COVENANT OF PROMISEText: Eph 2:12-16Facilitator: Ekundayo E. OLORUNDAREDate: Wednesday 20th May 2020.Intro:The import of a covenant is to strengthen a promise that is made. Promises, from God, are strong. But there is a higher level of promise that is backed up by covenant, and it is stronger in delivery. A covenant is of a surer dimension with an oath of promise which cannot easily be annulled even when it is not convenient, Heb 6:8. A covenant is a contractual agreement between two or more persons with individual responsibility to the corporate goal that brings about fulfillment of promises. In a promise, the promisor is responsible to make it good to the promisee regardless, but covenant requires that both parties play their individual responsibilities.The covenant between God and man is between a higher power and a lesser force, Heb 7:7-8. Every tither, for example, has a covenant between himself and God, Mal 3:10-12. You could also have covenant between man and another person, 1Sam 18:3; 20:16-17; 23:18. Still, covenant among men and its enforcement is supervised by a higher power, Eccl 5:8.Understanding our thematic text: Eph 2:12-16.1:- those without the covenant are aliens and strangers to the promise of the Father, Col 1:21; Eph 4:18.2:- The blessing is only accessed via a covenant, even as obedient sons and daughters, Lk 24:49.3:- becoming a citizen of God's kingdom is covenant based, John 3:3, 5-8.4:- it is on the basis of the redemptive covenant that we have access in Christ/Messiah, Matt 27:51-53.5:- we have no hope; lost in misery and helpless without the enactment of the covenant, John 17:12.6:- ordinances that were negative to us were annulled to make provision for a new covenant, Col 2:14.7:- the new covenant brought us anew with reconcilable peace, 2Cor 5:19.What is the value that God placed on men of covenant?1:- He sees them as the precious saints (forgiven sinners) with unrestrained access to the blessing, Ps 50:5.2:- covenant distinguishes those involved from those not involved, Gen 12:1-9, from the moment Abram left for his journey, in agreement with God, a covenant was enforced, to his distinction.3:- covenant forbids lying, Heb 6:17-18. In God is a yes and an amen, 2Cor 1:20.At what point may one initiate a covenant?1:- to strengthen a relationship with God, Ps 89:1-3.2:- in times of global trouble. 2Sam 24:24-25.3:- when in dire need of urgent help, comp 2Kings 3:26-27.Types of covenant:Every covenant is usually conditional in nature that informs individual responsibilities.1:- Marital covenant, Mal 2:14-16; Heb 13:4; Eph 5:21-29. There is an unbending and unbroken covenant between husband and wife that transcends human traditions and cultures. God hates divorce because it is an aspect that breaks a covenant. None shall be barren in the land is a response to a covenant, Exo 23:26; Deut 7:14.2:- Prosperity covenant, Deut 8:11-18; Ps 35:27; 3John 2. While wealth flies from people of no covenant, Prov 23:5, it flies to settle in the house of the righteous by way of wealth transfer, Prov 13:22. The covenant drives away devourer far from you, Mal 3:8-10. Be deliberate in your love offerings and be faithful in your tithing, then watch God for special harvest. What prayers "won't" do, giving will do, Lk 6:38; 2Cor 8:3-5.3:- health covenant, Exo 15:26. The presence of good health is a sure demand on an activated covenant. Eat right, under God, and live right, Jer 30:17. In 2Kings 2:19-22, a healing miracle was an answered prayer to a people of covenant. What others didn't have access to, was what covenant engagement brought to them, freely.4:- safety covenant, Ps 91:1-8. Covenant people smile at the storm in safety and victory, Isa 26:3-4. Part of the covenant right is to depart from the paths of the destroyer, Ps 17:4. Covenant right makes us to be too defended to be a victim of circumstance. Safety covenant takes you well above mere coincidence to a deliberate incidence of total protection amidst evils, Isa 54:17.5:- answered prayers, Ps 20:1-4; Jer 33:3; John 11:42-44. It is not everyone's prayers that enjoy answers, but activated covenant ascertains answers from God as opposed to the wicked, Prov 5:8.6:- age long turnaround, Ps 126:1-3. Breaking away from generational curses/spells can be initiated and activated via a covenant with God, see Ps 118:17-21.7:- covenant of life, Ps 91:16. The blood of Jesus has been a surer covenant of life, 1John 1:7; Heb 12:24; 9:23-26; John 11:25. Truth is, the life of Christ is what makes us alive, Acts 17:28; John 11:25-26.8:- covenant of God's Presence, Exo 33:15. Carriers of God's Presence enjoy unlimited access to the benefits of God, Ps 16:11. There are tough times for those who don't have the presence of God, Judges 16:20-21.How do we get into a covenant, divine or satanic?1:- written agreements, Jer 30:2. Don't joke with what is written, it is greater than what is happening, comp. Hab 2:2; Jer 22:30. Once it is written, it is binding, Acts 9:2.2:- blood agreement, 1John 5:7-8; Heb 12:24. The believers have a premise on the platform of Jesus' blood for a concrete agreement. But the people of the world use all kinds of blood for covenant rites.3:- oath of promises, Num 30:2. Swearing is popular among certain cultures, and it is binding on them; but as believers our yes must be yes and our no must be no, Matt 5:37; Jas 5:12; Heb 7:20-21; Acts 23:12, 21.4:- every belief system is covenant based, Acts 9:34-35. Belief system is stronger than danger or death. Your belief system is form of an agreement that is binding on its practices. And when contravened, it endures grave consequences.5:- initiation rites, Col 2:11. As believers, baptism is a form of initiation into the beloved, Rom 6:3; 1Cor 12:13; Gal 3:7. Holy communion is also a form of a reenactment of the covenant, 1Cor 11:24-25; Exo 12:12-14.6:- sexual intercourse, pornography, masturbation, holy/unholy affairs, Matt 5:27-28; Job 31:1. Relationship among legal and legitimate couples enjoy a divine covenant, and where it is supervised by satan, covenant is still in force.7:- activities of day or dream, and eating in it, Lev 17:14; Deut 12:23-25. Don't joke with what you habitually do in your dreams; they might just be a doorway to entering a covenant.The strength of a covenant:1:- faithfulness, 1Cor 4:2; Heb 3:5. One of the reasons God detest adultery is the lack of faithfulness on the part of an adulterer. Until a man is found faithful, the covenant of promise appears as being very weak to perform.2:- sincerity, Jas 1:17; Ps 78:72. absence of pretense or hypocrisy makes the covenant to be effectual.3:- diligence and hard work, Prov 22:29; 2Pet 3:14. Every covenant needs some level of hard work and super diligence. The success of the nation of Israel is partly hinged on the covenant as well as diligence and hard work, to enforcing the reality of the covenant.4:- commitment and steadfastness. Loafers don't have access to the loaf of heaven. We must therefore be committed to our integrity because God cannot deny Himself, 2Tim 2:13. So, it takes a level of self denial to be committed to the demands of the covenant, Lk 9:23.5:- confession of your profession, Heb 10:21-23; Heb 4:14-16. What you say before the altar can make or mar your world.6:- love. A lover of God has cut and court an irreversible covenant with Him, see 1Kings 3:3; Solomon loved the Lord with a reckless love which informed his level of sacrificial giving, 1Kings 3:4. Sacrifice is the bedrock of initiating a covenant. Love without sacrifices is dead and useless, John 3:16. Jonathan and David loved themselves as initiated by deep sacrifices.7:- Holy living, Gen 17:1, God told Abraham to not only walk but to be holy. According to Peter in 1Pet 1:15; 2Pet 3:11; holiness is a prerequisite for strengthening our covenant with God.Consequences of breaking a covenant: When conditions or words of a covenant are not fulfilled but broken, there can be dire consequences on the part of the breaker, see Deut 29:9.1:- death penalty, Gen 2:17. The covenant that God made with Adam was violated by Adam & Eve, and were separated (died) forever. And death continued till this day until the final catching up of the saints.2:- retrogression. Owing to the break of the covenant, man has steadily gone backwards in the number of his age, as opposed to an eternal abode in the garden, comp. Ps 90:10 (70 or 80years); Gen 5:5 (Adam lived 930years).3:- failures at the verge of breakthrough. Just before they lay hold on the promise, "another steps into their place" as in John 5:7 is an example of a man under a broken covenant. A near-success syndrome is a symptom of a broken covenant, Judges 6:1-6.4:- harrowing experiences of excruciating pain, Gen 3:16. Conception and fruitfulness should be as natural as drinking water under the covenant, Gen 1:22, 28; but it takes a horrible turn when it is broken, just as it is the case of Eve and everyone that followed her ways, Gen 3:16.5:- labour loss, Hag 1:9-11. Every time God is not honoured, people suffered labour loss, Mal 1:6, 14. You would remember that Peter laboured all night and caught nothing, Lk 5:5. Don't forget that the first thing man ought to have dominion over was fish, Gen 1:28, but fish was dodging Peter all night. Conclusion:God has a part to play, in the fulfillment of promises, that man cannot fit in to while man also has a part to play that God won't do; in every covenant. If you are therefore willing and obedient, then, and only then will the Lord be committed to doing what you want. Still, covenant can be renewed or reenancted. Never seek the approvals of anyone in your special relationship with God, in prayer, offerings, fasting, vows, etc.We must therefore return to the Lord via repentance, and He will abundantly pardon.

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