquila, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Paul knew the importance of having woman involved in the work to provide for the necessities, to free him up to do the work.

Then there were those who labored with him to provide financially so that he could labor full-time in the gospel. Some were involved in writing down Paul's message. Others were involved in this and that. The point is that when we read of the life of Paul and we see numerous people involved in his ministry. The primary worker needs primary helpers! He needs a team on the ground. You may not be called to be the primary worker, the pastor, but you can still be part of the team. The question is, "Where is you heart?" Look at your life today and ask yourself, "Can I be of more use here?" As we think of team-mates that worked alongside others we must not limit them to the New Testament. What can you do today? Surely you know that the preacher cannot do everything. How can you help? When the work of the gospel is suffering be careful that you do not always point the finger at the pastor. Could it be that others are busy chasing rabbits, neglecting their calling in the body? On the mission field there is the need for accountants, teachers, technology specialists, etc., so that the primary worker can focus on the proclamation of God's Word.

All I plead for in this respect is that you seek to be humble. Take your rightful place and rejoice in the fruit that is being born even if at the end of human history no one has written a biography about you. The fact that God has not called you to preach the Word does not mean you have nothing to do. We all have a stake in this endeavor. Bring your abilities, bring your careers, bring your all to the alter, crying out for God to use you, to show you your role, for the sake of the gospel. That is a Great Commission Christian.