COVENANT MINDED MINISTRIES

Covenant Minded Ministries is providing this online giving access to all who feel moved by the Spirit of God to support this ministry.  We are very grateful and appreciative to the universal body of Christ for their prayers and financial support toward our efforts as servants of the LORD in accomplishing evangelism and discipleship. 

Believing, proclaiming, and demonstrating Christ in our speech and actions on a continuous basis and enduring until the end are primary goals essential to winning the world for Christ.  We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ and we must let our conquering light shine that those who are in darkness may escape it and shine with us.

It is our sincere prayer that millions be saved and provided knowledge to accomplish spiritual maturity through this website and other materials and works generated through this ministry. 

We are looking forward to all who are unsaved coming into the body of Christ and many who are saved being provided the knowledge to be set free from spiritual bondages that hinder them from worshiping God in spirit and in truth.

Our Primary Reason for Giving

Our primary reason for giving back to God is not for getting something back from Him, but to honor Him for being God and the Source of all our needs.  We would have absolutely nothing if He wasn't loving and merciful in providing so liberly as He does.

Abraham's giving was not obligatory, but liberal, in that, he gave unto Melchizedeck that which was purposed in his heart, a tenth (1/10), which became the tithe, and basis for giving that Moses incorporated into the Law.

The Law made it obligatory to give unto God, which served as a means in teaching one to honor the Giver, which Abraham did willingly and liberally by faith, honoring God through His representative.

Abraham could have given more than a tenth, (i.e. 2/10, 3/10, 4/10, ect.), but his choice was 1/10, which became the basis for tithing as most of us understand it to be today.

Abraham, the father of our faith understood from the beginning that his giving back to God was to be willingly and liberally from his heart to honor God, and not obligatory.

Giving back to God is to be an act of honoring rather than an act of giving just to get something back, which many have done grudgingly and of necessity.

The Apostle Paul clarifies the meaning and act of giving as reflected in 2nd Corinthians 9:6-8 at right hand top of this page.

[From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God ] What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! (Romans 6:15)

[The Law Brings a Curse ] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” (Galatians 3:10)

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” ), (Galatians 3:13)

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (1^st Corinthians 3:17)

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. (1^st Corinthians 14:33)

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. (1^st John 2:20)

I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. (1^st John 2:21)

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. (2^nd Corinthians 13:5)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (Jude 1:24)

To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:25)

Giving to this Ministry

If you are inspired to give, “Clicking Donate” below will take you to the secure PayPal site for Covenant Minded Ministries.  The process for giving online to this ministry is quick, easy, and very secure.  Thank you and God bless you!

Giving Back to God 

“ Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘ In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. (Malachi 3:8)

You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. (Malachi 3:9)

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10)

“ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts; (Malachi 3:11)

And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:12)

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD. (Leviticus 27:30)

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, (Hebrews 7:1)

to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” (Hebrews 7:2)

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. (Hebrews 7:3)

The LORD has sworn And will not relent, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4)

(for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “ The LORD has swornAnd will not relent,‘ You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’”), (Hebrews 7:21)

Recognizing the Source of Our Giving

“Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. (1st Chronicles 29:13)

But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?  For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. (1st Chronicles 29:14)

Agape Love is the Christian's Goal

There are three (3) different words for love in the Greek. 'Phileo' (brotherly love), 'Eros'  (erotic love), and 'agape' (the love of God).

God is love and God is agape love.  The followers of Jesus are known by their agape love and not by their theology.

Consequently, only a heart fully in love can know God and be moved to keep His commandments, which are not grevious to those who love Him.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. (1st John 3:14)

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (1st John 5:3)

Our primary goal as Christians should be to grow in love until we have accomplished agape love in our hearts and maintaining such a love unto death, as we exit this life into eternity.

What is Agape Love

Agape is love which is of and from God, whose very nature is love itself.  Agape love is unique and is distinguished by its nature and character.  God does not merely love; He is love itself. Everything God does flows from His love.

God loves because that is His nature and the expression of His being. He loves the unlovable and the unlovely (us!), not because we deserve to be loved, but because it is His nature to do so, and He must be true to His nature and character.

The object of agape love never does anything to merit His love. We are the undeserving recipients upon whom He lavishes that love.

In the same way, we are to love others sacrificially, which is not based on a feeling, but a determined act of the will, a joyful resolve to put the welfare of others above our own; even when knowing that they are not deserving recipients.

Agape  love (a non-partial, sacrificial love) does not come naturally, being that the non-regenerated soul is unable to love unconditionally.

In order for anyone to operate in agape love, he or she is required to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, which requires being born of the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit).

As a result of God creating us in His image, He has endowed us with the capacity to love as He loves through His Holy Spirit's dwelling with us who believe in Him.

Agape love gives and sacrifices expecting nothing back in return, because it's not only of God, it is God manifesting Himself through those who have faith in Jesus Christ.

The flesh or natural person is totally incapable of loving upon this very unique level, based solely upon his or her own natural abilities.  He or she must have the intervention of God's Holy Spirit to accomplish this goal.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1st John 3:16)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34)

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35)

Only because of God's love that's in the hearts of believers are we able to keep His commandments, including, loving one another as He has loved us.

This kind of self-sacrificing love (agape love) is the highest level of proof that we are His children.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17)

Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:18)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (Galatians 5:22)

gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:23)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

Giving from the Heart 

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2nd Corinthians 9:6)

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  (2nd Corinthians 9:7)

And God is able to make all grace , abound toward you, that you always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2nd Corinthians 9:8)

“The heart is deceitful above all things,And desperately wicked; Who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.  (Jeremiah 17:10)

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”  (Matthew 9:13)

But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. (Matthew 12:7)

The Two Greatest Commandments 

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”  (Matthew 22:36)

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  (Matthew 22:37)

This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:38)

And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:39)

On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:40)

What is Phileo Love

Phileo love is brotherly love or the love you have for each other, for your uncles and aunts, for the old lady down the street, and for your neighbours.

Phileo love is derived out of our feelings or emotions and is experienced both by believers and non-believers. 

Our familiarity and direct interaction with others is the primary bases of this type of love, usually conditional, and based upon how other people behave toward us.

God's divine nature is agape, which phileo cannot fully manifest. 

Our renewed nature should not be restricted to just moral excellence, but rather, in accomplishing all possible of God's divine nature, which requires agape.

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love (phileo love), in honor giving preference to one another; (Romans 12:10)

But concerning brotherly love (phileo love) you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; (1st Thessalonians 4:9)

Let brotherly love (phileo love) continue. (Hebrews 13:1)

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, (2nd Peter 1:5)

to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, (2nd Peter 1:6)

to godliness brotherly kindness (phileo love), and to brotherly kindness (phileo love) love (agape love). (2nd Peter 1:7)

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (2nd Peter 1:8)

For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (2nd Peter 1:9)

As Christians, we are required to add agape love to our phileo love if we are to susceed in doing what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

It is only out of a Spirit-led agape love which seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness are we able to do fully that which pleases God.

What is Eros Love

"Eros" is the Greek word for romantic or sexual love, in which the term "erotic" is derived.

"Eros" or "Aros" in Greek mythology was the primordial god of lust, love, and intercourse; he was also worshipped as a fertility deity.

"Eros' Roman counterpart was "Cupid," the god of erotic love and beauty; also known by the Latin name Amor.

What is Worldly Love

Wordly love is that which is of the flesh and seeks its own will and satisfaction without any or very little concerns of or for others.

Family love is a type of worldly love, in that, it something that is instilled within our human nature. This is something even the most offending sinners have.

If family love was and within itself godly, then all the fussing and fighting and killing and division within the family circle would not be occurring as it has and continue to occur.

Worldly love records and keeps an account of what it does for another and expects something back in return.

Worldly love is unreliable and undependable; it is both short-termed and short-lived; from one moment or day to the next moment or day, you don't know how it's going to respond.

Worldly love manifests itself out of infatuation (a foolish, unreasoning, or extravagant passion or attraction or lust) for someone and/or something.

Worldly love has many, many, complications that generates a variety of troubles, which ends in broken and un-reconcilable relationships, unless replaced by God's love.   

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. (James 3:14)

This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. (James 3:15)

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James 3:16)