GOD’S COVENANTS AND THEIR PATTERNS

COVENANT: the MOTHER of all biblical patterns WHY ALL THESE PATTERNS?? COVENANT: the MOTHER of all biblical patterns

Jer 31:31-34 (NLT) The day is coming,” 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 instructions deep within them, 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 relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” Jer 31:31-34 (NLT)

WHY did God use this concept of covenants? GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN : As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 2 Cor 6:16 (NLT) Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16  Romans 8:15-16 (NLT)

A COVENANT IS NOT A CONTRACT Contracts exchange property, money, services Covenants exchange persons. When people enter into a covenant, they say: "I am yours and you are mine." You exchange your very being, you give your very self to another person. 

HOW DO WE KEEP COVENANT WITH THE LORD?? Obey God’s commandments Love God as our heavenly father, our husband in Jesus Christ, our redeemer from sin and death Draw near to God Keep the covenant unconditionally Keep the covenant in our generations Keep the covenant in the hope of future, everlasting blessedness

MARRIAGE IS A COVENANT A PATTERN FOR MARRIAGE Galatians 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.  Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices  Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing

CHILDREN (GENERATIONAL) Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise:3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. Eph 6:1-4 (NLT)

A CHURCH FAMILY So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Cor 12:22-27 (NLT)

CHURCH COVENANT STATEMENT 1. I Will Protect the Unity of My Church by acting in love toward others by refusing to gossip, by following the biblical example of my leaders 2. I Will Share the Responsibility of My Church by praying for its growth and vitality,by inviting others to attend, by warmly welcoming those who visit 3. I Will Serve the Ministry of My Church by discovering my gifts and talents, by being equipped to serve with the assistance of my pastors by developing a servant’s heart

CHURCH COVENANT STATEMENT 4. I Will Support the Testimony of My Church by attending faithfully , by living a godly life . by giving regularly 5. I Will Maintain the Purity of My Church by dressing modestly, by remaining chaste (free from impurity) before marriage , by staying faithful to my husband/wife till death 6.And above all, by staying true to my commitments. Signed