THE BLOOD COVENANT

THE BLOOD COVENANT
By Tommy Franks

I. THE ORIGIN OF THE BLOOD COVENANT

A. DEFINITION of COVENANT:
1. League; A sense of cutting; Confederacy
2. A Contract; Testament
3. Disposition of property
4. A Coming Together
5. A compact (agreement) made by passing between pieces of flesh.
6. Hebrew word for "covenant" is "BERITH" which means: "to cut where blood flows or cut until blood flows".

B. First form of covenant (Gen.3:21):
1. God shed blood to make Adam and Eve coats of skin.
2. God also drove them out so that they would not live forever in their state of sin.

C. The first covenant between individuals (Gen.14:13):
1. Between Abram the Hebrew and Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner the Amorites
2. Later, the Amorites broke their covenant with Abraham by not allowing his descendents to pass through their land (Nu.21:21‑25). Their land and all of their cities were taken by the Israelites.

D. Method of Cutting the Covenant:
1. Normally, the two parties (individuals or tribes) come together with their friends, families, and a priest.
2. First, they exchange gifts. This signifies that what one owns or possesses, the other owns or possesses.
3. Second, they bring forth a cup of wine. The priest then makes an incision in the arm or wrist of one man. The blood drips into the cup of wine. Then, an incision is duplicated in the other man's arm or wrist. This could be a designated person. His blood is then placed into the same cup of wine. The wine is mixed thoroughly to mix the blood.
4. Third, both men in turn drink the wine from the cup. Often, they will put their wrists together to mingle their blood. Now, they have become blood brothers and covenant men for life.
5. Fourth, trees are planted. The tree remains and grows as a witness of their covenant.
6. Fifth, after the wine/blood is drunk by both parties, then the priest steps forth and pronounces all kinds of awful curses upon the individuals or tribes if they ever break the covenant. Blessings are pronounced as long as the covenant is observed by both parties. See Deut.11, 27, and 28 for the Old Testament cursings and blessings.
7. No one ever takes advantage of the covenant or breaks it. The covenant is so sacred that the children keep the covenant for several generations. The covenant cannot be annulled or dissolved. For anyone to steal from a blood brother is the death penalty.
8. The moment the covenant is consummated, everything that a blood covenant individual owns is at the disposal of his blood brother if he needs it. And yet, neither will ever ask for anything unless it is absolutely necessary.
a. All debts are mutually shared.
b. All liabilities are mutually shared.
c. All assets are mutually shared.
d. All benefits are mutually shared.

E. Dr. Henry Stanley in pursuit of Dr. David Livingstone cut the covenant over fifty times with different African tribes. Neither of them ever heard of a covenant being broken. The tribes protected each other to the death. The covenant was kept and that was final!

F. Why enter into a covenant? (Heb.8:6‑7)
1. Protection: the weak and strong tribes
2. Business purposes or resourcefulness: insure that neither would take advantage of the other
3. Love for one another: Example (Jonathan and David)

G. Eight Biblical Steps in Covenanting:
1. Exchange of garments or coats (David and Jonathan in 1 Sam.18:1‑9). "All my assets are yours."
2. Exchange of weapons..."All my strength and combat ability I will use to protect you."
3. Exchange of names...You would take something of the other person's name and add it to your own and vice versa. Example: (Gen.17) God inserted the last two letters (AH) of His Own Name (JEHOVAH) into Abram’s name (ABR AH AM). ABRAHAM means prince of God. The Lord then replaced the letter "I" in SARAI's name with the letter "H" from His Own Name (JEHOVAH). Now, SARAI's name is SARAH (princess of God). God also changed His Name at this time. He took the "I" from Sarai and the "AM" from Abram and began to call Himself "I AM". The I Am is here!
4. Exchange of blood (Gen.15).
5. The splitting of animals in half and then walking between them in the figure eight. This symbolizes the two people, tribes, or nations becoming as one man. Read Jer.34:18‑20.
6. Exchange of BLESSINGS and CURSINGS: Blessings were pronounced for keeping the covenant and cursings for default (Deut.28).

7. The Covenant Memorial:
a. Sometimes, a LARGE stone or pile of stones (Gen.31:43‑47)
b. Sometimes, a tree was planted (Gen.21:31‑32).

8. Shared the COVENANT MEAL: They would eat bread (which represented the body) and drink wine (representing the blood). This symbolized the eating of each other's body and drinking the other's blood (strength and life of one another). FRIEND means covenant partner. Abraham was called "the friend of God."

II. THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT (Gen.15‑17)

A. God‑initiated (Gen.15:1): God was looking for a man in which He could trust to bring in the second "Adam" (Jesus) Who would restore and redeem man from the sin of the first "adam".

1. Remember, God had promised Abram BLESSINGS, seed, and land when Abram was 75 years old (Gen.12:1‑7).
2. Abram was now approximately 79 years old. Abram wanted to know what God was going to give him (Gen.15:2). Abram was BOLD. Boldness brings results and faith! God wants us to be bold.
3. The Lord responded (Gen.15:4‑5).

4. Abram believed God (Gen.15:6).
a. "Believed" means unqualified committal of himself and ALL that he would ever be to God.
b. God accepted that FAITH and made it righteousness.

5. Then, Abram asked for proof (Gen.15:8). Abram was no dummy. He wanted proof. Do you blame him? God does not mind us asking for proof as long as we ask honestly by faith and then receive His answer.

B. The Covenant Sacrifice (Gen.15:9‑17)
1. Abram knew what it meant to enter into a covenant (Gen.14:13). Abram was called the Friend of God (Ja.2:23).

2. The death and cutting of the animals (Gen.15:9‑10).
a. Three and three and three (V.9). Three represents the GodHead.
b. He Cut the animals right down the middle.

3. Deep sleep and darkness fell upon Abram. The Lord allowed Abram to see into the future. He saw the children of Israel in bondage and captivity (V.13‑14).

4. The Smoking Furnace was God (V.17). God is a consuming fire. The Burning Lamp was Jesus. The Lamp is the Word. The Word is Jesus.

C. The Seal and Sign of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen.17): Even though the covenant was already in force, it was not yet complete. The changing of names had to take place and man's blood had to be shed (by circumcision).
1. Abram was 99 years old; Sarai was 90.
2. Eventually, 25 years after the promise that God made to Abram (Gen.12:3), Isaac ("Laughter") was born (Gen.21:3).
3. Names were exchanged (V.5, 15).

4. Man's blood was shed by circumcision in this covenant (V.23‑27).
a. God used a substitute for His blood (Gen.15:9) in this first covenant with man.
b. God shed His own blood through Jesus in the second (better) covenant (Heb.9:7‑28). Our blood was not shed, but His blood was shed as our Substitute.

5. God NOW had a legal right to bring in a new Adam because everything that Abraham owned…God owned and vice versa. God could now use Abraham's seed to prepare a body for the second Adam (Jesus) (Lk.1:31, Jn.1:14).

D. The Covenant was tested (Gen.22:1‑14).

1. Jehovah‑Jireh provided a substitute (V.13).
2. Jehovah (the Great I AM) swore by Himself because there was None higher to swear by (V.16). God's throne, His Kingdom, and the entire GodHead stood behind this covenant. If God ever broke the covenant, He would have to destroy Himself. BUT HE WOULD NEVER BREAK HIS WORD.
3. God had found a man (Abraham) who would keep the covenant. And God would keep him and his seed.

E. What did this covenant mean?
1. God placed Himself absolutely in bondage to this covenant. God and Israel were bound together.

As long as Israel kept the covenant:
a. No sickness was among them (Ps.105:37).
b. They had wealth (Ps.105:37, Gen.15:14).
c. God protected them (Ps.91, 121).
d. There was never a barren wife, no babies died, and no soldiers were ever slain.
e. No army in the world could conquer them.

2. They were Blood Covenant men and women!
a. Their land brought forth LARGE crops.
b. Their herds and flocks multiplied.
c. They became the head of all nations and wealth.
d. Jerusalem became the richest city in the world.
e. No nation in all the earth could match them.
f. One covenant man could chase a thousand.
g. Two could put 10,000 to flight. In David's day, he had single warriors that could slay 800 men in a single combat battle. They could take their bare hands and kill a lion. They were Blood Covenant warriors…the best that the world has ever known.

3. The godly ones share in the "Covenant" (Ps.50:5).
a. "Saints" (godly ones): The Hebrew word for godly one is "hassid". Hassid is a person who is totally wrapped up, tied up, and tangled all up in God. He exists ONLY for God. In the plural sense (hassidim), the godly ones mean "those who have cut the covenant on the basis of a sacrifice."
b. The first covenant was sealed by the blood of Abraham and God sacrificed an animal.
c. The New Covenant was sealed by the Blood of Jesus Who was also the Sacrifice (Pascal Lamb).

F. Would God remember His Covenant with Abraham (Ex.2:23‑25)? Would He deliver them?
1. God heard their groanings and remembered.
2. God had "respect" for them:
a. Took knowledge of them.
b. Observed them.
c. Cared for them.
d. Was their Friend.
e. Knew them...could feel for them.
f. Understood them.
g. Held them in high regard and esteem (HONOR).
3. God kept His Word. After Abraham's descendants were in Egypt for 430 years, He delivered them (Ex.12:35‑42). They spoiled the Egyptians. Egypt was now bankrupt.

III. THE BLOOD COVENANT BETWEEN DAVID AND JONATHAN (1 Sam.18)

A. David had just killed the giant (Goliath) who was:
1. 13 Ft. 4 in. tall
2. Coat of armor weighed 194 pounds.
3. Spear's head weighed 23 1/2 pounds.
4. Shield weighed 30 pounds.
5. Goliath weighed between 400 to 500 pounds.

B. The love of David and Jonathan was like that of a father and son. David was now about 17 or 18 years old and Jonathan was about 40 years old.
1. Their hearts were knitted together as one (V.1).
2. They cut the covenant (V.3).
3. Jonathan gave David gifts (V.4):
a. Robe
b. Clothes
c. Armor (sword, bow, and belt)

C. The Renewal of the David/Jonathan Covenant (1 Sam.20:16):
1. Jonathan said, "...The Lord be with you as He has been with my father. You shall show me kindness while I live and even my posterity after I'm gone" (V.13‑15).
2. They renewed their covenant vows (V.16‑17).
3. Years later, David remembered his covenant with Jonathan by showing great kindness and mercy to Jonathan's son (Mephibosheth) (2 Sam.9:1‑13).
IV. The New Blood Covenant

A. Foretold by Jeremiah (Jer.31:31‑34, Isa.59:20‑21, Ezk.37:26).
B. God has made us ABLE ministers of the New Covenant (2 Cor.3:6). ABLE means: to have sufficient power, skill, and resources to accomplish a mission; marked by intelligence, know‑ledge, skill, and competence. The New Covenant has made us:
1. Capable, qualified, worthy, and strong.
2. Possessed of needed powers and resources.
3. Free to act.
4. Well‑to‑do, rich.

C. Jesus, the Mediator of a better covenant (Heb.8:6‑13).
1. One Mediator (1 Tim.2:5)
2. Mediator of the New Testament (Heb.9:15)

D. Jesus, the Surety of a better Covenant (Heb.7:22).
1. Surety: guarantee of the benefits that a covenant offers to those who keep the covenant.
2. A bondsman that stands good for someone else.
3. The old covenant was sealed by circumcision, but the New is sealed by the NEW BIRTH (circumcision of the heart).

E. Jesus, the High Priest (Heb.3:1, 4:14‑15, 5:8‑10, 6:20).
1. The priest in the old covenant acted as a mediator between God and Israel. Jesus, the High Priest of the New Covenant, is the Mediator between the sinner and God. He is the Intercessor between the Christian and God.
2. Jesus is the High Priest. We are holy priests and royal priests (1 Pet.2:5‑9).

F. Jesus, the Intercessor (Heb.8:2, 10:11, 7:25).
1. Jesus carried His own blood into the Holy of Holies in the Throne Room of God (Heb.9:12, 10:19‑20, Acts 20:28).
2. NO MAN, WOMAN, devil, imp, or satan the STUPID ONE can lay anything to your charge because God has declared YOU righteous through Jesus Christ (Rom.8:33‑34).

G. Jesus, the Advocate (1 Jn.2:1)
1. Advocate means: One who pleads the cause (case) of another; one who defends, vindicates, and upholds another in a court of law.
2. Christ is our Heavenly Attorney Who defends us.
a. We must confess our sins.
b. When we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful to forgive them and wipe them out as if they had never been.

H. New Covenant (Testament) Words:
1. REDEMPTION (ransom in full, salvation, deliverance, a buying back, release from sin). Redemption does not mean "atonement". Atonement was used in the Old Testament which meant "covering, pacify, appease, put off, purge." The sacrifice of atonement covered their sins for one year only.
2. REMISSION (to wipe out as though it had never been)
a. When something is wiped out, it stops being.
b. Our sins have been wiped out. They do NOT exist anymore. It is as though they had never been.
3. FOREGIVENESS (Col.1:14): freedom, pardon, omit, to put away, liberty, remission.
a. When a Christian sins, he breaks fellowship with the Father. He does not break his RELATIONSHIP. This fellowship can be restored by simply asking forgiveness.
b. If we confess, He will forgive (1 Jn.1:9).

I. THE NEW BLOOD COVENANT BLESSINGS:

1. We are RIGHTEOUS (1 Jn.1:9, 2 Cor.5:21).
a. No consciousness of sin (not sin conscious)
b. We have the identical standing as Jesus.
c. No sense of lack, inferiority, insecurity, weakness, or hopelessness

2. We are ONE with God (Gal.2:20, Jn.15:5, 17:18‑24).
a. Christ dwells in us and we in Him.
b. We are partakers of His Divine nature (Eph.5:30, 2 Pet.1:4).

3. We have a LEGAL RIGHT to use His Name (Jesus). When you live in that Name and walk in that Name, the devil cannot tell YOU from Jesus. You look like Jesus. You are clothed in His righteousness. You are filled with His love. You are filled with His LIFE. His resurrection POWER dwells in YOU!
a. Ask in that Name (Jn.14:14, 15:16, 16:23).
b. Bind and loose in that Name (Mt.18:18).
c. Heal in that Name (Acts 3:6).

4. EXTRA BENEFITS:
a. Your life is hid with Christ (Col.3:3‑4).
b. Christ is in you NOW (Col.1:27).
c. Christ LIVES in YOU (Gal.2:20).
d. YOU are an heir of God and joint‑heir with Jesus Christ (Rom.8:17).
e. YOU are the temple of God (1 Cor.3:16).
f. Christ has made us RICH (2 Cor.8:9).
g. God loads us down DAILY with BENEFITS (Ps.68:19).
h. ALL THINGS ARE YOURS (1 Cor.3:21‑22).

V. The Reality of the Lord's Supper in the New Blood Covenant:
(Lk.22:19‑20, 1 Cor.11:23‑34)

A. “Do this in remembrance of Me" (Lk.22:19). When commemorating Holy Communion (the Breaking of Bread, the Lord's Supper), the Church is to remember FOUR things:

1. We are in covenant with God and with one another. We are celebrating the Covenant meal. This reminds us that whatever we have need of, God will supply it. It may be healing, finances, deliverance, salvation for our children, a better job or position, or any other benefits that may be needed.

2. Second, remember that you are symbolically putting the Body of Christ in you and the Blood of Christ in you which is the life of the flesh. Eating the bread and drinking the wine is symbolic of the real Christ being in you. JESUS means HUMANITY. CHRIST means DEITY. Christ represents God's Deity. Jesus represents His humanity. When you partake of the Lord's Supper, you are in fact saying, "Jesus Christ LIVES in me."

3. Third, one loaf of bread represents one body of believers. When Jesus broke bread, He took the center loaf and broke it and distributed it among the disciples.
a. At 6 P.M. on 13 April, A.D. 30, Jesus sat down with His disciples to celebrate the Passover meal (Feast of Un‑leavened Bread). On the table was a bag with three pouches. Each pouch contained a loaf of bread.
b. The Israelites say that these three pouches represent Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
c. Scripturally, under the New Covenant, they represent God the Father, Son (middle loaf), and Holy Spirit.
d. One LOAF...One BODY

4. Fourth, we are to DISCERN the Lord's Body.
a. No division between you and another member of the Lord's Body (the Church).
b. Discern the gifts of Jesus to the Body (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers).
c. Discern that the BROKEN BREAD is for your healing and WINE is for your forgiveness of sins.

B. The Communion Meal is a meal of COMMITMENT.

1. We are committed to the Lord Jesus.
2. We are committed to one another.
3. It is a commitment (confession) of our Faith.
4. It is a commitment of LOVE.
5. It is a commitment of our loyalty to the Church (which includes ALL BELIEVERS).
6. It is IDENTIFICATION:

a. You are identified with Christ.
b. You are identified with one another.
c. You have identified yourself to help those that are weak, to help bear their burdens, and to love them.
d. YOU Should never CRITICIZE another brother or sister in the Blood Covenant. YOU should LOVE THEM!
e. You have identified yourself with health, wealth, royalty, Kingship, the GOOD things in life.

VI. THE BLOOD COVENANT APPLIED (Heb.13:20‑21):

A. This Covenant is EVERLASTING (never ending, forever, cannot be broken by God).
1. Will make you PERFECT (complete, mature).
2. Will provide YOU with EVERY GOOD THING that you need to put you over on this earth.
3. YOU are an open epistle (2 Cor.3:2‑3).
4. YOU are an ABLE minister of the Gospel (2 Cor.3:6).
5. Sin WILL NOT LORD IT OVER YOU (Rom.6:14).
6. YOU have ALL THINGS in the Blood Covenant of Jesus Christ (2 Pet.1:3). You have the Divine Nature of God.

B. This Covenant will cause you to look HEAVENWARD.
1. Lift up your heads (Lk.21:28).
2. YOUR Redemption draws nigh.
a. Healing and Health
b. Eternal Life
c. Prosperity
d. Freedom from fear
e. Deliverance from nasty habits such as excessive drinking, smoking, foul language, gossip, over‑eating.
3. Look unto Him (Ps.34:5).
4. Lift up your eyes (Ps.121:1, 123:1, Isa.40:26).

C. This Covenant will give YOU Rest (Heb.4). REST means:
1. Reposing down
2. To lie at rest
3. To rely on
4. To place trust in
5. Peace of mind
6. Freedom from worry or troubles
7. Good composure, at peace
8. To settle down
9. To colonize (live peaceably in a group)
10. Desist (stop or abstain from your actions)
11. Cease from YOUR works
12. Peace, ease, and refreshment
13. Relief from anything distressing, annoying, tiring
14. Mental and emotional CALM
15. Tranquility
16. State of being still
17. Resting or stopping place 18. Shelter and lodging place
19. To be DEAD TO SIN and SELF and ALIVE IN JESUS
20. FREE from CARE (Mk.4:19, 1 Pet.5:7)

D. This Covenant gives you Power, Authority, and Ability to:

1. Run through a troop of demons (Ps.18:29).
2. Leap over a wall of imps (Ps.18:29).
3. Chase 1000 devils out of town (Deut.32:30).
4. Two Covenant members can chase 10,000 devils out of your city (Deut.32:30).
5. No ONE can stand before a Covenant member without great respect for him/her (Deut.11:25).
6. Your enemies SHALL FLEE before you SEVEN ways (Deut.28:7).
7. You have been restored into the fellowship of Jesus Christ with RESTORED Righteousness, liberty, freedom, inheritance, and indwelt by God's Holy Spirit.

8. You can stand in the Father's Presence without the sense of Guilt, shame, condemnation, or inferiority. YOU are NOW God‑conscious, Victor conscious, Faith conscious, and LOVE conscious.
9. Locked up in YOU (the inner man) is the ability of God (1 Pet.3:4). YOU now have faith in your own faith. Jesus Christ is your Ability, Wisdom, Love, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption (1 Cor.1:30).

VII. THE BLOOD COVENANT in MARRIAGE (Gen.2:18‑25, Mt.19:3‑9, Eccl.4:9‑12, Jer.34:18‑20, Heb.9:16‑17, 1 Cor.11:3‑12, 1 Tim.5:8, Gen.4:1, Eph.5:21‑33, Col.3:18‑19, 1 Pet.3:1‑6, 1 Tim.2:9‑15).

A. Covenant (union) between man and woman:

1. This union MUST BE between a man, woman, and God. A marriage between two men or two women is not recognized by God.
2. The covenant of a Christian marriage is made at the foot of the cross. A Life was laid down for all of us.
3. Marriage is a MERGER (single ownership), not a partnership (dual ownership).
4. This covenant is consummated by physical union which in turn brings forth fruit. Without union, there can be no fruit. Life that is not shared remains sterile and fruitless.

5. The Excellent (virtuous) Wife (Pr.31:10‑31):
a. Succeeds as a woman
b. The supreme achievement of an excellent wife is her "husband". Everything else she achieves is secondary! The heart of her husband trusts in her and he will have no lack. He may be the head, but the head is useless without the neck (lovely wife). A husband is SUCCESSFUL ONLY if he has the approval of his wife. A man may be successful in the world's eyes, but if he does not meet the approval of his wife, all else is vain and unimportant. A Husband is KNOWN by his wife!

6. The wife is the glory of the husband.
7. You really cannot tell what kind of Christian a man is until you meet his wife.
8. A husband is to protect and provide for his wife. She must feel secure. The husband must provide for every area of physical need in his wife's life. Provision must be made whether it be physical, emotional, cultural, financial, or spiritual.

9. Union means COMMITMENT to each other:
a. You will love each other.
b. Build each other up.
c. Accept each other.
d. Forgive one another.
e. Teach each other.
f. Encourage each other.
g. Stimulate one another.

B. You as husband and wife are HEIRS together (1 Pet.3:7):

1. You have merged together in receiving God's blessings and God's best.
2. Heirs of God's unmerited favor. You are favored as SPECIAL and PRECIOUS in the eyes of God in this union (covenant).

3. HUSBANDS, if YOU do not treat her like you should, your prayers will be hindered. The subject of this verse is "You husbands", not "you wives".
4. Husbands, if you will love that godly woman, she will do you good all the days of her life.

VIII. THE COVENANT DECISION is made by YOU!

A. FIRST, You must make a personal commitment to God.
1. This relationship must be pure and holy.
2. You must be sold out to Him without any reservations. Every thing you own, possess, or will own must be His forever! Trade in your old run down STUFF for His ROYALTY.

B. Next, You must make a personal commitment to your spouse and to your family. They deserve your very BEST!

C. Third, You must make a personal commitment to God's people (His local Church as well as the universal Church). You have entered into fellowship (KOINONIA) with God's people (the called out ones). You are now in union with His Body (Jn.10:30, 17:10). You have all things common.

D. ACCESS to God's RICHES for all ETERNITY:

1. You are His heaven‑born child.
2. You walk in His POWER, BLESSING, and FAVOR.
3. You have His NAME, NATURE, ABILITY, AUTHORITY, and His LOVE. You now agree to agree with His WORD. You agree to disagree with the devil. The devil says that you are a "failure" and "wimp", but God says YOU are strong and more than a conqueror. YOU CAN NOW DO ANYTHING THROUGH JESUS THE TESTATOR OF THE BLOOD COVENANT (Heb.9:16‑17).
4. Speak forth covenant "words" from NOW on.
5. YOU ARE OF GOD (1 Jn.4:4). You have been born of God. You are Now part Deity, part Divine, part God. You have overcome the STUPID one and the world. The devil has nothing in you. When he accuses you before the Covenant Father, the Covenant Son tells the Father that the STUPID one has lied again and that you are HOLY. Our Covenant Spirit (the Holy Ghost) comforts us and reveals to us the Father's Will (Covenant).

THE NEW BLOOD COVENANT
By: Tommy Franks

Adam and Eve received a Covenant of love
Because our Covenant Father is the God above
Who acted in mercy without hate thereof.
Down through the sands of time,
God looked for another man that would shine
As bright as the stars and that by design.

Abram was just such a man
In which the Covenant Father could expand
And at the same time this man would understand.
The Blood was shed and blessings proclaimed,
And at last Abram and Sarai had new names acclaimed
That would bring them descendents, fortune, and fame.

As time went on, soon it was apparent and decreed
That a New Blood Covenant would be needed to succeed;
Therefore, the Blood of Jesus did indeed intercede.
Today, our faithful prayers do prevail
Against the enemy who will forever be curtailed.
All hail to King Jesus Whose Blood cannot fail!

The New Blood Covenant gives us class and clout
And makes us a glory spout
Where the power comes out.
The New Blood Covenant makes us free indeed
And today, we are a special militant breed
That goes forth always to decree, lead, and succeed!