WE HAVE A COVENANT FATHER
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Foundation Scriptures:
Psalms 111:9; Jeremiah 31:31-33
He has sent redemption to His people;
He has commanded His covenant to be forever; holy is His name,
inspiring awe, reverence, and godly fear. Psalms 111:9 AMP
Behold, the days are coming, says the
Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with
the house of Judah, 32 Not according to the covenant which I made with
their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out
of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was
their Husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant which I will
make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord, I will
put My law within them, and on their hearts will I write it; and I will
be their God, and they will be My people. Jeremiah 31:31-33 AMP
1. We have a covenant Father. He has made promises that He will never, ever break.
Adam
Abraham; Isaac; Jacob (Genesis 15:18; Genesis 17:1-21)
Moses (Exodus 2:24-25; Exodus 6:4-5; Exodus 19:5; Exodus 24:7-8; Exodus 34:27-28;
David etc. through Jesus to us (Psalms 98:3; Isaiah 55:3)
2. The Father loves man so very much—He has chosen to be in
relationship with us and interact with us. He makes covenant provision
for us and gives us the choice to accept it. He gives us choices and
even tells us which is the right and good choice that will bring the
blessing.
Noah and the Ark (Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:9-17)
Abraham and Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:17-19)
Solomon and wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-14)
3. Come let us reason together.
Come now, and let us reason together,
says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like
wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the
land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the
sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. Isaiah 1:18-20 AMP
Jesus came to bridge the gap between God and man —to show us the Father. Colossians 1:20 AMP - And
God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him
[the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself,
whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace
by means of the blood of His cross.
He sent the Holy Spirit to make us one with Him. 1 John 4:13 AMP - By
this we come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we
abide (live and remain) in Him and He in us: because He has given
(imparted) to us of His [Holy] Spirit.
Work out your own contract with God.
He is waiting to hear from you.
4. Things you need to know about your Father.
This covenant is sealed in the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 9:12-14 AMP - He
went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies [of heaven], not by virtue
of the blood of goats and calves [by which to make reconciliation
between God and man], but His own blood, having found and secured a
complete redemption (an everlasting release for us). 13 For if [the
mere] sprinkling of unholy and defiled persons with blood of goats and
bulls and with the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the
purification of the body, 14 How much more surely shall the blood of
Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent
divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to
God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to
serve the [ever] living God?
This covenant cannot fail. Psalms 103:17-18 AMP - But
the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord are from everlasting to
everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, and
His righteousness is to children’s children--18 To such as keep His
covenant [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it] and to those who
[earnestly] remember His commandments to do them [imprinting them on
their hearts].
This covenant has over 30,000 promises.
This covenant favors you—the recipient—to receive His grace and favor,
because of Calvary—the Cross, the Resurrection and Pentecost.
For I will be leaning toward you with
favor and regard for you, rendering you fruitful, multiplying you, and
establishing and ratifying My covenant with you. Leviticus 26:9 AMP
Now may the God of peace [Who is the
Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead
our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that
sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament), 21
Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and
equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while
He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His
sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever
and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it). Hebrews 13:20-21 AMP
Recent:
Righteous Now
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
“Therefore if any man be in Christ…” What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” You are baptized into Christ when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” And Romans 10:13 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The moment
Defeating Strife
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP
Faith Facts
Faith is persistent
Luke 11:9-10 AMP
So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
John 16:24 AMP
Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
Faith is single-minded
James 1:5-8 AMP
If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the