revealed Himself as a covenant-making God. The Almighty made major covenants
with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David; He renewed His Abrahamic covenant in His
call to Isaac and Jacob. Each covenant initiated a new wave of redemptive power
into the world and forever impacted the human condition. The word covenant means, “to fetter” or
chain together. It was the highest form of commitment that two individuals
could share. Any of several rituals were employed to express the covenant
partners’ unity.
A sword might be passed, signifying that the two would be
united against the enemy as one. They might pass a sandal between themselves,
which symbolized they would travel any distance to be at one another’s side.
Or, they might cut an animal in two and pass between its halves. As the two
halves, though separated, were still one animal, so the two covenant partners
would become as one individual.
When the Lord initiated His covenant with a man, He did so
as an extension of His eternal purpose; the man was a component in a series of
divine initiatives. Contained within the Lord’s covenant were His divine
intervention, His supernatural wisdom and strategies, His love and forgiveness,
and His provisions.
Thus, if we look at the Lord’s call to Noah, we see that it
was not the ark but the covenant of God that preserved Noah and his family
during worldwide judgment (Gen. 6:18). Noah was a component, a factor in a
series of divine initiatives, which accomplished the Lord’s predetermined
plans. God established the covenant, designed the ark and brought the animals.
The Lord even shut the door after Noah entered the ark (Gen. 7:16).
When the Lord established His covenant with Abraham, a
flaming torch passed twice through the two halves of the animals Abraham
offered in sacrifice. The two passes signified that God would keep His part of
the covenant and, remarkably, He would also be the strength in Abraham to fulfill
his part of the covenant as well! Today, a restored Israel testifies to God’s
faithfulness in His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it is God’s
covenant with Abraham, not merely the Israeli military, that preserves Israel
in our times.
The agreement the Lord cut with His covenant partner was not
only for His servant, but it also extended to His servant’s descendants. The
promise God made could be passed on generationally.
Payment And Pattern
Similarly, we are saved and sustained through life by Christ’s covenant with
the Father. Our salvation has been secured not only because Jesus died for our
sins but also because His death was part of a covenant He had with the Father.
The fact that Jesus suffered on my behalf is staggering; but His crucifixion
was a component of an even more powerful reality: His covenant with the Father.
The terms of Christ’s covenant were such that if He would
live His life blamelessly and offer His holy life upon the cross for sins then
everyone who believed in the Son of God would be granted forgiveness by God.
The Father would look to Christ’s sacrifice and see justice; sinners would look
to Jesus and find mercy. We are saved by this New Covenant.
Yet, as maturing disciples, we find in Christ’s covenantal
mission not only just our peace but also a pattern Christ calls us to follow.
He told His disciples, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you”
(John 20:21). Having laid down His life in covenant surrender, He now bids us
to follow Him (Matt. 16:24). Of course, our cross does not replace His cross,
nor do the local covenants we make with God supersede Christ’s eternal
covenant. The truth is, our cross extends the power of Christ’s cross into
our world and times. Indeed, our covenant with God finds its backing because
of Christ’s covenant with the Father.
Thus, the Lord invites us to follow Him; even as He
covenanted with God for the sins of the world, so we covenant with God for our
homes, cities and nations. The covenant positions us in the same attitude
expressed by Christ, revealed again through us for our families, cities and
nations.
The Harvest and Covenant Power
To many, the idea of making a special covenant with God is unfamiliar. Yet,
besides the major covenants we mentioned earlier, the Bible tells of many other
times when men made a localized covenant with God. (See 2 Kings 11:17; 23:3; 2
Chr. 29:10; Ezra 10:3; etc.) I believe that many have already felt the Holy
Spirit speaking, urging them to deepen their commitment to Christ on behalf of
their families, cities and nations.
Even so, covenants—and our obedience to them—must not be
made casually. They must come from our hearts in response to the Lord’s
initiative. You will know the depth of your covenant by the vision, faith and
depth of burden God has given you.
A new authority is coming to those who desire full
conformity to Christ. For a great harvest is indeed prophesied for the end of
this age (Is. 60:1-3; Acts 2), and those leading the way will be individuals
who understand Christ’s covenant and, in surrender to Christ’s initiative, have
themselves covenanted with God for those they love.
About the author:·Francis
Frangipane is the founder of River of Life Ministries in Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, and has traveled throughout the world ministering to thousands of
pastors and intercessors from many backgrounds. In June 2009, he retired
from his position as senior pastor of River of Life Ministries and is
devoting himself to prayer and the ministry of God’s Word. For more
about his ministry, go to www.frangipane.org. Article adapted from Francis’ book, The
Power of Covenant Prayer (Creation House).
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