Core Values

 Shomair Yisrael Messianic Jewish Congregation

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C. Long-Term Covenant Relationships Part Three

God is the God of covenant.

Why did God send Yeshua? To heal the relationship with man.
The purpose of God’s love is to establish a 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, God gives His covenant.
Gen 17:9 "As for you, We are called to keep (Shomair) His covenant.

Shomair Yisrael is not a business for God, but a loving part of the body of the Messiah.

To have a covenant friend, we must be covenant friends.
The development of unity and the restoration of relationships is not how we accomplish the work of the ministry, the development of unity and the restoration of relationships is the work of the ministry.

Intimacy without a corresponding level of commitment is against God and out of balance.

The fact that we must obey what Yeshua says does not contradict the grace by which we enter into a relationship with Him.

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.

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. 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.

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.
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.
What is rebellion? Is it not one who will not submit to authority?
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
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 acting as 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.

Now new material…
Spiritual Authority
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 Yeshua 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 vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. KJV

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.
Godly character is expressed through integrity, self-discipline, patience, diligence, excellence, self-control, self-government, respect, and dignity.
We value each other because we value God who created us.
Col 1:27b Messiah in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Messiah Yeshua. NKJV
 

This Part Of Our Core Values Teaching On Long Term Covenant Relationship Is Continued In Two Other Messages:

Long Term Covenant Relationships Part One

Long Term Covenant Relationships Part Two