Category Archives: Companions

Bible, Companions, Grace, Partakers, Partner, Scripture

PARTAKERS OF GRACE

PHILIPPIANS 1:7

“For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.” 

I have several “companions” in ministry. I am closer to some than others. Do you know how we got closer? We spent time together. Some of these brothers I have known for 20 or more years. Some are recent acquaintances. Time spent together makes all the difference. We have experienced things together. We have cried, laughed and prayed together. We have truly experienced grace together.

Paul had a lot of companions in ministry. I love that he calls the Philippians his “partakers of grace.” The Greek word for “partakers” is sugkoinónos.  It comes “from sun and koinonos; a co-participant — companion, partake(-r, -r with).” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) Remember, that little preposition sun is that inseparable “with” used in the Greek. Paul had been bound together with these brothers through the grace they shared in Jesus.

APPLICATION

This word sugkoinónos may look a little familiar. Part of it, koinonos, comes from a word we looked at earlier, koinonia, which means fellowship, communion. It is always good to do a deep dive word study on these compound words like sugkoinónos to see where they come from. This word is only used three other times in the New Testament. Let’s look at them.

In Romans 11:17, Paul uses this word when he writes, “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,” God has grafted the Gentiles into the promises He made to Israel.

Paul uses this word again in 1 Corinthians 9:23. “I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” Paul was joined to the Gospel. His passion was to deliver it to everyone he met. But he also lived it every day. The Gospel of Jesus had grabbed him on that Damascus road and never let go.

Lastly, we see sugkoinónos used by John in Revelation 1:9 as he begins to share about his vision at Patmos. “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” Being a partner isn’t always pleasant, especially if it means persecution.

Are you a partner with others today in grace? Do you share their passion to spread the Gospel? Are you willing to suffer along with others for the cause of Christ? Be a partaker of grace today.

Father God, You have bestowed on me the privilege to partake of Your grace and share it with others.

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Allies, Bible, Companions, Disciplemaking, Ministry, Relationships, Scripture

TRAVELING PARTNERS

GALATIANS 2:1

“Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.”

In my ministry to men through Every Man A Warrior, I travel a good bit. I am actually going to Haiti in a couple of months to lead a training conference for the men there who are in the Every Man A Warrior ministry. I asked a “Titus” to accompany me. Why? Accountability is one reason. Safety is another. But also, this “Titus” is one of our men who is in our Ambassador program in which we train men for leadership. I want to give this “Titus” that kind of opportunity.

Paul didn’t need to take anyone back with him to Jerusalem after fourteen years. By that time, he had proven himself as a minister of the Gospel. So, why take Titus with him? Most scholars agree that Titus, who was a Greek, was most probably saved under Paul’s ministry. He became one of Paul’s main traveling partners and someone Paul entrusted with various missions. Titus died at the age of 94 after a long and fruitful ministry, thanks to Paul.

APPLICATION

Do you have a “Titus” in your life? As believers, we have the privilege to walk alongside those younger in the faith and equip them to lead. Paul did this time and time again. Probably no better example of this is Timothy. Look at these words from Paul as he addresses his first letter to Timothy. “To Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul loved Timothy, just as he did Titus. He invested in these men. Why? Because the Lord needs more leaders out there.

Let me encourage you to take a minute or two and read Romans 16:1-16. Make a list of all the people Paul named in this closing chapter. These are individuals who Paul helped equip for ministry. They are people who served with Paul and, in some situations, actually served Paul. We all need our “Titus” to invest in.

Pray about this. Ask the Lord whom He would have you take under your wing. Who does the Lord want to use to assist you in your own personal ministry. You may be surprised at the answer you get from Him. We cannot do this work alone. We need each other. Will you reach out this week?

Father, thank You for the people You have placed in my life to assist me in ministry and for the opportunity to invest in them.

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Allies, Bible, Commitment, Companions, Decisions, Gospel, Ministry, Missionaries, Relationships, Scripture

LINKING ARMS

GALATIANS 1:18

“Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days.”

Years ago (and I mean YEARS AGO) I taught team building through group games and adventure based learning. One great exercise we did was a group stand up. We began by pairing up in twos, sitting on the ground back to back, linking arms and then standing up together. We kept adding people until the entire group was on the ground with linked arms, using each other as leverage to stand. Not so easy, but it can be done.

Paul knew he had to link arms with the apostles, the ones who had walked with Jesus. Who better to get to know that Peter, called Cephas here? Surely, Paul knew of him. He probably had even seen him with Jesus in Jerusalem years earlier. But now, Paul is a believer. Here he was, an educated former Pharisee, going to meet with Peter, an uneducated former fisherman, to talk about Jesus and their callings to ministry. What a pair!

APPLICATION

God sends us into some strange partnerships, doesn’t He? People we probably would have never crossed paths with in our former lives are now our dearest friends and confidants. In Acts 9:26-27, we see Barnabas (remember him from Acts 4?) taking a chance on Paul. “26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried repeatedly to associate with the disciples; and yet they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles…” Paul and Barnabas later traveled together on missionary journeys.

Is there someone you need to link arms with to accomplish what the Lord has told you to do? Perhaps it’s a neighbor or a person in your church. You may just have to take a chance. Reach out and see what the Lord can accomplish with your partnership. Maybe you need to link arms with a missionary who is doing work that you cannot do. Missionaries always need more ministry partners to come alongside them and support them financially.

Whomever it is that God is sending your way, get back to back with them, link arms and stand up. Stand up for Him. Stand up for the kingdom. Stand up and fight for those who need to hear the message of the cross. God is sending you. Link arms with others to accomplish more than you could ever see done separately.

Thank You, Lord, for those You have sent my way to link arms with. Show us how You want to use us.

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Allies, Bible, Companions, Friends, Ministry, Scripture

WHO IS WITH YOU?

GALATIANS 1:2

“and all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:”

I have mentioned in the past that I travel as part of my ministry with Every Man A Warrior. I really don’t mind traveling by myself, but it is so much better with others. Don’t you agree? Having someone with you allows you to share the experience. It allows you to have someone to get you out of jail (just kidding). It does allow you to have others to give witness to what you share with others about the trip. Traveling buddies are good.

Paul had some traveling buddies in his missionary journeys. Even though no specific person is mentioned in today’s verse, many scholars believe Titus was one of the brothers. He was usually with him on these trips, as was Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus. Maybe it was a “T” thing, since all their names began with “T.” I know, that’s not funny. Regardless of who “and all my brothers” were, it was evident that Paul wanted companionship on these trips.

APPLICATION

It is so important to surround yourself with worthy traveling companions as you go through life. When I stop to think about it, I am blessed by a godly wife who has been by my side for over 38 years now. There have been so many “journeys” during those years covering five states and eight homes. She is truly a worthy traveling companion. I pray you have someone like that in your life.

Proverbs 12:26 gives us some great advice. “The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” How about this one? Proverbs 24:6 says, “For by wise guidance you will wage war, and in an abundance of counselors there is victory.” One more – Proverbs 27:9 tells us, “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and a person’s advice is sweet to his friend.”

You get the picture. We need good companions around us. It does not have to be a spouse. It can be anyone who is following the Lord and wants to help you follow Him more closely. They would never lead you astray and suggest something that goes against the Word of God. Choose wisely.

Father, You have given me such great friends and colleagues. I am so thankful.

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