Scripture
12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. 2 Corinthians 2:12-13
Observation
After a life of slamming doors in God’s face as he persecuted Christians he was bound and determined to not waste another moment or miss another open door from the Lord. No matter where he had to go and what he had to do or what sacrifice it would require Paul saw every door as an opportunity to “spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.”(vs. 14). According to this passage there was only one thing that could hinder the effectiveness of his message and that was the lack of a ministry partner. It’s clear from the passage that Paul was expecting Titus to meet him in that city for the spreading of the gospel, the strengthening of the church, and perhaps planting a new work. Yet, because Titus was not there Paul was limited and had no peace of mind so he left for Macedonia. This is a surprise to me as I would consider Paul pretty self-sufficient and gifted enough to carry out God’s mission on his own. Yet, Paul knew something that many of us forget- we are better together!
Application
There’s a few reasons Jesus sent out His disciples two by two (Mk 6:7, Lk. 10:1).
Witnessing:
In Jewish law, two witnesses were needed to validate a claim, so sending disciples in pairs provided a reliable testimony to their teachings.
Strength in numbers:
Having a partner would offer emotional support and encouragement, especially when facing potential opposition or challenging situations.
Learning from each other:
Disciples could learn from each other's experiences and strengthen their abilities by working together.
Accountability
This practice allowed for someone to see the blind spots that could discredit the gospel and to curb the ego when ministry was successful.
History looks on the ministry of Billy Graham as one of the most successful of all time. This success was not just because of Graham’s gifts, but because he said no to the one man show. In the following excerpt from his autobiography, Just As I Am, Billy Graham went into further detail about the resolutions his accountability partners made in terms of financial integrity, sexual morality, publicity and partnership with the local church. The resolutions of these men became known as “the Modesto Manifesto.” He writes, “We all knew of evangelists who had fallen into immorality while separated from their families by travel. We pledged among ourselves to avoid any situation that would have even the appearance of compromise or suspicion. From that day on, I did not travel, meet or eat alone with a woman other than my wife. We determined that the Apostle Paul’s mandate to the young pastor Timothy would be ours as well: “Flee … youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 1:22, KJV). I wonder how many ministers would still be sharing the gospel and giving God the glory today if they had said no to the one man show!
Prayer
Lord, I’m so very grateful for the men you have put in my life that love me enough to call me on my blind spots. I thank you for the amazing leaders that You’ve put around me that bring their gifts to the table creating a beautiful mosaic that would be impossible to see if it was only about me. This next generation want Your presence, not a personality. People are hungry for Your ministers to show You not put on a show. I pray that, like these mighty examples of faith in the Apostle Paul and Billy Graham, I would continue to do church as a team and be intentional about surrounding myself with a multitude of counselors wherein I will find safety and wont discredit Your good name!
"And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
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