Open Heavens September 25, 2008

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Isa 61-63

COVENANT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

MEMORIZE: "He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations" (Psalms 105:8)

READ: Genesis 17:9-14

Whenever a bonafide believer partakes of the Holy Communion, the covenant between the fellow and the Lord is renewed. The Holy Communion is an everlasting blood covenant between believers and Jesus Christ. We see a similar thing in today’s reading. The Lord told Abraham, ‘I am entering a covenant with you. It shall be sealed by circumcision. When you carry out circumcision, you will shed blood. I will equally make provision for blood on my part so that a mixture of both will seal up our covenant for ever”. A Covenant relationship is the foundation for blessings. The covenant between God and Abraham provided the basis for the Abrahamic blessings, both for himself and generations after him. Anyone without a covenant relationship with God should not expect God’s blessings.

The covenant between God and Abraham was limited to the children of Israel. The Passover covenant produced several miracles which benefited the children of Israel. God parted the Red Sea and provided a highway for those covered by the covenant, while using the same sea as the burial site for those outside that covenant. You may ask, Why would a miracle bless the Israelites but destroy the Egyptians whom God equally created? Although, God is Creator of both nations, the covenant made the difference. The covenant between God and the Israeli nation made Him to punish, dethrone and kill kings for their sakes. The original inhabitants of the promised land were dispossessed of their inheritance, and were replaced by the Israelites.

Covenant still makes the difference. In a broad sense, there are two categories of people on earth - those in covenant relationship with God and those without such a relationship. God is prepared to do anything for those within His covenant. But among believers, God still makes a difference. Some believers have not gone beyond the normal covenant with God, whereas some have entered high level covenants with the King of kings. God relates with His children according to the covenant that exists between them. In spite of age, position, status or wealth, God defends those who have cut a superior covenant with Him more than those with lesser covenants. In Numbers 12:1-8, God judged Mariam because of Moses for this reason. If you want to be untouchable both by external and internal enemies, step up your covenant relationship with God. Enter into a covenant with your eyes like Job (Job 31:1) and with every part of your body (Roman 12:1). Enter into a covenant of absolute obedience to God like Phinehas (Num. 25:11-13). The more difficult the covenant you cut with God, the higher your heavenly placement or rating.

ACTIONPOINT: Some believers who have struggled with their flesh came to a point where they covenanted with God to make them impotent or strike with paralysis when next they engaged in fornication. Cut your own covenant today!