Leadership Teams
KINGDOM WORKS BY
COVENANT
1. Covenant ='s Relationships
a. Another word for
'Church' is 'Relationships.' - The
b. In other words, the word 'Church' is synonymous with the word 'Relationships.' A church without relationship, is just a meeting or ritual. It does not share the 'members-of-one-another' characteristics of the Body of Christ.
c. The two Great Commandments sum it up - Love God / Love your Neighbor. These two commandments fulfill all of the Law according to Christ. Love is an action word... it must have corresponding deeds.
2. Different Kinds of Relationships
a. Intimate Friendship / Best Friend - Jonathan and David
"...the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.... Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself..." 1 Samuel 18 :1-4
These kinds of friendships are precious and few. The connections here are heart to heart. Relationships like these would fall under the "best friends" category.
b.
So David
departed from there and escaped to the
This group of people became the core of what would become David's mighty men. He trained them, and they became great warriors and leaders. These men had great love for one another and especially for David. Following him was the key to each of them finding and fulfilling their greatest potential.
Of course David had mentors also, including Samuel the prophet, and his own father Jesse.
c.
Then all
1Chronicles 11:1-3
All these, being
men of war, who could draw up in battle formation, came to Hebron with perfect
heart, to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were
of one mind to make David king. 1 Chronicles
Without
followers no one is a leader... People power is essential in order to accomplish
large vision. David's relationship with
d. Everyone needs three types of Relationships
1. FATHERS - You need a Paul in your life, some one to mentor and guide. You follow their example, and look to them for wise counsel. When you mess up, fathers are the best at adjusting, correcting and restoring. One of the most important aspects of Fathers is there affirmation and encouragment.
2. BROTHERS - You need a Barnabas in your life. These are the guys you go to war with. They lift up up when you are down, but aren't so impressed with you that they won' knock you off your high-horse when your ego is over inflated.
3. SONS - You need a Timothy in your life. Everyone should be training someone. Gods design is that you have younger believers in your life that you are pouring in to.
3. There are Levels of Relationships
a. Fellow Saints - We are all Fellow Saints
b. Joint Heirs - We are all Joint Heirs
c. Fellow Citizens - We are all Fellow Citizens of Heaven... but we aren't all is the
same earthly church community.
d. Fellow Ship - This begins to limit our relationships to those we can actually fellowship with.
e. Fellow Disciples - Now we are looking around for our comrades who are engaged in following.
f. Fellow Workers - We may be working in different fields but we are workers.
g. Co -Laborers - We may be working on a different row... but we are in the same field.
h. Yoke Fellows - same field, same row, same plow.... pulling together requires a deeper level of friendship and cooperation.
i. Fellow Soldiers - Same army, same battle, same fox hole.
j. Fellow Sufferers - Same shipwreck, same cold, same hunger, but we will not abandon the call.
k. Fellow Prisoners - We are suffering in prison... whether to a call or country or congregation... we share a cell.
l. Fellow Martyrs - Refusing to bend or bow we literally give our lives together for the cause.
The Disciples of Christ walked in all of the above levels of relationship. Theirs was a call that cost them everything. The greater the task...the deeper the relationships must go in order to finish the assignment. The Kingdom works by Covenant... without covenant relationships there will be no advancement of Kingdom purpose.
4. When covenant breaks down - All hell breaks loose
"...Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may walk, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst." Matthew 18:18-20
It stands to reason that if the covenant of two can bind or restrain evil forces... then if that covenant is broken, whatever that agreement bound or held back, would then be free to work again.
This is evidenced by the destruction that takes place in lives whenever the marriage covenant is violated and divorce results. You can also see this principle at work in Church splits, or Leadership conflicts.
5. Covenant breaks when politics take over… Politics here is defined in the worst possible light. Self interest, personal advancement, personal kingdoms, self preservation, fear, greed, hatred, unforgiveness, revenge, malice, lies, gossip, slander, opportunism, etc. Principality's can never be defeated by politics.
6. Covenant is broken when communication is broken... Covenant relies on communication, any problem can be resolved if you maintain dialogue. Misunderstandings can be righted, hearts can be heard, healing and restoration can occur... The root word for communication is common, communion, community. These are all the goals of covenant, to created a relationship environment where God can be central in peoples lives and communities. When covenant gives way to offense, anger, lies, manipulation or control trust is lost. Without trust it is very difficult to communicate. No communication / No covenant!
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