BLOOD COVENANT PRAYER

PRAYER OF THE CROSS

Narration: It Doesn't Matter

It Doesn't Matter

King Inside Of Me

His Mercy Endureth Forever by Bishop T.D. Jakes and the Potter's House Mass Choir - YouTube

HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD
HELP ME COME FACE TO FACE
WITH THE CROSS.
WHATEVER MY SINS MAY BE
I COMMIT MYSELF WHOLLY TO JESUS
PUT ME UNDER THE BLOOD

UNDER THE BLOOD
UNDER THE BLOOD
OF THE LAMB
O LORD
PLACE THE BLOOD ON ALL MY PAST
I THANK YOU FOR THE BLOOD
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST


PUT ME UNDER THE BLOOD
UNDER THE BLOOD
UNDER THE BLOOD
OF THE LAMB


OH THE WASHING OF THE BLOOD
THE PROTECTION OF THE BLOOD
THE OVERCOMING BLOOD
OF THE SON OF GOD


O THE WASHING OF THE BLOOD
THE WASHING OF THE BLOOD
WASHING OVER ME
WASHING OVER ME…
WASH OVER ME...
WITH THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB


O THE LAMB OF GOD WHO KNEW NO SIN
BY HIS BLOOD I MAY ENTER IN
THROUGH THE VEIL
O LORD  


HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD
REVEAL THE CROSS
THROUGH THE NAME OF JESUS. 
OH, OPEN THE HEAVENS. 
DESCEND UPON ME NOW. 
TEAR OPEN MY HEART,
GIVE ME SUCH A SIGHT OF CALVARY
THAT MY HEART MAY BE BROKEN.
 
OH HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, DESCEND NOW,
OPEN MY HEART TO RECEIVE
THE HEART THAT BLED FOR ME. 
IF I AM TO BE A FOOL -
MAKE ME A FOOL FOR YOU. 
TAKE ME, SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY. 
JESUS, I AM YOURS. 
YOU HAVE PURCHASED ME.

SPIRIT OF GOD
REVEAL THE CROSS
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
THE CROSS IS TO CONQUER THE WORLD.
PUT ME UNDER THE BLOOD. 
FORBID THAT I SHOULD THINK
OF WHAT MEN MAY SAY OF ME. 
OH SPEAK - SPEAK - SPEAK LORD JESUS. 
YOUR WORDS ARE WINE INDEED. 
OH, REVEAL THE CROSS,
BELOVED SPIRIT OF JESUS -
THE CROSS IN ITS GLORY.


REIGN IN MY HEART 
LORD HELP ME TO SEE
THE DYING SAVIOUR. 
ENABLE ME
TO SEE HIM CONQUERING
THE HOSTS OF DARKNESS. 
CLAIM VICTORY
FOR YOUR SON,
NOW LORD,
HE IS WORTHY
HE IS WORTHY
TO HAVE THE VICTORY. 
YOU ARE
THE ALL POWERFUL GOD. 
OH, CLAIM VICTORY. 


I SHALL GIVE
ALL THE GLORY TO YOUR NAME. 
NO ONE ELSE
HAS THE RIGHT BUT YOU. 
TAKE IT, LORD. 
GLORIFY YOUR SON
IN MY CIRCUMSTANCES. 
OH, HOLY SPIRIT -
COME UPON ME NOW
COME UPON ME
IN YOUR POWER
SPEAK YOUR WORD OF FIRE
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
BRING VICTORY
AMEN AND AMEN!

AUTHOR UNKNOWN
ORIGINAL PROSE PUT IN POETRY FORM

JESUS...

HE'S SETTING ME FREE...

HE'S SETTING ME FREE
BY HIS OWN PRECIOUS BLOOD 
SHED ON CALVARY

JUST FOR ME
BECAUSE HE LONGS TO BE
CLOSE TO ME


CHORUS:

CLOSE TO ME
CLOSE TO ME
CLOSE TO ME
BECAUSE HE LONGS TO BE
CLOSE TO
CLOSE TO 
CLOSE TO ME

I WORSHIP YOU
IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH
IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH
IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH

IT'S THE BLOOD
IT'S THE BLOOD
IT'S THE BLOOD

IT'S THE BLOOD
IT'S THE BLOOD
OF CALVARY

IT'S THE BLOOD
IT'S THE BLOOD
THAT SETS ME FREE

COPYWRITE ANN MCGEE

WHEN BLOOD GETS THICKER THAN WATER

KENNETH COPELAND

BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY MAGAZINE APRIL 2000

WHEN I WAS A KID, I ALWAYS WANTED A BLOOD BROTHER.  I WANTED ONE SO BAD, I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.  I NEVER HAD ANY BROTHERS OR SISTERS, SO I TRIED TO GET MY FRIENDS TO BECOME BLOOD BROTHERS.

I REMEMBER THINKING, INDIANS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BLOOD BROTHERS….

I NEVER COULD FIND ANY WHITE BOYS WHO WANTED TO SEE THEIR OWN BLOOD.  IT WAS NEAT IN THE MOVIES, BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME TO MAKE ‘THE CUT’ THEY DIDN’T WANT ANY PART OF IT.

TODAY, IN OUR CIVILISED SOCIETY, WE ARE NOT VERY AWARE OF OR CONSCIOUS OF COVENANTS - AT LEAST, NOT LIKE OUR ANCESTORS WERE - PARTICULARLY, BLOOD COVENANTS.

IN ANCIENT DAYS, AMONG ALL TRIBES OF PEOPLE AND ALL CIVILIZATIONS, THERE WAS THE COMMON PRACTICE OF COVENANTS MADE BY BLOOD.  THESE BLOOD COVENANTS WERE A MATTER OF TOTALLY GIVING ONESELF TO ANOTHER FOR LIFE WITHOUT ANY RESERVATION.  IT MEANT COMPLETE LOYALTY.  WHAT’S MORE, ONCE A BLOOD COVENANT WAS CUT BETWEEN TWO INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES, THAT COVENANT WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT LASTED FOR AT LEAST EIGHT GENERATIONS.

WITH THE PASSING OF TIME, HOWEVER, AND THE MORE ‘SOPHISTICATED’ OUR CULTURES BECAME, THE HUMAN FAMILY STRAYED FROM SUCH COVENANTS.  CONSEQUENTLY, TODAY, MANY BELIEVERS ARE UNAWARE OF THEIR OWN BLOOD COVENANT WITH GOD.  THEY HAVE NO REAL UNDERSTANDING OF ETERNAL PROMISES WRITTEN IN THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS.

IN THAT COVENANT OF BLOOD, GOD HAS PROVIDED EVERYTHING WE NEED TO TAKE AUTHORITY OVER OUR FLESH AND LET THE IMAGE OF CHRIST BE FULLY FORMED IN US.  GOD’S COVENANT HAS GIVEN US THE POWER TO SUCCEED IN EVERY TASK AND FULFILL EVERY DREAM HE HAS PUT IN OUR HEARTS.  SO, LET’S TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE RICH DEPTH AND RANGE OF PROMISES GOD MADE IN HIS COVENANT WITH US, SEALED IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

IN THE DAYS OF THE ANCIENT HEBREW NATION, FAMILIES CUT COVENANT AS WELL.  IN FACT, THE HEBREW WORD FOR COVENANT  LITERALLY MEANS “A CUT WHERE BLOOD FLOWS”.  THESE BLOOD COVENANTS WERE THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND SCRIPTURES SUCH AS PROVERBS 18:24 WHICH SAYS, ‘…THERE IS A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.’  THEY WERE ALSO THE REASONING BEHIND PHRASES SUCH AS, ‘BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER.’ 

THE MOTIVE BEHIND BLOOD COVENANTS WAS QUITE SIMPLY, DIFFERENCES - THAT IS, COVENANTS WERE BASED ON THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED.   FOR INSTANCE, ONE FAMILY OR TRIBE MIGHT BE GOOD FARMERS, WHILE A NEIGHBOURING FAMILY OR TRIBE MIGHT BE KNOWN FOR BEING SUPERIOR WARRIORS.  SO, WHY NOT COME TOGETHER AND CUT COVENANT AND ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF EACH OTHER - ESPECIALLY IF THE FARMERS WERE ALWAYS GETTING ROBBED AND THE WARRIORS WERE ALWAYS GOING HUNGRY. 

BEFORE THESE COVENANTS COULD BE MADE, HOWEVER, THERE WERE USUALLY LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES.  AFTER ALL, AN AGREEMENT MADE IN BLOOD SPANNING EIGHT GENERATIONS WAS SERIOUS BUSINESS.

TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BLOOD COVENANTS, AS WELL AS OUR COVENANT WITH GOD, IT WOULD HELP US TO WALK THROUGH THE SEVEN STEPS OF A TRADITIONAL HEBREW COVENANT CEREMONY.

STEP 1 EACH FAMILY, OR PARTY, CHOSE A COVENANT REPRESENTATIVE

THE PERSON REPRESENTING THE FAMILY WAS ALWAYS THE FAMILY’S BEST - THE SMARTEST, THE STRONGEST, FLEETEST OF FOOT. 

LIKEWISE THE ANIMALS TO BE USED IN THE COVENANT CEREMONY WERE ALWAYS THE BEST.  THEY WERE CAREFULLY SELECTED AND PREPARED.  THE HEBREW PEOPLE HAD LEARNED THIS EARLY ON WHEN GOD INSTRUCTED THEM TO OFFER ONLY THE BEST WHEN BRINGING SACRIFICES TO HIM.  HE DIDN’T WANT ONE-EYED, DISEASED ANIMALS ON HIS ALTAR.

CONSEQUENTLY, THIS IS WHERE THE TERM THE FATTED CALF COMES FROM.  IN TODAY’S TERMS, WE COMMONLY THINK OF THE FATTED CALF BEING THE BEST OF SOMETHING TO CONSUME OURSELVES. 

ACTUALLY, IT WAS THE CHOICEST ONE SET ASIDE FOR COVENANT CEREMONIES AND SACRIFICES.

FINALLY, A COVENANT SITE WAS CHOSEN, AND THE FAMILIES WOULD COME TOGETHER.  EACH FAMILY’S COUNCIL OF ELDERS WAS PLACED WHERE THEY COULD WATCH CLOSELY, AND HEAR EVERY WORD SPOKEN.

STEP 2 THE COVENANT CUT WAS MADE

IN THE ANCIENT HEBREW COVENANT CEREMONY, THE CUTTING OF THE SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS WAS DONE DIFFERENTLY FROM EVERY OTHER SACRIFICE OR CEREMONY.

THE COVENANT CUTS WERE MADE FROM THE BASE OF THE ANIMAL’S SKULLS, LENGTHWISE DOWN THEIR BACKBONES.  THE ANIMALS WERE SPLIT AND THEN PARTED DOWN THEIR BACKBONES.  EACH HALF WAS MADE TO FALL SIDE TO SIDE, BUT THEN PROPPED UP SO THE BLOOD WOULD FLOW DOWN A PATHWAY.

THE COVENANT ANIMALS USUALLY INCLUDED A CALF AND A LAMB.  THE CALF REPRESENTED MONETARY VALUE.  IT REPRESENTED THE FAMILY’S POSSESSIONS.  THE LAMB REPRESENTED TOTAL DEFENSELESSNESS.  IN FACT, THE LAMB USED IN THE CEREMONY WAS SO YOUNG THAT IT DID NOT YET HAVE TEETH.  IT HAD NO DEFENSE.

BY SACRIFICING THESE ANIMALS, EACH FAMILY WAS SAYING, ‘WE FREELY BRING OUR BLOOD TO THIS COVENANT.  WE COME WITH NO MALICE - TOTALLY FREE, TOTALLY LOYAL.’  ONCE THE ANIMALS WERE CUT AND THEIR BLOOD SHED ON THE GROUND, THE COVENANT CEREMONY BEGAN.

STEP 3 THE REPRESENTATIVES EXCHANGED COATS

EACH REPRESENTATIVE WALKED THROUGH THE PATHWAY OF THE ANIMALS’ BLOOD TWICE, AND THEY DID SO IN A FIGURE OF EIGHT.  AFTER THEY WALKED THROUGH THE BLOOD THE FIRST TIME, THEY STOPPED AND EXCHANGED COATS WHILE MAKING CERTAIN PROMISES ABOUT WHO THEY WERE, WHAT THEY HAD, AND WHAT THEY MEANT TO THE OTHER PERSON.  THIS WAS SIMILAR TO OUR MODERN MILITARY TRADITIONS.

IN OUR SOCIETY, WE KNOW YOU CAN TELL A SOLDIER’S RANK BY THE COAT THAT HE OR SHE WEARS.  THEIR COATS REPRESENT THEIR AUTHORITY, THEIR OCCUPATION OR SPECIFIC TASK, THEIR BRANCH OF SERVICE, AND SO ON.  WE ALSO KNOW WHEN A PRIVATE WALKS INTO A ROOM FILLED WITH SOLDIERS, NOT MUCH HAPPENS.  WHEN A GENERAL WALKS IN, HOWEVER, EVERYONE STOPS EVERYTHING TO JUMP TO ATTENTION AND SALUTE.

BUT NOW, IMAGINE A PRIVATE - WEARING A GENERAL’S UNIFORM - WALKING INTO THE ROOM.  THAT PRIVATE WOULD GET THE SAME RESPONSE AS THE GENERAL.  WHY?  BECAUSE IT’S THE GENERAL’S UNIFORM THAT DOES THE TALKING.

THE SAME HELD TRUE FOR THE BLOOD COVENANT CEREMONY.  A FARMER, FOR INSTANCE, WOULD COME TO THE CEREMONY WITH A COAT REPRESENTING HIS FAMILY AND HIS AUTHORITY.  A WARRIOR WOULD COME WITH HIS.  THEN, AT THIS POINT, THEY WOULD EXCHANGE THEIR COATS, AND THEREBY, THEIR IDENTITIES. 

THIS ADDS GREATER INSIGHT AS TO WHY THE APOSTLE PAUL EXHORTS US TO ‘PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD.’ (EPH 6:11).  IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO IS WEARING IT - IT’S THE ARMOUR THAT DOES THE TALKING!

STEP 4 THE REPRESENTATIVES EXCHANGE WEAPONS

AFTER THE REPRESENTATIVES WALKED THROUGH THE PATHWAY OF THE ANIMALS’ BLOOD IN A FIGURE EIGHT THE SECOND TIME, THEY STOPPED AGAIN AND EXCHANGED WEAPONS.

IN THOSE DAYS, WHEN MEN WENT TO WAR, THEY WORE A GIRDLE, OR BELT.  IT WAS A GIRDLE BECAUSE THEIR OUTER GARMENTS WERE LIKE LONG, FLOWING ROBES.  TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT, RUN, OR WALK COMFORTABLY, THEY HAD TO REACH BETWEEN THEIR LEGS AND PULL THE BACKSIDE OF THEIR ROBE UP TO THE FRONT AND FASTEN IT UNDERNEATH THEIR BELT.  STRAPPED TO THEIR BELTS WERE ALSO THEIR WEAPONS.

NOW, IF THE FARMER DIDN’T HAVE ANY WEAPONS, HE AT LEAST HAD HIS FIGHTING KNIFE, AND MAYBE A GOOD AXE HANDLE TO FIGHT WITH.  THE WARRIOR, MEANWHILE, PROBABLY HAD AN ASSORTMENT OF FEROCIOUS LOOKING WEAPONS STRAPPED TO HIS BELT.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY HAD, THEY EXCHANGED WEAPONS AND BELTS SAYING, ‘HERE’S MY AUTHORITY AND POWER IN WAR.  I GIVE IT TO YOU.  ANY ENEMY THAT COMES AGAINST YOU IS MY ENEMY.  ANYONE WHO CURSES YOU, I CURSE.  ANYONE WHO THREATENS YOU, HAS TO ANSWER TO ME.

JUST AS THIS ANIMAL HAS BLED AND DIED, I WILL BLEED AND DIE FOR YOUR FAMILY THE SAME AS I WOULD MINE.’

STEP 5 THE REPRESENTATIVES CUT THEIR FLESH

ONCE MOST OF THE COVENANT PROMISES AND BLESSINGS WERE MADE, THE TWO REPRESENTATIVES CUT THEIR OWN FLESH SO THEIR BLOOD WAS VISIBLE TO ALL THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS.  THEN THEY BROUGHT THEIR HANDS TOGETHER, MINGLED THEIR BLOOD AND LIFTED THEIR HANDS TO GOD.  THIS WAS WHEN THE MOST PRECIOUS OF THE VOWS WERE MADE BETWEEN THE FAMILIES.

BY LIFTING THEIR HANDS TO GOD, THEY WERE MAKING THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH THIRD PARTY TO THEIR COVENANT, BELIEVING ALMIGHTY GOD TO WATCH OVER THEIR AGREEMENT.  EACH SWORE BY GOD TO KEEP THE PROMISES THEY HAD MADE.

BY BRINGING THEIR HANDS TOGETHER AND MINGLING THEIR BLOOD, THEY WERE CALLED ONE FAMILY.

FROM THAT DAY ON, THE SEAL OF THE COVENANT WAS THE SCAR ON THE BODY OF EACH REPRESENTATIVE.  IF YOU SAW SOMEONE WITH A COVENANT SCAR, YOU REALLY DIDN’T KNOW WHO YOU WERE MESSING WITH, AND YOU WOULD PROBABLY THINK TWICE ABOUT STIRRING UP TROUBLE WITH THEM.  THAT SCAR MEANT THERE WAS A BLOOD BROTHER HANGING AROUND SOMEWHERE.

REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 18:19-20?  ‘AGAIN I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT IF TWO OF YOU SHALL AGREE ON EARTH AS TOUCHING ANY THING THAT THEY SHALL ASK, IT SHALL BE DONE FOR THEM OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.  FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM.’ 

THE CHURCH HAS NEVER REALLY FIGURED OUT WHAT THAT MEANS - BUT IT’S COVENANT.  WHEN JESUS SAID IT, HE MEANT IT.  WE JUST HAVE NOT HAD A COVENANT CONSCIOUSNESS TO UNDERSTAND IT FULLY.

STEP 6 THE COVENANT MEAL

THE MIGHTY CLIMAX OF THE WHOLE COVENANT CEREMONY WAS THE REMEMBRANCE PARTY.

IN THE BIBLE, THE WORD REMEMBER IS POWERFUL.  EXODUS 2 TELLS US THAT GOD REMEMBERED HIS COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB.  IT DOESN’T SAY, ‘HE HAPPENED TO REMEMBER IT.’  GOD DOESN’T FORGET.  THE WORD REMEMBER, THERE, LITERALLY MEANS ‘THE CLAW’.  IT REFERS TO THE TALON OF A MIGHTY EAGLE.

AMONG SOME OF THE HEBREW TRIBES, PEOPLE CUTTING COVENANT WERE KNOW TO TAKE AN EAGLE’S CLAW AND PUT IT IN THEIR FACE AND SAY, ‘MY REMEMBRANCE OF YOU IS AS THOUGH I WERE STILL IN THE BLOOD, PROMISING YOU EVERYTHING I HAVE.  MY COVENANT WITH YOU IS LIKE A CLAW IN MY BRAIN.  I CANNOT EVEN SEE EXCEPT FOR SEEING YOU IN MY FACE.’

THIS REMEMBRANCE PARTY OR COVENANT MEAL, WAS WHERE THE FAMILIES BEGAN EATING BREAD, DRINKING WINE, DANCING AND CELEBRATING.  THEY WOULD ACTUALLY FEED BREAD TO ONE ANOTHER, SAYING, ‘THIS IS MY BODY.  I WILL LET YOUR FAMILY HAVE MY BODY, BEFORE I WILL LET THEM STARVE.’ 

THEN, SHARING WINE, THEY WOULD REMIND EACH OTHER THAT IT REPRESENTED THE BLOOD THEY HAD JUST WALKED IN, MAKING THEM ONE FAMILY.

STEP 7 THE FAMILIES EXCHANGED NAMES

BY THE TIME THE COVENANT CEREMONY WAS COMPLETED, BOTH PARTIES OR FAMILIES HAD NEW NAMES.  FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE FARMERS AND THE FIGHTERS CUT COVENANT, PHIL FARMER WAS NOW PHIL FIGHTER-FARMER, AND FRED FIGHTER BECAME FRED FARMER-FIGHTER. 

SUCH COVENANT NAMES WERE ANOTHER INDICATION FOR TROUBLEMAKERS TO LEAVE PHIL, THE FARMER, ALONE.  THAT WAS NOT JUST PHIL FARMER ANYMORE.  THAT WAS PHIL FIGHTER-FARMER.  THAT WAS NOT JUST FRED FIGHER, EITHER.  THE FARMER-FIGHTER FAMILY NOW HAD PLENTY OF FOOD TO SELL.  THEY HAD COVENANTED WITH THE FARMER FAMILY.  THEY WERE NOW ONE LARGE, POWERFUL FAMILY. 

TODAY, WE OFTEN SEE NAMES OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE A HYPHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THEM.  THAT MEANS, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, THOSE TWO FAMILIES CAME INTO COVENANT. 

EPHESIANS 3:15 SAYS ‘THE WHOLE FAMILY IN HEAVEN AND EARTH IS NAMED’ OF JESUS.   BY COVENANT, WE BEAR THE NAME OF JESUS - THAT NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME.  AND BY COVENANT, WE GO INTO ALL THE WORLD BEARING THAT NAME (MARK 16:15-18).

YOU HAVE A BIG BROTHER

TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW PASSIONATE GOD IS ABOUT THIS COVENANT HE HAS MADE WITH YOU IN THE BLOOD OF HIS OWN SON JESUS, LOOK AT 2 CORINTHIANS 6:16-18, ‘…FOR YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD: AS GOD HATH SAID, I WILL DWELL IN THEM, AND WALK IN THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.  WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE… AND I WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAITH THE LORD ALMIGHTY.’  THIS WAS PAUL QUOTING FROM ISAIAH 52 AND EZEKIEL 20.

OLD TESTAMENT WRITERS USED A COVENANT WORD, WHICH IN HEBREW IS HESED.  IT IS TRANSLATED AS ‘EVER LOVINGKINDNESS; TENDERNESS; MERCY.’  THESE TRANSLATIONS, HOWEVER, MISS THE DEPTH AND POWER OF ITS MEANING.

HESED IS BEST DESCRIBED, PERHAPS, AS WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE A MOTHER OR A FATHER WHEN THEIR CHILD IS THREATENED.  ONLY, IT GOES FAR BEYOND THAT. 

HESED IS THE FORCE THAT RISES INSIDE A COVENANT BROTHER CAUSING HIM TO WANT TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG FOR THE BENEFIT OF HIS COVENANT BROTHER, OR COVENANT FAMILY.  IT IS A DRIVE THAT FAR EXCEEDS ANY OTHER DRIVE KNOWN TO MANKIND.  WE’VE ONLY TASTED A SMALL BIT OF IT.

FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE, HESED MIGHT BEST BE DESCRIBED USING JOHN 3:16: ‘FOR GOD SO HESED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON…’

LONG BEFORE GOD EVER CREATED MAN, HE PROVIDED A COVENANT LAMB, A LAMB WITHOUT SPOT, OR BLEMISH, SO IF MAN DID MESS UP, IT WOULD KEEP HIM FROM LOSING EVERYTHING - AND IT WOULD KEEP GOD FROM LOSING THE FAMILY HE SO LONGED FOR.

AFTER ADAM DID COMMIT HIGH TREASON AND BOWED HIS KNEE TO SATAN, HE LOST THE PRESENCE AND REVELATION OF GOD.  WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THE FIRST THING GOD DID WAS TO KILL AN ANIMAL IN ORDER TO CLOTHE ADAM.  HE HAD BEEN CLOTHED WITH THE VERY GLORY OF GOD, BUT WHEN HE SINNED, THE GLORY LIGHT WENT OUT.

LATER, HOWEVER, GOD FOUND FOR HIMSELF A MAN, ABRAM, A MAN WITH WHOM HE COULD CUT COVENANT, A MAN WHO WOULD TEACH HIS CHILDREN THAT COVENANT (GENESIS 18).

BUT WHY DID GOD REQUIRE THE BLOOD OF ANIMALS? HE DID NOT HAVE ANY BLOOD OF HIS OWN TO SHED.  WHEN ABRAM SINNED, GOD SAID, I’LL TAKE THE BLOOD OF AN ANIMAL, RATHER THAN HIM.  I’LL TREAT HIM AS THOUGH HE DIDN’T SIN.  I’LL ACCOUNT IT TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS - BECAUSE HE BELIEVED ME (GALATIANS 3).

ABRAHAM BELIEVED THE PROMISES OF GOD, THE PROMISES THAT WERE TO HIM AND HIS SEED.

GALATIANS 3:13-14 SAYS, ‘CHRIST [THE ANOINTED ONE AND HIS ANOINTING] HATH REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, BEING MADE A CURSE FOR US… THAT THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM MIGHT COME TO THE GENTILES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.’

THE APOSTLE PAUL GOES ON TO SAY THAT, WHEN GOD MADE THOSE PROMISES TO ABRAHAM, HE WAS ALSO MAKING THEM TO JESUS, WHO HAD NOT YET BEEN BORN INTO THIS EARTH.  GOD WAS MAKING A BLOOD COVENANT WITH A MAN AND HE EXPECTED THAT COVENANT, THOSE WORDS, TO PRODUCE A BODY WITH BLOOD - JESUS- WHEREIN HE COULD SWEAR.

JOHN 1:14 SAYS, ‘THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US…’

YOU AND I ARE ABRAHAM’S SEED.  WE ARE HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE (GAL 3:29).  IT IS NO LONGER BY THE BLOOD OF COWS AND SHEEP, BUT BY THE BLOOD OF ALMIGHTY GOD, HIMSELF.

OURS IS A COVENANT BETWEEN A RESURRECTED, IMMORTAL MAN, JESUS, AND A HOLY AND INFALLIBLE GOD.

WHICH OF THEM DO YOU THINK COULD EVER BREAK THE COVENANT?  NEITHER.

WHAT’S MORE, WE CANNOT BREAK IT.  WE MAY STEP OUT OF FELLOWSHIP WHEN WE SIN.  BUT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS CONFESS OUR SIN AND STEP BACK INTO THAT FELLOWSHIP (1 JOHN 1:9).

WE’VE BEEN GRAFTED INTO A COVENANT BETWEEN GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, AND JESUS, OUR BLOOD BROTHER.  KNOWLEDGE OF AND TRUST IN THAT COVENANT WILL REMOVE THE FEARS OF INSUFFICIENCY AND LACK THAT MEN FEED WITH SUCH THINGS AS OVEREATING AND COMPULSIVE SPENDING.  IT WILL REMOVE THE FEARS OF REJECTION THAT HAVE CAUSED SO MANY TO SEEK COMFORT IN WRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND IN WHAT THEY PUT IN THE BODY AND ON THE BODY INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY FEED THE SPIRIT.  GOD’S COVENANT LOVE REMOVES MEN FROM TRUST IN THE WORLD’S WAYS FOR THEIR SECURITY AND SUCCESS AND BUILDS THEIR LIVES ON THE UNSHAKEABLE FOUNDATION OF GOD’S WAY OF DOING THINGS.

ALL WE EVER NEED TO DO, NOW, IS BEING DEVELOPING A CONSCIOUSNESS OF JESUS’ BLOOD, A CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR BLOOD COVENANT WITH GOD.  WHEN THE DEVIL COMES AGAINST YOU, WHEN SICKNESS AND DISEASE COME AGAINST YOU, WHEN FEAR, WORRY, HARM OR POVERTY COME AGAINST YOU - REMEMBER THE COVENANT!

REMEMBER THE BLOOD.  REMEMBER THE PROMISES.  REMEMBER THE WORD.

YOU HAVE A BLOOD BROTHER, JUST TURN IT OVER TO HIM.  YOU’LL SOON REALISE JUST HOW THICK HIS BLOOD REALLY IS!

BVOV

                         

SIMPLE PRAYER

ABBA FATHER, THERE IS ONE GOD AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS, WHO GAVE HIMSELF AS A RANSOM FOR ALL MEN (1 TIM 2:5-6).  I SEE A LAMB, LOOKING AS IF IT HAD BEEN SLAIN, STANDING IN THE CENTRE OF THE THRONE, ENCIRCLED BY THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES AND THE ELDERS (REV 5:6).  YOU ARE WORTHY,,, BECAUSE YOU WERE SLAIN, AND WITH YOUR BLOOD YOU PURCHASED MEN FOR GOD FROM EVERY TRIBE AND LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE AND NATION.  YOU HAVE MADE US TO BE A KINGDOM AND PRIESTS TO SERVE OUR GOD, AND WE WILL REIGN ON THE EARTH (REV 5:9-10).  WORTHY IS THE LAMB, WHO WAS SLAIN, TO RECEIVE POWER AND WEALTH AND WISDOM AND STRENGTH AND HONOUR AND GLORY AND PRAISE!…  TO HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE AND TO THE LAMB BE PRAISE AND HONOUR AND GLORY AND POWER, FOR EVER AND EVER, AMEN! (REV 5:12-13).  YOU ARE DRESSED IN A ROBE DIPPED IN BLOOD AND YOUR NAME IS THE WORD OF GOD (REV 19:13).

WHEN I WAS DEAD IN MY SINS AND IN THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF MY SINFUL NATURE, YOU MADE ME ALIVE WITH CHRIST.  YOU FORGAVE ME ALL MY SINS, HAVING CANCELLED THE WRITTEN CODE, WITH IT’S REGULATIONS, THAT WAS AGAINST ME AND THAT STOOD OPPOSED TO ME; YOU TOOK IT AWAY, NAILING IT TO THE CROSS.  AND HAVING DISARMED THE POWERS AND AUTHORITIES, JESUS MADE A PUBLIC SPECTACLE OF THEM, TRIUMPHING OVER THEM BY THE CROSS. (COL 2:13-15). 

IN HIM I WAS ALSO CIRCUMCISED, IN THE PUTTING OFF OF THE SINFUL NATURE, NOT WITH A CIRCUMCISION DONE BY THE HANDS OF MEN BUT WITH THE CIRCUMCISION DONE BY CHRIST, HAVING BEEN BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM AND RAISED WITH HIM THROUGH MY FAITH IN THE POWER OF GOD, WHO RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD. (COL 2:11:12).

HE WHO KNEW NO SIN BECAME SIN FOR ME.  IN HIM I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST.  I PUT ON CHRIST JESUS.  BE A WALL OF FIRE AROUND ME, LORD, AND MY GLORY WITHIN.  I AM IN CHRIST AND CHRIST IS IN GOD.  FOR I DIED, AND MY LIFE IS NOW HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD.  WHEN CHRIST, WHO IS MY LIFE, APPEARS, THEN I ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY (COL 3:3).  FOR IN CHRIST ALL THE DEITY LIVES IN BODILY FORM, AND I HAVE BEEN GIVEN FULLNESS IN CHRIST WHO IS THE HEAD OVER EVERY POWER AND AUTHORITY (COL 2:9-10).  AND GOD RAISED ME UP AND SEATED ME WITH CHRIST IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS IN CHRIST JESUS (EPH 2:6) FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITIES, POWER, MIGHT AND DOMINION AND ABOVE EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED. 

I PUT ON THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (EPH 6).  GOD HAS EXALTED ABOVE ALL THINGS HIS NAME AND HIS WORD.  ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH IS GIVEN TO JESUS.  JESUS SAW SATAN FELL LIKE LIGHTNING FROM HEAVEN.  JESUS HAS REDUCED SATAN TO ASHES ON THE GROUND (EZEK 28:18).  JESUS DISARMED THE POWERS AND AUTHORITIES, MAKING A PUBLIC SPECTACLE OF THEM, TRIUMPHING OVER THEM BY THE CROSS. (COL 2:13-15).  JESUS IS THE FIRST AND THE LAST, THE LIVING ONE.  THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BROTHERS.  AND BEHOLD HE IS ALIVE FOREVERMORE AND JESUS HAS THE KEYS OF DEATH AND HADES.  I OVERCOME THE DEVIL BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND THE WORD OF MY COVENANT (TESTIMONY) (REV 12:11).  THE WEAPONS I FIGHT WITH .. HAVE DIVINE POWER TO DEMOLISH STRONGHOLDS (2 COR 10:5). 

(GOD SPEAKING TO ABRAHAM SAID): YOU ARE TO UNDERGO CIRCUMCISION, AND IT WILL BE THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND YOU. (GEN 17:11).  CIRCUMCISION IS CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART, BY THE SPIRIT,  (ROM 2:29). SUCH A MAN’S PRAISE IS NOT FROM MEN, BUT FROM GOD.  GOD HAS PUT HIS LAWS IN MY HEART, AND WRITTEN THEM ON MY MIND (HEB 10:16).  I AM A LETTER FROM CHRIST…WRITTEN NOT WITH INK BUT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD, NOT ON TABLETS OF STONE BUT ON THE TABLET OF MY HEART (2 COR 3:3).  I AM THE CIRCUMCISION, WHO WORSHIPS BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, WHO GLORIES IN CHRIST JESUS, AND WHO PUTS NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH. (PHIL 3:3). I HAVE UNDERGONE CIRCUMCISION, AND IT IS THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND ME.  I AM IN BLOOD COVENANT WITH GOD. (2 COR 11:24-25). 

LORD, I STAND ON BLOOD COVENANT BETWEEN YOU AND ME.   I COME THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS SHED FOR ME.  AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK OF THE COVENANT. (2 KINGS 23:21),  I STAND BLOOD-WASHED BEFORE YOU LORD (HEB 10:23).  I ANOINT MY FOREHEAD WITH OIL.  A SEAL HOLY TO THE LORD – CONSECRATED AS A PRIEST TO SERVE MY GOD (EX 29:1, 6-7).  YOUR NAME IS WRITTEN ON MY FOREHEAD.  FOR I BELONG TO YOU (REV 22:4).  I AM THE ANOINTED OF GOD.   YOU SAID, ‘DO NOT TOUCH MY ANOINTED ONES’ (PS 105:15).  I AM SET APART TO GOD.    

LORD JESUS, ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BETRAYED, YOU TOOK BREAD, (I TAKE THE BREAD), AND WHEN YOU HAD GIVEN THANKS,  (I LIFT IT UP TO YOU AND I GIVE YOU THANKS, LORD), YOU BROKE IT, AND SAID, ‘THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS FOR YOU; DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.’ (1 COR 11:23-24).  I DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF YOU AND YOUR COVENANT WORD, FOR WE ARE IN COVENANT LORD.

IN THE SAME WAY (WHEN YOU HAD GIVEN THANKS) AFTER SUPPER YOU TOOK THE CUP, (I TAKE THE CUP) AND WHEN YOU HAD GIVEN THANKS, (I LIFT IT UP TO YOU AND I GIVE YOU THANKS, LORD), YOU SAID, ‘THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD; DO THIS, WHENEVER YOU DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.’  I DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF YOU AND OUR BLOOD COVENANT,

ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH IS GIVEN TO JESUS.  THEREFORE I GO IN HIS NAME AS HE HAS COMMANDED ME.  FOR THIS REASON I KNEEL BEFORE THE FATHER, FROM WHOM THE WHOLE FAMILY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH DERIVES ITS NAME.  (EPH 3:15). I WILL WALK IN THE NAME OF MY GOD FOREVER.  JESUS, YOUR NAME IS AS OINTMENT POURED FORTH.  I POUR FORTH THE NAME OF JESUS, JESUS, JESUS (SS 1:3).  THE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME, THAT AT HIS NAME EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER (PHIL 2:9-10).  

ABBA FATHER, I STAND ON BLOOD COVENANT BETWEEN YOU AND ME, IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR MEDIATOR.  AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK OF THE COVENANT. (2 KINGS 23:21), THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES APPLY….   I SPEAK JOHN 15:7 (IF I REMAIN IN YOU AND YOUR WORDS REMAIN IN ME, I ASK WHATEVER I WISH, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN ME) AND ISA 55:11-13 (SO IS YOUR WORD THAT GOES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH:  IT WILL NOT RETURN TO YOU EMPTY, BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU DESIRE AND ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH YOU SENT IT.  I WILL GO OUT IN JOY AND BE LED FORTH IN PEACE; THE MOUNTAINS AND HILLS WILL BURST INTO SONG BEFORE ME, AND ALL THE TRESS OF THE FIELDS WILL CLAP THEIR HANDS.  INSTEAD OF THE THORN BUSH WILL GROW THE PINE TREE, AND INSTEAD OF THE BRIARS THE MYRTLE WILL GROW.  THIS WILL BE FOR THE LORD‘S RENOWN, FOR AN EVERLASTING SIGN, WHICH WILL NOT BE DESTROYED).  I TAKE COVENANT COMMUNION (1 COR 11:23-26; ISA 53).  NOT ONE OF ALL YOUR GOOD PROMISES TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL FAILED; EVERY ONE WAS FULFILLED (JOSHUA 21:45).  THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID, WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME? (HEB 13:6).  NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME WILL PROSPER AND EVERY TONGUE THAT RISES UP AGAINST ME IS CONDEMNED.  THIS IS THE HERITAGE OF THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD, AND THIS IS YOUR VINDICATION FROM ME,’ DECLARES THE LORD (ISA 54:17).  YOU LORD, HAVE THE POWER TO HELP OR OVERTHROW (2 CHRON 25:8).   WHEN I AM WEAK YOU ARE STRONG (2 COR 12:10, EPH 6:10, 2 COR 13:2-4, 1 COR 2:25, 2 TIM 2:1).  YOUR POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 COR 12:9).  YOU HAVE PUT YOUR SPIRIT UPON ME AND YOUR WORDS IN MY MOUTH (ISAIAH 59:21).  I WILL NOT WORRY ABOUT HOW I WILL DEFEND MYSELF OR WHAT I WILL SAY, FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL TEACH ME AT THAT TIME WHAT I SHOULD SAY. (LUKE 12:11) GIVE ME WORDS AND WISDOM THAT NONE OF MY ADVERSARIES CAN RESIST OR CONTRADICT (LUKE 21:15),  IF MY PURPOSE OR ACTIVITY IS FROM GOD, NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO STOP ME.  THEY WILL ONLY FIND THEMSELVES FIGHTING AGAINST GOD (ACTS 5:38-39).  IN PERFECT FAITHFULNESS DO MARVELOUS THINGS (ISA 25:1; PS 57:10).  THY WILL BE DONE, THY KINGDOM COME, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (MATT 6:10).

THE SEVEN STEPS OF THE COVENANT:

1.      EACH FAMILY, OR PARTY, CHOSE A COVENANT REPRESENTATIVE (THEIR FINEST)

2.      THE COVENANT CUT WAS MADE

3.      THE REPRESENTATIVES EXCHANGED COATS

4.      THE REPRESENTATIVES EXCHANGE WEAPONS

5.      THE REPRESENTATIVES CUT THEIR FLESH 

6.      THE COVENANT MEAL

7.      THE FAMILIES EXCHANGED NAMES

  

 CHRISTIAN BLOGGIT: HELP LIST