Rev. Martin Lamisi District Minister PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GHANA HARMONY CONGREGATION NAVRONGO OUR COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD Presented by Rev. Martin Lamisi District Minister On Sunday 4th February, 2015 Teaching service

Harmony. we are one Harmony. we are one Harmony Harmony we are one Harmony we are one Harmony we are one we are one in Christ

Definition What is a covenant? Covenant is a serious or solemn agreement unilaterally imposed or negotiated that binds the partners concern in a defined relationship, with specific promises and obligations. Types of covenants Parity Suzerainty

Examples of Parity covenant Parity covenant is negotiable and is usually entered by partners with equal status: Marriage and Friendship Solidarity between states like Ghana, Guinea Mali or other sovereign states Biblically we have David and Jonathan (the story) (1 Samuel 18:1) After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond of love between them, and they became the best of friends. And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly with David, as though he were one of his own sons.

Suzerain Covenant The suzerainty covenant is entered by partners with unequal status usually a superior and an inferior and often it is unilaterally imposed by the superior. God being the superior and Man the inferior. The covenant between God and man is suzerain. God’s covenants includes us all and when He makes a covenant with us He alone establishes the terms and the conditions and in so doing He promise to protect us if only he will obey and be faithful in following him. He has the best interest of man at the heart of the Covenant.

SUMMARY OF SOME COVENANTS God’s Covenant with Noah (Gen. 8:21 ) And the Lord was pleased with the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the earth, destroying all living things, even though people’s thoughts and actions are bent toward evil from childhood. (Gen.9:11-12 ) I solemnly promise never to send another flood to kill all living creatures and destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “I am giving you a sign as evidence of my eternal covenant with you and all living creatures.

God’s Covenant with Abraham Genesis 12:1-9   The LORD told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others.” (Genesis 12:1-2)   Abraham obeyed renewed the covenant at Schechem. At 75 then the covenant was fulfilled at 100

God’s Covenant with Israel Exodus 2:24-25 God heard their cries and remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the Israelites and felt deep concern for their welfare. God renewed his covenant with them but as soon as they entered into the relationship the broke the first term of the covenant. This incurred God’s anger

Moses also broke the ten commandments in his anger because it was written on tablet of stone. In the new covenant it is impossible to break because the word of God will be written in the hearts of men and women.

Need for a new covenant Exodus 32 :7-8  Then the Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain! The people you brought from Egypt have defiled themselves. 8 They have already turned from the way I commanded them to live. They have made an idol shaped like a calf, and they have worshiped and sacrificed to it. Because they broke the covenant, God promise to make a new covenant which could not be broken but would be more permanent.

The New Covenant Predicted by Jeremiah and Ezekiel “The day will come,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.

33 “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their family, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will already know me,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins.”

Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:  that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them (FULFILL THEM): and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

We are Covenanted Children of God As covenanted children , how do we want God to put his word in your mind? How is he going to write his word in your heart? Would you and I be regarded as people who know God? How do you feel when you err? Okay? or wish to forgiven?

THE OLD AND THE NEW COVENANT COMPARED 1. Weak and easy to break 2 Written on stone tablet 3. Needed to be thought always 4. Not thinking about it 5. Punishment for sin (i.e.) what we deserve 6. A heart of Stone 7. Sealed with animal blood 1. Strong/impossible to break 2.Written on their hearts 3. Would not need a teacher 4. Put in their minds to think about it daily 5. Forgiveness and Grace 6. A heart of flesh 7. Sealed with the blood of Jesus the Christ of God  “Now this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will give you what you deserve, for you have taken your solemn vows lightly by breaking your covenant”. (Ezekiel 16:59)

As we renew our covenant to continue in the relationship with God, let us also resolve to avail ourselves to leant and know His will and purpose through the Bible studies periods, the fasting and Prayer sessions and the morning devotions. Then we will become wise and seek Jesus: For wise people still seek Jesus.

Thank you Let us Pray