What is an assistance ministry??
The assistance ministry is a "partnership", a principle which consists of people, institutions or companies standing alongside servants of God to support them spiritually, materially or financially in their ministry.
But be careful not to misunderstand. The partner is by no way a patron of the highest order who comes to flaunt his wealth in the Church. Rather, he is the person whom the Lord wants to bless with a covenant. He therefore becomes an administrator of the Lord's goods, responsible for providing, at the opportune moment, the necessary provision for the accomplishment of a mission and the advancement of his work.
As we shall see below, this principle is biblical and has existed for generations.
"And the twelve were with him, And certain, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance." Luke 8 : 2-3
The strongest argument in favour of this is that Jesus Himself had partners. Although He was God and sometimes performed miracles, to pay His taxes for example, the fact remains that the classic way He lived was to be supported by what we might call "partners". The women mentioned in the verse and many others, such as Joseph of Arimathea, supported Jesus' ministry with their possessions, enabling him to carry out his earthly mission..
Abraham
" I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12 : 3
God spoke to Abraham about the principle of partnership: those who bless a ministry receive the blessing that rests on that ministry. There is therefore a covenant of blessings between the Lord's servant and the partner who blesses this ministry with his possessions and/or prayers.
The prophet Elijah and the widow of Zarephath
The widow of Zarephath fed Elijah when she had only a little oil and flour left for just that day, after which she and her son would have starved to death. This partnership meant that she never again ran out of flour or oil. If she had refused to sow, she would have starved to death (1 King 17:16). Partnership is in fact an opportunity for the partner, whatever his condition, because God has seen his heart and wants to bless him..
The temporary and eternal implications of partnership
"I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4 : 18-19
Any offering or gift made to a ministry has consequences and implications not only for that ministry but also for the giver. The apostle Paul is going to speak here to the Philippians about the consequences of their financial offerings to his ministry. This verse promises three (3) consequences for God and five (5) consequences for the giver (the partner):
The money I give for the Evangile is:
pour l'évangile est:
a fragrant offering
a sacrifice that God accepts
pleasing to my Lord
the 5 blessings caused
by the money I give are:
God will provide
He could have stopped there, but he continues
He will provide for all my needs
Our needs can sometimes be many and varied
He will do it according to his wealth
And we know how rich God is.
He will do it with glory
It was this glory that was reflected on the face of Moses
He will do it in Jesus Christ
before whom every devil, every circumstances and every man must bow the knee