The Eternal Covenant
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Introduction (5 Minutes)
Introduction
Introduction
As we begin, let me take a moment to pray for Pastor Theresa.
And now lets begin with God expressing who He is.
For those of you that have experienced an encounter with Jesus Christ in your life, you have already come to know this and have accepted the with that Jesus Christ of Nazareth has done for you. But there may be some of you listening that don’t yet believe that God is who He says He is.
The God of Creation
The God of Creation
We can know about God by looking at His creation Romans 1:19–20
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
One of the ways God reveals Himself to us is through this natural physical world He has placed us in.
God spoke and established the world we live in Genesis 1:28
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
But who were the them God was speaking to? It was the man and woman He created.
In God’s creation, he created them to multiply, and we are from them continuing with the drive to multiple.
The Eternal God
The Eternal God
It is not easy for us to get this concept of eternity.
Our lives are very short in comparison.
While our world has existed, scientists say for millions of years
The apostle John describes Jesus Christ of Nazareth in John 1:1-14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
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11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Word, the God of creation, took on flesh and dwelled among us.
As He did, He demonstrated God’s will toward us in Acts 10:34-44
There are many places we could read to see this, but one of the most profound is when Peter was called to the House of Cornelius who was a Roman Centurion.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
God’s plan is not only for the Jewish people. They do occupy a special place in God’s plan, but Salvation through Jesus Christ is available to all who will believe.
The Covenant with Noah
The Covenant with Noah
God’s description of Man living his life on the earth begins in Genesis 6:1 says
1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
Procreating, having children and raising a family is an innate part of our being. This desire to procreate and build a family is innate, hardwired, and simply a characteristic of who we are. We naturally want this.
There is an opposing culture that says that children are a burden, the say:
we are overpopulating the earth.
we should limit our families to one or two children, if we have any at all.
that we cannot achieve or highest and best purpose if we have children or that we must delay having them.
3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
God has set limits on the time we have living on this earth.
God has described the way we should live on the earth.
We all have free will.
We can choose how we want to live.
And that choice follows us into eternity where we will live together with God or forever be separated from Him.
The lot of man as long as we live in our bodies on the earth is in Galatians 5:16-17
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Who is the Enemy
Who is the Enemy
Spiritual forces acting through people
Who is this enemy? It is people living together in our generation.
We read earlier, Romans 1:19 “19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.”
and Romans 1:20 “20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
There is a spirit realm, and that is where God lives. He is not seen directly, but He is seen through His creation, through visions, through dreams
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
God is Righteousness
God is Righteousness
He desires for us to live in righteousness
The earth is the Lords, and it is our inheritance as the meek, and read Psalm 24:1
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.
But what does it mean to live in righteousness is, lets read the rest of that chapter.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, That seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
These receive Righteousness from the God of their salvation because God is Righteous.
These who stand in his holy place:
have clean hands - Represents outward actions
have a pure heart - Represents inward character
have not not lifted up his soul unto vanity
Hosea 4:8 (KJV 1900) “They eat up the sin of my people, And they set their heart on their iniquity.”
have not sworn deceitfully
They turn toward good and turn away from evil.
Righteousness Defined
Righteousness Defined
God is Righteous as it says in Psalm 145:17.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, And holy in all his works.
God is Righteous, God is Holy, there is no darkness in Him.
All we know about moral uprightness, ethical behavior, and social justice come from Him. Our knowledge and ability to live righteous lives begins with a proper relationship with God. Which means we “do righteousness at all times” Psalm 106:3.
3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, And he that doeth righteousness at all times.
Blessed are they that keep judgement.
Blessed are they that keep judgement.
In the garden, Adam and Eve, had the choice to trust God and honor the great gift He had given them in Genesis 1:28.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
They had God’s blessing and dominion over every living thin on the earth.
The one limitation He placed on them. There was only one “Don’t” in Genesis 2:17
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Adam and Eve placed the input of their senses above the Word of God in Genesis 3:6
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
They took the word of the deceiver, the devil and took on themselves, the discernment of good and evil based on their senses. The were now separated from God.
Our actions, our choices between good and evil, between the holy and the profane are driven by our flesh. We hunger after natural food. We thirst after water, as the woman at the well did with Jesus. But there is a different hunger and thirst that comes as we enter into a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Differences Between the Righteous and the Wicked
Differences Between the Righteous and the Wicked
Psalm 37:12–17 shows the difference between the righteous and the wicked
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: For he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, And to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man hath Is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: But the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
The wicked are looking to take from others, they are working to undermine others, they are seeking to take advantage over others, they not only desire to “cast down” but actually to “slay (kill)” the righteous.
15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; He that despiseth the gain of oppressions, That shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, That stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, And shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
The righteous continue in their own business, doing what is right.
7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
Righteousness is Given (Imputed) (Received by Faith)
Righteousness is Given (Imputed) (Received by Faith)
Righteousness comes through faith as exemplified by Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3
1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Abram listened to God and began his journey to receive the blessing God had promised. There were challenges Abram faced, but God helped him. Later it says in Genesis 15:6
6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Abram believed the Lord and acted on what he believed. God responded and called Abram righteous.
Through Abraham’s seed, Jesus Christ came and it says in Galatians 3:13-14
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
The promise came through the blessing of Abraham but first came the law, as a teacher (schoolmaster) in Galatians 3:23-24.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
It is no longer our works to achieve righteousness through the law, but it is the gift of God through Jesus Christ in Philippians 3:9.
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
We become the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
This is the Eternal Covenant
This is the Eternal Covenant
Through Jesus Christ, has cleansed us to purge our conscience in Hebrews 9:11-14
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
We have been made the righteousness of Christ through His sacrifice. His life given for us.
Seeking Righteousness in Our Lives
Seeking Righteousness in Our Lives
We know who God is, He is righteousness in Psalm 145:17
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, And holy in all his works.
We are to be righteous as he is righteous, righteousness is the way of life in Proverbs 11:19.
19 As righteousness tendeth to life: So he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. 20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: But such as are upright in their way are his delight.
Do you want to delight the Lord? Seek and pursue righteousness.
It says “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth” in Psalm 141:2-4
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; Keep the door of my lips. 4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, To practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: And let me not eat of their dainties.
It says here:
keep the door of my lips - let me not speak it
Incline not my heart to any evil thing - let me not think it
To practise wicked works with men that work iniquity - let me not do it
So what should I speak? It says in Ephesians 4:29-30.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
I should have a filter on my words. Think before speaking. Proving what is acceptable in Ephesians 5:7-11.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Reproving, correcting, putting a stop to evil words and works.
Resisting the devil, in James 4:7-10
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
and out of your mouth, blessing and honor and praise as in Psalm 34:1-4.
1 I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
magnify the Lord, exalt His name.
Isaiah reminds us “Behold, God is my salvation” in Isaiah 12:2-6
2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: For the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, Declare his doings among the people, Make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: This is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Sing unto the Lord.
Righteousness leads to prosperity and joy within a community as in Proverbs 14:34.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: But sin is a reproach to any people.
A Nation is a group of people with common culture, willing to stand for God and declare His greatness.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: And when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
A Prayer for Leadership
A Prayer for Leadership
There was a time when Israel was under attack, The army of the Assyrians were outside the city threatening destruction. The Assyrians had destroyed many others. Hezekiah the king received a letter in Isaiah 37:14–16
14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord, saying, 16 O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.
He finished his prayer in Isaiah 37:20
20 Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord, even thou only.
Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus and pray for our President, Donald Trump that he would have a heart of humility toward you, and seek your wisdom in every decision.
End of Todays Message
Altar Call (5 Minutes)
The Road to Salvation
The Road to Salvation
1. None is Righteous
1. None is Righteous
As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
2. All Have Sinned
2. All Have Sinned
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
3. But God Shows His Love for us
3. But God Shows His Love for us
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
4. Sin Came in Through One
4. Sin Came in Through One
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through
sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—
5. The Wages of Sin is Death
5. The Wages of Sin is Death
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
6. If You Confess Your Mouth that Jesus is Lord
6. If You Confess Your Mouth that Jesus is Lord
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart
one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7. Everyone who Calls on the Name of the Lord
7. Everyone who Calls on the Name of the Lord
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Have you called on the Lord? Do you know you are saved?
Salvation Prayer
Salvation Prayer
Repeat after me:
Father, I come to you in the precious name of your Son, Jesus. You said in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is my Lord and my Savior and I believe in my heart that God has raised Him from the dead, I will be saved. I make the decision today to surrender every area of my life to the lordship of Jesus.
Jesus, come into my heart. Take out the stony heart and put in a heart of flesh. I turn my back on the world and on sin. I repent and I put my trust in You. I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I would like to thank You for dying on the cross for my sin and shedding Your blood for me so that I might be forgiven of my sin. Thank You that You rose from the dead and that one day, You are coming back for me. I confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh and that He is my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me. I accept by faith the free gift of salvation. Amen (so be it).
End of Altar Call
Closing Prayer
Pray for the Word to be implanted
Pray for the Word to be implanted
Lets Pray
Father, we acknowledge the power of your word spoken in Isaiah 55:11
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
and we set ourselves in agreement with your plan and purpose for our lives.
Lord Jesus you said in John 14:23
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
We invite you to come.
You also said in John 14:26-27
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Holy Spirit, we ask you to seal these words in our hearts and bring them to our minds as we go out into the world around us.
In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
Tithes and Offerings
Tithes and Offerings
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, And he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; Neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
Pray for Jerusalem
Pray for Jerusalem
Lets read Psalm 122
1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
2 Our feet shall stand Within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is builded As a city that is compact together:
4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, Unto the testimony of Israel, To give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
5 For there are set thrones of judgment, The thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee.
7 Peace be within thy walls, And prosperity within thy palaces.
8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.
Father, we pray for the protection and peace of Jerusalem In Jesus Name, Amen
The Priestly Blessing
The Priestly Blessing
Please lift your hands to the Lord.
24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Father, we ask that you bless and keep these. Make your face shine upon them, and be gracious to them. Lift up your countenance upon them and give them peace. In Jesus Name, Amen
End of Closing Prayer
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