UNDER OATH

PART 3

 Review:
A covenant is words between two parties that define mutual love and commitment It is always in the context of RELATIONSHIP that covenant is cut. 3 Relationships That Express Covenant:
Relationship of a believer an God Relationship between a man and a woman Relationship between believers with one another

 Our whole justice system is built around the JUDEO-CHRISTIAN ethic of covenant. The court is considered a hallowed place, we call the judge, your Honor, and if you go outside of covenant you get called in for an appointment. If you get called in to testify you are put UNDER OATH! I swear..

 The basis of our CONNECTION to God and each other is TRUTH! When truth ceases the connection does too. AN O.T. example of this is found in Ex. 19:1-8 All that the Lord has said, We will do

 He shall call to the heavens from above, And to the earth, that He may judge His people: Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is Judge. Ps.50:4-6

 The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God; They refused to walk in His law, And forgot His works And His wonders that He had shown them. Ps.78:9-11 Why did they turn back? These were trained for war, they were prepared for battle.

 For He established a testimony in Jacob That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know themThat they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

 We are going to administer a covenant of membership that will involve YOUR promise to commit your time, talent, and treasure into this body. The only requirement is that you are born again but you are looking to grow and mature in an atmosphere of family, covenantal relationship.

 God desires a connection with you, a personal relationship He wants to have a conversation with youit is a proceeding word. He requires a commitment from you. In coming to Him, you give up your right to yourself and become HIS, for you are bought with a price!

 What is ALIVE must be connected and intimately and intricately INTER-connected. I am the vine, you are the brancheswithout me you can do nothing JN.15:5 This organic connection is the great need of this hour. We are like parts, coded and identified, yet sitting on a shelf. Power = connection!

 For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love. Ep.4:16

Church is a commitment to be joined, knit, linked together Supplying means giving helpful INPUT It means giving what you have: time, talent, treasure It is not passive, it is active participation as we are all built UP in love. The principle is as I build YOU up I get built up.

 Congregational membership must be seen as a calling of God. Every church has a specific calling alongside its general calling Part of our specific calling involves being:
A presence driven church A city-wide church that is a house of prayer for all A church that goes after the unchurched and sets the captives free

 The question you should be asking is not Where do I want to go to church? But What has God called me to do? Where has God called me to make a commitment? This is not where I am most comfortable but where can I do the most good through participation!

 This participation will cause, the growth of the body.. Jesus denounced an independent spirit and its fruitlessness in Jn 5:19 So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord); but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing

 A man who understands covenant understands that he is a TEAM player. He knows his connection to the Father means a connection with His family. This places demands and responsibilities upon us all. But it also means we win, grow, and are blessed TOGETHER!

 TOGETHER! The only chance we have of coming through with victory is if we stay together. As one Diamond the multi-faceted wisdom of God.

 Is your heart right, as my heart is toward your heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. Jehu said, If it is, give me your hand. So he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot. Then he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord. So they had him ride in his chariot.2 Kings 10:15-17