Church Covenant Study
Bethel MBC  12/10/08
Lesson # 7

 

Our Church Covenant, Lesson 7

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"We engage….to walk circumspectly in the world;"

I. Our Walk is Important

The Bible has much to say towards how we conduct our lives.

1. It counsels us against the wrong kind of walk

Psalms 1:1 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."

Proverbs 19:1 "Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool."

Proverbs 28:6 "Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich."

Ecclesiastes 2:14 "The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all."

2. Saved people should walk with new life

Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Romans 8:1,4 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit… 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Romans 13:13 "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying."

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

I Thessalonians 2:12 "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."

I John 2:6 "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."

3. The church is even instructed to withdrew from those who do not so walk

I John 1:6-7 "6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

II. Therefore, We Should Walk Circumspectly

Ephesians 5:15 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise."

III. Remember that we are walking "in the world"

John 17:11 "11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are."

1. Though we walk in the world, we are not to become a part of it

John 17:15-16 "15I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

Romans 12:2 "2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

2 Corinthians 10:3 "3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh."

Galatians 1:4 "Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father."

2. While walking in it, we are not to fall in love with this world

I John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

2 Timothy 4:10 "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia."

If we are to be true to our church and our covenant with each other…"watch your steps…"

"We engage….to be just in our dealings"

A justified people should certainly be just in their dealings

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Just means to be "fair and square". It means to pay your bills and debts, to keep our word, and to refuse to take advantage of people or situations (even if "nobody will ever know…")

I. Just in our dealings with the world

This is necessary because we seek to have influence over them

Ecclesiastes 9:18 "Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good."

Matthew 13:25 "But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way."

Matthew 13:38-39 " 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels."

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

II. Just in our dealings with out brethren

Because we are brethren…

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

Proverbs 18:19 "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle."

1 Corinthians 6:5-8 "5I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren."

1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

III. Just in our dealings with God

Because we must account to Him

Romans 14:12 "12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

Matthew 12:36 "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

Luke 16:2 "And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward."

We must account for the way we handle God’s money, time and our very lives – so we ought to be just in our dealings with Him.

"We engage….to be faithful in our engagements"

1. Faithfulness is an important factor in God’s business

a. God, Himself, is faithful

I Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."

2 Thessalonians 3:3 "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil."

b. His words are faithful

Revelation 21:5 "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."

c. Our High Priest is faithful

Hebrews 2:17 "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."

d. His words committed to faithful men

2 Timothy 2:2 "2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."

e. Faithfulness is required of His stewards

I Corinthians 4:2 "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."

f. His ministers commended for it

Colossians 1:7 "As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ."

g. His servants commended for it

Matthew 24:45-46 "45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing."

h. Faithfulness is the basis of our rewards

Matthew 25:21 "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

2. Faithful in our engagements

An engagement is "an appointment or obligation".

a. This entire covenant is a statement of our Scriptural obligations

b. We promise to be faithful in keeping them and that faithfulness is a prime factor in all of our appointments.

1. In the business world

God’s people ought to be DEPENDABLE to our employers, co-workers, neighbors, and fellow man!

2. In our church life

Attend Sunday school, each church service, prayer meeting / Bible study and other activities. Are you dependable to support the efforts of the church??? ALL of them??

3. Are these things small matters to you??

Luke 16:10 "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."