October, 2024
The principal covenants God made with men are 2.
Covenant of works – God promising to save and bless men on condition of perfect obedience to Him. All the spiritual, material, physical, mental blessings follow as the consequent effect of a covenant made with God.
Covenant of grace – God’s promise is to save men on condition of their believing in Christ and receiving him as their Master and Saviour. By this, not only you are qualified to receive all the blessings, but you are elevated to the status of God’s heir. All that belongs to Him become your own. You become the legal son of God.
The first is called the Old Covenant. The second is called the New Covenant, or New Testament. By this covenant we become eligible to all the blessings which Adam enjoyed before sin.
In a covenant there are two parties.
They come together to a common platform.
Last year during the 25th IBJ Celebrations, we, AOJ made a covenant with the Lord for the first time.
This year we are going to renew the covenant with the Lord on behalf of our Nation India so that Nation India becomes eligible to enjoy all the blessings which Jesus Christ brought to this earth.
The Covenant demands certain requirements.
1.There should be two parties. They should assemble in a place.
2. There will be certain conditions as well as blessings. The benefits of the covenant will proceed from the observance of the conditions.
3. The clauses should be written down for future reference.
4. The articles of the Covenant should be agreed upon by both the parties.
5. It should be sealed with a sacrifice .
Let us see an example from the Old Testament.
Exo 24:1,2 Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. Moses alone shall come near to the LORD, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.” (Condition 1)
Exo 24:3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.”
(condition 2)
Exo 24:4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. (condition 3)
Exo 24:6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. (Condition 4)
Exo 24:5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD.
(condition 5)
Exo 24:9-13 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. The LORD said to Moses,
“Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God.
Many of you might be wondering why I am not able to keep a friendly relationship with God?
Why am I not able to hear His voice?
See Him?
Be with Him all the time walking, talking with Him just as Adam and Eve did before sin?
Let us see what happened after making the covenant.
Exo 24:15-16 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
Many of you might be wondering why I am not able to keep a friendly relationship with God?
Why am I not able to hear His voice?
Not able to sense His presence?
Be with Him all the time walking, talking with Him just as Adam and Eve did before sin?
Let us see what happened after making the covenant.
Exo 24:15-16 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
We are going to prepare for our Covenant Renewal Preparation Celebration,
Preparation are at 3 levels.
1. Individual level, (personal preparation)
2. State level,
3. National level
All should be completed before Nov 12, 2024.
State level celebration can be between October 12 & November 7.
National level will be on 9,10 & 11, 2024.
State Level Preparations
State Level- Giving access to all the soldiers of the Army of Jesus (including children, senior citizens) of the State to participate.
State level – Steps to follow
All the AOJ members of the State will come together in a selected place.
It will be a one day celebration – 8 hours
Participants will gather the previous night so that we can start the celebration early in the morning between 7.00-8.00 am and conclude by 4.00 pm and disperse early . Or if they start late by 10.00 am, can conclude by 6.00 or 7.00 pm. In both the cases, there should be accommodation facilities for those who come from far off places to stay that night and leave early in the morning.
Personal Preparation
Blessings I have Received through AOJ
Personal preparation : Let’s do now.
All of us can take their notebook and pen.
1.How long I have been in AOJ – How many years?
2. How I happened to join AOJ – Who introduced me to AOJ – Context?
3. My attitude towards AOJ family
4. The trainings I have undergone in AOJ
5. All the blessings I have received from the Almighty God through AOJ – the closeness I have today with my Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit –
6. The maturity and growth I achieved in AOJ – (spiritual, material, emotional, mental, professional, personality level etc. etc. you have achieved in AOJ – write 5 of them. Eg.
a. Growth from childhood to sonship
b. The solid food I am nourished with, in AOJ
c. Opportunities I got to preach, teach, worship, prophecy in AOJ
d. Awareness of my authority to cast out demon and to heal sicknesses
e. My identity as a priest, king and as His ambassador etc. etc.
My mentors in AOJ
7. Can you remember 2 or more persons who were mentors for you in AOJ? The ones through whom you grew in the Lord? – Let us send a thanking note to them before this celebration-
How they
Encouraged you
Edified you
Comforted you
Let us invite them to participate in this function
My duties as a soldier of AOJ
8. How many disciples have I made for Jesus through Troop Churches?
9. How many Troop Churches have I started? How many of them have multiplied?
10. How many soldiers have I added to AOJ family through my testimonial life and preaching?
11. How many gifts of he Holy Spirit have been activated in me? (Deliverance, healing, prophecy, Administration, other languages, gift of tongues, computer, making ppt, Hospitality, giving, prayer, spiritual warfare etc….
My failures as a soldier of AOJ.. Lord forgive me!
12. Can you ask the Holy Spirit to show your failures and weaknesses in 2 areas, repent and ask for mercy and more grace to overcome.
13. Have I been faithful in executing the responsibilities given to me in AOJ?
As Speaker,
Deputy Speaker,
Coordinator,
Secretary,
Coordinator for Gift Schools,
Coordinator for other AOJ Operations,
SMP,
SMLA ,
National/State Core Team member
Any other
Let us repent and ask forgiveness from the Lord.
14. Have I ever grumbled, murmured, complained against the beautiful family of AOJ to anyone at any time? Let us repent.
My Role Models in AOJ
15. Let us thank God for the great dedication of certain soldiers in AOJ who have done great exploits for the Lord out of their love for God, for their fellow soldiers & others.
16. Let us thank God for the thousands of soldiers in AOJ who have set their lives as role models for the forth coming generations. When thrown in the furnace of persecution from Churches, families, friends and the society for their calling and dedication to AOJ, they did not withdraw.
They were the frontline warriors. Sr. Roger, Sr. Susan, Sol. Gracy, Sol. B.M.Reddy, Sol. Dhanaselvi, etc. A long line those who went to be with the Lord and who are stil running the race along with us .
17. Let us repent and ask pardon from the Lord on behalf of all the soldiers of AOJ for their
a. failure in duties toward their life partner, children & family,
b. for violations of the commandments of God
c. shortcomings,
d. Remaining ignorant in the Word of God,
e. for being selfish, not engaging ourselves in warfare
f. slothfulness
g. backslidings
h. betrayals,
i. unfaithfulness
j. ungratefulness
k. disbelief
l. lukewarmness
m. Compromising with the institutional Church
n. Wrong motives in serving God
o. dishonesty &
p. Misusing the opportunities given in AOJ
q. all other sins committed against God and their brethren.
17. Let us thank God for those who helped in the growth & expansion of AOJ
Let us ask forgiveness for the failures of the family of AOJ
a. By prayer
b. By Words of encouragement,
c. Those who opened doors for Gift Schools
d. Provided land & building for conducting trainings
e. Provided vehicles, food, provisions for AOJ Soldiers where they were strangers
f. All those who have attended AOJ Schools
g. Opening doors for sharing the Visions of India & Model Church
h. Other ways
Let us gather joyfully for the State level &
National Level Meetings