By definition it is an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified. It is the conditional promises made to humanity by God, as revealed in Scripture. the agreement between God and the ancient Israelites, in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him.

New Testament- New Covenant: a promise of redemption by God to people as individuals rather than as a nation and on the basis of God’s grace rather than a person’s adherence to the law.

Examples of God’s Covenant with man:

God to Noah…

Genesis 6:18

But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

Genesis 9:11

And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

Genesis 9:13

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

God to Moses…

Exodus 6:5

And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

Examples of Covenant between men:

1 Chronicles 11:3

Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.

Ezra 10:3

Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

The New Testament Covenant:

Acts 3:25

Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Romans 11:27

For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Hebrews 8:6-10

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Elements of a Covenant:

1. A sin problem that God needs to address.

2. God’s solution – God requires and act of obedience and faith from man. God’s Promise.

3. God seals the covenant with a sign (signs and wonders).

4. A reward to the believer (we walk by faith).

Covenants Today – Our Responsibility:

The promises of God are yes and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20).

It is the responsibility of every believer to search the scriptures. To study to know what God has promised to his people. Once the promises are known to the believer, it then becomes are responsibility to stand on them by faith to receive them.

The Bible says my people perish for a lack of knowledge. We we don’t know can hurt us. Many times we are living with less or we live a life of lack all because we don’t know what God has for us. It is not a secret that only the really blessed have access to. Actually, it is the opposite. The promises of God are free to all. But many don’t even know what they are because they run away or avoid work it takes to obtain.

Faith, without works is dead!

It requires faith to search the scriptures. It requires faith to study the scriptures. Once the promises are found, it requires faith to speak them and stand on them. Yes, the enemy is going to attack your faith. It requires perseverance, persistence, and consistency to fight the enemy and receive what God has for us. This is work many “believers” are not willing to put in. For this type of believer it is easier to live low, than to strive for more.

Which are you? Are you willing to put the work in to receive what God has promised?

God is a gentleman. He does not force anything on you. You are a free will moral agent. You can make your own choices and live how you want to live. God loves you enough to allow you to have the reward you want.

But also remember the scriptures says…

Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

James 4:2-3, “…ye have not because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.“

God does not change. Nor does his standard of holiness compromise.

His requirements stands sure. We as believers will need to rise to his level. God will not lower to ours. Yet he loves us all and reaches out to us. Extending his mercy and grace. In order to reach for it, we must be willing to let go of the things that has sought to keep us in bondage Year after year.

We must let go of fear. We must let go of slothfulness. We must let go of procrastination.

We must have a desire to draw closer to God. We must embrace the work of the Lord.

As we do this, we are in a place where we can walk in covenant with God. We can be who God has called us to be. We can do what God needs us to, and we can accomplish what God requires. Remember, our walk is for the people who God has given us to reach.

But be encouraged – the benefits out weigh any sacrifice you may make.

God is faithful!

What are your thoughts? Do you understand your responsibility in covenant with God? Please comment…