Embassy in Christ Blog

I found myself deeply concerned this week about an incident that occurred between me and certain individuals that I do business with.  I felt that I had let my guard down and afforded the individuals the opportunity to gain an upper hand.  If you are like me, you are typically hard on yourself and your own worst critic.  Here I was, concerned and almost beginning to lose confidence in myself.  Yes, I know, my challenges may differ from yours but the truth is that at some stage, we all feel inadequate and unable to prevail in particular circumstances.

What is noteworthy is the fact that we can always study or even talk about the LORD Jesus, His doctrine and principles without getting to effectively apply the proceeds to our lives.  This is why we have such a sharp contrast between what believers say and do in our society today.  Many implicitly believe participation in worship services equals being good Christians.  This is not so. What we believe must also be worked out in our lives.  Whatever we cannot leverage does not really matter.

I too had to practice what I was preaching.  I was teaching about covenant but realized that I myself was not in covenant position.

So what is “Covenant Position”, you ask?  Well, this is a place where you and I get to remain (Stand) In Him as He also remains in us.   In that place, nothing matters but God.  Anyone seeking to reach us will have to first go through God!  By default, our enemies also become enemies of God.  Well, I was exposed to the subject of “covenant position” in the past but now had to go deeper and rebuild my comprehension and ability to execute from the bottom-up.  So let us gain some understanding:

Covenant

Covenant is an oath-bound promise whereby one party solemnly pledges to bless or serve another party in some specified way.  This oath bound promise involves mutual obligations with a commitment to responsibility and action.

We can safely say that the foundation for our Christian faith is based on covenant. Unfortunately, we have lost the real meaning of covenant in the West.

A covenant can either be established between people or between people and God. You can either have two people that love each other like a husband and wife, Ruth and Naomi or David and Jonathan.  One can also have covenant between two people groups.  The other dimension is covenant between people and God.

Here are some key characteristics of Covenant:

Not bounded by time.
Unlike a contract, a covenant is not bounded by time. A covenant typically lasts from generation to generation.  A covenant is in force as long as all parties are alive.

This is why a marriage between a man and a woman is really a covenant and not a contract.

Sadly, many people today say their marriage vows only to divorce shortly afterwards.  As a matter of fact, the institution of marriage has come under severe enemy attack lately and we all have to rise up and fight to preserve it.

Malachi 2:14 (ESV)
14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

Covenant involves life
A covenant is in force until one or both of the parties involved become unable to fulfill their part of the covenant.  This is typically because of death.  The initiation of covenant involves some form of life to indicate: “till death do us part”.

Covenant is complete trust!
When Jonathan made a covenant with David, he gave David his weapons, shields and belt and joined his soul to David’s in complete trust!  1 Sam 18.  Ruth clung to her mother in law, Naomi in absolute trust and abandon saying: “Where you go I go; where you stay I stay only death will separate us” Ruth 1:16

Covenant is complete sharing
Covenant produces common union where all the parties involved become one!   A married couple become one!  Gen 2:24. The early church shared all things together: food, clothing, and other possessions.  Those who lacked had their needs met.  They had complete unity – Koinonia.  Acts 2:42-46.  Parties in covenant have common friends and common enemies.  Everything is shared!  This is why God forbids us to yoke with those of darkness.  Friendship with the world is enmity with God.  Israel was warned not to covenant with other nations.  That included inter-marriage.  Marriage is covenant and sex is the consummation – the act of covenant.

A vow or oath initiates the covenant.  The corresponding act is what brings implementation or fulfillment. This is why illicit sex (outside marriage) is so sinful.  Sex is an act of covenant.

Covenant is the basis for moving forward in the early church!

The stronger the covenant the greater the negotiations – with families binding through generations

The Exchange
Jonathan and David exchanged and gained common strength, favor, and authority.

When God covenants with us, He gives us His name, authority and might in exchange for our very souls.

He gave Abram a new name – Abraham and He became the God of Abraham!  When we give Him our old lives (condemned to death), He gives us His life which is eternal!

Christ came to cut covenant on our behalf!  He paid the penalties for separating from the Old Covenant and initiated a new covenant through His same death.  He became the propitiator (mercy  seat), then broker (mediator) through which the Father God now sees us:  redeemed and righteous!

When we position ourselves in Christ, we also gain Covenant Position.  This is a worry free place in the presence of God, where righteousness, peace and joy prevails.  So why should I worry? Why should I be afraid?  If God is for me, who can be against me?

It is God’s covenant with us that allows Him to fight for us. Just as He fought for Judah against Ammon, Mt. Seir and Moab in the valley of Jehoshaphat 2 Chr. 20.  So whatever you are facing today, please see that the battle is not yours but the LORD’s!

God will ALWAYS fight for you as long as you remain in covenant in Him.  Time to stop willful sinning!  Why be like a senseless mule that has to be forced everywhere? Psalm 32:9

Get into covenant position!

Really give Him your life and stop trying to manage on our own and then blaming others for the consequences.

You cannot keep trying to claim the benefits of the covenant with God if you fail to fulfill your obligations.  You know God WILL ALWAYS fulfill His side.  What about you?

Give up your weapons – lose the weapon
Give up your anger, self defense mechanisms, woundedness,

Give up your Identity
Give up your mission for His mission

Remember all the people that walked uprightly in God were in Covenant Position.

Say a prayer right now!

We will discuss mechanisms around the cutting of covenant next time and also more techniques for maintaining Covenant Position.

God Bless!