#1 The covenant of Promise.

q  This has to be our foundation for leading people.

o   Not only our covenant with God, but with the people.

o   Also his leaders

o   If we lose sight of the Covenant of Promise we lose sight of our reasons for ministry.

Gal 3:15-17

15 Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no-one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds", meaning many people, but "and to your seed", meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.

Ø  A Law does not add to or take away from a promise. A human covenant is based on Honor, faithfulness, trust, NOT PAPER!

Ø  It is simply a record of something that was decided in your hearts. Like the covenant of marriage. Is it decided at the Altar? Of course not it is decided long before in the heart. In the same way it is not kept alive by the piece of paper.

Ø  I have to admit something to you… Ulli and I are not married!

o   How do you know?

Ø  Zb.. If I were to burn the paper would the covenant end?

Gal 4:22-31, Gal 5:13-25

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. (NIV)

5:13-25

13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

#2 Leadership is sometimes a trap to fall into legalistic bondage.

q  Are you an example of freedom too?

o   The freedom to be yourself? Plastic Pastor image?

o   Freedom to be real? Transparent, open?

o   Not only with the people that we serve, But especially with other leaders.

§  Reasons that it is difficult?

·         Outside pressures (Expectations of the people in Church, Christian Trends, Christian Politics*do what we do or no unity*, the lack of Time.

·         Inside pressures (comparing with others, Competition (numbers, programs, gifts, anointing etc.) Wrong expectations of yourself because of what you get in books, tapes etc.,  

Gal 5:1-6

1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is required to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (NIV)

Ø  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. He set us free to be free! That may sound funny, but when you see the lives of most Leaders you would think they are still suffering under the law. "Burdened again by a yoke of slavery"

o   Circumcised is an outward expression to satisfy people, not God!

o   ***Inside-out change vs. outside-in change

§  Be careful that we are not following the world with manager style leadership. Professional smiles, personality training, behavioral alteration.

Ø  Christ will be of no value to you at all.. If we concentrate on keeping rules we will lose the real value of this relationship with Christ and that is CHRIST HIMSELF!

o   The value of Christ… His anointing vs. your abilities?

Ø  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. This sums it all up. We have a covenant with God and it is only of value to us and to God if we keep it by love for him. Not by established rules, because we lose sight of him and only see the rules.

o   I Cor.13: 1-3 one missing element from a faith giants life. LOVE. 

o   Has ministry become a Job? A burden?

The result of Love is obedience. The result of Obedience is not Love!

#4  maintaining the unseen eternal things

q  Your life is the tree

o   Your ministry is the fruit

John 13:34-35

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

By this all will know…That you are followers of Christ and not yourselves.

John 15:12-13

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. (NIV)

Are we still doing the right things for the wrong reasons? It won’t work. Ask Job!

Right works with fear didn’t work for him.. Let’s return to the Covenant of Promise. Do you love one another?

Are we leading out of Fear?