Living in the Covenant
Gen 15:9-18 (covenant healing)
Lev 16:5-24 (Christ & scapegoat)
1 Sam 18:3-4, 23:18 ( Jonathan & David)
“Cut” a Covenant – requires cost
Genesis 15:26 – healing covenant, we get healed by covenant, we must raise our level of faith because it is a covenant and is right here in the bible. But, in covenant, blood has to flow. This is how it played out in the Old Testament, over and over. Jonathan and David tell this story well.
We have done a poor job of understanding the power of covenant. OT – old covenant. NT – new covenant.
1 Samuel – Jonathan & David; we are sons of covenant, marriage is a current example of covenant
Christ & His Bride Church
Man & woman in marriage
Each requires the shedding of blood.
Covenant is a commitment that goes beyond any other commitment. It is endless.
Body = Temple
Holy Communion, critical to covenant. Study this.
When we touch the sick, they become healed rather than us catching what they have. This is the new covenant. Bill Johnson talks about this.
When we speak, we release the covenant. Luke 15
We must believe that we are in covenant.
Covenants (types)
1) Covenant of Equals
a. Blood brothers
b. Benefit to both
c. Eg husband and wife
d. Jonathan and david, but jonathan and david were not supposed to be equals. Jonathan was a prince. David was nothing.
e. Jesus did this too. He made Himself man, one of us.
f. One becomes equal to another in order to win them over
2) Unconditional Convenant
a. King dictates the covenant
b. Psalms 89:34-25
c. He dictates a reward for the loyal, faithful servant for exceptional service rendered to him
3) Conditional Convenant
a. Regulates the relationship between a great king w/absolute right of sovereignty and a subject who has to show himself loyal to the king. The higher participant is termed “lord” while the lesser is termed servant.
i. God >>> Abraham
ii. Gen15:7-11
b. Ministry of healing wont flourish when servant decides that he is the healer.
c. It doesn’t matter whether a person gets healed. Leave it to the boss.
d. “I am nobody who can tell everybody about somebody who can heal anybody”
e. Jesus IS the healer.
f. This realization breaks the yoke of the fear of man. It is not us who heals. Just go pray and let God do what He does.
g. As servants, we surrender – anything He wants, He gets.
Cutting Covenants (steps)
1) Count the Cost
a. Don’t enter into lightly
b. It is a total commitment
c. Count cost of healing ministry
d. Jesus did this when he went to Calvary.
e. Think of John G. Lake, Smith Wigglesworth, etc. They all had great costs.
f. Jonathan did this too. He put down the king and his father at the risk of his life for a covenant with david.
g. Make your decision. Whatever it is God, You got it.
2) Covenant Exchanges
a. Jonathan & David exchanged robes, belts and weapons
i. Eg today Husband and wife exchange rings
b. Transactions were very significant
i. Robes – picture of exchange of identity
1. Jesus did this with us
2. He took our Sin upon Himself so that we could wear His robe of righteousness
ii. Belts – symbol of strength
1. Held the weapon
2. Jesus took our weaknesses so that we put on His strength
iii. Weapons – symbol of enemy
1. We exchange enemies
2. Jonathan’s sword for David’s sling
3. My enemy becomes yours and vice versa.
3) Cutting Covenant
a. Covenants always made before God
b. Zechariah – when Jesus appears, the mark of the scars will still be there
c. Must be blood shedding
4) Covenant of Signs
a. Jonathan and David made a sign of their covenant by sharing blood.
5) Covenant Meal
a. Wedding feast
b. Last supper
c. I give myself to you is the message.