Holding Ropes for Others
Jesus at the Center
Colossians 4:7-15; Acts 9:15, 25-28;
Recurrent Thought:
No one in life is self-made. We all grow and achieve our life goals while being supported by others.
Everyone in life has someone who has participated in pushing them forward whether in evil or in righteousness. There is a label that says “clothes make a man” but I dare say “friends (companions) and acquaintances make a person.” The Apostle Paul was a person who archived great things through the networks of other great people. His life as a believer begins under the tutelage of others; his ministry excels only in relation to the large pool of friends and workers he networked with. When he begins his Christian journey in Damascus he is hunted by Jews and it is only through the help of those who believed and appreciated his newfound faith that he escaped with his life. He was lowered in a basket over a wall in the fence of the city. People held the ropes of the basket, lowered him to the ground, and helped him to escape and thereby giving him the opportunity to go where he would grow in the Lord and pursue his calling. Some people believed in him so much that they were willing to hold ropes for him as he started on his path to destiny.
From this text, we get this image or metaphor of holding ropes for others. Rope Holding reveals the meaning of Favor through the activities and support of others. Grace is the unmerited Favor of God; it is the favor you did not work for. Favor is when God, through human instrumentality, supports and contributes to your life journey toward your destiny.
The life of Paul became excellent but only in relation to the quality of people who held ropes for him. In this text, we see Ananias who is the first rope holder for his life-shaking experiences of Salvation and Spirit baptism. Barnabas is a significant rope holder in the life of Paul. He did not only introduce him to the apostles but became a powerful Sponsor (ministry (Acts 11:25-26). A Mentor is one who has knowledge and experience which they pour into a person without these values. A coach is a person through the powerful skills of observation and listening can see gaps in performance in someone. With clinical ability, a coach can pull and stretch someone’s capacity to perform well. From the Colossian text, we see Paul in prison after the third missionary trip but he is surrounded by a group of friends who served and serviced his life. Out of these texts and many that reflect similar concepts such as Romans 16, we understand a few things about “serving each other.”
- Rope Holders believe in others despite the negative blots in their History
- Rope holders always believe in the power of God which is at work in you.
- Ananias was forced by God to believe that He (God) was at work in Paul
- Barnabas was perceptive and saw God at work in Paul despite his image.
- Paul understands the power of rope holders in his ministry that is why he constantly networked with hundreds of people everywhere he went. There are 150 names Paul mentions in his epistles showing this networking ability.
- Significant Rope Holders are those who believe that your present circumstances are not there to crush you
- The people who served Paul while in prison believed that despite his imprisonment, Paul was still meaningful, powerful and influential. They served him although he looked like he was down and out!
- Your evil present circumstances are more bearable when you understand that there others that believe in your destiny.
- When you face an evil day, which somehow comes to everyone, you need to have rope holders that stand with you.
- Rope holders are companions, friends, and associates who believe in the importance of Your Assignment in Life
- Rope holders are companions and buddies in battle; they are comrades in war. Note how Paul describes each of these with words of kinships and endearment
- Rope-holders are friends and not parasites. There are many that practice spongy-ship instead of friendship
- Rope Holders serve Others through their diversities (Romans 16)
When you look at the list of Paul’s networks, especially one in Romans 16 you recognize diversity: Gender, economic, generational, educational, ethnicity, etc.- Younger friends full of energy, creativity and passion: Tychicus & Mark.
- People of different ethnicity with unique perspectives to life: Gentiles and Jews (Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark and Jesus only Jews in the list 4:11; Epaphras, Luke, Demas who were Gentiles)
- People of different strengths, skills and histories. Onesimus a runaway slave now a trustworthy rope-holder (Read Philemon); Mark a missions deserter (Read Acts 15:36-41)
- Like-minded People who ministered to him at an intellectual level: Dr. Luke
- Others Sacrificed their safety and total life to serve Paul: The legendary Aristarchus of Corinth (Acts 19:29) and Epaphras, an intense prayer warrior.
Diversity and not uniformity is the higher principle that changes others.
- Rope holders bring meaning to you through their Skills, passions, knowledge, and Character.
Rope Holders are critical to your life; they are your lifesupport systems
Conclusion:
Can you identify people who have held ropes for you in life? Who is now holding ropes for you? At this time of your journey, whose rope are you holding?
Altar of Prayer
- Commit to consciously supporting any person the Lord brings into Your Life.
- Pray that the Lord overwhelms you with the love for People
- Praise the Lord for all the Rope Holders he has sent in your life;
- Praise the Lord for all close partners, friends, and relatives in your life.
Questions for Discussion
- List Wonderful stories in the Bible that show teamwork, other than that of Paul
- Give an example (from Family, Cell, or Church) when teamwork and partnership were beautifully manifested.
- Why do Christians, especially in our Cell System are finding it difficult to work in teams? Why do we fail to faithfully contribute to the lives of others within the household of Faith?