21
Feb '21
Live Like a Champion – (Week 8)
21
Feb '21
“The Promise of a Covenant”
INTRODUCTION:
I have learned that I cannot just assume that everyone knows what the Bible says, especially if they have not grown up in church. I also know that I am not supposed to just take the word of the preacher/teacher/evangelist/scholar, but I need to dig in and find out what the Bible is saying and how it applies to my life! That’s all part of knowing the playbook, training to be in shape, listening to our Coach (God) and deciding to play as a team, working with each other to build the Kingdom of God. So, much like Vince Lombardi did with the Green Bay Packers in 1961 when he took the pigskin and said, “Gentlemen, this is a football,” I am here to tell you, ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages…This is a Bible. It is God’s instruction manual, the playbook for our lives. And we need to know it forwards and backwards if we are to be able to be the team that God has called us to be to bring Him glory in everything we do.
Today’s memory verse comes at the end of a familiar story we may have heard in Sunday School. If not, here is the Cliffs Notes version…God talks to Noah: Build a boat. Noah builds a boat and warns everyone of coming flood. About 70 years later, ark is complete and God brought the animals. Noah and fam go into the ark and God closes the door. Rains came down – 40 days and nights, floods came up and covered the whole earth with water. From start to finish, they were in the Ark for over a year. It was here, upon their exit, they are charged with replenishing the earth and God made a covenant with Noah, his family and every living creature and the future generations, using the rainbow as a reminder of it.
So, what is a covenant? A covenant is defined as a strong, solemn agreement between two parties. In modern day terms, we would call that a contract. Sadly, we know all too well that many people enter into a contract and will either break the contract or find a loophole to get out of it.
However, in the biblical sense, it means something even more involved.
-
- Covenants make two into one. When two parties make a covenant in the Bible, they are joined together and identified with each other. At every covenant’s core, there is a change in relationship.
- Covenants involve promises. A practical agreement like not harming one another or protecting one another, or not to obliterate a weaker people group.
- Covenants involve families and bloodlines. In the Bible, two parties may make a covenant that is intended to last for generations. The following generations are automatically included in the covenant, and they share in the duties and benefits.
- Covenants are spiritually charged. They call God as witness. Covenants are taken seriously, and for good reason: two people are joining together based on little more than their words. They trust a divine being to hold them accountable.
- Covenants are not easily broken. The people making covenants often slaughter animals to demonstrate what should happen to the one who breaks the covenant. To break a covenant is a serious thing, it’s a bond that God Himself holds people to.
There are two types of covenants in the Bible: between two people (Jacob & Laban, David & Jonathan, and marriage); and between God and Man – Some of which are completely unconditional: they’re not sustained by human performance. (His covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15, doesn’t require anything from Abraham), while others require mankind to follow things to the letter of the law.
But Ken, we no longer live under the law, because Jesus came to fulfill it. YES, that is true. BUT the Law is a tutor that taught us two things: (1) God is holy and expects His people to be holy, and (2) we cannot live up to His standards. The Law makes it clear that we need a savior.
It is important to realize the emphasis placed in this new covenant. The phrase “declares the Lord” or “says the Lord” is made nine (9) times, emphasizing that this is a promise directly from the lips of a loving Father God. These verses are repeated in the New Testament by the writer of Hebrews in chapter 8, verses 8-13. The New Covenant would bring about the uniting of Israel and Judah, restoring the original covenant kingdom that had been torn apart, AND bringing in anyone who accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior to be children of God, adopted into God’s family and gives new life! (Galatians 3:21; 3:29; 4:5-6)
Matthew Henry says in his commentary: “God will renew his covenant with them, so that all these blessings they shall have, not by providence only, but by promise, and thereby they shall be both sweetened and secured… it is a better covenant (Hebrews 8:6), a more clear and comfortable dispensation and discovery of the grace of God to sinners, bringing in holy light and liberty to the soul. It is without fault, well ordered in all things. It requires nothing but what it promises grace to perform.”
1) If we are to know the playbook, we have to read it and follow the instructions for ourselves.
*Folder of Instruction Manuals. “Read all instructions before using or assembling”
*The Bible… “What is this?” (The Bible) “What are you supposed to do with it?” (Read it!)
Keep it and Meditate on it!
O.T…“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8
N.T…“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
ILLUSTRATION: Make a PB & J sandwich
2) If we are to train to be in shape, we have to set up reminders.
- I am a list maker!
- I use my phone to set up reminders of upcoming meetings and events.
Put it where you and others can see it.
O.T…“Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.” Proverbs 6:21-22 (This echoes Deuteronomy 6:7; 11:19)
N.T… “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17
3) Listen to the Coach, because communication is key!
A coach is hired because of their experience, skills and how they are able to inspire the players to do their best. If you have watched any football games or been to our local high school game, you will always see the coach has someone up above the field communicating what they are seeing from up there, because it is not always clear on ground level. The coach is then able to signal the play that he wants the quarterback to carry out. Communication is VITAL!
God has the best vantage point for what is going on in our world. Jesus came to restore the relationship and the communication lines between us and God. And the Holy Spirit is the “in-ear monitor” so that we can hear what God is wanting us to do. The devil may be trying to cause static or even be trying to whisper in the other ear to distract us. But when we focus on the voice that we know wants only the very best for us, then we are able to block out all the “noise” and carry out the plan.
Listen & Obey…
O.T… “You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.” Deuteronomy 5:32-33
N.T… “And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:38
4) If we are to work as a team, we need to show everyone Who’s team we are playing on!
Children’s song: “When we all work together”
* For fellow believers to see:
O.T… “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
N.T… “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
* For the world to see:
O.T… “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14
N.T…“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter 3:15
Today’s message could have been called “The Promise of a Promise”, but sadly, the word promise has lost is true meaning. All to quickly, we hear “promises were made to be broken” or “that was only if you did what you said you were going to do for me.” That is why we need to restore the meaning of God’s promises to carry the weight they were originally intended to carry…God said, I believe it, and that settles it. God made a covenant with Abraham, and despite all that mankind did to break that covenant, God sent His Son, Jesus, as the new and improved covenant, bringing us the opportunity for restoration in our relationship with God.
We are offered the free gift of grace and salvation by simply confessing our sins, asking Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, and then listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit so that we can become the child of God that we are called to be! That can only happen when we know the Bible (playbook), put it into practice by getting our hearts and minds in shape with it, listening and obeying the Holy Spirit (God’s voice) and showing everyone which team we are playing for by not only our words, but by our actions.
You now have an open invitation to respond at your seats or come to the altar area to make either a renewal of your covenant or a first time commitment to be all in for Jesus.
Benediction:
Paul writes in Romans 15:5-6: “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
You can listen to the message here:
You can watch the message by clicking HERE.
Resource:
https://overviewbible.com/covenant (endorsed by Logos)