Core Values
Shomair Yisrael Messianic Jewish Congregation
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C. Long-Term Covenant Relationships Part Two - God Is The God Of Covenant
God is the God of covenant.
Why did God send Yeshua? To heal the relationship with man.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. NKJV
Love attempts to reestablish a more perfect relationship.
So it is with our love for each other.
A covenant is a contract. All contracts are written to require at least two
parties. God’s covenant with Abraham was 2 sided…
Gen 17:4 "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father
of many nations. NKJV
Gen 17:9 And God said to Abraham: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you
and your descendants after you throughout their generations. NKJV
The Lord spoke to the founding leaders of Tikkun many years ago, saying…
“I am not in the business of building ministries, but rather of building a
Body.”
This is not so much an organization as it is an organism.
To have a covenant friend, we must be covenant friends.
The unity and restoration of relationships is not how we accomplish the work of
the ministry, the unity and restoration of relationships is the work of the
ministry.
True intimacy is impossible without commitment.
Intimacy without a corresponding level of commitment is against God and out of
balance.
No amount of perfect rule keeping could offset covenant breaking. We cannot
reconcile by keeping the rules. It takes a change of heart, personal repentance,
atonement, and restitution.
The fact that we must obey what Yeshua says does not contradict the grace by
which we enter into a relationship with Him.
Each act of giving of ourselves to one another in a way mirrors Yeshua’s gift to
each of us. He gave Himself to us so that we might give ourselves to one
another.
Trustworthiness (faithfulness) is required before intimacy.
We are not to give everyone access to our hearts. Friends have earned the right
to give us intimate counsel.
“We need to learn when we are dealing with a Biblical moral imperative and when
we are dealing with wisdom for a better choice among several non-sinful
options.”
The love of Yeshua must reign among us…
1 John 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar;
for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom
he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God
must love his brother also. NKJV
This brings us to the new material…
Repairing Fractured Relationships (James 2:8,9,11)
The essence of sin is relationship breaking. Love is the opposite of sin, or the
repairing of relationship. Sin is transgression of the law. Sin does not take
place in a vacuum. Any transgression must be seen as between an individual and
either another individual or God. Love must seek out the source of offense and
overcome it.
James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You
shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; 9 but if you show
partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. NKJV
Avoidance is the other area of sin. It is fear motivated.
The responsibility to go to one another belongs to both parties. As soon as one
is aware of a separation or breach in the relationship love motivates us to go.
The one who loves most goes first. Listen to this and tell me who you think God
wants us to reconcile with first, Him or our brother?
Matt 5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that
your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the
altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and
offer your gift. NKJV
Matthew 18 is the pivotal chapter in understanding the mechanics of loving
confrontation. Again, remember this is different from a court of law where guilt
or innocence is determined on the basis of evidence presented. This is the
practical outworking of the love of God whose determined end is not punishment,
but reconciliation through love.
Overcoming Selfishness
A person who sees covenantal dialogue as protecting what belongs to him,
defending his own rights, or gaining what he deserves, misses the purpose of
covenantal dialogue (which is to be reconciled to the other person). We must
always be more broken than the other party. The greater good is reconciliation.
Interpersonal reconciliation takes precedence over individual rights.
The Law of Perspective
The call not to judge is really a call to avoid a critical spirit. This does not
relieve us of the requirement to use discernment. Being critical, judgmental,
and condemning are the satanic counterfeit to Godly discernment? (Clue – God
builds up and Satan tears down.)
Taking Responsibility for Wrongdoing
We must take responsibility for everything in our control. We must pray to
determine what is in our control. Our job is never to make the other person take
responsibility but to do everything possible to effect reconciliation.
Changing Ourselves First
2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. NKJV
1 Cor 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. NKJV
Matt 7:5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will
see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. NKJV
We must deal with our own faults first. Only then are we equipped spiritually to
move forward by grace toward the other person.
Confrontation Should Result In Reconciliation
Here are two moral imperatives for our congregation:
1) Members must understand and be willing to cooperate with covenantal
confrontation and discipline.
2) All our relationships must remain warm, caring, supportive and personal.
Here are two dangers to avoid in our congregation:
1) A loose atmosphere of fellowship where there is no ability to confront carnal
or sinful attitudes.
2) That loving confrontation might become mechanical, unloving, judgmental, and
unresponsive.
The actual mechanics of covenantal confrontation are simple and straightforward.
Matt 18:15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault
between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But
if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or
three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 And if he refuses to hear
them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him
be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
NKJV
Stage one [One on One] (exhaust every possibility before going to stage two)
1) “…go and tell him…” Fight off any emotions of fear or antagonism.
2) “…between you and him alone…” Without gossiping first.
3) “…tell him his fault…” Frank and honest, objective and direct.
Stage two [Two or Three on One]
1) This adds gravity to the situation.
2) Evasive tactics (stubbornness and avoidance hurt the situation.)
3) No bullying or intimidation allowed.
4) Affirming remarks that are not vindictive.
Stage three [Tell It To the Congregation (the eldership)]
1) Usually marked by an unwillingness to be reconciled.\
2) Usually by now much of the dialogue is shifted to the difficulties and
improprieties of the reconciliation process.
3) If a resolution cannot be found, the eldership must tell the congregation.
Technical Foul
The guilty spirit tries to divert attention from what he did. The basic issue is
always a heart attitude. An innocent heart will not be defensive or reactionary.
Disfellowshipping (Being removed from congregational communion)
The poison of pride and resentment must be removed from the fabric of the
congregation’s interrelationships. This is not an execution of punishment, but a
recognition of facts already accomplished. This is necessary to preserve unity
within the congregation. We cannot pretend that an unreconciled person is a part
of the body.
Matt 18:17 let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. NKJV
Titus 3:10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11
knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. NKJV
1 Cor 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together,
along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a
one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in
the day of Yeshua HaMashiach. NKJV
1 Cor 5:12 Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside
God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person." NKJV
The purpose of disfellowshipping is to remove the unreconciled elements from the
greater body of people who are reconciled.
Disfellowshipping for Reconciliation Sake
The beauty of disfellowshipping is that it allows for the people to start over
again in a process of love for the renegade brother. If no disfellowshipping
takes place, everyone is stuck in a position of unrighteousness, without the
hope of a future relationship. We cannot have covenant with someone who is not
in covenant. We can, however; reach out and witness to one who is not a brother.
Disciplining and disfellowshipping have no humanistic footing. Anyone so
involved must rely completely on the power of God. After such a process is
complete, there is a sense of safety and relief. A fresh sense of the presence
and provision of God will surround the survivors.
Spiritual Authority
This relates to the famous passage from Matthew 18:18 on binding and loosing.
Spiritual authority relates to the power to bind and loose demons in heaven as
well as on earth. This is Godly authority within the congregation to exercise
discipline over invisible demons and in the physical realm over the members of
the congregation.
Congregational Membership
Congregational membership is not the formulating of a roster, but a calling
forth of a commitment to covenantal integrity. Membership can be defined by
attendance, service, tithing, vision, and eldership.
Attendance (Heb 10:25)
This is edifying to both the leadership and to other members.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good
works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner
of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day
approaching. NKJV
Service (Gal 5:13)
Each member should have a ministry of helps in a particular area. Practical
service increases the fruit of unselfishness, love and humility in our lives.
Gal 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty
as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. NKJV
Tithing (Prov 3:9) (Mark 10:29)
There are many types of giving. Some are tithing, alms and free will offering,
Prov 3:9 Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase; NKJV
Mark 10:29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one
who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or
children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a
hundredfold now in this time — houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and
children and lands, with persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life.
NKJV
Vision (Prov 29:18)
Each community of faith has a certain identity, calling, and destiny in God.
Each member should understand the vision and feel called by God to support it.
Prov 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But happy is he who keeps the law. NKJV
Eldership (Heb 13:17)
Members should be receptive to the authority, anointing and counsel of the local
elders.
Heb 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to
you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. NKJV
Teamwork
An individual part of the body can do nothing unless it is connected to the
body.
John 5:19 Then Yeshua answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you,
the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever
He does, the Son also does in like manner. NKJV
All spiritual action comes out of relationship. We must have a relationship with
God and with each other. The sum of the whole is always better than the
individual parts.
Members One of Another
Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not
have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in the Messiah, and
individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to
the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in
proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who
teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with
liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
The first rule of teamwork is to have a common goal.
The Agreement Principle
Two carry exponentially more power than the sum of the parts. Matt 18:19 "Again
I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they
ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three
are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." NKJV
Two by Two
Deut 32:30 How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight,
Mutual Protection – Cooperation – Three-Fold Cord
Since both of our eyes look forward, we have been designed to “Watch each
other’s backs.” Eccl 4:12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand
him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. We are not called to be “Lone
Rangers” in ministry.
Heart-to-Heart – Eye-to-Eye -
It takes courage to make covenant. This requires faithfulness.
1 Cor 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Character
Covenant only works where there is character, the sum of one’s inner qualities.
1 Thess 2:10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and
blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
Character is the fruit of the spirit.
1 Tim 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an
overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach,
7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall
into disgrace and into the devil's trap. NIV
Integrity and Dicsipline
Doing the right thing, for the right reason, all the time.
Discipline precedes character. If Yeshua is not disciplining us, then we cannot
call ourselves His disciple.
Heb 12:5 "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged
when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges
every son whom He receives." NKJV (Prov 3:11,12)
Excellence and Self-control
Col 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of
the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
We are to govern our feelings, words and thoughts if we are to walk in victory.
The Kingdom of God encompasses every area of life.
2 Cor 10:5b bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of the
Messiah,
James 3 teaches on the importance of taming our tongues, and then this
scripture… James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by
good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
Self-control and leadership v. The Fool
Self-control is the expression of God’s government in our lives individually.
All authority over other people is an extension of our own self-government under
Yeshua. Meekness is a type of self control. Explain how Moses relates to
self-control. Someone without self-control is a fool according to scripture.
Prov 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself
under control.
Respect
We treat others with respect because we have a reverence for God. What does it
mean to “treat the poor with respect?”
Godly character is expressed through integrity, self-discipline, patience,
diligence, excellence, self-control, self-government, respect, and dignity.
This Part Of Our Core Values Teaching On Long Term Covenant Relationship Is Continued In Two Other Messages: