Category: mexico
Hermana IT Works
Hola my Sisters and Brothers,
This morning around 7 , one of my dearest new sisters. , Antonia, came up to the Mission. She was accompanied by another sister and good friend, Trinidad. I automatically assumed they were coming to GET something, beans rice, medicines. Ten days ago I accompanied her thru the birth of her 1st child and she walked very carefully up the hill, protecting her liitle bundle in a used rebozo tied about her
Slim shoulders. Her first trip out since the. Birth took place and she was tired.
I was wrong about her reason for coming.
This sweet little 16 year old mother had another intention entirely.
She had made the trek a mile plus uphill to bring us her tithe!!
Barely allowing me to say god morning she reached into a small hand sewn seed bag that most traditional mixtec women carry like purses. From it she extracted exactly 43 pesos in small coins (equals now about $3.15 US) She breathlessly counted it out and I cried and prayed over her sacrifice.
It represents a billion dollar victory for her. She started to learn about Yahweh s law of sowing and reaping in January. At that time my father and pastor was visiting us and upon seeing one day of how we give food staples away that evening he very gently rebuked us. He said that we would never do any lasting good for the poor if we did not teach on giving in a practical way. He saw that we gave away 30 eggs. To each family and asked if we might not try to encourage the people to start by sharing just one egg or one cup of flour or what they receive with a neighbor or someone in need, Frank and I have struggled with asking for offerings/tithes from our people for years because a) they are outwardly the poorest people you’ve evet met apparently having nothing TO give and b) because any other missionary here NEVER teaches on giving kind of causing an unspoken taboo. Those though were really just our excuses for our own pride at not wanting to be seen as TAKING from those “poor people. Sadly, our pride was holding them back.
But we had a breakthrough and
As soon as he left, we began doing just that, encouraging them to share what they got & backing it up with Gods Word on the subject.
Little Antonia & her unemployed. 15 year old husband Adrian, began sharing eggs with family and flour with neighbors and today she brought her first tithe into the Storehouse! Along with the coins she brought news that her husband has gained a job! Not in the greenhouses where most underage men must start but miraculously on the packing house floor! Out of the sun of summer and cold of winter. She declared simply, Hermana! It really works!
I was taken aback and overjoyed for I know that only a person who gets a real personal revelation like she has will always be a cheerful giver…….one willing even to walk over a mile uphill with a handful of God given coins. and a smile on her face………..
*in this foto we are resting on the back stoop and laughing as she is showing me proudly how Yahweh has blessed her with abundant milk, which is normally a problem for malnourished teen moms……but not for Tonia! (And it surprises her how the milk overflows and she jokes it is enough to feed even her neighbors children. Tiny little gal that she is, she is now hilariously well endowed and full of wonder. True belly laughs ensued when she admitted her new gifts “frighten” her young husband.
A Good Report From 2014 in Baja
Hey
Aquilino’s grandmother Felipa is back! She came for flour while we
were out yesterday. I am looking forward to talking to her and finding
out how Aquilino and Flo are doing.
The work on the floor downstairs got started this afternoon.
Everything everywhere is covered in layers of dust as they are
prepping to mix and pour concrete…….but I can put up with a
little dust if it means finally having a proper floor.
Here are a few statistics that I got together.here’s some stuff that’s
pretty darned amazing IMOP……….
In 2014, the ministry-
* purchased and gave away 29,000 gallons of drinking water. We have
53 people signed up to receive free water, but each one signed up
represents a at least one other person more likely an entire family.
* served over 6,000 free nutritious meals.
* had 43 single mothers enroll in our regular staples giveaway
program. These women receive flour, eggs, oatmeal , powdered milk,
split beans and rice every week. Another 32 families presented for
one time help.
This program gave away –
6,480 eggs.
1200 lbs of flour
1200 lbs of oatmeal
800 lbs of powdered milk (soy substitute).
750 pounds of beans.
750 lbs of rice.
W.O.T.E. medical ministry-
provided 236 consultations with our doctor this year and aided in
providing further medical care on 37 other instances.*
*
(by providing further medical care I am referring to a little log I
keep of when we take someone for lab work, ultrasound, specialist or
to hospital.)
Of our patients this year we provided (partial because none came for
entire pregnancy) prenatal care for 29 different women.
Praise the Lord! This is all still very amazing…………….praise Jesus!
I need to break down clinic stats further …………..and will work
on that in the next few days……………….
We saw many people come into the Kingdom of Jesus this past year, but
I hesitate to attempt to quantify that because who knows if I am over
estimating or better yet underestimating!
Here are 2 testimonies-
“I thank Yahweh my God for showing us , my whole family how much He
loves us this year. My husband was severely injured in his back and
could not work. We , my husband, my three children and me were thrown
out of housing that was provided by my husbands boss, with only 2 days
notice. I went to Pastor Frank and his
is wife and they let us move in with them. We lived with them for 6
months and then they paid our first months rent in a rented house in
Maneadero. I d not know what we would have done without them. I was
raised in church but never really believed in Jesus until all of this
happened and he became real in my life. Yahweh is “No (a) ,o” (light)
in my life now.” Theodora Serapio Hernandez
Theo now further explains that she is “holding tight to the trail or
path of Jesus” (better called Yeshua because “Jesus” is a common name
in her language and holds the connotation of various gods For
instance the baby Jesus; is just one of many “gods”, and he isn’t
viewed as a very important or powerful one, so doesn’t rate much of a
fiesta. It might surprise you that Mixtecs think of baby Jesus as a
different god from Jesus Christ crucified. this explains why
Christmas is no big deal for unsaved Mixtecs…….
Holding “tight to his trail” means walking in the NO(a)o of His Word!
“My life was getting very hard a few months ago. My husband left me ,
with our two little girls and I had no job. I was going to go to San
Lazaro for work and have to leave my babies somewhere, maybe not be
able to come back for them. One day the sister started to talk to me
about this and I was very very sad. I cried a lot and hurt because at
night sometimes my babies cried from being cold and not eating, I
couldn’t make milk for them and I was sad. But the sister told me that
Yahweh had sent His Son Yeshua to die for me and to help me and she
promised to help me with food and a doctor because my girls were sick
more than the other girls. She prayed for me and since then I have a
good work here and my friend cares for my babies while I work. The
sister asked if she would put my picture on the computer and tell my
story and I say “Yes.” So other women like me can see what Yahweh
does.”
Trinidad Juarez Morales
(I showed both Trini and Theo the website and asked their permission
and they enthusiastically agreed to have pictures and testimony
shared/published.)
Miracles in Baja
Hey Everyone……………………
It seems that either thru my own ignorance of other interference most
everyone missed last weeks miracles. The original which I wrote on my
laptop has disappeared and it bums me out, because when I am truly writing
inspired things seem to come out so easily. Those of you who know me know
that I can only really write anything worth reading when I am in the
Presence. At times I pressure MYSELF to make things/whatever flows thru my
fingers to this keyboard ends up unreal and not really exact. d of story.
……………….I have to be in His Presence to write . End of story.
No other way. But when something so magnificent happens and I write it,
it is to encourage my brethren and I feel ripped off that it disappeared
into cyber-space. Usually , I’ll just sadly just let it go. But this was so
bizarre that I feel the need to attempt to re-create what I wrote on
Monday…which no-one received….I hope I can. Here I go.
Last Sunday, we had several of the indigenous men come here to the mission
and help with heavy work. Landscaping, planting , mixing cement and
generally banging on things, too. Forget sleeping till 5:30am, Pas. Frank
wanted to be ready so I set to making food for the coming workers.
Around 12ish, the men we never see but know their children started arriving
from their own regular jobs, and they set to mixing cement and planting
(they are best at planting it seems). So by about 2pm , the women folk,
wives upon wives started showing up. We had a 25lb hunk of frozen chicken
legs that I had marinated my way, but I turned it over to them. They, the
women and girls started gathering firewood and got a good fire
going.offering. Then put on the pollo and so very much lovely asparagus.
If we had bought the asparagus it would have cost at least $50 dollars, but
they are cutting the first fields so it was an offering. By 4pm serious
workers were laid out under the few trees we have , and on picnic tables
and just having a siesta. The women were laughing and admiring their
offspring. Had to of been maybe 60 people hanging around……
Out of nowhere I thought it was either a dying cat or a kitty wishing for
death. I looked down by the new playground under the miracle tree and
there was an old fellow banging on an instrument that looked like a mix
between a guitar and a banjo and a bizarre looking harp. (When he first
started playing it sounded like Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody……….I know I
sound totally nuts, okay…)but it did.It was something I’ve not been able
to find on Google. But this guy was banging away an banging fiercely on
this odd instrument.
Honestly, at first I was just overcome with laughter. (I know it sounds
irreverent) But hey, the noise was wild. But suddenly I felt a burning
need to SING in the Spirit. An d I did. The women looked and laughed
shyly, the men seemed cool with it. The many kids , well they thought it
was better than the tortilla. They were watching me and this old guy (at
least like 70?) just in the Presence. Within a few minutes I guess, I do
not really know, I started gathering the kids and whichever mamas that
wanted to follow. I had them rounded up and started praying for each one,
and I was praying for the Infilling, because I knew who had recognized
Yeshua as King.
Within say 30 minutes I’d touched their throats and sang (accompanied by
this great instrument man) for all of the kids. Now about 16 children
were singing in tongues. Some mothers, too.
Realize this was OUTSIDE at the mission, people wandered about eating
chicken legs and getting ministry. The neighbors saw and heard it all.
By about 6pm, as twilight set and people began to go their ways, I asked
Theo who the guitar man was. She responded that she had assumed he was our
“Tio”, (which to Mixtecs,means any man who is not your father or
husband….. In Spanish it means “Uncle”). I told her he waS NOT my Tio)
she said it wasn’t hers either. I lit out after the old guy. WHO WAS HE? I
was thinking “dang we can use him every week for worship. But as I ran
from dish duty under the Pila(cistern) asking, “Hey where’s that guy??”
People looked at me like , “What guy?” Your Tio?” I’m like NO YOUR TIO!.
In the end he was never found. The people who got filled with the Holy
Ghost recall him, those who just came to eat do not. In all I think I had
16 total either saved, or filled. They all recall him. But even tonite, he
is fading from my memory. I can’t really tell you what he looked like, how
tall or short he was. I just know he was here. It was one of the most
awesome times in Yahweh’s Presence i have ever experienced. I was pain free
from my torturous bladder for a whole day. PAIN FREE. Had a bit of a a holy
Ghost hangover, but not suicidal pain. I find that only being in the
Presence His anointing is when I am free.
All week we’ve had those kids a lot of new ones returning to watch the
work and listen to stories we tell;some about Noah, some about the Son and
the Father and their Spirit.
I keep looking out for that old guy. But he hasn’t come back. BUT HE WAS
HERE..
It was the best afternoon I have had in a long time. IT IS MOSTLY
INEXPLICABLE. I know if you only believe what you can see and touch you
won’t get it But I pray that whoever reads this WILL understand the
necessity of putting yourself in Yahweh’s Presence.
As you gather with the Ekleesia tomorrow or as you gather with your mate
or child at home, seek Him. He desires to be found.
The account I have now written is not close to the inspired Word I wrote
and lost, but you get the gist……………..
Love each other, in deed and word and appreciate the Presence, We love you
all so much in Christ,
Sis, Detra
Baja Report Sept 20 2014
Had no internet yesterday. The storms down in Los Cabos (#1 Odile and
now #2 Polo) are messing up my internet connection thru the Hughes
/Starband system I have.
It’s a mess down there. I mean a true cluster-mug. So far they have
evacuated 18,000
tourists/foreigners……the Army is in charge and they have such
antiquated equipment it is not even believable. Cell towers are down
all over and no-one can call relatives to verify they are okay or
where they are. The refugees are being transported in troop carriers
on that long long 2 lane highway 1, so u can imagine. Hotels have
been commandeered in TJ , Rosarito and even some here in Ensenada.
I feel bad for the folks but it still concerns me that people don’t
really understand that Mexico is really not all that advanced and they
don’t seem to get why they cant just pick up a phone or email somebody
and they get all worked out, which gets the Mexicans all worked out
and well it does no good. I am just praying that people have patience
and get home safe. I am growing weary of hearing idgits on the telly,
in high-pitched voices with bad comb overs (which after 5 day trips in
troop carriers on Highway 1 look more like a porcupine than a comb
over and I am not sure which is worst.) But I am tired seeing them
filmed by news crews in those tinny fear laden voices how “they damn
well wont be treated like THIS! Why the Australian Consulate will have
someone’s hide.”
In my experience threatening to call one’s Consulate (as if it is
their own mercenary group at beck and call 24/7) these threats really
piss Mexican authorities, especially the sort who carry guns,totally
off. Best just let it roll off your back like a duck or whatever rolls
off a duck . I forget.
So, Clinic went great. Dulce was out of town for like two weeks , so
I had another Doctora. come in. Her name is Delilah Kennedy Garcia
(and yes she is a Mexican) .
She is in her 50’s, not a
Christian (yet) and referred by Dr. Vasquez. It worked out well,
although it’ll be better when Dulce returns because the people really
have a relationship with her.
We had 10 patients. Two newborn (5 day old both) exams. Both were born
in a nearby camp, one I don’t think I’ve taken you to.it is down in
the riverbed and pretty big. 50 or so families. We’ve been reaching
out to them with food. and were blessed to give away 6 solar power
mp-3 New Testaments that we were given by a Wycliff Translation couple
who has been down in Guerrerro for 40 or so years. The mp-3’s are
neat because they require no batteries, and they can reach people in
their own dialect and no reading is required. They are also sturdy
little things that seem to resist water. I saw one lady listening to
hers as she washed clothes on her washboard yesterday. Water was
being flung willy-nilly and the guy just kept on doing his best “Paul the Apostle” which I must say, was pretty good. I need to procure some
more of
these little jewels.
Back to Clinic…………we had those two new babies in great shape,
we had 5 ear infections a PID in a younger girl (13) and one child
that just comes every time , like clock work, for vitamins. He is only 5, but
quite consumed with those chewables, not those new fangled
gummi-vites either, he prefers the
old Flintstone kind. The ones that taste like a sugary dirt substance
and leave your chopppers orange, purple or green with no apparent
correlation to whatever the color was of the little figure that you
ingested. (I am not big on vitamins for myself but part of the job as
pharmacy director requires that I actually must consume at least one
of each thing prescribed to each patient, just so I can be POSITIVE
they “get it.” (I learned this the first time I ever gave out a bottle
of ear drops that the mama put in the childs mouth instead. She kept
coming back saying “It isn’t working. It isn’t working.” I finally
figured it out and there was born a new procedure. I guess there is in
fact a reason for every little annoying thing we must learn in
elementary school afterall.
Back to VIta-muchacho (as I call the vitamin boy) I have to
practically scare the beejeezis out of him to make sure he
doesn’t just eat them like candy as soon as he is out of my sight.
He’s cute as a button and healthy as a horse, but has a sneaky-gene.
Whenever we have leftover tortillas after mealtime, he’ll get me by
myself and ask me for exactly 8 of them .’ OCHO, Hermana. GRACIAS
HERMANA!GRACIAS YAHWEH!” (ALL RUN TOGETHER LIKE ONE BIG WORD.) Then if I don”t give him a bag fast enough, he’ll roll em up and place them in
a back pocket and off down the hill he goes, dragging a milk crate on
wheels with 5 2 liter plastic bottles of water and his little sister
who hangs on for dear life (she’s about 18 months and he watches her
everyday) anyway she hangs on tight because he likes to push the milk
crate down the hill and let go and it goes pretty quick for an 18
month old. Not to mention it at times fails to make that sharp turn at
the bottom and upends everything requiring him another gruelling trip
back up the hill for band aids (he likes those too, the more the
better.)
I’ll try to video it. It is really like something out of a
Peanuts cartoon, the brother with that Pig-pen aura and the baby
girls crooked and tangled pigtails flying out behind her. (I keep
expecting Snoopy too sweep down in his bi-plane and pluck her up but
it hasn’t happened thus far. And I probably never will video it. It’s
one of those things you would have to set yourself up in the brush,
pestered by scorpions and snakes for hours only to find out he isn’t
coming that day. So maybe best just imagine it. It would probably be
more entertaining for you that way. Bosh that, “I picture paints a
thousand words, I’ve learned what you can imagine paints a jillion
things that probably did not even happen.
Jose has a great new job now, praise God. They have a black and white
tv, too. WE miss his help but he needs to support his family and I
think Theo is on baby # four , not SURE, but time will tell.
The playground is almost ready for me to send pictures. We have the
welder making the last two toys, a merry-go-round and two big teeter
totters. Things are being delivered and the kids just think we can’t
move fast enough. The big metal stand for clubhouse One is in the
front yard and has been for a while. When delivered it came wrapped in
plastic, well, somehow someone took it off. So yesterday evening I see
Ivan, age 7, but tiny and
Pablito same age but bigger. They have absconded from downstairs my
huge roll of saran wrap and in 35 mile an hour hot sandy winds are
trying to wrap the stand back up. At first I was ticked off because
they had my saran wrap (of which I consume a lot of) and where
attempting to rewrap this 12 foot metal stand . It was hilarious. I
didn’t let on that I was watching but just left them to their
methods.Now , see I have a fairly good idea of who unwrapped it in the
first place. Anyway, they went round and round that things with a
COSCO sized box of Saran Wrap and by twilight Pablito had enrolled
some help from his little friends and I HAD to go down their because
all they succeeded in doing was wrapping up Ivan in quite a think
layer of plastic. NONE was stuck to the stand. I acted all mad, and
tried to simultaneously wave a broom around in a menacing manner
while tears of laughter oozed out of me– and put them on rock
gathering duty today.
Thankfully for them, it only took two hours of brutal rock-searching
for the wheelbarrow tire to pop and they got off easy for now
anyway. Till Frank gets back today anyway. Wheelbarrow tires are super
expensivo down here and also pretty sturdy and also pretty
necessary right about now.
I’m sure they’ll get the moral of some story when Frank arrives,
although they’ve been rather scarce since they turned in their busted
barrow and about 8 medium sized rocks,
What else? What else? Oh,tomorrow about 5 of the men who work just
till noon on Sundays are coming to help with landscaping the
playground perimeter. I am shocked and amazed by this. It will also
leave room for a message and prayer.
Carlos (guy with broken leg) is doing nicely. He’s coming to spend
the night tonight. He is returning to his home,, he still can’t work
and so has no place to live. He has to be at the bus depot at 5:15am
and Frank is taking him. Sad to see him go, but glad he got some of
the Eternal Seed really implanted in him. I’ve held back one mp-3 New
Testament as a going away gift and Theo will make him food for the
3 day trip (at least) home.
For now, I’d better go. I am amazed the internet has stayed working
this long because the winds are whipping up dust devils and one of
my wicker chairs just got whisked off of the
porch……………………..
Love and Blessings to all,
Sis Detra
The Blood Covenant
THE BLOOD COVENANT
I n ancient times the blood covenant was common among
almost all of the people of the middle east. It was a way of
establishing a binding contract between two men. What we call the
Old and New Testaments could easily be called the Old and New
Covenants. The typical blood covenant contained nine parts, or steps.
These steps are as follows,
1) The two people exchange coats or robes. To a Hebrew, the
coat or robe represented the person himself; so when he offered the
other person his robe, he was offering himself; even his very life itself.
2) They take off their belt and offer it to the other person. The
belt, also called the girdle, was used to hold your sward, your knife,
and other fighting instruments. In this way you were saying to the
other person that you were offering him your protection. If someone
attacks you, they also have me to deal with. Your battles are my
battles.
3)”CUT THE COVENANT”. In this part, an animal is killed
and cut down the middle and the two halves are laid opposite each
other. The two parties to the covenant pass between the two halves
of the animal and are saying, “May God do so to me and more if I
break this covenant. This is a blood covenant, and can not be broken.
4) Raise the right arm and cut the palm of the hand and clasp
each other’s hand and mingle your blood. This is saying to the other
person, “We are becoming one with each other. To intermingle the
blood is to intermingle the very life of both people.
5) Exchange names. Each one takes part of the others name and
incorporates it into their own.
6) Make a scar or some identifying mark. The scar was the
outward evidence of the covenant that others could see and know
that the covenant was made. Some times they would rub the cut in
the hand to make the scar, then anyone who wanted to fight you
would know that he not only had to fight you but another as well.
7) Give terms of the covenant. Both parties to the covenant
stand before a witness and list all of their assets and liabilities, because
each one takes all of these upon the himself. You are saying, “Every
thing I have is yours and everything you have is mine. If something
happens to you, your covenant partner will see to it that your wife
and children are taken care of.
8) Eat the memorial meal. A loaf of bread is broken in half. Each feeds his half to the other saying, “This is my body, and I am now
giving it to you.” Then they take wine as a symbol of his blood and
says, “This is my blood which is now your blood.”
9) Plant a memorial tree. The two then plant a tree as a
memorial to the covenant and sprinkle it with the blood of the animal
that was killed for the covenant offering.
These nine steps do not have to take place in the same order
that they are listed here. There are a lot of covenants listed in the
Bible and there is not great detail about them because everyone is
familiar with the procedure and the writer assumes that we know
what was done.
In our Bible we have the old and new testament,(or covenant).
The old covenant was made with Abram and we have a record of it in
the Bible. We can look in on it starting in the fifteenth chapter of
Genesis. In verse one we read; “After these things the word of the
Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, `Do not fear, Abram, I
am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.’.” Here we
see God offering His robe and belt to Abram. He offers to be his shield
and His rewards. He cuts the covenant in Genesis 15:7-21 “And He
said to him, `I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the
Caldeans, to give you this land to possess it.’ So He said to him,
`Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old male
goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtle dove, and a young
pigeon.’ Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two,
and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the
birds. And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses,
and Abram drove them away. Now when the sun was going
down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and
great darkness fell upon him.” And God said to Abram, `Know
for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land
that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed
four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they
will serve; and afterward they will come out with many
possessions. And as for you, you shall go to your fathers in
piece; you shall be buried at a good old age. Then in the fourth
generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the
Amorite is not yet complete.’ And it came about when the sun
had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a
smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between
these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with
Abram, saying, `To your descendants I have given this land,
from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river
Euphrates; the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite
and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim and the
Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the
Jebusite.’.” Here God is giving the terms of the covenant to Abram.
But who are the ones passing between the pieces while Abram is in
the deep sleep? I submit to you that it is the pre-incarnate Christ. In
the Revelation 1:14-15 we see a description of Christ as
follows, “And His head and His hair were white like wool, like
snow, and His eyes were like a flame of fire; and His feet were
like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a
furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters,”
Here we see Christ, a descendant of Abram, standing in for Abram in
the covenant procession. In Genesis 17:4-5+15 we see the exchange of
names as follows, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you,
and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No
longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall
be Abraham; for I will make you the father of a multitude of
nations….Then God said to Abraham, as for Sarai your wife,
you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.”
In Hebrew, God was called YHWH. Here we see Him taking part of His
name and combining it with that of Abram and Sarai. From that time
on God was known as, “The God of Abraham”. Next we see the
making of a scar or symbol of the covenant. In Genesis 17:10-12 we
see, “This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me
and you and your descendants after you; every male among
you shall be circumcised. And you shall be circumcised in the
flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be the sign of the covenant
between Me and you. And every male among you who is eight
days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a
servant who is born in the house or who is bought with
money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants.”
The scar of circumcision bears witness of the covenant. Abraham was
tested when God told him to sacrifice his only son Isaac on a small
mountain called mount Mariah near the town of Salem. Abraham
passed the test. Two thousand years ago, the other party to the
covenant was to sacrifice His only Son. The names had been changed
by then; Salem was then called Jerusalem, and Mariah had been
changed to Calvery, but the places were the same.
The new covenant took place in the same area of the world and
contained some of the same players. God was there, of course, and
Jesus; now incarnate, and the descendants of Abraham. This time
Jesus was not only the representative of Abraham’s descendants but
He was also the offering; the Lamb that was slain. This time it was
God’s only Son and not Abraham’s. Let us see how the new covenant
was completed in Christ.
1) EXCHANGE COATS OR ROBES. We come to this covenant
clothed in sin and unrighteousness. He comes clothed in holiness and
righteousness. We put on His righteousness. IICorinthians 5:21, “He
made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we
might become the righteousness of God in Him.” He takes our
sins upon Him and we take His holiness for ours. What an exchange!
2)TAKE OFF BELT: He protects us and provides us with
protection. Luke 10:19, “Behold, I have given you authority to
tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of
the enemy, and nothing shall injure you.” Ephesians 6:13-17
“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be
able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to
stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with
truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and
having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of
peace; in addition to all, take up the shield of faith with which
you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the
evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sward of
the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
3)CUT THE COVENANT: Hebrews 10:14-18, “For by one
offering He has perfected for all time those who are
sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for
after saying, `This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws upon their
heart, and upon their mind I will write them, And their sins
and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. Now where
there is forgiveness for these things, there is no longer any
offering for sin.” Jesus was not only the one making the covenant,
but he was also the sacrificial lamb.
4)RAISE RIGHT ARM & MIX BLOOD: Jesus was both man and
God. He was holy and also human. As we have the shed blood of
Jesus Christ applied to our hearts, His blood cleanses us from all sin
and we are also made holy. Our lives are forever intermingled with His. 5) EXCHANGE NAMES: Jesus took on the name, “Son of Man”
and we take on the name Christian. We are forever in the family of
God.
6) MAKE A SCAR: Jesus has the scars of the nails in His hands
and the feet and the spear in His side. We have the circumcision of the
heart. Romans 2:29, “But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and
circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by
the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.”
7) GIVE THE COVENANT TERMS: Jesus gives the terms of the
covenant in the whole Bible. It is our responsibility to know it so that
we can live by it.
8) EAT MEMORIAL MEAL: I Corinthians 11: 23-26, “For I
received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that
the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took
bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said,
`This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of
Me.’ In the same way He took the cup also, after supper,
saying, `This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as
often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as
you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”
9) PLANT A MEMORIAL TREE: The cross that Jesus died on was
the tree that the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled on and it still is a
memorial of His covenant with us to this day.
This is our covenant with the God of the universe. He will live up
to His end and He expects us to live up to ours.
Paul Ziegler
Harvest of Faith 