In recent weeks, the Lord has been speaking to me about covenant, especially in relation to healing and provision. People of ancient times understood the responsibilities and rights of covenant very well, but we have since lost much of that understanding.
God established covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15. God had promised him a son and inheritance of the land he lived in, but Abraham asked, “Lord GOD, how shall I know that I inherit it?” God’s answer was to perform a blood covenant ceremony with Abraham, involving animal sacrifices, thereby assuring him that what He had said He would perform.
The Israelites were deceived into covenant with the pagan Gibeonites, but the covenant was still valid, and when the Gibeonites needed protection from their enemies, Israel came to their rescue. It was the Gibeonites’ right to be defended and cared for by Israel because of their covenant relationship (Joshua 9:3 – 10:7).
Covenant followed down to the descendants of those who originally entered into it. Galatians 3:7 tells us that “they who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” Those of us who have by faith received the Lord Jesus, Who is the Son of Abraham (Galatians 3:16), have available to us every one of the covenant promises God gave to Abraham – all the Old Testament promises of healing, protection, and provision.
But God went further still in establishing covenant with us. He made yet another blood covenant with us through Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross. The New Testament assures us in many places that this final covenant likewise provides for our healing, deliverance, and provision – but also eternal life and joint inheritance with Jesus (Romans 8:17).
Our covenant relationship with God through Jesus is the reason why Jesus said, “And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13, 14). It is our right, under covenant inheritance, to ask in Jesus’ Name and receive.
Next time we will talk about hindrances to living in our covenant inheritance.
Filed under: Apostolic, Bible, Bible studies, Charismatic, Christian, Christian Teaching, Christian growth, Christian life, Christianity, Church, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Jesus, Kingdom living, Nondenominational, Religion, Spirituality, Wisconsin Apostolic Regional Centers, Wisconsin churches, kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven | Tagged: Atonement, blood covenant, covenant relationship, covenant. believer's inheritance, healing, heavenly provision, The Atonement
