Sermon: Covenants

WHAT IS A COVENANT? 

An agreement made between two parties, in which set out terms, promises and responsibilities must be fulfilled.

A covenant is an agreement or promise between God and His people, where God makes a commitment to bless,protect and provide for His people.

It is an agreement reached by two or more parties based on promises, privileges and responsibilities.

A binding agreement mandating one to agree to a promise previously made to someone.

A covenant is a formal, binding agreement that outlines obligations and commitments between parties.

COVENANTS IN THE BIBLE

●The Covenant with Noah and Creation: God's covenant with Noah, his descendants and all living creatures after the flood.(Genesis 9:8-17)

-Genesis 8:11,"Thus I establish my covenant with you:Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood;never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."

●The Abrahamic Covenant: God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants(Psalm 105:8-10; Genesis 17:1-27)

-Psalm 105:9,"The covenant which He made with Abraham."

-Genesis 17:4,"My covenant is with you,and you shall be a father of many nations."

●The Mosaic Covenant: God's covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai after their Exodus from egypt.(Exodus 19:5-6;1 Kings 8:9)

-Exodus 19:6,"And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."

-1 Kings 8:9,"When the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt. "

● The Davidic Covenant: God's covenant with King David and his descendants.It promises that David's lineage would endure forever and that his descendant would establish an everlasting kingdom.(2 Samuel 7)

-2 Samuel 7:16,"And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you.Your throne shall be established forever."

● The New Covenant:God's covenant with the house of  Israel and the house of Judah.(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:6-13)

-Jeremiah 31:31,"Behold,the days are coming,says the Lord,when I will make a new covenant with the house of Isreal and with the house of Judah."

- Hebrews 8:10,"For this is the covenant that i will make with the house of Israel......I will put my laws in their mind and write them on their hearts;and I will be their God,and they shall be My people."

●The Covenant of the Beloved Son: God's covenant with Jesus Christ at his baptism.(Matthew 3:13-17;Luke 3:21-22)

-Luke 3:22,"And the Holy spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him,and a voice came from heaven which said,"You are my beloved son,in you I am well pleased."

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT COVENANTS

◇Covenant of salt:A covenant can last forever between the Lord and one's descendants.

-Numbers 18:19,"It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord with you and your descendants with you."

◇Covenant of peace:A covenant of everlasting priesthood can exist between the Lord and future generation.

-Numbers 25:12,"Behold,I give to him my covenant of peace;and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood. "

◇The Lord keeps covenant for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments. 

-Deuteronomy 7:9,"Therefore know that the Lord your God,He is God,the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments. "

◇The Lord keeps the covenant which He  swore to our fathers when we listen to His judgements,keep and do them.

-Deuteronomy 7:12,"Because you listen to these judgements,and keep and do them,that the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers."

◇The Lord will establish His covenant which He has sworn to your fathers.

-Deuteronomy 8:18,"That He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers."

◇A written covenant can be a witness against you.

-Deuteronomy 31:26,"Take this book of the Law,and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God,that it may be there as a witness against you."

◇The Lord will never break His covenant with His people.

-Judges 2:1,"I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the Land of which I swore to your fathers,and I said,"I will never break my covenant with you."

◇Conditions need to be fulfilled in any covenant.

-1 Samuel 11:2,"On this condition I will make a covenant with you."

◇Covenants can be made between two people who love themselves.

-1 Samuel 18:3,"Then Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as his own soul."

◇Covenants can be made between two people in the presence of the Lord.

-1 Samuel 23:18,"So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord."

◇God  keeps His covenant and mercy  with those who walk before Him with all their hearts.(2 Chronicles 6:14;1 Kings 8:23)

-1 Kings 8:23,"Lord God of Israel,there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like you,who keep your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before you with all their hearts."

◇Covenants are made to be obeyed and kept according to instructions.

-1 Kings 11:11,"Because you have done this,and have not kept my covenant and my statues,which I have commanded you."

◇Covenants can be made between the Lord and His people,that they should be the Lord's people.(2  Kings 11:17; 2 Chronicles 23:16)

-2 Kings 11:17,"Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord,the king,and the people,that they should be the Lord’s people."

◇Conditional covenant can be made between the Lord and His people.

 -2 kings 17:35 ,"With whom the Lord had made a covenant and charged them,saying:"You shall not fear other gods,nor bow down to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them."

◇Covenants can be made with the eyes not to lust after a woman.

-Job 31:1,"I have made a covenant with my eyes;Why should I look upon a young woman?

◇The Lord  shows His covenant to those who fear Him.

-Psalm 25:14,"The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,And he will show them his covenant."

◇Covenants can be made by sacrifice.

-Psalm 50:5,"Gather my saints together to Me,Those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. "

◇Covenants can be broken when people refuse to walk in the ways of the Lord and when they are not faithful in His covenant. 

-Psalm 78:10,"They did not keep the covenant of God;They refused to walk in His law."

-Psalm 78:37,"For their heart was not steadfast with him,nor were they faithful in His covenant. 

◇Covenants can be made with the chosen of the Lord.

-Psalm 89:3,"I have made a covenant with my chosen.."

◇Covenants can be renounced and broken.

-Psalm 89:39,"You have renounced the covenant of your servant.."

◇The Lord remembers His covenant forever and His word stands  for a thousand generations.

-Psalm 105:8,"He remembers His covenant forever,the word which he commanded ,for a thousand generations. "

◇The Lord remembers His covenant and He always fulfils it.

-Psalm 106:45,"For their sake He remembered His covenant."

◇The Lord is always mindful of His covenant. 

-Psalm 111:5,"He will ever be mindful of His covenant."

◇Covenants can be made with death.

-Isaiah 28:15,"We have made a covenant with death."

◇Covenants can be made with the night and the day time.

-Jeremiah 33:25,"If my covenant is not with day and night,and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth."

◇Covenants can be perpetual and it cannot be forgotten.

-Jeremiah 50:5,"Come and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that will not be forgotten."

◇Covenants can be made with the beasts of the field ,the birds of the air and with the creeping things of the ground.

-Hosea 2:18,"In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field,with the birds of the air ,and with the creeping things of the ground."

◇Covenant can be made by circumcision. Example, The covenant with Abraham's descendants,to circumcise their male  children on the eighth day after their birth.

-Acts 7:8,"Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision;and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day."

◇Covenants can be made with our ancestors.

-Leviticus 26:45,"I will remember the covenant of their ancestors."

◇Jesus Christ is the mediator of the new covenant.

-Hebrews 12:24,"To Jesus the mediator of the new covenant."

◇Covenants can be a witness between two people.

-Genesis 31:44,"Now therefore,come,let us make a covenant,you and I,and let it be a witness between you and me"

◇God will not forget His covenant. 

-Deuteronomy 4:31,"He will not forsake you nor destroy you,nor forget the covenant of your father's which He swore to them."

◇God declared His covenant which He wants us to perform.This covenant is a written documentation,which keeps a record of God's promises and expectations which must be fulfilled. 

-Deuteronomy 4:13,"So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform,the Ten commandments ;and He wrote them on two tablets of stone."

HOW TO BREAK EVIL COVENANTS

•Repentance: Acknowledge your wrongdoing and seeking forgiveness for your sins.

•Come out from any sinful habit.

•Renunciation: Reject the terms of the covenant and disassociate from it,to nullify its effects.

•Forsake anything that binds you to the covenant.

•Spiritual warfare:Engaging in prayer or spiritual practices can sever ties to negative influences or agreements.

•Worship only the Lord and serve Him alone.

•Seek help from trusted individuals or groups that can help to break harmful commitments.

•Make a new covenant of everlasting peace with God.

PRAYERS

1. In the name of Jesus, I renounce and break any evil covenant that has been written or spoken against me. I declare freedom and deliverance over my life,in Jesus' name.

2. I declare, in the mighty name of Jesus, that an everlasting covenant of peace shall reign in my family. May unity, love, and divine favor be established among us forever,in Jesus' name.

3.Lord, help me to trust wholeheartedly in Your guidance. Empower me to walk confidently in the purpose You have set before me, and lead me to fulfill Your divine will for my life, in Jesus' name.

4.In the name of Jesus, I destroy and break every covenant, whether spoken or unspoken, that has been established to bring ruin upon my life. I declare victory and restoration,in Jesus' name.

5. Heavenly Father, I ask that You restrict and block all demonic access to my life and home. Let no evil force have any power or influence over me, in the name of Jesus.

6. I command every covenant that binds me to Satan and his kingdom to be broken.I declare that I am free from every form of bondage,in Jesus' name.

7. Father, I ask for Your divine protection over my life. Preserve me from harm, from destruction, and from all forms of evil, in Jesus' name. 

8. Every covenant that binds me to false gods or idols, I break it now in the name of Jesus. I declare that I am devoted to the One true God, and no other power will have dominion over me,in Jesus' name.

9. I reject and renounce the worship of my own works or creations. In the name of Jesus, I will not elevate anything above the worship of the Almighty God.

10. I declare that I will not walk into any form of captivity, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. I am free in Jesus' name, and I will not be bound by the enemy’s traps.

11.In the name of Jesus, I sever every covenant I have made with any person or spirit in the past that does not align with Your will. I break every agreement that hinders my destiny, and I declare complete freedom,in Jesus' name.

12. Almighty God, I thank You for choosing us as Your treasured people. We honor You for the privilege of being called Your own, and we commit to walking in Your righteousness, in Jesus' name.

13. Lord Jesus, I ask that You surround me with a mighty hedge of protection, keeping me safe from all harm, accidents, and dangers,in Jesus' name.

14. I declare with all my heart that I will live for You, Jesus, for all my days. I commit to serving You faithfully, walking in Your light and truth, in Jesus' name.

15.Father,strengthen our resolve to uphold your commands,and guide us in maintaining purity in our hearts and actions,in Jesus name.

16.O God,cause my words and actions to reflect your truth,inspiring others to walk in your ways,in Jesus name.

17.Any covenant made with my eyes to lust after women,break in Jesus name.

18.Heavenly father,help me to live according to your commands,reflecting you grace and mercy in our life,in Jesus name.

19.Lord Jesus,i thank you for the covenant you established with me,a promise of love and faithfulness,in Jesus name.

20.Gracious God,help me to remain steadfast in my faith and resist the temptations that lead me away,in Jesus name.

Thank you Lord for answering my prayers,in Jesus name.Amen