Blood Covenant - Part 10 — Bob Phillips

This is tape number 10 in a series we urge you to listen to all the tapes in the series in numerical order. So that the whole teaching can be received and understood. Listening to a part of the series or to the tape out of sequence can lead to a misunderstanding of the nature the intent and the importance of the series.

Esau’s Birthright and the Root of Bitterness

Turn with me to Genesis. I want you to turn one finger. Put one finger. You got two fingers. Put one of them in Hebrews Chapter 12. Turn to Hebrews chapter 12. I want you to say something interesting Hebrews chapter 12 and then I want you to turn to Genesis 27.

Hebrews chapter 12 and then Genesis 27. Is everybody there. Hebrews chapter 12. We're going to start with Genesis chapter 27 and then go to Hebrews now notice this verse 34 of Genesis 27. Now, let's see what Esau says.

When Esau heard the words of his father He cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father bless me even me. Also, oh my father and he said your brother came deceitfully and has taken away your blessing.

Then he said is not he rightly named Jacob for he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. Now, how many of you see that? Is that what your Bible says? Now who's saying this? Esau said it.

Esau said he took away my birthright. Is that what he said? Alright now I want you to hold your finger right there in Genesis 27. We'll come back to that and go with me to Hebrews chapter 12 and let's see what God said happens.

Let's see what God said about Esau and what happened to Esau. Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14. Pursue peace with all men and Sanctification or holiness without which no one will see the Lord and see to it.

No one comes short of the grace of God. When do I say that? Because grace is the power of God to do whatever God calls you to do. And so if you don't do it you come short of the grace. Are you hearing what I'm saying see to it?

No one comes short of the grace of God that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble and by it many be defiled. In that interesting many be defiled. We just read about two priests. He was comparing them to Jacob and Esau.

One priest. It's true instruction was found in his mouth and many would turn back from their iniquity. The other priest had idols in his heart and many were caused to stumble. Are you hearing what I'm saying here?

We read about someone because there's bitterness springing up. It causes many to be defiled. Are you hearing what I'm saying? They're both contagious righteousness. Verse 16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau.

Who sold his own birthright for a single meal? Isn't that interesting. Esau said Jacob Took it from him. God said he sold it. Which one you think's right? Now look what happened to him. Frightening statement that next one.

Well, you know that even afterwards. When he desired to inherit the blessing, what's he what's he desired to inherit? The blessing when he in desire to inherit the blessing what happened to him? He was rejected for he found no place.

For repentance though. He sought for it with tears. Cry and cry and cry and cry and cry and cry and cry and cry and not repeat. What does that mean? Did God not let him repeat? No, no, it's not what it says at all says he found no place for repentance.

You know what? Let's see what kind of heart he had turned back to Genesis 27. Genesis 27 verse 38 and Esau said to his father. Do you have only one blessing. My father bless me even me also. Oh my father, so Esau lifted his voice and what he did he wept.

And then Verse 41. He doesn't get the blessing. So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob. That sound like repentance to you. That's not like he's after God with a whole heart. Or is he just wanting his flesh blessed?

Repentance, Covenant, and Wholehearted Devotion

Can I tell you something. Don't listen to me. You can sit under some hard preaching. You can go to church and hear a sermon and you can get convicted over lust greed. Idolatry. You can get convicted over criticism bitterness.

You can get convicted over any of those things even cry over it and really wish you weren't walking in it. But never turn and find no place for repentance, you know one because you're still not ready to be a God all My great can I say to you you don't break covenant with specific acts of sin.

You break covenant by rebelling in your heart. Also God is not interested in you just giving up lust. God's not interested in you just being a man or a woman who walks free from greed. God is not interested in you just being somebody who doesn't lie.

God is not interested and you just being a good honest person. God wants your life. He wants your whole heart and he won't take anything less. Are you doing what I'm saying? Because That's coming. I Died to live it for myself.

I choose to live for me. Are you with me? Is this making sense to you? And notice Verse 41. Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because the blessing which was his father's had blessed him and Esau said to himself the days Of mourning for my father are near and then I'll kill my brother Jacob.

Jacob’s Wrestling and the Choice Between Two Ways

But what happened to Jacob. I'm not going to turn over there but in In Genesis 34, you don't need to turn there but in Genesis 34, I believe it is. I just want to see if that was it. Well, I'm not sure if that was it or not you just check it out for yourself but in Genesis We have a story about Jacob and Jacob wrestles with an angel all night long and he decides He also wants a blessing, but you know what?

He says that angel is a man and that man is the Lord Jesus Christ and Jacob wrestles with him and finally his thigh is put out of joint. You know what happens? He sure doesn't let go. He says I'll not let go of you until you bless me.

You see the difference? I'll not let go of you Jesus. That's the blessing I want. Now there's two Classes of people. Two Levitical priests and two ways you can walk the way of Esau. Or you can walk the way of Jacob.

Both of them wanted a blessing. One of them's heart was right the other one wasn't. You know what Jacob got. Read that chapter read the story you'll find this. Jacob got a new name. He wasn't called Jacob anymore, it's called Israel, you know what else he got.

He got a new blessing. Because it says and so the Lord blessed him there. But you know what else he got. Got a new vision it said and Jacob Saw the Lord he saw the Lord tell with me the Romans 9. Romans chapter 9.

Israel, Isaac, Jacob, and God’s Purpose

I know I'm giving you a lot of information. But that's why I started a little early because I had a lot to give you and I want to get it all in. Is that all right with everybody? Romans chapter 9 verse 3 all is talking about the nation of Israel and He says for I could wish that I myself were accursed Separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Who are Israelites to whom belongs the mill of here the Israelites according to the flesh to them belong the adoption of sons and the glory and the want and The covenants and the giving of the law and the temple service and the promises.

Whose are the fathers and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh who is overall God blessed forever. Amen, but it is not as though the Word of God has failed for they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel.

Now how many of you say that is that clear simply because you're descended from Israel. He doesn't call you Israel. What was Jacob's name before? I mean after God gave him a new name Israel and so Israel Of the spirit represents those people who walked away.

Are you hearing what I'm saying? I say you hear what I'm saying. Now notice this Verse 7 neither are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants. But now look at this through Isaac your descendants will be named.

Wonder why he said through Isaac. Why didn't he say through Abraham because Galatians 3 says if you belong to Christ your Abraham's descendants offspring heirs according to promise. Why now does he say Isaac because he wanted to get our attention.

Isaac had 12 sons, but he had two twins. Who were they? Esau and Jacob and he's trying to tell us that through Isaac your descendants will be named but when you get to Isaac There's a choice to be made.

You either go the way of Esau. Or with your heart you go the way of Jacob. Are you following? Now I'll show you that's why he's talking about because look what he says Verse 9 for this is a word of promise at this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son and not only this but there was Rebecca also when she had conceived twins by one man our father Isaac.

For though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad in order that God's purpose according to his choice Might stand not because of works but because of him who called now. What that's in people try to use that for predestination, you know what it literally says it literally says it wasn't because God knew He foreknew what the decision would be and what he is saying is I have forechosen That the way of Esau would be damnation to all his descendants and the way of Jacob would be blessing to all of his descendants.

Are you hearing what I'm saying? I have forechosen that all of those who come With a whole heart to grab a hold of me and hold on to me I'll bless and they'll see me but all of those who choose to play with the Covenant and corrupt the Covenant to satisfy their own Flesh those I have chosen before the foundation of the world.

They shall not be blessed. It has nothing to do with predestination. He said before they even did good works or bad works. See, it's not only talking about Esau's work. It's all about Jacob's works and you and I both know nobody to say.

Are You hear what I'm saying? All right, so notice this. First well, it was said to her the older will serve the younger just as it is written Jacob. I love what he saw. I hate it. I want you to drop down with me to verse 25.

We're talking about the way of Jacob in the way of Esau as he says also in Hosea. I will call those who were not my people my people and her who was not beloved Beloved and it shall be that in the place where it was said to them.

You are not my people there. They shall be called sons of the Living God. Now notice this carefully because what I'm going to read to you is going to read just a little bit different in the King James.

But we're going to go find where he said it. How many of you know that he's quoting from the Old Testament in these verses? I say how many of you know he's quoting from the Old Testament these verses right now notice this Verse 27 and Isaiah cries out concerning Israel.

Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea it is the remnant that will be saved. All right. Now the King James says for that next verse for he will finish the work and Cut it short in righteousness because a short work Will God make upon the earth?

Now, let me read it in the New American Standard for the Lord will execute his word upon the earth. Thoroughly and quickly. Are you hearing me? I say you hear me now notice what he says. He is making a quotation from Isaiah Chapter two.

Isaiah 10 and the Remnant That Trusts God

I want you to mark Romans 9 with something so you can flip back to it quickly. And I want you to turn with me to Isaiah chapter 10. Nobody said these had to be sermonettes. Anyway, did they I Say did they?

Isaiah chapter 10. We don't get anxious because Paul had some of the staff all night. Isaiah chapter 10. He took a quotation from Isaiah chapter 10. I'm going to read to you verse 15. Is the axe to boast over itself over the one who chops with it is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wheels it.

That would be like a club wielding those who lift it or like a rod lifting him who's not wood. Therefore the Lord the God of hosts will send a wasting disease among his stout warriors and under his glory a fire will be kindled like a burning flame and the light of Israel will become a fire and his holy one of Flame and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briars in a single day and he will destroy the glory of his forest and of his fruitful garden both soul and body.

And it will be as when a Sick man wastes away and the rest of the trees of his forest will be so small in number that a child could write them down. Now it will come about in that day that the remnant of Israel.

Now he adds something that they didn't say in Romans 9. Who is that remnant? Those of the house of Jacob. How many of you see? He didn't add that over there. He didn't quote that because it was in the context with the remnant.

My friends is going to be those who are of the house of Jacob. Are you hearing what I'm saying? Who is the house of Jacob? They're the ones that grab a hold of the Lord with the whole heart and do not turn him loose.

The remnants will be those of the house of Jacob who have escaped and They'll never again rely on the one who struck them, but will truly rely who on who they're gonna rely upon. If I talk to me on the Lord the Holy One of Israel, that's who they're going to trust.

That's who they're going to rely upon. A remnant will return. And who is this remnant? The remnant of Jacob to the mighty God for though your people. Oh Israel may be like the sand of the sea. Only a remnant within them will return.

A destruction is determined overflowing with righteousness. Now do you see where he quoted that? What remnant was he talking about? Did he say in Romans 9 that even though your remnant be like the sand of it even though your number be like the sand of Sea only a remnant will return.

What remnant. Those who go the way. Not inside. Turn back with me to Romans. Romans chapter 9 verse 30. What shall we say then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness attained righteousness even the righteousness of which is by faith.

But Israel pursuing a law of righteousness did not arrive at that law. Why. Because they did not pursue it. By what? By faith, but as though it were by works they stumbled over the stumbling stone. Now, can I just tell you you don't have to turn there that first Peter 2 a.

Yeah, just hold right there. I can get to it faster. Let me read to you why they stumble over the stumbling stone. Now listen carefully first Peter 2 a and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. For they stumble because they are disobedient to the word.

That's what it is. So they stumble because they were disobedient to the word. Now notice. He says just as is written behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. Who was it Jesus Christ and he who believes in him.

What's gonna happen. It's not gonna be disappointed. Is that what your Bible says? All right. Now I want you to go with me to Romans 10 and I want you to see how you don't stumble over that stumbling stone.

Faith, Confession, and the Meaning of Salvation

Now we're going to take some of our most popular doctrines that are found here in Romans 10 the faith doctrines and also the Salvation doctrines and let's see what they say what they say for example verse 6 chapter 10.

But the righteousness based on faith speaks thus do not say in your heart who will ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down. Or who will descend into the abyss that is to bring Christ up from the dead.

But what does it say? The word is near you. It's in your mouth. And where is it in your heart? That is the word of faith which we are preaching that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and Believe where in your heart that God raised him from the dead.

You shall be saved for with the heart man believes Resulting in righteousness and with the mouth he confesses Resulting in salvation. For the scripture says whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.

And so here's what we do those with an idol in their heart to get people say. And I would tell you something the major work of the Christian is not Salvation and saving souls. The major work of the Christian is loving Jesus with a whole heart and then we'll save souls.

Are you hearing what I'm saying? All right. So we take this verse as they say make Jesus Lord and we let them come down the aisle and when they come down the aisle. They say would you take Jesus as Lord of your life?

Yes, you believe God raised him from the dead. Yes, you believe He died for you. Yes. Well, then if you just believe that that God died and rose for you you shall be saved now. Do you know you where you'll go?

Yes, I'll go to heaven. Is that what we do? Don't want you to notice something. This was taken out of an Old Testament passage. Deuteronomy chapter 30. Let's see what God meant when he said if you confess Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart That God raised him from the dead you shall be saved.

For with the mouth one confesses Resulting in righteousness Salvation. But with the heart man believes resulting in righteousness. Turn with me mark Romans 10, please just mark it just mark it with something and turn with me to Deuteronomy 30.

Deuteronomy 30. Deuteronomy chapter 30 we're going to start with verse 11. Deuteronomy 30 verse 11 for this commandment, which I command you today is not too difficult for you. Nor is it out of reach?

It's not in heaven that you should say who will go up to heaven for us to get it For us and make us hear it that we may observe it. Nor is it beyond the sea that you should say who will cross? The sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it that we may observe it.

But the word is very near you in your mouth and in your heart that you may want. Is that what we read over there they only left that part up. What's God after Verse 1. So it shall be when all these things have come upon you the blessing and the curse which I set before you today you and you.

Call them to mind in all the nations where the Lord your God has banished you and you return to the Lord your God. And do what? Obey him with what? All your hearts and. So according to all that I commanded you today you and your sons.

Then God will restore you from captivity have compassion on you will gather you again from all the peoples for the Lord. Your God has scattered you verse 5 and the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed and you shall possess it and he will Prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.

Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants to love the Lord your God with what? All your heart and all your soul in order that you may live. Let me ask you a question.

When God said if you confess Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. What was he saying? Was he saying if you will obey him with all your heart? You shall be saved. How did you see that is that what he was saying?

The Covenant of Peace and the Cost of Breaking Covenant

All right. Now we've laid that out so that you understand the covenant that God has can be broken. If he doesn't have all your hearts, are you with me? If you give him all your hearts you enter the covenant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How many of you with me now? I want you to look with me at this covenant of peace. There's a lot more I could show you there, but we're gonna we're gonna skip it. I want you to turn with me if you would to Ezekiel chapter 17.

Ezekiel chapter 17, we're not going to be a lot longer. But we come into a very important point and I want you to say about the covenant of peace. Ezekiel chapter 17 actually, they're just a statement that I want you to see.

As Ezekiel chapter 17, there's just a statement here that I want you to see verse 16 As I live declares the Lord God. Surely in the country of the king who put him on the throne whose oath he despised whose covenant he what?

He he broke. Where's he gonna die? When you break covenant with God you're gonna die in Babylon. You know why because Babylon's gonna put an idol before your heart and tell you how to get to God some other way other than a whole heart.

You know that now look at verse 15, but he rebelled against him by sending his invoice To Egypt that they might give him horses and many troops. Will he succeed now? Here's the statement. I wanted you to see.

Will he who does such things escape do what rebel against him and go to Egypt? Will he who rebels against God and goes to Egypt will he who does such things escape? Can he indeed? Break the Covenant and Escape how many of you see that if you break the Covenant you cannot escape.

Oh, but that was in the old. Well, let's read it in the New Testament. Turn with me to Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews chapter 2 how many of you seen that when he talks about salvation he's talking about the covenant He made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob.

How many of you seen there? Is that what he means about salvation? He tied it in right from Romans chapter 9 right to Romans chapter 10. And he was talking about Jacob and Esau and the covenant they made the covenant Esau broke the covenant Jacob made and he tied it Into salvation with a whole heart.

Is that what we did? All right now Hebrews chapter 2 verse 1 for this reason We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard lest we do what? Lest we slip away or drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unofferable and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense.

How shall we escape if we neglect so great a what? Salvation he says the same thing. How can you escape if you break covenant or neglect covenant? Is that what your Bible says? I'll say is that what he said?

Christ as Life and the New Self

All right. Now we've been what kind of covenant salvation we talking about. Turn with me to Colossians chapter 3. Colossians chapter 3. We've been talking about a covenant of peace. Now I want you to see we're going to get into this covenant of peace and I want you to see what God says.

Colossians chapter 3 remember. We saw in Malachi chapter 2 that for those priests those Levitical priests Who established the Word of God in heart took it to heart? Instruction. True instruction was found in the map.

They didn't corrupt the covenant. He said my covenant with him was one of life and peace. Is that what we saw Colossians chapter 3 verse 1. If then you have been raised up with Christ keep seeking the things above where Christ is Seated at the right hand of God set your mind on the things above.

Not on the things that are on the earth for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God with everything. That we have read about covenant and seen about covenant this week. Does that sound like a covenant term to you?

Because when you enter covenant with God, what do you do you die to living for yourself and who becomes your life? Christ becomes your life. Look at this for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God when Christ Who is our life?

How many of you see that listen when you die to living for yourself? Jesus Christ becomes your life that's why you're secure because you're now in covenant with Jesus and Even though the hills and the mountains should be removed my covenant of peace my covenant of peace.

The one I made with the righteous friends of faith. Will not be removed therefore first line. Consider the members of your earthly body. Here's what you to be dead to as dead to immorality impurity passion evil desire and greed which amounts to and the list is only partial and You for it's on account of these things that the wrath of God will come and in them you also want.

Once walk does that mean you don't walk there anymore? You once walked when you were living in them. But you're not living in them anymore because you've died and Christ is your life and he doesn't live like that.

Are you with me? But now you also put them all aside anger wrath malice slander and abusive speech from your mouth. Don't lie to one another since you look at this now did we talk about covenant being that God took your robe of sin and he put it on Jesus and he took off his robe and He put of righteousness and he put it on you so that you have become just as righteous as he is.

Righteous, is that what we've seen this week? Here it is. And you have laid aside the old man or self with its evil practice. You took off that robe of the old man. And what did you do you have put on?

Put on the new self the new man who is being renewed to the true knowledge. According to the image of the one who created in Jesus. Now look at this. When you do that. When you got a living for yourself you put off the old man and You let the new name Jesus.

Who is your life live through you? God says this to you in verse 15. Verse 15 let the peace of Christ rule wait. It's no longer got rebellion, it's no longer got stubbornness. It's no longer living for itself and when it stops living for itself the peace Rules.

That's because of the peace when you put to death the flesh when you resist it when the temptations come and you resist it and You take your thoughts captive. Is that way said work of our we don't war according to the flesh but we take every thought captive and It's capable of pulling down all those strongholds.

When you resist in the flesh you suffer to resist in the flesh is it suffering to resist temptation is it? It sure is. First Peter 4 says one says we're to suffer as Christ suffered on yourself with the same purpose.

For he was suffered in the flesh. So as to live no longer for the lusts of fear. But for the will of God. And then first Peter 5 says that we're to Be so be on the alert. Your adversary the devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour.

Verse 8. Verse 9. But like the rest of your brethren. Suffer and resist. Resisting burn in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren your brethren.

During the world and then first ten cents and the God of all grace himself. After you've suffered for a little while the God of all grace. What is great? The power to do the world will himself he'll do it perfect confirm strengthen and establish your parts in what peace peace peace.

The Peace of God and Taking Every Thought Captive

Put the eternity to the Philippians 4 did we say you take every thought captive then what are you gonna do with your thoughts? If you take your thoughts captive to the beings of Christ verse 6 in 2nd Corinthians 10.

Verse 6 says that you're ready to punish all disobedience. In other words, you're ready to put off the old man and put on the new man. Is that right? All right. Now look at this Philippians chapter 4 verse 6.

Here's what you do. Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known to God and the what. The peace of God. Now look what this piece of God's going to do.

It not only brings peace, but it does something else for you the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension shall guard. Guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brethren, whatever is true.

Whatever is honorable. Whatever is right. Whatever is pure. Whatever is lovely. Whatever is a good repute. If there's any excellence and if there's anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

Now hold it just there. I'm gonna read this to you again. Listen. Listen to me now. I'm gonna read it again from Colossians 3 don't turn that just let me read it to you. If then you've been raised up with Christ.

Seeking the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God set your mind on the things above. Not on the things that are on the earth for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in death. Consider therefore the members of your earthly body. Don't think on these things immorality impurity passion evil desire and greed.