By Revd J.O. Adeboye
Text: Gen. 12:1-7; 15:1-end
What is a covenant?
Intentional spiritual friendship or relationship
Legal agreement between 2 or more parties
To come together, to agree
Benefits
- Gives deeper understanding of the bible
- Understand that everything God does is based on covenants
- Better understanding with the covenant with Jesus
- Gives assurance, freedom and power
- Elicit attitude of grateful to God and Jesus
- Accountability and responsibility
- Transforms your life
Types
- Parity agreement – between equals e.g. Rehab and 2 spies, David and Jonathan, Abraham and Abimelech, marriages agreement. God however supervises every covenant.
- Suzerain-vassal treaty – e.g. between superpower and their allied nations.
Rules that governs covenants
- No alliance is allowed with other nations
- No enmity is allowed with another vassal state.
- Vassal must mobilise the army when called upon by the Suzerain
- Vassal loyal to the Suzerain
- No asylum to refugee from non-vassal states
- Vassal must appear before the Suzerain annually with tribute (Deut. 16:16)
- Disputes between vassal must be settle by the Suzerain
- Blessings and curses follow covenants
- Usually a solemn ceremony of cutting an animal
God covenant with Abrahamic Covenant is in chapter 12. The ceremony is chapter 15 and the token in chapter 17.
Features
- Promise of Land – inheritance was given (Heb. 11:6; 13:15; 15:18; 17:8).
- Promise of descendants (exalted father to father of multitudes).
- Promise of been a blessing to nations
- Covenant ceremony (Gen. 15).
God covenant and you
Jesus came and shed His blood, which contain the new covenant.
Lk. 22:19-20
What are our responsibilities?
- Being born again
- Committed member of house of God
- Renunciation of every other covenants
Following these, you should also observe the following:
You must be baptised in water (Col. 2:11)
You must be part of the Sacrament of the Holy Communion.
God is not a man
Text: Num. 23: 1-20
Jehovah is interest in blessing us, this is easy by Covenant. Most time, God enact covenants with His people so He can bless them. The teaching of God is not a man readily tell us two things:
1. Assurance
2. Caution
Assurance
The manner of God with whom we have cut covenant:
God is not a man.
What ways is He different?
- He cannot lie Num. 23:19; I Sam. 15:29.
- He can’t repent i.e. No sudden change of mind.
- He does not see as man sees (I Sam.16:6-7). Don’t look at yourself from the viewpoint of men.
- His works are perpetual.
- God does not break covenants Ps. 89:34-35
- God is unlimited in His abilities. Lk 1:37, Mt 19:26, Rom. 4:18-21
Caution
God warned Israel as they go to Canaan. We too must be warned today as He enters into covenant with us:
– Do not forget The Lord.
– Let not your heart be lifted up in pride.
– Do not attribute your success to your strength or ability.
– Remember The Lord. Dt. 32:16-18
Psalm 106:8-12 – the wonderful deeds of God, 13-43 – the atrocities of Israel.
Delivered on May 3rd 2014
