Is My Covenant Relationship in Ministry Performance-based? by Richard Maisenbacher

Is My Covenant Relationship in Ministry Performance-based?

Many people I have talked to recently have been discouraged because they do not seem to be “in the ministry” or a calling that was prophesied. They are asking themselves: What do I need to do to make this ministry, that I think God wants me to do, come to pass?

Ezekiel 16:60 says, “Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.”   

Part of the answer to their question involves reviewing their covenant relationship with the Lord. In a covenant relationship, it is not necessary for the parties involved to negotiate or earn the favor of God’s promise, because God wishes to grant such a favor for His own reasons and on His own terms. In the covenant, it is God’s expression to Himself that He will exhibit His love and care toward those He calls into this relationship. He promises that He is the One best positioned to know what we need.

It is a blessing to know that God’s covenant promise toward us does not falter and is not dependent on our performance. God continues to love us, regardless of our failures and successes, because He chooses to love us. My struggles and failures may affect my joy and hurt my communion with Him, but He does not give up on me. He guides me back to His blessings.

With all the media, politics, opinions, and frustration in our world right now, it can ignite our own negative emotions. Therefore, if we are not doing what we want to do for God, this will come out in our thinking, emotions, and communication.

A reminder of Habakkuk 2:4 may help, “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.” God’s timing is not our timing. He is transforming us. We are in His covenant where He is exchanging our character for His character. This process does take time, but His love for us is what keeps us in this covenant relationship. Performing for God may not be what He is asking of you right now. It may be to enjoy this covenant love relationship even though things are not going exactly the way you planned. His purpose for you and timing is unfolding.  I encourage you to sense His presence, receive His love, and enjoy your covenant relationship that He has invited you into!

It is important to remember that ministry may be done in many different locations with many individuals. Yes, ministry takes place in churches and missions in other countries, but not only by the pastor. Jesus and his disciples ministered to people in groups and individuals in many different locations. You do not have to be a pastor to release ministry. There are opportunities for ministry in the marketplace (business) where you may be employed, in stores, restaurants, in families, with your children, and with your friends. God desires to expand ministry to many people through believers like you. This is the way He expands His covenant of love to others. He desires for you to be His hand extended to others wherever you go!

In His Covenant Love,

Richard Maisenbacher
www.thecovenantcenter.com
Covenant Outreach Ministries, Inc.
PO Box 524
Lakeland, Fl. 33802-0524
info@thecovenantcenter.com

Covenant Understanding - Richard Maisenbacher

In 1988 Becky and I decided to move to Lakeland, Florida motivated by our desire to know the Lord through covenant understanding and the prophetic movement God seemed to be emphasizing during that season. Covenant is the way God has chosen to reveal Himself to us. Covenant is also a relationship and way of life that we know little of living in a Western culture.

Even though covenant is mentioned almost as many times as love in the Bible, it remains a very foreign concept to us in the United States. In the East they know and live covenant more naturally because it is a way of life. When the scriptures were written, covenant was mentioned and covenant language was included; however, an explanation or definition was not given because everyone already understood the elements of covenant.

I believe that understanding covenant is the most important foundation in the Bible. Without understanding covenant we have a difficult time understanding our relationship with God and others. Covenant is not just a contract; it is the way God has chosen to express His love toward us.

In the next several postings I will attempt to go over some basics of covenant. A caution that I would like to express immediately is the tendency to make covenant a nice teaching which brings great knowledge and understanding, but can be set aside as more knowledge with little, if any, application. Covenant is not just a truth to keep in our notes, but a commitment of trust and love lived with God and released to others, motivated by His love.

In his covenant writings, Malcolm Smith defined covenant in this way: "Covenant is a binding obligation between two parties, sealed by blood and an oath. Each party is bound by specific undertakings on each other's behalf. The parties are under divine retribution should they later try to avoid those undertakings."

The relationship of love, trust, grace, mercy and obligation to each other forms the foundational relationship of covenant. This writing is to only discuss covenant on a very introductory level. More details of what a covenant is, who enters it, the terms, the responsibilities, the oath, blessings and curses, and the exchanges that are received and given will be discussed here; however, it may also be studied in our Covenant-U School of Ministry class - "HT 101 What Is The Hebraic Understanding of Covenant." This course can be found on our website under Covenant-U in the section titled "Hebraic Thought."

Understanding covenant is very exciting! We enter a relationship of love and commitment with Someone who not only expresses acts of lovingkindness, but lovingkindness is who He is. Understanding and living covenant will change your life. Revelation will increase and relationship will grow deeper as covenant is walked out with Christ!