Kingdom Covenant Part 1

We are starting a new series called “Kingdom Covenant,” and we will be working through Genesis Chapters 12-50 and we will be posting this series here on Online Bible Institute. This week, we will start our journey by focusing on Genesis Chapters 12-14. We will be introduced to Abraham and Sarah as the next couple that God wants to partner with after Adam and Eve and Noah and his wife have failed in their mission.

Genesis 12:1–5 (NIV)
1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

We have much to talk about this weekend at Keys Vineyard church, but for now, I wanted to emphasize the blessing of hanging out with God. In Genesis Chapter 14, you will see a major battle between several kings.

Genesis 14:1–3 (NIV)
1 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, 2 these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley).

During this battle, Abraham hangs out with some friends in the high place (heaven and earth connection) with God. I love the picture of craziness all around, yet in the midst of that, there is peace and fellowship when you hang out with God.

Genesis 14:13 (NIV)
13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram.

In our day-to-day lives, we need to occasionally escape craziness by hanging out with God. But this is a choice. You have to make time in your life to hang out with God. It is time for prayer, reading the word, worship, and fellowship. I love the blessings that the Psalmist points out as we hang out with God in the high place:

Psalm 84:1–12 (NIV)
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. 8 Hear my prayer, LORD God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. 9 Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. 10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 12 LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

God makes it possible to hang out with Him, to enjoy Him. I want to encourage you to do just that. He is waiting.

Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.