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Covenant of the Couples for Christ”.

As we read the Bible,

we find out that its two parts,

the Old Testament & the New Testament,

ARE COVENANTS.

a covenant with God

by virtue of baptism

as baptized Christians,

we have a covenant relationship

with one another.

We have a commitment of loyalty,

unity, and service.

What is a covenant?

A covenant is a solemn agreement between parties through which they commit themselves

to certain relationships, tasks, obligations or ways of living.

2 types of covenant relationships:

Covenant agreements do not just bind persons to something outside themselves (e.g., a business contract).

Rather, the parties are bound in a personal way.

What is established is a significant family like relationship between the agreeing parties.

It was between God Almighty

and a people owing

their existence to Him.

Usually began with an introduction in which the mighty king identified himself

as the one initiating the treaty and then proceeded to summarize the history of the relationship between the two parties, with emphasis on what the mighty king had already done for the lesser party.

God freed the people first, then entered into a covenant

(God did not give the commandments first, then free the people if they obeyed).

Our covenant with God is based on what

He has done for us,

and only secondarily on what we do in response

Next listed what the weaker party needed to do.

* The obligations flow from what the other had already done.

* Ten Commandments. Deuteronomy 5:7 21.

* All other commandments are part of our covenant

Concluded with:

a list of blessings (if obey)

and curses (if disobey).

God wants to make a covenant with us

and enter into a personal relationship with us.

Luke 22:20 (NIV)

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you"

John 6:56 (NIV)

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.

The New Covenant

is not merely a matter of obeying a set of laws, but of entering into a

living relationship with Jesus.

As with the old covenant, the new covenant is not an agreement between equals, and is

not done on our initiative.

Rather, God acted first by sending Jesus.

All that God asks of us flows

from what God has already done for us.

John 13:15 (NIV)

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

There are also blessings and curses.

Our response has eternal consequences

Many Christian groups are unsuccessful because:

a) Their models are secular in nature.

* Democratization of personal relationships.

Majority rules.

* Aim is self fulfillment. Promotes selfishness.

* Priority of personal independence,

of individual freedom.

* Relationships proceed from feelings.

The Biblical model for relationships:

a) Like a family.

* Membership in one body, interdependence,

unity, common life.

* Loving relationships (brotherhood

and sisterhood), sharing.

* Authority and order.

b) If so, there are practical needs:

* Need to express commitment and love to a

specific, concrete group of people.

* Need for such group of people to learn a

specific set of relating and living out their

commitments.

what is the nature of our commitment?

We are to love and serve God.

* We are to be God’s own servant people

We are to love and serve one another.

* We are no longer our own masters.

* We are to lay down our lives for one another.

* Practically, we should be willing to meet

our brethren’s needs with our personal resources.

We are to live our lives in true righteousness

and holiness.

We are to be a people that the Lord can use as a body. Have unity, order, peace, and support for our common life

When people agree to put their lives in common, the following are necessary:

a) Clearly spelled out commitments.

* Thus our written covenant.

An authority to govern the body and oversee the set of relationships.

* Our pastoral structure of household, unit and chapter leaders.

* Our overall governing and pastoral authorities: the CFC International Council and the Board of Elders.

Taking responsibility for one another and for our common life.

* Not just the responsibility of the leaders, but of every member.

* Correction, intercession, financial help, etc

A visible common life.

* Our various meetings and events

The Old and New Testaments are God’s old and new efforts to establish a relationship

with His people.

CFC is a vehicle, an opportunity by which we can respond fully to God

Prayers & Scriptures

I already go to Church services

(Mass) and that’s enough.

we joined a novena

we already prayed

in our household

i prayed the rosary

on my way to work

Mass, rosary, novena, etc., are all means of prayer. However, we must not neglect personal prayer.

Most see prayer as just asking God for things

Prayer for us should be a means of communicating with God and establishing a personal relationship with Him.

* As we communicate, we get to know God more, and thus have the basis for loving Him more.

We have a lot of time for the many different things we do in life. Our problem is not lack of time, but our attitude.

* If we considered prayer important enough, we would find the time.

Let us ask ourselves two questions:

* If I were not too busy working, would

I be busy praying?

* If God gave me some extra hours today, will I

automatically allocate it to personal prayer?

Remember that as long as there is a desire to pray,

it is a clear sign of the Lord’s prodding us to spend time with Him.

The Lord will not plant this desire only to frustrate us. He would never lead us to seek something which is impossible.

Even when we feel unworthy, we should just pray

The difficulty is often of our own making

We expect too much from ourselves, imposing a heavy burden.

* We raise up as a standard the lofty prayer times of others

Prayer is really very simple:

it is coming into the presence of a loving God and allowing Him to love us and touch our lives.

Techniques can help, models can guide, but it boils down to our very own personal

relationship, done in our own personal way

Make a commitment to pray at a scheduled time.

If you are just starting to pray, start with a short time of prayer

Look for the right place where you will not be distracted.

Resolve to be open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

Deal with obstacles to prayer.

Anxieties and concerns that distract us.

Dryness.

Too much concern about the quality of our prayer

Difficulty in listening or hearing the Lord.

a) The Bible is our book of wisdom for living a Spirit filled Christian life.

b) The Bible has power to convict us and change our lives.

c) The Bible can inspire and strengthen us as we face the difficulties of life.

Frequently, our Bible reading

will lead us to passages that speak directly & personally to our situation.

It is recommended that we incorporate our Bible reading into our daily prayer time.

The two are interactive.

conclusion:

A lack of a regular prayer time reflects a lack of faithfulness to the Lord.

When we neglect prayer, we will reap the consequences in the form of a powerless

Christian life, devoid of peace and direction.

If we pray and read the Bible, we tap on to God’s power.

OUR COVENANT IN CFC

and

PRAYER & SCRIPTURE

We love because God loves us first.

We enter a covenant with God not out of fear

but because God continues to keep His promises

to us.

We pray because He continues to knock on our hearts to talk to Him

SCRIPTURE

and inspirational reading

Aside from daily personal prayer, we also need to read and meditate on the Word of God.

We need to know God and His ways more. The most basic ways we can do this are by

communicating directly with Him (prayer) and by studying His word (Scripture).

our response:

PRAYER

I don’t have the time.

Lack of understanding about prayer

why we do not have a personal prayer time?

Some of us may be so filled with guilt due to our sins and weaknesses that we create a feeling of unworthiness to come before the Lord.

What we are speaking about is personal prayer time.

* Alone by ourselves with God.

* This is necessary for us to develop a deep intimate personal

relationship with Jesus.

Most of us may have been taught

to pray early in our childhood.

But what we may not

have learned is

WHY

we should pray

Jesus came to bring about a new covenant

Some important basic truths from the Old Testament.

Through the covenant,

God and His people

are joined together

Covenant = treaty or contract which established a relationship between two parties and bound them together.

CONTENTS OF THE COVENANT

Conditions and clauses were important,

but more important was that which

these were meant to safeguard:

a lasting relationship.

Between parties unequal in power and position

Between parties equal in power and position.

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