Covenant Renewal

Covenant renewal

Deuteronomy 29:1-15

Introduction-

Good Morning- Good to have our online church with us and I hope you have come to hear the word of God with an open heart.

Grab your bible and turn to Deuteronomy 29:1-15. It is the fifth book of the Old Testament.

I want to talk to you about a covenant, more closely, the covenant between each of us and the Lord.

Before we turn to the passage, we need to define covenant. We could not possible renew something that we don’t know what it is.

Covenant as defined in Webster dictionary:

“ An agreement, contract, a promise usually under seal between two or more people for the performance of some action.”

Breach of contract: common law action to recover damages because the pledge of agreement has been broken.

Coventee is the person to who the promise of agreement is made.

Covenanter is the person who made the agreement.

Coventee, (God) God draws up the agreement.

Covenanter- (us) we make an agreement to follow it.

Illustration-

How many times have we been guilty of saying- I swear to God!

I swear on my mother’s grave, My babies life.

The word of God tells us not to swear by God’s name- we are not to do this why? Because our answers should be yes or no.

Our word should be worth something and swearing on God’ name is to take his name in vain.

God’s name was so holy that the Jews would not say his name as to not bring shame on it.

Remember those times we said God if you only get me out of this mess-

I will do such and such.

If I get this promotion God, I will give more money every week God.

Just heal my baby and I will bring him/her up as you would want me too- then God keeps his part of the deal and we forget that we had an obligation, we had a responsibility.

God did not forget and he takes our contract or covenant with him seriously.

Deuteronomy 29:1-15 Read from the Bible

Pray

Now, let that sink in a minute.

Moses gathers the people of Israel and says:

•you have seen all the things that God has done to free you from the slavery of the Egyptians. •You have watched and saw miracles and great wonders of God.

In fact, 40 years you wandered in the desert, your clothes and shoes did not wear out, and God met every need you had, including feeding you and giving you water.

What was the covenant?

“That God would be their God, and they would be God’s people”

No idols. God would be first in their lives.

God says “carefully follow the terms of this covenant” so that you may prosper in what you do! Your leaders, your children, and even the people that work for you cutting wood.

(God Speaking)

You are standing here blessed because I made this covenant, put my seal of approval (promise-His Word) and you have agreed to it.

(V14)

“I am making this covenant, with it’s oath, not only with you who are standing here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God, but also with those who are not here today”

The same covenant God made with the Israelites, affected the Gentiles after the day of Pentecost, and affects each of us sitting here this morning.”

I want you to understand something this morning! God takes His covenant with us seriously! He expects us to take that covenant serious also!

Chapter 28 of Deuteronomy,

God describes clearly that there is blessings upon us for obedience and curses or consequences for disobedience.

The Lord told the Nation of Israel: Blessing

I will grant that your enemies that come up against you be defeated.

I will establish you as holy people.....If you keep my commandments and walk in my ways.

For disobedience

Your country will be cursed.

Your basket will not be full.

My hand of blessing will be taken away.

It was an hour of decision. Israel, do you want the blessings or consequences of God, because how you respond will determine the outcome.

If there was a day for our Nation to repent, it is today.

To renew our covenant to God

That is what Moses faced.

Stubborn,

Stiff-necked people

Hard hearted people

Who stood before God and said I want your blessings but I do not want to adhere to your word. I want the promises and the promised land of God , and I am not really afraid of the consequences of my actions.

Moses was clearly the man God used to share the covenant.

Moses was a type of Christ, he was the mediator of the covenant.

Today, on the other side of the cross- Jesus Christ is the mediator for us.