THURSDAY 18TH JAN., 2018

TOPIC: GUARANTEED BY COVENANT
TEXT: GENESIS 15:8-9 “And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon…”

Are you discouraged because a breakthrough that you have been praying for is yet to manifest? Maybe it has been days, weeks, months, or years you’ve been asking, “How will I know that I will get it?” Abraham faced the same situation and asked God the same question. So, God answered, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” What a strange answer! As you read (Gen. 15:10–21), you will realize that God took Abraham’s question very seriously, and went on to show him just how serious He was about being his provider, protector and blesser. God was so serious that He was willing to bind Himself to a covenant. What is a covenant therefore? It is similar to a contract. Yet, it is more than a contract. A contract is binding only for a period of time, like five years or seven years, or until certain terms are fulfilled, but a covenant is perpetual. It is permanent. The only way out is through death. That is why marriage is a covenant and not a contract. It is permanent — “Till death do us part”. In Bible times, when you cut a covenant with someone, you bring an animal, usually a ram or goat, and kill it by cutting it in two. Next, you will face your covenant partner and walk toward each other between the two pieces of the animal, passing each other in the center.
What all this means is that both parties are obligated to protect and provide for each other. Whatever belongs to you is your partner’s and whatever belongs to your partner is yours. Of course, the one who benefits is the lesser or poorer party. Today, God is in covenant with us. We are the lesser, poorer party. We have nothing to offer God, but God the richest and most powerful being in the universe, has everything to offer us! Beloved, God has bound Himself to a covenant, an iron-clad guarantee of His blessings and provision in your life, and it is all for your benefit. The breakthrough you are waiting for is guaranteed by covenant! Obviously, it is the New Covenant which Jesus our Lord and Saviour made for us on the cross. Every barrier against our heavenly blessings are removed by the blood of Jesus- a covenant exemption and our stronghold against all satanic assaults (Zech. 9:11-12) and our restoration is already in place. Read Rev. 12:11.

MEDITATION: Rev 21:1-5, 23:1-5

BIBLE STUDY
GEN. 19/MATT. 18/NEHEMIAH 8/ACTS 18