SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #85 ---- 8/30/99
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #85 ---- 8/30/99
TITLE: "What's Keeping You Going" (Part Four ---- The Origin Of My
Identity)
My Dear Friend and Partner in Ministry:
Praise the Lord for another great week. Thanks to those who prayed for
us as we led a "Freedom In Christ" conference this past Wednesday through
Friday. God did some very deep work in that little church, and I know it
was at least partially because of the prayer support we received.
He also continues working in the church where I am interim pastor.
Continuing my study on some of the "One Another's" of scripture, I again
covered "Forgive One Another". There has been some major breakthrough in
the lives of a number of people. In addition we saw about 40 new
university students in the services yesterday. Finally, the time of
praise and worship was electric with life.
It has indeed been a good week.
E-MAIL HOAXES:
For some reason I have been bombarded this week with letters that are
either obsolete or complete fabrications. Two in particular pertained to
Proctor and Gamble supporting the Church of Satan, and also a missionary
David Allen being critically ill. I didn't receive just one, but several
messages about both of them.
One message, the Proctor and Gamble accusation, has been around for a
number of years but has resurfaced in a new form, but nonetheless totally
false. The one about David Allen was true at one time, but he fully
recovered well over a year ago.
Two things really concern me. One is that such reports take up enormous
amounts of time and space both on the internet and in our personal e-mail
boxes. However, the other thing which gravely concerns me is that we
believers often seem to be prone to passing on information we have not
had the wisdom or courtesy to check out beforehand.
The Bible has much to say to the believer regarding the use and abuse of
the tongue, and it would be wise for us to try to regain some degree of
credibility among the unbelieving world by making sure that we are never
guilty, even though unintentionally (as I was three weeks ago), of
bearing false witness, bringing unjust accusations, or making
unsubstantiated claims.
Well ---- that's out of my system (I just had to "vent" a little), and I
feel better.
In all seriousness, we need to be diligent to guard against all forms of
alarmist and exaggerative material we sent out over the internet.
WHERE, OH WHERE, IS MY WORTH:
Three weeks ago I raised the question of short ministry tenures, and the
fact that often the thing that triggers them is the sense of low self
esteem and confidence we have in ourselves. The following week I
proposed that we often try to compensate for that sense of inadequacy
through performance based on pressures and expectations from within
ourselves, from our families, from our congregations, from our peers, and
from society in general.
Last week, then, I introduced the idea that, because we have three basic
God-given drives to feel worth while, to belong, and to feel competent
(Who am I, Why am I here, and What can I do with my life?), the solution
would also be God-given.
The solution is, in fact, God-given. He gave His Son, the Last Adam, to
fulfill what the first Adam lost. And, through the death of Christ,
which is the key to deliverance, the resurrection of Christ, which is the
key to holiness, and the ascension and reign of Christ, which is the key
to service, I indeed find not only my true identity and sense of worth,
but I also find the necessary motivation to serve Him with purpose and
longevity.
In this my final letter on this series, I want to suggest that my
identity and union with Christ is more than an old wives' tale or a bunch
of theological mumbo jumbo. It is the bedrock truth of the believer's
entire faith process. Because, in the death, resurrection, and reign of
Christ, you find the total sum and tangible substance of what it really
means when Paul declared in II Corinthians 5:17, "If any man be IN
Christ, he is a NEW Creation!"
When Jesus Christ died, rose, and ascended, He was acting out His part of
an eternal covenant relationship in which are found my identity, my
purpose, and my strength for serving God.
IT'S IN THE COVENANT:
There is a vast difference between a Contract and a Covenant.
Unfortunately, many churches and ministers don't know the difference.
For example, a contract is filled with legal-eze ---- a covenant is
filled with love. A contract divides the resources ---- a covenant
combines the resources. A contract creates legalism ---- a covenant
generates liberty. A contract is signed in ink ---- a covenant is signed
in blood. A contract is written on paper ---- a covenant is written in
the heart. A contract segregates power and authority ---- a covenant
combines power and authority.
Maybe covenants rather than job descriptions would help alleviate the
problem of short tenures.
If short tenures is often a symptom of a lack of esteem, if performance
is the mode used to avoid dismissal or rejection, if our real sense of
worth is found in the work of Christ's death, resurrection, and ascended
reign, then the real bottom line to our need is to understand what
happened when we entered into covenant union with Christ through the
experience of conversion.
For, you see, it is in the covenant "ceremony" that all our anguished
cries for worth, companionship, purpose, and ability are fulfilled. In
fact, I believe there is no other doctrine of Scripture so important as
this one ---- it is the bedrock upon which all elements of our Christian
experience rests.
In fact, it is the basis of understanding all other Christian
relationships ---- assurance of salvation, self acceptance, the issues of
righteousness and holiness, the principle of marriage, the life of the
Church, the issues of forgiveness, the matter of victorious living, the
life of prayer, and so forth.
So, whatever your struggle, go to the covenant.
THE PRINCIPLE OF COVENANTS:
There are numerous scriptures dealing with the Blood Covenant of Christ.
I will list some, and leave it to you to read them for yourself. Among
others, consider Luke 22:20; I Corinthians 11:23-34; Hebrews 7:11-28; and
8:1-9:28.
A blood covenant has been a common practice in most civilizations. It
was the means by which lifetime alliances were expressed between two or
more people, armies, or nations. H. C. Trumbull extensively researched
the use of the covenant and found it to be a vital ingredient of life on
every continent.
The first covenant ever cut was in the Garden of Eden where it began with
Adam and God after the Fall. It was practiced by Abram, Isaac, Jacob,
and so forth.
It was regularly practiced in Hebrew history and was, in fact, the
central thread that tied the levitical law together and was the
motivating force behind the sacrificial practices of the priesthood.
Then, of course, it was raised to its height of grandeur in the covenant
of our great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.
When Stanley searched for Dr. Livingston in Africa, he "cut covenant"
over 50 times with various chieftains, and it became the basis for his
safety and ultimately the guarantee that enabled him to eventually locate
Livingston. Years later when missionaries traveled Stanley's route, they
found that those covenants actually led to open doors for the
proclamation of the Gospel to those primitive and uneducated African
tribes, first because they were willing to honor the covenants made with
Stanley, but they also understood covenants and could see the meaning of
Christ having "cut covenant" on the cross.
The word covenant comes from the Greek word "Diatheke". It means, as
also its equivalent in Hebrew, to "cut" ---- to make an incision ---- "to
divide apart and bring together" ---- for a reason.
THE PURPOSE OF COVENANTS:
Covenants were cut for many reasons ---- preservation from destruction by
a stronger army or tribe, partnership for equality of possessions,
personal friendships (I Sam 18:8), to establish peace (Josh 9:15-16), to
provide mutual protection (Gen 26:28-29), to assist in war (I Kings
15:18-19), in commercial endeavors such as land transactions (Gen
23:14-16).
So, when Jesus told His disciples in the Upper Room that the cup He was
blessing was the "new covenant in My blood", they were both familiar with
the term, but didn't have a clue what He was getting at.
And, in the covenant He established with us, its purpose was again to
preserve us from destruction, to partner together in His possessions, to
identify Himself as someone sticking closer than a brother, to establish
peace between us and God, to provide protection for us, to go to battle
in our behalf, and to offer provision that would guarantee success in our
efforts to claim the kingdom for His sake.
THE PRACTICE OF CUTTING COVENANT:
We have no single complete account of the typical covenant ceremony in
the Bible, but there are numerous examples that show us partial pictures.
Put together, here is what such a ceremony would include.
The two parties who were entering into covenant would come together at an
appointed time and place with friends, perhaps a priest, and witnesses.
An animal sacrifice would be killed, the carcass would be split in half
and separated a few feet from each other. The two covenant parties would
walk a "figure 8" route in opposite directions beginning from opposite
sides and meeting in the middle between the two pieces.
In so doing, they were saying to each other, "I will die for you, and if
you die it is as if I am also dead. Your death is my death, and my death
is yours."
They would also exchange some gift, symbolically saying, "All I have is
yours, and all you have is mine. It is no longer yours and mine; it is
ours."
They would also exchange names, signifying, "All you are known as, I
assume on myself, and all I am known as, you assume on yourself. From
now on, we are known as one."
Somewhere in the ceremony an incision would be made in the wrist or fore
arm of each participant, the blood would be made to drip into a cup of
wine. It would be stirred and mixed, and each party would drink of the
mixture. Since Scripture teaches "the life is in the blood", it
symbolized the exchange of life, one from the other and one to the other.
Often the covenant makers would give bread to each other, again
symbolizing a commitment to nourish and give life to the other.
They would join wrists with each other, where the blood mingled,
symbolizing that they are now "one".
There would often be the exchange of a robe, coat, or cloak, symbolizing
the exchange of character and integrity.
They would also exchange a belt, sash, or girdle, indicating the exchange
of strength and power.
Before the ceremony ended the two parties would also exchange some type
of weapon, pledging that "your battles are my battles, and my battles are
yours. We stand "shoulder to shoulder, and back to back".
Finally, a tree would be planted as an eternal memorial to the completed
transaction ---- and the covenant stood for all of their lifetimes, and,
in some cases, was honored by their descendants many generations to
follow.
THE PICTURE OF THE COVENANT:
As you review the description above, you probably noticed the
similarities and parallels with the typical wedding ceremony today.
That's why such an event is to be handled with sacred purposes and
motives. The bride and groom come from opposite directions, the families
sit on opposite sides, the "priest" is there with the "witnesses" as
attendants. The couple meet in the middle of the "sacrifice alter".
Vows are exchanged, names are exchanged, the ring represents the belt,
the use of punch or wine and a wedding cake, etc. It's all there.
Moreso, the act of sexual relationships following marriage also
represents in intimate setting the covenant transaction. I believe this
is one reason why the Bible has so much to say about sexual purity and
the demand to avoid all forms of sexual perversion ---- it is a sacred
ceremony designed only for a man and woman who are committing their lives
to each other until death overtakes them.
Baptism is an abbreviated picture of the covenant. The seldom practiced
First Century "Love Feast" is another example, as is the Lord's Supper.
One of my favorite pictures in the New Testament of the Covenant is often
unseen by Christians. It is found in Ephesians chapter 6 ---- the Armor
and weapons of our warfare. Go back and take a look at that again from
the "covenant ceremony" perspective.
THE PRESENCE OF THE COVENANT:
Now, here's where it really needs to be understood. My friend ---- we
are who we are, we are here for the reasons we are here, and we have the
power and authority we have as believers for one simple reason ---- by
the covenant Jesus Christ cut with us on the Cross and which was
concluded by our repentance and acceptance by faith of His act of love .
Jesus met us at the place of our need, became the sacrifice to be
offered, gave up His own body into which we were placed, shed His own
blood, became "One" with us, took upon Himself the burden and
responsibility of our humanity with all its total failures, assumed
responsibility for our future and welfare, gave us a new name, robed us
in His own righteousness, committed Himself to fight and win our battles,
became our Bread of Life, gave us all that He is and took all that we
were, took upon Himself the form of a man and the ministry of a servant,
bestowed upon us His limitless strength, planted a tree outside the walls
of Jerusalem on Golgatha's hill, and said, "There ---- it is finished!"
As a result, there is one sole source for our sense of worth, our need to
belong, and our drive to feel competent ----our Lord Jesus Christ. In
Him alone we are a new creation. In Him alone we are complete. In Him
alone we have been saved, called, and sent. In Him alone we can do all
things.
There is no other reason for our being, for our calling, for our
ministry, or for our abilities. It is Jesus Christ and Him alone that
makes us who we are, and chooses to use us, often in spite of who we
still think we are. Tthere is no reason for us to try to gain identity,
acceptance, accolades, or any sense of accomplishment by depending on
what others think, do, or say.
If you think you're important or unimportant because people say you are,
you have entirely missed the point. You are important and of worth for
one simple reason ---- God said you were, and proved it through His Son.
If you think you deserve to belong because you're a neat person with lots
to offer, you've come to the wrong conclusion. You deserve to belong and
have purpose because God said you were worth salvaging, and demonstrated
it through His Son.
If you think you have skills and competency that will woo people over to
follow your leadership, you're barking up the wrong tree. You are
competent only to the degree that you abandon yourself fully to the
Lordship of Jesus Christ and the gifting and empowering ministry of the
Holy Spirit.
There is nothing else about us that matters or has value ---- Just Jesus.
So, my friend ---- to ask my question again, ---- What's Keeping You
Going?
Or, even better ---- Who's Keeping You going?
As Acts 17: 28 says ---- "In Him we live, and move, and have our being."
Anything less than, other than, or more than this is the rankest of
arrogance and presumption on our parts.
That's the reality of our being who we are, of having a purpose in life
and ministry, and of having focused staying power in what we do. If it's
anything else, it's not enough, and it won't sustain you to the end.
Performance oriented ministry will do nothing more than make you a slave
to the expectations, whims, and fickle desires of people. On the other
hand, when you focus on an intimate covenant relationship with Jesus
Christ as your All and as in all, there will be worth, purpose, victory
---- and joy.
May you be filled with joy today simply because you are in covenant with
a covenant keeping God who neither slumbers, sleeps, nor goes slack on
His commitment to you.
In Christ's Bond of Mercy and Grace,
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright August, 1999. All rights reserved.
If this letter has blessed you and you know of someone else who needs to
be encouraged, feel free to forward it in its entirety to all such people
you know.
If you would like a list of past issues which you could receive upon
request, just let us know.
__
/ |
(_/____)
/ ^ ^
{ (O) (O) }
------oOOO---------U--------OOOo------
Hang in there! I'm with you!
-------.ooooO--------------- Ooooo--------
( ) /
| | /
(_) (_)
TO SUBSCRIBE, send any message to <[email protected]>.
TO UNSUBSCRIBE, send any message to
<[email protected]>.
Life Unlimited Ministries
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: 417-275-4855
___________________________________________________________________
Get the Internet just the way you want it.
Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month!
Try Juno Web: dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.