Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Pair Up!


Then the devil said to him, “If you are the son of God, change this stone into a loaf of bread.”   Luke 4:3

Late one afternoon David got out of bed after taking a nap and went for a stroll on the roof of the palace.  As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.  He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”  Then David sent for her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. 
2 Samuel 11:2-5

These passages are similar in that both Jesus and David were alone when they were tempted.  Now read this next verse for a very important characteristic of how satan attacks:

Be careful!  Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy.  He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.   1 Peter 5:8

If you or your child is an animal lover, you have probably watched enough Animal Planet to know that when many animals, especially lions, hunt their prey, they are excellent at identifying and isolating the weaker prey before they eat them whole!  Satan, described by Paul as a lion, most certainly does the same thing.  Satan isolates us. Knowing our vulnerabilities, he recognizes when we are alone and pounces on us.  He will lure us away from our friends, family and God because he knows his chances of devouring us are much greater when we are isolated.  When we are spiritually alone we are vulnerable.  When we are physically alone we are vulnerable.  When we are both, watch out! 

IT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER.  God made us to have relationships with each other and all over the bible when He sent His disciples out, they were in pairs.  

Then Jesus went out from village to village, teaching.  And he called His twelve disciples together and sent them out two by two.  Mark6:7-8

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages he planned to visit.  Luke 10:1  

As they came to the towns of Bethpage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead.  Luke 19:29 

Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the passover meal, so we can eat it together.”  Luke 22:8


God knows the strength in numbers and He really wants us to utilize that strength.  It is a God given gift to have one very special partner to walk along side you on your faith journey.  God gives us power when we work together to know Him and follow Him.  

Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get better return for their labor.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.  But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.  And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other.  But how can one be warm alone?  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer.  Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

God encourages and desires for us to partner up in our service to bring people to Christ.  Accountability partners bring prayer support, protection from unwise decisions, correction, encouragement and they celebrate God’s goodness.  Two people focused on God together will bring power through prayer (Matthew 18:19-20).  Two people who confess their sins to each other and pray for each other hold great power to heal. (James 5:16).  We are all called to encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).  God wants us paired up!  

Moses and Aaron, David and Nathan, Saul and Barnabas, Paul and Silas, the list goes on!  These friends helped each other.  They each encouraged the other, and when needed they rebuked.  Peter and John had the power to heal (Acts 3:4-6).  Samuel cried out to the Lord all night for his friend Saul who had fallen to sin (1 Samuel 15:11).  Nathan rebuked David when he fell into adultery (2 Samuel 13-14).  There is something so beautiful about a friendship where the two can be completely honest with each other, confessing their sins, correcting when the other is wrong, lifting up when one is down, praying for one when he or she is desperate or lost.  There is something perfect and right about a friendship that is built on God.......A God First Friend.    

We have shared many references to scripture. Please look them all up and read them!  Find more!  Decide for yourself the importance of having an accountability partner.  We have lived it first hand.  For years we tried succeeding alone and God brought us together to show us the difference a special friend can make in our walk.  We feel so passionate about the importance of having an accountability partner that we have made it our mission to help you get started.  We are praying for you all that God will lay on your hearts the need in your life for a someone special.  We are also asking God to reveal to you who that special someone is.  Click on the top right of this blog and email us!  We are willing to schedule time to sit with you and your friend and walk you through.  We want to help get you started and lead you to God’s word.

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