• Making a Purity Covenant: 7 Practical Commitments

  March 30, 2008

  Notes (PDF)Watch VideoPlay AudioDownload MP3Download Video (High)Download Video (Low)

• Making a Purity Covenant: 7 Practical Commitments

  May 03, 2009

  Watch VideoPlay AudioDownload MP3Download Video (High)Download Video (Low)
  .

From: http://ihop.churchinsight.com/Publisher/File.aspx?id=1000010189

Making a Purity Covenant: Seven Practical Commitments

1. prophetic word for IHOP-KC (march 23, 2008)

⁷ To the…church in Philadelphia write…, “8 I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you…have kept My word…10 You have kept My command to persevere…11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. (Rev. 3:7-11)

1. 1. The Lord will visit IHOP-KC with an open door of glory in the spirit and a door of ministry to the nations. When Jesus opens a door of glory to release more of His manifest presence then He requires more agreement with His heart (a higher standard of obedience). We are at a crossroads as the Lord will open a door of His glory. This is a promise with a warning (of judgment).

• ⁵¹ You shall see heaven open, and the angels…ascending and descending… (Jn. 1:51)

• ⁹ How is it that you (Sapphira) agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? The feet of those who have buried your husband (Ananias) are at the door, they will carry you out. (Acts 5:9)

1. 1. An open door to the nations causes the “spiritual DNA” of a ministry to be imparted with its good qualities and its deficiencies. Immorality is like an infection or virus in the spiritual DNA.

1. Jesus requires that the Church not tolerate immorality

1. 1. The church of Thyatira was affirmed for growing in love and faith and enduring persecution. Yet, they lacked zeal to take a stand against all allowance of immorality in their spiritual family.

• ¹⁹ I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience (endurance)…20 I have a few things against you, because you allow (tolerate, NIV) that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess…to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality… (Rev. 2:19-20)

1. 1. Immorality is “all sexual activity” that is outside the marriage covenant whether heterosexual or homosexual in all areas of life including physical, verbal or technological (internet), etc.
   2. Immorality in the Church grieves Jesus’ heart, injuries our heart and family (natural and spiritual) and gives Satan “legal doors of access” into our lives. Immorality causes Jesus to lose part of His inheritance in His people as well as part of their inheritance in Him.
   3. The church of Pergamos was affirmed for holding fast to Jesus’ name in a city so wicked that it was described as the place of Satan’s throne. Yet, they lacked zeal to confront immorality in the ministries of those who held to the doctrine of Balaam. For the story of Balaam see Num. 22-25. Jesus’ correction of a ministry or a person is not rejection but an offer of deliverance.

• ¹³ I know…you dwell where Satan’s throne is. You hold fast to My name…14 I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before…Israel to…commit sexual immorality…16 Repent, or I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. (Rev. 2:13-16)

1. 1. The sword of Jesus’ mouth refers to His power being released in our life by the command of His mouth. If we receive the sword of His Word it will free us but if we reject it then it will hurt us. He sends His sword as our friend or foe, depending on how we respond.
   2. Judgment begins in God’s house with God’s sword. If we voluntarily judge ourselves with the sword of God’s Word then He need not judge us in a more severe way with His sword.

• ¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God… (1 Pet. 4:17)

1. 1. The option to reverse God’s judgment is offered to all who repent (Rev. 2:16, 23). Repentance dramatically changes things as it positions us to receive God’s mercy and our full inheritance.

• ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— these, O God, You will not despise. (Ps. 51:17)

1. 1. Jesus promised to make a way of escape for us both as a movement and as individuals.

• ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; God is faithful, who

• will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Cor. 10:13)

1. 1. IHOP-KC made a covenant before the Lord on March 24, 2008 to consistently, comprehensively and tenderly resist all forms of immorality in our midst. In this covenant, we asked the Lord to open a door of glory with His sword of deliverance or His sword of judgment (if we refuse Him).

• ¹⁰ It is in my heart (Hezekiah) to make a covenant with the LORD…11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him…15 And they gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves…to cleanse the house of the LORD. (2 Chr. 29:10-15)

1. 1. The Lord will release bold zeal and clarity of conviction that is filled with the tender mercy of the Bridal paradigm. We seek purity that flows from humility and tenderness not angry holiness. We do not have to choose between zeal for high standards and tender mercy. We can have both.

• ¹³ Mercy triumphs over judgment. (Jas 2:13)

1. 1. The Lord promised to release the “grace of immunity” which includes “amnesty” for our past failures before we made this covenant on March 24. Immunity is the state of being immune to a disease or the condition that permits resistance to disease. Amnesty is a pardon for offenses granted before the trial because of an act of forgiveness for past offenses.
   2. The Lord wants us to have confidence in God that we will not come under His judgment for our past sins as we make this covenant together. Confidence in God is essential to spiritual vitality. He wants us to know the immunity from the “infected thinking” of the accumulated affect of shame (for past failure), fear of rejection (in being exposed), hopelessness (of experiencing a breakthrough), and of giving up on our highest calling. He wants our commitment to be strengthened by confidence as we proceed together. We are to have solidarity as a spiritual family in our unified stand to bring this “Purity Covenant” to the nations knowing the enemy will strike hard in a counterattack against us.

1. seven personal commitments before the Lord (6 month commitment)

¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another…that you may be healed. (Jas 5:16)

1. 1. Commitment #1: I commit to refuse to participate in conversations that promote or joke about immorality. If I do speak in this way, I will confess to those I was conversing with that I sinned.
   2. Commitment #2: I commit to confess to the same trusted friend (who embraces this covenant) each time I view pornography or have any sexual contact with someone (not my spouse).
   3. Commitment #3: I commit to register with the technology of choice that promotes the wisdom and safety of accountability whether or not I struggle with pornography. Accountability Software: These programs track your internet activity and send an email to the accountability partner that you choose. If you uninstall the software it triggers a report to your partner. See www.covenanteyes.com ($2.50 per month); www.x3watch.com (Free); www.integrity.com (free); www.accountable2you.com (free). Web Filtering Software: Programs that block sexual content including pornography, gambling, violence: www.integrity.com ($49.95); www.bsafehome.com ($49.95); www.intego.com (For Mac’s); www.cyberpatrol.com (39.95).
   4. Commitment #4: I commit to hold any confession of my friend’s failure in strict confidentiality. If I do speak it to another then I commit to tell it to the one who confessed their sin to me. The one who breaks confidence should confess also to the one to whom he broke the confidence.
   5. Commitment #5: If I “repeatedly” stumble in immorality, I will show the fruit of repentance by going with my friend to confess to the leadership and then accept the boundaries they give me.
   6. Commitment #6: I commit to share with the leadership if my friend “repeatedly” stumbles in immorality. I will first tell my friend before sharing with a leader to convince him to go with me.

• ¹⁵ If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 If he will not hear, take with you one or two more…17 If he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. (Mt. 18:15-17)

1. 1. Commitment #7: For leaders: I commit to follow the process of bringing those who ‘continue’ in immorality to the appropriate level of “discipline” instead of offering them “unsanctified mercy”.

• ²⁰ Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all… (1 Tim 5:20, NAS)

• ⁵ Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Cor. 5:5)

1. 1. We will not bring public shame to anyone who repents. We hope to never expose one’s sin publicly. There are many levels of discipline that do not require personal exposure.

• ⁸ Above all things have fervent love…for love will cover a multitude of sins. (1 Pet. 4:8)

• ⁹ He who covers a transgression seeks love… (Prov. 17:9)