Tuesday, 19 March 2019

In covenant

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The centurion says 8 words to Yeshua, Matthew 8:9a "For I also am a man under authority ..." This key phrase is part of a discourse between Yeshua and a centurion (Roman officer over 100 men). Their interaction is packed with meaning.

The centurion understood that power comes from being submitted to authority. Yeshua marveled at the centurion's understanding, even responding, "Amen, I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith!"

What does it mean to "be a man (person) under authority?" For us, as followers of Yeshua, it means being in a covenant relationship, fully submitted to the will of God.

Satan knows the Scriptures, he is just not submitted to them, and certainly not in covenant. The Scripture promises power to the followers of Yeshua.

John 14:12-15 "Amen, amen I tell you, he who puts his trust in Me, the works that I do he will do; and greater than these he will do, because I am going to the Father.And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."

That last verse (15) defines what we read in verse 12. Putting our trust in Yeshua means keeping His commandments. To experience the depth of the reality of love, one must both give trust and be trustworthy.

Keeping His commandments is only possible under covenant. And I have good news, God is the covenant keeping God. He loves having us in covenant with Him.

Let me put this another way. Trying to obey God without covenant is like keeping house without the covenant of marriage. Call it what you will. I call it prostitution.Within covenant we are all in. Without covenant we are buying and selling, customers and purveyors, traders.

God is calling His people to the New Covenant of the spirit. This is called a "more excellent" way in the last verse of 1 Corinthians 12. That leads us to the "love chapter" of 1 Corinthians 13. Covenant love is the more excellent way.