Dear Partner,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Whose I am and Whom we serve.?
This month I am impressed by the Lord to continue to share more thoughts on partnership so we can receive inspiration and direction in our partnership experience.
A partner is defined as a sharer, an associate, one engaged with another in business, one who plays on the same side with another in a game. The plan of God is for the Body to have more than one part.
14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to
the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
1 Corinthians 12:14-27 (NKJV)
14?Yes the body has many different parts, not just one part.
19 What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part!
1 Corinthians 12:14,19 (NLT)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Every aspect of God’s plan for His Church is designed for the two main purposes of His Glory and our benefit. The whole concept of partnership is designed for our benefit and for His glory.
Let us begin this month to look at some interesting characteristics and traits of a partner. Partner, as a Freshdew partner, this describes you!?
- A partner is someone who recognizes that the picture is incomplete without him / her.
14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
1 Corinthians 12:14 (NKJV)
A partner recognizes his/her relevance. 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 shows us different gifts and callings and each one is a critical part of the wholeness of the church. He / She knows that as long as a piece of a puzzle is missing – the puzzle is incomplete. He looks at the whole picture from an “us” perspective and not from a “them” perspective. Partnership instills a sense of ownership. This is you! You are a partner and you have a sense of ownership towards Freshdew. If someone asks you about Freshdew, you don’t answer with “they” but with “we”, Hallelujah! Freshdew is incomplete without you. Again Freshdew is incomplete without you, [Name].
- A partner recognizes that the depth of his / her relevance is not a function of his / her size or his / her perceived importance.
14 Yes, the body has different parts, not just one part.
15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand, “that does not make it any less a part of the body
16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye”?would that make it any less a part of the body?
17 Suppose the whole body were just one big ear-then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything?
1 Corinthians?12:14-17 NKJV
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which?seem to be weaker are necessary.
23 And those members of the body which we?think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
1 Corinthians 12:22-23 (NKJ)
As long as you are a part of the Body you are crucial to the success of the entire Body. Like we said last month, in order to truly be a partner to Freshdew one must realize that every single member of the Freshdew viewing audience is as important in the sight of God as Pastor Nkechi Ene.?
Some of us can’t believe we have the potential to be as important to Freshdew as I am – because we?seem?to?think?that the preacher and the technical crew are all it takes.?
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Everyone has a role to play. People have different perceptions of which role is more crucial but every role is important and vital. That is why a lot of us ignore our roles and worse still step into other roles that are not the Father’s purpose for us but in the eyes of men seem more glamorous and honourable. For example, some “Apostles” today should be businessmen in the “helps” ministry supporting those truly called of God into the fivefold ministry. Some “Pastors” should actually be supporting their wives who are called of God into the fivefold ministry, while some “Pastor’s wives” should have kept their secular job and stayed away from the pulpit.?
You may ignore your role but the potential to stand in that role still exists within you. True satisfaction can only come when you stand in your God given role – in spite of how attractive the other roles may look.
8 “The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’
9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my oil, with which they honor God and men, and go to sway over trees?’
10 “Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us!’
11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to sway over trees?’
12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us!’
13 But the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine, which cheers both God and men, and go to sway over trees?’
14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us!’
15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you, then come and take shelter in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon!’
Judges 9:8-15 (NKJV)
These trees refused to give up their roles. They knew that?their roles put them at the service of others?and if they gave up their roles those people would suffer. Even the bramble refused to take a title just for title sake – he needed to be sure he would be useful in that place to the others – only then could he truly have “pride” in what he was being called upon to do.
In the big picture of the Body of Christ begin to discover your role if you haven’t already. Open your heart to the Spirit of God to fine-tune what you have discovered so far. In the picture of Freshdew, you have a role to play. When we stand in our roles as financial?partners and prayer partners, etc. there will be people who will benefit because of your service. [Name], continue to take “pride” in every role the Father has given because true relevance is found when someone else benefits from your service.
Please enjoy my gift this month of the audio of this message:?Partnership – God’s Plan For His Church– Part One as seen on TV by clicking?here.?
Thank you for your feedback so far on the ongoing sample giving exercise on our website. Please continue to give us feedback at info@freshdew.tv. The?phone line for calls from within Nigeria is 0700-FRESHDEW which is?0700 3737 4339.?For calls from outside Nigeria the number would be: +234-700-FRESHDEW which is?+234 700 3737 4339. The lines are open from?9 a.m.to 11 p.m. daily except on Sundays when it is open from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily.?
[Name], we appreciate you and everyone on the Circle of Partnership of Freshdew. Together, we will reach higher heights for Jesus.
Love unfeigned,
Electronically signed by
Pastor Nkechi Ene
