2024 THE YEAR OF COVENANT BLESSINGS

– OUR SEASON OF "STANDING ON GOD'S PROMISES"

 

Motto: Keep Standing On God's Promises!

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Genesis 17:7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.”

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Welcome to 2024, our year of Covenant blessings!

As a believing Christian, sharing intimate relationship with God, we have access to His greater blessings through covenants. Covenant blessing is a platform God ensures that His promises – for the provision of good and protection from evil- are safely delivered to every believer.

Enjoying God’s blessings however is not automatic. That is why, though mankind is spiritually blessed by God, not everyman is manifesting that blessing.

A major way God ensures a believer’s victory in life is through the mystery of covenant. Bible teaches that God is a promise giving and a covenant keeping one.

Walking in covenant provides strength, succour, and shield for those who abide in Christ.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. Isaiah 1:19 NIV

 

God's covenants are conditional!

It takes your will to obey God to enjoy the good things in His Promised Land.

The scripture demonstrates that each of the covenant administrations in God’s dispensational dealing with man is conditional. None of the covenant administrations bestows its blessings upon everyone under that covenant administration. Christ himself had to die to fulfill the terms of the New Testament covenant, making his administration undoubtedly conditional. To activate the grace for salvation, we need to receive the son of God as our saviour by faith. It is not automatic or the whole world will be saved (Ephesians 2:8-10).

 

HOW TO STAND ON GOD’S PROMISES

 

And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.  Genesis 15:5-6 NIV

 

It takes trusting God to stand on His promises. Fulfilling covenant promises demands trusting God who promised. While God’s promises are for anybody and whosoever, His covenants are only for those who choose to fulfil the conditions attached to His promises.

It is the responsibility of every believer to appropriate God’s promise by fulfilling conditions of the covenant. When we do exactly what God wants us to do, then the blessings shall come upon us, and overtake us, and there is no power on earth or in hell that can stop us from being blessed. 

We shall now look at four major ways for covenant sons of God (no gender in the spirit) to claim God's promises.

Take note of the following acronym, “CODE” to help you enjoy your covenant walk with God.

 

• COMPREHENSION

• OBEDIENCE

• DILIGENCE

• ENDURANCE

 

1) Comprehension (Knowledge)

 

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8 NIV

 

Enjoying covenant blessings begins with knowledge - that is the comprehension of God's promises.

When God gave the formular for success to Joshua, He tied it to information. 

Keep this book of the law always on your lips! 

That is because you cannot claim what you do not know is available!

You also need to acquire relevant knowledge this year to walk in covenant blessings.

 

a) Knowing God (the covenantor). Foremost, you need to know God as a Faithful Lord, who is all able, all powerful and faithful to fulfil His promises. Bible teaches that He honours and magnifies His words more than His name (Psalm 138:2). Knowing God helps a believer to appropriate His blessings.

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b) Knowing the provisions available and understanding the conditions guiding the release. Knowing conditions that will make God’s provisions a reality prepares a believer, not only to enjoy an intimate relationship with a loving God, but also helps such to take actions and responsibilities to claim such promises.

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PS: To be a resounding success on the earth, you need a working knowledge of your assignment. If you are in career, business, or ministry, strive to have a good working knowledge of it, so that your work won’t be wearisome. The Bible teaches, “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank. Proverbs 22:29). Only those who know God and their areas of calling can do exploits (Daniel 11:32)

 

2) Obedience (attitude)

 

“If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 28:1-2 NIV

 

To claim God’s covenant requires the willingness to obey His words. “Why?”, you may ask.

 

a) Obedience (alignment with God and His will). Obedience is a gateway to the world of supernatural blessings God attached the floodgate of blessing to lifestyle of obedience.
Though obedience may be costly, but the result is priceless (Deuteronomy 28: 1-14).

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b) Disobedience (misalignment with God and His will). The only way to turn the covenant impotent is to stop doing our part of the covenant (through disobedience).

Though disobedience may be easier, but the cost is too expensive (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).  

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PS: “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22b).

Obedience is a measure of a person’s wisdom and in the Kingdom of God, wisdom is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7). Wisdom is the understanding and application of God’s words (commands).

It is wisdom - that is the application of knowledge and understanding (not magic, status, wealth etc.), that puts a person in command of God’s promises.  Physical blessings are manifestation of the operation of divine wisdom which is measured in our daily lifestyle of obedience.

 

3) Diligence (action)

 

Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22: 29 AMPC

 

Diligence is a proof of obedience.  

All the knowledge on earth and promises of God will not work for you if you fail to work.
That is why Ecclesiastes 9:10 counsels, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might".

 

a) Labour is the laboratory that turns all negatives (promises) to colourful pictures (blessing).

God said to those who have learnt and meditated His words to add action. Only whatsoever you do shall prosper. “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Psalm 1:3).

God told Abraham, “Because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore (Genesis 22:16-18).

 

b) The problem with Christianity nowadays is inaction. We exercise passive faith devoid of work.

Many are Christians only in name and not in actions. When there is a contradiction between what we say and what we do, we are like new wine being poured into old wineskins. The old wineskin will burst, and all efforts will be in vain.  There is dignity in all labour!

 

PS: Bible teaches that there are things you must do if you want to make your way prosperous. Faith without work is dead. The problem is not in what God has promised to do for you, but your ability to do what His covenant demands for you to do, in order for Him to establish your heart desires.

 

4) Endurance (persistence)

 

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 NIS

 

Endurance is the ability to continue your pursuit till you reach your destination.

Life race is a marathon and not a sprint. Only those who endure that race to the end shall be saved.

Even when Lazarus' case seemed hopeless, having died for 3 days, God arrived on time to raise him up. Whatever you are trusting God for, never give up. He never arrives late on the scene.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).

 

a) ​God watches over His words to see them being fulfilled (Jeremiah 1:12).

Know for a fact that if you abide in the Lord and endure to the end, all God’s promises shall come to pass. God will surely fulfil all His promises concerning you from the foundation of your life till eternity.

if you will not hurry before His time. Keep standing on His promises.  

 

b) Consistent compliance with God’s ways will take you to your covenant Promised Land. (James 1:4).

Endurance is a proof of discipline. You do it again and again even when you are yet to see the gain.

Indiscipline, the enemy of success, reflects inability to sacrifice and deny immediate gratification.

Lack of endurance leads to every evil and ungodliness (selfishness, greediness, dishonesty etc.)

No undisciplined man ever ends up distinguished. Excellence is too expensive for cheap people. Excellence has a high price that only people of integrity can pay. You need to do the right thing at the right time, repeatedly to enjoy excellence in life.

 

PS: Endurance is a non-negotiable virtue for everyone that walks in God’s covenant.

You need to walk on His own term and by His own timing. The good news is that God is the God of the end. He makes all things beautiful in His own time.

May you never miss the hour of your covenant blessing in Jesus mighty Name. Amen.

 

INSTRUCTION

 

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NIV

 

We cannot lay claim to God’s covenant blessings if we have no relationship with Him.

There is no blessing we can claim if we reject Him; or use our will against His will.

God will not force His blessings upon anybody that is living against His will. It takes faith to use your will to convert God’s promise to a binding covenant in your life.

 

Do you have a relationship with God?

 

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20 NIV

 

If you do not have relationship with God, pray right now and ask Him to become your Shepherd and Lord. Through faith, everyone can receive God’s forgiveness and obtain grace to receive His covenant blessings.

 

Have you backslidden from your earlier relationship with God? This is a new opportunity to restore your love and commitment to God. Pray right now and commit your life into His hands.

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Are you walking in covenant with the Lord? Keep walking. Don’t stop. God is forever faithful.

 

Whichever group you belong to, I pray that you will experience God’s faithfulness and abundant blessing in your covenant walk with Him this year and beyond in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

CONCLUSION

 

4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.  Genesis 11:4-6 BSB

 

Though God’s promises are settled in heaven and on earth, it takes faith, always, to claim them.

Obedience, fired by your faith in God, remains a major key to unlock God’s storehouse of blessings (filled with divine promises of health, peace, prosperity, joy, fulfilment, etc.)

It is through obedience that a believer can convert God’s everlasting promises to binding covenants.

Abraham was blessed because of his delightsome obedience to God’s instruction.

And once your obedience of faith converts God’s promises to reality, no power on earth and in heaven can stop you from enjoying your covenant blessings. That is because God is a covenant keeping God.

As you choose to stand on God's  promises this year, I pray you will also personally experience Him as a covenant keeping God. Amen.  

 

About our Senior Pastor

Solomon Osoko is the Senior Pastor of Christ International Church. In addition to his theological training, Pastor Solomon  is also a graduate of political science (BSc. Administration) and double masters’ degree holder in MSc. Multicultural Management and  MBA (Business Administration).
Pastor Solomon is happily married to Lady Pastor Silvia (nee Felix) and together they have two sons,

Timi and Dani and a daughter, Joanna.

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