HERE IS A COVENANT AGREEMENT... 9 COVENANT STEPS...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
We give BIG MO of Alabama a special thanks for the fodder for this lesson.
This is part two of a two part series... This could be taught alone...
Message:
Ephes. 2:11 But don't take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you
outsiders to God's ways
[12] had no idea of any of this, didn't know the first thing about the way God works,
hadn't the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God's
covenants and promises in Israel, hadn't a clue about what God was doing in the
world at large.
[13] Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were
once out of it altogether are in on everything.
TEXT FOR PART TWO:
Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
[15] Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
[16] This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord,
I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
[17] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
[18] Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
[19] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
[20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that
is to say, his flesh;
[21] And having an high priest over the house of God;
[22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
I. WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED IN PART ONE... THIS IS THE FOUNDATION
ON WHICH THIS LESSON IS FORMED...
A. The Covenant of Nature or the Covenant of Works...
B. The Covenant of Mizpah... or the Covenant of the Lord...
C. The Covenant of the Ten Commandments...
D. The Covenant of the RAINBOW...
E. The Covenant of Salt...
F. The Covenant of Marriage
G. THE COVENANT OF GRACE...
I. COVENANT... review from part 1...
A. COVENANT:
A binding contract, compact or agreement between two or more parties.
The first Old Testament Covenant was established between God and Adam.
Then with Abraham in Genesis 15.
B. The Old Testament word for contract or covenant is BERITH.
BERITH comes from a root word: "TO CUT."
This cutting is in reference to CUTTING THE SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL IN TWO PARTS.
Then after the CUTTING OR DIVIDING THE TWO PARTS THE TWO PARTIES WOULD
PASS BETWEEN THE TWO PARTS... THUS ESTABLISHING A COVENANT...
C. The New Testament Greek word for COVENANT is DIATHEKE.
II. LET US ADDRESS THE COVENANT OF FRIENDS...
FOR THIS LESSON WE SHALL GO TO 1 SAMUEL AND STUDY TWO BRAVE
WARRIORS... DAVID AND JONATHAN...
A. David was the son of JESSIE, who was the son of OBED, who was the son of
BOAZ AND RUTH THE MOABITESS... RUTH is known as a FRIEND...
B. SAUL WAS THE FIRST KING OF ISRAEL, HE FAILED THE LORD MISERABLY...
SAUL HAD A SPECIAL SON NAMED JONATHAN...
C. Jonathan and David became special friends... THEY CAME IN A COVENANT
AGREEMENT TOGETHER... This agreement will work even when Jonathan is dead.
1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as
his own soul.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David,
and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
D. These two friends confirmed their friendship several times in a
COVENANT AGREEMENT...
1 Samuel 23:18 And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in
the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
[19] Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself
with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south
of Jeshimon?
E. LET US STUDY THE NINE STEPS OF A FRIENDSHIP COVENANT IN THE BIBLE...
III. THE FIRST PART OF THE COVENANT AGREEMENT WAS THE EXCHANGE OF
COATS...
A. The parties coming into agreement would take off their coats and then exchange
them. Each of the agreeing parties would put on the other man's coat.
B. This coat exchange became a visible token of the coming COVENANT...
2. THE COVENANT PARTIES WOULD THEN EXCHANGE THEIR GIRDLE WHICH
WAS THE BELT ON WHICH THE INDIVIDUALS WEAPONS WERE HANGING...
A. This exchange of weapons demonstrated that the friend would be protected and
served by the power of the other person.
B. This exchange of the BELT and the WEAPONS made a COMMON ALLIANCE
OF SELF-DEFENSE which would take the form of WATCHING OUT AND PROTECTING
THE OTHER NOT COUNTING THE COST...
3. THE COVENANT PARTNERS WOULD STAND BACK TO BACK AND DIVIDE
THE BLOOD SACRIFICE AND THE BLOOD WOULD DRIP AS EACH PERSON
WALKED IN A CIRCLE AND THUS THEY MADE A FIGURE 8...
A. THIS THUS ESTABLISHED HERE AFTER THE INDIVIDUAL WILL NEVER
WALK ALONE...
B. As the blood dripped it left a TESTIMONIAL TRAIL OF BLOOD.
C. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin...
D. 8 steps going up into the TABERNACLE...
David was the 8th son...
On the 8th day the male was circumcised...
JESUS AROSE ON THE EIGHT DAY...
4. THOSE COMING INTO THE COVENANT WOULD RAISE THEIR RIGHT
ARM AND TAKE THE BLOOD OF EACH OTHER AND MINGLE IT TOGETHER...
A. My generation that knows the LONE RANGER, also knows the Lone Ranger's
unusual friend... THE INDIAN --- TONTO... They pricked their fingers and mixed
their blood to be friends...
B. This blood agreement took the covenant to a new level.
5. THIS COVENANT AGREEMENT TOOK PART OF THE OTHER PERSONS
NAME...
A. Sort of like when a lady marries she takes the man's last name...
B. They would at least take a letter from the others name and add it to their
SIGNATURES...
6. THE INTERESTED PARTIES WOULD STATE ORALLY THE TERMS OF
THE COVENANT... ALOUD SO OTHERS COULD HEAR THE AGREEMENT...
A. The covenant agreement was spoken aloud publicly so others could hear
and thus become witness...
B. By speaking the terms not only God heard but so did people.
Quoting the terms of the agreement made clear the purpose.
7. THE INTERESTED PARTIES BROUGHT A LOAF OF BREAD...
THEY DIVIDED THE LOAF OF BREAD AND GAVE 1/2 TO THE OTHER
PERSON... AT WHICH TIME YOU ATE THE OTHER PERSON'S BREAD...
A. There is something special about the connection when you dine with
a friend...
B. The same appetite is satisfied by the covenant partner...
8. THE COMMON SCARS WOULD BE A TESTIMONY OF SURVIVAL SO THAT
THE AGREEMENT STANDS...
A. The scar from the blood would be a permanent testimony...
B. Others could never doubt...
9. THE TWO FRIENDS WOULD DIG A HOLE AND PLANT A TREE...
A. DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS THE TREE'S GROWTH WOULD BE
A TOKEN TO THE COMMUNITY OF THE COVENANT...
B. If the friends never saw each other often, they would carve a note or nail
a message to the tree of how they were doing... the other would read it when
they passed by...
=============================================================
THESE 9 COVENANT STEPS ESTABLISHED A FRIENDSHIP FOREVER...
WOW, HOW POWERFUL...
HANDOUT:=======================================================
NOW LET US SEE HOW JESUS DID IN THESE 9 STEPS TO A COVENANT
FRIENDSHIP RELATIONSHIP FOR YOU AND ME...
I. THE FIRST PART OF THE COVENANT AGREEMENT WAS THE EXCHANGE OF
COATS...
A.Did Jesus exchange coats... ???
B Sure did: He took off the OLD COAT, the flesh and put on the NEW COAT...
THE SPIRITUAL COAT...
C. BELIEVERS HAVE A ROBE OF WHITE...
2. THE COVENANT PARTIES WOULD THEN EXCHANGE THEIR GIRDLES ---
THE BELT ON WHICH THE INDIVIDUALS WEAPONS WERE HANGING...
A. OUR WEAPONS ARE NOT CARNAL... not the fist, sword... love, turn the cheek...
2 Cor. 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the
pulling down of strong holds;)
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that
hall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants
of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the
rising of the sun.
When the enemy shall come in --- like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a
standard against him.
B. WE HAVE THE SWORD OF THE LORD... THE WORD...
THE WORD OF GOD DOES THE WORK OF GOD...
3. THE COVENANT PARTNERS WOULD STAND BACK TO BACK AND DIVIDE
THE BLOOD SACRIFICE AND THE BLOOD WOULD DRIP AS EACH PERSON
WALKED IN A CIRCLE AND THUS THEY MADE A FIGURE 8...
A. THIS THUS ESTABLISHED HERE AFTER THE INDIVIDUAL WILL NEVER
WALK ALONE...
B. As the blood dripped it left a TESTIMONIAL TRAIL OF BLOOD.
C. THE BLOOD FROM THE ALTAR... THE PRIEST WOULD CARRY IN WATER
TO RINSE THE BLOOD AND THE PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE SAW THE BACK
OF THE ALTAR... WHEN THEY SAW THE WATER RINSE AWAY THE BLOOD...
THEY KNEW THE OFFERING WAS FINISHED... AS THE BLOOD CLEARED TO
THE WATER...
D. HIS SIDE WAS PIERCED, OUT FLOWED BLOOD AND WATER...
THE TESTIMONY OF THE FINISHING OF THE OFFERING...
The heart of Mary's son stopped... THE HEART OF GOD PUMPED ON...
4. THOSE COMING INTO THE COVENANT WOULD RAISE THEIR RIGHT
ARM AND TAKE THE BLOOD OF EACH OTHER AND MINGLE IT TOGETHER...
5. THIS COVENANT AGREEMENT TOOK PART OF THE OTHER PERSONS
NAME...
As the blood dripped it left a TESTIMONIAL OF THE POWER OF THE BLOOD.
There is the BLOOD FROM THE CROWN OF THORNS...
The blood from the BEATING OF HIS BACK...
The BLOOD from His hands and feet...
The blood from His side... JESUS PAID IN FULL...
5. THE TWO PARTIES COMING IN AGREEMENT WOULD EXCHANGE NAMES,
OR PART OF NAMES...
A. The Son of God became the SON OF MAN...
B. SO THE SON OF MAN COULD BECOME BECOME THE SONS OF GOD...
6. THE INTERESTED PARTIES WOULD STATE ORALLY THE TERMS OF
THE COVENANT... ALOUD SO OTHERS COULD HEAR THE AGREEMENT...
A. JESUS SPEAKS FORGIVENESS FOR ALL TO HEAR...
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
B. Today you will be WITH ME.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be
with me in paradise.
C. Jesus says: IT IS FINISHED...
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said,
It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
7. THE INTERESTED PARTIES BROUGHT A LOAF OF BREAD...
THEY DIVIDED THE LOAF OF BREAD AND GAVE 1/2 TO THE OTHER
PERSON... AT WHICH TIME YOU ATE THE OTHER PERSON'S BREAD...
A. WHEN THE 12 GATHERED IN THE ROOM, JESUS BREAKS THE BREAD...
THIS IS MY BODY...
B. This is the bread of life...
8. THE COMMON SCARS WOULD BE A TESTIMONY OF SURVIVAL THAT
THE AGREEMENT STANDS...
A. There is ONLY ONE THING MAN MADE IN HEAVEN... THE SCARS
THAT MAN MADE...
B. JESUS' SCARS AND YOUR SCARS ARE A SIGN OF SURVIVAL...
C. MISSIONARY HENRY STANLEY HAD TO REACH AFRICA...
THE TRIBAL CHIEVES REQUIRED STANLEY TO COME INTO THEIR
PRIVATE TENT AND THEY WOULD CUT THEIR ARMS AND THIS OPENED
THE DOORS FOR STANLEY TO REACH AND TEACH... HE CARRIED MANY SCARS...
D. ONE DAY STANLEY CAME ACROSS SOME HEAD HUNTERS AND HE COULD
NOT SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE... BUT HE UNDERSTOOD THEY WERE GOING TO
KILL HIM... HE DECIDED NOT TO FIGHT...
HE TOOK OFF HIS SHIRT AND RAISED HIS ARMS TO HEAVEN...
THE CHIEF SAW STANLEY'S SCARS FROM OTHER CHIEVES...
THE CHIEF SAID: WE BEST NOT HURT THIS MAN LEAST ALL HIS
ALLIANCES WILL COME AND DESTROY US...
E. The tribe listened to Stanley and accepted Jesus as Savior...
F. JESUS REACHES HIS SCARRED HANDS TO THE SCARRED LIFE OF OTHERS...
9. THE TWO FRIENDS WOULD DIG A HOLE AND PLANT A TREE...
A. Yes, Jesus planted a tree on THE PLACE OF THE SKULL... GOLGATHA
B. The story of the THREE TREES...
Oue tree desired to be a TREASURE CHEST for a King...
One tree desired to be a GREAT SHIP AND CARRY A KING ...
One tree wanted to GROW SO TALL THE WHOLE WORLD WOULD SEE IT...
They cut the trees down...
They sawed the little tree and made a MANGER and put it in the barn...
IT HELD JESUS...
The other tree was cut down and made into a small FISHING BOAT...
Jesus taught out of him...
The other tree grew and was cut down and sawn into two pieces...
IT BECAME THE CROSS... for the whole world to know... the tree of Adam
is defeated by the tree of Jesus...
THESE 9 COVENANT STEPS ESTABLISHED A FRIENDSHIP FOREVER...
WOW, HOW POWERFUL...
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
HELP ME, PASS THIS ON?
Pass it on... Thanks BIG MO for the fodder... This is part #2 of 2 parts...
