Reintroducing Jesus, Beyond Religion

Dr. Abel Damina: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. We bless the Lord at all times; your praise shall continually be in our mouths. We are so glad tonight that we have the privilege to come before your holy word humbly and respectfully. We thank you for the privilege to learn, to be equipped, and to come into the fullness of the reality that is ours in Christ Jesus.

I pray for everybody connected to this service by way of Kingdom Life Network and all various platforms tonight—all our campuses and house centers and all the platforms around the world—that the glorious light of the truth of the gospel will shine in our hearts and minds. Veils fall off, clarity comes, whatever is not planted by God is rooted out, burdens are lifted, and yokes are totally terminated. Your people are equipped, built up, edified, and Jesus is glorified. Thank you for answered prayer tonight in Jesus' precious name.

And every believer says a powerful amen. Lift your right hands to heaven. Let's release our faith together as we say these words: I am born of God. I am born of the world. The word of God is my nature. I do not struggle to do the word. I do the word naturally. Therefore today, I will understand the word of his grace. I will be built up. By the end of this service, I will never be the same. Never, ever be the same again in Jesus' name. And every believer says a powerful amen.

We want to welcome everybody connected to this service by way of Kingdom Life Network: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and all of you that are listening to us tonight on Comfort FM. It is a joy to have everyone of you connected to the service—all our house centers and all our campuses around the world. We are so excited to welcome you. It is another day of 30 days of Glory 2020, and we are so excited to have every one of you connected as we continue to enjoy the entrance of God's word, which brings light.

Invite a friend, a family member, or a neighbor. Reach out to somebody and tell them to hook up; it is beginning again tonight. For those on the social media platforms, help us share the video, help us tag some people, and get some people on board. It is going to be a time as we blanket the entire blue marble planet with the fragrance of Jesus' grace. Grab a pen, a paper, a notebook, and your Bible. You can be seated with your sweet, smart self as we get into the word of God tonight.

We have been looking at the legal and vital work of salvation—the legal and vital work of salvation. Yesterday, we built some, and we are going to build some more tonight. Hebrews 2:2 says, "For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him?"

So, it seems to be two different things here. The first we have is that the word spoken by angels brought recompense and reward for all the actions. Then it says, "How shall we escape that which was spoken by angels if we neglect so great salvation?" So great salvation came by the Lord. The other one came by angels. That already gives us a distinction in clarity. Come to the book of Hebrews 8:6: "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises."

"For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, 'Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not,' saith the Lord."

So, it seems to be that there is an old covenant from what we saw yesterday, and the writer of Hebrews called it the first. It is the arrival of the new that retired the first to old. Now, stay with me. Luke 1:70, let's see Zechariah's prophecy: "As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began." I would underline "holy prophets" and "since the world began." So, in Zechariah's prophecy, reference was made to that which was spoken by the angels since the world began.

The word "holy" was translated from the Greek word *hagios*. *Hagios* implies sacred, separate, special, or apart. While the word "prophet" was translated from the Greek word *prophetes*, and the Hebrew word is *nabi*. *Nabi* implies one who speaks forth. The first time the word "prophet" was used in the books of the Bible was in Genesis 20:7. "Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine."

So, Abraham was referred to as a prophet. Notice the phrase "since the world began" used in reference to Genesis—that which was from Genesis. Look at Luke 1:72: "To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant." Then observe the word "promise" as well as the word "fathers" in that Luke 1:72, which oftentimes was used in reference to Genesis under the Old Testament books of the Bible. Let's examine that word "promise" again a bit more carefully. Romans 4:16: "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all."

The word "promise" was translated from the Greek word *epaggelia*. *Epaggelia* is a word that is derived from two Greek words: *epa*, which means before, and *aggello*, which implies announce. So, *epaggelia* is a self-commitment, an unconditional commitment to perform a task. It is something announced. It is on the basis of this that the Old Testament prophecies were called promises. On the basis of the fact that the prophecies of the Old Testament were a self-commitment of God, an unconditional commitment to perform a task, based on that, the Old Testament prophecies were called promises.

On the other hand, the word "fathers" was translated from the Greek word *pater*, which implies progenitor and indicates fondness. It is an Aramaic transliteration, which means *Abba*. Also, observe the term "holy covenant" in that Luke 1:72. The word "covenant" was translated from the Greek word *diatheke*, which implies agreement. It is another word used for a testament. It was from the Hebrew word *berit*, found in Genesis 6:18: "But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee."

You will see the use of that word "covenant" again in Genesis 9:9: "And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you." You will see the use of that word again in Leviticus 26:42: "Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land." So, it implies an agreement between persons. Many times, when the term "holy covenant" and "holy prophets" are used, they are used with synonymous reference to the term "holy scriptures."

Holy covenant, holy prophets, which also is synonymous with holy scriptures. Notice the difference. The holy covenant is so called because of what it contains. The holy prophets are the spokespersons—the authors—while the holy scriptures are what were written from what was said, the documentation of that which was spoken: the written word. Same phrase Brother Peter used in Acts 3:21-25: "Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, 'A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.'"

"And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken have likewise foretold of these days. You are the children of the prophets, and the children of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, 'And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.'"

So, Abraham came before the law. Remember, Abraham existed without the law before the law. So, before the law of Moses came, Abraham enjoyed the promise. Where was the promise? Genesis 12:2-3. Remember, in Genesis, there was no law of Moses. "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

Did you observe that when God was making promise to Abraham, the consistent word he used was "I will"? Now, observe the writer of Hebrews, the way he will explain the New Testament in the book of Hebrews 8:10. "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." So, in the New Testament: I will, I will, I will.

What did God say to Abraham? I will, I will, I will. What about the Old Testament? Thou shalt not, thou shalt not, thou shalt not. New Testament: I will, I will, I will. And that's the same thing God said to Abraham because Abraham lived in the New Testament as a promise before Jesus came and died and fulfilled the promise and gave us the substance of the New Testament. So again, there was the promise, then the old covenant—which is the first covenant—which became the old covenant by the arrival of the New Testament.

In the New Testament, the responsibility is on God. In the Old Testament, the responsibility is on man. Old Testament: thou shalt not. New Testament: I will, I will, I will. Observe Hebrews 8:9: "Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt"—the old covenant, which was the first covenant—"because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not." So Old Testament: you do, I do. New Testament: I will, I will, I will.

You have no part to play because the New Testament is *epaggelia*, or God's personal, unconditional commitment to fulfill his word. Now, observe again the new covenant, Genesis 15:6. "And he believed in the Lord." What did he do? He believed. And what was the outcome? "And he counted it to him for righteousness." How did Abraham become righteous? He believed. Believed what? The promise that God made to him.

What is the New Testament? "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16). "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed" where? "From faith to faith." New Testament: righteousness by faith. You believe, you're righteous. Old Testament: righteousness by works, righteousness by performance, righteousness predicated on human action.

How do we know that? Romans 10:5: "For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law." Righteousness of the law. How does it function? "That the man which doeth those things shall live by them." So, the law is about a man doing something. What about the righteousness of the New Testament? Next verse, Romans 10:6: "But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh." The righteousness of the New Testament is not doing something. It is confessing in agreement with what God has done.

So, the Old Testament was the law of Moses. So, question: why did Moses give them a law? Because we are going to get into the details of that tonight. Matthew 19:3, Jesus explains. "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, 'Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?' And he answered and said unto them, 'Have ye not read'—*anaginosko*—'Have ye not read?'" The word "have ye not read" in the Greek is *anaginosko*. It means, "Are you not reading intelligently? Are you not paying attention to what you're reading? Have you not read that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female?'"

"And said, 'For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh.' Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Verse 7: "They say unto him, 'Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?'" Why did Moses give them the law? Look at the answer Jesus gave. "He saith unto them, 'Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.'"

That was not the plan of God. It was not so from the beginning. Moses only responded to the state of your heart. Moses only granted you your wish. Look at the way Brother Paul will explain it, Galatians 3:19: "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added." If your Bible is mine, that is the word to underline: "It was added." The law was not the plan. It was added. Why? "Because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator."

Who is the mediator? Moses. Who appointed Moses? The people. And Moses engaged the angels—the word spoken by angels. Now, observe: the promise is now fulfilled. Hebrews 8:6. The promise that God gave Abraham independent of the law is now fulfilled. "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant." A better covenant does not mean good-better-best. Better covenant means an eternal covenant—it is Bible language—eternal covenant.

A better covenant, which was established upon eternal promises. A better covenant, which was established upon better promises. Look at the way Brother Paul will explain it, Acts 13:32: "And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise," glory to God, "how that the promise." You remember the promise? "How that the promise which was made unto the fathers." The promise, remember: the promise, New Testament in a promise; the law, the old covenant or first covenant; then the promise fulfilled, New Testament substance.

Now, observe: "The promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, 'Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.' And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, 'I will give you the sure mercies of David.' Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, 'Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.'"

Now, observe: let's examine a few practicals of the three different explanations we just made. Now, remember, the promise was given in Genesis before the law interrupted. Remember, the law was added because of transgressions. So, the law cannot make the promise of none effect. However, there was a law given, which was the old covenant. All right? Now, under the law, which is the law of Moses, look at how it operated. Numbers 15:32.

"And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the Lord said unto Moses, 'The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.' And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses."

So, somebody is hungry, he goes out, gets firewood, cooks food to eat; they stone and kill him. Old covenant. Look at Jesus bringing the spirit of the New Testament. John 8:3: "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, 'Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned.' Under the covenant of Moses, she should be stoned to death. 'But what sayest thou?'"

"This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, 'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.' And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst."

"When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, 'Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?' She said, 'No man, Lord.' And Jesus said unto her, 'Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.'" So, old covenant: somebody got firewood to eat food, they killed him. Under the new covenant, Jesus introducing a new covenant: a woman caught in the very act of adultery, he told her, "I condemn thee not." The difference between the old covenant and the new covenant.

I give you another one. 2 Kings 1:9: "Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of a hill. And he spake unto him, 'Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.' And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, 'If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty.' And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty."

New Testament, Luke 9:51: "And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, 'Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?'"

"But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, 'Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.' And they went to another village." Old Testament: "If I be a man of God, let fire come down." Fire came down and destroyed. New Testament: Jesus turned and rebuked them and said to them, "We don't operate like that. The Son of man did not come to kill and destroy men's lives, but to save." Please pay attention. We are giving you the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Look at Deuteronomy 28:1: "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, only on that basis that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations." Remember, old covenant: thou shalt not, thou shalt not, thou shalt not. New Testament: I will, I will, I will. So now, he says, if you observe and keep all that the Lord has commanded. Look at verse 2, conditional: "And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God."

So, you will not be blessed if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God. New Testament, Ephesians 1:3, glory to God: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us," no conditions, "blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Old Testament, Isaiah 61:1: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."

"To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." Go back to verse 2, I like you to watch verse 2 carefully: "To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God."

Now, Jesus quoted the same scripture in Luke 4:17. "And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance—not to pray. We don't pray deliverance prayers; we preach deliverance. Deliverance is a message—to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.'"

Verse 20: "And he closed the book." Something is missing: the day of vengeance. Because the ministry of Jesus is not the ministry of vengeance. That's why Jesus omitted vengeance from Isaiah's inclusion. He omitted vengeance. He closed the book. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book and he gave it again to the minister and sat down. He did not include vengeance because vengeance is not New Testament. So, when you hear people saying the day of vengeance, service of vengeance, anointing of vengeance, they are operating under the old covenant—under the covenant of Moses that is supervised by angels. It is not God's covenant. It is a man's covenant. It is man saying, "God, I can qualify." And man cannot qualify.

Meanwhile, God says, "Look, you cannot qualify. I give you Jesus." Man says, "I don't want Jesus. I want to qualify." So, man fails and cries out, then Jesus shows up and dies for man. So, the old covenant is man's covenant. That's why the responsibilities are on man to fulfill. The new covenant is God's covenant. That is why the responsibilities are on God to fulfill. Are we in the building? Now observe, let me give you another one. Exodus 15:26. "And said, 'If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee.'"

It gives you an impression that God is carrying a bag of diseases and going around distributing them. That's the way the writers wrote, but Jesus explains all things. Put it back for me: "I will put none of those diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee." So, he gives you an impression that God cannot heal you until certain conditions are met. It is like you hear preachers tell you 10 steps to healing. Brother, there is no step to healing. 10 keys to healing. There are no keys to healing.

Why? Matthew 8:16. "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick." No condition. The ministry of the New Testament has no condition for healing. Jesus healed everybody. In fact, a guy came to Jesus and said, "My child is sick at home, please come and heal him." Jesus said, "Do you believe I will heal him?" He said, "I don't believe, just help my unbelief. I just want healing." And Jesus healed him.

Because there is no condition. The New Testament is not dependent on man. The New Testament is dependent on God. It is *epaggelia*—a self-confirming, unconditional promise of God to man. What God will do because of what Jesus has done. Glory to God! What God will do because of what Jesus has done. That is the spirit of the New Testament. So, the major difference between the old covenant and the new covenant—between the law of Moses, the first covenant, and the new covenant—is Jesus.

Jesus makes the difference. Listen, there is life before the cross and life after the cross. If life after the cross is the same with life before the cross, then the cross is useless. The cross of Jesus changed everything. And when I say cross, I am using cross as symbolic of the finished work of Christ. The cross of Jesus is the demarcation between the law of Moses and what God has done for man: the cross. Hebrews 9:15: "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death—that is, through the vehicle of death, that is, through the instrument of death—for the redemption—the Greek word *apolutrosis*—for the redemption, that is, for the purchasing, for the buying back of man from the tohungas and gipsis of sin, for the redemption."

So, Jesus actually paid ransom to sin to free man from the bondage of sin. That's why the day you got born again, you were free from sin. Sin lost control over you. Sin shall not have dominion over you. You're not under the law, but under grace. Under the law means you have not believed in what Christ has done. And if you have not believed in it, you cannot appropriate it. Under the law means you have decided to save yourself by yourself. Under the law means you by yourself want to qualify. Under grace means you resign.

Let what Jesus did qualify you. Are we in the building? The day Jesus enters your heart, sin, Satan, bondage, captivity, broken. Light and darkness don't live in the same house. That's why they said to Paul, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" Brother Paul said, "God forbid." The word "God forbid" means impossible—it is not possible. Then he explained further: "How shall we that are dead to sin—we are dead to sin—how shall we live any longer therein?" How can a dead man be said to have gone for a lecture? He died, they buried him last week. Then they said today they saw him in lecture; it cannot happen.

The day you got born again, you died to sin. You're alive to God. You're the new man created in righteousness and true holiness. You're the born-again man created after God. Sin has no power over the believer. The believer has no sin; he's the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Light and darkness have no fellowship. Know ye not that as many of you as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death? It's not water baptism; he's talking about born again. That the day Jesus entered you, you died to sin. You died to sin.

So, before the law—before the law, promise. The law: man rejected God's promise and decided to qualify by himself. Man failed. Jesus came, took the law out, and made redemption available by faith in what he has done. So, what happened before the law of Moses? Romans 5:13: "For until the law, sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law." There was no punishment for sin by God before the law. Sin was not—the word "imputed" is the Greek word *logizomai*. *Logizomai* means it was not held accountable; man was not held accountable before the law.

It was under the law that the law imputed sin, that all mouth may be shut, and because of the law, all have sinned. Now, after the law, 2 Corinthians 5:19: "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing—just like it was before the law—not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." So, there was no imputation of sin after Jesus died. Before the law, there was no imputation of sin. Why? Because Jesus was promised to man as man's savior.

So before the law, no imputation. After the law, no imputation. Imputation was only under the law. Now, follow me now. Who did God give the promise to? Abraham. Let's look at it a little bit intelligently. Galatians 3:18: "For if the inheritance be of the law." The question is, which inheritance? The inheritance is the forgiveness of sins. If you at home want to study that: Acts 26:18. The inheritance is the forgiveness of sins, redemption through his blood. So back to Galatians 3:18: "For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham" how? "By promise." Meaning when the promise was given, there was no law.

And that's why when you're born again, Brother Paul says when you walk in the spirit against such, there is no law. Galatians 3:19: "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added." It was not the plan. It was added. Who added the law? Now, listen carefully because we're going to get to a lacuna here before I close. The law came 430 years after because of transgressions. Abraham himself was a sinner, but he was justified not by morality, because he believed.

So, why will the law be added because of transgression? Why? Follow this. At face value, it looks like people were sinning, then God said, "Oh, put the law." That's the way it looks at face value, but technically, that's not what happened. God gave the promise in spite of sin. He gave the promise of Jesus in spite of sin because sin was in the world. So, in spite of sin, he gave the promise. That means sin did not stop the promise. All right? So, why should there be an addition of the law? Why was the law given?

Now, listen carefully. You know, ordinarily, you think the law was given because people were rebellious. That's not what happened, let me use Nigerian English; that's not what happened. For if it was because of sin that God said, "Okay, give them law," it would be a reaction, and God does not react. God proacts. So where did this law of Moses come from? Because it's important for us to be able to factor it out. Where did this law come from? It will shock you to know that the law of Moses did not start with Moses. So where did the law come from?

Galatians 4:21: "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory" or figurative, "for these are the two covenants; these are the two covenants. One from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar."

"For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, 'Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.' Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise."

"But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit, even so it is now." Two sons, two women, which are symbolic. So whose transgression was it? Abraham. The law was given because of transgression. Whose transgression? Abraham. How? Pay attention. Ishmael and Isaac, who came first? Ishmael in the physical. But who came first in the plan? Isaac. Isaac came first. Ishmael was not in the plan. The plan was Isaac. Abraham added Ishmael.

It was added because of transgression. Abraham added Ishmael—works. Why did Abraham not believe in the promise of God? Well, since he didn't believe in God's promise, the law was added. Now, observe: God gave promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3-4. All right? Look at Abraham's words, Genesis 15:1. "After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, 'Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.' And Abram said, 'Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?'"

"And Abram said, 'Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.' And behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 'This shall not be thine heir.'" He's not part of the plan. Even though he has been born in your house, he is not recognized as part of the plan. "This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir." Look at verse 12 of chapter 15. "And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. And he said unto Abram, 'Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years.'"

It was added because of transgression—430 years after. God said 400 years, but the unbelief extended it to 430. All right? Give me the scriptures. "And he said unto him," give me verse 14, "And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance." Now, Abraham transgressed from God's promise. God gave Abraham a word; Abraham did not believe it. It didn't take God too long to give Abraham Isaac. It took Abraham too long to believe it.

Abraham didn't believe that Sarah could have a child, but he believed that Hagar could have. Now, you will think of conception, but we're not dealing with conception here; we're dealing with spiritual terms. It's about the promise. Look at Hebrews 11:17: "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten." Abraham did not have an only son, but God only recognized Isaac. Remember when he was going to Mount Moriah: "Take thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest."

It was figurative of Jesus: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son." Abraham was supposed to function with Isaac, but Abraham in unbelief used his hands to produce Ishmael, which is the old covenant. The old covenant is predicated on human performance. Thou shalt not, thou shalt not, thou shalt not. The new covenant: I will, I will, I will. Look at verse 18 of that Hebrews 11: "Of whom it was said, 'That in Isaac shall thy seed be called.'" Seed, not as of many, but as of one—thy seed which is Christ.

And if you be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Now, so Ishmael is the law. Isaac is grace, or the promise. So, the law, the Old Testament, started with Abraham. And the New Testament, Abraham. Abraham's unbelief brought the Old Testament. That's why the Old Testament is man's covenant. It's not God's covenant. God has only one covenant: the promise. And that is what many people want today—even preachers. They are preaching performance-based messages.

They are taking people behind the cross—performance-based, and for by the law shall no man be justified in his sight. So, the law actually produced—was produced by the flesh. Man's desire to please God is the law. Man's desire to qualify is the law. Man's desire to be holy by his effort is the law. Now, listen: God's desire to save man and bless man is the new covenant. Man's desire to please God is the law. Which came first? God's desire to save man.

Why was the law added? Transgression. Transgression from what? The promise, which is works. The law is a product of works. So, angels gave to man what man wanted. God doesn't initiate sin. The Bible says God doesn't do evil (James 1:13). So, if the law was added because of transgression, it means it was added because of man's sins—man's transgression from the promise given by God. So, what you see there is doubt—the flesh. And that is why the law of Moses is called the law of sin and death.

That's the best that man can produce: sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of God might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For the law of the spirit of life where? In Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.

Anybody free in this building? Get on your feet and shout, "I am free from sin and death!" And Brother Paul will say, "Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has set you free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. For whom the Son sets free is free indeed." So, that's the new covenant. The new covenant is a covenant of sons. The new covenant is a covenant of rulership. The new covenant is a covenant of an intimate, accurate, precise, comprehensive understanding of a union with God that sin cannot break, Satan cannot break—an eternal union with God.

It is called eternal life, eternal inheritance, and eternal redemption. That's what we have in Christ. Hallelujah! Anybody excited tonight? That's what we have; that's our reality in Christ Jesus. Glory to God! Lift your right hands to heaven. Father, we pray for everybody tonight: veils fall off, fall off every veil, every hold of the enemy, every veil of darkness, every performance mentality be broken in the name of Jesus.

Let the revelation of Jesus rise big in the heart of your people. The eyes of each one's understanding be flooded with light. I rebuke sickness and disease, oppression—out in the name of Jesus! I decree that your people rise big with the revelation of their true identity, the revelation of the New Testament birthed in their hearts so they can enjoy this so great salvation—salvation that is not based on human performance, salvation that is based on what Christ has done. Not of works, lest any man should boast. It is the gift of God.

We are that circumcision that worship God in the spirit and have no confidence in the flesh, but rejoice in God our savior. Thank you, Father. And I declare your people walk in this freedom and liberty and enjoy the fullness of all that Christ has provided. Thank you for answered prayer in Jesus' precious name. And every believer says a powerful amen on a note of finality. Can we create some noise in this building? Let's celebrate tonight. Glory! Glory! I feel like running around this building. Glory! Somebody shout, "I am free!" Amen.

Grab your offerings; we give in honor of Christ. We give in faith. We're not giving to impress God. What do you have that was not given to you? What do you have? We give in honor, we give in worship, and we give to honor what Christ has done. We give so that we can carry out our collective responsibility of flooding the earth with the message of Christ. I want to thank all of you partners and all of you that consistently give to this ministry.

Through your giving, we're making a global difference. Please, don't be weary in well doing. Let's keep at it. One of these days we will see Jesus, and he will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Don't be tired of giving and giving. Don't be weary. We have a lot to do for the kingdom, and I tell you in our lifetime, the truth of Christ will flood the earth as the water covers the sea. Grab your offering, whether in the house center or campuses, online; there are banking details.

I want to pray. Father, thank you for the privilege to give, and we give tonight in faith. We give with joy, and we rejoice that every day we hear the word, we are ready to honor the word with our offerings. Every offering given tonight, we rejoice that it's a sweet smell before you today. And through our giving, the word of God is flooding the entire blue marble planet. We give you praise for answered prayer in Jesus' precious name. And every believer says a powerful amen. Glory to God!