Covenant with God: “To have and to hold, for better and for worse, till death do us apart…” is that all? Nope, think again!

Any idea what “Covenant with God” really means? Abraham did…

I did not fully grasp or know the meaning of “covenant” until recently when God not only led me to read more about it, but also asked me to start applying it. Faith is being sure of what we hope for (Heb.11) but how can we have faith if we do not know what we hope for? Do you know what it means to be in covenant with God?

So you might already know the basics…

– Covenant is between two parties with the idea that everything that is mine is now yours and vice versa which also means the poorer party obviously benefits.

– It is permanent.

– Till death do you apart.

Right, so what does going into a covenant with God mean?

One of the patriarchs in the Bible, whom I have a huge amount of respect for, is Abraham. He was truly a “faith giant”and took God on His Word, believed God and, as a result, it was accounted to him for righteousness. Because he believed God, he was called a friend of God. Abraham really grasped what it meant to be in covenant with someone and especially with God!! He took it seriously and this was the key to many doors for him. I love what Spurgeon said: “Little faith brings the soul to heaven, but great faith brings heaven to the soul.”

In Genesis 15 God makes a covenant with Abraham (then still Abram) after making three promises to him: That He will be his Shield and very great Reward (v.1), that he will have descendants as many as the stars (v.5) and that Abraham will inherit the land (v.7). The Bible sais Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness (v.5). Abraham asked a sign from God and God made a covenant with Abraham to show how serious He was. (You can read the rest of Gen.15 for yourself).

Lets look at what covenant entailed in the Old Testament. In a nutshell, partners who went in covenant with each other would:

– Exchange coats = which was symbolic for authority

– Exchange weapons = as if to say: your enemies are my enemies and your battles I will fight as if they were m
ine.

– walk through the blood of slain animals = pronouncing loyalty to one another even to death.

Abraham saw the fruits of this covenant with God. They had a very special relationship. So what does this mean for you today?

The New Covenant is the promise that God makes with humanity that HE WILL FORGIVE SIN and RESTORE FELLOWSHIP  with those whose hearts are turned toward Him. Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant, and His death on the cross is the basis of the promise. (Luke 22:20)

The Blood covenant with Jesus in the New Testament – when I give my EVERYTHING to Him, in return He gives me His EVERYTHING:

– His Name = (John 16:23) Whatever you ask in Jesus Name, the Father will give you…Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

– His Authority = (Matt.28:18-20) All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. And He lives in us!

– His Armour and weaponry = (Eph.6:10-17) Our enemies are now His enemies and our battles He will fight as if they were His own. The difference is 2000 years ago the battle was already won, Hope is alive and therefore if God is for us then who can really be against us?? Nobody!

Read this again, think about it. Do you now realise how powerful Covenant with God can be if you know what it means?? If you truly walk in it, BELIEVE it like Abraham and receive it for you and your family? The Bible sais “My people perish because of a lack of knowledge!”(Hos.4:6, Prov.10:21, Prov.5:23, Job.36:12) Its the same with the blessings in Deut. 28:1-14. We don’t believe therefore we don’t receive. Faith is being sure of what we HOPE FOR. We do not know yet what to hope for so these things can just not be activated. Faith activates the Kingdom. This is why it is so important to study this powerful Tool and beautiful Love Letter – the Bible. To worship God in Spirit and in TRUTH (John 4:23-24)!

Abraham knew very well what covenant meant those days, and when God went in covenant with him, he took it seriously.

So should we….

That in Jesus Name, through His Authority in and through us, dressed with His armour and weaponry and knowing full well that our battle’s are now His battles and our enemies – His enemies.

Our EVERYTHING in exchange for His EVERYTHING. In this case we are the poorer party and, by the looks of it, we will definitely benefit most. If we would just BELIEVE…

And so, our hearts cry out – Behold what manner of love the Father has lavished on us… (1John3:1)