It’s Time to Claim What’s Ours!

Of all the people on the earth, God chose Abram. He called him out of his land, his family, and his idol-worshipping background. Then the Lord cut a covenant with him.

He promised to be Abram’s shield and to give him an exceedingly great reward (Gen. 12:1)—i.e. to be His protector and His provision. Furthermore, He promised to give him vast land holdings and descendants as numerous as the stars.

As if that weren’t enough, God promised to be intimate with him. He said, “I will be your God, and you will be My people.” He used possessive pronouns to describe the relationship. The promises were made to Abram and to his children for generations.

Abram, later renamed Abraham, had it made. The Almighty God promised to care for him and to have his back. And his descendants were included too.

After the ritual of cutting the covenant, the Lord further clarified the boundaries of the land that was promised to Abraham.

Genesis 15:18-21 says, “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates–the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Abraham didn’t have descendants yet, and somebody else would live in that land for a while—even for generations. But God said, “To your descendants I have given this land.” To God, it was a done deal. He already gave it to them, His chosen people.

The boundaries ran from the Nile in Egypt, to the Euphrates River. The rivers mark the Fertile Crescent, from Egypt all the way from the southeastern point of the Mediterranean Sea, up the Mediterranean Sea and curving in the shape of a crescent, down past Babylon to the Persian Gulf. The route through the Fertile Crescent was over 1,600 miles. The land of the Hittites was also included, extending the territory north and northeast of the Mediterranean.

The land encircled by the crescent is not choice land. It’s full of rocks or is desert. Today it would roughly contain Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, parts of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and the southeastern part of Turkey. That’s quite a territory. And it is the location of the oil wells that have made those nations rich and the people who are determined to wipe Israel off the map.

Even though it was all declared Israel’s, they never settled beyond the strip along the eastern Mediterranean. They didn’t hold to God’s words, “To your descendants I have given this land.”

Instead, they were satisfied with a little strip along the beach. Pagans maintained possession of the rest of their land.

We could exclaim over how short-sighted and foolish they were to not conquer what God had promised. But first, we need to look inward?

Through Jesus Christ, we are part of a new and better covenant. He has given us better promises. He is still our provider and protector, He paid the debt for our sins offering freedom for true intimacy, He is with us always, promised us peace and joy—and so much more.

But, of the riches He’s promised, how much have we—His chosen—claimed? Are we settled in the fullness of the Promised Land? Or are we camping on the beach, struggling to keep our heads up?

How often do we strive without taking thought to claim His protection and/or provision, His strength, grace, or blessings? His peace and joy? Do we really trust Him in all things?

He desires to give us the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Mt.16:19). It’s ours. But, if we’re content where we are, He’ll let us pitch out tents on the beach just as the descendants of Abram did.

Jesus has already done it all. If we’ve claimed Him as our Lord and Savior and are among the chosen, it’s already ours.

But we must believe, seek His face, and step forth in faith.

The New Testament is full of riches we have in and through Jesus Christ. I cannot cover it here, but God tells us, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9).

It’s time to claim what’s ours.

Lord, thank you for choosing me. Help me to love you more. Forgive me for my contentment and shortsightedness. Open my eyes and ears to see and hear what You have prepared for me. Give me the faith to follow You without reservation and to know the fullness of life in you. May Your kingdom come, Your will be done, and Your name be glorified through me.

Walking in Covenant with the Living God

As Jesus a Image result for images of the lord's supper nd His disciples sat around their final Passover meal together, Jesus took
bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to His disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is My body” (Mt. 26:26).

Eat my body? What did Jesus mean when He told His disciples to eat His body?

As if that is not strange enough, He then took a cup of wine, gave thanks and said, “Drink from it all of you, for this is My blood . . .” (Mt. 26:27-28a).

When telling parables, Jesus frequently explained what they meant. If He didn’t, the disciples often asked. However, Jesus didn’t explain what He meant in this scene. And nobody asked.

Nobody questioned because they knew exactly what Jesus intended. No further explanation was needed. Jesus was inviting His disciples to join Him in a blood covenant.

The ancient rite of cutting a blood covenant was familiar in their society. His followers knew the ritual and understood the significance of eating flesh and drinking blood as an important step of a covenant ritual.

A blood covenant is the most binding of agreements. In the East, a friend by covenant is closer than a brother by birth. In some cultures, a marriage between those whose parents were linked by a blood covenant was deemed incestuous. (H. Clay Trumbull, The Blood Covenant: A Primitive Rite and It’s Bearing on Scripture, 1893).

In history, literature, and in scripture, there are many records of making covenants. However, over the centuries, crucial elements have been omitted or changed, leaving only semblances of the ancient ritual today. Although the concept of covenant is almost unknown in the Western world today, during biblical time, it was a common practice all over the world. Everyone understood the exchanges of covenant and the significance of each exchange.

In Greek, a single word is translated as “covenant” or “testament.” The very names “Old Testament/Covenant” and “New Testament/Covenant” tell us that covenant is the central theme of God’s Word to us, and yet many of God’s people have been oblivious to the significance of the covenant for centuries.

A blood covenant forms the closest relationship possible. In the Old Covenant, the almighty God committed Himself to be Abraham’s God, walking in close fellowship with Him, sharing His all with him.

Over and over, God has proved Himself faithful to the covenant, because of His great desire to walk in intimate fellowship with mankind. When Abraham’s descendants were not able to keep up their end of the covenant, God proved His faithfulness by establishing a better covenant through His only Son, Jesus.

Through Jesus Christ, the holy, almighty, living God has done everything to make it possible for us to enjoy intimate fellowship with Him.

And yet, while we long for close relationships, for someone to really love and care for us, instead of responding to God’s love, we tend to look around us to fill that longing. We chase a tainted shadow rather than embracing the only One who has covenanted Himself to meet our every need.

Learning the exchanges of the ancient ritual and what each one symbolizes and then seeing them in Scripture and God’s faithfulness to keep His promises (in spite of our unfaithfulness) exploded my knowledge of who God is and anchored me in the knowledge of His love.

When I try to express the greatness of His love, I don’t have words to begin because it’s too big. When I focus on it, I become overwhelmed with His goodness, mercy, and compassion. His love and goodness is too big to express.

And yet, instead of seeking God, even those of us who know Jesus often look to each other, to entertainment, sports, things, popularity, power, and . . .—to empty, temporal sources that will never satisfy. We are so distracted by our wants that we miss the One who can satisfy those desires.

The great and powerful God not only desires an intimate relationship with you and me, He has committed Himself to make it happen. With the most binding agreement possible, He has promised (covenanted) His all to us, if we will give our all to Him in return.

That’s what covenant is—except there’s so much more when we give our limited, sinful self in exchange for His awesome greatness. It is truly the greatest exchange of all times, and Jesus continues to say, “Take, eat, this is my body.” He wants to be one with us.

The question is whether or not we are willing to make that exchange, and to live in it daily.

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Learn more about the exchanges of the ancient ritual what it means to walk in covenant with the living God.

A Mountain or a Mole Hill?

How many times have you heard the expression, “You’re making a mountain out of a mole hill”? Some of us tend to do that more than others. Those who do are probably more familiar with the charge.

We’re probably all occasionally guilty of over-reacting and blowing something out of proportion. It might be about what to fix for supper, what to wear, or a reaction to what somebody said or did. Issues change, but it’s easy to get overly concerned about things that don’t matter in the big scheme of things.

Robert tends to focus on minutia in how things are worded, at least from my perspective. It seems that insignificant questions become huge hurdles. But I’ve learned to listen before reacting. He usually has a valid concern.

This week’s discussion kept replaying in my mind until God made it personal.

It was about a question concerning the translation into Portuguese of our book The Great Exchange: Bound by Blood. It dealt with whether to use con (with) or de (of) when speaking of a blood covenant—the theme of the book. The difficulty is, did God cut a covenant with blood or a covenant of blood when He initiated a covenant with man?

Suddenly, the use of a little insignificant preposition became very significant. Generally, in Portuguese either is correct. However, theologically, to Robert the choice was critical. (After all, if it’s the theme of the book, it needs to be accurate, right?)

Either way infers that blood is part of the ceremony of making the covenant. However, in a blood covenant, the blood is at the very core of the joining together as one. It is the essence and the identity of the covenant. Consequently, it seems it must be a Covenant OF (de) Blood, but one Portuguese translator used with and the other thought that was fine.

It is named a blood covenant because the blood distinguishes that covenant from others. Records of blood covenants from ancient and recent history are similar in their use of blood, but the ritual has been altered and adulterated over time.

However, the biggest question was what does the Bible say that sheds light on it.

Many people don’t like talking about blood, but three major scenes in the Word convince me that it is a covenant of blood, not just with blood.

When God cut a covenant with Abraham, instead of the normal ceremony involving a few drops of blood, He told Abraham, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram.” (Gen. 15:9a). God asked for three large animals to cut covenant with Abraham. Spilling a lot of blood to seal a covenant created a defining occasion.
After stating that He was the bread of life, Jesus said, “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” He added, “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” (Jn. 6:54, 56). Once again, blood is central. It is necessary for us to be part of our Lord. We drink wine (symbolic of blood) for communion to celebrate the covenant that allows us to abide in Him.
For the cutting of the New Covenant, Jesus shed His own blood, giving His life to make the New Covenant official, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood” (1 Cor. 11:25).

There have always been agreements, pacts, and covenants, but of them all, the most binding is the blood covenant. Only through a blood covenant do two become one. Through the blood, life is exchanged, making an unbreakable covenant.

Prepositions are often insignificant. Choosing between with and of seems like making a mountain out of a molehill. And yet, it could be that we sometimes make molehills out of mountains.

For instance, considering the issue of translation usage has raised a second question about with and of.

Does my life show that I live with Jesus—as if He is walking beside me? Or do I live as if we are one, as if I am of Him—as if He purchased me with His blood, and I am abiding in Him? I’ve never even thought of it like that. But I suspect it is a mountain issue.

I wonder how often in the past months our loving, long-suffering, heavenly Father has wanted to take me by the shoulders, shake me, and say, “Wake up and listen to Me. This is a mountain, and you’re acting as if it’s a molehill.

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Learn more about the ancient ritual of blood covenanting and what it means for us today, or buy the book The Great Exchange: Bound by Blood.

Preparation for Persecution

Have you ever been persecuted?

In His final moments with the disciples, Jesus said, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).

If you live in America, you probably haven’t given persecution much thought, because it hasn’t been a common experience in our sheltered world. After all, our constitution guarantees us freedom of religion.

However, in recent years, the winds have changed. Animosity and hostility toward those who take a stand on Christian convictions is rapidly becoming more acceptable, even approved by some. Those who don’t condone acts that are an abomination to God are increasingly targets, both socially and legally.

If change continues, we could soon see more and more American Christians openly persecuted for their faith.

We need to prepare for battle, lest we be caught unawares if, or when, the attack becomes personal. To learn how to prepare, let’s look at someone who has gone before us and remained faithful to God.

Job suffered personal attack from Satan and discouraging judgment from his friends, and yet he stood faithful. Like Job, our battle is also with Satan, against “spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).

Most people would give up on God if they suffered the loss and misery that Job did. They would decide that God wasn’t powerful or that He didn’t care. Where did Job find the strength to maintain his trust in God?

When it se blue_contact_by_claimyourself-d7sdd8q emed the onslaught against him would never end, Job said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1). In the verses that follow, Job references many situations where he managed to walk with integrity in his daily life.

Consequently, I believe, “gaze at a virgin” is a conceptual term. It seems to refer to the idea, “How could I be unfaithful to God?” “How can I consider turning from Him to even consider something else?”

Job linked that with “I have made a covenant with my eyes.” In essence, Job said, “I made a binding covenant before God to be faithful to Him; how then could I be unfaithful?”

In the Bible, covenant is full of meaning that we often miss. A covenant is a two-way commitment, a reciprocal giving of all that you have and are. He gave himself to God in covenant and was therefore confident that he could trust in God in return.

Job trusted God. He did not understand the trials or know when or how they would end, but he knew that God is faithful.

In today’s culture, we don’t think in terms of a total commitment which places complete trust in another. Independence is important to us. We value our own identities, ideas, strengths, freedoms, and rights. Consequently, when in crisis, rather than trusting in God, we tend to draw from deep within ourselves to meet the challenge.

And sometimes we aren’t strong enough for the challenge.

God has not changed. He will carry us just like He did Job. He promised to be our provider and protector too–if we place our trust in Him and obey Him, rather than leaning on our own strength and understanding.

If we want to be prepared for trials in life (persecution or life happenings), like Job, we need to make a covenant with our eyes now, before our faith is severely tested. We need to surrender ourselves to God, with a covenant commitment that He is our all.

The beautiful part is that God longs for that kind of commitment. He longs for a relationship with us where we depend on Him for every thing, every day. If we develop such an intimate relationship with Him today, when the crisis comes, we will know how to trust in Him.

Like Job, we will be able to stand firm in our faith. But it won’t be because we are so strong or so tough, it will be because we will know that we are cradled in the arms of the One whose love for us is perfect and who is sovereign over all.

He is faithful to the covenant. If we keep our eyes on Him, He will carry us through whatever life brings.

“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” (2 Chron. 16:9a)

There is no need to fear of trials or persecution. Instead, we need to draw near to our Savior and Lord. We need to covenant with Him.

Our New Arrival

Months, or even years, of dreams, hopes, plans, and preparations precede the birth of a new arrival in a family.

I’m a grandma now, but I’ve recently experienced the dreams, hopes, plans, and preparation process. I’ve also waited expectantly for what sometimes seemed like an eternity, and it feels like I’ve been through labor.

But, the picture is misleading. Our new arrival is a book, not a baby. It was conceived forty years ago and is finally a reality.

In 1975 Robert and I learned about the ancient ritual of making a blood covenant. It deepened our faith and awakened our love for the Lord so much that Robert began studying to learn more.

Meanwhile, I encouraged him to write a book on the topic and prayed for years that it would happen. I even taped and transcribed five different seminars to help him get started. Then I realized that God wanted me to do the writing under Robert’s guidance.

We still get excited every time we read or share our findings. We’re thrilled that the book is finally available. We hope it will impact your life like it has ours.

The premise of the The Great Exchange: Bound by Blood is simple. When Abram asked God, “How can I know that I can believe you?” (Gen. 15:8), God cut a covenant with him to build his faith and to help him understand who God was/is.

The Great Exchange unlocks the mystery of the ancient covenant and its centrality to the Bible, revealing God’s commitment to love and care for His children.

After attending a seminar from which the book sprang, Kathryn said, “I have grown in my love for the Lord, my appreciation for what He’s done for me, and in my faith in a steadfast & Sovereign God!”

Our blessed new arrival can be a blessing for you as well. Just like Kathryn, us, and many more people, understanding the ancient ritual of covenanting can help you grow in your faith and love for the Lord.

Now is the time to buy. The price is reduced this week only. Learn more.

The Great Exchange front panel (1)-001

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“The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.” —Ps. 25:14

Is Faith Dwindling?

A recent Pew Research survey indicates that faith is dwindling in America. It revealed that the percentage of Americans who claim to be Christians decreased by 8%. Meanwhile, the number who say they don’t have any religious affiliation increased by 16%.

While many of the unaffiliated are young adults who never expressed belief or who left the faith of their childhood after leaving home, the group also includes older adults who once confessed to be Christian.

That report is disturbing. I’d like to know why. I also wonder if those who left the faith ever had a vital relationship with the Lord.

It’s easy to identify as a Christian because you identify with people who go to church. It can be a social identity rather than an identity with Jesus Christ. But that isn’t God’s definition of being a Christian.

The only way to Christianity is through Jesus, and He wants to share life with us as with a friend. Revelation 3:20, tells us that Jesus is knocking at the door, waiting for us to open it so He can have an intimate visit with us.

God enjoyed communion with Adam and Eve in the garden, but it was spoiled by sin. He reestablished fellowship with Abraham, with Moses, and with David, but every time, God’s people kept straying, turning their backs on Him.

Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we could enjoy intimacy with God through Jesus Christ. It’s about a living, growing relationship, but if we don’t know the cultural history of biblical times, we can’t understand the richness and depth of the relationship He desires.

As God told Abram He would give him the land, rather than rejoice, in response Abram asked, “How can I know I can believe you?” (Gen. 15:8).

God answered by making a covenant with Abram. He said, “Get three animals and cut them in half and lay them beside each other.” Because he understood covenant symbolism , Abraham knew he could believe what God said. In the seven exchanges of covenant, God defined Who He is and what His commitment was to Abram.

God’s answer transformed Abram from worshiping idols to a father who had faith to lay his beloved son on the altar as a sacrifice. Because of their covenant relationship, he didn’t hesitate to lay his son on the altar because he had faith that God would be his protection and provision.

Our understanding is lacking if we aren’t familiar with the ancient covenant ritual and the symbolism in its exchanges. Covenant is central to the Bible. Familiarity to the ritual helps understand God’s Word to us.

In 1975, Robert and I began to learn about covenant and to study the ancient ritual, how it influenced men of the Bible, and what it means for us today.

It has revolutionized our lives, and we want the same for you.

What w Great Exchange front panel 4_9_15 sm e have learned has just been released in a book, The Great Exchange:Bound by Blood.

If you (1) want to gain new insights in the Word, (2) desire a deeper faith, or (3) yearn for a closer relationship with God, check out The Great Exchange. Those are the three benefits we experienced and that we hear most often from others who have heard the teaching.

Abraham needed something solid to build his faith on. After God initiated the covenant, he learned to trust in a living, covenant-making, covenant-keeping God. We can see the results of faith in his actions.

The evidence of dwindling faith in our country and around the world indicate that today we need something to help build our faith. The Great Exchange: Bound by Blood is now available wherever books are sold.

Learn more about the blood covenant, about The Great Exchange, and what other people are saying about it.

Robert & Kay Camenisch encouraging and equipping relationships