Bible Message – Week 28.  Our Identity In A Covenant God. Pst. Johan Venter

Covenant
  • Week 28
  • Scripture Reading: – Rev 3:14
  • Topic: – The Church That Makes Jesus Sick . . . A Church with NO PASSION!

Our Identity In A Covenant God.

Matt 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 

Act 22:8 And I [Paul] answered, Who art thou, Lord? And He said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Even the demons know who Jesus is! 

Luke 4:41 

and devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And He rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that He was Christ. 

1 Pet 2:9 

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Who is Jesus to you?

To explain Him is impossible! To ignore Him is disastrous! To refuse Him is fatal! You have to understand the covenant in order to understand your Identity. You first have to DIE to yourself before you can start to LIVE! Gal 2:20

God called Gideon by what he was to become. The Lord is with you . . . but he looked more than a coward. 1 Cor 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

2 Cor 5:17 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. “I have created inside of you everything you need to succeed”. 

God promised that His presence and power will be with us, in us. God called him [Gideon] at the same altar where they have offered up to God. Next to the false gods, ‘the battle is on’. God specialises in making weak things strong.

Job 42:5 

I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You. 6 Therefore I retract [my words and hate myself] and I repent in dust and ashes.” 

It is not how well you KNOW your Bible, how many times you have read it, but do you know the AUTHOR of the Bible?

Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem! 

The crowd thought that Jesus would become an earthly King and deliver them from the Roman oppression. Who is Jesus to you? Don’t let your CULTURE keep you from serving or receiving from God. 

1 Cor 1:22 

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 

Don’t compromise with the World! Your ACTIONS should bring a CHANGE!

1 Cor 2:4 

and [my speech] and [my preaching] were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Your Identity is not in a man but in Jesus Christ. 

Your VALUE is not in WHAT you have, but . . . WHO [Jesus] is INSIDE of you! 

Here are some of those Covenant Promises:

  • To forgive our sins and cleanse us from them. (1 John 1:9)
  • To give us eternal life and an inheritance in the kingdom of God. (John 3:16; Matthew 25:34)
  • To prepare a place for us in heaven. (John 14:1–3)
  • To raise our bodies from the grave. (1 Corinthians 11)
  • To return to the earth to recreate the heavens and the earth as our eternal home. (2 Peter 3:1–13)
  • Never to leave us nor forsake us. (Matthew 28:20)
  • To provide for our needs. (Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6:33)
  • To heal our bodies. (James 5:13–16)
  • To guide us. (Psalm 32:8)
  • To deliver us from satan’s power. (Colossians 1:13; Ephesians 6:10–18)
  • To answer our prayers of faith in accordance with his will. (1 John 5:14–15)
  • To adopt us as His children. (Ephesians 1:5)
  • To reward us for serving and obeying Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Covenants of God

1. Edenic Covenant

God wanted man to RULE. [Gen 2:15, Ps 8:6]

Adamic Covenant Genesis 1:26-30, Genesis 2:16-17, Genesis 3:15

This covenant is general in nature and between God and Himself [man]. The man was commanded to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God promised judgement for sin and promised future provision [Jesus] for His redemption.

2. Noahic Covenant Genesis 9:11

This covenant was made between God and Noah just after Noah and his family left the ark. God promised to never destroy the world by a flood again. He included His sign of faithfulness – a rainbow.

3. Abrahamic Covenant Genesis 12:1-3, Romans 4:11 [Restoration]

This is an unconditional covenant made between God and Abraham. God promised blessings to Abraham and promised to make his family into a great nation. This blessing also included blessings on others who blessed them and curses on those who cursed them. 

The sign of circumcision was given to Abraham as a demonstration of his faith in God’s covenant. The fulfilment of this covenant is seen in the creation of the nation of Israel and in Jesus coming from the line of Abraham.

4. Palestinian Covenant Deuteronomy 30:1-10 [RETURNING to God]

This is an unconditional covenant made between God and Israel. God promised to scatter Israel if they disobeyed God and to restore them later to their land. It has been fulfilled twice (Babylonian Captivity/Rebuilding of Jerusalem and Destruction of Jerusalem/Reinstatement of the nation of Israel.)

5. Mosaic Covenant Deuteronomy 11 [God REVEALING Himself]

This is a conditional covenant where God promised the Israelites that He would bless them and curse them for their disobedience and promised to bless them when they repent and return to Him. We can see this covenant broken and restored repeatedly throughout the Old Testament. Keep Commandments. [Conditionally]

6. Davidic Covenant 2 Samuel 7:8-16, Luke 1:32-33, Mark 10:77 [REIGNING with God]

This is an unconditional covenant where God promises to bless the family line of David. He assured David that he would have an everlasting kingdom. This was fulfilled in Jesus, who was a descendant of David.

7. New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31-34, Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:15 [REGENERATE] (Reformed, rebirth)

In this covenant, God promises man that He would forgive sin and have an unbroken relationship with His chosen people. This covenant was initially made with the nation of Israel and it was later extended to include the Church. This is fulfilled in the work of Christ. [Our IDENTITY]

Christ has accomplished what the Old Covenant could not.

Because of His [Christ’s] blood, His death, Christ has accomplished what the Old Covenant could not. Therefore, He has been set as the Mediator for a New [Better] Covenant, His sacrifice has achieved what the many sacrifices of the Old Testament could not, for He effectuated “the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first” (Hebrews 9:15).

Old Covenant [Blood of ANIMALS]

  1. It was mediated by Moses (Exodus 19; John 1:17; Galatians 3:19).
  2. It was conditional (Deuteronomy 28).
  3. It could not produce the necessary righteousness (Hebrews 8:8).
  4. It was written on dead stones (Exodus 32:15).

New Covenant [Blood of JESUS] 

Luke 22:20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. 

  1. It is mediated by Christ (Hebrews 9:15; John 1:17).
  2. It is unconditional (Hebrews 8:9)
  3. It can produce the necessary righteousness (Hebrews 8:11).
  4. It is written on living hearts (Hebrews 8:10).
  5. Our Position in Christ [Ephes 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus]
  6. We received His Name [In My Name . . . ]
  7. We are HIDDEN in Christ [Col 3:3 for you died, and your life [Identity] is hidden with Christ in God.]

Old Testament Covenant Steps:

  • Step 1: The Exchange of Coats [We are Clothed in His Righteousness] 1 Cor 1:30
  • Step 2: The Exchange of Weapons [Our weapons are not carnal . . .] 2 Cor 10:4-5
  • Step 3: Cutting the Covenant [Jesus died for us, voluntary] John 10:18
  • Step 4: Cutting Hands & Mixing the Blood [Jesus’ hands, feet and Body were bruised]
  • Step 5: Exchange of Names [We will receive a new name…] Rev 2:17, 3:12
  • Step 7: They gave the Terms of their Covenant [Conditionally] Hebr 8:9
  • Step 8: They ate a Memorial Meal [Covenant Meal in Jesus Christ]
  • Step 9: They Planted a Memorial to their Covenant [Cross, Empty Grave, a Memorial]

Sam 18:1-4 

“The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. Then Jonathan and David made (cut) a covenant because they loved him as his own soul. 

And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armour, even to his sword and his bow and his belt” [Mephibosheth, – Lo Debar, 2 Sam 9:13

Covenant mean – ‘To Cut’. David saw Mephibosheth through the eyes of the covenant he had made with Jonathan before he was killed. 

Your enemy has no Covenant! Our Identity is in the Finished Work of the Cross, in a God who gave us a New [Better] Covenant in Jesus Christ!

May God bless His Word

Pst. J Venter

The Author: Pastor Johan Venter

From: Impact Pentecostal Ministries

Pastor Johan Venter was born in 1961 and grew up in Odendaalsrus (Freestate) where he matriculated. Whereafter he attended the Police Force College for 2 years in Pretoria and served in the Army for 2 years during which Johan met his wife Charmaine. 

Between 1997 and 1999 Johan and Charmaine completed Pastoral training at the Christian Revival Church Bible School under the leadership of Pastor At Boshoff. Over the years they both faithfully served in various Ministries until 2019, when God led them to ‘step out of the boat’ and start the “Impact Pentecostal Ministries” in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. 

They currently host the Church service at La Gratitude Home for the Aged every Friday morning. They are truly blessed and grateful for God’s Grace and are excited to see what God is going to do for the ministry in the future.

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