The Christian Challenge (3): Understanding Covenant

By Brian Henson

This book contains a number of references from the Holy Bible. As well as being informative for the individual, this book may be found to be useful for bible study groups.
The writer hopes and prays many will be blessed as this study of commitments and covenants are read.
Is there anything more wonderful than to know the love found in unity of spirit and life when these two subjects are honoured? Mankind is blessed when we bond into that oneness where both parties commit to covenant giving and receiving. For this our efforts are at least an adventure and at best, an eternal peace at journeys end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: May 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496978882

Brian Henson

Since his mid teens Brian Henson has been a Christian. Attending a Church of England Teacher Training College after leaving the Royal Air Force, he also learnt to ring church bells. He spent many years attending churches local to his home, not only for the Sunday services but the mid week study groups. He is now an officer in the local chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International and takes a keen interest in encouraging others to move forward in their Christian commitments.

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© 2014 Brian Henson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse   04/29/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-7887-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-7888-2 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

Chapter One: Commitment An Allegory

Chapter Two: God’s Covenant With Noah

Chapter Three: God’s Covenant With Abram

Chapter Four: God’s Covenant With Abraham

Chapter Five: The Old Covenant

Chapter Six: The New Covenant

Chapter Seven: Marriage Covenant

Chapter Eight: Covenant Of Love

Chapter Nine: Other Covenants

Chapter Ten: When Covenants Are Broken

Conclusion

Prophesy For Today—No 1

Prophesy For Today—No 2

Epilogue

Endnotes

To the Glory

of God

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost I acknowledge that without God’s grace I would not have been able to write this book. He has brought me through many scrapes with disaster, some of which are recorded in my first book, ‘The Christian Challenge—From Alpha to Omega’. I believe God has also allowed me further concerns, which prompted my second book, The Christian Challenge (2)—Wake Up—Your enemy Sleeps Not’, and further writings. Now I feel prompted to stress the importance of understanding the blessings of commitment and covenant relationships. I am grateful for all He has taught me, but acknowledge that I too have much to perfect and still need to live the life taught by these lessons.

Secondly, I am grateful for the encouragement I have received from my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am especially grateful to Pastor Clinton Morgan who read the draft, encouraged me and confirmed that this book should be published and to my daughter Helen who patiently corrected grammatical errors.

Lastly, I acknowledge God’s mercy, and trust what is written is guided by God through His Holy Spirit.

PREFACE

Many Christians gather regularly for prayer, teaching, and sing choruses and hymns. Many support charities and social events. Some attend conferences and support mission. Indeed many devote much time to one or more of these activities and some devote their whole lives.

But my heart is heavy for the many ‘outsiders’ that seem unconcerned with the ‘things of God’. Some say they have their own god and apart from the many major religions, some say for instance, fishing or football is their religion. Others believe there is no God. Some seem happy enough with their lot whilst others are tempted to even end life. Many seem to drift aimlessly without any sense of direction, therefore should Christians be concerned? Yes, our hearts are heavy. But how much more is God’s heart?

God loves us and even sent His son that we may be reconciled with Him after we were cut off by sin. He has covenanted with us for our benefit. This book is a research into commitment and covenant—both those between God and man and between man and man.

INTRODUCTION

There are some who know me who would say that I should be the last person to write about covenant relationships. They could say that I should work on doing what is my responsibility. Yet I would suggest that it is through my weakness, failings and hurts (both ways), that I have become so aware of the need for there to be change. However, I will not make my weakness and failings an excuse not to fulfil my responsibility to change. I recognise I still have much to learn and by the grace of God, will be able to do so. Nevertheless, I also feel responsible to let others know what I feel the Holy Spirit has guided me to say. In the Church of England there is a prayer that refers to the sin of negligence. I hope to avoid this.

What has been laid on my heart is the need to understand the whole question of relationships through covenant—and the great blessings that are