Coronavirus, What to Do Pt. 2
Restoring Our Heart Toward God’s Covenant
As we enter into this second message, if a child of God is afflicted with an illness or suffers the consequences of sinful choices made by the church or nation, does not mean that person is being punished, it is time for building faith and trust in the Lord. It is like this: When a bomb goes off there is always collateral damage. If a contractor does not follow the engineering plans in the construction of a building and the building collapses, the innocent are affected. They need to seek God, through Jesus Christ for comfort, help and guidance. When the church learns of an individual getting KVOID 19, the church is obligated to pray, mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15) and help them as the Lord makes the way.
God is always dealing with different heart issues of mankind through afflictions, punishments, trials, conflicts and consequences of wrong choices. Any born-again theologian interpreting the whole of Scripture using proper exegesis can tell you, God is chastising the church and punishing this nation for their sins. When pestilence is sent as a chastisement for the disobedience of God’s people and/or because national rulers refuse to surrender to God’s guidance, there are Biblical solutions to be lived out so we may enjoy God’s forgiveness and intervention.
Simply, Coronavirus is a prototype of what has happen in the past, what is now in presence time and what is to come in a later date. A “prototype (s???c, ??) is a foreshadow of things to come. (Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 592). New York: United Bible Societies.) Through the COVID 19 Pandemic, a real pestilence, Satan is laying a foundation for control of which people are surrendering to. Please note: The church is not changing or stopping a prototype – but as we see things begin to evolve toward the end days, we can point people to the teaching of God’s Word and to Jesus Christ. Giving them an opportunity to consider a relationship with Jesus, fore He is the one to trust in as we see the last days approach.
In part one of “Coronavirus, What to Do” we learned: 1.) Why the Lord takes us trough trials. 2.) The type of heart we need in order to hear from God on what needs to be done. 3.) The necessity of having a spiritual heart with “…ears to hear what the Spirit of God is saying.” (Revelations 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:8, 13, 22) 4.) What it means to really take refuge in the God of heaven and earth. 5.) Lastly, to serve God with all faithfulness by not serving the god’s which control the world view around us.
The next step to Biblical restoration of the true church is for Christians to understand and strive to live in their covenant obligations. During Biblical times there was what is known as the Bilateral Covenants. This placed obligations on both parties. The agreement was on one party fulfilling their obligations; If you will [the people of God]. Then [God] will whatever the promise is. (Hamme, J. T., & Laney, J. C. (2016). Covenant, Critical Issues. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.) Our covenant agreement is binding as we walk in obedience to fulfill our part. (Enns, P. P. (1989). The Moody handbook of theology (pp. 631–632). Chicago, IL: Moody Press.) God has never forsaken His part of any Biblical covenant agreement. He does withhold His blessing and/or brings chastisements as we break our part of the covenant. There is a conditional truth to our covenant which is lived out by our behavior. (Huey, F. B. (1993). Jeremiah, Lamentations (Vol. 16, p. 282). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
For example, in the ESV Bible is a preoccupy Circumcise Your Heart. The Bible says, “…what does the Lord your God require of you, but to draw near to the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and keep the commandments and statues of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good. Behold, to the Lord your God belongs heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.” (Deuteronomy 10:12-14)
We know it is important to have a heart of wanting to live by our covenant obligations because God’s Word speaks to us through Hosea, “As with Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to Me there.” (Hosea 6:7) The word “covenant” (??????? beriy?) means to come to an alliance, be an ally and have an agreement between God and man. – (Carpenter, E. E. (2003). The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament (p. 165). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers; Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship. Thomas, R. L. (1998). New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc.)
There is a Greek word, (diatheke) which accurately describes our present relationship with the Lord. Our covenant with God is offered to us because of His grace, it is who He is. It is as Philo said: “It is fitting for God to give and for a wise man to receive.” (Barclay, W. (Ed.). (1975). The letter to the Hebrews (p. 91). Philadelphia: The Westminster John Knox Press.) God’s exhortation found in Deuteronomy is a good truth for us, “Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord God.” (Deuteronomy 4:23) We are reminded, For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 4:24)
Now, Christians are under the New Covenant as soon as they receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, “…I [God] will put my law in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:33) Under this New Covenant Jesus’ instructions for seeing our needs are met: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” That is the Christian’s part of the covenant – then comes the Lord’s fulfilment of the covenant “…and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) In Jesus’ acknowledgement of us being the children of God, our Lord says, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men… which is our part being under the covenant of having the blessings and protection of God’s hand along with eternal Salvation. Jesus fulfills His part of the covenant, “I will also acknowledge [them] before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32) The writer of the Book of Hebrews tells us, “For this reason Christ is the mediator of the new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance …to set them free from sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15) Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)
When Christians choose not to seek the whole counsel of God’s Word for direction and guidance, they break the covenant promises. As soon as those who are given the opportunity to govern a country, which was founded on a reverent fear of God, choose to endorse laws which break God’s heart. That government has set the people of that country up for possible chastisements, which can include pestilence.
Practical applications of renewing our heart covenant:
1.) Ask the Lord what is in our lives which make Him jealous.
2.) Do not take control when trials arise.
a. Years ago, three county sand truck drivers were laid off. Two of them took control over their own circumstances. Finding the next available job, becoming bitter, abusing alcohol, drugs, punishing their spouses with their attitudes. Both unhappy and everyone around them, wishing they have never known them. One of them divorced with both them having drinking problems. - One waited on the Lord to open doors, thus, seeing God intervene by making away when there seemed to be no way. Knowing God’s faithfulness, enjoying Holy Spirit empowerment and finding Jesus’ directions.
b. Have the heart of the psalmist who knew God’s covenant, “I keep your precept and testimonies, for all my ways are before you.” (Psalm 119:168)
3.) Seek the whole counsel of God’s Word in every situation of life and ministry to Jesus Christ, walk in step with the Holy Spirit of Christ in a reverent fear of God.
The difference between a contract and a Biblical covenant is: A contract is a transaction where a covenant is based off a relationship with God being the one Who offers it, with Jesus being the one Who secures it and the Holy Spirit being the person who enables us to live by it. Our covenant relationship with the Lord enables us know His power and live fully in His purposes for our lives.
The heart beat of our covenant with God is laid at the foundation of what Jesus did for us. Jesus said, “…This cup that is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood.” (Luke 20:20) His dying for our sins, the shedding of His blood to cover our sins coneys to us a message of dying to the selfish flesh, not following the world view and certainly not listening to the lies of the devil. The Apostle Paul wrote so well, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) The Apostle Paul gives particle advice to live by so we can live out our covenant - being under the blood of Jesus Christ, who died not only for the redemption of our souls but to free us from daily sins which hold us in bondage. “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
To have the mind of Christ in all things is the key to accomplishing God’s perfect will for us, to be holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16) To trust in prayer and the Word of God while addressing the world view are the weapons for demolishing strongholds which hold our government, family and friends in bondage.
The Great Commission holds a truth to live by as we want to be used of God and enjoy our purpose as a collective Body of Christ. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” As we obey our part of the Great Commission we can enjoy Jesus’ promise, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
John Wesley walked in a covenant agreement with the Lord, his prayer was: “I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you. Praised for you or criticized for you. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service. And now, O wonderful and holy God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, you are mine, and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it also be made in heaven.” (commonprayers.org/covenant-prayer-by-john-wesley) Note, this prayer was rewritten in modern-day English to help us grasp it.
Our part of enjoying God’s covenant agreement:
Return to your first love relationship with the Lord. Jesus said to the church in Ephesus, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Revelation 2:4-5) A Christian who no longer is excited or no longer is constantly mindful of the Lord’s feelings and heart is like that couple who has let their first love excitement grow cold in their marriage. Their marriage testimony hurts the blessings of a covenant marriage proclamation. So, it is with a church whom has grown cold to its covenant agreement the Lord has offered to her.
Pew warmers need to repent, confess their sins and believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:16-18) “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.” (John 6:29) “Believe” (p?ste?? pisteúo) does not mean you believe Jesus existed or exist.
Muslims believe in Jesus: He is considered a prophet in the religion of Islam the Koran. The Hindus believe in Jesus: He is a great guru for them. Historians believe in Jesus: He was a first century Jew who lived in Galilee. Even the devils believe in Jesus and they tremble! Pew warmers and false teachers need to take heed of the teachings of Christ, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”(Matthew 7:21-23)
“Believes” (p?ste?? pisteúo) means to have faith in the One Whom God had sent to pay the ultimate price for our sins and walk in obedience to His commands because we love Him. Jesus said. “If you love Me, you will keep what I command… “Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21)
The ultimate covenant agreement of Christ is here – If we obey and keep the commands our Lord gives, then we will be loved by Jesus and His Father Who is in heaven. Let Christ through the Holy Spirit renew in us the joy of our covenant agreement with God found in Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord! Having great knowledge of God’s Word and believing Jesus existed and understanding the facts of His life and ministry cannot save us. We must be living a life which expresses a belief in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ as being the new covenant by placing our lives in His hands, pledging ourselves to follow Him no matter what.
