The Covenant
Titus 1:5, For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking…
What enabled…
Abraham to have an unquestionable trust
Moses to have unwavering faith
Elijah to have unconventional boldness
Daniel to have uncommon courage
David to offer unhindered worship
Prophets to speak with an unusual authority
Paul to live an uncompromising life
“They all understood what it meant to live in covenant with the Almighty God.”
Kingdom and Covenant
We are not at a disadvantage, because the Holy Spirit is the “great equalizer” of truth.
Psalm 25:14 [NKJV], The secret of the Lord is with those who fear [honor and respect] Him, and He will show them His covenant.
Q—“What is a covenant?”
“A covenant is a binding, unbreakable obligation between two parties, based on unconditional love, sealed by blood and a sacred oath, that creates a relationship in which each party is bound by specific responsibilities on each other’s behalf. The parties in the covenant place themselves under the penalty of divine punishment should they later attempt to avoid those responsibilities. A covenant is a relationship that can only be broken by death.”
“Covenant of Marriage”
The Bible makes it very clear that the idea of “cutting covenant” has its origin in the heart and mind of God.
Seven Essential Elements of a Covenant
1. The Representative
The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is not only our Substitute, but He is also the Guarantee of the new covenant. [Hebrews 7:22]
2. The Oath
A covenant goes way beyond the exchange of properties and goods, because it is “the giving of one’s whole self to another.”
Psalm 89:34 [NKJV], My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.
3. The Promise
Genesis 9:12-17 [TPT], “Here is a sign for you and future generations that my loving covenant will endure between me and you… 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth, and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant with you…” 17 So God said to Noah, “The rainbow is my signature in the sky, my seal of love to confirm that I have kept my covenant between me and every living thing on earth.”
4. The Sacrifice
In covenant there is always the “shedding of blood.”
5. The Seal
Isaiah 49:16 [AMP], “Indeed, I have inscribed [a picture of] you on the palms of My hands…”
6. The Meal
Luke 22:14-20 [NLT], When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. 15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” 19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
7. The Memorial