Luke 15:4-7 Lost Sheep Ministries Leave - Go - Find - Bring Back - Rejoice

Though all the peoples walk Each in the name of his god, As for us, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. Micah 4:5

The third portion of our journey explores the biblical concepts of covenant and the people of God. A People for His Glory COVENANT: A People for His Glory In establishing a covenant with a particular people, God initiated a means whereby all the peoples of the earth would know and worship Him. Covenant — a contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word berith is always thus translated. Berith is derived from a root which means “to cut,”with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18, 19).

The marriage compact is called “the covenant of God” (Prov. 2:17), because the marriage was made in God’s name. Wicked men are spoken of as acting as if they had made a “covenant with death” not to destroy them, or with hell not to devour them (Isa. 28:15, 18). (2.) The word is used with reference to God’s revelation of himself in the way of promise or of favour to men. Thus God’s promise to Noah after the Flood is called a covenant (Gen. 9:9; Jer. 33:20, “my covenant”).

God is awesomeabsolute awesome and absolute RENOWN and, thus, He establishes His RENOWN in the manner He wishes. He is more than capable of accomplishing His plan without help from any person or any means outside Himself. However, God has chosen to display His power and might through a covenant people -- the people of God! God All peoples Creation Chaos People of God Covenant

A covenant is a relationship between two or more people based on a promise. In the case of God and Israel, God initiated a relationship with Israel and established them as a covenant people. God’s covenant was unilateral (God-initiated) and particular (solely with Israel). The story of the Bible moves from God’s covenant relationship with a particular people to the fulfillment of the covenant in Jesus Christ and then to a new covenant people. The following Scriptures describe the progression of God’s plan. The story of the Bible moves from God’s covenant relationship with a particular people to the fulfillment of the covenant in Jesus Christ and then to a new covenant people. The following Scriptures describe the progression of God’s plan.

“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3 God selected from all the peoples of the earth a people through whom He would demonstrate His character, power and purpose. Through Israel, He would make His name great. The beginning point of God’s covenant with this people was a man name Abraham.

“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all peoples who are on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you or choose you because you were more in number than any other of the people, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” to be a people for His own possession out of all peoples who are on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you or choose you because you were more in number than any other of the people, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 7:6-8 “God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us -- That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all the nations … God, our God, blesses us. God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.” Psalm 67:1-2, 6-7

Israel was to serve as a living billboard on signpost to attract the nations to God and to draw them away from competing gods. In order to do this, Israel was to obey the Lord (Exodus 19:3-8), declare Him as their God and love Him with all their heart, soul and might (Deuteronomy 6:4-6). God commanded Israel You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). God’s requirement was that they walk in His ways, love Him and serve Him. (Deuteronomy 10:12; 11:15).

However, Israel repeatedly and with increased disregard ignored the source of their blessing and chased after other gods. They failed to obey the way set out for them by Abraham, Moses and David. compromised compromise Instead they compromised their participation in the covenant by bowing to the gods around them. The result of their compromise was their violation of the covenant relationship.

compromise Compromise True descendants are those who worship and obey God rather than compromise the covenant relationship. Compromise means no longer walking with God in faith and obedience for His purpose. God’s covenant with Abraham still stands. Its descendants are not only those who are of his flesh but those of like faith and obedience. The new covenant relationship forms around Jesus Christ. God All peoples Creation Chaos People of God-Israel Covenant Compromise

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God’s covenant. RENOWN Unlike Israel, Jesus Christ is much more than a sign or symbol of the covenant. Jesus is the complete fulfillment. Through Jesus, God’s RENOWN is revealed absolutely to mankind. Likewise a new covenant community is established to mediate blessing to the nations. “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is alsoof a “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also mediator of a which has been enacted on better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6

God fulfills the Covenant “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is alsoof a “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also mediator of a which has been enacted on better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6 God creates a New Covenant Community Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were formerly far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were formerly far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:12-13

RENOWN Jesus’ life, death and resurrection are the victorious guarantee of God’s faithfulness to His creation and His intent to reveal His RENOWN to all peoples. Those who are not of the covenant relationship because they are not born into the nation of Israel can now be full participants in the covenant through Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ has brought those of us who were far away near to God. Jesus is the “mediator of a new covenant” (Hebrews 7:22) by His blood (Hebrews 9:15-23).

You and I were separated, excluded, strangers and without hope. We are now near, included in the covenant family and full of hope. How did this happen? Through Jesus Christ we become the People of God! God All peoples Creation Chaos People of God/Church New Covenant Jesus Christ The sacrifice of Jesus Christ opens a way for us to be God’s covenant people.

The new people of God are the fulfillment of God’s promise of a new and everlasting covenant. Years before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Jeremiah declared that a day was coming when God would make a new covenant and His law would be written upon the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:31-34; 32:38-41).

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them, declares the Lord. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

everlasting covenant Isaiah and Ezekiel spoke of an everlasting covenant to come (Isaiah 55:3; Ezekiel 16:60; and 37:26-28).

The church is the evidence that the words of Jeremiah, Isaiah and Ezekiel are fulfilled. The new people of God – the people of the new and – everlasting covenant – is the Church! “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:22-23

Because of Jesus Christ, there is a new and better covenant relationship that creates a new people of God -- the Church. Jesus Christ is the Master. The Church is His body. “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” Ephesians 3:20-21

The Church is the manifestation that the absolute rule of God is coming. From the day of Pentecost until now God’s rule has widened and will expand until the day when “all the nations will be gathered before Him” (Matthew 25:32) to give honor to Him as the King. Until the day the earth is full of His glory, the Church is the advancing edge of God’s reign and glory. It is the vehicle by which God makes His name known among the nations.

Creation Church Abraham Israel Jesus Nations THE FLOW of GOD’S ACTIVITY

The Church is the possession of God. It does not belong to any nation, race, denomination or religious faction. We do not build the Church of God with our money or effort. Jesus Christ is the Master Builder, Who has built a spiritual house, not of bricks and cement but of living stones (1 Peter 2:5). The Church is the body which Christ fills. There is not a greater power anywhere on earth. The gates of Hell “will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18) Paul reminds us that “we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and from ourselves” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Why did God bless Abraham and his descendents? What did Israel do to violate the covenant? As the people of God, what is the Church’s covenant responsibility? In what ways are we tempted to compromise our participation in the covenant? What does it mean to love and embrace the Church?

As we come to the close of this section, pray for the people of God throughout the world. Race, color, language, clothing, buildings, worship style or form do not distinguish the people of God. The people of God are known by the blood of Jesus Christ. Some worship God in traditional buildings, others under a mango tree and others in homes. Their worship is heard every day of the week and around the clock. While some worship in complete freedom, others must worship in secret.

Remember To:  Ask that the people of God around the world will be faithful to the Word of God and live lives that honor the Lord God  Pray that in the places of persecution the people of God will remain firm and resolute in their worship and witness  Pray for young leaders around the world who minister to others in great physical and spiritual need.  Intercede for the places and people groups where a local church does not exist and the worship of God is non-existent.  Pray that your church will understand their wonderful heritage and awesome responsibility as the people of God.

The following passage will help you to remember that you are no longer a stranger or excluded, but that you are blessed and have purpose. As God’s people you are to proclaim Him to those who remain in darkness and those who have not received His mercy. “God be gracious to us, And cause His face to shine upon us-- That your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.” Psalm 67:1-2 As the people of God, it is crucial that we firmly establish the Lord’s commands and precepts in our hearts. Disobedience becomes the way of life when we forget to Whom we belong and begin looking for things to satisfy us.

The covenant relationship with Israel and now the Church exhibits God’s desire to make His name great among all peoples. You are covenant people!