BREAKING COVENANT

[just-us-2]

God likes to use covenants. They are important to Him and should be to us…but they aren’t.

We can say with all good intent that we believe that when we make a promise we keep it and that is part of the ‘integrity’ we should all have. What is so bad is that as a society (at least in America) we have become so accustomed to breaking promises and contracts that we no longer view the covenants God makes with us with the gravity He does. The proof is in the pudding as the old saying goes – just consider the number of marriage contracts broken, the number of home and car repossessions, and the number of bankruptcies we see today. As much as we might like to say that these things happen for good reasons in our own minds, a closer look at covenants would do us well. Why should we study covenants…because according to Galatians 3:14, the covenant blessings of Abraham are also for us. “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (NAS) Only a fool would not want to know his/her obligations and benefits of a contract he/she was a part of.

To begin with, in 21[SUP]st[/SUP] century America we use the common definition of the word ‘covenant’ to determine our understanding of what it is – an agreement or contract. This is logical and acceptable for modern secular life, although ethically, it is still terrible that we go back on so many contracts, so easily. However, when pondering the status of most of our prayers – answered or unanswered, or any other aspect of our spiritual health, or anywhere that God is concerned, we need to use His meaning of the word. In order to do that, we have to look at history.

Most of us probably never even looked at our salvation as a covenant with God but we enter into Covenant when we proclaim ourselves to be “saved” or a “believer or “a Christian” or simply a “follower of Christ.” We accept God’s gift of salvation without realizing the point of it is to bring us back to that state of fellowship for which we were created. That is the purpose of His covenants. Understanding all of this, to realize that He could have simply said, “I will do this and you do that,” but instead He chose to partner with us in covenant, while being breathtakingly awe-inspiring, is at the same time, equally as humbling. God created us to have fellowship with Him, and this is proven by the fact He makes covenants with man…as if He could not be trusted to keep His word. 1 Peter 2:9 (NAS) tells us we are “…A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light ;” The moment we enter into Covenant with God we are His…dedicated to Him much like the Nazarites of Bible times.

We do not understand Covenant God’s way. Not only do we no longer respect authority and view dependence as weakness, we refuse to practice submission – all vital components of Covenant. Currently in America the separation of church and state has accelerated the process of covenant breaking and not understanding covenant because it is meant to infiltrate all of our daily lives, and used to be integrated into all of life until we began harping on the misinterpreted phrase, “separation of church and state” issue. God blessed America for befriending Israel and being the first to recognize her as a legitimate country when she became independent in 1948. Americans lived better and had more than ever before, until we allowed the separation of church and state to pull us away from the principles we stood for and propagated in our society…and look at us now.

 

[directline2iam]

The phrase separation of church and state is only that, a phrase. Our constitution doesn't pull us away from the principles we stand for, it simply says we have the freedom from the state not to be governed by them in our choice or belief in what ever religion. And that choice was made long before 1948.

You aren't making much sense...and look at us now. Don't know about you but I can still go to any denominational church freely and believe in God the way I wish.

 

[just-us-2]

The phrase separation of church and state is only that, a phrase. Our constitution doesn't pull us away from the principles we stand for, it simply says we have the freedom from the state not to be governed by them in our choice or belief in what ever religion. And that choice was made long before 1948.

You aren't making much sense...and look at us now. Don't know about you but I can still go to any denominational church freely and believe in God the way I wish.

Perhaps you should read posts more carefully before jumping in with inaccurate statements about what someone else has posted. As I said, “separation of church and state” is a misinterpreted phrase and in no way did I suggest it was taken from our constitution, or that our constitution causes us to abandon or drift away from the principles held by the greater portion of population years ago. The way it is stated in the constitution does make it clear that we will not be governed by any ‘state church’ as many countries were when our constitution was written.

And if you don’t think I make much sense when I say, “look at us now,” I suggest you take a look at the moral and ethical condition of the United States. Yes, we still have the freedom to go to any church we want to, or none at all if we prefer, and we will continue to have that as long as the church remains ineffective and doesn’t interfere with government and courts removing any vestige of real Christianity from our lives – removing the 10 commandments from school classrooms, legalizing abortion, and outlawing nativity scenes where they have been displayed for decades, to name just a few. There is nothing difficult to understand about that.

 

[just-us-2]

Simply put: keeping Covenant yields blessing – breaking Covenant yields curses. Deuteronomy 28 spells out more than twenty-five blessings for the keepers of Covenant! However, the more than sixty curses reserved for Covenant breakers put things firmly in perspective. History plainly reveals what happened when the children of Israel forgot about their part of the Covenant with God – just like Christians today. See Revelation 2:4.The sequence goes like this: forgotten covenants lead to broken covenants, which inevitably must lead to curses.

“Curses” – another one of those words New Testament Christians don’t like, and because of the evolution of society and the church, we like to think “curses” don’t apply to us anymore. But make no mistake; breaking Covenant will be followed by curses, and curses are not merely something the local witch casts upon her enemies. We can read the Apostle Paul’s description of Covenant breakers in Romans 1:26-31 as downright depraved and filled with every imaginable wickedness there is.

I read a simple description of covenant breaking related to Christianity that I think is a good parable, if you will. “Covenant breakers are like dish breakers. You may own a beautiful set of imported china, but if you break one cup, you lose the benefits of that piece. If you break all the pieces, all the benefits of the china are lost. Yes, the set of dishes are still yours, and you can look at them and think about how pretty they were and how expensive they were to buy. You can talk about them to your friends, but you can’t use them. They are broken! As a child of God you hold in your heart all of the wonderful costly blessings and promises paid for by the blood of Jesus. God’s covenant nature confines Him to the laws of Covenant… God will not override the laws of Covenant to give you your blessing. Just like you may own a broken dish, a broken promise is a lost blessing, rendered useless because of your broken covenant. Just think what happens when you break all of your covenants? No wonder some of us have little joy and satisfaction in our lives as well as ineffective prayers.”

 

[just-me]

Perhaps you should read posts more carefully before jumping in with inaccurate statements about what someone else has posted. As I said, “separation of church and state” is a misinterpreted phrase and in no way did I suggest it was taken from our constitution, or that our constitution causes us to abandon or drift away from the principles held by the greater portion of population years ago. The way it is stated in the constitution does make it clear that we will not be governed by any ‘state church’ as many countries were when our constitution was written.

And if you don’t think I make much sense when I say, “look at us now,” I suggest you take a look at the moral and ethical condition of the United States. Yes, we still have the freedom to go to any church we want to, or none at all if we prefer, and we will continue to have that as long as the church remains ineffective and doesn’t interfere with government and courts removing any vestige of real Christianity from our lives – removing the 10 commandments from school classrooms, legalizing abortion, and outlawing nativity scenes where they have been displayed for decades, to name just a few. There is nothing difficult to understand about that.

I agree. Seems as if the church wants to be separated from the reality of life and are just waiting to be raptured out. I think the quasi-church (steeped in tradition) is enhancing the falling away which is a violation of covenant.


Luke 6:22 (KJV)
[SUP]22 [/SUP]Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

If ya don't involve yourself ya won't be persecuted. Hide.... quick....... go hide!

 

[directline2iam]

Perhaps you should read posts more carefully before jumping in with inaccurate statements about what someone else has posted. As I said, “separation of church and state” is a misinterpreted phrase and in no way did I suggest it was taken from our constitution, or that our constitution causes us to abandon or drift away from the principles held by the greater portion of population years ago. The way it is stated in the constitution does make it clear that we will not be governed by any ‘state church’ as many countries were when our constitution was written.

And if you don’t think I make much sense when I say, “look at us now,” I suggest you take a look at the moral and ethical condition of the United States. Yes, we still have the freedom to go to any church we want to, or none at all if we prefer, and we will continue to have that as long as the church remains ineffective and doesn’t interfere with government and courts removing any vestige of real Christianity from our lives – removing the 10 commandments from school classrooms, legalizing abortion, and outlawing nativity scenes where they have been displayed for decades, to name just a few. There is nothing difficult to understand about that.

You really should re read what you post and correct it before you let your mistakes fly, I know what I read and I responded accordingly. So bark up a different tree, this one's taken.

 

[Karraster]

Daniel 12:4, which, according to the German, Dutch and Afrikaans versions, reads as follows, "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall do reasearch, and knowledge shall increase." (See the Preface of this book). We are absolutely convinced that the latter rain has begun to fall, the Spirit of Truth that guides us into all truth. Our Disobedience to the Living Words, the Ten Words, the Covenant, the same Law of Yahúweh (which is the contents of the New Covenant - Heb. 8:10 and 10:16), has resulted in the following: "For Yahúweh has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed you eyes, namely, the prophets; and He has covered your heads, namely, the seers. The whole vision has become to you like the words or a book that is sealed," Isa. 29:10-11. This is the result of our disobedience to the New (rather: Renewed) Covenant - the Law of Yahúweh. The New Covenant is but a renewal of the Eternal Covenant.

Sadly, many will not hear the warning. They do not understand, because they don't care to understand. They had much rather believe the tickling ear message all you have to do is believe, not accepting that is where it starts.

 

[mystdancer50]

The separation of church and state was not to protect the government from godly influence, but the godly from worldly influence and governmental control. Yet, what is happening? Exactly the opposite. The church has no influence in this nation's governing any longer and the government, well, their ultimate goal is to crush Christianity under their feet and leave us powerless under their rule.

But our God is all-powerful and all-knowing.

 

[just-me]

You really should re read what you post and correct it before you let your mistakes fly, I know what I read and I responded accordingly. So bark up a different tree, this one's taken.

I think she had the tree first before you started barking.

 

[dcontroversal]

I could be wrong, but I believe history shows that the British were to first to recognize Israel with the U.S. being second. Otherwise you are right we have failed to see the dual agreement that we have entered into with God. I.E. We will live like the (New) man or woman after salvation so as to be a living (sacrifice) and (witness).

 

[just-me]

I could be wrong, but I believe history shows that the British were to first to recognize Israel with the U.S. being second. Otherwise you are right we have failed to see the dual agreement that we have entered into with God. I.E. We will live like the (New) man or woman after salvation so as to be a living (sacrifice) and (witness).

From what I see, you and the OP are saying the same thing with one exception. You are saying the government as at fault and she is saying it started in the church.

1 Peter 4:17-19 (KJV)
[SUP]17 [/SUP]For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
[SUP]18 [/SUP]And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
[SUP]19 [/SUP]Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

I detect she is addressing a certain apathy and the breaking of covenant. If God is all powerful and He is the head of the church, has God preferred that the government to rule against the church without cause? From what I read in the Bible it never has happened that way. God chastens His children.

The question should probably be; What happened that we have no power against our aversary?

Maybe you're trying to say that the church is being persecuted because we have stood up against the feds? Maybe we just like the peace thing, and love thing so much that we don't want the government to think more bad of us than they already do. God bless you brother.

 

[just-us-2]

I could be wrong, but I believe history shows that the British were to first to recognize Israel with the U.S. being second. Otherwise you are right we have failed to see the dual agreement that we have entered into with God. I.E. We will live like the (New) man or woman after salvation so as to be a living (sacrifice) and (witness).

According to the Jewish Virtual Library, the United States was first, and I quote: ”The United States was the first country to recognize Israel when President Harry Truman granted de-facto recognition eleven minutes after the proclamation of independence. Three days later, the USSR granted Israel de-jure recognition. Nearly a year after its creation, on May 11, 1949, Israel was admitted as the 59th member of the United Nations.

 

[Brother_Don]

Henry Ford once said, their are those that say they can, and those that say they can't, and they are both right.

 

[homwardbound]

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
[h=3]Matthew 6[/h]Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

6 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. [SUP]2 [/SUP]Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [SUP]3 [/SUP]But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: [SUP]4 [/SUP]that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [SUP]6 [/SUP]But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. [SUP]7 [/SUP]But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. [SUP]8 [/SUP]Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [SUP]10 [/SUP]Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [SUP]11 [/SUP]Give us this day our daily bread. [SUP]12 [/SUP]And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [SUP]13 [/SUP]And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. [SUP]14 [/SUP]For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [SUP]15 [/SUP]but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [SUP]17 [/SUP]But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; [SUP]18 [/SUP]that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
[SUP]19 [/SUP]Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: [SUP]20 [/SUP]but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: [SUP]21 [/SUP]for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. [SUP]22 [/SUP]The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. [SUP]23 [/SUP]But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
[SUP]24 [/SUP]No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. [SUP]25 [/SUP]Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? [SUP]26 [/SUP]Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [SUP]27 [/SUP]Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? [SUP]28 [/SUP]And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: [SUP]29 [/SUP]and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [SUP]30 [/SUP]Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? [SUP]31 [/SUP]Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? [SUP]32 [/SUP](For after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [SUP]33 [/SUP]But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
[SUP]34 [/SUP]Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Make no promises:
1 John 2:16
for all these worldly things, these evil desires—the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance—these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself.

 

[Karraster]

Psalms 37:30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom; his tongue speaks what is just. 31 The instruction of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter. (HCSB)

 

[just-me]

When God makes a covenant it is not regulations such as we would classify as dictation like "do it or die"! Covenant was instituted as a loving jester for mankind to respond to God's promises. That is why love is the focus when God's words define the statutes within any covenant He has ever made. Any covenant before Christ was absolutely necessary for all things to be completed in Christ Jesus. Throw away any of the previous covenants, and those promises of God become forgotten. The repercussions lead to taking "the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." Exodus 20:7 (KJV)

 

[phil112]

just-us-2, I hope you aren't saying that Galatians 3:14 is telling us that we should be under Abrahams covenant, which is old testament law.

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith

Through faith being the key. Yes a covenant is a contract with God. I have said that many times, and yes if we break it, it becomes void.

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith

 

[just-us-2]

just-us-2, I hope you aren't saying that Galatians 3:14 is telling us that we should be under Abrahams covenant, which is old testament law.


Through faith being the key. Yes a covenant is a contract with God. I have said that many times, and yes if we break it, it becomes void.

Galatians is speaking of the PROMISE.

I'm not trying to say any more than what I have said. I studied this at God's prompting and I am sharing what He gave me for the benefit of any who want to learn. Knowing how things go in these forums, I figured it was worth the headache of contending with those whose day is not complete without arguing so that the few can learn if they want to.

 

[just-us-2]

There are several covenants mentioned in the Bible, each built upon the foundation of the one before beginning with the Salt Covenant. (The fulfilling that Jesus did does not negate what came before - that is a total misinterpretation of the word "fulfill.")

 

[just-us-2]

Salt Covenant

Dr. H. Clay Trumbull describes the significance of a Salt Covenant in Bible days, as being like a contract that could never be broken…never-ending and unchangeable. This was a custom worldwide centuries ago and is still just as seriously entered into now in some parts of the world. Take for instance this story written by John Macgregor, who was taken prisoner by the Arabs while on the upper Jordan in his canoe, the “Rob Roy.” These are his own words as he relayed the story of a salt covenant taken from the book he wrote, The Rob Roy on the Jordan, Nile, Red Sea & Gennesareth.


“No one had as yet offered me any food. This gross neglect (never without meaning among the Arabs) I determined now to expose, and so to test their real intentions. My cuisine was soon rigged up for cooking, and I asked for cold water. In two minutes afterwards the brave little lamp was steaming away at high pressure with its merry hissing sound. Every one came to see this. I cut thin slices of the preserved beef soup, and, while they were boiling, I opened my salt-cellar. This is a snuff-box, and from it I offered a pinch to the Sheikh. He had never before seen salt so white, and
therefore, thinking it was sugar, he willingly took some from my hand and put it to his tongue. Instantly I ate up the rest of the salt, and with a loud, laughing shout, I administered to the astonished outwitted sheikh a manifest thump on the back. “ What is it?” all asked from him. “Is it sukker? (sugar)” He answered demurely, “ La ! meleh !” (No, it’s salt !) Even his Home Secretary laughed at his chief. We had now eaten salt together, and in his own tent, and so he was bound by the strongest tie, and he knew it.”
The Arabs then not only freed MacGregor, but escorted him safely on his way.