“I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.”

Psalm 89:34, New International Version, 2011

NEW COVENANT:

THE FULLNESS OF

GRACE

SUPERNATURAL POWER: FAITH

SUPERCEDES

SUPERFICIAL EFFORT: LAW

Dr. Timothy E. Pickering

Pickering House International, Inc.

Tallahassee, Florida

COPYRIGHT, August, 2011, Timothy E. Pickering Printed in the United States of America All Rights Reserved Wordwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval systems, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written prior permission of the author. ISBN –

Scripture quotations designated KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible

Scriptures quotations designated NKJV are taken from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations designated NIV are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations designated YLT are from the 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young. The text was scanned from a reprint of the 1898 edition as published by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids Michigan.

Scripture quotations designated MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright � 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group taken from The Message. Copyright � 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations designated AMP are taken from the Amplified®Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission."

Scripture quotations designated BBE are taken from The Bible in Basic English. The BBE was printed in 1965 by Cambridge Press in England. Published without any copyright notice and distributed in America, this work fell immediately and irretrievably into the public domain in the United States.

Definitions designated BDB are taken from The Brown, Driver, Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon by Francis Brown, Samuel Rolles Driver, Charles Augustus Briggs, Edward Robinson, Wilhelm Gesenius, James Strong - Hendrickson Publishers (1906)

Definitions designated by SEC are taken from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., Abington, Nashville, 1890, 1977

Definitions designated TGEL are taken from Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament by Joseph Henry Thayer, D.D., Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1979

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my LORD, Jesus, The Christ. It is about Him, to Him and for Him. May everyone who reads these pages give Jesus all glory and praise.

To my wonderful gift from God, Donna, my wife without whom it never would have been written. She has believed in me when no one else did, encouraged me, supported me and walked with me as we learned how to live in grace. May she receive God’s abundant grace and the gift of righteousness to reign in life in Jesus.

To my sons, Clay and Theophilus, I pray that you will understand that grace has power through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus in spite of the mistakes I make. That you will know God loves you and so do I, regardless! Praise God for you allowing me to be a part of your lives. You are blessed and a blessing to me.

To those that are tired of the defeated life of religion. To all those who know down deep inside there is more than what they have realized or been taught by religion. To those who yearn to discover, are eager to learn and are hungry to know the supernatural power of living in the fullness of the New Covenant. Let go of tradition, reject defeat and learn to “fly on eagle’s wings” above the trials and tribulations of his world.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

A debt of gratitude is owed to Barbara Vickery for her assistance in layout, general grammatical style, correctness, and constant encouragement. Your knowledge has been invaluable, your friendship un-measureable.

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin's dominion) through His [resurrection] life.” (Romans 5:10 AMP)

INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS A COVENANT?

EXCHANGING ROBES

EXCHANGING WEAPONS

EXCHANGING BELTS

CUTTING THE SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS

STRIKING OF HANDS

OATHS OF COVENANT

COVENANT MEAL

אלהים 'ĕlôhı̂ym, GOD

יהוה Yehôvâh, JEHOVAH

יהוה יראה, yir'eh yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-JIREH

יהוה רפה, râphâ' yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-ROPHE

יהוה נסּי nissı̂y yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-NISSI

יהוה קדשׁ, qâdash yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH

יהוה צדק, tsedeq yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU

יהוה שׁלום, shâlôm yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-SHALOM

רעה רעה, râ'âh, yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-JAHVE

יהוה שׁם , shâm yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-SHAM

WHY A NEW COVENANT?

METAMORPHORIS – NOT TRANSITION!

LOVE + GRACE = NEW COVENANT

THE GIFT OF NO CONDEMNATION

THE BELIEVER’S IDENTIFICATION

(In The New Covenant)

REMEMBERING THE COVENANT

AFTER THE SPIRIT COMES

INTRODUCTION

Many a person has flown in an airplane without knowing how to “fly” the airplane. He/she knows the airplane will fly or he/she would not trust it enough to get on board. However, he/she has little knowledge of the science that enables the craft to fly or how to properly apply that science to get the craft airborne.

Piloting an airplane is a complicated skill that has to be learned. Not many people would jump-in, start the engine and attempt to fly off. In order to pilot an airplane for the first time, a person has to attend “ground school” so he/she will know what to do and when to do it. Without instructions piloting an airplane could prove to be a fatal mistake.

Many a person is in exactly the same circumstance when it comes to living the victorious life “In Christ.” He/she fails to recognize that the Christian life is an event followed by a development. It is an experience that must be continued by a relationship. It is a big step, but it is just the beginning of a life-long walk. Far too many believers have stopped at the event and not learned the path to walk it out.

Living the supernatural life of a born again Christian often suffers the same results of an untrained pilot, for the same reasons. Modern church practice seems to emphasize the conversion experience and ignore life after conversion. Many new believers embark on the adventure of the new life in Christ without first learning who he/she has become, what he/she has been given and how he/she benefits as a result of the experience.

The new believer often crashes and burns because no one taught him/her how to live by grace through faith, how to live in The Blessing of the New Covenant or how to be more than a conqueror. Or worse, someone taught him/her untruths and lies about living in victory. Too often churches teach such a mixture of Old Covenant and New Covenant that it is extremely difficult to believe that there is New Covenant power. James says in his letter,

“If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.” (James 1:5-8 MSG)

Too many believers develop a superficial Christianity, not knowing his/her authority or the benefit of the New Covenant. He/she does not really believe God wants to or will do what he/she ask. So, many Christians fake it! He/she has no concept of the idea that God has already done all that needs to be done and placed it in the believer. And, that the only thing the “believer” has to do is - believe!

When an airplane takes off, the pilot gives the engine full throttle and the airplane gains speed as it roars down the runway. The larger the airplane, the further down the runway it travels and the longer it takes to build the speed needed to become airborne. An airplane has to build speed to develop the thrust to become airborne, to overcome nature’s resistance to flying. There comes a point where the pilot must decide if he/she is going to fly or not! A runway is only so-o long! There is a place on the runway where the pilot must pull back on the yoke to get the airflow directed over the wings so as to give the airplane lift. At that decision point, the pilot must be committed to the air or cut the power and stay on the ground. He/she must recognize and understand at that point of decision what to do. He/she cannot decide further down the runway to fly or not to try, it will result in a crash.

Unfortunately, many church members reach this decision point in his/her faith-life, when it is time to soar with the eagles, do not know how to fly, so he/she cuts the power and stay grounded.

“…and how I took you, as on eagles' wings, guiding you to myself.” (Exodus 19:4 BBE)

Supernatural power is the power of God. It moves at the speed of light so the believer cannot gain enough speed or develop enough thrust by superficial self-effort to become airborne.

Churches today seem to be filled with members that decided to stay on the ground of security and never tried to fly. The point of decision came and he/she did not believe he/she could fly; he/she did not know how to soar above the trials and tribulations of this world. Every Sunday he/she sits in the pew and test the engine, “vroom, vroom…” always prepping, getting ready for takeoff. He/she wants to be used of God; wishing for it, planning on it, trying to be ready, meaning to be what God called him/her to be. However, when that point of decision comes, he/she decides to stay on the ground; his/her plateau of security, instead of allowing HOLY SPIRIT to take him/her over the mountain-top.

Many Christians live his/her life on the ground, on a plateau of weakness, with many trips to the valley of defeat and failure. The “climb” over the mountain-top to victory, of soaring on eagle’s wings, seems impossible. The church has failed to teach “flying” lessons! Wanting to appear spiritual to others, bull-headed and stubborn, he/she superficially gear-up, strive, work and seek to excel in his/her own strength. Running around on the ground like a chicken, when the believer is suppose to be soaring on the eagle’s wings in the clouds. He/she knows the latest Christian ‘buzzwords” and the newest denominational program. He/she may even impress the other earth-bound, superficial Christians by teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, ushering and etc., but will never taste the sweetness of soaring above the trials and cares of the world.

The New Covenant enables the believer to live on the earth, but always overcome the trials and tribulations of life, to be “not of the world.”(John 17:14 KJV) By grace the believer can always be above and not below.

The Christian can rise above the valley of defeat, over the mountains of trial and live in the victory of Jesus. It is dependent on knowing how to live supernaturally! Most Christians never realize who the believer is “IN CHRIST,” what the believer has or what the believer has the authority to do with what he/she has been given.

The believer hears all of his/her Christian life he/she is in covenant with God. However, few ever realize what that means in daily life. Far too many churches teach faith as a way to die, not the way of life. Most think it is the believer’s plight to labor through this life in hopes of reaching future rewards in heaven. Too many believers think the only rewards of Christianity are in the “sweet by and by.” Seldom do the majority of Christians experience the indwelling power and life of God in this world. Rarely does the Christian live in the overcoming victory of Jesus and reign in life. The believer often fails to appropriate his/her Covenant rights and privileges simply because he/she does not understand the covenant nature of God.

Why not? Does the believer have any idea what being “In Covenant” means? Does the Christian of today know or believe what the Bible teaches about Covenant? Does the believer even know what the Covenant accomplishes? Does the individual Christian know what the Bible teaches about the NEW COVENANT or does he/she only know the Old Testament Law; the Ten Commandments? Does the Christian have any knowledge of the New Covenant’s benefits? Does the believer understand the responsibility of being “In Covenant” with God?

These are a few of the questions that this book will try to answer. It is not intended to be a theological exercise or an attempt to impress the seminary educated. It is an effort to help the believer understand what his/her Covenant Blessing is and how the believer benefits as a result of knowing what God has provided for the believer. Victory in life comes from walking everyday in “The Blessing” God has provided. By the grace of God, He has made a way for all Christians to live in total victory. It comes from making the decision and knowing how to “fly” at the point of decision; by belief in the NEW COVENANT the believer has with God, through Jesus, the Christ.

15”Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise… If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:15-18, 29 NIV)

Prayer;

Father, open the eyes of our understanding so we may receive the ministry of Holy Spirit and enlighten our minds concerning the covenant of Your grace. That we may know how to live in the blessing You intended for us. Thank you for renewing us in and by your grace. Amen

WHAT IS A COVENANT?

In modern society, a person seldom hears or uses the word covenant. The expression used today by business and in this culture is contract. A person buys things on credit by signing a contract with the seller to pay for the goods over a period of time instead of at the point of purchase. A person agrees to work for a company based on the contract for labor he/she has signed or others have signed for him/her. Society even has legal contracts for marriage today instead of the “old fashioned” marriage covenant. Are contracts and covenants the same thing? Yes and no!

According to Webster’s dictionary, the word contract has several meanings, depending on how it is used. For this purpose, it is being used as a noun. Webster’s says a contract is;

“An agreement or covenant between two or more persons, in which each party binds himself to do or forbear some act, and each acquires a right to what the other promises; a mutual promise upon lawful consideration or promise upon lawful consideration or cause, which binds the parties to a performance; a bargain, a compact. Contracts are executor or executed.”

Webster’s Dictionary says a covenant is;

“A mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons, to do or to forbear some act or thing; a contract; a stipulation. In theology, the covenant of works, is that implied in the commands, prohibitions, and promises of God; the promise of God to man, that mans perfect obedience should entitle him to happiness. This do, and live, that do and die. The covenant of redemption is the mutual agreement between the Father and Son, respecting the redemption of sinners by Christ. The covenant of grace is that by which God engages to bestow salvation on man, upon the condition that man shall believe in Christ and yield obedience to the terms of the gospel.” (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary Version published 1913 by C. & G. Merriam Co. Springfield, Mass. Under the direction of Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D.)

It is shameful that Webster’s Dictionary explains the believer’s covenant better than most believers understand and can explain. However, it still does not clearly define what a believer has been given in “Covenant” with God. The English translations of the Bible translate the Hebrew word בּרית, berı̂yth, (ber-eeth') as “Covenant” in the Old Testament. The word ranges in meaning from:

1.“something fixed,” 2. cutting a compact (made by passing between the pieces of flesh),” 3. “to cut, be chewed”, 4. “to stand, establish, hold up, set up”, 5. “assent, acknowledge, promise”, 6. “to consent, concur”, and 7. “to place jointly”. (SEC)

It is also explained as “alliance, pledge.”

1. between men - treaty, league, constitution, pledge;

2. between God and man – alliance, covenant (divine ordinance with signs or pledges) (BDB)

The King James Version of the Bible translates it as covenant two hundred sixty-five times. It is the most common term used to describe a covenant.

There was a time when laws were few and lawyers did not exist. Covenant agreement was the means of transacting business, marriage, property ownership, establishing peace and the supply of goods. Ancient peoples understood this process and the language of covenant.

God first told Adam to live in and maintain the garden based on a promise of life for compliance and death for breaking the agreement, making it the first covenant. God told Noah He would covenant never to destroy the earth by flood again.

He told Abram He was to be the heir of the world and through him all peoples would be blessed. Abram believed what God said because he already understood and believed in the concept of covenant. He knew from the words God used that God was talking covenant relationship with its responsibilities and privileges.

Today, covenants are primarily used by tribal people in under developed countries and are not common among most of ‘society.’ Some fraternal organizations hold their membership under covenant agreements and marriage is still said to be a covenant relationship, but seldom is anymore.

When a covenant was made, there were certain steps or procedures, or one might say ceremonies, undertaken which were full of meaning to those making a covenant, those who witnessed them and recognize the parties as “covenant partners.” There are several types of covenants, each with different procedures, but this study will confine the subject to the “Blood Covenant.”

In the King James Version of the Bible the New Testament word covenant is used eighteen times, and is translated from the Greek word Διαθήκη, Diathḗkē, the meaning is, “1) a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will

2) a compact, a covenant, a testament” (TGEL)

A will is a covenant given to a person’s descendants explaining the disposition of property. A will is used today to impart personal goods after a person’s death how and to whom he/she desires. It clearly states the rights and privileges of each descendant. The courts will uphold a legal will against any claim by someone unhappy about the distribution. This is exactly what Jesus did when He instituted the LORD’S Supper and said,

“This cup is the new testament, made with my blood which is given for you.”

(Luke 22:20b BBE)

Everyone in the room understood exactly what a blood covenant meant and realized what they were committing to by partaking of the bread and the wine with Jesus.

If today’s Christian better understood what took place in the making of a blood covenant, maybe he/she would gain a better understanding of the meaning of being in covenant. The believer would understand what he/she has received as a result of being “in Christ;” a partaker in the covenant relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son. The following procedures were commonly practiced when establishing a blood covenant between people.

EXCHANGING ROBES

In 1 Samuel 18, the reader is given a good picture of the process of establishing a covenant and the steps taken to signify covenant relationship. It is the covenant made between David and Jonathan. David, of course, was a shepherd from the village of Bethlehem, anointed by God to become the King of Israel. Jonathan was the son of the current King, Saul. It says,

“And Jonathan maketh -- also David -- a covenant, because he loveth him as his own soul, and Jonathan strippeth himself of the upper robe which [is] upon him, and giveth it to David, and his long robe, even unto his sword, and unto his bow, and unto his girdle.” (1 Samuel 10:3-4 YLT)

The exchanging of robes symbolized the putting on of one another. It indicated that they had taken each other’s identity, they had become the same! In that day people could tell what a person did for a living by the clothes he wore. It was a sign of the status of the person. This gesture was to tell everyone that Jonathan and David had exchanged identification; each expected everyone to look on them as equal in status, power and privilege. By wearing the robes of a prince, David was accepting the honor, authority and privileges of royalty. The shepherd from Bethlehem was seen as a prince of Israel when he walked the streets. David was no longer just a shepherd from a small village; he now received the respect given to the King’s family. He was now part of the King’s family, not just a friend, or allied, but an adopted son by right of covenant. Everything afforded to the King’s family was available to David.

It says Jonathan also took off his “long robe”, or tunic, which would be called an undergarment today. They stripped naked in the middle of this field to acknowledge to everyone there that they were one in every way. Jonathan, as a prince, would have had a fine-linen “long robe” or tunic, reaching to his ankles and with long sleeves. The length and long sleeves were indication that he was not of the working class. His imported silk and satin (purple?)“upper robe” showed he was of royal blood.

David’s home spun wool tunic was knee length and sleeveless, indicating his position as a laborer, a shepherd. Even then it was not considered a high class job and they were looked down on. David’s upper robe was probably a roughly woven wool fabric like burlap since he lived in the wilderness with the sheep and slept on the ground. Yet, they were acknowledging mutual fellowship, mutual life, all that belongs to one, now belongs to the other. All one was so was the other! It was a mutual exchange of everything! It was in every way a total exchange of identity! David left the field looking like a prince, Jonathan left smelling like a sheep!

It is a picture of what Jesus did at the cross! He took man’s robes of sin and in exchange gives the believer His robe of righteousness. This is why Paul tells the Christian in the New Covenant to put off the old sinful nature and says,

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4: 22-24 NIV)

Paul is talking covenant language and saying the believer is to exchange the old identity of sinner for the new identity of Jesus. A believer is not a sinner saved by grace; he/she is a new creation, created in the image of Jesus. David was not seen as a ‘former shepherd,’ he was now seen as a prince because he was clothed in the robes of a prince. The Holy Spirit through Paul is talking about exchanging the lifestyle, the habits, personality and sometimes friends, that identifies the person. The believer has to discard everything that identifies him/her self with the world and “put on” what identifies him/her with Jesus. Of course, it does not mean the believer has to wear long hair (Jesus didn’t either) and sandals, but should put on the character and habits, the personality of Jesus. The wonderful part is that the believer does not have to do anything but believe; Jesus did all the exchanging for the believer. How a person dresses or what he/she looks like has nothing to do with the acceptance of God.

The problem is that many churches have used it as a legal standard. It is taught as a cost or price to be paid to gain acceptance by God, which puts the believer under the bondage of the law again. This teaching is a doctrine of the devil. God looks at the heart of the believer. No one can gain acceptance from God; only by the covenant Jesus made for the believer is a person ‘made’ acceptable to God. A new believer does not have to do anything to receive the covenant except believe; he/she will desire to allow Jesus to make the exchange. The believer does not try to make it happen; he/she simply yields to Holy Spirit to receive and enjoy the benefits of his/her new identity.

This is possible for the believer today only because Jesus took on human flesh and exchanged His heavenly identity for man’s humanity. He made available to the believer, by the covenant, His divine nature. When a person receives free forgiveness in God’s grace and the joy of the presence of the indwelling Spirit, he/she will realize the feeling David must have had when he took off his shepherd’s grungy robe and put on the silk and satin of the Prince of Israel. It certainly is doubtful David considered it a price to be paid. He rejoiced in his good fortune, his new identity. The believer should have the same experience today when he/she realizes that Jesus exchanged His Devine life for the sinner and the believer walks away in His robes of righteousness.

The believer’s identification is “IN CHRIST.” His/her understanding the exchange that Jesus makes with the believer is the first and foremost key to realizing who the person has become in the New Covenant. Everything to come is built on this realization. The believer is a new creation!

EXCHANGING WEAPONS

“And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.” (1 Samuel 18:4 KJV)

Jonathan also exchanged armor and weapons with David. Jonathan gave David his sword, dagger, bow, arrows and got from David - a sling. This symbolized that the covenant partners hold in common each other’s well-being and enemies. When someone attacks one partner, it is the duty of the covenant relationship to come to his/her aid. It portrays a relationship closer than brothers. The covenant partners are bound to assist and aid each other regardless of the circumstances. When one makes a demand on the terms of the covenant, the other is required to respond as he has sworn to do. To do otherwise is to forfeit everything one owned, even to death.

This is portrayed when Jesus asked Paul,

“And he went down on the earth, and a voice said to him, Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me so cruelly?“ (Acts 9:4 BBE)

Jesus was saying that when Saul persecuted any believer, it was the same as if he attacked Jesus personally! Saul thought he was serving God by arresting the followers of The Way. Jesus told him that he was not attacking people, he was attacking Jesus (or God) Himself. They were in Covenant with God through Jesus, so God was and is obligated to defend the believer because the enemy of the Christian becomes the enemy of God. The apostle John wrote,

“…but the Son of God keeps him so that he is not touched by the Evil One.” (1 John 5:18b BBE)

The Bible teaches the believer that people are not their enemy.

“For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against authorities and powers, against the world-rulers of this dark night, against the spirits of evil in the heavens.” (Ephesians 6:12 BBE)

People are not the enemy! When the believer comes to the realization that it is not the person trying to do them harm, but the spirit that rules that person, the believer can begin to overcome the situation or circumstances through standing on the victory Jesus has already won instead of trying to fight the battle himself/herself.

” Lastly, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his power. Take up God's instruments of war, so that you may be able to keep your position against all the deceits of the Evil One.” (Ephesians 6:10-11 BBE)

“For this reason take up all the arms of God, so that you may be able to be strong in the evil day, and, having done all, to keep your place. (Ephesians 6:13 BBE)

Many believers have been incorrectly taught that he/she has to constantly fight the devil in order to serve the LORD. However, in the New Covenant all the believer has to do is STAND! (If there is doubt about this re-read the verses!) The battle has already been won by Jesus. All the believer needs do is stand in His victory!

The other side of that equation is that by becoming a Christian, a person accepts as his enemy the enemies of the LORD. How can a person say he loves God and at the same time side with those that hate God? The believer must be careful who they align themselves with and who they partner with in business, in marriage and yes, in politics. Anyone and anything that is contrary to what the Bible teaches is His enemy. A believer is bound by covenant to not participate or co-operate in the works of the devil. If God is obligated by covenant to fight the enemy of the believer, the believer is just as obligated to stand against the enemies of God.

The believer must recognize the fact that it is the devil that is the enemy. Jesus defeated the devil on the cross and by His resurrection. So, the only enemy of the Christian is a defeated foe! He has no authority, power or ability to harm the believer, if he/she will stand in the victory Jesus won. Jesus, talking about people said,

“ But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you; So that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven;” (Matthew 5:44-45a BBE)

Jesus soundly defeated the enemy of the Christian on the cross and by His resurrection and He has given the believer His name as the weapon to stand against the enemy. Jesus said,

“…Truly I say to you, Whatever request you make to the Father, he will give it to you in my name…” (John 16: 23b BBE)

Churches often teach that the believer has the name of Jesus as “a power of attorney” to use in time of need. Really!?! The Bible says over one hundred times that the believer is “in Christ.” When couples marry, normally, the wife changes her last name to be the same as her husband. She is no longer a single person; she is part of a couple. She now is identified by her new covenant relationship. She is no longer called by her maiden name, but is now called by her married name. This is a covenant relationship according to God.

When a child is adopted he/she does not keep his/her old name, he/she takes the name of the person adopting the child. When a person receives the gift of salvation grace from God, he is a new creation, a new person with a new name. It is not a ‘power of attorney!’ It is the new name of the believer. Christians are placed in the family of God, joint heirs with Jesus. In Scripture it says,

“…among whom are also you called Jesus, The Anointed One.” (Romans 1:6 Author’s translation)

If the believer is “in” The Anointed One, he/she is the same as The Anointed One. Use the new name! The victory is in the authority of the name, JESUS.

The victory has been won and the believer only has to live in what Jesus has made available. The name that is above every name, Jesus, is the power of the New Covenant.

If Jesus won the victory over two thousand years ago, why does a believer keep begging Him to intervene in situations and change circumstances? Because, that believer does not understand his/her covenant benefit! When the believer understands that Jesus completed His work, that everything he/she needs has already been supplied, he/she will stop begging and start praising. New Covenant life is living in the completed work of Jesus. It is not God intervening in everything; it is realizing and walking in the victory already won. It is realizing by faith that the believer is more than a conqueror in every situation, and an overcomer in all circumstances.

When David walked the streets in the robes and armor of a prince, no one challenged him. They knew that the entire army of the country backed him; they were not just attacking a kid from Bethlehem. When the believer realizes he/she has on the armor of God, he/she will begin to understand the position of authority and power he/she has in this world. When the believer insists on fighting or doing the work, God cannot! When the believer rest in the finished work of Jesus, all he/she need do is stand! Regardless of how bleak the situation or how dire the circumstances, he/she is in a defensive position, “Stand then!” He does not say fight because Jesus has already won the battle and given the believer His victory; of what is there to be afraid? The devil is defeated; he will bluff and deceive the believer if he/she does not know his/her position “In Christ.” When the believer has exchanged identity with Jesus, the devil cannot see who is behind the armor, the light of the “glory of God” is blinding to all the demons of hell. When the believer understands the victory is already won, the devil will flee. In the Bible the believer is taught,

“Take your place, then, having your body clothed with the true word, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness; Be ready with the good news of peace as shoes on your feet; And most of all, using faith as a cover to keep off all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take salvation for your head-dress and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: With prayers and deep desires, making requests at all times in the Spirit…” (Ephesians 6:14-18a BBE)

The position of the believer is to, “take your place,” and five of the weapons are defensive weapons. (This is significant because the biblical number of grace is five). The two offensive weapons (seven is God’s number of completeness) are the “word of God” and “pray in the Spirit.” The Greek word translated as “word” is the Greek word ῥῆμα, rhēma, which means, “that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word.” (TGEL) So the believer’s offensive weapons against the attacks of Satan are to say what Jesus said about him in words and/or language given by Holy Spirit.

Praise God, He has taken the believer’s fleshly, ineffective weapons and exchanged them for His supernatural weapons that defeated the enemy at Calvary. Give Jesus all the glory for His victory. It is a benefit of the New Covenant.

EXCHANGING BELTS

“and Jonathan strippeth himself of the upper robe which [is] upon him, and giveth it to David, and his long robe, even unto his sword, and unto his bow, and unto his girdle..” (1 Samuel 18:4, YLT)

After Jonathan and David exchanged robes, tunics and weapons, they exchanged girdles or belts. This symbolized the exchanging of strengths, weaknesses and provision.

A shepherd would have a belt on which he could attach a sling, a knife and a bag of bread and cheese. It could be tightened around his robe so as not to get snagged when he reached into a thicket to free a sheep; it secured the tools of his trade. It represented his ability (or strength) to do his job. A soldier had a belt for many of the same purposes, but very different tools. His belt held a sword, a dagger and his quiver of arrows; tools for fighting and battle.

This exchange demonstrated one’s dependence on the other to meet every need. What one had the other needed; where one was strong the other was weak, it spoke of providing strength in times of testing. The covenant benefitted each but in different ways. It is probable that Jonathan wanted what David had more than David wanted what Jonathan had. David had defeated the giant with a sling and a stone. He had not needed weapons of battle; he had the presence of God. Jonathan wanted whatever David had that enabled him to accomplish such feats, he recognized the greatness of David and wanted to share in it. A covenant provides the avenue to share in what a covenant partner is and has.

When a person comes to Jesus he/she must realize he/she has no strengths to offer, just weakness, faults and failures. Jesus took them to the cross; all man’s weakness, sickness, pains, faults, sins, failures and short comings. He accepted and carried them to the cross so the believer does not have to carry them to judgment. He gives His strengths, His health, His success, His peace and His righteousness in exchange. The believer can go to the Throne without sin or failure, clothed in the righteousness of God, in Christ. Jesus says,

“I came that they may have life and enjoy it, and have it in super abundance, more than can be imagined, or even dreamed.” (John 10:10 Author’s translation)

When the life of Jesus is received, it is an eternally blessed life. Eternal life is not referring to everlasting life, even non-believers have everlasting life. It is referring to the quality of life. The believer has access to the same quality of life Jesus has! The believer receives the very life of Jesus; eternal, blessed, healthy, prosperous and overflowing. Not just what is needed, but with everything necessary to live as Jesus lives. He takes the person’s dead spirit and breaths into it His life and puts in the believer the Spirit of God. He takes the believer’s fear, sickness, and worry. He gives him/her life more abundantly, to the full, ’till it runs over. The believer never has to face death!

When the demons saw Jesus they would cry out for mercy. The identity of the believer in Jesus should be so complete that when demons see the believer coming they cry out for mercy, not rise up to attack. The believer’s identification does not start when he/she gets to heaven; that would not do anyone any good. It starts the instance Jesus is made LORD in the believer. Christianity is not a way to die; it is the way to live! The believer is “in Christ” enabling him/her to live the life of Jesus on the earth. This is a promise of the New Covenant.

CUTTING THE SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS

Part of “cutting” a blood covenant was the sacrifice of animals. The bodies were cut in two pieces and laid to each side. The persons making the covenant would walk between and around the pieces and pointing to heaven (calling God’s attention to what they were doing), swear an oath something like this, “May it be done to me as to these pieces if I fail to keep this covenant.” A covenant was not taken lightly! To break it could warrant one’s death. The Bible tells of the covenant God cut with Abram,

“And it cometh to pass -- the sun hath gone in, and thick darkness hath been -- and lo, a furnace of smoke, and a lamp of fire, which hath passed over between those pieces. 18In that day hath Jehovah made with Abram a covenant,” (Genesis 15:17, 18a YLT)

Abram understood the significance of walking in the blood, of “cutting a covenant.” God assured Abram that He could be trusted to do what He said, by leaving HIS footprints in the blood. Even though Abraham never possessed the land where he lived and spent his entire life in tents, he believed God. He had a covenant that said all the land he could see was his and his descendent forever. The Bible says,

“And Abraham had faith in God, and it was put to his account as righteousness.”

(Romans 4:3 BBE)

He believed in covenant therefore, he believed a covenant-making God would do what He said and it was counted to him as righteousness. It was not a matter of what was going to take place; Abram considered it already true, to have already taken place, because it was a covenant promise. He under- stood that Almighty God called what was not as though it was. Abraham said what God said and God called it righteousness!

As the people cutting the covenant walked between the pieces they walked around them also, making a figure eight. This symbolized that they were dying to their rights and becoming united as one, forever. Today the sideways figure eight still symbolizes infinity. This identified the covenant as being an everlasting agreement, not one that died with the ones making the covenant. This “walk of blood” or “walk of death” is spoken of by Jesus when He tell us,

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34 NKJV)

The cross is the place of self-sacrifice, of death to self. JESUS, God Himself, submitted to the humiliation of public disgrace and death. Let it serve as an example to us. He lived a life in perfect union with Father God because man had not lived up to the standards God established in the Garden of Eden. If He had saved Himself, mankind would have no hope. Jesus fulfilled the law, the requirements God had spelled out in the Mount Sinai Covenant (The Ten Commandments), for mankind when He died on the cross. Jesus then established a New Covenant in His own blood with the Father that allows man to receive the rewards of being in covenant “in Christ” (in the Anointed One), not because the believer earned them, but by grace.

The believer is a “partaker” of the New Covenant! This simply means that he/she did not have to do anything to put it into effect and cannot do anything to cancel its benefits. Jesus did everything required to establish and maintain the blessing of being in covenant with God. When God looks at how the believer is doing, He looks through the blood of Jesus and sees Jesus perfection to determine what the believer receives. The Bible explains it,

“But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ....29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:22-27, 29 NKJV)

The Christian must die to self, to old desires, to old passions, to the old life and be resurrected to the new life of living in Jesus. The old desires, habits and passions die when the believer puts him/her self “on the cross” and surrenders his/her will to God. The Bible teaches,

“And the law is not of faith; but, He who does them will have life by them.

Christ has made us free from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us: because it is said in the Writings, A curse on everyone who is put to death by hanging on a tree:

So that on the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; in order that we through faith might have the Spirit which God had undertaken to give.” (Galatians 3:12-14 BBE)

A person can only come into covenant with God through the shed blood of Jesus. If a person believes and accepts the sacrifice of Jesus for his/her sin nature, declares that Jesus rose from the dead and acknowledges Jesus as LORD, he/she will receive “the promise of the Spirit.” This “promise of the Spirit” definitely happens at the new birth! However, many believers fail to make Jesus “LORD” in life and never realize what he/she has been given. Unfortunately, many are taught that salvation, the forgiveness of sin, is all the believer can hope for on this earth. Such a belief indicates the person does not even know what the word salvation means. This is a powerless religion, not Christianity!

“You have the belief that God is one, and you do well: the evil spirits have the same belief, shaking with fear.” (James 2:19 BBE)

Several terms are used for this experience and many supposedly believers reject it altogether. When God comes into the life of the believer, He does not indwell with only a part of himself or a part of His nature. A believer gets all of God or none of God. He comes in all His fullness! However, many churches fail to teach how to recognize or authorize Holy Spirit’s ministry in the believer. This causes many believers to fail to declare Jesus as his/her LORD at salvation and to experience His fullness, making a separate experience necessary. God will never force His fullness on anyone. This causes many a believer to go through life and never yield to God totally. Some learn to yield later in his/her life and have what is often believed to be a “Second Blessing” from God. Whether it is called “fullness of the Spirit,” “Baptism of the Spirit,” or “total commitment” it amounts to the same thing. It is up to the individual to receive Holy Spirit and allow Him to minister to and through the believer so that Jesus may be LORD. Some limit His ability by striving to follow the law (self effort) instead of the completeness of the presence of God: to live in the superficial effort of human ability instead of the supernatural power of the Spirit. The believer is told,

“You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4 NKJV)

Most believers would insist that sin is what causes a person to fall from grace, but the Scripture says it is following the law instead of the Spirit. If a believer can give his/her fear of what will happen to the LORD and allow Jesus to lead, he/she will walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The believer can live in the health, wealth and peace of Jesus. The believer will do the same things Jesus did and live in the dominion Jesus has in His resurrection.

Being in covenant is total commitment! It is not for the fearful. The promised Holy Spirit will lead the believer to a victorious life of overcoming every trial the devil can throw at him/her. The Blood Covenant has been the supreme example of reconciliation, of total assurance and of exchanging lives for mankind since the Garden of Eden. God shed the blood of an animal to clothe Adam and Eve with skins in the garden, covering their sin. He accepted Abel’s sacrifice of blood after man had been removed from the garden. God used this method to develop Abram’s faith. God then used the same symbol of shedding blood as the ultimate Covenant with the believer. To demonstrate how important it is to Him, He used the blood of Jesus, His own unique Son, to establish His promise to man. The believer needs to understand the importance and the power of the Blood Covenant. He/she is declared to be a partaker in it when he/she acknowledges faith in the completed work of Jesus. The believer needs to not look at what should be or what can be, but see it as already having been done. If God has promised, it is done. This is living by faith in the Blood of Jesus; it is living in the fullness of the New Covenant.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the shed blood of Jesus. Thank you for making me a partaker of the Blood Covenant in Jesus. Thank you for sharing all that Jesus is with me. I declare Jesus is LORD over my life and receive the fullness of the ministry of Holy Spirit in me. I totally commit myself to following Jesus in everything I do and say. Praise the name of Jesus! Amen and Amen.

STRIKING OF HANDS

The cutting of the wrist and mingling of blood symbolized the degree of the oneness, the completeness of exchanged lives and inter-dependence of the relationship. The individuals would each cut one wrist and grasp each other’s arm so that the blood flowing from the wounds would be pressed together and mingle. This was to show they had become one and symbolized the exchanging of blood or exchanging lives. “…for the life of the flesh is in the blood.” (LEV.17:11 NKJV) They were saying to each other and to all who knew of their covenant, that they were no longer independent, but every action in the future would be an act of interdependence on and for each other. The believer is taught of this relationship with God Himself in the New Covenant. Jesus taught,

“A little time longer, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me; and you will be living because I am living. At that time it will be clear to you that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I in you. He who has my laws and keeps them, he it is who has love for me: and he who has love for me will be loved by my Father, and I will have love for him and will let myself be seen clearly by him.” (John 14:19-21 BBE)

The scar on the wrist showed others that a person had a covenant partner. People treated a covenant person a little more careful and respectful because they did not know how large or powerful the covenant partner might be. David’s covenant partner was the Prince of Israel; the believer’s covenant partner is Jesus: God Himself! The handshake and the hand wave people use today came from the desire to show others the scar of covenant, that one had a covenant partner.

When the believer lifts his/her hands to heaven, it can symbolize the surrender of his/her life to Jesus. It shows the scar of covenant partnership in Jesus to Satan and all his demons. By “striking hands” with the outstretched hand of God, it symbolizes the life of Jesus flowing into the believer. It reminds the believer that his/her life has been “reconciled” or exchanged for the life of Jesus. He/she is of one blood, one family, one life with Jesus through the indwelling of Holy Spirit.

The Bible tells the believer in the New Covenant to forgive because Jesus has forgiven him/her, to be kind to those that take advantage of him/her, to be more than conqueror’s in every circumstance, to give thanks in all things and to always rejoice. The New Covenant says,

“Let all bitter, sharp and angry feeling, and noise, and evil words, be put away from you, with all unkind acts;

And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you.”

(Ephesians 4:31-32 BBE)

In the Old Covenant man was told to forgive in order to be forgiven; the New Covenant man forgives because he/she has already been forgiven. No one is capable of accomplishing these personality alterations except through the exchange of life with Jesus, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Real change cannot come from the outside in but, must come from the inside out. Performance orientated change will never last. However, change brought by love through Jesus is lasting change. To try accomplishing this in one’s own ability is superficial effort, it is self-righteousness, and it is not Christianity.

It is through Holy Spirit alone that the blood of Jesus has ability and power. The blood possesses the power to cleanse and enable the believer to serve God as a partaker of the covenant because Holy Spirit was in Jesus when He shed His blood on the cross. As the Eternal Spirit, He kept it from loss or decay while Jesus defeated Satan. This enabled Jesus to place His blood on the eternal altar in heaven: An eternal cleansing for the believer’s sin.

As the Christian raises hands up to Jesus, the believer realizes he/she has been lifted up to where He is. And the spirit of man rests, seated on the throne in Jesus. The believer is told that God,

“…gave us life together with Christ by grace you have salvation, So that we came back from death with him, and are seated with him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus;” (Ephesians 2: 5b-6 BBE)

When the believer shows Satan and the world the “scar” of covenant, he/she is proclaiming that he/she understands that the victory has been won and that his/her covenant partner is available, no - actually, is always standing guard to protect him/her from any attack that might be mounted. In the bible the believer is taught,

“Every God-begotten person conquers the world's ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith… The God-begotten are also the God-protected. The Evil One can't lay a hand on them.” (1 John 5:4 and 18b MSG)

Satan is an already conquered enemy! He has absolutely no legal authority, no right to lay a hand on the believer.

If the believer does not understand the covenant power of his/her relationship or does not believe, he/she gives the devil opportunity over his/her life he actually does not have the authority to exercise. Every time the believer “strikes hands” with his/her covenant partner he/she should be reminded of the strength of that partnership.

Jesus established the Covenant with the Father. The believer does not have to do anything but believe to receive the benefits of what Jesus has already done. He shed His blood seven times to meet all the requirements of destroying the curse and offers the blessings of it to the believer. His blood was poured out and the believer is able to partake of His divine nature and walk in victory. It is only possible through grace to live out of the love of God on earth. Holy Spirit brings the life of Jesus into the believer and equips the Christian to be and do what no one can do him/her self. The exchanging of lives is what this thing called covenant is all about. Lift holy hands to God in praise and to demonstrate belief in the Covenant. It is a way the believer can participate in the covenant practice.

Every year there is a list in the newspaper of valuable property that has been unclaimed in bank vaults, safety deposit boxes, in trust accounts and etc. It is the legal property of someone who does not know of it. Many believers never claim their blood-bought rights and privileges because they do not know they have them. Even in the Old Covenant Holy Spirit said through the prophet,

“my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4: 6, NIV)

Far too many Christians are in the same situation today. The lack of the knowledge of who the believer is, what a believer has been given in the New Covenant and what he/she can do as a result, allows the devil to steal, kill and destroy the believer. In the New Covenant the believer is reminded,

“I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubt [in their minds], lifting up holy hands.” (1Timothy 2:8 AMP)

The believer needs to practice this constantly. Show the “scar” of covenant and declare VICTORY! The believer’s covenant partner has already defeated the enemy. Now, go live in it!

OATHS OF COVENANT

Every ceremony seems to have speeches. Even in ancient times the blessing of keeping and the curses of failing to keep the covenant were declared. In Deuteronomy 28 the blessings and curses of the Old Covenant, or Mount Sinai Covenant, are given. The first fourteen verses give the blessings and the next fifty-three verses give the curses.

Praise God! Jesus provided the believer today with a better covenant. The believer is not obligated to perform to receive the blessing of the New Covenant. Jesus paid for all the curses the believer should receive and by GRACE the believer is delivered form the curse and declared righteous by God. He/she is enabled to receive all the blessings. The Bible tells the believer,

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

In the covenant ceremony a list of all possessions was read aloud so the partners would know what they have access to and authority over. They now shared everything in common so that one would not have too little while the other had too much. The New Covenant uses the Greek word “κοινωνία, koinonia,” translated “fellowship” to describe this relationship. It is not talking about a covered dish dinner after church or a Saturday ice cream social. The word means partnership, that is, (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction (SEC). It is not teaching socialism, but is showing the degree of love and caring God has for His covenant partners. It is how God wants the believer to depend on Him.

God made a promise to Abram and told him,

“And Jehovah saith unto Abram, `Go for thyself, from thy land, and from thy kindred, and from the house of thy father, unto the land which I shew thee. And I make thee become a great nation, and bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing. And I bless those blessing thee, and him who is disesteeming thee I curse, and blessed in thee have been all families of the ground.” (Genesis 12: 1-3 YLT)

All that was promised to Abram is available to the believer. God told Abram,

“1And Abram is a son of ninety and nine years, and Jehovah appeareth unto Abram, and saith unto him, `I [am] God Almighty, walk habitually before Me, and be thou perfect; and I give My covenant between Me and thee, and multiply thee very exceedingly. And Abram falleth upon his face, and God speaketh with him, saying, 4`I -- lo, My covenant [is] with thee, and thou hast become father of a multitude of nations; and thy name is no more called Abram, but thy name hath been Abraham, for father of a multitude of nations have I made thee; and I have made thee exceeding fruitful, and made thee become nations, and kings go out from thee. `And I have established My covenant between Me and thee, and thy seed after thee, to their generations, for a covenant age-during, to become God to thee, and to thy seed after thee; and I have given to thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojourning, the whole land of Canaan, for a possession age-during, and I have become their God.” (Genesis 17:1-8 YLT)

The Bible says Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Why did he believe God? Because God had made covenant with him! The Scripture says,

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” (Galatians 3:8 and 9 NKJV)

What is the Covenant Blessing of the Christian? The Bible says,

“ And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and yours is the heritage by the right of God's undertaking given to Abraham.” (Galatians 3:29 BBE)

Jesus says,

“…so that whatever request you make to the Father in my name he may give it to you.” (John 15:16 BBE)

The believer not only receives the promise to Abraham, but has the only person to ever live perfectly before God, Jesus (who died to provide “THE WAY” to receive from God) promising to deliver whatever demand the believer puts on the covenant promises.

The Covenant Blessing of the New Covenant that Jesus established for the believer is better than the covenant made with Abraham. By being washed in the blood of Jesus, God sees the believer “in Christ”, not in his/her failures and short comings. John tell us,

“…because as he is, so are we in this world.” (1John 4:17 KJV)

Everything Jesus IS, the believer IS! Not as Jesus was, or as the believer will become, but IS, present tense! The believer is not put back into the relationship Adam had in the Garden of Eden before the fall, but is the same as Jesus IS – the resurrected authority over Heaven, the earth and everything beneath the earth. The glorified Christ seated on the throne, next to Eternal Father God. In covenant with Him, the believer has everything he/she needs to live in total victory in this world. Paul says,

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NIV)

If a believer will walk in the covenant, all the blessings of God will come to and overtake the believer. The believer is told by Jesus,

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John15:4-5 KJV)

God does not respond to the believer’s crying, doubt, fear, begging or needs; God responds to the believer’s faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross! The believer must stay connected to the vine, keep Jesus always in his/her sight and follow Holy Spirit’s leading to live in the benefits of his/her covenant blessing.

Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus does not tell the believer to produce much fruit? Then it would be like the Old Covenant and be based on the works of the believer. Jesus says to “abide,” remain constantly, “in Him” and that alone will produce lots of fruit. The believer is not held accountable for the production, just for believing in the producer. Jesus has done all the work, the believer only has to live in the victory Jesus won to live in the supernatural blessing of the New Covenant. The New Covenant is a covenant of grace and the believer must understand that grace has already supplied what is needed before the believer realizes it is needed. Love always gives to the believer what grace supplies and the believer’s is only responsible to receive (take) what is given. That is called faith.

“But Jesus, turning and seeing her, said, Daughter, take heart; your faith has made you well. And the woman was made well from that hour.”

(Matthew 9:22 BBE)

When Jesus saw her faith, she was healed. When God sees the believer’s faith, the believer always realizes God’s grace. Believe God and experience His grace in every situation and circumstance.

COVENANT MEAL

The last step in establishing a covenant was to partake of the covenant meal. The parties would take bread and wine together. One would break off a piece of bread and dip it into the wine and put it in the mouth of the other saying something like, “This is my life, my body and my blood; you are taking me into you. Now you and I are united as one.” Then the other person would do the same. The Scripture teaches,

“Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciple, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying:”Drink from it, all of you. This is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28 NIV)

Jesus used the familiar to teach a new lesson. They all understood the meaning of the covenant meal and they understood the meaning of the Passover they had just celebrated. In this way Jesus took the Passover of the Old Covenant and established the NEW COVENANT MEAL (or as the Bible calls it, The LORD’S Supper) for the believer to do in remembrance of Him as a proclamation of His death until He comes. The Passover had served as a shadow of what God was going to do, now the true was about to take place before their eyes.

Being aware of what Isaiah said about Jesus,

“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5 NIV),

Paul writes to warn the believer,

“For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.” (1 Corinthians 11: 29 NIV)

The suffering Jesus underwent in his body is important to the Christian walking in the blessing of the covenant. To disregard the sacrifice of the body of Jesus and the benefits the believer receives as a result is to;

“…eat and drink judgment on himself.” (1 Corinthians 11:29 NIV)

Salvation is total; spirit, soul and body. Looking back at what Isaiah 53:4 and 5 says, the Holy Spirit teaches the believer,

“…and he sent the spirits out of them with a word, and made well all who were ill;

So that the word of Isaiah the prophet might come true: He himself took our pains and our diseases.” (Matthew 8: 17 BBE)

So as to not be judged with the prince of this world (the devil), the believer should take into account the literal sacrifice of the body of Jesus. Believe the benefits the Christian received because of His sacrifice of His body, as well as His shed blood for the believer’s sins. Jesus took the pain, sickness and death for mankind and in exchange gave His joy, health and life to all who have faith.

“For, if we have been made like him in his death, we will, in the same way, be like him in his coming to life again; Being conscious that our old man was put to death on the cross with him, so that the body of sin might be put away, and we might no longer be servants to sin. Because he who is dead is free from sin…... For his death was a death to sin, but his life now is a life which he is living to God. Even so see yourselves as dead to sin, but living to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:5-7, 10-11 BBE)

It is not communion, a celebration of the believer’s death to self, or of his/her faith. It is totally to proclaim the death of Jesus for the healing of the believer and the forgiveness of sin. The believer must realize what it takes to attain the resurrected life of Jesus. Superficial effort will not obtain anything from God! Paul says for the believer is to count or, (as the King James Version says) to reckon his own death to sin in order to fellowship or participate in the death of Jesus. To die is to be set free from the bonds of what was holding one captive. The Scripture is saying when the believer reckons him/her self dead to sin the life of Jesus will resurrect him/her to a new life in Christ.

All the Scripture is bound together in this concept of covenant. When Jesus was on earth the Jewish people understood covenant. Jesus took the familiar and breathed His life into it and gave it to the believer. He took the symbols and shadows of the Old Covenant and filled them with His life for the believer. When a Christian understands the meaning of God’s Covenant, it opens the door of understanding to all of the doctrines of the Christian life. The LORD”S Supper is a proclamation that the debt of sin is paid and the benefits of the New Covenant belong to the redeemed. Receive what Jesus did for the believer and rejoice it is a supernatural life through Jesus.

Prayer:

Thank you Father, for sending Jesus, your Son, to pay for my sin. Thank you for punishing Him in my place. Thank you for reconciling or exchanging what I was for what Jesus is. Thank you for giving to me all that Jesus is. I acknowledge Jesus as my LORD and my life. I receive what you have done for me and walk in life by the power of your indwelling Spirit. Amen

אלהים 'ĕlôhı̂ym, GOD

The first name given as a way of teaching believers to understand who God is and what His nature is like is the Hebrew name ELOHIyM: The Deity, in its plural form, indicating the Supreme God; The unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one. It is plural, but the Hebrew construction is uniformly singular, that is, it needs and/or uses a singular verb or adjective, unless used of heathen divinities. In his book, The Names of God, Andrew Jukes makes this point clear, He says, for the word ‘Elohim’ is formed from the Hebrew word ‘Alah,’ which means ‘to swear,’ and describes One who operates in a covenant relationship, which is ratified by an oath. The origin will always be in doubt, since the derivation is prehistoric, and the name, with its shared words 'El and 'Ĕlōah, is common to Semitic languages and religions and precedes Hebrew records. It is reasonable to believe that the meaning is “might” or “power”; and is common to Semitic language. The fact that the form is plural expresses majesty or “all-mightiness,” and that is a generic, rather than a specific personal, name for Deity.

Realizing the name that God is referred to in the Bible 2,570 times is ELOHIyM, is to understand that He is a God who swears by an oath; a covenant! His very nature is to be irrevocably committed to His people.

When the believer comprehends the relationship Jesus has with the Father is the exact relationship a Christian today is to have with the Father, it is the beginning of understanding and living in “The Blessing” of the New Covenant. The believer is told,

“Because by his power he has given us everything necessary for life and righteousness, through the knowledge of him who has been our guide by his glory and virtue; And through this he has given us the hope of great rewards highly to be valued; so that by them we might have our part in God's being, and be made free from the destruction which is in the world through the desires of the flesh.” (2 Peter 1:3-4 BBE)

The Christian living in the grace of the New Covenant is a believer who is participating in the very “being” or nature of God. It is the grace to overcome the world system, to resist the temptations of the flesh and to live in the love of Jesus towards others.

יהוה Yehôvâh, JEHOVAH

In the second and third chapters of Genesis the believer is introduced to yEHOVAH, “The LORD God,” meaning the self Existent; (SEC) “One who is what He is”, as Andrew Jukes explains it. Like Elohiym, it was common to primitive Semitic religions. However, it became Israel's distinctive name for the Deity. This name is used some 6,823 times in the Bible. It is written in the English Bibles in all capital letters “LORD” to distinguish it from the name “Adonai” which is translated “Lord”, but literally means sovereignty. The Jews held the name Jehovah to be so holy they would not even speak it, referring to God by the Word “Hashem” meaning “The Name.” Today, no one knows for certain the correct way to say the word יהוה, which the English Bible translates as yEHOVAH, or jehovah. It is known that the pictures that depict the Hebrew letters are – י , open hand, ה , grace(open window), ו , hooked or nailed (as being held up), ה , grace; together - the open hand of Grace hooked or nailed in Grace. Is that a picture of Jesus?

It is the name all believers are familiar with when God told Moses, “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14 NKJV), it is literally an expression of what God is, or of His being. It was not first made known at the call of Moses but, being already known, was at that time given a greater revelation and interpretation. The Jewish people will say “the Elohiym” denoting the Supreme God, but never say “the yehovah” because yehovah is the name of “Elohiym”. Characteristic of the Old Testament is its insistence on the knowledge of God as a person; and yehovah is His name as a person. It speaks of His unchangeableness, of the security and the assured reliability of His character that never wavers regardless of the circumstance, situation, or person.

To Israel, God revealed himself as yehovah, today He reveals Himself by His Son,

“In times past the word of God came to our fathers through the prophets, in different parts and in different ways;

But now, at the end of these days, it has come to us through his Son…” (Hebrews 1:1, 2 BBE)

yehovah is the God of revelation, of righteousness, of holiness and of love. His name is often paired with another expression of God’s character to reveal to the believer His attributes or intrinsic characteristics. These compound names are God’s method to explain to mankind His personality and character so man can relate to Him. In Jesus, all the attributes and the character of God is in bodily form enabling the believer to see and understand how to live life in Him. Jesus is a demonstration of how to live on earth in union with God. In the New Covenant, God’s Spirit indwells man and the spirit of man and the Spirit of God become one. This life on earth lived in the Covenant promises and power of God is possible by faith in the God of Covenant.

יהוה יראה, yir'eh yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-JIREH

Beginning in the twelfth chapter of Genesis, the story of Abram teaches us of the covenant God established with the man He re-named Abraham. This covenant will be studied more carefully later. At this point, the purpose is to understand God better, so look at the story in the Bible,

“And He saith, `Take, I pray thee, thy son, thine only one, whom thou hast loved, even Isaac, and go for thyself unto the land of Moriah, and cause him to ascend there for a burnt-offering on one of the mountains of which I speak unto thee.” (Genesis 22:2 YLT)

Abraham, like the airplane in the introduction, had come to the point of decision. He had to make a decision! He had reached the point on the runway where it was fly or cut the engine off! Did he really believe in the covenant he had with God? Could he truly trust God to do what He said? Abraham chose to FLY! Abraham chose to listen to God, to believe and to act on what God said. This is called faith! A few verses later the Bible says,

“And Abraham lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, a ram behind, seized in a thicket by its horns; and Abraham goeth, and taketh the ram, and causeth it to ascend for a burnt-offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13 YLT)

And then it says,

“and Abraham calleth the name of that place `Jehovah-Jireh,' because it is said this day in the mount, `Jehovah doth provide.'” (Genesis 22:14 YLT)

Abraham called the place “JEHOVAH-JIREH” which is properly translated The LORD-SEES. It is not provision from God the believer needs, it is God! God sees before the need is realized and makes provision so that when the believer has need, it is already provided. He is not saying He will provide, but that He is the provision.

The desire of Abraham’s heart was to not sacrifice his only son, but he believed that even if he did God would raise him back to life because this was the “promised” son. His belief in covenant enabled him to follow God. God had always kept what He promised. Why would He not do so this time?

To the believer today this is assurance that every provision covered in the New Covenant is certain. God will not withhold Himself from those that love Him and follow His “commandments” for living. In the Greek commandments is the word ἐντολή, en-tol-ay' meaning ‘authoritative prescription’ (TGEL) The Bible clearly states this when it says,

“And my God will fill to the full all your demands on the Covenant Blessings according to His immeasurable wealth by and through His incomparable favor in the Anointed One, Jesus and His anointing.” (Philippians 4:19, Author’s translation from Greek)

Jehovah-Jireh is the God,

“Now to him who is able to do in full measure more than all our desires or thoughts, through the power which is working in us,…” (Ephesians 3: 20 NIV)

When the believer learns to live in the New Covenant, he/she moves past the thrill of entering into relationship to the continuing joy of the realization of God’s riches. The believer will experience the wealth of his/her covenant partner living in the believer, “seeing” all that the believer demands from the blessing in Jesus. The believer comes to understand that to try to earn the blessing is superficial effort.

Many times when someone gives his/her “testimony,” he/she will say that the most wonderful day of his/her life was when he/she received Jesus as Savior. What has happened since then? Did the relationship stop at that point, or did he/she learn to walk out this new life? Does the “LORD-SEES,” the Providision, still meet his/her needs, or did that stop a salvation? Has God changed His name? Is He still Johavah-Jireh? Did He expect the believer to accept the covenant and then ignore its provisions? Praise God, He is still the JOHOVAH-JIREH. He is still seeing and providing for all the needs of all believers in the New Covenant!

יהוה רפה, râphâ' yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-ROPHE

A great deal of misinformation has been taught concerning the subject of “Divine Healing”, and has caused many Christians to back away from what the Bible clearly teaches and fail to receive this covenant benefit. To objectively study the Scripture is to hear the Lord repeatedly commit Himself to His people. The believer finds where God speaking to His people says,

“…for I, Jehovah, am healing thee..“ (Exodus 15: 26f YLT)

What part of that is too difficult to understand? He literally said “I am the LORD–HEALING!” He is not saying He heals, but that He is Health to the believer. When the believer has Jesus he/she has health. The prophet speaking of the coming Savior, Jesus, says,

“But it was for our sins he was wounded, and for our evil doings he was crushed: he took the punishment by which we have peace, and by his wounds we are made well.” (Isaiah 53: 5 BBE)

“Oh, but that is the Old Testament” the doubter (non-believer) says. Even though the prophet is talking about Jesus? So, how does that person who is suppose to be a believer deny,

“He took our sins on himself, giving his body to be nailed on the tree, so that we, being dead to sin, might have a new life in righteousness, and by his wounds we have been made well.” (1 Peter 2:24 BBE)

It takes help to not understand this verse! And, total unbelief to deny it. Peter plainly states that if a person has received Jesus as the sacrifice for his/her sin, he/she has been healed. It does not depend on who the believer is, what he/she has done, or what sickness he/she has claimed. It depends on the grace of God and the grace of God never fails. A Christians does not need to be healed, he/she is healed and Satan is trying to make him/her believe he/she is sick. The believer has the LORD-HEALER living in them. Is Jesus ever sick?

Salvation is complete (spirit, soul, and body) or it is not at all!! Jesus does not partially do anything, and He said on the cross “It is finished!” (John 19:30 KJV) Everything that needs to be done for the believer’s healing has been done, so all the believer needs to do is believe!

This is not an exercise to prove divine healing. Healing is an intrinsic characteristic of God the believer cannot dismiss if Jehovah-Rophe is to be understood and the covenant relationship experienced. The believer needs to stop begging God to do something that Jesus accomplished on the cross over two thousand years ago. The believer needs to declare his/her healing and begin to walk in divine health. It is a supernatural blessing of the New Covenant!

יהוה נסּי nissı̂y yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-NISSI

“…and Moses buildeth an altar, and calleth its name Jehovah-Nissi, and saith,`Because a hand [is] on the throne of Jah, war [is] to Jehovah with Amalek from generation -- generation.'” (Exodus 17: 15-16 YLT)

Most everywhere one studies this character description of God it is said to mean “the LORD is my Banner.”

A banner is a standard, a flag, a sign or a pole. It gives the idea of a rallying point, a reference or a signal. In researching this word, nissi, everyone was in agreement until in John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible. He made reference to the phrase actually meaning “the LORD is My Miracle”. Investigating the Torah (Hebrew Scripture) found the same Hebrew word translated in the English Bibles as banner or standard was used here. But The Hebrew Commentary or The Chumash gives the translation “HASHEM IS MY MIRACLE”. When all the other places this word “nissi” is used in the Hebrew are researched, it seems to imply a flag, or ensign. But, if the Hebrew Rabbi’s say it means in this case “miracle”, why argue? It gives the passage more importance and teaches of the power of God.

If the believer accepts only the traditional translation, it teaches him/her an important aspect of the character of God.

As the battle against the Amalekites had raged, victory was obtained when Moses held his staff over his head, but the Amalekites began winning when his arms grew tired and he lowered them. Aaron and Hur came along side him and held up Moses’ arms so victory resulted.

Moses raised his staff over the battle, and as long as he stood firm, Israel won. This was the same staff he used to bring the judgments of God on Egypt, to part the waters of the Red Sea and to bring water from the rock. Therefore, Moses had faith that the staff, as a ‘banner’ of the presence and power of God, would bring victory.

What would be the significance of his staff or his hands being considered as banners lifted up? Moses said, “`Because a hand [is] on the throne of Jah,” the opening verse of this section says; or, “God had sworn by placing His hand on the throne.” (Exodus 17:16 Torah) To fully grasp this, one has to know more about the Hebrews in the wilderness.

God gave specific orders as to where each tribe was set up camp. When they camped at night, the Tent of Meetings was set up and the tribes camped around it with their Banners standing firm in front of the tribe.

No account is given in the Scriptures of their camp ever being attacked. Balaam could not even curse them when he saw their camp from the mountaintop. If a person takes the number of people in each tribe found in Numbers the first chapter, proportions the encampment accordingly and lays out the design by the instructions given in the second chapter of Numbers, it is not surprising that their encampment was in the shape of the cross. Four thousand years before the cross of Jesus and before the cross had been used by man God protected His people by the cross.

There is special importance as to the tribes camped closest to the Tent of Meetings. On the East facing the entrance to the Tent of Meetings was the tribe of Judah, on the South, the tribe of Reuben, on the West, the tribe of Ephraim and on the North, the tribe of Dan. They faced the Tent of Meetings so their backs were to anyone that might attack them. (A lesson to all believers concerning where attention is to be directed.) The New Covenant says,

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15: 57 NIV)

If the believer will stay focused on Jesus, the victory He won and not on what people might do to him/her, God will protect from the enemy. The believer is to keep his/her eyes on Jesus as He leads, protects and defends from all the attacks of the enemy. The believer is not to be self-righteous and expect to take care of himself/herself, but to be totally dependent on God in every situation and circumstance.

The banner of the tribe of Judah on the east had a lion pictured on it as the symbol of the tribe. It stood in front of the tribe and faced the west. The banner of the tribe of Reuben stood in front of the tribe on the south side facing north and had the symbol of a man. On the west side facing east was the tribe of Ephraim. On its banner was the symbol of an ox or calf. And, on the north facing the south was the tribe of Dan with its symbol of an eagle.

This does not seem to have any importance until the believer reads the first chapter of Ezekiel. In the tenth verse, Ezekiel tells of the four faces he observed of the four living creatures in the whirlwind,

“As to the likeness of their faces, the face of a man, and the face of a lion, toward the right [are] to them four, and the face of an ox on the left [are] to them four, and the face of an eagle [are] to them four.” (Ezekiel 1:10 YLT)

These are often called the four faces of Jesus and are compared to the explanation of the character of Jesus as given in the four Gospels of the New Testament. Matthew portrays Jesus as the Lion of Judah; of the royal line of David, the King and the Son of God. Mark portrays Jesus as the Servant; the tireless beast of burden and sacrifice, portrayed by the sacrificial heifer or ox. Luke portrays Jesus as Messiah; the promised One, as The Son of Man. And, John portrays Jesus as the Christ (the Anointed One); the God of heaven who came to live among people; the eagle who came down from above.

The Apostle John in his vision tells the believer,

“And before the high seat there was, as it seemed, a clear sea of glass; and in the middle of the high seat, and round about it, four beasts full of eyes round about. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second like an ox, and the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.” (Revelation 4:6-7 BBE)

Then John writes,

“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures…” (Revelation 5:6 NIV)

John goes on in the sixth chapter to tell of the four horses and what they are sent into the world to do. These horses are the same spirits Zechariah speaks of in the sixth chapter of his prophesy. If a believer reads these accounts, it is easy to see that the direction and purpose of the horses and the position of the banners carry great significance for victory. And, in teaching of end times the list of things to come are in the same order and purpose given in Ezekiel and John, when Jesus says,

“ And Jesus said to them in answer, Take care that you are not tricked.

For people will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and a number will be turned from the true way through them.

And news will come to you of wars and talk of wars: do not be troubled, for these things have to be; but it is still not the end.

For nation will be moved against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and men will be without food, and the earth will be shaking in different places;” (Matthew 24: 4-7 BBE)

These things must happen before the end of this age according to Jesus.

However, Jesus says,

“…But he who goes through to the end will get salvation.” (Matthew 24: 13 BBE)

The Lamb that was slain, in the midst of the four living creatures, is the banner that the believer should be standing and lifting against the enemy. As the Christian lifts the Banner of Jesus, He becomes the guarantor of the ability to overcome every attack the enemy mounts. Jesus said,

“In the world you have trouble: but take heart! I have overcome the world.”

(John 16:33 BBE)

The battle has been won, victory belongs to the believer, stand in it! The believer does not have to fight the battle because it was won by Jesus and is given to the believer as a Covenant Blessing! The LORD is my Banner, the LORD is my Miracle. To raise the LORD-BANNER and/or the LORD-MIRACLE assures victory.

יהוה קדשׁ, qâdash yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH

God, when giving instruction on how to live, tells the Hebrew people,

“And ye have sanctified yourselves, and ye have been holy, for I [am] Jehovah your God; and ye have kept My statutes and have done them; I [am] Jehovah, sanctifying you.” (Leviticus 20:7-8 YLT)

Or, “I am JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH, the LORD who makes you holy.” (Literally the LORD-BE HOLY.) This was good news to them because earlier God had told Moses,

“Speak unto all the company of the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, Ye are holy, for holy [am] I, Jehovah, your God.” (Leviticus 19: 2 YLT)

The Israelites did not realize they had no hope of being what God wanted them to be without Him. In these verses He uses the word “qâdôsh” which means sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart, (BDB). When the children of Israel were wandering in the dessert before going into the promised-land, the people ask Moses to talk to God for them. They were fearful to be in relationship with such a mighty God as was demonstrated when He came down on the mount and spoke to them in Exodus 20. The people saw that man could talk with God Himself and still live, yet they feared that they were such sinful flesh and because of their sins they were alienated, frail and powerless before a holy God. They were more focused on themselves and their sin consciousness than on the forgiver of sin. They feared they would be destroyed by His holiness if they even listened to Him directly.

Moses tried to reassure them that God test the condition of their hearts, not the actions of their flesh. God’s appearance on the mountain top was to encourage them so that they would have a true reverence for Him; that they might not sin through unbelief, distrust and resistance to His leading and authoritative directives for their lives. In their self-righteousness they said,

“ And Moses cometh in, and recounteth to the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the judgments, and all the people answer -- one voice, and say,`All the words which Jehovah hath spoken we do.'” (Exodus 24:3 KJV)

He assured them that they were not on their own but that He would do what they could not do for themselves. Through the temple sacrifices, ceremonial washings and offerings, God made “the Way.” However, throughout the entire Old Testament, it is evident that the Israelites could not keep God’s laws. Instead of having faith in God’s grace, they endeavored to become righteous by their own works by trying to observe all the law perfectly. Their self-righteousness kept them from depending on God. They were more dependent on the superficial effort of religion than on the supernatural power of God.

In the New Covenant Jesus is “The Way,” the sacrifice that makes the believer holy. This is what the Scripture means when Paul says,

“…so that if any one [is] in Christ -- [he is] a new creature; the old things did pass away, lo, become new have the all things.” (2 Corinthians 5: 17 YLT)

And, he added,

“..and to put on the new man, which according to God was created in righteousness and true holiness..” (Ephesians 4: 24 BBE)

It is declared in the scripture,

“For if by the deviation of the one death reigned through the one, much more those who are receiving the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall rule in life by the One, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17 BBE)

Many Christians do not live a life of victory and fail to appropriate all that God has done in the believer through Jesus. The reason is the failure to accept that God has DELCARED the believer righteous. The believer’s flesh is not made righteous; it must be transformed by chastisement (training or discipline of lifestyle). The inner spirit, the real person, is declared righteous as it is united with Jesus. The indwelling Jesus is the righteousness of the believer. It is not earned, then it would be self-righteousness; it is a gift from God.

One of the most telling stories of the believer being declared righteous is the introduction of the letter to the Corinthian Christians. When a believer reads this letter, it is easy to understand that these people were not living a sinless life. But, Paul, through the Holy Spirit ad-dress them by saying,

“ To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:2-3 BBE)

Regardless of how they were conducting themselves, God saw them as sanctified, holy, and righteous, IN CHRIST because Jesus lived in them. Paul called on them to believe correctly, to put their eyes on Jesus and become more like Him: to act like who they were - in Christ. It is an indisputable fact that right believing produces right living. The Lord is the one who makes holy and everyone that comes to Him is set apart, sanctified and made holy in The Christ.

God is still JEHOVAH-M”KADDESH, the LORD-HOLINESS, who makes the believer holy! Can you receive it? The believer is made holy, just as Jesus is holy, by the promise of the New Covenant. God test the condition of the heart, not the performance of the flesh. If the heart is right, the flesh will follow and become right because right believing produces right living! If the believer will receive what Jesus has done in him/her, he/she can say, “I am the righteousness of God in the Anointing of Jesus.” This is called faith! It is accepting and receiving JEHOVAH M’KADDESH, the LORD who makes you holy. The believer is made holy by the blood of Jesus in the New Covenant.

Pray this prayer of faith:

Thank you, Father, for taking my sin and recreating me in the image of Jesus and declaring that I am the righteousness of God in the Anointing of Jesus. Thank you for judging Jesus for my sin and giving me His life. I receive all that you have provided for me and walk out the life of Jesus by faith. Fill me with your Spirit so that everyone may see Jesus when they look at me. To my God be all the glory, honor and praise. In Jesus name, Amen

יהוה צדק, tsedeq yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU

So many Christians have been taught incorrectly by churches that “I’m just a sinner saved by grace,” that most believers live in self-condemnation and are unwilling to accept the gift of righteousness. If a believer looks at his/her own inconsistent performance, it will not measure up to what the Bible says a Christian should be. God solved that problem for the believer when he made “The Way”. He promised,

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD,

“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;

A King shall reign and prosper,

And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

In His days Judah will be saved,

And Israel will dwell safely;

Now this is His name by which He will be called:

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS”. (Jeremiah 23:5-6 NKJV)

One of the primary benefits that take place in a blood covenant is the exchange of identity. When Jonathan and David exchanged robes and belts they exchanged identity. The shepherd of Bethlehem was looked upon as a Prince of Israel because he was in covenant with the Prince. Paul tells us,

“For him who had no knowledge of sin God made to be sin for us; so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 BBE)

The Christian cannot do enough to become righteous, but the gift of righteousness is imparted in the believer by faith in Jesus. Doubters sometimes ask, “How can I be righteous?” In the same way Jesus was made sin for man. He never committed a sin, but God made Him sin for man so that man could be made righteous by reconciliation through the covenant. Through the grace of God the Christian is enabled to live in victory over sin and the flesh by understanding what God’s grace has afforded in declaring the believer righteous.

All the sin and failure a person has committed or will ever commit in the future is forgiven and removed by the grace of God. Grace is more than a way to live, it is more than a doctrine; Grace is a person and that person is Jesus! The righteousness the believer receives is the same, it is Jesus! Man has no righteousness, it is all Jesus. The believer is righteous because Jesus lives in the believer and lives out His life through the believer.

In the forth chapter of Romans, Paul explains that Abraham received righteousness by faith. Abraham believed God’s promises because he trusted God to keep His covenant. Paul says,

“…he did not give up faith in the undertaking of God, but was made strong by faith, giving glory to God,

And being certain that God was able to keep his word. For which reason it was put to his account as righteousness…… But for us in addition, to whose account it will be put, if we have faith in him who made Jesus our Lord come back again from the dead.”

(Romans 4:20-22 & 24 BBE)

Abraham’s performance was not always perfect, but God, by His grace saw him as righteous.

In the story of Balaam, it says he looked from the mountain top and saw Israel encamped and the Spirit came upon him as he saw the camp in the shape of the cross. He proclaimed,

“Lo, to bless I have received: Yea, He blesseth, and I [can] not reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, Nor hath He seen perverseness in Israel; Jehovah his God [is] with him, And a shout of a king [is] in him. (Numbers 23: 20-21 YLT)

When God examines the believer, He does not see the imperfections, He sees Jesus! God no longer sees a sinner, not even a former sinner. He sees the righteousness of Jesus in the believer. The Bible assures the believer,

“Because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4: 17 KJV)

By the grace of God the believer is washed in the blood of Jesus and God only sees a Christian as Jesus IS. The sin debt was paid by the perfect blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus. A holy and just God declares man righteous based on justice - the debt is paid and cannot be charged to man again. The Christian should live in this righteousness, in total humility, knowing that it is not one’s own, but a gift of grace – a covenant benefit.

יהוה שׁלום, shâlôm yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-SHALOM

The first mention of JEHOVAH-SHALOM is when Gideon built an altar unto the LORD.

“And Jehovah saith to him, `Peace to thee; fear not; thou dost not die.' And Gideon buildeth there an altar to Jehovah, and calleth it Jehovah-Shalom.” (Judges 6: 23-24 YLT)

This term SHALOM is one of the most common Hebrew words heard even today, yet it is one of the most misunderstood words to Christians. Because it does not translate into a single word in English, but rather takes a paragraph to explain, it has been given too little attention and too often mistranslated and/or the interpretation is wrong.

Most believers have no clue what the word SHALOM means or have been taught that it means peace, an absence of conflict between men. Why then would Jesus tell the believer?

“Do not have the thought that I have come to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34 BBE)

The King James translation of the Bible translates SHALOM using twenty-four different words. Some are very good, holding to the meaning of the word. Others make one wonder what the translators were thinking. The meaning of SHALOM is best expressed in safe (well, happy, friendly), welfare, (prosperity, contentment), well (healing or health), or whole (nothing lacking or missing); the LORD my completion, my soundness, my health, my prosperity and my contentment.

It is the greeting commonly used among people in Israel to this day. It often appears in repetition in the scriptures (shalom, shalom).

In the first mention of the name JEHOVAH-SHALOM, The LORD was giving Gideon orders to gather an army and deliver the Israelites from the Midianites. Now, that sounds strangely like war, not peace! The Old Covenant was based on man’s performance, not on God’s grace. They had to exemplify their faith for God to deliver them. Gideon had to prepare an army and go to the battle ground before God delivered them miraculously.

Paul taught,

“Stand firm then,…” (Ephesians 6:13 NIV)

The battle has been won; Jesus secured the victory on the cross! Stand firm in the Covenant of Grace. The believer does not have to fight any enemies. The believer is “to stand” and receive the rewards of Jesus’ victory. The only battle for the believer is to enter the rest of God. The “rest” of God is the “peace” of God. The battle is in the mind and Satan will constantly attempt to steal what God has given to the believer. Jesus told His followers,

“May peace be with you; my peace I give to you: I give it not as the world gives. Let not your heart be troubled; let it be without fear.” (John 14:27 BBE)

When the believer comes to the realization of what God has given the Christian in the New Covenant, true peace, (Greek word, εἰρήνη, eirēnē, which means , peace, by implication prosperity: - one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again., SEC) will come over the heart. The believer has all that Jesus “IS” available to draw from. Paul reassures the believer,

“If God is for us, who can be against us? But we are able to overcome all these things and more through his love.” (Romans 8: 31b and 37 BBE)

The conqueror fights the battle and secures the victory; believers are “more than conquerors.” He/she is only responsible to receive the benefits the conqueror fought to secure for him/her.

True peace (wellness, prosperity, health, wholeness and joy) is beyond human understanding. It can only permeate a believer’s being as he/she sees him/her self in covenant with God, being perfectly cared for and kept by the power of God. Peace is realizing that life “in Christ” is supernatural power superseding superficial effort. When the believer keeps his/her heart and mind on Jesus, the peace that passes all understanding will be realized as a New Covenant benefit.

רעה רעה, râ'âh, yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-JAHVE

This name, or insight of the character of God, comes from David, the shepherd – King. He says,

“Jehovah [is] my shepherd, I do not lack,” (Psalm 23:1, YLT)

The shepherd is a caretaker, one that leads the flock to green pastures, clean water, safe places of rest and who protects the sheep from peril. The picture of the shepherd in the mind of most people, especially in the western world, is usually flawed to a large degree. Unless a person has seen a true shepherd it is difficult to realize the importance of the analogy God is using to teach the believer about Himself. Shepherds in David’s days did not use dogs or have all terrain vehicles to herd the sheep. It was a loving relationship of dependence to protect and meet the needs of the sheep. The sheep knew they were loved and had no fear of the shepherd, but looked to him to lead them in the right paths. The good shepherd would check each sheep on a regular basis to make sure of no cuts or broken bones. He would pull thorns from their wool and feet and make sure each one was healthy. By handling and touching the sheep, some of his smell would rub off on them which helps protect them from wild beast.

The sheep knew their shepherd; when flocks of several shepherds gathered together in a sheltered place for the night or in bad weather, no one worried about losing part of his flock. In the morning the shepherd would start walking, give his call and all his sheep would follow him. They knew his voice and would not follow a strange voice.

The sheep were totally dependent on the shepherd to find green pastures, clean water and safe shelter from the lions and bears. The shepherd even had to be sure that the path he followed was safe because sheep are not too keen on watching where they are going. He carried a staff to rescue them when they fell in a ditch or off a ledge. “The word משׁענת /mish'ênâh in the Hebrew translated as “staff” means “support, sustenance or a walking stick”(SEC). The word שׁבט, shêbeṭ translated as “rod” means, “rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe, club (of shepherd’s implement)”(SEC) was a sign of authority for the shepherd; it was for service in protecting the sheep, not for beating the sheep. The idea was tender loving care, not punishment. If the shepherd had beaten the sheep, they would be afraid to come near him. The prophet says,

“Lo, the Lord Jehovah with strength cometh, And His arm is ruling for Him, Lo, His hire [is] with Him, and His wage before Him. As a shepherd His flock He feedeth, With His arm He gathereth lambs, And in His bosom He carrieth [them]: Suckling ones He leadeth.” (Isaiah 40:10-11 YLT)

When an individual realizes the vastness of the universe and understands that the LORD feeds His flock like a shepherd, the believer might begin to understand the love of God and the intimacy with which the LORD ministers to each Christian in covenant with Him.

In man’s organization called the “church,” the pastor is often called the shepherd or under-shepherd. Too often it is clear that these shepherds have not cared for God’s flock as a good shepherd. They have not taught the flock truth or led them to the Great Shepherd who has met all their needs. They have tried to beat them into submission with guilt and condemnation. If Jesus were lifted up every service in “churches” instead of judgment, the flock would not have any fear; not of man, Satan or even of a Holy God. The “rod” was to be used on attacking animals, not on the sheep. The pulpit is to be a place of feeding, not beating! Paul tells the believer,

“For this cause those who are in Christ Jesus will not be judged as sinners.” (Romans 8:1 BBE)

Jesus is not trying to find fault to punish, but to seek hurting, sick, fearful, lost sheep (people) whom He may serve, heal, love and deliver from the tribulations of this fallen world.

When Jesus comes back to receive His flock, the church, He wants a victorious church, not a bruised, battered, self-condemned flock because of the preaching of the law. Jesus has already won, walk in it! He is the Good Shepherd; it is a covenant blessing.

יהוה שׁם , shâm yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-SHAM

The significance of the name JEHOVAH-SHAM (The LORD-THERE), cannot be fully appreciated until the believer realizes how Ezekiel saw Jerusalem in a vision from God. Israel had been conquered by Babylon and carried off into slavery. The city of Jerusalem had been destroyed and the Temple was in ruins. In the vision, the Prophet sees everything restored and God showed him the dimensions and gates and said,

“…and the renown of the city [is] from the day Jehovah [is] there.'” (Ezekiel 48:35 YLT)

The Israelite people were in a terrible situation. They were captives, slaves to others, poor and desperate. In the vision, Ezekiel saw Israel restored, the land divided by tribes, the city rebuilt and the Temple restored. Remember, in the Old Covenant God dwelt in The Temple. They could only offer sacrifices and offerings to God where He commanded and that was at Jerusalem in The Temple. Since they were captives in another country, they could not worship God as they were obligated under the Old Covenant.

In the Old Covenant God spoke through prophets, so He gave the prophet a vision of the future. God was giving them hope, a future to look forward to; a promise of deliverance. They had the teaching of Moses; they knew that God called what was not as though it was. By faith, the Israelites could assure their deliverance by believing and retelling (by saying and believing) what Ezekiel saw in the vision.

In the New Covenant of Grace, God resides in “A” Temple, not “The” Temple. Now, the Temple is the body of the believer.

Jesus teaches the believer,

“Jesus said to him in answer, If anyone has love for me, he will keep my words: and he will be dear to my Father; and we will come to him and make our living-place with him…” (John 14:23 BBE)

Paul reminds the believer,

“Or are you not conscious that your body is a house for the Holy Spirit which is in you, and which has been given to you by God? and you are not the owners of yourselves; (1 Corinthians 6:19 BBE)

That is why Jesus said,

“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me….. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18b, & 20b NIV)

When the believer understands that in the Covenant of Grace there is never a moment of time when Jesus is not “in” the individual who is in covenant. An act of disobedience or rebellion does not cause God to withdraw nor does it break the believer’s fellowship with God. He does not turn His back on the believer for a split second. God turned His back on Jesus on the cross when He became sin for the believer so God will never have to turn His back on the believer. The believer is able to live in the Blessing by faith and not live in fear.

“…God has said, ”Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV)

Covenant life is a life lived in the consciousness of the presence of God. Through the shed blood of Jesus and the enabling presence of Holy Spirit, the believer becomes a partaker of the divine life of God. The Christian receives every privilege that is imparted to Jesus seated next to the Father. Every benefit, right, blessing and responsibility to bear fruit and be available to the covenant partner, JEHOVAH SHAM, THE LORD-THERE, is available to His covenant partners.

When a believer truly understands that every thought, every word and every action is carried out in the presence of God Almighty, it changes everything. The “church” often teaches that the believer comes to a building where he/she meets with God. Prayer is taught as coming into the presence of God. Believers are taught to seek God’s presence in times of trouble. Believers are told to seek “the Anointing” of Holy Spirit. Then, pastors wonder why believers do not walk in victory! How can a believer know victory with that being taught as Christianity! This kind of theology is a mixture of Old Covenant Law with New Covenant Grace. The believer must know that God is always in him/her! He does not take any breaks. The “Anointing” is the abiding presence of God. God is always present to bless the believer. So, be blessed, JEHOVAH-SHAM, THE LORD THITHER!

WHY A NEW COVENANT?

When a believer reads the Bible, it becomes apparent that there are several covenants mentioned. God made covenant with several individuals and with the Hebrew people as a whole. There are several covenants made between people. There are also different kinds of covenants, all of which is another study. The emphasis here is on The Blood Covenant, in particular, the New Covenant in Jesus.

The Bible is generally divided into two parts that are called the “Old Testament” and the “New Testament.” Suffice it to be understood that the “Old Testament” deals with the times before the birth of Jesus and the “New Testament” deals with times from the birth of Jesus until now. It is important to understand that what is referred to as the ‘Old Covenant’ deals with the laws given to Moses fifty days after the exodus from Egypt up to the resurrection of Jesus. The ‘New Covenant’ deals with the time since the end of the law of the Old Covenant at the resurrection of Jesus and was activated when Holy Spirit returned to earth to indwell every believer on the Day of Pentecost. Since then God again deals with man by His grace as he did before the Law was sent and not based on man’s performance as in the Old Covenant.

In the beginning of creation, ELOHIYM, the Creator God, created man in His image and likeness. God created man, (another speaking spirit, like Himself) to be an example of His person. God gave man a soul (mind, will and emotions) to be an expression of His personality. Also, God gave man authority to reign on earth; to be an exhibit of His power in the earth.

God said,

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26 KJV)

The Chumash or the Hebrew Commentary on the Old Testament explains this by teaching, “in our image” means, in God’s molds (plural), meaning God has prepared molds in which He will now shape man. “After Our likeness,” means giving man the power of understanding and intellect. God created or had brought all things into being with a spoken word conversely; He created man as with His hands. Of all the living creatures, man alone is created, not made – in the image of his Creator – with character to facilitate morality, a mind with which to analyze and a will with which to freely determine. His body is from the earth and his soul from the Spirit of God himself. God breathed into his nostrils the Spirit of life, creating another speaking spirit.

God created man that he might have a life as much like God’s own life as was possible. Man in the Garden was a manifestation of God’s divine life. Simply by yielding himself to the will and leading of God, Adam could have lived forever in the blessings of God and so could everyone born since then.

When man chose, by his own free will, to listen to the words of someone other than God, sin entered into the world and the union of man with God was destroyed. With disobedience or the failure to believe what God said came fear. Man fled from the presence God, no longer trusting the love he had known when he believed God. All God wanted was for man to believe Him, to trust Him and to depend on Him for life and happiness. God knew that right believing results in right living. All man has to do is believe what God said.

What a man believes becomes a part of him and is portrayed in his lifestyle. For what a man believes determines how the thinks; how he thinks dictates his words which influences the decisions he makes; his decisions cause his actions; his actions establish his habits; his habits clarify his character; his character governs the path to his future and his final destination. Therefore, right believing causes right living and that brings the desired future results.

God is a Spirit therefore man cannot see Him with human eyes. So God chose the familiar method of covenant to give rebellious man a revelation of His purposes. To teach man that he could trust, believe and have faith that God was willing to work in, for and through the people with whom the Covenant was made. The writer of Hebrews tells the believer,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6a NIV)

If the believer could understand that nothing but a lack of faith or unbelief keeps the Christian from possessing all the promises of God. God cannot do His mighty works in, for or through the believer if the individual does not believe in the Covenant promises.

When the Bible speaks of the “Old Covenant,” it is the Covenant of Moses, or the Mount Sinai Covenant, to which it is referring. It is the Covenant of the “Ten Commandants” and the other laws given to Israel through Moses. Moses writes this message from the LORD,

“Today I put before you a blessing and a curse:

The blessing if you give ear to the orders of the Lord your God, which I give you this day:

And the curse if you do not give ear to the orders of the Lord your God, but let yourselves be turned from the way which I have put before you this day, and go after other gods which are not yours.” (Deuteronomy 11: 26-28 BBE)

The Old Covenant was dependant on mans ability to keep the law; on man’s performance. Man is a creature made by God, but he is, as much as a creature can be, like God; self-made, in that he has a free will to make his own choices. In the Old Covenant man was given the opportunity to show what he could do. Man’s absolute dependence on God was not forced on him. It ended with man’s total failure and complete unfaithfulness to the Covenant. Paul says,

“What then is to be said? is the law sin? in no way. But I would not have had knowledge of sin but for the law… because without the law sin is dead.“ (Romans 7: 7a-8b BBE)

The law was so that man could discover how holy God expected man to be; how much God hates sin; its misery, its ruin and its power to keep man in bondage and slavery to it. As a result of mans inability obtain holiness by superficial effort he was living under the curse proclaimed by the Law in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Many people today prefer to live in bondage under the law because the law makes allowance for sin and obedience is declared to be impossible. As long as there is no desire to be delivered from the curse of sin, an individual will continue to be led by the law of sin and death. The Bible tells the believer,

“And the law came in addition, to make wrongdoing worse; but where there was much sin, there was much more grace:

That, as sin had power in death, so grace might have power through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21 BBE)

Sit Down! This may shock you! ---- Ready? The Christian is not held accountable to keep the Ten Commandants! Nor is he/she responsible to keep any of the other laws given to the Israelites by Moses. It always seemed strange that God would expect a person to obey the Ten Commandants and not the other laws along with them. This is not what is taught by many religions and in many churches today. But, Praise God, Paul tell the believer,

“For all who are of the works of the law are under a curse: because it is said in the Writings, A curse is on everyone who does not keep on doing all the things which are ordered in the book of the law. Now that no man gets righteousness by the law in the eyes of God, is clear; because, The upright will be living by faith.” (Galatians 3:10-11 BBE)

This is wonderful news for the believer. No longer does the individual have to worry about keeping the law. Because as the next verse says,

“And the law is not of faith.” (Galatians 3:12 BBE)

When man had proven his inability to keep the law and gain salvation through his own righteousness, God gave a Covenant of Grace, His Son, Jesus, to enable God to declare man as righteous.

“ Christ has made us free from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us: because it is said in the Writings, A curse on everyone who is put to death by hanging on a tree:” (Galatians 3:13 BBE)

Jesus paid the price for man’s inability to keep the law (the Ten Commandants); man’s inability to live up to God’s standards by his own superficial efforts. Jesus’ blood was shed; His life was given, therefore, the believer can never think he/she had any part in his/her own salvation. God did it all! God gives the believer a new spirit, His own self (Holy Spirit), to indwell the believer. The Spirit of God and the Spirit of man become one. God transforms the mind in order for the believer to be able to hear and understand the voice of God. He/she develops the desire to choose to listen to and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. God gives the believer a life of total peace (health, prosperity and well being); life to the full, until it overflows. Jesus said,

“I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” (John 10:10 MSG)

The New Covenant provides this fullness of life through total salvation for the believer; spirit, soul and body. The Holy Spirit through Paul says,

“So that on the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; in order that we through faith might have the Spirit which God had undertaken to give.” (Galatians 3:14 BBE)

God made a Covenant of Promise with Abraham; because of his faith (his believing) God declared Abraham as righteous. The believer that comes out of Judaism is already in The Blessing of Abraham’s Covenant of Promise and is freed from the bondage of the Law. All others never were under Abraham’s Covenant or the Law in the first place, regardless of the teaching of many churches. And, by faith in the Covenant of Grace (Jesus) the believer can receive the righteousness of God. The Bible says,

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who has faith.” (Romans 10:4 BBE)

Why a new covenant? The reason for the “Old” was to show how holy God is and how holy man had to be to gain the approval of God. Man had to be convinced of his sin and his inability to gain his own righteousness. To awaken mans desires to deepen the realization of his need and dependence on God. When the time was right, God could send salvation to rescue him and man would understand his need to trust God.

The key word of the “Old Covenant” is obedience! The Hebrew word שׁמע, shâma' is the word most often translated - obey, hear, understand, obedient, and is used one thousand one hundred forty-nine times in the Old Testament. However, only forty times is it translated ‘obey’ in the King James Version. Moses began teaching the Hebrew people the law by saying,

“`Hear, Israel, the statutes and the judgments which I am speaking in your ears to-day, and ye have learned them, and have observed to do them.” (Deuteronomy 5:1 YLT)

Moses ends the giving of the Law by saying,

“And it hath been, if thou dost hearken diligently to the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe to do all His commands which I am commanding thee to-day, that Jehovah thy God hath made thee uppermost above all the nations of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 28:1 YLT)

In the fifteenth verse Moses warns,

“But if you do not give ear to the voice of the Lord your God, and take care to do all his orders and his laws which I give you today, then all these curses will come on you and overtake you:” (Deuteronomy 28:15 BBE)

This is in agreement with what God had said to Adam in the Garden,

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ”Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV)

Throughout the Old Covenant a special prominence is always given to obedience. God entrusts His work to the person who does what He commands. The Bible mentions Noah’s obedience four times, saying,

“And Noah doth according to all that God hath commanded him; so hath he done.” (Genesis 6:22 YLT)

God selected Abraham to be the father of faith and receive the promise because as the writer puts it,

“By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call…” (Hebrews 11:8 MSG)

The Bible says nineteen times that Moses, while building the Tabernacle where God was to dwell, obeyed…

“…according to all that the LORD had commanded” (Exodus 40:16 KJV)

Obedience is pleasing in God’s sight! The believer must understand the great reward that came as a result of obedience. A Christian can expect to be blessed by God when he/she has completely given up his/her will to know and do God’s will (which is what being a Christian means, anyway). The believer today does not have the law to obey, so he/she must know the New Covenant promises and hear the voice of Holy Spirit on the inside leading and teaching them to follow God.

The Bible says that before the law was given, every man was a law unto himself and every man did as he pleased, “…for all flesh hath corrupted its way on the earth.” (Genesis 6:12b YLT) One could say that the law was like a pre-school given by the Grace of God, to work out its purpose in individuals and in the nation as a whole. Paul explains this by writing,

“So the law has been a servant to take us to Christ, so that we might have righteousness by faith.

But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a servant.” (Galatians 3:24-25 BBE)

Paul explains that the Old Covenant was

“…the ministration of death, written and engraved in stone…” (2 Corinthians 3: 6-12 KJV)

The only law written in stone was the Ten Commandants. Not because the law did not have any glory, or that there was no grace in it, but because of its curses for disobeying. Paul consistently in all his writing reminds his readers that all who are trying to be righteous by works are under the Law and that puts them under the curses of the Law. The believer is told,

“But Israel, going after a law of righteousness, did not get it. Why? Because they were not searching for it by faith, but by works.” (Romans 9:31-32a BBE)

He also reminds the believer that the Old Covenant was absolutely necessary to prepare man for the coming of Jesus and the Covenant of Grace. Even though it was unable to provide to man the true and complete redemption needed. The Law could not provide man with the one thing he needed to enjoy the divine life of God for which he is designed; it could not give man a new heart or spirit-life.

The “New Covenant,” provides the way for man to have the divine life God intended for him. The primary promise of the New Covenant is a heart delighting in knowing God’s voice and having fellowship with Him. The evil of self or of man making his own laws and man’s inability to keep the law of the “Old Covenant” is dealt with by God putting His Laws in man by sending His Holy Spirit to dwell in the individual. Instead of laws written on stone, God breaths the very Spirit of His laws into the spirit of man, enabling man to do what would otherwise be impossible. In so doing, God realizes His eternal purpose for man; that man can be of one mind and one spirit with Himself.

“for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

(Jeremiah 31:34 KJV)

In the letter to the Hebrews the writer is hearing the Holy Spirit quoting Jeremiah 31:34, when he says of the New Covenant people,

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12 KJV)

It is a complete washing away of man’s sin to the point that God remembers them no more. This cleanses and sets a believer free from the power of Satan. This enables God to breathe the power of His principles, His love, His Spirit into a believer and give man His Divine Life in exchange for the sin of the believer. This is the purpose of the New Covenant and the hinge on which it turns.

If this is the literal truth and the exact life a Christian is suppose to experience, why does one see so little of it exhibited? And, why do so many Christians fail to realize what he/she has in Christ? There can be but one answer, because of unbelief! Many in the church today say, “Because of disobedience.” However, the words translated from the Greek in the New Testament as ‘disobedience’ are the words “παρακοή, parakoē,” which means hearing amiss (TGEL) or inattention (SEC) and the word “ἀπείθεια, apeitheia,” which means obstinacy, obstinate opposition to the divine will or disbelief (SEC).

Now, the believer comes face to face with the fact that it is not what one does that causes disobedience, but the condition of the heart. What a person believes! This will determine what a person does and where they end-up. Right believing always leads to right living!

The believer in the New Covenant has a new heart, the mind of Jesus and the power of Holy Spirit to live a life of total victory in the blessing of the New Covenant. This is why there had to be a New Covenant; the Old Covenant did not provide for God’s declaration of righteousness in the believer.

To realize the blessing of the New Covenant, a Christian must BELIEVE! It is not about doing it is about believing. Right believing produces right doing.

METAMORPHORIS – NOT TRANSITION!

In comparing the two covenants, a believer should never look at the Old Covenant as unnecessary or of no importance. God used it to explain Himself to man, to teach man how to live a holy life. God demonstrated to mankind what was expected of him and exposed to mankind its sinfulness. It served not only as a preparation but a promise of the New Covenant of fulfillment and possession.

The metamorphosis from the old to the new is not just a transition from one system of religion to another. Nor is it just a historical date in the life of the believer. It is a spiritual event! Praise God it is even more; it is spiritual, mental, and organic rebirth. The entire spirit, soul and body changed or it is just a transition and metamorphosis did not occur. God not only does things correctly but completely.

Jesus said while on the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30, NIV) At that pronouncement man’s entire relationship to God was changed and man the believer was “born again,” “created,” made a new creation” by the metamorphoser. God created man to be an expression of His ;person, an example of His personality and an exhibit of His power. Through Jesus completed work on the cross it was accomplished by grace through faith.

Man is a spirit, made in the image and likeness of God. The spirit is how an individual can know and relate to God. At salvation the spirit of sinful man is “born again” or reborn to the condition God created man to be when He first made man. Then God in His essence as the Holy Spirit takes residence in the believer to become united as one with the believer’s spirit.

“But he who is united to the Lord is one spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:17 BBE)

When a child is born he/she is born a sinner simply because he/she is born of human parents, decedents of Adam. The spirit is natural (without God) and in need of salvation. Not because of his or her deeds, (what a baby done before birth?) but because of his/her human nature. The grace and love of God is extended to a child until he/she chooses to commit acts of rebellion against God. As a child grows, he/she reaches the age of accountability (knowing right from wrong) and chooses to sin. It is not at that time he/she needs salvation; this is when he/she demonstrates the need for salvation. A person is not a sinner because he/she commits acts of sin; a person commits acts of sins because he/she is a sinner.

When a person declares that he/she believes Jesus was raised from the dead and proclaims Jesus as the LORD of his/her life and allows Jesus to reign in his/her life, metamorphosis occurs and God “renews,” or “rebirths” or the spirit of man becomes a new creation made in the likeness of God. Then His Spirit, or as the Bible calls Him - Holy Spirit – comes to dwell in the man so man’s spirit can become one with God.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)

The Holy Spirit leads the believer in knowing and following God. The spirit of redeemed man is one with God presently, in this world, not after the believer dies. Therefore, the man indwelled should be experiencing days of heaven on earth as he/she flows with the Holy Spirit and the spirit of man is seated in the heaven “in Christ” on the throne next to the Father; because the Bible says,

“And hath raised us up together,

And made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6 KJV)

If this is the believers’ position spiritually, why is there so much unbelief and rebellion by Christians? It is because the soul transformation part of salvation has not been accomplished and realized in Christians. The believer’s knowledge, thinking and decisions have to be transformed by the renewing of the soul.

The spirit is instantly changed, completely and forever. The soul did not receive the same instant metamorphosis. New knowledge has to be acquired and stored in the soul for it to have a reference point. It operates in the earthly realm and has to be transformed by exchanging the old worldly knowledge for the new Godly nature and understanding. The soul is the part of man made up of the mind, the will and the emotions. It is the human nature, the individuality, and the personality of an individual.

The mind is how man learns, thinks, and remembers the information he/she has stored in the brain. It can only recall what has been placed in it, so it must be re-trained to remember the truth of God’s Word and transformed in order to understand the things of God if it is going to operate properly. It must be given the proper knowledge of Jesus finished work on the cross and redeemed from the garbage of the world. The mind must learn to listen to and be in submission to the Spirit and not to lead the believer in the old paths of destruction.

The redemption and transformation of the mind at salvation is in order for the believer to understand the written Word of God and to be able to hear and follow the spoken Word of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Luke says that Jesus,

“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45 NIV)

The individual without Jesus as LORD is unable to comprehend the Scriptures or the things of God and can only call upon the LORD for salvation. This is explained in

“For the natural man is not able to take in the things of the Spirit of God: for they seem foolish to him, and he is not able to have knowledge of them, because such knowledge comes only through the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:14 BBE)

The only ploy the devil has is to plant thoughts in the mind of believers. It is the battleground where he will attempt to trick the believer into believing his lies and following his ways. He knows his only scam is to deceive the believer; he has no power, no authority, no ability and he has been defeated by Jesus. His only influence is when he is given permission by the believer to operate in their lives.

“And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.” (Romans 12:2 BBE)

The mind must be transformed through training to know what God’s written Word says in order to recognize the spoken Word; whether it is spoken by the Holy Spirit or by another person. The discipline of time daily spent reading and meditating on the written Word of God and in communication with the Father enables the believer to hear what Holy Spirit is saying. The only battle the believer has is to remain in the “rest” of God. To trust that Jesus defeated the devil, the victory is won, and the believer is more that a conqueror.

It is vitally important what information the believer puts in the mind. Even a lot of so-called “Christian” material; songs, T.V. shows, and unfortunately sermons are not true to the Bible. Many are such a mixture of Old Covenant Law and New Covenant Grace it is impossible for the believer to understand what Jesus did for them. The devil will always try to point the believer towards the Law because it shows man his sinfulness. Jesus fulfilled the Law and gave the believer His life, free and blessed. The believer must be careful not to give the devil any opportunity to manipulate his thoughts.

The “will” is unique in all of God’s creation to mankind. It allows the individual to determine for him/her self what, when, where and how to do everything. The will takes the information fed into the mind, weighs the emotional stimulus, determines what to believe about the information and what action should or should not be taken as a result. The resulting decision affects the entire life of the believer. It is proof that right believing produces right behaving. Every decision in life is based on what the individual believes about Jesus.

In the garden before His arrest Jesus knew exactly what lay ahead of Him. He knew the pain, suffering, humiliation, desertion and death He would undergo. He had all the information already. He set the example for all believers by yielding His “will” to the leadership of the Spirit, not to his flesh. Jesus prayed,

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39b NIV)

All of Jesus’ soul, His flesh or humanity was crying out in fear and rebellion at the thought of what was to come. In spite of His complete knowledge of the beatings, sickness, diseases, agony and shame that He would suffer for the sin of the world, Jesus freely determined that His “will” was to yield to do what the Father had sent Him to earth to accomplish. Likewise, the believer must freely submit his/her will to God and follow Jesus. This is fully explained in,

“I have been put to death on the cross with Christ; still I am living; no longer I, but Christ is living in me; and that life which I now am living in the flesh I am living by faith, the faith of the Son of God, who in love for me, gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20 BBE)

It is a free choice, a decision of the will. To follow Jesus or to follow the religion and the world, to do God’s will and live in His supernatural power or to live in the superficial effort of self will. The Bible teaches,

“Since they didn't bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose.” (Romans 1:28 MSG)

The people of Rome chose not to follow God and He did not force His will on them. He gave man a free will and He will not violate that free choice. The freedom to choose is a primary reason man is not a more highly evolved animal but a creature made in the likeness of God. By the grace of God man can make his own decisions based on knowledge and intellect instead of just instinct.

Emotions are feelings that cause a person to move in a direction. They are physical or psychological reactions to stimulus. Emotions are neither good nor bad in themselves but are influenced by good or bad information sent into the mind. Emotional reactions often effect the actions taken by the individual. Jesus said,

“And those on the rock are those who with joy give hearing to the word; but having no root, they have faith for a time, and when the test comes they give up. And those which went among thorns are those who have given hearing, and go on their way, but they are overcome by cares and wealth and the pleasures of life, and they give no fruit.” (Luke 8:13-14 BBE)

When the believer makes decisions based on emotions, they will become very unstable in his/her daily walk with God and in life on earth. Life’s cares weigh heavy on him/her; trying to always please the crowd, to fit in, to be accepted, having fun and being successful in business all become more important than pleasing God and realizing His love. God gave humanity emotions so they were intended for good but always remember that the Spirit is to be in the lead, not the emotions. Living according to emotions will keep the believer from receiving all the Covenant Blessing because he/she is being influenced by all the input from the world instead of simply following the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches the believer,

“Be glad in the Lord at all times: again I say, Be glad.

Let your gentle behaviour be clear to all men. The Lord is near.

Have no cares; but in everything with prayer and praise put your requests before God.

And the peace of God, which is deeper than all knowledge, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 4:4-7 BBE)

Do not allow the daily ups and downs of life be of any concern. A believer should not be living on a roller coaster! “Be glad…The LORD is near.” Remember, the Covenant of Grace through Jesus finished work on the cross promises to meet every need. The believers “have no cares.”

It has always seemed strange that a person will jump, shout, lift up arms and clap just because his/her favorite ball team scores but will show not emotions when the LORD’S presence is manifested. He/she will cry like a baby at just a picture of a little dog being mistreated and show not affect when the name of God is cursed or blasphemed. These reactions of emotions are a good indication of the person’s spiritual level. There is nothing wrong with an emotional outburst at the ballgame. However, does a manifestation of God’s glory bring the same kind of reaction? When the individual gets that great parking place, is given a big discount or gets that great bonus or raise, is God given the glory with the same kind of emotions response? The believer must be mature enough in the LORD to not allow the emotions to lead him/her away from worshipping God and not fearful of an emotional outburst of praise for what the LORD has done. Much spiritual power and many blessings are missed because the believer is fearful of emotional praise to the LORD.

Many churches are so proper and planned to the point that no emotion is allowed. Many actually teach that showing emotions is improper in worship. While others are so emotional in worship services it is like going to the gym. The worshipers look forward to the message so they can sit down. Regardless of the worship atmosphere the believer is comfortable in, (and it depends a lot on the background of the believer) what is important is not how long he/she shouted or danced but how yielded to God’s will is he/she after the service is over and the emotions are quiet. Is the everyday life an example of steadily following God or a roller coaster ride of human emotions?

For Jesus to provide deliverance for the spirit of man, transformation for the soul of man and not provide anything for the body of man would have made His work on the cross less than complete. He could not have declared “It is finished!” if He had failed to completely provide for mans salvation. The Apostle Peter tells the believer,

“who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 NKJV)

According to this Scripture when Jesus died on the cross He made the way for man’s spirit to be redeemed, man’s soul to be transformed and man’s body to be healed. In this simple short verse, it is all clearly stated and to deny any part of God’s salvation for man is to be in unbelief and contrary to the Word!

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul in writing to the church of the Thessalonians says,

“And may the God of peace himself make you holy in every way; and may your spirit and soul and body be free from all sin at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God, by whom you have been marked out in his purpose, is unchanging and will make it complete.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 BBE)

For church leaders to tell believers that supernatural healing is not for today is to deny that salvation is for today! It is here in the same verse!! The believer does not need to be healed – he/she was healed at the cross of Jesus. All the work of atonement was “finished” on the cross and what the believer needs to do is receive what Jesus has already accomplished for him/her. The believer is healed, and the devil is just lying, trying to deceive the believer into accepting what he says instead of what Jesus said. The believer must stop begging God for something He already provided over two thousand years ago. Believe Jesus and receive the grace of healing in Jesus name. If the believer will accept that truth healing will be realized, no one is necessary to impart it to you, Jesus suffered and carried your sickness and pain to the cross so you do not have to carry it to judgment. Receive it and give Him all the glory and praise due Him.

The believer must accept (believe) what the Bible says about his/her condition, even when the situation and symptoms are screaming otherwise. Confess the Word. Say what Jesus said about sickness. Never - ever speak what the devil is saying about the circumstances. God does not punish the believer and He does not use sickness to teach lessons. That is a lie straight from hell. In the name of Jesus rebuke sickness, demand it to leave, and declare healing, it is a Covenant promise.

This is not what most religions teach about healing. That does not change the truth! Denying sickness exist does not magically make it disappear. No amount of fasting, praying, begging or performing acts of service or penitence will produce healing. This is not a “name it and claim it” stunt. Only by grace through faith in what Jesus did is healing possible. When the believer repeats what God says (the Bible) enough to get it into the mind and spirit and believe it, sickness is finished. It does not happen because the believer says it, it happens because it is believed. When any other requirements are made it is teaching the “law” and not grace and the Bible says,

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Galatians 5:4-5 KJV)

The believer need only confess (say the same thing as) what Peter said, “by whose stripes you were healed” It is past tense since it took place over two thousand years ago. So quite agreeing with the devil and receive what Jesus did for the believer in the New Covenant.

God has provided everything the believer needs to live the life of Jesus in the world today through the New Covenant. So, what is the problem? Why are Christians not enjoying the abundant life God has provided? The Bible teaches that it is possible to be a believer and still be held in bondage by Old Covenant teachings. Many believers, including, unfortunately, many pastors and teachers do not understand the freedom in the Blessing of the promise through the New Covenant. Everything in life is bound by rules and laws. Jesus gives the believer total freedom but many do not know how to trust others or themselves with this grace. In their effort to “guide” or maybe to control others, they try to balance the old law with the new freedom in Jesus. The Bible does not call it balance, it calls this mixture. Much of the New Testament is written about this mixture being taught in the church.

Under the Old Covenant, there was one problem; man’s heart (or spirit being) was not right with God. The law explained what man had to do to meet God’s standard, but no provision was made to give man a new heart or right spirit. The Holy Spirit did not dwell on earth in man under the old law. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews explains this,

“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second…. I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” (Hebrews 8:7, 10b-13 BBE)

God does not put a new heart (or spirit) into man without being invited and given the authority to reign in life through the believer. The believer must give-up all self-rule, self-will, and self-righteousness to receive the life of Jesus in order for the Holy Spirit to become one with the believer’s spirit. This is the exchange of identification that takes place in the covenant of grace. It is only when the believer learns to live and love in and through the will of God that the total experience of the covenant relationship and the almost inconceivable blessing will flow through the believer to everyone with whom they come into contact.

The early Jewish converts struggled with letting go of the old law and today because of wrong teaching many believers have the same struggle. The religious teaching of the modern church has mistakenly taught the Old Covenant Law as though the believer is living under its rules. Unless a person is Jewish by birth they have never been under the Old Covenant, but many churches teach it every Sunday, even often having it posted on the wall. Jesus said the cup contained His blood of the New Covenant! It is as if those modern Pharisees cannot read. The

Blessing of the New Covenant cannot be earned by doing. The believer must turn away from and denounce human wisdom and superficial efforts of the law.

Going to every service, being involved in every activity, giving to every cause nor doing good deeds will not gain one thing. The New Covenant is all grace through faith. It is what one believes, not what one does!

Is it possible in all the stress and distractions of modern life to experience New Covenant life? Are all believers really suppose to live this victorious way? Ask this question instead: Is it possible for God to do what He promised? The New Covenant is all GRACE. It is only through faith that a believer can appropriate the God given promise of the Blessing, the exchanged life. Let the Word of God explain it,

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3:19-24 BBE)

If the believer will believe God’s Word, believe in the Covenant, in His power, His love, and believe God will do what He says, nothing is impossible! To believe is to have faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. That God has provided everything the believer needs to live the life of Jesus on this earth.

In the letter to the church the Holy Spirit ministers through Paul to the Galatians concerning this problem of being a believer but still trying to gain favor with God by keeping the law. The people in the church at Galatia had indeed been born into the faith. They had received the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit were operating through them. However, now some “church” people from Judea had come to them teaching that they had to obey all the rules of the Old Covenant and the traditions of Judaism in order to live and grow in the faith. The Galatians were not Jews, they did not even know what these traditions and laws were. They were told that although they had received their salvation by grace, they had to obey the rules to gain their righteousness or approval of God. Paul explained that trying to earn God’s approval by living according to the Ten Commandments and the traditions of the Old Covenant was self-righteousness, or superficial effort in its pruest form. He said,

“I can't believe your fickleness—how easily you have turned traitor to him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing a variant message! It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God.” (Galatians 1:6-7 MSG)

Holy Spirit proceeds to show the believer three things that hinder the believer from making the transition from living under the false teaching of being under the law to living by faith. They are;

1. the law always requires mans works; faith comes by hearing. “…faith comes from hearing the message, but the message is heard through the spoken word from the Anointed One.” (Romans 10:17, authors translation)

2. The law thrives in the flesh and its religion; in Grace the flesh is crucified. “I have been put to death on the cross with Christ; still I live; no longer I, but Christ is living in me; and that life which I now am living in the flesh I am living by faith, the faith of the Son of God, who in love for me, gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20 BBE)

3. The inability and lack of power in the flesh to do good; in grace the believer is totally free and Holy Spirit leads the believer to live a life pleasing to God. “For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6 BBE)

Paul asked the Galatians believers,

“You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it's obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.

Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!” (Galatians 3:1-4 MSG)

Unfortunately, many believers are not taught to live by grace through faith because of the religious traditions of denominations and/or churches. The abundant live in Jesus is only obtained by a daily crucifixion of self and total dependence on Jesus living His life in and through the believer. Far too many pastors want to control and manipulate the lives of the people in God’s Church. They use the Old Covenant Law to condemn and intimidate the believer rather than lifting up Jesus and pointing the believer towards Him. Their picture or trust in God is not big enough to allow Him to lead.

The believers then in order to be pleasing to their leaders quickly allow the flesh of sinful nature to become a “religious” flesh to satisfy self and to look pleasing to others through superficial efforts. The flesh cannot live supernaturally so it adapts and pretends to be what it is not and puts forth great superficial effort to gain favor from other superficial flesh. The flesh will do anything to keep from being crucified, even act religious! Like the airplane in the introduction, the superficial Christian continues to run around on the ground, never realizing his/her purpose or potential. An airplane is not more intended to be used like a car than a believer is created to live a self-serving superficial life of powerless defeat.

The believer must be aware that nothing less than death to self allows him/her to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit and live in supernatural victory and abundance; to make the metamorphosis from unbeliever to believer, from Old Covenant self effort to New Covenant life in the Spirit. Anything done out of obligation is bondage. It is law and not grace. Whether it is going to church, giving money or doing good deeds, it has to be done because the believer knows God loves him/her, and in response to that love. As long as the believer is like the Galatians just read about and only connect grace to salvation, the flesh is the only power with which the believer has to work. When the believer becomes aware of and knows experientially the exceeding abundance of grace God has provided, he/she will live confidently in the love of God’s supernatural power.

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (2 Corinthians 9:8 BBE)

The sign, seal, and/or evidence that a believer is free from the Old Covenant Law and is living in the abundance of the grace of the New Covenant is the evidence of the Holy Spirit in his/her life. The Bible says,

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2 BBE)

A few verses later the Spirit adds,

“For those who are living in the way of the flesh give their minds to the things of the flesh, but those who go in the way of the Spirit, to the things of the Spirit, For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; Because the mind of the flesh is opposite to God.” (Romans 8:5-7 BBE)

He also adds,

“For if you go in the way of the flesh, death will come on you; but if by the Spirit you put to death the works of the body, you will have life. And all those who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not get the spirit of servants again to put you in fear, but the spirit of sons was given to you, by which we say, Abba, Father. The Spirit is witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:13-16 BBE)

Holy Spirit gives the believer power; freedom from the fear of failure and the understanding to live through the obedience of Jesus (not the believer’s). And by the righteousness and holiness of God to be more than an over-comer regardless of what the flesh, the world and/or the devil brings against him/her. When the believer gets tired of trying and working to meet the demands of religion to please God and yet failing constantly, he/she needs to learn to depend on the grace of God promised in the New Covenant. The believer must believe that God is a keeper of His Covenant and will do what He said. The believer must accept the sacrifice of Jesus as the surety for the believer’s part. He/she must receive the Holy Spirit as the presence and power of God to be all that he/she has been declared (or made) by God. Everything the believer does should be a result of realizing God’s love for him/her, and not as a means to try to gain God’s approval and love. Life is to be lived in the supernatural power of God’s grace, not in the superficial efforts of man’s ability.

When in the Christian experience, knowledge has been obtained and understanding received as to what the New Covenant means, faith functions that fully depends on Jesus as the guarantee of the New Covenant. It will transform life and secures victory in every area of the believer’s life. The believer will declare with Paul,

“But we are able to overcome all these things and more through his love.” (Romans 8:37 BBE)

Most all professing Christians believe that God forgave his/her sins at salvation. However, many believe he/she must continually confess new failures to get forgiveness. He/she does not understand the completed work of Jesus on the cross! When he/she “forgives” someone of a wrong if is just words. Normally no penalty has to be paid. In the game of American football when someone breaks a rule on the field a penalty in yardage is marked off against the offending team.

When God put man in the Garden of Eden He said to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or they would surely die. Because God is holy and just He must obey His own law throughout eternity. That is why He sent Jesus into the world. Jesus paid the penalty for man’s sin! Jesus did it once for all time. The Bible says that Jesus,

“He took away the old order, so that he might put the new order in its place.

By that pleasure we have been made holy, by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for ever. But when Jesus had made one offering for sins for ever, he took his place at the right hand of God;” (Hebrews 10:9b,10 &12 BBE)

All sin, past, present and future has been paid for! It was not overlooked or ignored it was punished in order for forgiveness to be given to man. Jesus died for all sin, for all the world, for all times. How else could a righteous God declare the believer righteous? This why Paul could repeatedly say the believer is “in Christ”. Sin cannot exist in Christ. Because God does not live in time but sees all time at once, He was capable of placing the sin of mankind on Jesus on the cross. Jesus bore the punishment man deserved and in the exchange of the covenant gave to man His righteousness by grace. That is the Gospel; the almost-too-good-to-be-true-news.

Too often, the believer separates the work of Jesus to fit into his/her theology or what his/her church teaches instead of just believing what the Bible says. It is frequently ignorance or an unwillingness to accept what the Scripture teaches about the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the power of God living in the believer enabling the fulfillment of all New Covenant promises. Simply put, it is unbelief! The Word warns,

“Let him make his request in faith, doubting nothing; for he who has doubt in his heart is like the waves of the sea, which are troubled by the driving of the wind.

Let it not seem to such a man that he will get anything from the Lord;

For there is a division in his mind, and he is uncertain in all his ways” (James 1:6-8 BBE)

Have faith in the Covenant Blessing of God. Faith is trusting in the goodness of God! The covenant is between God, the Father and Jesus, the Son. The believer is a partaker, a receiver of the benefits of the covenant, by being “In Christ.” Trust in the unchangeableness of God. Believe in the power of the Holy Spirit working in the believer, surrender all of self (the will) to God and He will prove His love. The Word tells the believer,

“And this is love, not that we had love for God, but that he had love for us, and sent his Son to be an offering for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 BBE)

Even a person that has been a church member of many years, believed “in” Jesus for many years, the Bible says,

“…the evil spirits have the same belief, shaking with fear.” (James 19b BBE)

Living in bondage to the Old Covenant may have robbed the believer of the “Shalom” Jesus said he gave the believer; the love, joy, peace, health and prosperity of the New Covenant. Believing, receiving and applying the finished work of Jesus on the cross is exchanging life with Jesus; it is metamorphosis! When the New Covenant Blessing becomes a reality in the life of the believer the metamorphosis from bondage under the law to freedom in the Spirit will be a true new birth.

Thank God for freedom from the Old Covenant Law. Receive all that Jesus suffered and died to give the believer. Live in the supernatural power of the resurrected Jesus, the Anointed One, the King of kings, LORD of lords, with all authority in heaven and on earth.

LOVE + GRACE = NEW COVENANT

Nowhere in the Bible does it refer to the New Covenant as the “Covenant of Grace.” It is apparent by reading the Scripture that it would be a correct description of the truth it abundantly teaches. It should be apparent in this material as the two covenants are explained that they are a contrast of law and grace. Paul writes,

“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more…” (Romans 5:20 NIV)

If a believer takes the time to research in a concordance the Greek words used in this verse, he/she will find that two different words are translated increased. The first one, πλεονάζω, pleonazō which means to do, make or be more, that is, increase.(SEC) is alright, but the second time it says increased is ὑπερπερισσεύω, huperperisseuō, this means, 1) to abound beyond measure, abound exceedingly, 2) to overflow, to enjoy abundantly. (TGEL)

This indicates that where a believer is weak and struggles with a wrong action, God’s grace overflows in that very area to give the believer the ability to overcome any temptation. Grace is the primary characteristic of the New Covenant; the guiding force and chief benefit.

Throughout his writings, in every letter, Paul stresses the grace of God and teaches that the believer is not under the law but under the grace of God. He states,

” For sin may not have rule over you: because you are not under law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14 BBE)

Paul is the messenger sent to the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) to proclaim the Gospel of the resurrection, the message of the New Covenant, to the world. He said in Galatians,

“Know this—I am most emphatic here, friends—this great Message I delivered to you is not mere human optimism. I didn't receive it through the traditions, and I wasn't taught it in some school. I got it straight from God, received the Message directly from Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11-12 MSG)

Many believers have failed to experience the grace of God because they do not “feel” they deserve it. Because of bad teaching or bad believing, they measure what they expect from God by what they have done. No one lives a perfect life, hearing and doing everything exactly according to what Holy Spirit tells them. Praise God, grace is not measured according to what a person deserves, but on God’s unmerited favor; His Grace! The believer’s acceptance is based on what Jesus did, not on what the believer does. God pours out His grace on the believer according to His love for Jesus.

The Apostle John in his great explanation of Jesus as God in human form said,

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and the true way of life are ours through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17 BBE)

The law was sent through Moses as God’s intermediate agent, but grace and truth came - it was not sent - but came through Jesus. The New American Standard Bible translates the last phrase of the verse, “were realized though Jesus Christ.” Grace is not a thing, an idea or a feeling. It is not a doctrine or theological position; it is a person, Jesus! Grace came to deliver the believer from the bondage of sin (the law), not only at salvation, but throughout life.

The law taught the believer how holy God is and what God expected, but provided no ability to perform it. The desire to obey the law will weaken the desire for sin however, it cannot deliver from sin. The law will cause the believer to question motives nevertheless, it can never provide the power to overcome. The law sounds the warning concerning the condemnation of sin, although it never gives the victory over sin. The Scripture assures the believer,

“But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” (Romans 7:6 NIV)

Not only has grace released the believer from the power of sin, but it provides the new way of life in the Spirit. Grace is the force, the ability and the power of Holy Spirit that enables the believer to desire to please God and serve other people. Paul says,

“But by the grace of God, I am what I am: and his grace which was given to me has not been for nothing; for I did more work than all of them; though not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10 BBE)

Grace is the force that moves the heart of God to show unmerited favor toward the believer. It is the force in the heart of His covenant partner in Christ enabling him/her to will and do the works of God on earth. Just as salvation is by grace through faith, living the abundant life of Jesus on the earth today is by grace through faith. Paul expresses this saying,

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do…” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

The believer must understand and ‘see’ with spiritual eyes through Holy Spirit that in the New Covenant everything - every deed, action, thought and idea - every second of every day is by grace; God’s unmerited, undeserved and exceedingly over-abundant favor.

The Apostle Peter refers to the Christian as a “royal priesthood,” and Paul says the believer is “created…to do good works,” in the New Covenant. This is not limited to the professional clergy, but includes every believer. Could it be that the lack of power in the church and in believers is because of their ignorance of the mighty grace of God available to them in the New Covenant? In the New Covenant, the believer is operating in the Blessing of Abraham and God told Abraham,

“And I make thee become a great nation, and bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing. And I bless those blessing thee, and him who is disesteeming thee I curse, and blessed in thee have been all families of the ground.'” (Genesis 12:2-3 YLT)

If the believer has been placed in the promises to Abraham by Jesus, the grace of God will bless the believer today in the same way He blessed Abraham.

“and Abram [is] exceedingly wealthy in cattle, in silver, and in gold.” (Genesis 13:2 YLT)

The Blessing is not just about “spiritual things!” God had this included in the Bible so “religious” people in later generations would not try to claim that all of Abraham’s blessings were “spiritual.” God’s favor is toward the believer in every area of life. He wants to bless all His covenant partners. As it was pointed out earlier, the covenant includes the entire man - spirit, soul and body. God wants all His covenant people to be blessed in every way.

God gave the believer His Holy Spirit to protect, equip and guide. God transformed the believer’s soul to hear and follow the Spirit and He provided health through the suffering of Jesus. Why would He not want His covenant people blessed if He expects the believer to be a blessing? It is impossible to be a blessing when one has nothing with which to bless. The trouble comes when the believer gets the order mixed up. Jesus in addressing the needs and desires of man in the world said,

“Then do not be full of care, saying, What are we to have for food or drink? or, With what may we be clothed? Because the Gentiles go in search of all these things: for your Father in heaven has knowledge that you have need of all these things:

But let your first care be for his kingdom and his righteousness; and all these other things will be given to you in addition.” (Matthew 6:31-33 BBE)

God said He will bless His covenant people! In the world today people who should be burning with the fire of God to reach and disciple a lost world, have the process mixed up and dishonor God by their worship of gold instead of God. God wants His people to have everything they need and enough extra to be a blessing to others. He knows that people cannot give what they do not have. You cannot rescue someone else when you are on fire, too. So get the order correct! Seek God’s way of doing things and His direction first and He will provide everything else needed.

Please recognize that the place given to riches and possessions, the prevalence of luxury and worldliness, have created a form of worship taken from human traditions. It is more suited to the wisdom and carnal life of the world than true worship of God. The believer must realize that any action taken in this world is not to be of his own understanding and strength, but it is by God’s grace overflowing in them.

Grace is a person, Jesus, the Christ! When a person has Jesus, he has the favor of God. Jesus and grace do not exist without one another and cannot be separated. So to realize more grace in life, seek more Jesus. The more the believer perceives Jesus in every situation and circumstance the more he/she will realize grace; the unmerited, undeserved favor of God. If a believer measures life based on the world’s ideas of what he/she has done, accomplished and accumulated, no place for the grace of God is left. Everything is self-centered instead of Jesus-centered. Only when the presence of Jesus is a constant in life will a believer be truly blessed and fully living in grace.

Unfortunately, many Christians have been taught that they have to do their best and God will help when asked. Many people believe that God is not interested in business, school, politics or sports. Be assured that God is interested in every aspect and thought of the believer. He wants His covenant partners to be successful in everything he/she undertakes.

Jesus, in His prayer just before surrendering His life for the believer, expressed this in saying,

“I have given you glory on the earth, having done all the work which you gave me to do.” (John 17:4 BBE)

Believer, ask, “Do I want the Jesus kind of success on earth?” The only way to have that kind of life – the joy, peace, success and happiness of God’s favor – is to depend on Jesus and realize that without Him the believer can do nothing. What does the Christian have to do to realize this gift of grace? BELIEVE! Scripture says,

“You are cut off from Christ, you who would have righteousness by the law; you are turned away from grace.

For we through the Spirit by faith are waiting for the hope of righteousness.

Because in Christ Jesus, having circumcision or not having circumcision are equally of no profit; but only faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:4-6 BBE)

There can be no compromise when it comes to the gospel of Jesus. By grace through faith the believer is delivered from sin; by the same grace through faith he/she is made a part of the family of God, declared to be the righteousness of God in Christ and made partakers of the New Covenant. The Christian must believe he/she is forgiven, that God does not count his/her sins against him/her and that he/she has been made righteous.

The cross of Jesus totally qualifies anyone who believes that Jesus finished the job. There is nothing a person has to do, nothing to perform and nothing to be accomplished. It is totally based on God’s unmerited favor; His grace. All the believer has to do is believe he/she is completely forgiven and he/she can freely enjoy the blessing of the New Covenant. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews says,

“But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things of the future, through this greater and better Tent, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this world, And has gone once and for ever into the holy place, having got eternal salvation, not through the blood of goats and young oxen, but through his blood. For if the blood of goats and oxen, and the dust from the burning of a young cow, being put on the unclean, make the flesh clean:

How much more will the blood of Christ, who, being without sin, made an offering of himself to God through the Holy Spirit, make your hearts clean from dead works to be servants of the living God?

And for this cause it is through him that a new agreement has come into being, that after the errors under the first agreement had been taken away by his death, the word of God might have effect for those who were marked out for an eternal heritage.

Because where there is a testament, there has to be the death of the man who made it.”

(Hebrews 9:11-16 BBE)

The New Covenant was instituted by a sacrifice, the death of God’s only Son and by grace it is the believer’s greatest privilege to be allowed entrance into the abundant life of God. As the believer seeks to know and be like Jesus he/she is changed into the same image of Jesus, from glory to glory, reckoning self dead and by grace living in the fullness of God, the Blessing of the New Covenant becomes a reality in the believer’s own life.

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for Grace! Thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus’ own blood so I do not have to die for my sin. Thank you for making the way for me to worship You. Thank you for your eternal love. Thank you that my sins and lawless acts You remember no more. I declare that my eyes are on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith and I can say with confidence, “the LORD is my helper, I will not be afraid.” Praise the name of the LORD.

OBEDIENCE, ENTRANCE TO THE BLESSING

As a believer, the abundant life of the New Covenant is available. It is what God intends and desires for the Christian. Through obedience the believer can experience the love of God. Most Christians have been taught by well-meaning religious leaders that he/she must obey everything the Bible teaches to be accepted by God. The wonderful truth is that it is not the obedience of the believer, but the obedience of Jesus that determines how God measures the believer. It is not the individual deeds of the believer that are judged to determine whether or not the person is obedient. God judges the attitude of the heart; through the Covenant. Man is not a sinner because he sins but because,

“For this reason, as through one man sin came into the world, and death because of sin, and so death came to all men…” (Romans 5:12 BBE)

If the disobedience of Adam caused all mankind to be disobedient, how much more did the obedience of God’s own Son make those whom believe obedient? As stated previously, Jesus fulfilled and canceled the law and Holy Spirit says,

“…but sin is not put to the account of anyone when there is no law to be broken.”

(Romans 5:13b BBE)

He adds,

“So then, as the effect of one act of wrongdoing was that punishment came on all men, even so the effect of one act of righteousness was righteousness of life for all men.” (Romans 5:18 BBE)

If a person cannot earn salvation or righteousness by works or deeds and is condemned not by what he/she does then surely a person cannot cease to be righteous by their deeds, either.

For some religious leaders to say that the believer looses his/her righteousness or right standing before God because of something he/she did is to say that the work of Jesus on the cross was inferior to the rebellion of Adam in the garden. It is to accuse God of being unable to protect the believer from the bondage of sin. When the believer fails to listen to the voice of God and do as He says, the relationship with God is not changed. The Bible says,

“How may we, who are dead to sin, be living in it any longer?” (Romans 6:2b BBE)

And, adds

“Because he who is dead is free from sin.” (Romans 6:7 BBE)

The believer has become a partaker of the Covenant of Grace established between God and His Son, Jesus, the Anointed One. He/she has been given through the gift of grace, the gift of righteousness and life in the Spirit. The Bible says,

“…and that life which I now am living in the flesh I am living by faith, the faith of the Son of God …” (Galatians 2:20b BBE)

It is not the believer’s life and it is not the believer’s faith that enables him/her to life in victory. It is “the faith of the Son of God!”

The devil does not have the ability or the authority to force the believer to return to the bondage of sin. Jesus took the devil’s authority from him and gave the believer authority over the devil. The only way for the believer to return to being a sinner is to denounce the blood of Jesus and the salvation God has provided.

“See what I've given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that's the agenda for rejoicing." (Luke 10:19-20 MSG)

Being free to choose, man can listen to the lies of the devil and, like Adam, rebel against the love, freedom of the life in the anointing and turn away from God to his/her own destruction.

One of the primary reasons many Christians have a difficult time understanding this concept is because of the English words used in translating the Greek text in the New Testament. The word “ὑπακούω,” “hupakouo” is translated obey, obeyed, obedient, obedience, in its different tenses and is used forty-nine (49) times, in the King James Version of the New Testament in the Bible. It actually means to “to hear under, listen attentively, by implication to heed or conform”. (SEC) And the word “ἀπειθής,” “apeithes,” translated disobedient, means “impersuasible, not compliant, disobedient, contumacious.” (TGEL)

Today a person would say to obey means to do as one is told by a higher authority. The Greek word means to listen so as to learn what one should do. Today people would say to disobey is to not do as one is ordered. The Greek word literally means to not believe what one is told is truth.

Only four times is the word in the Greek used to mean to be in submission to anyone. Two of those are in one verse in Acts 4. It is where Peter is asking the Sanhedrin if he should do what they say or listen to what God said. The other times it is talking about the relationship of a man and his wife.

The obedience of the believer is to hear the voice of Holy Spirit speaking through the written Word (the Bible) or speaking inside of him/her and to follow His leadership. There is no “law” to be obeyed! Jesus said,

“My sheep give ear to my voice, and I have knowledge of them, and they come after me...” (John 10:27 BBE)

When the word “Christian” is translated, instead of transliterated, as is done in English Bibles, it means “like the Anointed One.” It began as derision towards the followers of ‘The Way.’ The Greek word “Χριστός’” “Christos” that appears in the English versions of the New Testament as “Christ” should never have been put in the English Bible. It is not Jesus’ name! It is a transliteration (make-up a word) of the Greek word for “anoint or the idea to contact; to smear or rub with oil, to consecrate.”(TGEL) Why did the translators make up a new word? No human alive on earth knows, but it has been and continues to be a disservice to believers. The believer should always read is as it should have been translated, THE ANOINTED ONE and not as Jesus’ name.

Early believers were called “The Way” because their teaching talked of a new way of knowing and relating to God. They became known as “the anointed ones” or “the anointing ones” for their practice of anointing with oil as a symbol of the work of Holy Spirit and their speaking of the power of the “anointing”(the indwelling of Holy Spirit)that empowered them to do the will of God. Because of ‘the anointing,’ they could live without fear of the curse of the law and live in freedom. The power of God was flowing through them to minister to others. The Bible tell us,

“Being conscious that our old man was put to death on the cross with him, so that the body of sin might be put away, and we might no longer be servants to sin.

Because he who is dead is free from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7 BBE)

The New Covenant liberty is not, as some (people who do not understand it) seem to want to make it, a substitute for the life of holiness. The indwelling of Holy Spirit provides the assurance of God’s presence, a new heart or a spirit united with God’s Spirit. This man will delight in knowing God’s will and the power to perform it. The believer must always be aware that the power “to do” is not their gift, but it must be received moment by moment from Holy Spirit. This way the believer must be conscious of a personal need to rely on the indwelling power of the Spirit to live a holy life. The Jehovah Shammah (God is There) of the Covenant, the God who resides in His Temple, the body of the believer, is “There.” Paul tells us,

“…for we are a house of the living God; even as God has said, I will be living among them, and walking with them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

(2 Corinthians 6:16 BBE)

Here Paul is repeating what God said to several prophets in the Old Testament. He told Jeremiah,

“For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 7:22-23 NKJV)

To what is the believer to be obedient? God said, “Obey my Voice!” If the believer is no longer under the law’s authority and if the believer has total freedom, there are no laws, right? To answer that question one must look to the Word of God for truth, not to what man thinks.

In Hebrews the writer says,

“And the Holy Spirit is a witness for us: for after he had said,

This is the agreement which I will make with them after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws in their hearts, writing them in their minds...” (Hebrews 10:15-16 BBE)

What laws is this scripture referring? When the Old Covenant ended was there anything that was not fulfilled by the New Covenant? Are there any laws in the New Covenant that the believer is supposed to obey and doesn’t know about?

When the Old Covenant was given through Moses, he went up onto the mountain and God gave him the stone tablets with The Ten Commandments. The Tent of Meeting, or Tabernacle, had not been set up and the articles of worship in it had not yet been crafted. God gave specific instructions to Moses on how to do everything concerning the tent in which He was to abide and be worshipped.

The Ark of the Covenant was built and placed in the Tent of Meetings. On the top of the Ark of the Covenant was the mercy seat or atonement cover to represent the throne of God in the heaven. On each end of the atonement cover were cherubim hovering over the mercy seat. The mercy seat was where the priest sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice for the atonement of the people’s sins.

Only once is it recorded that God spoke to Moses from between the cherubim. He records,

“And in the going in of Moses unto the tent of meeting to speak with Him -- he doth even hear the voice speaking unto him from off the mercy-seat which [is] upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubs; and He speaketh unto him.” (Numbers 7:89 YLT)

Okay, if this is the only time God spoke to Moses in this manner it must be important what He said, right? What God said is recorded,

“And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

`Speak unto Aaron, and thou hast said unto him, In thy causing the lights to go up, over-against the face of the candlestick do the seven lights give light.' ” (Numbers 8:1-2 YLT)

What? How to set up the lights! Please explain why this is important! The candlestick is a light-stand that burns oil with three branches on two opposite sides of a center light, totaling seven lights on it. Today, it is commonly called a Menorah. Each branch is named according to the first words in the beginning of the Scripture in Hebrew. The center light is referred to as the “Alef-Tav,” which is the first and the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet and is in the Hebrew text though never translated in English text. God was instructing Aaron to trim the lamps (or the lights on the branches of the Menorah) so that the light of the three on each side pointed towards the lamp in the center. Why is this important?

In Revelation John records seeing and hearing Jesus in his vision of heaven. He says,

“I am the Alpha and the Omega…” (Revelation 1:8 KJV)

And, he records,

“And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man…” (Revelation 1:12-13a KJV)

The light in the center was lit each day with fire from the altar, all the others were lit from the fire of the center lamp. The fire on the altar was from the sacrifices for the sins of the people. The center lamp on the Menorah represents Jesus, who is the sacrifice for man’s sins and all the other lights were to be shinning towards Him. The light from the center lamp would light up the room. John being familiar with the scripture knew Genesis began,

ארץ שׁמים את בּרא ראשׁי ת א להים

“In the beginning of creation, Elohiym את (Jesus) created heavens and earth.” (Genesis 1:1, author’s translation)

The two letters following the name of God (reading from right to left in Hebrew) are never translated in any English Bible this writer has been able to find. They are the Hebrew letters “alef- tav.” John spoke Hebrew, so Jesus would have spoken Hebrew to him, not Greek. When Jesus said to John “I am the AlefTav,” John immediately knew what Jesus was talking about. Everything is to be done by the light from Jesus. He is the light for the believer and all glory is to go to Him. Jesus said,

“Then again Jesus said to them, I am the light of the world; he who comes with me will not be walking in the dark but will have the light of life.”

(John 8:12 BBE)

He also told those following him,

“You are the light of the world…Even so let your light be shining before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14 & 16 BBE)

As the believer receives light from Jesus, he/she is to allow this light of Jesus to bring light into the darkness through him/her so that men will give praise to the Father. Unless the believer receives light from Jesus, he/she has no light to give the world. Remember, Jesus said,

“Truly I say to you, He who puts his faith in me will do the very works which I do, and he will do greater things than these, because I am going to my Father.” (John 14:12 BBE)

The ‘light’ from Jesus will cause the believer to want to share the light he/she has. Faith in the light empowers the believer to boldly exemplify the light of Jesus everywhere he/she goes. Enabling the believer to do the same things Jesus did; to live life in the realization of the presence of the Father and the power of His ability.

The second thing God said to Moses from above the mercy seat is,

“The Lord said to Moses: ‘Take the Levites from among the other Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.’” (Numbers 8:5-6 NIV)

He also said,

“And Aaron is to give the Levites to the Lord as a wave offering from the children of Israel, so that they may do the Lord's work.” (Numbers 8:11 BBE)

And, He added,

“They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me.” (Numbers 8:16 NIV)

God gave specific orders concerning who was to be set apart and how it was to be done. He wanted all Israel to know that they did not take this on by their own decision, ability or as a result of their works. They did not earn the honor or position. God had appointed and called them to this responsibility.

God designed what to do and how to cleanse these men in order for them to be able to serve in the temple. There was a combination of symbolic acts that were to remind all Israelites of their total dependence on God. Everything of the earthly nature and worldly desires was removed and washed away. This was to show them the purity of heart and life God expected from all who are called to serve.

There are no offices in the “church” today called Levites, so how does this apply? Paul gives a good commentary on this,

“..if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NIV)

And, he adds,

“Giving no cause for trouble in anything, so that no one may be able to say anything against our work;

But in everything making it clear that we are the servants of God.” (2 Corinthians 6:3-4 BBE)

He concludes with,

“Because God, then, will give us such rewards, dear brothers, let us make ourselves clean from all evil of flesh and spirit, and become completely holy in the fear of God.

Let your hearts be open to us: we have done no man wrong, no man has been damaged by us, we have made no profit out of any man,” (2 Corinthians 7:1-2 BBE)

Paul is showing that he understood the calling on his life. He was to minister the grace of the New Covenant to the world; this is the “work” of God. In order to present this ministry of reconciliation effectually to others, it was not sufficient to only avoid everything that might bring scandal or gossip on the ministry. In all that a minister does, everything, both words and deeds, in all ways, the minister must present himself/herself as approved, proper and commendable. The minister must show himself/herself to be a faithful teacher of the Word of God.

The Levites were to serve the priest in the Temple. The ministers of today also are to serve the Priest of God! And who are these priests? Peter in writing to the churches in Asia Minor says in his first letter,

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1Peter 2:9 NIV)

All believers are priests unto God. The New Covenant prophet is called to represent God to the people, to point out their righteousness in Christ (not to point out sins or condemn). The priest’s purpose is to represent the people to God. Anyone without Jesus should be the cause of the believer to fulfill his/her priesthood. The priest preformed the ceremonies that demonstrated the love of God to forgive the sins of the people. The “priest” (believer) today needs to be ever diligent to tell the world that God loves them and forgives them, to demonstrate God’s love and forgiveness; not be condemning of people for what they have done.

Peter goes on to say,

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see our good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:12 NIV)

In the New Covenant the grace of God has been shown to mankind. No longer do people have to cleanse themselves before coming before God. As Paul says,

“But God has made clear his love to us in that, when we were still sinners, Christ gave his life for us.” (Romans 5:8 BBE)

The believer must have the revelation of what God has done for him/her before he/she can do what God has called him/her to do. There is an old expression in sales that says, “You cannot sell what you have do not have.” In the same manner, the believer cannot give others what he/she does not understand and realize he/she has “in Christ”, in the New Covenant. When the crowd asked Jesus,

“Then they said to him, How may we do the works of God? Jesus, answering, said to them, This is to do the work of God: to have faith in him whom God has sent.”

(John 6:28-29 BBE)

The word translated ‘faith’ is the Greek word πιστεύω ‘pisteuo’ which means ‘to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in’ (TGEL) It is often translated “believe” in many English Bibles. The English word ‘believe’ comes from two Old English words “be” which means “to live” and “lief” which means “in accordance with.” When the believer puts the word together, it simply means ‘to confidently live in accordance with the life and example of Jesus.’

Jesus expressed this when He said,

”And he said to him, Have love for the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

This is the first and greatest rule.

And a second like it is this, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.

On these two rules all the law and the prophets are based. (Matthew 22: 37-40 BBE)

When these laws are written in the heart and mind of the believer by God, through the work of Holy Spirit, the love of Jesus will abound in the believer’s soul and will become the power to both will and do the work of Jesus. If the believer will go to the Bible in simple childlike faith and humility, asking to know Father’s will for today; the grace of Father God, the love of our LORD, Jesus, the Anointed One and the joy of the abiding presence of Holy Spirit will abound in him/her to give ‘shalom’ (health, joy & prosperity). The believer will be changed from glory to glory, into the likeness of Jesus. The believer must hear the voice of God Holy Spirit, in his/her spirit speaking and leading in everything.

The believer cannot depend on his/her own ability to accomplish the will of God and be obedient or to even love God the way he/she should. That only produces superficial effort. Praise God, He provided the way through Jesus! Paul writes,

“But the free giving of God is not like the wrongdoing of man. For if, by the wrongdoing of one man death came to numbers of men, much more did the grace of God, and the free giving by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, come to men.

And the free giving has not the same effect as the sin of one: for the effect of one man's sin was punishment by the decision of God, but the free giving had power to give righteousness to wrongdoers in great number.” (Romans 5:15-16 BBE)

God does not look at the believer’s obedience, but at the obedience of Jesus to judge the believer. Jesus bore the judgment for the believer. Jesus made a New Covenant with His Father. The believer is made righteous according to what Jesus did, not according to the believer’s deeds.

If the believer depends on his/her own obedience, goodness, service or even faith, he/she will not be able to receive God’s promises. That is superficial effort, not Christianity and will result in a “crash” when tough decision times come. When the believer understands and accepts the covenant provision that was accomplished in Jesus being obedient; by grace (unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor), God’s promises become a reality in the life of the believer. The result is a supernaturally empowered life in Jesus.

God wants the believer to see His grace. When the believer sees God’s grace, God sees the believer’s faith. The writer of Hebrews explains,

“It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 MSG)

When God sees faith, the Bible says,

“Because by grace you have salvation through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is given by God…” (Ephesians 2:8 BBE)

The word translated ‘salvation’ is the Greek word σώζω “sozo” which does not mean just saved from hell, but also “to save, that is, deliver or protect heal, preserve, save do well, be (make) whole.”(SEC) It is by grace through faith that all of God’s promises are made sure in the believer’s life.

The obedience of the believer is not dependent upon the life and deeds of the believer. The Hebrew people proved for centuries that man could not be obedient to the laws of the Ten Commandments. That is why Jesus was sent into the world as a man. He kept the law perfectly! Then He made a covenant with His Father. When man believes in this New Covenant, man becomes a partaker of the New Covenant. Reaping the benefits of the exchanged life and what Jesus accomplished. Paul explains it well,

“For, if by the wrongdoing of one, death was ruling through the one, much more will those to whom has come the wealth of grace and the giving of righteousness, be ruling in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17 BBE)

The gift of righteousness enables the believer to resist the temptations of the devil, to overcome the lust of the body and to defeat the lures of this world. “God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness”(Romans 5:17 NIV) is available to those who receive it. Receiving is the act of faith! Reach up and take what God is supplying. As Paul writes,

“For sin may not have rule over you: because you are not under law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14 BBE)

The wonderful ability to know and to do the will of God is the great blessing of the New Covenant. Hearing of Holy Spirit’s voice is the obedience that the Father expects in the New Covenant; there are no “laws” written in stone. Holy Spirit will never speak anything that does not agree with the written Word, The Bible. Therefore, it is imperative that the believer knows what the Bible teaches.

Jesus has given the believer His identity, His life, His ability and His name! To hear, to know and to follow the voice of Jesus Holy Spirit is certainly the entrance to every other blessing of the Covenant of Grace.

THE GIFT OF NO CONDEMNATION

It goes without saying that the verse most widely known in the entire Bible is

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV)

Everyone that claims to be a Christian must believe this verse! If a person believes this verse, it would stand to reason that they believe all the verses in the Bible, right? How would someone know which verses are true and which ones are not true? Or, which verses to believe?

The pitiful thing is that one needs not go any further than the next verse to find a multitude of non-believers. John recorded Jesus’ own words,

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:17-18 NIV)

Father God wants everyone to receive the gift of no condemnation! The name Jesus means “the LORD saves” because the very purpose for His coming to earth was to save people from the condemnation of sin.

By the grace of God, the believer is given the gift of no condemnation. This removes sin (stress, fear, restlessness, worry, sickness and disease). Upon believing in Jesus, a person’s spirit is “reborn” in the image of God and this gift of no condemnation is presented to the soul (the mind, will and emotions). However, if the gift of no condemnation is not received, taken and realized in the soul, it will not only effect the believer’s spiritual growth, but his/her mental stability and physical health.

One of the problems a believer may have is he/she does not understand what receives means in the English New Testament. A person often takes a word he/she is familiar with and applies it according to how he/she understands it. The word most often translated in the New Testament as receive is ‘λαμβάνω,” “lambano,” which means, “to take with the hand, to take hold of, take up.” (TGEL) God offers His gifts, but until the believer reaches out and takes hold to make it his/her own, it will not be a reality in his/her life.

The Greek word translated as condemn and condemned in John 3:16 and 17 is κρίνω, krinō, and means “distinguish, to try, condemn, punish: - avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge,” (SEC) and the word most commonly used in the New Testament that was translated as condemnation is “κατάκριμα,” “katakrima,” and means “damnatory sentence,” (TGEL) or “adverse sentence,”(SEC). Stress, worry, fear, sickness, disease and restlessness are qualifiers for an “adverse sentence.” Psychologist and doctors are realizing more and more that many people are suffering from psychosomatic illnesses. Even medical professionals that do not know Jesus as Savior, realize that the majority of patients would not be suffering from physical conditions and mental disorders if they knew how to handle their spiritual afflictions. Paul gives the proper medicine,

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1 NIV)

When someone believes in Jesus, the risen, glorified, Christ (Anointed One, to whom God has given “all authority…in heaven and on earth,” Matthew 28:18 KJV) removes the believer from the family of Adam and places him/her in the family of God. It changes forever how God sees the believer. Another translation offers,

“For this cause those who are in Christ Jesus will not be judged as sinners.” (Romans 8:1 BBE)

From that moment forward, God sees the believer “IN CHRIST,” in the Anointed One and His Anointing; forgiven, cleansed by the blood, indwelled by Holy Spirit and seated at His right hand. The Bible teaches,

“So that we came back from death with him, and are seated with him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus;” (Ephesians 2:6 BBE)

John further explains the covenant position of the believer in saying,

“…as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4: 17b KJV)

All that Jesus is - the believer is, all that Jesus has, the believer has. The New International Version says, “…in this world we are like him.” Where is Jesus now? Can Christ Jesus be condemned seated at Father’s right hand? NO! Well, neither can the believer, because he/she is in Christ, seated with Him. It is not a matter of ‘doing,’ but a matter of ‘being in Christ!’

It is true that some translations of the Bible add another phrase to the verse in Romans 8:1, a kind of qualifier, but if the believer will study good commentaries and concordances, it is explained that this phrase was not in the original text or older and better manuscripts found since the King James Version was translated in 1611.

Therefore, there is no other requirement. The only reason a believer is not condemned is that he/she is In Christ. This is not important to someone if he/she has never done anything wrong. To everyone else this is good news! To all who have failed to perfectly live the righteous life God expects; God says, “You are ‘In Christ,’ I do not condemn you. Now, do not condemn yourself. Go and leave your life of sin.” The power to accomplish this is only in the believer receiving the gift of no condemnation.

The average believer does not understand that for God to “forgive” sin and give the gift of no condemnation, He must remain righteous in His judgments. If He just overlooked sin or ignored it, He would be untrue to His own laws and unjust in His judgments. God said in the Garden of Eden that to sin is to bring death. In order for Him to remain just He must uphold that law throughout eternity. He has to condemn man’s sinfulness. That is why He sent Jesus into the world as a man to suffer the condemnation man deserved. Paul explains this,

“….for him who did not know sin, in our behalf He did make sin, that we may become the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 YLT)

Today, the believer can receive the gift of no condemnation because his/her sin has already been condemned in the body of Jesus on the cross. Jesus bore all the sin of all mankind on the cross! How could that happen? Remember, God made time therefore, He lives outside of time and He sees all time at once, from creation to the second coming. All of the sin a person ever committed and will ever commit was placed on Jesus when He went to the cross in the place of the mankind. The sin debt has been paid in full; the righteous requirements of the Law of God have been fulfilled.

The same crime cannot be punished twice. Sin cannot be condemned in the body of the substitute, Jesus, then in the body of the believer. Instead of constantly begging God to forgive the wrong deeds committed, the believer should praise Him that he/she is forgiven of sin and has been given the gift of no condemnation.

Holy Spirit continues to explain that not only is the believer delivered from condemnation, but a new law is in effect. The Bible teaches,

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2 BBE)

Notice this verse begins with the word “for” which means “because.” It is giving the reason that the believer is set free from dying for his/her sin. In order for the law that said man must die for his sin to be upheld in righteousness, God established a higher law, the law of the Spirit of life. The “law of sin and death” which brought condemnation and with it sickness, fear, worry and death is overcome or superseded when the “law of the Spirit of life” in Christ Jesus is released in the life of the believer.

The airplane in the Introduction is a lot heavier than air. The law of gravity says it is bound to the earth. However, airplanes are designed to fly, not to drive on the road. As it speeds down the runway, another law overcomes or supersedes the law of gravity. As the airplane gains speed, the law of thrust causes the airflow over the wings to build until the airplane reaches the point where the law of lift overcomes the old law. There is a point of victory where the airplane leaves the ground and flies through the air. The law of lift and thrust is more powerful and overcomes the law of gravity.

When the believer realizes that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus overcomes the law that causes condemnation, he/she too, will leave behind what has been holding him/her down. He/she will fly to new heights in the freedom that comes when the believer knows he/she has received the gift of no condemnation. This releases the power to overcome the law of sin and death in his/her life.

The religious people of Jesus day and modern religion say, “Sin no more and I will not condemn you,” but the Covenant of Grace says, “Jesus loves the unrighteous, He does not condemn the sinner and He gives the believer a life where sin is no more.” Jesus told the woman brought to Him accused of adultery,

“Then neither do I condemn you.” Jesus declared, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11 NIV)

Jesus did not say that she did not deserve to die for her sin, as the law required. To demonstrate that He was the One that wrote the Law on the stone tablets with His finger, He knelt down and with that same finger wrote in the stone floor of the Temple. When He stood up He said to them,

“Let him among you who is without sin be the first to send a stone at her.” (John 8:7 BBE)

The Pharisees, who lived by the law, would condemn her, but they could not. Jesus could condemn her, but He would not! Jesus gave her the gift of no condemnation before He told her to go and leave her life of sin. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus can only set the believer free from the law of sin and death when he/she first receives the gift of no condemnation.

When a believer thinks that God condemns him/her, he/she will have a low self opinion. He/she will feel guilty, of no value, no importance and that he/she deserves nothing good. Such a person tends to be moody, unhappy and always “sorry” about everything that goes wrong. That is called SELF CONDEMNATION!

This damnatory sentence of condemnation is adjudicated by the individual, not by God! Because of the power of a believer’s words, the ministering angels, as well as the persons own body and mind, think that the person wants to be punished, so they begin to produce the stress, sickness and disease called for by the words of the believer’s self condemnation. As long as the believer thinks that God condemns him/her, there will be self condemnation!

It is easy to see why a believer that is self condemned is always so condemning of others. An attitude of condemnation spills over on everything and everyone coming into contact with the person. When the believer understands that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, he/she is set free to love him/herself and others in the joy of the LORD. The believer is able to look at even the non-believer with eyes of no condemnation and love them as Jesus did, as lost sheep needing a shepherd.

Every person has been offered the gift of no condemnation through the sacrifice of Jesus in establishing the New Covenant with the Father. Receive it, today! Meditate on it. Repeat Romans 8:1 &2, and 1 John 4:17b, over and over until it gets down in the spirit.

Striving to be what the Bible says a Christian should be, is living in the constant awareness of one’s sinfulness; it is living in self-condemnation and in superficial effort. The only way for the believer to leave a life of sin and be empowered by Holy Spirit to live in peace, joy, love, health and faith is to live in the abundance of the Blessing of the New Covenant. It is to trust and receive the gift of no condemnation.

Jesus has given the believer freedom of life in Him, He did not give condemnation. Think about what Jesus did for the believer and what Jesus has provided to the believer. When a mistake is made, acknowledging it (do not try to blame someone else), repent - turn from doing it again (repent means to change direction), praise God that it was forgiven at the cross and rejoice in the Blessing of the New Covenant.

THE BELIEVER’S IDENTIFICATION

(In The New Covenant)

In establishing a covenant, several actions were taken by the parties making the covenant to provide proof and evidence of their new shared life. All that one was and had was extended to become one with the covenant partner.

In the story of David and Jonathan, they exchanged robes and belts as well as weapons. David looked like a Prince of Israel instead of a shepherd from Bethlehem. David took on the same identity as a prince, by covenant rights. Paul explains that Jesus did the same for the believer,

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

This fact of the New Covenant is expressed by John in saying,

“And his Spirit which he has given us is the witness that we are in him and he is in us.

And we have seen and give witness that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Everyone who says openly that Jesus is the Son of God, has God in him and is in God.

And we have seen and had faith in the love which God has for us. God is love, and everyone who has love is in God, and God is in him.

In this way love is made complete in us, so that we may be without fear on the day of judging, because as he is, so are we in this world.”

(1 John 4:13-17 BBE)

God lives in man! The God of the universe, the creator, eternal, holy and all powerful God, lives IN man! HAS THAT SUNK IN YET? The religious world of today refers to a building as the “church,” or “house of God.” If anything is Old Covenant and totally opposed to the teaching of the New Testament and the New Covenant; that is it. Such teaching has done untold harm to the body of Christ, or true church. If God abides in a building, then the building would have to be a “you” as in,

“…for he himself has said, I will be with you at all times.” (Hebrews 13: 5b BBE)

Remember in the chapter regarding the name of God, Jehovah Shammah, “God is there?” It is clearly seen in this passage that the “there” is in the believer. The believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is God Himself. The last phrase of the passage in First John says,

“…because as he is, so are we in the world.” (1 John 4: 17, NKJV)

As Jesus is – present tense – so is – present tense - the believer in this world; even as He is in heaven, so IS the believer (representatively in Him) while in this world. As Jesus is righteous, having been judged, by going into hell itself and justified from all the sin He took upon Himself on the Cross, so is the believer righteous. This makes the believer completely righteous in Him. As He is holy, humble, patient, loving, etc., so also is the believer. The believer’s oneness in Him, even now in His exalted position above, is so that all that belongs to Him belongs to the believer because of the perfect imputation and impartation of His love, BY COVENANT! The believer is in the world, not of this world. Jesus said,

“…because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14b BBE)

Simply put, Jesus became one with us so that we might be one with Him. Jesus became identified with man, as a man, so that He could save man. Adam had given the authority of ownership and dominion on the earth to the devil in the garden. Jesus had to come as a man to take back that authority. From this recognition of the believer’s position of identification in Christ, all the truths concerning the believer’s position, privileges and power in the divine life of the New Covenant are built. Jesus said,

“At that time it will be clear to you that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I in you.” (John 14: 20 BBE)

This is easy enough for the believer to understand. Not easy to explain to unbelievers. A non-believer does not understand the things of God, but a believer can know the things of God and receive the words of God. Jesus said “At that time…” so clearly the believer’s identification is a truth not only to believe, but it is an event to be experienced continuously. Jesus said,

“..In the world you will have trouble: But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 BBE)

When the believer realizes his/her identification in Christ, his/her covenant position, he/she “rests.” The assurance, the confidence, to believe his/her past is forgiven, his/her freedom is declared, his/her future is determined, his/her wealth is discovered, his/her health is guaranteed, and his/her victory is secured. He/she realizes the “peace” or “shalom” of God.

The prophet Isaiah has the most graphic description of Jesus identification with the believer. It says,

“Surely he took up our pain

and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

stricken by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5 NIV)

Carefully consider what these verses are teaching! Jesus became a son of man in order for God to be able to declare that the believer is a son of God. He became sin that the believer could be declared righteous. He bore suffering and torments so the believer could be declared innocent and free. He bore sickness that the believer might have health. He bore anxiety, stress and despair so the believer could have joy and happiness. He suffered scourging so the believer is healed. He descended into hell, striped the devil of all authority over man and took the keys to death and hell so the believer never has to fear them again. He arose triumphant over sin that the believer might live a life of overcoming victory over self, the world and the devil. Jesus did for the believer what he could not do for himself.

The believer needs to realize he/she must identify him/herself “in Christ (in the Anointed One).” When Jesus was crucified, the believer’s spirit and soul (or self) must be ‘reckoned’ or counted as crucified. When Jesus died the believer’s spirit is counted as having died, but because Jesus took the punishment the believer receives His reward. The believer’s spirit is seated with Jesus in heavenly places. When Jesus arose the believer’s soul was transformed (commonly termed ‘saved’) and Holy Spirit comes to live in the believer. This transformation is pictured in believer’s baptism, demonstrating the believer’s death, burial and resurrection. Paul teaches as much in saying,

“We have been placed with him among the dead through baptism into death: so that as Christ came again from the dead by the glory of the Father, we, in the same way, might be living in new life.” (Romans 6:4 BBE)

Jesus identified with sinful man in order for the believer to identify with Him and receive the victory He won. As He is healthy, so is the believer; as He is free from sin, so is the believer; as He is free of guilt, so is the believer. As His words speak with authority, so do the words of the believer.

Is this going too far? John says,

“ Because as He is, so are we in this world.” (I John 4:17b, KJV)

Is He supernatural? Does Jesus command demons, powers, authorities, etc.? Then, so does the believer! Can the believer not expect Jesus to act like Himself in and through the believer? The last chapter said the obedience of the believer is to hear the voice of Holy Spirit inside of him/herself and to follow what the Spirit says. If He is a miracle working God, the believer should be living in the miracle working, overcoming and authoritative power of the indwelling Spirit of God. If not, check up on what god is being served.

The identification of the believer with God is a reality when the believer by faith accepts the gift of God’s supernatural grace to give His divine life to the believer. Multitudes of believers live in discouragement, despair, disease and defeat. He/she does not walk in victory over death, hell and the devil because of the lack of identification with Jesus and does not understand being “In Christ;” in the Anointed One and His anointing.

When the believer begins to apply this Biblical truth in his/her life, in every situation and circumstance, all hell wants to avoid contact with him. John teaches,

“We are certain that one who is a child of God will do no sin, but the Son of God keeps him so that he is not touched by the Evil One.” (1 John 5:18 BBE)

Kenneth N. Taylor in his “Living Letters” translates this last phrase, “cannot get his hands on him.” The devil is defeated. He cannot get his hands on the believer and he knows it. The last thing he wants is for the believer to know it, identify with it and live life in the victory Jesus won in the resurrection.

In the Covenant of Grace; as Jesus is, so is the believer in this world.

Does the life explained on these pages describe you? Are you a believer? Have you accepted the gift of no condemnation? Have you received the gift of the Spirit of life in Jesus, the Christ - the Anointed one of God? Are you living a victorious life in Jesus in this world? Only believe

“…as He is, so also are we in this world.”

(1 John 4:17b KJV)

In the New Covenant all that is required of the believer to do is B E L I E V E! It is not about doing, it is about being who God says the believer is! The life of Jesus is supernatural life, not self-righteous superficial effort. It is fellowship in the life of Jesus through the New Covenant. All the blessing and benefits of the New Covenant are offered, all that is required is to reach out and take them as one’s own.

If anyone reading this does not recognize this type of life or has never experienced this METAMORPHOSIS, it is as simple as believing and saying these words,

Father, thank you for loving me, even when I did not love you. Thank you for giving your Son to die for me. Thank you for raising Him from the dead that I might have His life. I make Jesus the LORD of my life and commit myself to hearing and following Him. I believe and I receive all that your Word says I am in Jesus. Thank you for the Holy Spirit to guide me in everyday life. I receive the fullness of His life and ministry in me now. I thank you and I praise your name. Amen!

If you repeated this and truly meant it in your heart, you are now a NEW CREATION IN CHRIST JESUS. It is imperative that a believer knows who he/she is in Jesus, what he/she has been given as a result and what he/she can do with it.

Set aside a time and a place to spend daily reading the Scripture (a good place to begin is Romans and study thru 3rd John). Devote as much time as possible, the more time spent learning the Scripture, the faster a believer will realize the benefits and blessing of his/her Covenant.

REMEMBERING THE COVENANT

The New Covenant is a covenant between God the Father and Jesus, The Son. Jesus came to the earth and took on the form of a man, born of a woman, so he could legally pay the price for man’s sin and rebellion from God. God had given Adam authority on earth in the garden, but Adam gave it up to Satan. Since God had given man authority on earth, the only way to reclaim that authority and remain righteous was to not override His own words to man at creation. God had to have a man to do it.

Jesus came to earth, born of a woman and was a man like all others. He lived a sinless life and kept the Law of God perfectly. No man ever lived a perfect life before God except Jesus. If He had sinned, He could not have died for anyone but His own sin! Because He was without sin, He could be the legal substitute for sinful man. He willingly surrendered his life, (the eternal spirit part) and his earthly body and soul, (the human part) to pay the price demanded by God for the sin of all mankind. His soul and body were punished and crucified, his spirit judged and sentenced to hell, in order for the demands of the perfect law of God to be justly met. The Bible tells the believer,

“For what the law was not able to do because it was feeble through the flesh, God, sending his Son in the image of the evil flesh, and as an offering for sin...” (Romans 8:3 BBE)

Paul having already explained that the believer has been justified (made righteous) in Jesus and has been given access into the grace in which the believer now stands says,

“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! … how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life… how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5: 9, 10 & 17 NIV)

The believer cannot think of the New Covenant without realizing the importance of the blood of Jesus. Jesus shed His blood so the believer does not have to shed blood to be a partaker of the provisions of the covenant. It is a gift! Jesus said,

“Because I have given them the words which you gave to me; and they have taken them to heart, and have certain knowledge that I came from you, and they have faith that you sent me.” (John 17:8 BBE)

The Greek word translated “words” in this verse is ῥῆμα, rhema, which means, “that which is or has been uttered by the living voice.” (TGEL) As stated before, to obey is to hear, to believe and to follow the voice of Holy Spirit. Jesus went on to say,

“And for them I make myself holy, so that they may be made truly holy.” (John 17:19 BBE)

This prayer was just after he had washed the disciples’ feet and had celebrated Passover with them. Jesus had given them a covenant meal, “His Supper;” this is what the Bible calls “The LORD”S Supper.” By now, their heads were spinning with all that was happening. The disciples did not totally understand the events they were living through or what Jesus was talking about.

However, when Jesus broke the bread and gave them the cup of wine, they understood the significance of the symbols of a covenant. They had spent three years following Jesus around, learning His teachings, seeing His miracles, watching His authority over the demons, the world and nature. They saw the crowds, they heard the cheering and they knew His love and provision. The disciples were willing, dare we say eager, to be in covenant with Jesus. They understood the concept of the exchange that takes place in covenant. They fully comprehended the total sharing of everything in a covenant relationship. They knew the benefits of being in covenant with someone with power and authority. However, they did not understand nor believe that His kingdom was in the hearts of man and not an earthly kingdom.

Later that night, when the temple guards and the mob came to arrest Jesus and He did not resist, the disciples ran like a flock of scared sheep. They had just entered covenant with Him. They did not want to suffer the same fate because of this new relationship. They wanted the recognition and authority that came with the covenant, but not the rejection and humility required by this same covenant. After Jesus was crucified, they went back to life as it had been before Jesus had called them. They seemed unchanged by what they had heard and seen for three years with Jesus. They were unable to live the life Jesus had lived before them because Holy Spirit had not yet been given to them. They had not yet been ‘saved!’ Their hope was gone! They did not have the power or authority to be overcomers, to live victoriously.

Many believers today are in the same situation. He/she has been incorrectly taught that Holy Spirit ministry ceased in the first century. Therefore, he/she does not realize that he/she has received power to live the life of Jesus in this world. He/she lives in fear and defeat because he/she does not know who he/she is in Christ, what he/she has in Christ or what he/she has the authority and power to accomplish.

Because Jesus had lived a sinless life on earth, death had no mastery over Him. He defeated Satan in Hades itself, took Satan’s authority over the earth from him and physically arose from the grave to live forever. With a body of flesh and bone, His blood was put on God’s altar in the Heavens to atone for man’s sin; He became the LORD of all. He told the disciples at His departure to heaven,

“And Jesus came to them and said, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Go then, and make disciples of all the nations, giving them baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:

Teaching them to keep all the rules which I have given you: and see, I am ever with you, even to the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:18-20 BBE)

Matthew tells us that even at this point in time some of the eleven doubted. It was not until the baptism in Holy Spirit in the upper room that they understood and believed. Then they were able to put into action what they had learned from Jesus. Then they were empowered to be “as He is.” Life became a supernaturally empowered adventure instead of an ineffective superficial effort and search for power.

When the believer today realizes that it is not what he/she does, but what Jesus does in him/her by the baptism in Holy Spirit, then he/she can be who Jesus is in this world. The believer will realize that the devil has no power over him/her and that he/she has all authority on earth in their new name, Jesus.

Jesus said, “Go then…” The Greek word is in the middle voice and could be better translated to say, “To pursue the journey on which you have entered” or “as you go about your everyday activities”, instruct others in what I taught you.

Jesus said to βαπτίζω – baptizo, “baptize them,” the definition is to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge. (TGEL) This is why Paul teaches,

“Or are you without the knowledge that all we who had baptism into Christ Jesus, had baptism into his death?

We have been placed with him among the dead through baptism into death: so that as Christ came again from the dead by the glory of the Father, we, in the same way, might be living in new life.” (Romans 6:3-4 BBE)

However baptism is accomplished, the important thing is that the believer realize that it is a picture of and the believer’s participation in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The Bible says,

“Even so see yourselves as dead to sin, but living to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11 BBE)

Holy Spirit further teaches on this when he writes through Paul,

“I have been put to death on the cross with Christ; still I am living; no longer I, but Christ is living in me; and that life which I now am living in the flesh I am living by faith, the faith of the Son of God, who in love for me, gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20 BBE)

This resurrection life, this exchanged life, this new covenant life became the theme of the message of the disciples as they turned the world upside down with this good news of Jesus. Paul referred to it as “the ministry of reconciliation” and reconciliation means “to exchange.” After the Day of Pentecost, after receiving the indwelling of Holy Spirit, they understood the indwelling of the power of Jesus in their bodies to carry out all He said.

Jesus said, “As you go…make disciples.” Today much of what is being taught is “make believers” and too little “make disciples.” This is why the majority of church members have no clue about living in the blessing and authority of the New Covenant. Most believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but have nothing else to depend on in need.

The believer misses a lot of understanding of what Jesus did for them if they do not understand the meaning of the Covenant meal or LORD’S Supper. To grasp what Jesus was teaching the believer needs to go back to what Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah,

“Men made sport of him, turning away from him; he was a man of sorrows, marked by disease; and like one from whom men's faces are turned away, he was looked down on, and we put no value on him.

But it was our pain he took, and our diseases were put on him: while to us he seemed as one diseased, on whom God's punishment had come.

But it was for our sins he was wounded, and for our evil doings he was crushed: he took the punishment by which we have peace, and by his wounds we are made well.

(Isaiah 53:3-5 BBE)

Now, let’s look at this passage with some of the words translated into more commonly under- stood terms.

“He was despised (looked on with contempt) and rejected (unloved) by men, a man of sorrows (anguish, pain), and familiar with suffering (anxiety, calamity, disease, grief, sickness), Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised (held in contempt), and we esteemed (valued) him not. Surely, he took up (Lifted, or carried) our infirmities (malady, disease, sickness, anxiety, calamity) and carried our sorrows (anguish, grief, pain) yet we considered him stricken (punished, hit, struck) by him (God) and afflicted (humbled, bowed down, oppressed). But he was pierced (profane, defiled, pollute, desecrated) for our transgressions (rebellion, sin) he was crushed because of our iniquities (depravity, perversity, inherited guilt) the punishment (correction, instruction) that brought us peace (shalom- health, wealth, joy, tranquility, completeness) was upon him and by his wounds (stripes, blows) we are healed (made healthful).

This is the picture of the reconciliation of man, by what Jesus took upon Himself and what God placed on Him because He was taking the place of sinful man. He did not deserve any of it; sinful man did. The exchanged life the believer receives as a result of the New Covenant is the life Jesus lives. It is not life as Adam lived in the garden, it is much better. It is the life Jesus is living today seated next to the Father on the throne in Heaven. Jesus took the punishment for sin; the believer gets the rewards of His perfection. Paul says,

“Christ has made us free from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us: because it is said in the Writings, A curse on everyone who is put to death by hanging on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13 BBE)

Jesus bore man’s punishment so that the believer does not have to and gave His life in exchange for the curse. The life of Jesus is a life of victory over the devil, the flesh and the world. It is resurrected life! The words “has made us free” in this verse are often translated “redeemed” is translated from the Greek word ἐξαγοράζω, exagorazō, it means “by payment of a price to recover from the power of another.” (TGEL) Jesus paid the price for the believer’s freedom. Man will not and cannot be judged for his/her sin if he/she will accept the sacrifice of Jesus, Himself in his/her place. The price has already been paid! All sin was paid for on the cross; past, present and future! If future sin was not paid for, Jesus would have to die again for every generation!

In order for man to be responsive to what and how Jesus “redeemed” him/her, Jesus took an old custom and breathed His life into it by instructing the believer to remember His death by a Covenant Meal until He returns. The Scriptures refers to it as “THE LORD’S SUPPER.” It is called Holy Communion because of traditions by many believers today. The disciples recognized it that night as a covenant meal and Jesus Himself said it established “The New Covenant.” Whatever a believer chooses to call it, it is an important event to and in every believer. The need exist to examine it more closely to discover the meanings and the blessings of observing The Covenant Meal.

In the letter to the Church in Corinth, Paul explains how, why, and when to observe The Covenant Meal. He tells them,

“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread. And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1Coriinthians 11:23-26 NIV)

The Passover meal that Jesus and the disciples were celebrating was an event that had taken place thousands of years before their birth. God had delivered the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt more than two thousand years prior. In order for them to properly remember why and how God delivered them, God ordered them to celebrate that event by having a meal exactly as their forefathers had on the original night of the Passover. Each detail was important and God wanted the Hebrew people to always know how He had protected and provided for them. He did not want the story to be changed or watered down by legend, but be always fresh in their minds.

In the Passover, the lamb gave his life and blood so the people could have deliverance from slavery and be saved from death. That was just a picture of what Jesus was doing for those who would believe in Him. On that same night Jesus would be arrested by the temple guards and be led off to suffer for every sinner that had ever lived or would ever live in the future. He would suffer agony in submitting to the will of the Father and then willingly give His body to be tormented in order to deliver the believer from ever having to suffer. He would shed His blood for the salvation of mankind.

This is why Paul added,

“Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe. If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences. That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.” (1 Corinthians 11: 27-32 MSG)

This passage has been the subject of much theological discussion and disagreement. Much of it is due to incorrect translation. It is clear that Holy Spirit is referring to the manner in which the Covenant Meal is received and not the condition of the people taking the meal. No one has ever been or will ever be worthy of the death of the LORD! Jesus died for the unworthy that he/she could be made worthy IN Christ.

It was clear to Paul that Jesus was fulfilling the passage in Isaiah 53, where the prophet described the sacrifice of the Anointed One and benefits to the believers.

Paul wanted the believer to realize that the Passover was a picture or a shadow of what Jesus had accomplished in His crucifixion and resurrection. For the believer to give proper reverence to all that The Covenant Meal was created to accomplish.

The church in Corinth may have had a few Jewish believers, but the Gentile people had not been reared to understand the meaning of the Passover. They had never been a covenant people. All they knew was what they had learned since becoming believers in Jesus. They needed to be reminded of what Jesus had accomplished for them to live in and enjoy while they were still on earth by the sacrifice of His body. Believers are not to wait until they die to live in the blessings of the New Covenant.

Matthew, who by the way was there, says in his account,

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26 NIV)

Jesus clearly intended for the believer to consider the bread as holy, powerful and authoritative as His body. It is not a symbol, it is His body! It does not literally transform into a piece of flesh, but it is transforming in the believer. When the sick and lame, those who had lost body parts because of disease came to him, Jesus healed, restored and made whole all of them. A simple ‘word’ was all He needed to heal disease, restore limbs, sight and drive out demons. By simply acknowledging that the bread IS the Body of Jesus, the believer procures the promise by a word, also. Jesus knew sickness and disease is the result of the work of Satan, Luke says that Jesus,

“…went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10: 38 NKJV)

David tells the believer,

“He also brought them out with silver and gold,

And there was none feeble among His tribes.” (Psalms 105:37 NKJV)

Bible scholars estimate that there were about 2.5 to 3.5 million Israelites who left Egypt healed, healthy, whole and very rich after the Passover. If the symbol (a lamb) can produce that kind of results, what can the real sacrifice do? The believer today has the real thing; Jesus suffered, shed His blood, died and was raised to life to provide the believer His life,

“Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life!” (Romans 5:9-10 MSG)

The word translated in English as ‘set right’, is the Greek word, “καταλλάσσω, katallasso” and it means “to change, exchange” (TGEL) It os translated as “reconciled” in most English Bibles. The life the believer has - is an exchange of what the believer was - for what Jesus IS! (1 John 4:17) Jesus accepted the anxiety, disease and calamity; He carried the grief, pain and sorrows. He was punished by God, beaten and looked down upon by man. He was beaten; crushed for mans’ curses, the reprimand and/or discipline (training to ensure proper behavior) for mans’ health, wealth and mental stability was on Him, and by His stripes the believer was healed.

So, why are so many Christians’ sick and die young? They do not know why they eat the bread. Since truth is parallel, if the believer understands that when he/she takes the bread it is the LORD’s body, the believer can walk in the divine health and peace of Jesus. The believer becomes a partaker of His blessing. Paul said, “That is why…”

In Christian bookstores today food and health themes are among the most popular sellers. There are many books on what and how to eat. Many people in the church today choose to focus on food and exercise as the key to living a healthy life. People should certainly pay attention to how much they eat, as well as to what they eat. However, they should not believe in or trust health to diet and exercise! After all, Jesus declared all food good for which the believer gives thanks. Believe God for divine health and take The Covenant Meal as God’s ordained medicine for health and wholeness.

Many Bible-believing churches in the world today totally fail to realize the two-fold application of the Covenant Meal. They ritually take the bread and juice without any mention of the significance of either. It seems like they think it is all for one purpose, “because Jesus said, “this do in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19 KJV) They do not acknowledge the healing in the bread, so they only mention that the juice ‘represents’ forgiveness in Jesus’ blood.

The Covenant Meal also consists of “the cup.” Some religions do not believe in Christians drinking wine today, so they substitute grape juice. (The Bible says if a person believes a thing to be sin, for them it is sin.) It is not what man puts in the cup that makes the cup significant. Matthew says,

“Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them: Drink this, all of you.

This is my blood,

God's new covenant poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28 MSG)

Jesus said that the cup contained His blood of the New Covenant! The word translated “covenant” or “testament” is also the word for “will;” as in “last will and testament” when someone dies. This kind of will is a legal declaration where the management of an estate is transferred to the decedents. This covenant meal signified the transfer of the earthly ministry to the disciples as well. It transformed how God dealt with man. The “LAW” had been superseded by “GRACE” and was extended to man.

The Corinthians, not being a covenant people historically, had trouble recognizing the power of the blood covenant. They realized the blood of Jesus had paid their sin debt and they were saved because of the blood. Paul had already scolded them for drinking too much wine, getting drunk and not leaving any for those who came in later. They needed to “discern the blood,” to be reminded that the blood not only said they were forgiven and put in right standing with God, but that they can boldly present their request to God, as His own children.

One of the seldom emphasized, but vitally important benefits of the Covenant Meal is the power in proclaiming or giving witness to the LORD’S death. The Bible says,

“For whenever you take the bread and the cup you give witness to the Lord's death till he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26 BBE)

What about the LORD’s death is the believer “giving witness” and to whom is he/she witnessing? In Colossians it says,

“For in him all the wealth of God's being has a living form, And you are complete in him, who is the head of all rule and authority;… Having put an end to the handwriting of the law which was against us, taking it out of the way by nailing it to his cross;

Having made himself free from the rule of authorities and powers, he put them openly to shame, glorying over them in it.” (Colossians 2:9, 10 14 & 15 NIV)

Therefore, when the believer remembers the LORD’S death, he/she is proclaiming to the host of hell that he/she is aware that the devil and his demons have been defeated by the blood of Jesus and no longer have any authority over the believer. When the believer eats the Covenant Meal he/she is proclaiming to the demon spirits that Jesus is alive and reigns! When the believer releases his/her faith in the finished, completed and perfect work of Jesus on the Cross, every knee must bow and every tongue must confess that Jesus is LORD. To ‘confess’ means to say the same thing about something as Jesus says about it. That means that every demon must flee because they know that Jesus defeated them and the victory has already been given to the believer. The demons do not want to submit to declaring Jesus is LORD before they are forced to do so at the end of the age. The believer is reminded,

“We know that none of the God-begotten makes a practice of sin—fatal sin. The God-begotten are also the God-protected. The Evil One can't lay a hand on them.” (1 John 5:18 MSG)

The believer should want to declare to the devil and his entire hoard that the victory is already won. There is overcoming power when the believer celebrates the “LORD’S Supper” on a regular basis. Take it like medicine if sick. Take it for deliverance from temptation, victory over the world, peace in difficult situations and power over the devil. It is the act of remembrance of what Jesus did for the believer. It is the statement of the believer that says he/she knows the supernatural benefits of living daily in the fullness of grace through THE NEW COVENANT. Begin every day by remembering that the death of Jesus assures the believer’s victory. It is supernatural power to reign in life instead of superficial effort to exist on earth.

AFTER THE SPIRIT COMES

In the beginning God created by His spoken word. He spoke and gave Abram a covenant of grace before he knew God. In the wilderness God spoke and gave the Hebrew people a covenant to establish how they should live to be in fellowship with Him. In the upper room Jesus spoke and established the New Covenant!

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

This cup literally held wine, not His blood, but when He spoke, the liquid took on the quality and power of divinity and created The New Covenant. Jesus called what was not as if it was! Robert Young, LL.D., the Hebrew scholar who translated Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible used in this book and Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible says that in Hebrew there is no future tense. If God says something, it is as if it is already done! He cannot say anything without it coming about. In His mind it is not going to happen, it is done already. When Jesus said “This is my blood,” it was - in value!

That very night would begin the process by which He would pay the price of man’s suffering, sickness and sin. The next day, the wrath of God would be poured out on Him to deliver man from the penalty of his/her sin. That is why there in now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus. Jesus paid it all,

”And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.” (Luke 23:46 NKJV)

On the third day, He arose! Sin had no hold on Him, death could not constrain Him. He had lived a sinless life, fulfilling the law of God perfectly. He arose from the grave; He had won the victory over death and hell! Because He had proclaimed a New Covenant in His blood, the ‘Old’ had passed away and the ‘New’ had come. He took back the dominion Adam had given to Satan and proclaimed,

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18 NKJV)

And, as Jesus said,

“ …and he said to them, `Having gone to all the world, proclaim the good news to all the creation; he who hath believed, and hath been baptized, shall be saved; and he who hath not believed, shall be condemned. And signs shall accompany those believing these things; in my name demons they shall cast out; with new tongues they shall speak; serpents they shall take up; and if any deadly thing they may drink, it shall not hurt them; on the ailing they shall lay hands, and they shall be well.” (Mark 16:15-18 YLT)

In these last words spoken to His followers while physically on earth, Jesus gave direction on what and how to go forth. However, Jesus was aware that man has a natural tendency to do things by his own superficial effort. He remembered how Moses tried to deliver the Hebrew people the first time by killing an Egyptian. So,

“As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon." (Acts 1:4-5 MSG)

Jesus knew if they tried to fulfill His will by their own power they would fail because it would have been superficial effort, not supernatural power and authority. Therefore, He told them to not do anything until they received His power and the authority He had taken back from Satan, which is the power of dominion on earth, restored to them. They gathered in a room waiting, praying for what Jesus said would come to them; not knowing what to expect.

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4, NKJV)

On that day of Pentecost, the day celebrated by the Jews as the day of the giving of the Law, Holy Spirit returned to the earth. He came to dwell “in” believers; to lead, teach and empower them to live in the grace of the New Covenant. The Law was replaced by grace and man was restored to fellowship with God by the indwelling Spirit.

Jesus had spoken the New Covenant into existence after the Passover meal when He created the LORD’S SUPPER, but now it is put into effect by the return of Holy Spirit to the earth. Now, man was equipped to do the same things Jesus did, “because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17b, NKJV) Peter, the one who denied he even knew Jesus three times the night He was arrested, commanded the lame to walk in that Name. When questioned by the priest, Peter boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah to them. Oh, what a difference AFTER THE SPIRIT CAME!

The return of Holy Spirit and the sound it caused created such confusion in Jerusalem people visiting the city from all over the known world gathered in the streets around the house where the disciples were meeting to find out what was happening. When they heard these people speaking in the languages of the world, they were so amazed they accused the disciples of having too much wine, before nine in the morning. They had no explanation for the miracle they witnessed and were confused. For those who listened to what Peter and the others were saying, it became a day of joy and victory as more than 3,000 were saved and became followers of “The Way.”

Just as that Pentecost day caused confusion in the city, it has caused confusion among believers to this very day. The return and indwelling of Holy Spirit has been the cause of joy, victory, indifference, intolerance, denial and rejection in churches. Teachings and doctrines concerning the Pentecost experience are almost as varied as there are organizations calling themselves churches. Churches and denominations have been begun, divided and closed over this very issue. The question is not really difficult! If the believer would take time to read the Scripture and allow Holy Spirit teach them the obvious.

In John, chapters fourteen and sixteen, Jesus gives the disciples the plans for the future. He explained that He was leaving them, but He was not leaving them alone. He made it clear that He would send a παράκλητος, paraklētos. definition: summoned, called to one’s side, especially called to one’s aid. (TGEL) He is another of the same nature as Himself; Jesus, and Father, in another essence, the same, yet different.

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper.” (John 14:16 NKJV)

The word “paraklētos” in context, means one who holds you up. As an example use the ancient doors of the temple. They were huge. To help hold up and enable men to open the doors, each door had a “knob” or extension on the hinge side, at the bottom, that fit into a cup or indention in the stone floor. This way the door did not drag across the stones when turned. Holy Spirit is like this cup. He holds up and/or supports the believer enabling the believer to function and do the job to which God has called him/her. This is easy to see when a believer looks at the job description Jesus gives for Holy Spirit. He said,

“He may abide with you forever,” (John 14:16)

“He will teach you all things,” (John 14:26)

“He will testify of Me.” (John 15:26)

“He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” (John16:8)

“He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13)

“..for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; (John 16:13)

“He will tell you things to come. (John 16:13)

“He will glorify Me,..” (John 16:14)

“He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:14)

(All these verses taken from the New King James Version)

Jesus also made another statement about the Spirit that is of great significance,

“the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17 NKJV)

This is a vital distinction from what had been true under the Old Covenant. He said that Holy Spirit would be “with you” and “in you.” Jesus explained to them that His followers were to have the same relationship with the Father that He had. In the same capacity that God dwelled in Him, God would indwell the believer! That was precisely the reason for the coming of the Spirit. Jesus promised,

“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18 NKJV)

He would no longer be a physical presence, but a spiritual reality. This almost-too-good-to-be-true promise materialized to them and in them on that day of Pentecost. Holy Spirit is for the believer the very presence of Jesus Himself, the spiritual presence of Father; the total essence, authority and power of God Almighty! The Bible teaches us,

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4 NKJV)

God does not divide up or send part of Himself to dwell in the believer. When a person acknowledges belief in the resurrection of Jesus and declares Jesus as LORD, ALL of God comes to live in the believer. This is the believer’s day of Pentecost, the indwelling of Holy Spirit! The believer is a new creation in “Christ” (the Anointing), the old is gone and the new has come. The living power of the resurrected Christ is residing in the believer. He is ready and waiting to be released through him/her to affect everyone he/she comes into contact with.

At that Pentecost a new age began; the law was replaced by grace. What happened on that Pentecost Sabbath over two thousand years ago is still vital to the believer in this century. The believer should look at and study that day until he/she begins to understand his/her heritage as God’s children today. To deny it or disregard it is foolish! Too many who call themselves Christians have lived far too long on the wrong side of Pentecost; refusing to allow Holy Spirit access in them. He certifies the reality and validates the resurrection of Jesus as He prepares the believer’s soul to receive Jesus’ resurrection life as his/her own.

Does that mean the believer can do the same or exceed what Jesus did when He was on earth? Emphatically YES! Jesus said,

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12 NJKV)

The same Holy Spirit lives in the believer today who lived in the physical presence of Jesus. Does it not stand to reason the He will be doing the same things in and through the believer that He did in and through Jesus?

“Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham's blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too. We are all able to receive God's life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing—just the way Abraham received it.” (Galatians 3:13-14 MSG)

“Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus…” (Galatians 3:25-26 NIV)

“But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise.” (Galatians 3:25-27 MSG)

The believer has been indwelt by the Spirit of God and has the living essence of Jesus in him/her. If a person is ‘saved’ he/she has the resurrected Jesus living in his/her life. If the believer will submit to the leading of Holy Spirit, he/she will experience all sorts of wonder as Jesus lives His life through the believer. Be sure, opposition is going to come! Some so-called Christians shun Pentecost, others revile it. And they will give a true believer all the trouble possible.

Some well-meaning denominations in an attempt to embrace Pentecost foolishly try to duplicate it and require everyone demonstrate the same experience. There is not anyway to repeat Pentecost nor is there any reason to do so. They seek to justify all modern day “tongues” as the language of Pentecost and teach that it is THE pattern for every experience of fullness. If this were true, then it would be necessary to demand it be preceded by the sound of a mighty rushing wind and tongues as of fire. And, the languages would have to be known languages spoken today, not the “ecstatic” utterances people experience today.

Speaking different known languages is a specific gift or evidence of the Holy Spirit. The “ecstatic” utterance of “tongues” is really a prayer language given by Holy Spirit to be used by the believer to communicate with the Father without the interference of the human mind and understanding. A few believers speak in another known language, as at the first Pentecost. However, all believers should have a personal prayer language to converse with God that the devil cannot understand..

Is the “baptism in Holy Spirit” at salvation, or is it a “second blessing?” Does God only send part of Himself to indwell the believer at salvation? NO!!! God takes residence in the new believer at salvation! The believers may not have at that time, and sadly may never, make Jesus LORD. As stated before, many believe IN Jesus for salvation without ever believing ON Jesus for life! When the believer realizes his/her death to self and allows Jesus to reign in life, he/she will realize the fullness of the life of Jesus in his/her life. At this point, he/she has been “baptized” in the Spirit. It is a shame religion has denied and categorized this experience as just “tongues.” There is so much supernatural power lost by the believer when he/she refuses to allow God to be LORD. The Bible tells the believer,

“…but ye shall receive power at the coming of the Holy Spirit upon you” (Acts 1:8 YLT)

What took place on that Pentecost is still with the church today. To deny Pentecost today is what Paul warned about in saying,

“…having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:5 NKJV)

Praise God, we may and definitely should be filled with Holy Spirit constantly! This means the total submission of “self” and the enthronement of Jesus in the believer’s life. Paul explains it as reckoning of self to have died in Christ death and the believer being newly alive in the resurrection life of Jesus. He lovingly reminds the believer not to seek after sensuous signs. Signs can be destructive because they result in unhealthy attitudes. They invariably lead to extremes in belief, conduct and unscriptural teaching about Holy Spirit that are fertile ground for doubt, fear and self-condemnation. An unstable believer or a believer that does not know the Scriptures well enough, is frequently lead into a life-style of superficial effort because he/she wants to “fit in,” or be accepted by those practicing such heresy. The writer of the Book to the Hebrews starts off by teaching,

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,” (Hebrew 1:1=2a NKJV)

Jesus is the complete revelation of God to man! The written Word, the Bible, is the total revelation of Jesus to man. He said “It is finished.”(John 19:30, KJV) Everything the believer needs is in the Covenant of Grace. God is at rest and Jesus is seated next to Him, at rest. Grace has already provided everything; love has already given it in the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. Holy Spirit makes it known to the believer and all the believer has to do is receive it – by faith! Faith is belief, without any doubt that God’s grace has supplied, His love has given and the believer lives in the super abundant overflow of the favor of God. The believer must learn to realize the presence of God! “The Blessing” of the New Covenant is the constant presence of God in the believer. Instead of seeking things, needs or answers to prayers, learn to live in the realization of Holy Spirit’s presence.

The book of Ephesians is written from the perspective of everything already being in the believer, in Christ. It starts by saying,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us every blessing of the Spirit in the heavens in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 BBE)

Any blessing a believer could ever need or desire from the Lord is not something for which to strive. It has already been provided! God made the provision before the need was identified. The believer is not waiting on Him to give; He is waiting on the believer to receive. It is just a simple matter of receiving what He has already done.

The benefit of understanding and being assured of this is enormous. It destroys legalism, superficial effort and it takes a huge responsibility off of the believer. How could anyone doubt that God will give something if He's already given it? If He's already provided every need by His grace, then faith is just the believer’s positive response to what He has already done—not something he/she does to get God to respond.

Many people just can't grasp this because he/she is trapped in his/her five senses. If he/she can't see it, taste it, smell it, touch it or hear it, he/she does not think it exists. Therefore, when a doubter says he/she has already been healed, he/she checks the physical body with the five senses. If he/she does not look or feel healed, he/she says he/she is not.

It takes a revelation from the Holy Spirit to make these truths become alive on the inside. A believer has to know that God has already done His part and that any delay in the manifestation is not His fault. This will keep him/her in faith. Remember that faith is the believer’s positive response to what God has already done by grace.

“For this cause I go down on my knees before the Father, From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, That in the wealth of his glory he would make you strong with power through his Spirit in your hearts; So that Christ may have his place in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and based in love, May have strength to see with all the saints how wide and long and high and deep it is, And to have knowledge of the love of Christ which is outside all knowledge, so that you may be made complete as God himself is complete. Now to him who is able to do in full measure more than all our desires or thoughts, through the power which is working in us. To him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations for ever and ever. So be it.” (Ephesians 3:14-21 BBE)

This is living in THE FULLNESS OF the SUPERNATURAL POWER of The NEW COVENANT. Enjoy “The Blessing” of the New Covenant - GRACE!

Grace and peace to all believers from God, our Father and from our LORD, Jesus, the Christ; we are blessed to be a blessing.

Table of Contents

WHAT IS A COVENANT?

EXCHANGING ROBES

CUTTING THE SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS

יהוה יראה, yir'eh yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-JIREH

יהוה רפה, râphâ' yehôvâh,

JEHOVAH-ROPHE

METAMORPHORIS – NOT TRANSITION!

AFTER THE SPIRIT COMES