RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE OLD & NEW COVENANTS - A NEW COVENANT WITH BETTER PROMISES
God has told me to tell His people that there must be in the minds of His people, His Church, a clean-cut separation from the Old. The Old Covenant is a schoolmaster (teacher) and it helps us to understand God’s heart, mind and ways. But there is nothing in the Old Covenant that is law for the Church. If we go back and pick out one part of it we have to get the whole thing. This is why it is so necessary to agree with God. If not, our soul and fleshy mind will war against our spirit. We must come in complete agreement with what God has said. And He substantiates this in His Word.
Hebrews 8:6-9
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Jesus is a mediator of a better covenant established on better promises. This new covenant is not according to the old one. There would not have been a need for God to bring a second covenant had the first one been faultless.
I. FLESH MUST BE SACRIFICED WE ARE NEW CREATURES IN CHRIST.
WE ARE A SPIRITUAL RACE. There is a spiritual race and a natural race. The first covenant was for a natural race, the second covenant is for a spiritual race and we cannot mix the two. If we do, the Church will be perverted. This is one of the errors in the Church now. Many ministers are going back to the Old Covenant and teaching it for the Church. This is why the people are confused and are striving for things (money, houses, cars, etc.).
In the New Covenant, God has said that flesh must be sacrificed. We are not to create any hope in or for our flesh. If we do, it will interfere with the work of the son. Flesh is already at war because it does not want to submit to what the son wants to do. God told us to crucify (mortify) our flesh daily (I Corinthians 1
Deuteronomy 28:1-14
1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.
11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve
The blessings in Deuteronomy 28 have been nailed to the cross. One thing about God, when He makes a promise to His people it is for all His people, not just one or two. But when God deals with His sons, He gives them wealth at His discretion. God knows whom He can bless with materialism and wealth and they will in turn pour it into His Kingdom. God did not build the second covenant based upon promises of wealth. If God promised one to be rich, then He promised it to all of us. Everyone is not going to be a millionaire. There is a New Covenant for this new race of people. We will not live out Deuteronomy 28 until the Millennium.
Hebrews 2:3-8
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
We cannot walk around claiming everything is under our feet. Everything is not even under Jesus’ feet right now. God told Him to sit at His right hand until He makes Jesus’ enemies His footstool. We are talking about the world to come, not this present one we live in now. There is a coming restoration for the Church. This world must be restored. As far as God is concerned this world is not even good enough for us. God has another world that is coming wherein Jesus will set up His Kingdom in Jerusalem to rule the entire world. And we will be kings and priests and rule with Him all over the world. Everything will be subject to the sons of God. We will be the only creatures in the earth whom God will allow to be worshipped. Not now, but in the world to come. If we go back to the Old Covenant, we are regressing. We cannot store up treasures here on earth, and be pilgrims passing through at the same time.
Romans 13:13-14
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
When we put on Christ we are not to make provisions for our flesh. We are not to give flesh any hope. It must be denied, sacrificed and crucified. The moment we give flesh hope, we build it back up and give it an anchor in this world. We are not of this world but are pilgrims and strangers passing through.
II. ALL THESE “THINGS” SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU
St. Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
What “things” is Matthew speaking of? We cannot take this scripture out of context because people might think that “things” are “things” of this world. If we read from verse thirty, “things” is brought into its proper perspective.
Matthew 6:30-31
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
We are not to think about what we are to eat, drink or wear. (For after all these THINGS do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
St. Matthew 6:32
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
The Gentiles seek after these “things.” Our heavenly Father knows we have need of these “things.” What “things?” He knows we have need of food, drink and clothing.
When taken out of context, it is applied to everything in the world. This is how some pastors teach this scripture, but the “things” God is talking about is food, clothing and something to drink. We have to rightly divide the Word of God. The Word of God is right all by itself. Some may wonder how to reconcile this next passage of scripture
St. Mark 10:28-30
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Verse thirty is what causes confusion. “ . . . he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time. . . .” This scripture is talking about the saints of God having all things in common in this time. Just by being in the household of faith, gives us a hundred times what we may have had in the world. It is not talking about multiplying us a hundred times for our own lust. In the world to come is when we will be the head and not the tail and we will rule and reign, OUR HOPE MUST BE IN THOSE THINGS THAT ARE ETERNAL.
Flesh is just a vehicle to take us where we need to go. This is a time of contentment. Paul said we must be content in whatever state we are in.
Philippians 4:10-12
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
III. THE GLORY OF GOD
God’s glory is not found in the “things” of this world. His glory is found in holiness, righteousness and love. When we love one another is when God’s glory will be seen. This mindset of acquiring “things” must be destroyed.
Luke 17:4-10
4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Our faith cannot move mountains because of our mindsets. It has nothing to do with the power of God not able to move a mountain. It has to do with what is in us. GOD DOES NOT OWE US ANYTHING FOR THE WORK WE DO IN THIS LIFE. God did not build our salvation on promising us the world. He promises us an afterlife. God demands that we be pilgrims and strangers in this life. Either we will live like strangers or live like this world is ours. Saints, we cannot become so knowledgeable that we lose sight of purpose. Stay with the Word and be content in whatever state we are in. God does not want flesh hoping for anything. If we believe God promised us all the things in this world, then we will be mindful of them. God has already told us, in His Word, to take no thought.
If we purpose to live by Deuteronomy 28 and 29 then we have to live by the whole thing, ordinances, feasts, blessings and curses. We are to make no provisions for our flesh. We are to walk in the Spirit. Our salvation is not based on promises of wealth to the Church. HE PROMISED US SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS. False doctrines get started by what men want. If we have not been baptized in the love of God’s people, we will mistreat them. When we are baptized in love, then God has no problem blessing us. What would we do with all the housekeepers or maids? No one would work for anybody. Everyone would have their own business and God cannot glorify Himself by any other means than giving us things. This is what faith and prosperity teaches. We have to be careful because doctrines come from wantonness.
God’s glory is going to be seen as we love one another. When the love starts flowing then there is a demonstration of His power. We are no better than the apostles and there will be days when we will be made gazingstocks, whipped and beaten. If everything was under our feet the apostles could have stopped the men who beat them and could have kept themselves out of prison. We have no dominion over anything on this earth. Our dominion is over principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. If we had dominion over people, we would not allow them to persecute us. Our dominionship is in the spirit world, even over death. We have the keys to hell and death. Jesus gave it to us. God has those in the Body He can trust with money and He knows they will give to the needs of His people. God did not promise wealth to everyone in the Body of Christ. He told us we would have the poor among us all the time and we are to see to their needs (Deuteronomy 15:11).
We must make a clean break from the Old Covenant because it is not for the Church. In everything we do, we must consider flesh unprofitable. God does not want us to resent Him because we do not have. We cannot afford to allow the enemy to build false hope in us. We must preach the truth.
