Strangers To The Covenant

Joined Together Part 6

 We have seen in the process of covenant how God used it to enter into relationship with man. This interaction is based on LOVEnot that God has love but that He IS love!

 We were created to live from our spirit center, conscious of the heavenly world, and from that center order our flesh and physical world. The motivation of this life is LOVE. First, you must have a revelation of Gods love for YOU!

 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glorythat you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ep.3:14-19

 We desperately need a revelation of this love. For it CANNOT be legislated. It cannot be simply organized for it is organic. You either have it, walk in it, and are covered by it or you are not.

 Now may the God of peacewho brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his bloodmay he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. Heb.13:20-21

 Peaceeirenewholeness, salvation He explained HOW He ratified the covenant as the offering for sin outside the camp Remember the tent of meeting that Moses set up was outside the camp WHY? This is very personal and must be YOUR own encounter with God. See Heb.13:10-14

 But notice how this covenant commitment is lived out in the context of community. 13:1-6
Brothers and sisters( Church you know) Strangers ( You DONT know) Persecuted church( those separated from you) Marriage (those connected to you-home) Managing money(reveals true condition of heart)

 The only way this can happen is in the context of a committed covenantal relationship with God AND with one another. God is NOT looking for a date but a BRIDE! He is not looking for someone to shack up with, but someone He can enter into everlasting covenant.

 Many, believers are looking for a church they can co-habitate with. But the lack of covenant means the substance, the strength of love and devotion is weak and will not stand in the day of trouble.

 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 16 And dont forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. 13:15-16

 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. 13:17

 Congregational membership is not the formulating of a roster but a calling forth of a commitment to covenantal integrity.

 What does it mean to be a member of a congregation? What is a congregational covenant?

 5 ELEMENTS that define membership

1.attendance 2.service 3.tithing 4.submission 5.participation