Kenneth Copeland - A New Covenant of Grace and Faith
— Welcome everybody to Friday's edition of the Believer's Voice of Victory Broadcast. Now, all last week talking about these blood covenants and the actions of people that are recorded in the book of blood Covenants. Now, and I'll repeat what Gloria said. She said that Jesus trained these men. He trained them and taught them and set them against sickness and disease. Then he went to the cross and bore it. So let's pick it up there in the book of Acts once more and we can oh, let's go back here in the second chapter, verse 31. "He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost," Then verse 46. "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the ninth hour being 3 p.m. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him..." He gave heed unto them, "expecting to receive something from them". Well, go back to Mark 11, go back. How many times did Jesus go through that Beautiful gate? He walked right through there. He walked right by this man. Are you going to tell me that he's going to pass by this man and let him just sit there? No. The reason he was expecting to receive something is because he had received before. It is very obvious, Greg that here I mean that Jesus would say to the Jews, "Come on, now. Put something in his hand. Put something in his hand," well, why didn't he raise him up? Well, you'll have to ask him that when you get to Heaven. But no, the teaching here is that Jesus told them it is the father within me. He does the works, the night before he went to the cross. So they knew that. So if they were depending, then they got baptized in the Holy Ghost and spoke with tongues and they realized what happened to them. And Peter stood up and preached. It says that's spoken by the Prophet Joel?
— This is when the last days began.
— Yes, right there. And we're in the last of the last days.
— That's right.
— So now I want to show you something "And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him... Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement..." That was a sign and a wonder. "They were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened under them. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, 'Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?'" Well, now, when their last apostle died... The apostle didn't do it. He said not by my power.
— Listen, listen with covenant ears, what comes next. Verse 13. "The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer..."
— And continue to read.
— That's covenant.
— "And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all". Now you have to continue to read your will and it take time to do that. But they didn't know what happened. But later they believed after they heard him preach because he preached the Word, he took scripture to preach it and they believed it. So now and you come over here in the fourth chapter, "Howbeit many of them which heard the Word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand". I'm telling you this thing and growing ...
— Well, day one was 3000, so it started... Imagine what Lucifer saw. He killed Jesus. They scattered 3000 on the day of Pentecost when it was fulfilled. 3000 on the first Pentecost was Moses. 3000 died. 3000 were born again on the day of Pentecost when Peter preaches this sermon. This is the first sermon of the New Covenant that we have recorded and I can prove it to you in Acts chapter two, Peter said to them, or they said to them, they were pricked in their heart, verse 37 "what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost". Verse 39, "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call". Remember Ephesians says, "We were strangers, the aliens of the covenant"
— We were far off.
— This is our grafting moment.
— Now, they had no idea that it would ever, ever be anything but a Jewish church because they had a covenant with God. That was the whole take on all of this. But then the 19th verse of the fourth chapter, "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed". The miracle of healing. But it wasn't because he was an apostle. It was because of faith in his name. Now, let's go over to the 10th chapter. "There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band". This is the centurion. This is the centurion that built the synagogue in Capernaum.
— Pilate's headquarters is an Caesarea. They're proven it archeologically. They found things with his name on it.
— He's the garrison commander of that area. He was the crucifixion centurion. It said this man must have been the Son of God. So it's this man. So when you go back to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, write his name down there. When it says this centurion, his name is Cornelius. That's his name. He built the synagogue. He built Jesus' hometown synagogue, which was in Capernaum.
— That's right.
— Amen. "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine offerings are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do". Oh, yes. And you know what happened there. "He departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;" And I present this to you. That's the one that Jesus spoke and said, "Go your way. Your faith is... as you have spoken". And he said, "I'm not found such great faith and all of Israel so be it done unto thee as you said". "Two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;" I believe the reason the Lord had that put in there is to let us know that this is the only one that he would trust because this is the one that Jesus healed. It's all in this book. "And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa". On the morrow, and so forth... "And saw heaven opened," and so forth. "Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon," Listen. All of this. This is so important. He called for circumcised men that already had a blood covenant with God. And now they're preaching on the blood of Jesus and his name. Connect the dots. And in every word they preached, they laid the foundation on Scripture. They didn't have their own opinions in there. They quoted David. They quoted Joel. They quoted the different prophets.
— You know, why did he keep quoting David? Why did he keep?... Because everybody that would approach Jesus with covenant wanting something, they would say, "Son of David". And so that's that kingship. They wanted him to establish a throne. Let me show you a verse in chapter 15 real quick that goes to this. Acts 15, verse 15 and 16. "And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:" The tabernacle, David is been restored, in Acts chapter two. That's what was happening. And that is where the presence of God was available. David took the Ark of the Covenant out of the Tabernacle, and he made a tent for it. And I can take you to Jerusalem, where that was. And it was available for everybody. Praise and worship... started praise and worship. And Jew and Gentile alike could see the presence of God.
— Well, then here in Matthew 22:41, "While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David". Glory to God.
— So this is why he's preaching this.
— Well, of course,
— It's proof... that first sermon is proof he is the covenant.
— Yes, he is.
— And is that person and his blood.
— The whole thing was about him, which makes the whole thing about us, the whole world. God so loved the world. He gave his only begotten Son.
— So this is answered. Acts ten is the answer to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the other most parts of the Earth. Because Caesarea is past Samaria. They're literally now doing what Jesus told them to do. They're taking it to the world. And from Samaria or Caesarea, rather, from Caesarea, Paul will go in a ship and take it to the Greek Isles. He'll take it to all those places from that very place.
— And you need to read that whole sermon that Peter preached. Now, and the thing here, Peter opened... verse 34, "opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:" That came from the vision. "But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness..." No, but in the United States he that fears him and work of righteousness is accepted of him. In Africa, every nation. Every nation. Now we have to go back to Babel. That's where they were all created scattered them all over the face of the earth. Now listen. "The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea," Well, certainly he knew it. He was the garrison commander there. He had to be in charge. He heard all that. He heard those sermons. He built the synagogue. Jesus healed his servant. and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How? "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord". Now let's get another witness of this. Let's go to the 10th chapter of the book of Romans. Now, when you know all of that and you understand these words, how Jesus went to hell, paid the price there. It's all written particularly in the Amplified, in the 22nd Psalm. It begins, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me"? And it ends with it is finished. "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law," Now he's talking about the Mosaic Covenant now. "That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)" Now listen, listen. "Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)" If you look at it, into the abyss. "But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the Word of Faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation". All of these things. Now I'm going to give you an assignment. There is only 13 chapters in the book of Hebrews. But now, when you get over here from the fifth chapter and you hear this, begin to the sixth. "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ," Now, listen, here's the principle doctrine. The principle teachings. These are very sacred and people just ... "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; or maturity not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, faith toward God, the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment". So, number those and go down and you see laying on of hands right in the middle. Now, there are people that lay hands on people for certain ordinations and so forth, just because it's a tradition. But he's talking about the laying on of hands for people to be healed, the laying on of hands to separate people unto a ministry and a calling. And expect power to come. Hallelujah. All of these have to do with this blood covenant. And then you begin to see, oh, my, in the sixth... "That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, or inner strength who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek".
— This is our present truth. This is the doctrines of the church. So we got a new high priest.
— Yes, sir.
— So if we have a new high priest, we needed a New Covenant, I can't have the priest of Aaron anymore... Of Moses. I have a new priest.
— Now, let's deal here. There's been some discussion here lately about tithing that this is... Well, it's... You know, it's just in the law and the prophets. Well, Micah... The last prophet recorded. I mean, Malachi... prophet. That's where the tithing scriptures are. No, they're all in Deuteronomy and so forth. But let me read this. "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he, Jesus receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth". One translation said that he lives forever. He is my high priest and I take my tithe before him.
— He's my new priesthood. I have a new covenant. I'm not under that law anymore, but I'm under this covenant now. And there it is.
— There it is.
— Right there in that covenant.
— "For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" for ever. And we're out of time. And I want to remind you that this book of Hebrews explains everything that we have talked about. "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices". The blood of Jesus.
— All there.
— And when you get through doing that, your book of Hebrews will look like that. I didn't do that in one time but a lot of it was at one time because I just read through it. Praise God. We'll be back in a few moments.