Ron Sawka Ministries
December 18, 2024; Kislev 17, 5785
“In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds” (2 Chron. 23:1).
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard” (Ps. 133:1–2).
Apostolic for Korea Meeting—“Anointing for the New and Great Enlargement”
Thursday, December 19, 8 p.m.
We have felt led to begin a monthly online Apostolic for Korea meeting. I hope many of you can join us live on Zoom or watch via YouTube.
Covenant—It Cements the (Living) Stones Together to Build an Apostolic Center
Online Apostolic Center (APC-MPP), Week 6
Each week, it seems the Lord teaches us another key concept for our online apostolic center.* This week, it’s the word “covenant” or “commitment.” It’s like the cement of a brick building. Regardless of how many bricks or stones (we believers are “living stones” [1 Pet. 2:5]) you may have, or how skillfully you may stack them, without cement or mortar the building just can’t be built. It won’t hold together. This is more than just alignment—it’s a commitment. I feel the Lord is putting a tremendous draw on us for covenant regarding APC-MPP, and that it’s an essential aspect. Interestingly, this Hebrew month, Tevet, is also about alignment and covenant.
Note: I do recognize that the term “covenant” is often misused. Please be sure to read “Clarifications” below where I explain exactly what I mean by “covenant.”
The power and function of covenant—This is well illustrated in the story of restoration of the boy king Joash in 2 Chronicles 23. A few points are as follows:
1. When the king of Judah, Ahaziah, was killed, the wicked queen mother, Athaliah, murdered all royal heirs (her grandsons) and seized the throne. Unbeknownst to her, one grandson, the infant Joash, was rescued and hidden in the temple. When young Joash was seven, the High Priest Jehoida knew it was time to restore the throne to him and make things right in the nation. This was a difficult and perilous task, but he was able to succeed because God gave him the strategy of covenant. Covenant has so much to do with overcoming the devil.
2. Jehoiada strengthened himself, and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds (23:1). This was more than just casual agreeing or being sympathetic to the cause of restoring the throne to the rightful king. Covenant can be defined as a pact or binding agreement. They bound and committed themselves to Jehoida and to the task to restore the king.
3. These captains “went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and they came to Jerusalem” (23:2). This is the first result or fruit of entering into covenant—others who also should enter into covenant will begin to gather. In other words, if you feel God has connected you to APC-MPP, then you need to commit yourself to it. As a result, others—including some who have never even heard of it yet—also will be drawn and gathered by the Holy Spirit.
4. They will not just gather, but will also likewise commit and enter into covenant. “Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God” (23:3). Now it was no longer Jehoida and a small core with a mass of curious spectators. This is what God wants for APC-MPP and every apostolic center. He wants all the people committed. It’s on the committed/covenanted ones that the anointing has the most effect. We see this in the first apostolic center in Jerusalem. Right from the beginning, the 3,000 were committed and were fruitful. Acts 2:46–47 states, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house … And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
5. You will find yourself with better and sharper spiritual weapons. In 2 Chronicles 23:7, we read, “And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand.” Also see 23:9, which states, “And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had belonged to King David, that were in the temple of God.”
6. Authority and victory. We all know the story: they crowned the seven-year-old Joash as rightful king amidst great rejoicing. Athaliah was enraged, but powerless to stop them. She was then executed, and her evil suppression was ended. Likewise, precisely because we are in covenant, there is a much greater authority. Not only will we overcome Satan’s snares and advances, but we will also see forces of darkness pulled down and overthrown in our areas.
Clarifications—What do I mean by “covenant”
1. This is for those of you who feel led to this online meeting and ministry, and is primarily about that. When they covenanted with Jehoida, it was for the specific purpose of restoring the throne. Nothing more. Likewise, “covenanting” with us is for the purpose of APC-MPP becoming what God wants it to be.
2. Primarily there are two things you will do:
Stand in faith with me and the core team and believe for God’s blessing on the ministry of APC-MPP. You will be more than just a casual listener, but will stand in faith that we will accomplish what God wants and that APC-MPP will also reach the people and places He desires.
Pray for us as led by the Holy Spirit. For example, pray for the following: 1) our Monday morning meetings; 2) the various monthly online meetings (e.g., Apostolic for Chinese, -Russia, and -Korea); 3) any other scheduled meetings. What a blessing it will be when I go to Mexico in January because now the whole APC-MPP will be behind me.
But when and how you pray is up to you as you’re led by the Holy Spirit.
3. Covenant/commitment to APC-MPP does not preclude or take the place of your present connections, commitments, and ministries. Those must be honored. God wants to use and bless you where you are.
4. This should serve as a model. I do expect that what you learn and experience from covenanting to APC-MPP will enhance and strengthen covenant on you and the church that you’re already are a part of, resulting in much blessing there.
*Topics of previous weeks:
Week 1—The unexpected launching as an online apostolic center
Week 2—Anointed for harvest
Week 3—God wants to and will use you—just yield!
Week 4—The anointing of the apostolic center will cause you to rise up for great fruitfulness
Week 5—Three reasons why we need to ask the Lord for personal intercessors
Thanks for your praying,
Ron and Teddy
Blessings for the Hebrew Month of Kislev
Kislev 5785—The Ninth Hebrew Month, December 2–31, 2024
Be Sure to Celebrate
Kislev is the ninth month. The number nine symbolizes fruitfulness, completion, fullness of blessings, and the Holy Spirit (nine gifts and nine fruit). This connects to our having received the “breath of God” as per Abraham and Sarah and the Eleven (see Gen. 17, John 20:21–23), so think “exceeding fruitfulness.” This fruitfulness comes because of the miraculous power of God working in our lives. Rejoice!
Ron’s Travel Ministry Schedule
Jan. 22–25—Project 173, Mexico City, Mexico
Broadcast Schedule
Weekly
Apostolic Center MPP
Mondays (except for Japanese Public Holidays in which case it will be on Tuesday), 6–7 a.m., Japan Time. (Times are listed in Japan Time, UTC +9.)
Schedule: Jan. 6, 14, 20, 29
How to Join
You can watch on YouTube or join live via Zoom:
Zoom ID: 865 1546 9529, Pass: 964072
Zoom main room is English translated into Japanese
Chinese translation room
Russian translation room
Korean translation room