Morning Worship Sermon Notes
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Series: “Facing the Unknown”
Today: “God’s Covenant”
Scripture: Genesis 15:1-6 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” 2 But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars–if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:18a On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land
Intro: A definition of the word covenant : A solemn and binding agreement…a promise usually under seal between two or more parties for the performance of some action.
A. Covenant is only used when there is more than two involved.
B. When Jesus came to earth, God offered a covenant — a new covenant.
I. GOD’S PART OF THE COVENANT.
A. God is the initiator of the covenant.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
B. God sets the terms of the covenant.
* Genesis 15:18 – “I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, Euphrates…”
* God set the terms for the new covenant:
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
C. God created the seal of the covenant.
Genesis 15:9 So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.”
* It is the blood of Jesus that creates the seal of God’s covenant with each of us.
Matthew 26:28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 
II. OUR PART OF GOD’S COVENANT.
A. God spoke again to Abraham about his part in this covenant. We read it in Genesis 17.
Genesis 17:1-2 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. 2 I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”
Genesis 17:9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.
B. Our part of the covenant is to believe to the point of action .
James 2:19-24 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
Conclusion: Five privileges of the covenant.
1. God’s covenant of presence .
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
2. God’s covenant of strength .
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
3. God’s covenant of provision .
Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
4. God’s covenant of protection .
Hebrews 13:6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
5. God’s covenant of reward .
Genesis 15:1 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”–