WHY? IT’S COVENANT.
It’s unfortunate that our modern culture does not practice or even understand the act of covenant as expressed in the Bible. Ok, I guess the slaying of animals might be a bit too much… but nevertheless, we are deficient when it comes to its significance and implication.
Now check this out…
According to the rules of engagement in ancient covenant practices, when two parties (two nations, families or individuals) made a covenant with each other, this is what they said to each other… “That is my death (the sacrificed animals). That animal died as my representative. He died in my place. As I enter into this covenant, I enter by death. Now that I am in covenant, I have no more right to live as my self. If need be, I will die for you. From now on, your interests take precedence over my own. If I have anything you need but cannot supply, then my supply becomes your supply. I no longer live for myself; I live for you.” This was covenant.
The terms of covenant were quite serious and consequential. But the neat thing is that any party, at any given moment in time, can call upon the benefit of the covenant. Why? It was Covenant.
God did that when He asked for Abraham’s boy, Isaac. God asked for him and Abraham, according to the covenant He had with God, had to give to God whatever He asked. Why? It was Covenant.
This was the deal (covenant)…Abraham desired a son, God makes a covenant with Abraham and promises Him a son… God provides and Abraham receives his promise (Isaac)… Now God wants Isaac as a sacrifice to Him and Abraham, without batting an eyeball, gives Him Isaac – Why? It’s Covenant. But instead God provides a lamb to be sacrificed. Why? You guessed it…Covenant.
So… the deal continues (oops, I meant covenant)… God didn’t take Isaac but provided a substitution for the “seed” of Abraham (Isaac and now US!). Because Abraham was willing to give to God and follow the practice of covenant, God called him blessed. Why? It’s covenant.
Then God did it again… He gave to the seed of Abraham, His son, JESUS – which we desperately needed! Why? It’s COVENANT! And now it’s our turn… we are to give Him what he asks … and what is that? OUR LIVES! Why? You guessed it again; it’s Covenant.
Anxious to read your thoughts,
Pastor Manny
So that’s why when we ask something to God, He supplies because of the covenant He made with us. But also whenever He ask for us to do something we most do it because is for the covenant. Is just good business. And the best part is that He show us grace everyday and He doesn’t kill us when we break covenant. Truly we don’t value covenant enough and that is our problem. Our word means nothing now, because we think that is ok when we don’t fulfill our vows.
Wow, the terms of covenant described in the second paragraph stood out to me a lot. The way that the benefit of the covenant worked out between Abraham and God concerning Isaac was quite interesting. This whole teaching of covenant has been challenging but exciting at the same time.
We as people in general often think that if we are responsible with our lives that we should be totally in control of where our lives are taking us. That often goes against the principle grain of Covenant, where God requires us to give him what he asks, ‘Our lives, our will to his cause’ It gets tough at times, but in the end, I’ve never regretted pursuing a purpose that was Kingdom minded.
I love it. This teaching has me on the edge of my seat. What an awesome revelation God has given you to teach us. I know I need to learn how to die daily to fullfill my end of the covenent. Im thankful God is patient.
The way Abraham so willingly without a hint of hesitation proceeded to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to God always amazed and shook me. He had absolutely no doubt in all of his being that God would honor His promise. If only we today would honor our part of the covenant, if only we could really grasp this in our spirits, we would be an unstoppable force with God! This is not any covenant, we are in covenant with GOD Almighty! Wow, still blowing me away…
This is not a fair transaction!!
What can I offer that could even get close to what He has to offer?
I do not know what He sees in me…
I sat with two of my close friends this weekend for over 4 hours and all that ran through my mind was covenant. One friend just became a mother and the other is going through cancer treatments. God amazes me in the way that he connects us all. I’m seeing and understanding covenant in a new way.
Wow. Covenant is deep. First this caused me to repent because I know that I have not kept covenant like I should be. May my flesh die and may I have a continual hunger and passion for Christ. May we not take for granted the covenant that we have with God.
This is a good lesson to learn about Covenant, especially when I believe daily covenant is being establish in different areas of our lives. May I continue to learn to die to myself daily and live a life for His Kingdom. Good blog.
I need to always honor my Covenant with GOD the same way
HE honors HIS Covenant with me.
Your demonstration of cutting our wrists and as they bleed
together reminded me how the indians use to do that and
then they were blood brothers.
I can’t take God’s calling for granted anymore..nor His Holy Spirit!!! It really scares me all the wasted time and the fact that my life here on earth has a beginning and an end…and I really want God to find me as a faithful servant!!!…
Well Pastor its a good blog we know that when you pray to God he is listening and he is showing you that he is here for you so that is covenant. and I liked when you talked about cutting your flesh because when I was a teenager I used to do that with my friends and that was called being a blood brother thanks Pastor.
Father: give us the understanding to see covenant beyond the paradigm of our society, and to understand it as it is being taught to us now.