COVENANT-
Introduction
Christ is the Mediator of a better covenant established on better
promises. Hebrews 8:6;
At the end of this teaching you should be able to
1. Define a covenant
2. Explain why people enter into covenants, the benefits,
etc...
3. How covenants are ratified, confirmed
4. Explain some scripture passage which you now see in a
covenant context or light!
Beloved, I would like
us to re-phrase all our thinking and speaking along these terms. Everything
stems from God's covenant with us. All Bible understanding centers on this. I
would have you renew your mind with the Word of the Covenant terms.
All God's dealings with man are based on this: covenant. We
must lay a foundation for our understanding. Everything FLOWS from God to us
based on COVENANT. Blood covenant in this case. The blood of Jesus- is the
blood of the New Covenant. This is NOT A SIDE ISSUE- this is THE SOLE
ISSUE
Some have denigrated or downplayed the provisions of the covenant as
unnecessary things- or simply accessory things- (false humility) but I've said
it this way- never down-grade nor disparage something that Christ suffered to
give us! it must be important!
Beloved, know this: Christianity was never meant to be a
hit-or-miss proposition. Yet if you listen to some Bible teachers - there's a
whole lot of uncertainties. They don't understand covenant. Some teach that you shouldn't expect too much
from the Lord- forgetting that God is the one who has established the covenant
- not us. We are beneficiaries of it! And so is God!
Confidence in the
Covenant
Let us take a look at the WORD today. Base and build our
lives and experiences on the WORD and
not vice versa. We need to know about the covenant God has established for our
salvation. I say this because it cannot be taken for granted that we know about
it. Hebrews tells us we have a better
covenant, based on better promises. If we know little about the first
covenant how can we judge if we have a better one than that?
When you understand
covenant- it will help you understand all the Bible. It will keep you from
doctrinal errors. It will help you in
your everyday life. Its very important. It will open your eyes to every verse
or promise you read in the WORD. It will erase your doubts and fears and
unbelief and move you into the realm of
FAITH. This will change your prayer life. It will position you in a whole
new direction spiritually. It may change the way we pray for - or minister to
others. We will watch Jesus as He ministered to people and find new things
about this!
This is a revelation to the New Creation Man!
INTO OUR LIPS:
I read Psalm 50 awhile back and made an amazing discovery. The Lord was asking
the lost man why HE was taking God's covenant into his lips? In context- it
seemed that then the righteous would be expected to do so, not the lost man,
the one outside Israel's
covenant protection of God.
Precise knowledge:
(Gr. epignosis) Most know that God
established many covenants with men in the past. Do we know what a covenant is? I see that a covenant is a sacred
contract. Its like a marriage contract. Its like a contract you sing for a
loan. A covenant is a contract. Two people come together to make an agreement
that satisfies the needs of the other. There is an exchange. Can you understand
why a loving Creator would enter into contract with man?
INTO OUR LIPS:
I read Psalm 50 awhile back and made an amazing discovery. The Lord was asking
the lost man why HE was taking God's covenant into his lips? It seemed that
then the righteous would be expected to do so.
I also read Hebrews 6 and saw how that the lost man-
discounts the value of the blood of Christ. I then realized a true believer
then was one who respected the blood of the covenant as a holy thing. Again-
what makes you a believer and keeps you a believer is your FAITH in the BLOOD
of the covenant/contract.
Did you know its important what you say? Faith has a
confession to be maintained. Faith speaks. Yet so does unbelief and doubt,
fear. (the 3 enemies of faith). We need
to place the names of God into covenant context. Jehovah-Jireh,
Jehovah-Tsidkenu, Jehovah-Rapha, etc. Ignorance of the WORD can hurt you,
shorten your life!
Let us examine these
thoughts: why does God establish covenants? What are terms and conditions?
Our relationship with the Holy Spirit- our Teacher, Guide,
Personal Trainer, Coach, Helper, is based on the covenant.
Proper understanding
of our covenant will help dispel many wrong interpretations of scripture,
as well as stabilize us in our relationship to God. It will help us frame all
of scripture into its proper setting, place, with correct meaning. We really can't grasp being a Christian
without some understanding of how a covenant works. (1 Cor 1:26- 2:12)
At the end of this I want you to see this: a covenant is more than just an agreement.
Its that plus more. It is a binding contract between two or more
parties. In Bible terms covenant means testament. We generally only think
of testament as a division of the Bible into 2 parts. Well, that's a beginning.
Man desires at his heart these things: Stability,
Consistency, Dependability. Dealing with us, God's creatures He also wants these things from us. So we can
begin to see how that 2 parties come together to form a compact, a contract
beneficial to both sides. In our world examples could be labor-management, etc.
They hammer out a contract- then agree to its terms. A marriage is a covenant.
Of blood also. we've heard the term- blood brothers: created by a covenant.
There is a covenant of salt, etc....
Examples of covenants: Labor management contracts=covenant = agreement=
promise...
The marriage covenant- commitment...
CCR- covenants and restrictions...
Contracts for anything- to buy a home, installment payments, etc
They: set the terms and conditions, promises, legally binding and
enforceable
God has entered into various covenants/ contracts/
agreements with mankind. Adam, Noah,
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc... but for us as NT believers, I find that people's
faith is lacking because they either have not heard of the covenant, or are
ignorant of its provisions. And many people think of it this way: God has
promises with conditions- He provides, and we obey. That's only part of the
story.
Covenant- (New
Covenant- Jer. 31)
You need to understand, that in a covenant - parties come
together for a mutual benefit. If we will understand covenant, we will
understand God's plans. Now when I say two parties come together for a mutual
benefit you may ask- I know what we need from God- but what could He possibly
need from us? When you see this- you'll have a more satisfying relationship
with God based upon knowledge and not mere conjecture.
This will adjust our approach to the Lord. And our walk with
Him will become something more beautiful, because we are enlightened by the
Word - of the covenant. We will enjoy His covenant-kindness-mercy. We will see
it as something unmerited but yet provided freely for us to enjoy.
So- what do we need
from God and what does He need from us? Some
people have the idea that God does not need man at all. That God is just
putting up with man- but He's probably counting the days when He can create
some one or something better than man since man has been such as disappointment
to his heart (Gen 6). remember the times in the Word where God's heart was
grieved / affected...? (Gen 6) and also when He said to Moses- I'll destroy
them- and make a nation out of you.
Does God need man?
Does God need you? This is important for we've all heard some teaching that
touches on this premise or argument. If we somehow do retain the idea that God
does NOT need us to fulfill His plan- then you can see how it will affect you. You'll
feel- well what does my life matter- God has a billion people- He doesn't need
me! all that kind of garbage. Some of it filters even into philosophy or false
doctrines. For example- God has His 144,000- too bad you're out of luck, man...
Let me ask this: if God did not need man why would He pay
the highest cost in the universe to buy us back from the enemy? That alone does
not compute. Think of it: then what is the value of one man to a loving
Creator? This then re-frames out whole thinking- He loves every lost man so
much! All this frames our talk of covenant.
The Cross shouts
out to man- louder than any philosophical argument- is it then any
wonder Paul said- I'll only speak of the cross? Christ crucified! Because it
stops every other voice- crying out- I want you this much! The cross settles
God's appeal to man- for his life!
Recap:
Covenant is: and
agreement, binding contract, sacred contract between parties,
It involves: Exchange.
The weaker is blessed of the stronger. Look for these terms and Bible language-
"When
I am weak- then I am strong" that's covenant talk
"The
Lord is my Refuge and Strength" that's covenant talk!
"We
are IN HIM - He is in us"
"I am
in my Father" "My Father is in Me"
Also so
many scriptures: John 14-17, 2 Cor 5:17, Psalms 23, Psalms 91, Psalm 103.
We have
God's covenant protection
covenant grace and favor
Hebrews 9-10 explains our covenant. Also Galatians.
Contrasts:
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OLD COVENANT
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NEW COVENANT
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Weaker
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Better
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Had faults
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No faults
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Could not sanctify
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Purges completely
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Could not change man within
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Man is now changed within
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Covenant
Consciousness
Let us consider all of these faith statements that they are
in fact covenant-consciousness-confessions:
I will say of the Lord, He is My refuge
Ye are my people I am thy God...
When I am weak.. then am I strong...
In my name ye shall...
By His stripes ye were healed...
I am the Vine- ye are the branches...
New Covenant in my blood.... shed for many for the
remission/ removal/ eradication of sin...
Jehovah-Rapha, Jireh, Shalom, Tsidkenu
Covenant means connection to the Power Source...
uninterrupted supply!
Irrespective of and independent of circumstances, the
visible realm
I will boldly
proclaim.....
If ye shall ask (as to demand of an enemy) anything IN MY
NAME - I will do it!
We have EXCHANGED
weakness for strength....
Sickness for healing... Death for eternal LIFE
TURMOIL for PEACE!
Can a covenant be
disannulled? broken (abrogated/cancelled)
by one party? Yes, men are known as covenant-breakers, but God cannot lie,
cannot disannul the thing He has spoken... this is the integrity of HIS WORD.
The prophets reminded God of His covenant- to continue with Israel though in unbelief and
disobedience...
Now then, we can have confidence in the covenant - confess
the covenant- take it into our mouth/lips-
and enjoy all its benefits- provisions- our inheritance left for us- (if ye
shall speak to this mountain- be thou removed..) He that believeth shall....
Our TALK- 2 Cor
4:13- we believe and therefore speak...
Our LOOK- 2 Cor
4:18 While we look not at the things
which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen: for the things which are seen are
temporal; but the things
which are not seen are eternal.
Our WALK- 2 Cor 5:7
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Many are waiting for God to do something- God is waiting for
us to do something! to believe and receive.
He already did all He can do! the rest is up to men to
respond IN FAITH
Now we can understand this passage anew and fresh-
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new. (see
the exchange?) old for new
5:18 And all things
are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given
to us the ministry of reconciliation; 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath
reconciled us to himself by
Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation; 5:19 To wit, that God
was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God did beseech
you by us: we pray you in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us,
who knew no sin; that we
might be made the
righteousness of God in him. (note the exchange)
