PEACE I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD

PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING

PEACE

PEACE

PEACE

PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING

PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING

GREAT PEACE

HAVE THEY THAT LOVE YOUR LAWS
GREAT PEACE

ONLY OBEY
ONLY OBEY

IN ALL YOUR WAYS

ACKNOWLEDGE GOD

HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS

AND MAKE THEM STRAIGHT

LOOK NOT TO WHAT IS SEEN
NOR TO THE HIDDEN

BUT TO THE UNSEEN
BRING ALL THINGS INTO CAPTIVITY
TO THE MIND OF CHRIST
AND HIS PEACE
THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING
SHALL GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND
NOT YOUR WILL
BUT GOD’S BE DONE
HIS KINGDOM COME
AMAZING LOVE
GREAT PEACE

ONLY OBEY
ONLY OBEY
IN ALL YOUR WAYS
ACKNOWLEDGE GOD
HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS
AND MAKE THEM STRAIGHT

Copyright Ann McGee

REST BETWEEN HIS SHOULDERS

BELOVED OF THE LORD

REST SECURE IN HIM

FOR HE SHIELDS YOU ALL DAY LONG

AND THE ONE THE LORD LOVES

RESTS BETWEEN HIS SHOULDERS

REST

BETWEEN HIS SHOULDERS

REST

BETWEEN HIS SHOULDERS

BELOVED OF THE LORD

REST

REST

REST

Copyright Ann McGee 

PEACE BE STILL

Blessed quietness holy quietness
What assurance in my soul
Over stormy seas, my Jesus speaks to me
PEACE BE STILL

Blessed quietness holy quietness
What assurance in my soul
Over stormy seas, my Jesus speaks to me
AND THE BILLOWS CEASE TO ROLL

adapted from an old chorus....

 JESUS

The creator.

Light of the world. 

He never reasoned, he knew.

He was never in a hurry, never afraid, never showed weakness, never hesitated. Always ready, always sure. There was a sureness in all he did or said. No sense of sin or need of forgiveness. Never sought or needed advice. Knew why he came, where from, who he was; knew the father, knew about heaven, knew where he was going. Knew men, knew satan. No sense of lack, no limitation. No sense of fear or of being defeated. Did not shrink from pain or brutality. He was the master.

(Author unknown)

WORDS IN PICTURE COPIED FROM BENNY HINN MINISTRIES:

BELOVED OF THE LORD
BECOME STILL IN MY PRESENCE
FOR I AM GOD
LET ME DRAW YOU
INTO THE MOST HOLY PLACE
WHERE MY INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP BLESSES YOU
WHERE MY TANGIBLE PRESENCE IS WITH YOU
WHERE MY LOVE SURROUNDS YOU LIKE THE SEA
AND YOU REST IN THE SHELTER OF MY WINGS
SHIELDED ALL DAY LONG BETWEEN MY SHOULDERS
FOR I AM WITH YOU
YOUR LORD AND YOUR GOD
AND YOU ARE IN THE PALM OF MY HAND
UNDERNEATH YOU ARE MY EVERLASTING ARMS
I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU
NOR FORSAKE YOU
FOR I AM IN COVENANT WITH YOU
SUBMIT TO ME AND BE AT PEACE
FOR YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE
AND THE SHOUT OF A KING SURROUNDS YOU
COPYRIGHT ANN MCGEE

IT MEANS SOMETHING TO BE A CHRISTIAN.

KNOW THAT.

SQUARE YOUR SHOULDERS.

LIFT YOUR HEAD HIGH.

YOU ARE SOMEBODY.

YOU ARE AN HEIR OF GOD

AND A JOINT HEIR WITH CHRIST JESUS.

I BELONG TO HIM.

THE MIGHTY GOD OF THIS UNIVERSE

IS MY HEAVENLY FATHER.

I’M HIS BY ADOPTION.

I’M JOINT HEIR WITH HIS WONDERFUL SON 

(KATHRYN KUHLMAN)

LET ME SUBMIT TO YOU
THE SHOUT OF A KING SURROUNDS ME

LET ME SUBMIT TO YOU

AND BE AT PEACE WITH YOU

FOR YOUR LOVE SURROUNDS ME LIKE THE SEA

FOR AS HIGH AS THE HEAVENS

ARE ABOVE THE EARTH

SO GREAT IS YOUR LOVE TOWARDS ME

LIKE AN EAGLE THAT STIRS UP ITS NEST

AND HOVERS OVER ITS YOUNG

SPREAD YOUR WINGS TO CATCH ME

CARRY ME ON YOUR PINION

COVER ME WITH YOUR FEATHERS

KEEP ME AS THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE

HIDE ME IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS

IN THE SHELTER OF THE MOST HIGH

FOR THE BELOVED OF THE LORD

RESTS SECURE IN HIM

FOR HE SHIELDS ME ALL DAY LONG

THE ETERNAL GOD MY REFUGE

AND UNDERNEATH THE EVERLASTING ARMS

REST BETWEEN HIS SHOULDERS

AND UNDERNEATH THE EVERLASTING ARMS

LIKE AN EAGLE THAT STIRS UP ITS NEST

AND HOVERS OVER ITS YOUNG

SPREAD YOUR WINGS TO CATCH ME

FOR YOU SHIELD ME ALL DAY LONG

SHIELD ME AND CARE FOR ME

GUARD ME AS THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE

HIDE ME IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS

UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED BY

FOR THE BELOVED OF THE LORD

RESTS SECURE IN HIM

FOR HE SHIELDS ME ALL DAY LONG

THE ETERNAL GOD MY REFUGE

AND UNDERNEATH THE EVERLASTING ARMS

REST BETWEEN HIS SHOULDERS
AND UNDERNEATH THE EVERLASTING ARMS

Copyright Ann McGee

ADAPTED FROM OLD CHORUS:
I LIFT MY EYES UP
UNTO THE MOUNTAINS
WHERE DOES MY HELP COME FROM?
MY HELP COMES FROM YOU
MAKER OF HEAVEN
MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
OH HOW I NEED YOU LORD
YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE
MY SAFE REFUGE...

REFUSE THE FEAR

KENNETH COPELAND

BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY MAGAZINE MAY 2000

‘FEAR NOT’ IS NOT JUST A SUGGESTION; IT’S A COMMAND - A COMMAND WE’VE NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY ENOUGH.

‘I’M AFRAID SO’

‘I’M AFRAID NOT’

‘I’M AFRAID I CAN’T MAKE IT ON TIME’

NO ONE LIKES TO BE AFRAID. YET PEOPLE HAVE BECOME SO USED TO FEAR, THEY HAVE TROUBLE IMAGING LIFE WITHOUT IT. IT’S SUCH A PART OF THEIR THINKING THEY’VE MADE IT A FAMILIAR - EVEN WELCOME - PART OF THEIR CONVERSATION.

‘WELL, BROTHER COPELAND, ISN’T FEAR A NATURAL THING?’ YES, AND THAT’S WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT. GOD’S WORD NOT ONLY TELLS US WE CAN LIVE FREE FROM FEAR, BUT IT ALSO COMMANDS US TO DO SO.

LOOK AT WHAT THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAID ABOUT FEAR.

FEAR THOU NOT; FOR I AM WITH THEE: BE NOT DISMAYED; FOR I AM THY GOD: I WILL STRENGTHEN THEE; YEA, I WILL HELP THEE; YEA, I WILL UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS (ISAIAH 41:10).

FEAR NOT; FOR THOU SHALT NOT BE ASHAMED; NEITHER BE THOU CONFOUNDED; FOR THOU SHALT NOT BE PUT TO SHAME: FOR THOU SHALT FORGET THE SHAME OF THY YOUTH, AND SHALT NOT REMEMBER THE REPROACH OF THY WIDOWHOOD ANY MORE. FOR THY MAKER IS THINE HUSBAND; THE LORD OF HOSTS IS HIS NAME; AND THY REDEEMER THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL; THE GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH SHALL HE BE CALLED (ISAIAH 54:4-5).

IN BOTH OF THESE PASSAGES ‘FEAR NOT’ IS NOT JUST A SUGGESTION; IT’S A COMMAND - A COMMAND WE’VE NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY ENOUGH. YES, THE HUMAN RACE IS RIDDLED WITH FEAR, BUT CHRISTIANS NOT ONLY DON’T HAVE TO BE, BUT SHOULD NOT BE.

LET’S LOOK AT HOW FEAR CAME INTO THE WORLD. THE BIBLE SAYS, ‘…SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, AND DEATH BY SIN…’ (ROM 5:12). WHEN ADAM MADE SATAN HIS LORD, SATAN - WHO NEVER CREATED ANYTHING - PERVERTED THE FORCE OF FAITH IN ADAM AND IT BECAME FEAR.

EVERYTHING GOD HAD INVESTED IN ADAM’S SPIRIT CAME UNDER THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH, FROM WHICH CHRIST (THE ANOINTED ONE) FREED US (ROM 8:2). THE FAITH ADAM RECEIVED WITH WHICH TO CONNECT WITH GOD BECAME THE SAME SPIRITUAL FORCE THAT CONNECTED HIM TO THE DEVIL. FEAR IS TWISTED OR PERVERTED FAITH. FEAR WORKS IN THE SPIRIT WORLD THE SAME AS FAITH - IT ACTIVATES SATAN THE WAY FAITH ACTIVATES GOD.

EVIDENCES OF THIS ARE ALL AROUND US. FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEONE WHO IS TOLD THEY’LL DIE OF CANCER WILL FEAR DEATH BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAITH IN CANCER. FEAR OF CANCER IS REALLY FAITH IN ITS ABILITY TO KILL YOU. FEAR OF A POISONOUS SNAKE IS REALLY FAITH IN THAT SNAKE’S ABILITY TO HURT AND KILL. FEAR OF OUR CHILDREN FALLING ILL WITH DISEASE IS FAITH IN THE SICKNESS AND DISEASE.

FEAR IS CONNECTED TO THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH

THE SAME WAY FAITH IS CONNECTED TO THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS.

SO WHEN GOD SAYS ‘FEAR NOT’ WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION UNDER THE BLOOD OF JESUS TO RESIST FEAR.

THE KEY TO GETTING RID OF FEAR

REMEMBER, GOD DOESN’T WANT YOU HANDLING THE FEAR. HE’S ALREADY OVERCOME IT FOR YOU. HE WANTS YOU TO GET RID OF IT! LET’S SPEND SOME TIME IN ISAIAH 54 LOOKING AT HOW FEAR OPERATES AND HOW WE CAN GET RID OF IT. LOOK AT VERSE 10 AND VERSES 13-14:

FOR THE MOUNTAINS SHALL DEPART, AND THE HILLS BE REMOVED; BUT MY KINDNESS SHALL NOT DEPART FROM THEE, NEITHER SHALL THE COVENANT OF MY PEACE BE REMOVED, SAITH THE LORD THAT HATH MERCY ON THEE… AND ALL THY CHILDREN SHALL BE TAUGHT OF THE LORD; AND GREAT SHALL BE THE PEACE OF THY CHILDREN. IN RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALT THOU BE ESTABLISHED: THOU SHALT BE FAR FROM OPPRESSION; FOR THOU SHALT NOT FEAR: AND FROM TERROR; FOR IT SHALL NOT COME NEAR THEE.

THE KEY TO GETTING RID OF FEAR IS GIVEN TO US IN THAT LAST VERSE - BE ESTABLISHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. BEING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN MAKE HAPPEN THROUGH OUR OWN EFFORTS. WE ARE IN RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD BECAUSE HE SAID SO, THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS. OUR PART IS TO ESTABLISH THAT TRUTH IN OUR OWN THINKING. WE ARE RIGHTEOUS IN HIM AND GOD IS FOR US AND NOT AGAINST US. EVEN WHEN WE MAKE MISTAKES, GOD SAYS, ‘DON’T WALLOW AROUND IN GUILT! JUST COME TO ME, CONFESS THE THING AND GET RID OF IT!’

THE PURPOSE OF TRAINING YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD BE TO TEACH THEM GOOD JUDGMENT - NOT FEAR. WHEN WE TRAIN OUR CHILDREN WE COULD SAY, ‘DON’T GO OUT IN THE STREET. DADDY’S AFRAID YOU’LL BE RUN OVER…’ OR WE COULD SAY, ‘ YOU SEE THAT CAR? CARS ARE GOOD AND ONE DAY YOU’LL BEG ME TO DRIVE MINE. BUT DON’T PLAY IN THE STREET BECAUSE CARS CAN MASH YOU FLAT!’ THE SECOND WAY DOESN’T BRING FEAR INTO GOOD JUDGMENT. SURE, IT TAKES MORE TIME THAN SAYING, ‘GET OUT OF THE STREET. DON’T YOU KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO GET KILLED OUT THERE!’ BUT IT DOESN’T RELEASE FEAR INTO THE CHILD’S LIFE.

FAR FROM OPPRESSION

ACCORDING TO VERSE 14, WHEN WE ARE ESTABLISHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, THEN WE’LL BE FAR FROM OPPRESSION BECAUSE WE WON’T FEAR. ONE DICTIONARY DEFINES OPPRESSION AS ‘THE TAKING AWAY OF MEN’S GOODS OR ESTATES BY TERROR OR FORCE WITHOUT HAVING ANY RIGHT THERETO, BY WORKING ON THE IGNORANCE, WEAKNESS OR FEARFULNESS OF THE OPPRESSED. (AMERICAN DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, NOAH WEBSTER 1828). ACTS 10:38 DESCRIBES JESUS AS GOING ABOUT ‘DOING GOOD, AND HEALING ALL THAT WERE OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL’.

OPPRESSION IS SOMEBODY TAKING SOMETHING AWAY FROM YOU (WITHOUT A RIGHT TO IT). SICKNESS IS A SATANIC OPPRESSION. THE DEVIL DOESN’T HAVE ANY RIGHT TO TAKE YOUR HEALTH. HE’S NOT YOUR GOD. YOU’VE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE, AND YOUR BODY BELONGS TO JESUS. BY THE STRIPES ON HIS BODY, YOU WERE HEALED.

LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW, WHEN WE ARE ESTABLISHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND KNOW OUR COVENANT RIGHTS, WE CAN STOP THE ENEMY FROM USING OPPRESSION AND FEAR TO STEAL FROM US. MY DAUGHTER, KELLIE’S SECOND CHILD, LYNDSEY, GOT SICK THE CHRISTMAS SHE WAS ELEVEN YEARS OLD. CHRISTMAS MORNING SHE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND WHEN THEY WOKE HER, SHE DIDN’T KNOW ANYBODY. THEY RUSHED HER TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE MOST DEADLY TYPE OF SPINAL MENINGITIS. ITS USUAL KILLING TIME IS 48 HOURS OR LESS. TWO CHILDREN IN THE HOSPITAL HAD DIED AND ANOTHER HAD BOTH LEGS AMPUTATED BECAUSE OF IT, YET THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALISE SAID SHE’D NEVER SEEN A WORSE SPINAL TAP TEST.

KELLIE KNEW FROM PSALM 112, THAT A PERSON WHOSE HEART IS FIXED TRUSTING IN THE LORD, NEVER FEARS EVIL TIDINGS. MY DAUGHTER TERRI TOLD ME LATER, ‘KELLIE LEFT THAT DOCTOR, WALKED UP TO ME, LOOKED ME STRAIGHT IN THE FACE AND CALMLY AND FIRMLY SAID, ‘I REFUSE TO FEAR IN THE NAME OF JESUS.’

WE TAUGHT OUR CHILDREN THIS WAY. WE REFUSE TO HAVE FEAR EVEN AT A MOMENT LIKE THAT!

AT THE TIME OF THIS ATTACK, GLORIA AND I WERE IN COLORADO WAITING ON A FRIEND’S AIRPLANE TO PICK US UP AND TAKE US TO THEM. AS WE PRAYED, I LOOKED AT GLORIA AND SAID, ‘I HAVE A STRONG URGENCY TO RECEIVE COMMUNION TOGETHER.’ SHE SAID, ‘I DO TOO. LET’S TAKE COMMUNION RIGHT NOW.’ SO WE DID.

AT THE HOSPITAL, MY DAUGHTER, TWO SONS-IN -LAW AND JERRY AND CAROLYN SAVELLE WERE MOVED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO TAKE COMMUNION. WITHOUT BEING AWARE OF IT, WE ALL TOOK COMMUNION AT THE VERY SAME TIME. THEY IN FORTH WORTH AT THE HOSPITAL - GLORIA AND I IN COLORADO. FIVE MINUTES LATER, LYNDSEY WOKE UP AND SAID, ‘DADDY, WHY ARE ALL THESE WIRES ON ME?’ BY THE NEXT AFTERNOON, SHE WAS RUNNING AROUND THE HOSPITAL.

WHERE DID THE VICTORY TAKE PLACE? THE VICTORY TOOK PLACE IN US. EVERY ONE OF US TOOK AUTHORITY OVER FEAR AND REFUSED TO BE MOVED BY IT. WE ESTABLISHED OURSELVES IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AND STAYED FAR FROM OPPRESSION. WITHOUT FEAR THERE WAS NOTHING TO CONNECT US TO IT.

ACTING ON THE WORD ONLY

THAT PARTICULAR DISEASE TRIES TO CUT OFF CIRCULATION IN APPENDAGES OF THE BODY. WHEN THE DOCTORS TESTED LYNDSEY, THEY FOUND SOME HEARING LOSS. THAT GAVE US ANOTHER GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BE AFRAID. WHEN GLORIA AND I ARRIVED LATER THAT FIRST NIGHT, I WENT TO LYNDSEY’S BEDSIDE. ‘LYNDSEY,’ I SAID, ‘I SPEAK TO THE ANOINTING THAT IS IN YOU ACCORDING TO 1 JOHN 2 THAT SAYS THE ANOINTING WE HAVE RECEIVED OF HIM ABIDES IN US NOW. I STIR IT UP!”

LYNDSEY LOOKED UP AT ME, GRITTED HER TEETH AND SAID, ‘I AM HEALED, IN THE NAME OF JESUS.’ NOW THE DOCTORS SAID THE HEARING LOSS WAS WORSE IN ONE EAR THAN THE OTHER, SO WHEN LYNDSEY TALKED ON THE TELEPHONE, SHE WOULD USE THE EAR THAT WAS WORSE, ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED TO WALK BY FAITH!

WHY WOULD AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL DO THAT? BECAUSE HER MAMA AND DADDY TAUGHT HER TO DO IT! THE THINGS OF GOD ARE MORE NATURAL TO HER THAN THE WORLD’S WAY OF DOING THINGS. LYNDSEY AND HER MOTHER QUOTED SCRIPTURES ABOUT HEARING EVERY MORNING AND NIGHT, OVER HER EARS. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER SHE HAD LESS HEARING LOSS, AND FINALLY EVEN THAT LEFT.

ACTING ON THE WORD OF GOD INSTEAD OF ACTING ON FEAR PUTS US FAR FROM OPPRESSION. YES, THE DRIVE TO BE AFRAID IS A TERRIBLE FORCE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN REBORN. THERE’S A GREATER FORCE AT WORK IN US. THE FAITH OF GOD WE FEED WITH THE WORD KEEPS THAT FEAR CAST OUT! BY RECEIVING JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOUR AND ACTING ON THE WORD, WHAT WAS A FOUNTAIN OF FEAR HAS BECOME A FOUNTAIN OF FAITH.

WHAT THE DEVIL TRIES TO DO IS TRAIN US IN HABITS OF FEAR SO HE CAN STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY. BUT WE DON’T HAVE TO TAKE THOSE THOUGHTS. IN FACT, ANYTHING THAT JESUS BORE ON THE CROSS, WE’RE OBLIGATED TO RESIST WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS IN US! LOOK AT ISAIAH 54:15: ‘BEHOLD, THEY SHALL SURELY GATHER TOGETHER, BUT NOT BY ME: WHOSOEVER SHALL GATHER TOGETHER AGAINST THEE SHALL FALL FOR THY SAKE.’

WHEN FEAR AND OPPRESSION AND TERROR TRY TO GET TO YOU, TELL THEM TO FALL. SAY, ‘FALL IN THE NAME OF JESUS! I REFUSE TO BACK OFF FROM YOU.’

YEARS AGO, A PREACHER TOOK ME WITH HIM TO MINISTER IN A HOSPITAL. I’D BEEN SAVED A MONTH OR SO AND DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING.. AT THE TIME, I WEIGHED ABOUT 245 POUNDS. WE WENT TO SEE A LITTLE, SICK, MOSTLY OUT OF HER HEAD OLD WOMAN, WHO WEIGHED ABOUT 75 POUNDS. WE WERE JUST STANDING THERE BY HER HOSPITAL BED WHEN SUDDENLY SHE RAISED UP, LOOKED RIGHT AT ME AND SHOUTED, ‘SICK, BOY! SICK, SICK BOY! SICK!’

I BOLTED FOR THE DOOR. THE DEMONS IN THAT LITTLE WOMAN RAN ME OUT OF THAT ROOM! OUTSIDE, I WAS SO ASHAMED. I SAID, ‘LORD, THIS IS PITIFUL. IN THE NAME OF JESUS, I’LL NEVER AGAIN RUN FROM THE DEVIL THE REST OF MY LIFE. BUT YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO TEACH ME HOW TO DEAL WITH DEVILS.’

SINCE THEN, I’VE BEEN AROUND SOME OF THE MEANEST, MOST DEMONIC PEOPLE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, WALKED RIGHT IN AND WALKED RIGHT OUT AND HAD GOD ALMIGHTY PROTECT ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. ISAIAH 54:17 TELLS US: ‘NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST THEE SHALL PROSPER, AND EVERY TONGUE THAT RISES UP AGAINST THEE IN JUDGMENT THOU SHALT CONDEMN. THIS IS THE HERITAGE OF THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD, AND THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS FROM ME,’ SAITH THE LORD.

REDEEMED FROM FEAR AND OPPRESSION

WE HAVE AN ANOINTING - THE BURDEN-REMOVING, YOKE-DESTROYING POWER OF GOD INSIDE US. SO FOR US TO ACT IN FEAR IS BLASPHEMOUS.

WE MAY BE TREMBLING FROM THE KNEES UP AND SHAKING FROM THE KNEES DOWN. WE MAY HAVE BEEN AFRAID ALL OUR LIVES. FEAR MAY SEEM LIKE IT’S JUST PART OF US. BUT WE CAN RESIST FEAR, SAYING, ‘I HAVE BEEN REDEEMED FROM THE POWER AND BONDAGE OF THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. FEAR, TAKE YOUR HAND OFF MY LIFE. I REFUSE TO BE AFRAID OF ANYTHING I HAVE BEEN REDEEMED FROM.’

HEBREWS 2:14-15 SAYS:

FORASMUCH THEN AS THE CHILDREN ARE PARTAKERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME, THAT THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, THAT IS, THE DEVIL; AND DELIVER THEM WHO THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL THEIR LIFETIME SUBJECT TO BONDAGE.

THE NEXT TIME YOU’RE TEMPTED TO RUN FROM THE DEVIL, REMEMBER DAVID. WHEN PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO HIDE FROM GOLIATH, DAVID WAS ASKING, ‘WHAT DO I GET IF I KILL HIM?’

WHEN GOLIATH MOUTHED HIS THREATS, DAVID TALKED HIS FAITH: ‘I’LL TAKE YOUR HEAD OFF. I’LL SHOW THE WHOLE WORLD THAT THERE’S A GOD IN ISRAEL!’ HE KNEW A PERSON IN COVENANT WITH GOD IS NEVER AT THE MERCY OF ANY THREAT FROM THE DEVIL. DOWN GOLIATH WENT, AND DAVID CUT OFF HIS HEAD.

THAT’S THE WAY YOU CAN BE. ‘(SUBMIT TO GOD), RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.’ (JAMES 4:7). MAKE THE DEVIL DREAD EVERY DAY YOU GET OUT OF BED. WHEN THE DEVIL COMES STORMING IN, TELL HIM, ‘GET OUT, IN THE NAME OF JESUS!’ PUT THAT WHOLE ARMOUR ON! AND WHEN YOU DO, THINK WHAT YOU MUST LOOK AND SOUND LIKE TO THE DEVIL. YOU’RE STANDING BEHIND THE SHIELD OF FAITH. THE FACEPLATE IS PULLED DOWN ON THE HELMET OF SALVATION. YOUR BODY’S COVERED WITH TRUTH AND THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND YOUR FEET ARE SHOD WITH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. WAVING THE SWORD OF THE (HOLY) SPIRIT AS YOU REFUSE TO SPEAK ANYTHING BUT FAITH IN THE NAME OF JESUS!

THE DEVIL WON’T KNOW THAT IT’S NOT GOD IN THAT SUIT. AFTER ALL, IT’S GOD’S SUIT! SO, TAKE YOUR STAND! BE BIGGER THAN YOU ARE BECAUSE THE BIGGER ONE IS LIVING IN YOU. AND WHEN YOU ROAR, ROAR LIKE THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH!

IF YOU’LL DO THAT, IT WON’T BE LONG BEFORE YOU STOP ASKING HOW YOU CAN GET RID OF FEAR. INSTEAD YOU’LL WATCH IN AMAZEMENT AT HOW FAST FEAR, AND EVERY OTHER OPPRESSION OF THE DEVIL, FLEES FROM YOU!

BVOV

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 NEIGHBORING 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, THE 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 NTO 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 WIL 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 UNSHAKABLE 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

THE ONE TO TRUST

PASTOR TERRI PEARSONS

GOD IS NOT A LIAR.

THAT MAY SOUND TO YOU LIKE A VERY BASIC TRUTH. YET MANY PEOPLE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST TODAY ARE TALKING AND BEHAVING AS IF HE IS.

WHAT MAY COME AS EVEN A GREATER SHOCK TO YOU IS THE FACT THAT AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN AMONG THEM.

IT’S TRUE. IN CHURCH, WE’VE NODDED OUR HEADS UP AND DOWN AND SAID, ‘YES, AMEN. GOD’S WORD IS TRUE.’ THEN WE WALKED OUTSIDE AND CAME FACE TO FACE WITH SICKNESS OR SOME OTHER KIND OF PROBLEM AND WE CHALLENGED THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD WITH OUR THOUGHTS, OUR WORDS AND OUR ACTIONS (NB. GOD‘S THOUGHTS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR THOUGHTS AND HIS WAYS THAN OUR WAYS AS THE HEAVENS ARE HIGHER THAN THE EARTH - ISA 55:8-9; TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING PROV 3:5). WE FOLLOWED THE COURSE OF FEAR INSTEAD OF SIMPLY EXPECTING GOD TO DO WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO FOR US. (NB. HE IS OUR SENIOR PARTNER IN COVENANT STICKING CLOSER THAN A BROTHER, TOO BIG TO FIT INTO THE UNIVERSE, WITHOUT LIMIT IN EVERY DIRECTION).

SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY, ‘WELL, IT’S NOT THAT I THOUGHT GOD WAS LYING. IT’S JUST THAT WE CAN NEVER REALLY KNOW WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO.’

YES, WE CAN! GOD TOLD US WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO! HE’S LITERALLY GIVEN US HIS WORD ON IT. HEBREWS 6:16-18 PUTS IT THIS WAY:

16: For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

17: Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

THIS SIMPLY MEANS THAT MEN MAKE PLEDGES OR CONTRACTS IN ORDER TO SETTLE DISPUTES. IN THEM RESPONSIBILITIES ARE CLEARLY DEFINED AND OBLIGATIONS MADE. AS LONG AS EVERYONE IS TRUE TO THEIR WORD, THERE’S NO ROOM FOR QUESTIONING WHAT ANYONE WILL DO.

WELL GOD GAVE US HIS CONTRACT. HE IS TRUE TO HIS WORD SO THERE IS NO ROOM FOR UNCERTAINTY ABOUT IT.

GOD WILL DO WHAT HE SAID HE WILL DO. YOU CAN COUNT ON IT.

IT ISN’T ENOUGH TO REMEMBER

‘BUT TERRI, WHAT ABOUT THOSE TIMES WHEN THINGS DIDN’T TURN OUT LIKE THE WORD SAYS?’

I CAN TELL YOU THIS: IF SOMETHING FAILED, IT WASN’T THE WORD OF GOD. ROMANS 3:3-4 SAYS

2: Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles (WORD) of God.

3: For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

4: God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar…

EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH MEN, EVERYTHING IN THIS NATURAL WORLD, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. BUT THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT. (HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PASS AWAY BUT THE WORD OF GOD STANDS FOREVER). THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUE EVEN WHEN EVERTHING ELSE AROUND YOU IS TELLING YOU OTHERWISE. BUT NOTICE THE VERSE SAYS YOU MUST LET GOD BE TRUE IN YOUR LIFE.

TO DO SO, YOU MUST SETTLE FOREVER IN YOUR HEART AND MIND, THERE IS NO FAULT IN GOD. THERE’S NO WEAKNESS OR SHORTCOMING IN HIS WORD. (THE WORD OF GOD IS FLAWLESS).

YOU WILL NEVER CATCH GOD IN A LIE. YOU WILL NEVER GET IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU EXERCISE FAITH IN GOD’S WORD AND GOD FAILS TO KEEP HIS WORD. NEVER! THE BIBLE SAYS GOD IS ACTIVE AND ALERT, WATCHING OVER HIS WORD TO PERFORM IT (JER 1:12).

UNDERSTAND, HOWEVER, THAT IT’S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO KNOW WHAT THE WORD SAYS. IT MUST BE A REALITY TO YOU - MORE REAL THAN THE PROBLEM YOU FACE.

I HAVE FACED THE TRUTH OF THAT STATEMENT BEFORE. EVEN THOUGH I’VE EXPERIENCED HIS HEALING POWER MANY TIMES IN MY LIFE, YEARS AGO I FOUND MYSELF IN A SERIOUS SITUATION WEHRE THE HEALTH OF MY CHILDREN WAS CONCERNED.

I WAS RECEIVING ONE BAD REPORT AFTER ANOTHER. OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, SIMPLE RUNNY NOSES HAD BECOME SERIOUS DAIGNOSES. FINALLY I HAD TO SIT DOWN AND ASK MYSELF, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS BORE YOUR CHILDREN’S SICKNESSES AND CARRIED THEIR DISEASES?

I HAD TO ANSWER, NO. I KNOW IT HAPPENED, BUT I DON’T BELIEVE IT.

THEN I SAID TO MYSELF, WELL, YOU’RE GOING TO! AND I GOT MY BIBLE OUT AND MEDITATED ON 1 PETER 2:24 THAT SAYS, ‘BY HIS STRIPES WE WERE HEALED.’ SO I CHOSE TO BELIEVE THAT GOD CANNOT LIE, AND THAT HIS WORD IS TRUE REGARDLESS OF WHAT MY CIRCUMSTANCES ARE TELLING ME.

IN MY MIND, I PICTURED JESUS ON THE CROSS WITH JEREMY AND AUBREY’S SICKNESS. I ALSO SAW HIM COME OUT OF THE GRAVE VICTORIOUS OVER THOSE SICKNESSES AND THEN GIVING THAT VICTORY TO US. I DID THAT FOR TWO HOURS.

TWO HOURS.

BIG DEAL! YET THOSE TWO HOURS CHANGED THE COURSE OF MY CHILDREN’S HEALTH.

IT’S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO REALISE THAT THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, I HAD A BASIC BELIEF THAT GOD HAS HEALED US ALL BY THE STRIPES OF JESUS. BUT I HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO EXERCISE FAITH IN GOD’S WORD BASED ON HEAD KNOWLEDGE. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH!

THAT’S WHY PROVERBS 4:20-21 SAYS: ‘MY SON, ATTEND TO MY WORDS; CONSENT AND SUBMIT TO MY SAYINGS. LET THEM NOT DEPART FROM YOUR SIGHT. KEEP THEM IN THE CENTRE OF YOUR HEART. (THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE). (SEE ALSO JOSHUA 1:7-8; PS 1; JER 17:5-10).

FOR THAT REASON, WE MUST CONSTANTLY CENTRE OURSELVES ON GOD’S WORD, BECAUSE IT’S THAT WORD THAT PRODUCES FAITH IN OUR HEARTS. IN FACT, YOU CANNOT DEEPEN YOU FAITH IN GOD WITHOUT DEEPENING YOUR TRUST IN HIS WORD.

IT BECOMES WHAT YOU NEED

ONE OF THE MISTAKES HOLDING MANY BELIEVERS BACK FROM TRUSTING THE WORD IS THAT THEY THINK OF GOD’S WORD AS AN ITEM OR A ‘THING’. BUT THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT JESUS AND HIS WORD ARE THE SAME.

JOHN 1 SAYS:

1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….

14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (SEE ALSO REV 19:10-16).

THINK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THAT STATEMENT, ‘THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH.’ THE WORLD NEEDED JESUS. HE IS WHAT MAN HAD TO HAVE. SO GOD’S WORDS AND THE FAITH THAT HE RELEASED IN THOSE WORDS BECAME JESUS.

THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE WORD OF GOD. MIXED WITH FAITH, IT BECOMES WHAT YOU NEED. GOD’S WORD WILL BECOME FINANCES IF YOU’RE FACING SHORTAGE. IT WILL BECOME HEALTH WHEN YOU’RE FACED WITH SICKNESS.

THIS ONE POINT IS SO IMPORTANT, I’M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN. NO MATTER WHAT SITUATION YOU MAY BE FACING, IF YOU’LL GO TO GOD’S WORD IN FAITH, THE WORD WILL BECOME WHAT YOU NEED.

THE WORD IS ALIVE

HOW CAN GOD’S WORD BECOME ONE THING FOR ONE PERSON AND SOMETHING ELSE FOR ANOTHER? BECAUSE IT IS ALIVE!

HEBREWS 4:12:

12: For the word of God is quick (ALIVE), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

AMPLIFIED VERSION:

FOR THE WORD THAT GOD SPEAKS IS ALIVE AND FULL OF POWER (MAKING IT ACTIVE, OPERATIVE, ENGERGIZING, AND EFFECTIVE); IT IS SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EGED SWORD, PENETRATING TO THE DIVIDING LINE OF THE BREATH OF LIFE (SOUL) AND (THE IMMORTAL) SPIRIT, AND OF JOINTS AND MARROW (OF THE DEEPEST PARTS OF OUR NATURE), EXPOSING AND SIFTING AND ANALYSING AND JUDGING THE VERY THOUGHTS AND PURPOSES OF THE HEART.

THE WORD OF GOD IS FULL OF LIFE. FULL! THEREFORE IT ADMINISTERS LIFE WHEREVER IT IS APPLIED. IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW DARK AND DEADLY YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES MAY BE. THERE IS ENOUGH LIFE IN GOD’S WORD TO TOTALLY OVERWHELM ALL THE DEATH IN THE WORLD THE DEVIL OR CIRCUMSTANCES CAN BRING YOU.

CHARLES CAPPS LIKENS THE WORD TO A NATURAL SEED. (AND, 1 PETER 1:23 SAYS THE WORD IS INCORRUPTIBLE SEED WITH LIVETH AND ABIDETH FOREVER!). EVERY SEED HAS WITHIN IT ALL THE DNA REQUIRED TO PRODUCE WHATEVER KIND OF SEED IT IS. IF IT’S A PEACH SEED, ALL THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE A PEACH TREE IS IN THE SEED.

IN THE SAME WAY, THE WORD OF GOD HAS THE SUPERNATURAL LIFE WITHIN IT TO FULFILL THE PROMISES OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE. YOU PLANT IT IN YOUR HEART AS A SEED, BUT WHEN IT COMES UP, IT PRODUCES SALVATION, PROSPERITY, HEALING, DELIVERANCE - WHATEVER GOD HAS SAID BELONGS TO YOU!

THE WORD IS TRUTH

JOHN 17:17 SAYS, 17: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

NOTICE IT DOESN’T SAY, ‘THY WORD IS FACT.’ TRUTH GOES BEYOND FACTS.

THE FACT MAY BE THAT YOU DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY. THE FACT MAY BE THAT THE DOCTOR SAID YOU HAVE AN INCURABLE DISEASE. BUT WHAT DOES THE TRUTH HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT?

YOU SEE, TRUTH IS ABSOLUTE. TRUTH DOESN’T YIELD. TRUTH DOESN’T CHANGE. THUS, FACTS ARE SUBJECT TO TRUTH.

IT CAN BE A FACT THAT YOU ARE SICK AS CAN BE, BUT GOD SAYS YOU WERE HEALED BY THE STRIPES OF JESUS WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROSS. THAT’S THE TRUTH. NOW YOU HAVE A CHOICE. YOU CAN APPLY THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD TO THE FACT (LIE OF THE DEVIL TRYING TO MARAUDE YOUR LAND) THAT YOU’RE SICK (SICKNESS IS FROM THE DEVIL) AND THE FACT WILL CHANGE (HEALED), OR YOU CAN AGREE WITH THE FACT (DEVIL) AND THINGS WILL STAY LIKE THEY ARE (SICK).

I’LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, IT WILL BE MUCH EASIER TO AGREE WITH THE FACT BECAUSE FACTS SCREAM A LOT LOUDER THAN THE WORD OF GOD DOES. GOD’S WORD WILL BE QUIET - UNTIL IT STARTS COMING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

BUT ONCE THE WORD BEGINS TO COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH IN FAITH, IT WILL BE THE FINAL WORD. IF IT’S GOD’S WORD ABOUT HEALING, YOU’LL BE HEALED. IF IT’S HIS WORD ABOUT PROSPERITY, YOU’LL BE PROSPEROUS. IF IT’S HIS WORD ABOUT DELIVERANCE, YOU’LL BE DELIVERED.

GOD HAS GIVEN YOU HIS CONTRACT. WHEN YOU DO YOUR PART BY BELIEVING, SPEAKING AND ACTING ON A HEART FULL OF FAITH, GOD’S WORD WILL COME TO PASS. NO CIRCUMSTANCE ON EARTH AND NO DEMON IN HELL CAN STOP IT.

SO FORGET ALL THOSE STORIES YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT HOW SO-AND-SO BELIEVED GOD’S WORD AND IT DIDN’T WORK FOR HIM. QUIT ASKING QUESTIONS AND SETTLE IT ONCE AND FOR ALL. GOD IS NOT A LIAR.

PEOPLE WILL LIE. PEOPLE WILL CHANGE. THEY’LL SAY ONE THING TODAY AND ANOTHER TOMORROW. PEOPLE WILL OFTEN FAIL TO KEEP THEIR PROMISES. BUT GOD IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER - AND HE KEEPS HIS WORD.

ALWAYS. EVERY TIME. WITHOUT FAIL. HE’S THE ONE TO TRUST.

BVOV

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