Covenant
Introduction:
 Covenant is a very interesting word. It is used as far back as Abraham in the Old Testament. It is widely used today, even though it’s sometimes called by other terms. Abraham and Abimelech entered into a covenant relationship that they might not do harm to one another but would bless one another and do good to one another. (Genesis 21:27-32)
 God has initiated many covenants with man. Noah, Abraham, the Covenant of Sanai and others. God’s covenants with man are essentially promises to bless His covenant people. When Jesus Christ died at Calvary, a New Covenant was established. It was based upon and sealed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. God’s covenant with us can be summed up in this statement, “I’ll be your God and you will be my people.
Hebrews 8:10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:”
All the benefits of covenant relationship (too many to mention at this point) are ours because of the shedding of Christ’s blood.
 Proper definitions of the word covenant include:
1. An agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified.
2. Ecclesiastical . A solemn agreement between the members of a church to act together in harmony with the precepts of the gospel.
With this in mind, let’s see how a covenant relationship should be carried out at Bethesda Church. The primary questions in this covenant are, “How can I best serve the Lord?” and “How can I serve you?”

1. To enlarge the Kingdom of God through the ministry of Bethesda Church.
Acts 2:42-47 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

2. To serve by blessing and encouraging every member of the Bethesda Family.
Romans 14:10 “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”

3. To serve one another so that every person is released into the calling of God for their life.
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:5-10 “so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6Having 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; 7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;”
Colossians 1:9-10 “9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

4. To serve one another so that all the benefits of the Kingdom are made available to all.
III John 1:2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
Isaiah 53:3-6 “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;     He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

5. To look out for one another and protect one another.
Acts 12:5 “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”
I Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins”
I John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

6. To see each and every service saturated with the love of God.
I Corinthians 14:26 “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

7. To see the release of the spirit of God and the ministry of the gifts in every service.
I Corinthians 14:26 “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”

8. To be a church in total agreement with God and His purposes.
John 5:30 “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”