The Covenant - by Hal Lindsey

To understand God's plan for the world, it is vital to understand what, at first, may seem like a dry subject - covenants. In the Bible, God makes two kinds of covenants with human beings - conditional and unconditional. A conditional covenant is predicated on God saying to man, "If you will." An unconditional covenant is predicated on God saying to man, "I will."

Conditional covenants are like the contracts we humans make among ourselves. "If you give me a certain amount of money, then I will give you a car." God makes conditional covenants, too. He made one with Israel through Moses. In Exodus 19, He said, "If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."

Did they obey His voice and keep His covenant? No. God offered them a deal, but they didn't fulfill their part of the bargain. Does God then have to fulfill His part? No. A conditional covenant means, "If you do this, then I'll do that."

But God also made unconditional covenants. In an unconditional covenant, God simply says, "I will." Period. Once such a covenant goes into effect, there are no conditions that have to be fulfilled by human beings.

God's covenant with Abraham - what theologians call "The Abrahamic Covenant" - is an unconditional covenant. Through the years God reiterates and expands it, but He never changes the unconditional nature of it. Indeed, He cannot change it or He would be a liar and the Bible says in Titus 1:2 and elsewhere, "God... cannot lie."



To add other conditions later would be like moving the goal posts just as the football team is about to score a touchdown. It wouldn't be honest. God is not tricky. He's trustworthy. Once the covenant went into effect, nothing could change it. Later, God would reiterate the covenant and expand on it, but He never changed the nature of it, nor did He add conditions to it.

Those who claim He did, have a fundamental problem. They're saying that God lied.

Psalm 105 says, "He has remembered His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations, The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac. And then He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant, Saying, 'To you will I give the land of Canaan As the portion of your inheritance.'"

This verse calls it a "covenant forever" and "an everlasting covenant." If it depended on frail human beings, the Word of God could not call it "everlasting" because somewhere along the line human beings fail, as Israel proved again and again.

The Abrahamic Covenant is one of the great dividing lines of scripture. Disbelieving it won't change God's Word, but it will change a person in profound ways. Among other things, he won't understand what's going on in the world.

Because this is an unconditional covenant, it cannot end. It remains in effect today and forever. That makes it fundamental to Bible prophecy. Whatever else happens, you can bet the farm that God will keep His covenant with Abraham.



So if you want to look into the future, or have a better understanding of the present, look at the things God promised to Abraham. He expressed them in a series of direct and implied "I will" statements. "I will make you a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. I will make you a blessing. I will bless those who bless you. I will curse those who curse you. Through you, I will bless all the families of the earth."

Romans 11:1 succinctly asks and answers the most pertinent point. "Has God cast away His people? Certainly not!" That's just one of many New Testament passages refuting "replacement theology" and affirming that God's covenant with Abraham is still in effect.

Not only does this covenant help us understand what's happening in the Middle East right now, it is foundational to the central meaning of all the Bible's teaching - from the identity and purpose of Jesus, to "salvation by faith alone," to Christ's coming to set up a literal thousand year kingdom on earth, to Christ's secretly snatching up all believers to heaven before the great Tribulation begins.

God Bless, Hal Lindsey.
Thank You Hal
blessings
Yaddy

God said that!

When 8 year old Raymond was visiting his grandfather in the hospital, he came with his own custom made get well card.

It was on a stiff white piece of paper (8"x11") folded in half.


On the front he had written "HOPE YOU GET BETTER SOON"

On the inside in very large block letters he had written " I WILL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO"
There wasn't any Scripture reference, so Raymond had added, " GOD SAID THAT"

That added note sent an unintended and deeper truth, that brought a smile to my face and comfort to my heart.
A hospital can be a very lonely place.
It's a world of unfamiliar faces and first time medical procedures, and uncertain diagnosis.

However, it's in just such a setting, that God can quiet an anxious heart and give assurance that He will go with you, down every hall
through every new door, into any unknown future......yes....even through the "valley of the shadow of death" Psalm 23 v 4.

Maybe you have had an unexpected set back, or loss! Your future is unknown!

Trusting Jesus as your saviour and Lord, you can be sure of this....He will go with you wherever you go!
You can believe it because God said it!

I trust in God, I know he cares for me.
On mountain bleak or on the stormy sea;
Though billows roll, He keeps my soul
My heavenly Father watches over me - -Martin

No danger can come so near to a Christian, that God is not nearer/
Thanks Mikey
Blessings
Yaddy

For God so loved the world......

You know there is only ONE you?
God wants you for his very own!

God is a possessive God!

John 3 v 16 says,"For God so loved the world" and He does......He created the world and all the universe...He loves the world!
But, we also understand the word "world" to mean the people...and God loves the people too...He made them in His own image!

And.....He loves you....wanting you for His own possession means....well, imagine yourself a dot......a little dot...in the middle of a circle!

The circle is complete.....unbroken.....God's love for you is a complete unbroken circle around your entire being!

God loves you....as if you are the only human being to have ever lived!

God's love for you is unique!

God's love is individual.....because that is how he made you!

So....your relationship with him is individual and unique, because that is how he made you!

Your relationship with him is different and unique, special between Him and you.....you can't be some one else...

because some one else is taken.....you are you.....He does not see you as part of a group of the world's population of 7 billion people
HE SEES JUST YOU!
God thinks you are so special....he knows every hair on your head.....( Math 10 v 30)and

he wants you to relate to him!

Everything you do.......He is there.......

Every breath you take....He is there.....

Christmas is about invading.....

God is invading....God's involvement.....
God is declaring to the human race.....because he loves us so much....I LOVE YOU!

He came as a babe....became a man......to save us,

so that we could have an intimate and loving relationship with him, and ultimately be with him forever in heaven!
Bless you....
Yaddy

No account to pay!........

You may or may not have heard about the Rolls Royce car company that boast that their cars NEVER need repairs because they are made so well?

Well, some young man in the U.K. also heard this and decided he would buy a Rolls. It was a lot of money he had to fork out, “but” he thought...”it’s worth it!”


A few months later, the thing of all things happened.......his car broke down.....

He rang the Rolls Royce company and they told him they would send someone out straight away!

A good half an hour later, he heard a helicopter in the distance and soon it was above him and landed.
The mechanic hopped out and it did not take all that long and the car was on it’s way again.

Time passed, and he still had not heard from the car company in regards to his bill.

He decided to finally ring them again and explained his phone call. He told them... "I know I owe you, and want to get the bill out of the way, so I can get on with my business...”

The answer he received was this, “I am sorry sir, there is no record of any repairs to your car,no mechanic has reported any work done on your car, and there is no paper work to follow up with....... so there is no account to pay!”

Is that not how we should be when we become Christians and have accepted Christ as our saviour?

We are so guilty, our account is so big...but....

Instead of re-hashing the things from our past, which God does not do, He said, “As far as the east is from the west, that is how far our sins are thrown away...” not north to south, where there are points, but east from west....no points....... continuous! We should also accept that
there is no account to pay! Follow Jesus!
Blessings...
Yaddy

JESUS IS PEACE!

Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid.
(John 14:27)

You don't need to look far these days to see trouble around, but we do not need to be afraid or unsettled by it. We just need to remember wonderful hymns like this one that provide such wonderful comfort.

However, to find peace, we need to trust in Jesus completely —to lay our lives down 100% and allow the Lord to take over. Its amazing where He will take you.

If things are not going so smoothly for you, this week,—remember "trust in Jesus" and everything will be O.K.

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Refrain:

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
refrain:

Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
refrain:

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
refrain:

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

blessings;
Yaddy

This is such a great Hymn!

Thomas Obadiah Chisolm (1866-1960) had a difficult adult life. His health was so fragile that there were periods of time when he was confined to bed, unable to work.
Between bouts of illness he would have to push himself to put in extra hours at various jobs in order to make ends meet.

After coming to Christ at age 27, Thomas found great comfort in the Scriptures, and in the fact that God was faithful to be his strength in time of illness and provide his needs.

Lamentations 3:22-23 was one of his favorite scriptures: “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.”

While away from home on a missions trip, Thomas often wrote to one of his good friends, William Runyan, a relatively unknown musician.

Several poems were exchanged in these letters. Runyan found one of Williams' poems so moving that he decided to compose a musical score to accompany the lyrics. Great is Thy Faithfulness was published in 1923.


For several years ,the hymn got very little recognition, until it was discovered by a Moody Bible Institute professor who loved it so much and requested it sung so often at chapel services, that the song became the unofficial theme song of the college.

It was not until 1945 when George Beverly Shea began to sing Great is Thy Faithfulness at the Billy Graham evangelistic crusades, that the hymn was heard around the world.

Thomas Chisolm died in 1960 at age 94. During his lifetime, he wrote more than 1,200 poems and hymns including O To Be Like Thee and Living for Jesus

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 89:1)
It has always and will be...my favourite hymn:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2nd:

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

3rd:

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!


blessings,
Yaddy

I’m finding myself a bit sobered as I watch the overwhelming national excitement about the arrival of Pope Francis to our shores. He’s such a great “social justice” warrior, the crowds are saying. He’s a brave advocate for action on climate change, others say. Per USA Today, one Phoenix family even believes the pontiff miraculously healed their 3-month-old daughter, who had two holes in her heart!

And I can’t help thinking: If the Lord Jesus were to come to the United States, would He receive this kind of fawning reception? These kinds of accolades?

Some might argue He would. After all, the crowds of His own day followed Him around with great interest and excitement. They loved His healings and miracles. They even cheered Him as He entered Jerusalem on a donkey on Palm Sunday: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

But it took less than a week for everything to change. By the time of Jesus’ unjust trial, one of His own had betrayed Him, the authorities were upon Him, and those fawning crowds had abandoned Him. Instead, He was crucified at the behest of the now-bloodthirsty throngs, who cried out,“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

And Jesus knew full well the fickle nature of His ancient fans. Shortly after He fed the 5,000, He told them in John 6, “’Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.'” The passage continues: “Therefore they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’”

In the end, Jesus’ crowds didn’t want Him. They wanted excitement and healings and miracles. They wanted to be in on the latest trend, and for a while, that trend was Jesus — until He fully revealed Who He was and why He had come to earth. But the crowds didn’t want a suffering savior. They didn’t want the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. They didn’t want to be confronted with their sin at all, much less repent and believe the gospel. And that was why Jesus said, “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”(Matthew 7:14)

It is easy for the crowds to love those who are famous, even religious leaders, who arrive with flourish and entourages, who advocate for social change (especially if that social change is exactly in line with what the world wants at the moment). Crowds love men who give them what they want physically, too: miracles or healings, or the appearance thereof. It is frighteningly easy for some of those excited multitudes to elevate such men to a godlike status, attributing to them moral or spiritual authority beyond their mortal capacities.

What the throngs never want — and never have wanted — is the true God-Man whose Kingdom is not of this world. What they never want to hear is that obeying the law, doing good works, trying hard, meaning well and being relatively better-behaved than the guy next to you will not get you into heaven. The gospel is received by faith alone. It is all of grace, through the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross and through His resurrection from the dead. Romans 4:5 confronts us at this point: “However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.”


Jesus certainly will come to America one day, and to the whole world at His Second Coming. But though Christians certainly will rejoice at the return of their Bridegroom, Scripture says it will not be a joyful moment for unrepentant sinners. As Revelation 1:7 tells us: “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.”


What’s more, Jesus is coming soon, and — unlike Pope Francis or any of the other heralded religious leaders who come to our country — at an hour we do not expect. That is why for sinners, today is the day of salvation. For Christians, today is the day of preparation. Are we ready?

“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)
Thanks Janet see her website here
Blessings
Yaddy