Tonight, our first night back in service, we continue our series called “Covenant” all about God’s relationship with us (His people). Covenant is such a cold term. It is used in legal settings to describe a binding agreement. Biblically, it is not a “cold” term at all but one that describes a relationship that is so strong that it is unchanging. Over the last three Wednesdays, we’ve been looking at God’s relationship with His people. Our world is full of sin, broken promises, disappointments, etc. that God wanted us to know that He will never break His relationship with us. So, He described the relationship using covenantal terms. Since God’s nature never changes, covenant also reflects who God is. The New Covenant instituted by Jesus includes a five-fold promise for us. Each of these promises reveal a part of the nature of God.

Jehovah T’sidkenu: The Lord our Righteousness

Jehovah M’kaddesh: The Lord our Sanctifier

These covenantal promises reveal God’s promises to us in relation to our sin and nature.

Jehovah Rapha: The Lord our Healer

This promise reveals God’s nature toward us in regard to our brokenness. Tonight, we look at revelation number four which reveals God’s promise to us in regard to His presence in our lives.

In Ezekiel’s vision of the temple of God, we see the first mention of Jehovah shammah: “The name of the city from that day shall be: The Lord is There.” (Ezekiel 48:35) Ezekiel sees the new home for the people of Israel. As he looks at the land, he sees the presence of God inhabiting it constantly. Chapters 21 and 22 in the book of Revelation give us a similar picture regarding our future home – the New Jerusalem. But, Jehovah shammah is not just a picture of something that has not happened yet, but one of assurance for the people of God. Through the death of Jesus, God has removed from us the sin that separated us from God. We are now the temple of the Holy Spirit – full of the presence of God which scripture tells me will be with me always:

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? /// 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV) 

What did the initiator of the New Covenant say?

I will never leave you nor forsake you. /// Hebrews 13:5 

We are assured of the presence of God! One other part of this promise of His presence.

If God is the Lord who is ever present in your life, then that revelation brings you peace.

God is the essence of everything we need. He is willing through the New Covenant to release all that He has for us. That essence found in His presence is always with us. Therefore, we have tranquility because we have constant access to all God has! Therefore, even in times when it appears we have lack, we can live in tranquility and say, “I am complete in Him. I am whole in Him. All my needs are met in Him. He has not left me. He is with me.”

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. /// 2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

Today’s Scriptures:

•   Ezekiel 48:35
•   1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV)
•   Hebrews 13:5
•   2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

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