Old Covenant/New Covenant

The Old Covenant – "the letter" – "the law" - was never meant to provide everlasting life to anyone.

That may be the reason why the apostle Paul wrote, "the letter [...] the letter kills [...] the ministration of death, written and engraved on stones" (2 Corinthians 3:6-7, AKJV).

Indeed, the Old Covenant was never meant to provide everlasting life to anyone.

Some have misinterpreted the following passage:

Ezekiel 20:10 So I made them go out of the land of Egypt and took them into the waste land. 11 And I gave them my rules and made clear to them my orders, which, if a man keeps them, will be life to him. (BBE)

"Will be life to him" (verse 11) – does that mean that the Old Covenant promised everlasting life, after all? No. But, if the whole nation of Israel had really followed the Old Covenant's rules, that might have given them all a better life, in some ways. That is, on the physical level. But not everlasting life; the Old Covenant simply did not provide for that.

Another way to view that passage is as the Darby version renders it:

Ezekiel 20:10 And I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. 11 And I gave them my statutes, and made known unto them mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them. (DBY)

That does not mean that the Israelites would receive everlasting life under the Old Covenant. That merely means that they were to live by that covenant's rules (as long as they lived – and, as long as that covenant lasted).

The law was given as a tutor or school master.

New American Standard Bible Gal.3:24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

King James Bible: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Mirror Translation:3:24  The law was acting just like a slave appointed to be the guardian of his master's children, until they would be of age to go to the proper school of Christ to find in faith their righteousness revealed and endorsed.

The law did not teach a living, saving knowledge, nor did it provide eternal life. But, by its rites and ceremonies, especially by its sacrifices, it pointed to Christ, that  one might be justified by faith. And thus it was, as the word properly signifies, a servant, to lead to Christ, as children are led to school by servants who have the care of them, that they might be more fully taught by Him the true way of justification and salvation, which is only by faith in Christ. And the vastly greater advantage of the gospel state is shown, under which we enjoy a clearer discovery of Divine grace and mercy than the Jews of old. The terrors of the law then are a convincing by the Spirit, to show one his/her need of Christ, who they really are in Him.

Old Covenant/New Covenant

There has been some discussion about Old Covenant/New Covenant. Are we supposed to keep all the commands of the Old Covenant etc?

We must understand that in the Old Testament God allowed it to be written from 2 perspectives:

1. He allowed His Will to be  written down.

2. He also allowed some to record their own heart’s desires.

Let me give you some examples.

Here are some requests to the Lord by the writer of Psalms.

1. (Psa 119:133)  Order my steps in your word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

2.(Psa 119:134)  Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep your precepts.

3.(Psa 119:135)  Make your face to shine upon your servant; and teach me your statutes.

New Covenant/Finished Work says:

1. (Psa 37:23)  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delightes in his way.

2.(Col 1:13)  Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

3. (2Ti 2:15)  Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Jesus Christ fulfilled the law and summed all its commands into the law of love.

(Luke 10:27)  And answering, he said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

OFFENSE, BE WITHOUT

Offense Be Without

The Word admonishes us that SAINTS SHOULD BE without offense.  (Php 1:9-10 )  And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in full knowledge and in all perception;that you may distinguish between things that differ, that you may be sincere and without offense until the day of Jesus Christ,

Jesus said in (Mat 18:7)  "Woe to the world because of offenses! For it is necessary that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!"

Notice he says to the world, but we are of the kingdom of God. Offenses will come but we are to not take offense.


(Joh 16:1)  I have spoken these things to you so that you should not be offended.

Scriptures concerning offense:

Occasions of, 
Mat_18:7; 

Occasions of, 
1Co_10:32; 2Co_6:3; 

Blessedness of not taking, at Christ
Mat_11:2-6; 


Have a conscience void of
Act_24:16; 

Not let their liberty occasion, to others
1Co_8:9; 

Avoid those who cause
Rom_16:17; 

Reprove those who cause
Exo_32:21; 1Sa_2:24; 

All things that cause, shall be gathered out of Christ's kingdom
Mat_13:41; 

Denunciation against those who cause
Mat_18:7; Mar_9:42; 

Scriptures where offense is Exemplified
Aaron
Exo_32:2-6; 

Balaam, &c
Num_31:16; Rev_2:14; 

Gideon
Jdg_8:27; 

Sons of Eli
1Sa_2:12-17; 

Jeroboam
1Ki_12:26-30; 

Old prophet
1Ki_13:18-26; 

Priests
Mal_2:8; 

John the Baptist Matt. 1:2

Peter
Mat_16:23; 

Offense causes
1. murmuring and complaining
2. doubt
3. fear
4. pride; exalts self

We are to avoid this, not let self rule, not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But instead eat of the tree of life, Jesus.

Be quick to not be offended, merciful, kind. Let grace abound! Let Christ live through you!

Jabez Prayer (New Covenant Version)

Jabez’ Prayer for My Life (New Covenant Version)
I ask that You bless me indeed--

I thank You, Lord, that You have blessed me exceedingly, abundantly beyond all that I can ask or imagine, that you have blessed me with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places, that my life is blessed to be a blessing in the lives of those I come in contact with. I receive the blessings that overtake me today. Your blessing lives in me and through me.
Enlarge my territory--

Lord, I thank you that You increase the boundaries and extend the margins of my knowledge, understanding and wisdom.  I thank you that You enlarge my heart to receive from You and enlarge my vision to fulfill my God-given destiny. Christ in me the hope of glory.
May Your hand be on me--

I thank you that Your hand is on me- - That in everything I do, it will be inspired by Your Spirit, that I will be enabled to live the life that keeps me sensitive to Your leading. As You are in this world so am I.
Keep me from harm, 

I thank you that You have disarmed principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in total victory of the cross. (Col. 2:19)  I thank you that you have given me authority to trample on scorpions and serpents and over every power of the enemy, and nothing by no means shall harm me. (Luke 10:19) I resist every evil  influence under the enemy’s command in the name of Jesus and with the blood of the cross, demolishing every stronghold attempting to influence  my heart, mind, emotions, or will against the knowledge of God. I thank you that you keep me from evil, that it might not grieve me- - I dwell in the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of You, Lord, You are my refuge and my strength, and no plague shall come near my dwelling.
that I might serve you in full health and strength-

Now, Father, I thank You for enabling me to love You with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. I thank You, Lord, that by Your Spirit You help me to live so that my heart does not condemn me, so that my life is obedient and pleasing to You , Christ living in me and through me. I am.
And God granted my request."

I thank You that You finished  the work.  You perfectly accomplished Your work in me. You nothing undone or incomplete. You left nothing unfinished or deficient. You left nothing unaccomplished or lacking. Your work was totally sufficient.Your work was finished in me from the foundations of the world. Now I walk in it. I be. So be it.

THE POWER OF YOUR POTENTIAL

The Power of Your Potential

Unlocking the Resources You Need for Your Future

Potential Defined

1. possible, as opposed to actual

2. capable of being or becoming

3. a latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed.

Spiritual Man’s Potential

Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Earthly Man’s Potential

Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.

The Potential of God's People

Dan 11: 32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits .

Know Your Abilities

Matt 17:20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Key Passage

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

POTENTIAL

1. AS A BELIEVER, YOU ALREADY HAVE WITHIN YOU ALL YOU NEED TO FULFILL YOUR DESTINY.

2 Pet. 1:His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness

2. UNREALIZED POTENTIAL IS LIKE UNDISCOVERED OIL.

Text...through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,...

3. YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PROSPER IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
Text ...us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature,

BIBLICAL PROSPERITY IS THE ASSURANCE FROM GOD THAT I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSES FOR MY LIFE. The word prosperity means wholeness in spirit, soul and body.

4. YOU MUST REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE HIS DIVINE NATURE.

Text ..., that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5. THE ENEMY'S STRATEGY IS TO KEEP YOU FROM EXPERIENCING WHO YOU REALLY ARE

Text ...that is in the world through lust.


Good news, we have already won.(Rev 12:11)  And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their  lives until death.



(Rev 22:1-5)  And he showed me a pure river of Water of Life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of its street, and of the river, from here and from there, was the Tree of Life, which bore twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit according to one month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And every curse will no longer be; but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will serve Him.  And they will see His face, and His name will be in their foreheads. And there will be no night there. And they need no lamp, or light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light. And they will reign forever and ever.