KINGDOM LECTURE SERIES #3

COVENANTS

Sources:
Emeka Nwankpa: - Idolatry
Marnah Suff: - Essential Contracts

The Hebrew word berith, covenant, occurs 280 time in the Old Testament. Covenants in
the Bible can be agreements between two individuals, between a king or leader and his
people; or between God and individuals, or God and groups of individuals. Covenants
can be conditional or unconditional. Conditional covenants are forfeited if one party
violates or defaults on his part of the agreement. Unconditional covenants are
arrangements in which the default of one party does not negate the ultimate fulfillment
and blessing of the covenant.

A covenant is an agreement between two or more parties for a particular purpose. It is a

contract. These covenants may be oral, in writing or by conduct. They can go beyond
the lifetime of the original parties to the covenant.

A marriage agreement is not only a covenant between man and wife, but the name and
blessing of God are often invoked as well.

ELEMENTS OF A COVENANT

The covenants contain various elements, some of which recur from place to place and
period to period. One essential element of any covenant is the stipulations the parties
agree to follow. So stipulations appear in every covenant. Other elements such as the
swearing of oaths appear in some covenants but not in others.

All covenants have a formal beginning, middle and end. However, the form and
structure vary considerably with respect to time and place. Some begin with a prologue,
in which the history of a king or people is recounted; others begin by invoking
witnesses, such as standing stones or a god; still others begin with a short preamble or
title, in which the reason for the pact is laid out.

The middle part of covenants is made up of a combination of elements: stipulations,

oaths, curses and the invocation of witnesses.
The end of a covenant takes various forms. Some conclude with blessings, expressing
the hope that the agreements will be kept. Others end with curses, promising ill
treatment for violations. Sometimes covenants contain provisions for depositing the
written document in a sacred place (such as the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus) or a
place of safe-keeping.

SOME COMMON TERMS

* The parties - those who enter into the covenant.

* The tokens - these are exchanged at the inception of the covenant. Some or all of
these tokens may need to be used whenever the covenant is remembered, renewed or
re-visited. In contract law this is called the consideration. This is the element of
exchange in a contract. Only a person who has provided consideration for a promise
can enforce a promise.

* Words - words are spoken to initiate, institute and articulate the objectives of the
covenant.

* Obligations - what the parties seek to accomplish, the purpose of the covenant. Here
we look at the obligations which each party to the covenant incurs.

* Promises - these are exchanged between the parties to define what each party is
promising to perform.

* Penalties - These are what will be levied against a party who fails to perform.

* Duration - this is how long the covenant will run. Some can be for perpetual
generations or until broken.

* Record - a record is kept of the covenant. This may be a physical record and/or a
spiritual record.

* Discharge - A contract is discharged when there are no obligations outstanding under

that contract. It may be discharged by performance, by agreement, as the result of a
breach or by frustration. Frustration occurs when due to change in circumstances the
contract has become impossible to perform.

The obligation of both parties to perform is discharged from the date of the termination.
However, a secondary obligation to pay damages for any loss as a result of the breach
comes into operation.
TYPES OF COVENANTS IN THE BIBLE

Covenants between Men

1. Abrahams covenant with Abimelech (Gen. 21:25-33)

2. Joshuas covenant with the People at Shechem (Joshua 24: 19-27)

3. David and Jonathans covenant of friendship (1 Samuel 18:1-3,

1 Samuel 20:12-17, 1 Samuel 23:15-18)

4. The covenant between Jacob and Laban (Genesis 31:44-54)

5. The covenant between Solomon and Shimei (1 Kings 2:36-46)

6. The covenant between Asa and Benhadad (1 Kings 15:17-22)

Covenants between God and Individuals

1. God and Adam - Genesis 1:26-28, 2:15-17

In Genesis 2:18 God decided to give man a helper. In Genesis 2:19 Adam was allowed
to exercise authority by naming the animals. In Genesis 3:1-19 man failed this
covenant with very serious and far-reaching consequences that are still present today.

2. God and Noah - Genesis 6:18, 9:8-17

The object of this covenant was to preserve both man and the animals created by God.

3. God and Abraham - Genesis 12: 1-3, 15:7-18, Matthew 1:1

4. God and Aaron (Numbers 18:19-23)

5. God and Isaac (Genesis 26:1-6)

6. God and Jesus (Isaiah 42: 1-6 , Isaiah 49:1-11)

The marriage covenant

Malachi 2: 13-16

Genesis 2: 12-25

Matthew 19:5
Ephesians 5:22-33

1 Corinthians 7:1-6

God instituted the marriage covenant between man and woman. Each party has very
specific roles. The relationship between The Lord Jesus Christ and the Church is
mentioned as a picture of the marriage covenant.

The Antichrists false covenant of death with Israel.

1. Daniel 9:27

2. Isaiah 28:15-18

Consequences for Despising the Sinai Covenant

Leviticus 26: 3-45

The Blessings and Curses under the Old Covenant

Deuteronomy 28

Jeremiah solemn warning.

Jeremiah 11:1-8

Warnings to respond to the New Covenant

Hebrews 12:12-29

The New Covenant with Israel - A Covenant of Peace

Isaiah 54: 1-17 , Ezekiel 34: 22-31

King David - A perpetual throne, a temple in Israel

Ezekiel 37: 21-28

The New Covenant brings an inner transformation of the heart.

Jeremiah 31

The New Covenant with Israel - Instituted by Jesus with Israel through the disciples.

Matthew 26: 26-30

Gentiles invited into the New Covenant Jesus made with Israel.
Romans 9: 22-33

Romans 11: 13-35

Hebrews 8:6-13

The New Covenant as a renewal of the Old Covenant.

The term everlasting covenant occurs 14 times in the Old Testament. Everlasting is
applied to:

1. The covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:16)

2. The covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:7,13,19)

3. The covenant God made with David ( 2 Sam. 23:5)

4. The New Covenant (Is. 55:3, 61:8, Jer. 32:40, 50:5, Ezek. 16:60, 37:26)

Old Covenant and New Covenant - Compared and Contrasted

Hebrews 9

2 Corinthians 3

IDOLATROUS COVENANTS

These are covenants that men make in the pursuit of idolatry - the worship of other
gods.

In Exodus 20:1-6 God spoke through Moses and gave clear commandments against
idolatry.

REASONS FOR ENTERING INTO IDOLATROUS COVENANTS

Since the fall of man, Satan has desired that man worship him. Satan being the
father of lies and the one who comes to steal , kill and destroy, exploits his position as
the prince of this world to hold out promises to people so that he can get their worship.
Because of the ignorance of men and Satans capacity to deceive, men have been
drawn into idolatry.

Men have many reasons for entering into covenants with evil spirits. They
include:
* Wanting to have control over creation.
* Protection from danger and death.
* Gaining wealth and riches.
* Securing power to rule.
* To establish thrones, stools and dynasties.
* To win battles and wars.
* To know the future.
* To possess magical powers.
* To gain knowledge.
* To exercise powers of witchcraft.
* To bring evil upon enemies.
* To enquire into the realm of the spirit.
* To commune with the dead.
* To ensure safe voyage on the seas.
* To ensure success in business ventures.
* To get healing from disease and affliction.
* To receive and access supernatural power.
* To make discoveries in fields of learning.
* To get rain and get a good harvest in agriculture.
* To be invincible in any number of ways.
* To have children where this has been difficult or impossible.

OPERATIONS OF IDOLATROUS COVENANTS

These covenants operate like a marriage. The parties become one.

The properties and nature of the spirits get transfused into the human beings so that
people take on the character of the spirits they come into contact with. Let us look at
the prince of Tyre from Ezekiel 28: 1-10.
His heart was lifted up. His controlling spirit was Satan. The king had a rebellious
disposition against God just like Pharaoh had.

CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATROUS COVENANTS

The consequences are many. They are very destructive and limit the exercise of
the God-given authority of man. They put Satan over and in control of man. They give
the kingdom of darkness legal entry and foothold into the affairs of men, their homes,
lives and fortunes.

Read Psalm 106:19-20

In idolatry, man is brought to the place where he worships Satan. Man changes his
glory for the glory of the object of his worship. Here man is brought lower than an ox
that eats grass.

Read Psalm 106:28

The contracting parties and the people enter into marriage with the spirits. They
become joined unto the spirits they covenant with. These covenants come with
sacrifices. There is no worship without sacrifice. The people ate the sacrifices made to
the dead.

Read Psalm 106:36

These dealings with idols bring people into a snare, a trap from which there is no
escape except by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. A snare or a trap is usually
hidden. When a unwary person wanders into it, the device springs shut usually
immobilizing the victim.

Read Psalm 106: 37-38

Idolatry leads to human sacrifice. Most of it is done in secret but the demands of Satan
never change. At some point he demands human sacrifice. It may be that sons and
daughters are named after certain spirits. It may be that in each generation the spirit will
demand that one of the children serve as a priest unto the spirit. It may be as a
grandmaster, a warlock, a witch, wizard or an enchanter.

Read Psalm 106:38b

We know that the blood of a victim cries out for vengeance from God. When the land is
polluted it remains so until it is cleansed. The polluted land is a fertile environment for
the work of the devil to prosper.

Read Psalm 106:39

The people involved in idolatry are defiled. They are not clean. They will have personal
and generational uncleanness of a spiritual nature. The nature of a harlot is to tell lies,
practice deceit, transmit lust, transmit venereal disease and is an agent of death.
Idolaters play the same role in the spiritual realm.

Read Psalm 106:40

Idolatry kindles or provokes the anger of God. He is a jealous God. When God is angry
with a person or a people He will not bless them.

Read Psalm 106:41

Many times God sent the people of Israel into exile because of the sin of idolatry.

Read Psalm 97:7

There is humiliation waiting for those who worship other gods.

Read Isaiah 44:24-25

God frustrates the tokens they use in their craft, especially when we pray. He drives
them mad. He turns their wisdom into foolishness.

SOLUTIONS FOR IDOLATROUS COVENANTS

Judges 6:25-27

1. Investigate the matter and note the facts.

2. Bring a deep repentance. This makes room for God to legally come into the
situation.

3. Renounce the covenants, tokens, spirits, priesthood, promises, vows, marriage,

garments and dealings in the covenant.

4. Break the covenant by strong prayer and intercession.

5. Rededicate the person of family to God.

SPECIAL PROBLEM - THE MASONIC COVENANTS

These are extensive covenants and they will be handled in a separate teaching.

COVENANTS ON THE LAND

When it comes to covenants on the land, the general principles concerning covenants
apply however; there are peculiarities about the land.

1. Land is fixed.

2. Land has territoriality in terms of size, ownership, location, interest and use.

The raising of altars is an integral part of this class of covenants. Upon these altars
sacrifices are performed. When sacrifices to spirits are performed on altars, a gate is
opened in the realm of the spirit that enables spirits to come into the earthly realm and
function legally.
Abram and his descendants built altars to the Lord to ensure the possession of the
land. (Gen. 12:7-8, 13:18, 15:7-21) The covenant on the land of Canaan was made for
perpetual generations.

When covenants are made on, and concerning land or territory, such a covenant can
affect the people who live on such a land, and can affect the spiritual atmosphere in
and over the land.

There are different relationships that one can have with land. A person may be an
owner, an heir, a tenant, a lessor or a trespasser. With each of these situations a
persons legal rights vary. A trespasser does not have the same rights as the owner of
the land.

In certain cultures portions of land are set aside as sacred groves or shrines. In such
places sacrifices to the spirits take place. The effect of the sacrifices, enchantments
and spiritual traffic is to make such places strongholds. Such places are gates through
which demons and spirit beings enter.

THE SOLUTION

Colossians 1: 15-20

Six times in the passage is the phrase all things mentioned. Jesus Christ created all
things. He was therefore the only person who could pay the price and then reconcile all
things unto Himself.

* The cross on which He was crucified was an altar. The most powerful altar.

* When they put a crown of thorns on his head it had the effect of paying for the curse
that God had put upon the ground in Genesis 3: 17-19.

* The blood he shed touched the ground and it is the agent by which this reconciliation
of all things unto Himself is achieved. Colossians 1.

In Revelation 5 the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is recognized and
acknowledged by God, men, angels and all living creatures. The little book with the
seven seals is the title deed to the whole of creation. It was given to Jesus Christ in the
presence of many witnesses. Whenever the occasion arises ask Satan Where were
you on that day when the Lord Jesus Christ received that little book sealed with seven
seals?
Jesus victory opened the way for us to be made priests and kings so that we shall reign
on the earth - Revelation 5:10. Part of our priestly role is to enforce the victory of Jesus
on all of creation. It is our responsibility to extend to all created things the benefits of the
reconciliation that Jesus accomplished on the cross.

ENFORCING THE SOLUTION

1. Research the history of the land - we need to know what covenants we must
renounce.

2. Bring a priestly repentance before the Lord. Look at what Manasseh did in 2
Chronicles 33:10-13.

3. Destroy the offending altars as Josiah did in 2 Chronicles 34:1-7. Prophesy

against the altars as the young prophet did in 1 Kings 12.

4. Rededicate the land and its people to the Lord. As Josiah did in 2 Chronicles
34:29-33 we need to gather a representative assembly of the people in the area
to make a new covenant to serve the Lord after the previous covenants with the
powers of darkness have been broken.

5. Read aloud and proclaim Revelation 5 to remind the principalities and territorial
powers of the triumph of Jesus Christ over them and that Jesus Christ is Lord
and owner of all things and all of creation.