Sermon Central
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God Commands A Blessing
Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Sep 28, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: Many of God's people do not understand their covenant rights through the blood of Jesus. Many do not even understand how good the old covenant was - and how much better the new one is. There are blessings that God wants His children to access so that they
God Commands the Blessing
NEW COVENANT BLESSINGS
ROMANS 8:31 – 39 - What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall He not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay a charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The apostle Paul shares wonderful truths with us in Romans 8, especially in the above verses.
We can sum these up as follows:
• If God be for us, who can be against us ?
• Who shall bring a charge against God's people ?
• Who can condemn us ?
• Who shall separate us from His love ?
• In all these things, more than conquerors
THE NEW IS BETTER THAN THE OLD
This is an awesome message to the Lord's people - it is revelation that all believers should take hold of and embrace. These principles are enshrined in our covenant with Jesus, which is better than the covenant God made with Abraham.
Hebrews 8:6 - But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
THE OLD COVENANT WAS GREAT!
These are the minimum blessings:
• God changed Abraham's name
God changed Abraham's name from Abram. A name is important - it always reflects who and what you are. The name "Abraham" means "father of many nations."
Under the new covenant, Jesus has given us His name. It is the name above all names - at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. In His name, every work of the devil is brought under subjection. The name of Jesus has authority over sin, sickness, poverty and demon spirits.
There is an old Pentecostal song that goes like this - "There's a new written down in glory, and it's mine, Oh yes it's mine." Because your name is linked with the name of Jesus under the new covenant, it is written in the Lamb's book of life, ensuring eternal life.
• God gave Abraham great possessions
Abraham had great wealth, many possessions and was very prosperous indeed. He was well respected by the kings in the land and enjoyed the favour of God and man.
But this was the blessing of the old covenant - our covenant is based on better promises. Think about it - better wealth, better possessions, better prosperity.
• God blessed Abraham's seed
God promised Abraham (under the old covenant), that these blessings would be inherited by his descendants. God said "I will make your seed as the stars of heaven"
Remember, under the old covenant, God promised a blessing up to the third and fourth generation. It meant that any man or woman of God, who served God faithfully, could believe that God would pass these covenant blessings on to the children, grand-children as well as the great-grandchildren.
But the new covenant blessings are based on even better promises. These blessings are applicable today - the blood of Jesus has power to ensure that our children will be saved and touched by the power of the blood, up to the fourth generation.
I have seen parents sow many tears for their children, so that they could come to know Jesus. However, let us trust in the covenant of Jesus, which is based on better promises - let us trust that the Lord will not permit our children to go to a lost eternity. We may not see their conversion in our lifetime, but God's Word is sure!
THE NEW COVENANT IS BETTER!
We can now understand Romans 8:31 - 39 is part of our new covenant blessings. We can say with confidence:
• If God be for us, who can be against us ?
• Who shall bring a charge against God's people ?
