An Everlasting New Covenant.

An Everlasting New Covenant.

Jeremiah 31.

Israel is in captivity because of their habitual disobedience. -70 years in Babylon should be a sure cure for their disobedience.

What does God do? He sends a prophet named, Jeremiah.

Jeremiah states after those days, there will be a new covenant.

So where is the new covenant first spoken of? In the Hebrew scriptures, God spoke to the prophet, Jeremiah saying, “the days are coming, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel, and with the people of Judah, not like the covenant, I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to take them out of Egypt, the covenant that they broke…

This New Covenant was solely accomplished by God. John 15:16NLT  You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

In the wise words of Rev. Charles Spurgeon, "God's grace is illustrated and magnified in the poverty and trials of believers."

So the new covenant is born of brokenness. It exists because of brokenness. It was first spoken of in the days when the land of Israel lay in ruins, in the wake of judgment.

It's the covenant God made for those who had fallen from grace, a covenant for the broken.

Our trials, our struggles, our moments of doubt and despair, they do not negate God's grace. On the contrary, they illuminate it, magnify it, make it all the more apparent and precious.

We begin at, Jeremiah 31:1-4NIV “At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.” 2 This is what the Lord says: “The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel.” 3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. 4 I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful.“

Hear Verse 1 again, At that time declares the Lord, they will be my people! -That’s God’s heart. He wants a people. -His people.

2 Chronicles chapter 7, is a treasure chest filled with Diamonds, Emeralds, and I’m convinced that the Church should feed from often. It’s a model, It’s a 21st century model. P.H

2 Chronicles 7:1-16NLT When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple. 2 The priests could not enter the Temple of the Lord because the glorious presence of the Lord filled it. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the Lord filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” 4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to the Lord. 5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people dedicated the Temple of God. 6 The priests took their assigned positions, and so did the Levites who were singing, “His faithful love endures forever!” They accompanied the singing with music from the instruments King David had made for praising the Lord. Across from the Levites, the priests blew the trumpets, while all Israel stood.

7 Solomon then consecrated the central area of the courtyard in front of the Lord’s Temple. He offered burnt offerings and the fat of peace offerings there, because the bronze altar he had built could not hold all the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrificial fat. 8 For the next seven days Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters. A large congregation had gathered from as far away as Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south. 9 On the eighth day they had a closing ceremony, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the Festival of Shelters for seven days. 10 Then at the end of the celebration, Solomon sent the people home. They were all joyful and glad because the Lord had been so good to David and to Solomon and to his people Israel.

(The Lord’s Response to Solomon and God’s people).

11 So Solomon finished the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace. 12 Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. 13 At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. 14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 15 My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 16 For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.