THE BIBLICAL COVENANT

                                                          

THE BIBLICAL  COVENANT 

The biblical Covenant is a sacred and binding agreement between GOD and humanity or specific groups or individuals,establishing a relational bond, spelling out  binding  promises, obligations , terms and signs. and it is often sealed in blood.

It often involves a supreme party (GOD)  establishing terms  with humanity, with specific blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience. It reflects GOD’s unchanging love, faithfulness ,and purpose and it calls for trust and response from us. It is a divine promise backed by GOD’s own character. It can also be defined as a relationship between two  partners who make  binding promises to each  other and work together to reach a common goal. This can be readily illustrated by marriage , a covenantal relationship , which was instituted by GOD , when He said”A man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they shall become one flesh”Gen2:24.

There are many covenants made by GOD with reference to the Bible.

Let us examine  a few examples. 

Gen 9:8-11.-Then GOD said to Noah and to his sons with him :”I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you -the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out  of the ark with you.- every living creature on earth .I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

Gen12:2-3.-The LORD said to Abraham”I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and who ever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Exo19:5-6.-The LORD said to Moses” Now if you  obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

2Sam7:12-13- The  word of the LORD came to Nathan the prophet  for David”The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your  own body, and I will establish his kingdom.” He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

Heb8:6-12- GOD established a new covenant through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, offering forgiveness of sins and eternal life.”But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is a mediator  is superior to the old one, and it is founded on on better promises. The time is coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their GOD ,and they will be my people. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Covenants reveal GOD’s commitment to restoring humanity moving from brokenness of the Old Testament to the fulfillment in the New Testament. They are keys to GOD’s  redemptive plan to restore humanity to its divine calling.

The covenants progressively build upon one another,forming a complete  redemptive storyline.He preserved the world through Noah, initiated redemption through Abraham, established the nation of Israel through Moses and promised an eternal shepherd king through David and then fulfilled all through Jesus. Jesus is the guarantor and mediator  of the new and better covenant. He has become the guarantee of a better covenant.Heb7:22.

When GOD makes a covenant ,it is a promise he confirms with a commitment .For example he made a covenant with Noah after the flood.”I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood ; never  again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”Gen 9:11.

GOD said”I have made a covenant with my chosen,I have sworn to David my servant, I will establish your line forever, and  make your throne firm through all generations. I will maintain my love to him  forever and my covenant with him will never fail.  I will establish his line  forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure .”Ps 89:2-3,28-29.

Brethren, going through the scriptures, these covenants were fulfilled.  Jesus lineage was traced to David. Part of the evidence was when blind Bartimaeus cried out and said.”Jesus, Son of David,have mercy on me!”Mk10:47. Jesus confirmed his Davidic lineage when he said “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the  Offspring of David, and the bright Morning star.”Rev 22:16. The “Root of Jesse “points to the Messiah from David ‘s line -Jesus Christ.

God’s covenants are sacred,sure ,certain, definite, reliable, trustworthy,unchanging, and irrevocable. GOD is a covenant -keeper, he does not break  his covenant nor alter his word. Ps 89: 34. And in actual fact his word does not return unto him empty, but  will accomplish  what he desires, and achieve the

purpose for which it is sent. Isa 55:11. Whatever He promises  will surely be done.

Humans may break their side of the covenant  but GOD remains faithful ,making his promises everlasting and unbreakable. Breaking a covenant creates  a crack in one’s spiritual life and it can lead to a great fall. Example is the case of Eli and his family line that lost the promise of priesthood .The priesthood was revoked because Eli honoured  his sons more than GOD and he failed to  restrain them from the sins he knew about.ISam 2 :30-32.3:11.-14.

You are admonished to remain faithful and obedient so as to be able to keep your own part of the covenant. Be in alignment with GOD, honour him,and be totally obedient to his commands. 

The Bible tells us in Deu7:9”Know therefore  that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations  of those who love him and keep his commands.In other words our role  to play in the agreement is to love  him and keep his commands.To be his treasured possession we have to obey him fully, take care to follow his commands,decrees and laws.

We are reassured that the LORD is trustworthy in all his promises and faithful in all he does.

When his covenant is not being fulfilled in our lives, let us examine our selves and do the needful.

We see that the covenant he made with Abraham our forefather was kept. Abraham obeyed  when GOD 

asked him to  “Go from your country , your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Gen 12:1-2.At the old age of seventy -five years,he obeyed and he set out from Harran with his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot. GOD tested Abraham,and he passed the test by obeying his instructions. GOD said,”Take your son, your only son, whom you love -Isaac-and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you. Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey.  He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering,he set out for the place GOD told him about.”GOD saw Abraham’s total obedience and willingness to sacrifice Isaac and then the LORD said, “I swear by myself declared the LORD, That because you have done this and not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore . Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”Gen22:15-17.

Brethren, GOD expects us to play our own part through total obedience to his commands so that the covenants he made with us and for us can be fully actualised.  We can learn from father Abraham.

Prayer.

Father,

Thank you so much for the various covenants you made with us and for us.

Grant us the grace to walk in total obedience and the enablement to play our part as expected so that we will be able to fully enjoy the benefits of the covenants.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

COVENANT.docx

BIBLICAL COVENANT

                                                         

THE BIBLICAL  COVENANT 

The biblical Covenant is a sacred and binding agreement between GOD and humanity or specific groups or individuals,establishing a relational bond, spelling out  binding  promises, obligations , terms and signs. and it is often sealed in blood.

It often involves a supreme party (GOD)  establishing terms  with humanity, with specific blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience. It reflects GOD’s unchanging love, faithfulness ,and purpose and it calls for trust and response from us. It is a divine promise backed by GOD’s own character. It can also be defined as a relationship between two  partners who make  binding promises to each  other and work together to reach a common goal. This can be readily illustrated by marriage , a covenantal relationship , which was instituted by GOD , when He said”A man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they shall become one flesh”Gen2:24.

There are many covenants made by GOD with reference to the Bible.

Let us examine  a few examples. 

Gen 9:8-11.-Then GOD said to Noah and to his sons with him :”I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you -the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out  of the ark with you.- every living creature on earth .I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

Gen12:2-3.-The LORD said to Abraham”I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and who ever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Exo19:5-6.-The LORD said to Moses” Now if you  obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

2Sam7:12-13- The  word of the LORD came to Nathan the prophet  for David”The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your  own body, and I will establish his kingdom.” He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

Heb8:6-12- GOD established a new covenant through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, offering forgiveness of sins and eternal life.”But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is a mediator  is superior to the old one, and it is founded on on better promises. The time is coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their GOD ,and they will be my people. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Covenants reveal GOD’s commitment to restoring humanity moving from brokenness of the Old Testament to the fulfillment in the New Testament. They are keys to GOD’s  redemptive plan to restore humanity to its divine calling.

The covenants progressively build upon one another,forming a complete  redemptive storyline.He preserved the world through Noah, initiated redemption through Abraham, established the nation of Israel through Moses and promised an eternal shepherd king through David and then fulfilled all through Jesus. Jesus is the guarantor and mediator  of the new and better covenant. He has become the guarantee of a better covenant.Heb7:22.

When GOD makes a covenant ,it is a promise he confirms with a commitment .For example he made a covenant with Noah after the flood.”I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood ; never  again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”Gen 9:11.

GOD said”I have made a covenant with my chosen,I have sworn to David my servant, I will establish your line forever, and  make your throne firm through all generations. I will maintain my love to him  forever and my covenant with him will never fail.  I will establish his line  forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure .”Ps 89:2-3,28-29.

Brethren, going through the scriptures, these covenants were fulfilled.  Jesus lineage was traced to David. Part of the evidence was when blind Bartimaeus cried out and said.”Jesus, Son of David,have mercy on me!”Mk10:47. Jesus confirmed his Davidic lineage when he said “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the  Offspring of David, and the bright Morning star.”Rev 22:16. The “Root of Jesse “points to the Messiah from David ‘s line -Jesus Christ.

God’s covenants are sacred,sure ,certain, definite, reliable, trustworthy,unchanging, and irrevocable. GOD is a covenant -keeper, he does not break  his covenant nor alter his word. Ps 89: 34. And in actual fact his word does not return unto him empty, but  will accomplish  what he desires, and achieve the

purpose for which it is sent. Isa 55:11. Whatever He promises  will surely be done.

Humans may break their side of the covenant  but GOD remains faithful ,making his promises everlasting and unbreakable. Breaking a covenant creates  a crack in one’s spiritual life and it can lead to a great fall. Example is the case of Eli and his family line that lost the promise of priesthood .The priesthood was revoked because Eli honoured  his sons more than GOD and he failed to  restrain them from the sins he knew about.ISam 2 :30-32.3:11.-14.

You are admonished to remain faithful and obedient so as to be able to keep your own part of the covenant. Be in alignment with GOD, honour him,and be totally obedient to his commands. 

The Bible tells us in Deu7:9”Know therefore  that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations  of those who love him and keep his commands.In other words our role  to play in the agreement is to love  him and keep his commands.To be his treasured possession we have to obey him fully, take care to follow his commands,decrees and laws.

We are reassured that the LORD is trustworthy in all his promises and faithful in all he does.

When his covenant is not being fulfilled in our lives, let us examine our selves and do the needful.

We see that the covenant he made with Abraham our forefather was kept. Abraham obeyed  when GOD 

asked him to  “Go from your country , your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Gen 12:1-2.At the old age of seventy -five years,he obeyed and he set out from Harran with his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot. GOD tested Abraham,and he passed the test by obeying his instructions. GOD said,”Take your son, your only son, whom you love -Isaac-and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you. Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey.  He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering,he set out for the place GOD told him about.”GOD saw Abraham’s total obedience and willingness to sacrifice Isaac and then the LORD said, “I swear by myself declared the LORD, That because you have done this and not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore . Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”Gen22:15-17.

Brethren, GOD expects us to play our own part through total obedience to his commands so that the covenants he made with us and for us can be fully actualised.  We can learn from father Abraham.

Prayer.

Father,

Thank you so much for the various covenants you made with us and for us.

Grant us the grace to walk in total obedience and the enablement to play our part as expected so that we will be able to fully enjoy the benefits of the covenants.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

COVENANT.docx

BIBLICAL COVENANT

BIBLICAL COVENANT

ENCOURAGING THE BROKENHEARTED

            ENCOURAGING  THE  BROKENHEARTED 

“Encouraging “ is giving someone confidence, hope or motivation to do something or face  a challenge.It can be a way of comforting someone by offering hope and support during tough times.

“Brokenhearted “ means feeling extremely sad, hurt or disappointed, often due to a painful  experience. It is like one’s heart is literally broken into pieces. It is a state of feeling extreme sadness or grief.

The brokenhearted are those struggling with emotional  pain ,grief or spiritual dryness. Such people need encouragement, comfort, hope and healing from such wounds.

The scripture encourages the brokenhearted and assures them of support, hope and ways to overcome brokenness of heart.

Let us consider some of the texts in the scripture with reference to the brokenhearted.

Ps34:18-“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Ps147:3 -“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Lk4:18b- Jesus said” He hath sent  me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives.”

Prophet Isaiah prophesied that GOD sent the Messiah/Jesus to bind up the brokenhearted in Isa 61:1 and Jesus confirmed it in Lk 4:18b, that GOD hath sent him to heal the brokenhearted.

Let us consider some of the causes of brokenheartedness.

.Loss of a loved one through death ,separation or divorce.

.Illness ,terminal disease or chronic pain.

. Emotional or physical abuse .

.Betrayal ,disappointment or broken trust.

. Job loss or financial struggles.

.Rejection,loneliness or abandonment.

. Unfulfilled expectations or dreams.

. Stagnation, failure and spiritual struggles.

Let us consider various ways such people can be encouraged.

By reminding them of God’s love and encouraging them to focus on his plans .For  the Bible says “I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Jer 29:11. No matter what they may be passing through, GOD has  a future for them. Reassure them that GOD loves and cares for them.

By encouraging them to pray and also praying with them and assuring them with the word. GOD said”Then you will call upon me and come and pray  to me ,and I will listen to you.” He will be found  when such seek him.Jer29:12 .That they should not be anxious about anything, but in everything,by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving,they should present their requests to GOD.Phi 4:6. They should cast all their anxieties on GOD because he cares for them .1 Peter5:7. Come to me , all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Matt11:28. As GOD spoke to Jeremiah “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do  not know.” Jer 33:3 when he was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, He is saying the same to the brokenhearted. Speaking or reading the portion above will encourage them and give them hope.

By visiting them, listening to them and showing compassion, empathising with them, giving aid, support or assistance in their areas of need.

By giving wise and godly counsel  and assuring them that GOD is greater than whatever challenges they may have or whatever they may be passing through.

Brethren, the brokenhearted need comfort, hope and healing. As believers, we should be able to support, assist and render help in any way we can and remind them always that God’s grace is sufficient for us all , for His power is made perfect in our weakness.The Bible admonishes us to carry each other’s burdens, and in this way we will fulfill the law of Christ.Gal 6:2. Also ,we should encourage the disheartened, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.1Thess5:14b.

Above all, encourage them to maintain a life of gratitude, keeping a thankful heart  in every situation. Help them recognise God’s presence and purpose, and remind them that His goodness transcends temporary hardships. And that in all things they should give thanks for this is the will of GOD in Christ Jesus concerning us all.1Thess5:18. 

Prayer:

The LORD will help us to be able to encourage and give succour to the brokenhearted and as many that are brokenhearted, the LORD will mend their hearts and heal their wounds . They will not die in their affliction in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

.