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The Lord's Covenant Includes Our Protection

by Joseph LaValley  
9/23/2015 / Christian Living

Does the blood covenant that God has given through His son Jesus Christ offer us physical as well as spiritual protection? Can we, as Christians, respond in faith to God when confronted with dangerous situations and expect to see deliverance? What does our blood covenant through Christ provide concerning these things?

In the days in which we live, there is tremendous violence directed at Christians. We don't want to let our ignorance be the avenue by which satan can take advantage of us. God's word, the Bible, tells us that the promises that Jesus Christ paid for are "Yes", not just a maybe, for those who are His children (See 2 Corinthians 1:19-20 KJV).

There are basically two types of unbelief. The first would be those people who haven't heard what God's word is saying regarding a subject or maybe they just haven't heard enough to root out the error of their former beliefs. The second group are those who have heard enough to believe but refuse the truth for their error. The Sadducees and Pharisees of Jesus Christ time would fall into that second category. They prided themselves in knowing the scriptures yet, here was the promised Christ standing in their midst fulfilling a number of written prophecies. Still they chose not to believe.
The honest approach to getting God's answer to any question is stated wonderfully in the book of Acts.

Acts 17:11 KJV
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

The Greek word for "readiness of mind" is prothymia which means zeal, eagerness, inclination. These people did not immediately reject what Paul was teaching nor did they blindly follow him. Because they were zealous to know the truth they examined the scriptures to see for themsleves if those things he taught were so.

So let's search the scriptures to see what is so. In seeking the answer to the protection question it will help us to understand the root of the problem. The root of the problem is Adam and Eve's sin, which brought the curse upon all of life today. This curse is a condition that is the spiritual root of all of life's evil today (Genesis 3:16 -24).

Adam forfeited the life God had given him. Because God's way are always just, it would legally take a second Adam's life (the promised Christ - Genesis 3:15) to redeem the life that was lost. Since life is in the blood it is blood that was legally required to meet the demands of justice. Hence, God's covenants were made with blood. The Old Testament covenant that God made with Israel was made with the blood of animals, which were a temporary measure until Christ came and paid the price in full.

Leviticus 17:11 KJV
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

"Atonement" is the Hebrew word kaphar which means "to cover". As I said, the blood of animals was a temporary measure to cover man's sin. This is the reason why these sacrifices had to be offered over and over again. It was a legal act necessary to cover the consequences of the curse and a means to receive God's blessings.

In regards to meeting God's righteous standards, man has no earning power (Romans 3:10, 20 KJV). This is why God offered a blood covenant with his people in order that they might walk with Him. Those who walked in this covenant were the "righteous" who were often contrasted to the "wicked" in Old Testament scriptures.

In Deuteronomy chapter twenty-eight God spells out the blessings of those who respond to the Old Testament covenant and the curses of those who turn from it. The blessings speak of healing and prosperity. It also declares the protection made available to God's people.

Deuteronomy 28:6-7 KJV
Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
The lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

There are example after example in the Old Testament that show God upholding this part of His covenant with His people when they were willing to walk with Him. Let me point out something that is extremely evident in the Old Testament; the fact that they dealt with enemies on a physical level and had a very limited understanding of the spiritual side of the battle. You must remember the new birth wasn't available. There were only a few people (for the most part prophets, priests and kings) who had God's spirit conditionally placed upon them. That being so, God could only impart to them that which they could handle. They had very limited spiritual understanding. But even so, they did have an understanding of God's covenant with them. Because of this we see many victories wrought by those who believed.

Most of us know the story of David and Goliath. The Philistine army was lined up against King Saul and Israel's army. The Philistines sent out the giant Goliath, their champion, to fight with Israel's champion, whomever he might be. The loser's nation was to become the slaves of the winner. However since Goliath was a giant there weren't lines of volunteers forming on Israel's side. They looked at Goliath's size. He was estimated to be about ten feet tall. Now we're not talking a basketball players built. His coat of armor alone is estimated to have weighed around one hundred and twenty pounds (that's the low side of the estimates).

I don't know too many guys who are going to be leaping about in a hundred and twenty pound suit. I know the best I could do would be to lay down and ask for a cold drink. What about that spear head? The low end estimate of its weight was approximately fifteen pounds. Now that's not a lot of weight in itself but put it on the end of a stick and then toss it. I don't know about you but they'd better be real close if I were going to have to do some damage.

We've got the picture- BIG ANGRY DUDE! But what counted was the picture David had. When David heard this guy bellowing out his threats he said in so many words, "Who's this nobody?"

1 Samuel 17:26b KJV
for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies, of the living God?

"Uncircumcised", here means that he's not in covenant with the one true God. David was probably thinking something like "You're kidding me, right? Does this punk think he can take on God?!" David believed that God's words were true. David was a covenant man. Look at what he said to King Saul.

1 Samuel 17:36 KJV
Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

This is the second time David used that phrase, "defying the armies of the living God". I do not believe that David was speaking about Saul's army, but about an angelic army. Jehovah, God's covenant name, has many attributes attached to it that emphasize His commitment to His people. For example "The Lord who provides", "The Lord who heals", and so on. One of those titles is the Lord (Jehovah) of hosts. That's referring to Jehovah's army of angels. The army of angels aren't for His sake but for His people.

2 Kings 6:15-17 KJV
And the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do?
And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
And Elisha prayed, and said Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Read that account and you'll see that the army of men was no match for God's angelic host. Elisha and his servant came out on top. We too, need our eyes spiritually opened to the protection afforded us by our loving Father.

Young David had such an understanding regarding his God. You know how the story goes. David picked up five smooth stones, ran toward Goliath and knocked him down on the first shot. He then ran over to the fallen Goliath and took Goliath's own sword and hacked off his head. What's the score in this competition: God's covenant man ONE, and demonically inspired guy ZERO. Why? Because our God will uphold His word when His people believe.

The Old Testament is filled with such accounts: Gideon and the extremely outnumbered three hundred Israelites (Judges 7:1-25, Judges 8:1-21), King Jehoshaphat and Judah who didn't even lift a weapon to win a victory (2 Chronicles 20:1-24). There are plenty of such victories wrought and recorded. Why?

Romans 15:4 KJV
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

God's usage of the word "hope" isn't the world's version which is merely wishful thinking. A God given hope is declaring what God says is available. It's not wishful thinking but a surety if you will trust Him. That's why we have so many accounts of victories recorded.

What about those Old Testament records of tragedy? Most of those events happened to God's people because of their idolatry. They had opened the door to the curse. However, we see time and again that when they repented God would deliver them over and over again (read the book of Judges).

There were also the accounts where God's people trusted the "arm of the flesh" instead of the arm of God. That's what a prophet told Asa, the king of Judah.

2 Chronicles 16:7-9 KJV
And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horseman? yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand.
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

The word "perfect" above isn't talking about a perfection of the walk, thankfully, or we'd all be up a creek without a paddle. It's the Hebrew word "shalem", which means complete and in this context it speaking about complete in keeping covenant. In other words, God is looking for a believing believer. The fruit of humbleness isn't a tirade of self-defacing declarations, but a big YES, in thought, word and deed in agreement to what God has said. Then God can and will show Himself strong on your behalf.

We can clearly see in the Old Testament that God had committed Himself by covenant to protect His people. So when He tells us that Jesus Christ is the mediator of a better covenant, it most certainly must include His commitment to our protection.

Hebrews 8:6-7 KJV
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.

That's right! It says we have a better covenant based upon better promises. They are better because they are established in and through Christ, the perfect sacrifice. He is the go between, the mediator between the believer and God. This grace deserves a great big praise "Yahoo"! If the doling out of these covenant blessings were based on our own goodness we'd be spiritually poverty stricken. But we have all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). This includes our God granted protection in Christ.

I know the questions that arise: What about Paul's beatings? And Stephen, what about his stoning? Legitimate questions, so let's take a look at the New Testament. A good place to start would be John chapter fourteen where Jesus Christ is prophesying of a future time; after his own death, resurrection and ascension.

John 14:12-14 KJV
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

It's obvious that if we are to do the works that He did and greater, it has to be based upon the blood of Jesus Christ. That's why he said whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, I will do it. Prior to Jesus Christ giving his life, did anyone ever beat Jesus or do him harm? No! Did anyone want to? Absolutely, and many tried.

Per example, in Luke chapter four, Jesus went into his hometown synagogue and read the prophetic word in Isaiah that talks about Christ's first coming and what He would do. He then went on to tell everyone present that "this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." And they all yelled "Praise God". NOT! No. In fact they had a quite a different response, such as, "Let's kill him!".

Luke 4:28-30 KJV
And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
But he passing through the midst of them went his way.

They grabbed him and brought him to the edge of a cliff with the intent to throw him off. When they got to their desired spot, Jesus just walked away, right through the middle of the crowd. Did he become invisible? Were their hands restrained from holding him? I don't know. What I do know is that he trusted his Father to protect him. This was a work that Jesus Christ did. According to John 14:12 we can do likewise because Jesus has gone unto His Father.

Next up - The book of Acts. In Acts chapter five the apostles were healing many in Jesus name. The high priest and his pals weren't too happy about that so they put the apostles in prison. God sent the "Jail Break Angel" to get them out.


Acts 5:19-20 KJV
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

You may say "Yeah, but then they were brought back before the council; threatened and beaten". That's so, but what is also true is they then let them go and the apostles were able to continue to carry out their ministries. What can be seen here is that God does move on behalf of His people. But, what many people wrestle with is the fact that these were the apostles and they got beaten - hence what can we expect?

Here's a Bible lesson that has helped me immensely. We cannot define God's character nor His desire and ability to fulfill His covenant by people's experiences even if these experiences are written in the Bible. We all fall short including the apostles. They were human too. They had to grow in the grace that is in Christ Jesus just as you and I do. We have a tendency to elevate certain Biblical characters to high flying super saint status. God doesn't present them that way. In fact He wrote about their successes, their failures and their "in-betweens". The only one who always did the will of the Father was Jesus Christ.

The reason God clearly defines His character as well as His covenant in Christ is so we can believe Him, no matter what others do or don't do. This can be readily seen in the area of healing. As we put the scriptures together regarding that subject, it can clearly be seen that it's always God's will to heal all. Yet many don't get healed. There are accounts written where Jesus Christ would heal one or two but not others. That doesn't mean God didn't want to heal all. Man's will is involved likewise. Man's the variable, but God is the constant.

1 John 1:5 KJV
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

James 1:17 KJV
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

There are basically two Greek words for "no". They are "ou" and "me" (no joke, look it up). "Me" expresses conditional negation depending on certain factors. "Ou", on the other hand, expresses full and direct negation as in never, no way. "Ou" is the word used here in James 1:17. The verse is telling us that God never varies or differs. He is who He says He is, He has done what He says He has done, and He will do what He says He will do. There used to be a bumper sticker that read, "God said it, I believe it. That settles it." That's just wrong! God said it that settles it, whether you and I believe it or not. Now that's good news because we can grow in grace and change - but we're not changing God, that's a given.

"What", you may be asking, "about Stephen, who was martyred for his bold stand of faith in Acts chapters six and seven? First of all let me say that the man is a hero of the faith, and has eternal rewards for his stand. However, that's not what's in question. The question is: Was it God's will for Stephen to have died in this way? Was Stephen somehow more committed to the Lord than the Lord was to him? That cannot be so! No one loves bigger than God or His Son.

I've heard it said that Stephen saw Jesus Christ standing because He was applauding Stephen's stand. But once again, that would make it seem that Stephen was more committed to serving Jesus than Jesus was to serving him. I don't see that in the scriptures.

We are not told why this happened but we are told in Acts 7:55-56 that right before the Jews stoned Stephen, God gave him this vision. Stephen saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God's right hand. The scriptures tell us that when Jesus Christ ascended that He sat down at God's right hand, because salvation (wholeness) had been completed. Why then did Stephen see Jesus standing? I believe our Lord was ready for action. Before Jesus had given his life he told the disciples that the day was coming that "whatever ye shall ask in my name that will I do". I believe that Jesus Christ was showing Stephen that He was ready "to do" on his behalf. The enthroned Lord was waiting on Stephen's response.

"What", you may be asking, "about all the things that Paul went through?" That question always seems to come up when we look at this subject regarding God's protection. We know from scriptures that "Deranged Saul", who later became the Apostle Paul, was confronted by the resurrected Christ and sent to Damascus to wait for further instruction. Christ called upon Ananias, a disciple, to go and minister to Saul. Christ told Ananias that Saul was a chosen vessel unto Him, and that He would show Saul what great things he "must suffer for my name sake" (Acts 9:15-16 KJV).

The Greek word used here for "suffer" here is "pascho" which means "to be affected, or to undergo". It can be used in a good sense or a bad sense. We have hindsight on Paul's life because we have the scriptures which tell us that he did go through some horrendous satanic attacks. I would guess that this is the reason that all the translations, which I know of, have translated pascho as "suffer" here in this verse.

However, we don't know all the details of what Christ showed Paul about his calling. We do know from the scriptures that Paul was the one who later received the revelation of the book of Romans where God tells us, in chapter eight, that no matter what comes against us in this life we are "more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans 8:31-39 KJV).

It seems contradictory to think that that the same Lord who revealed that truth to Paul would be the same Lord who would refuse to deliver him when satanic attacks were set up against him. In fact, when Paul prayed to the Lord for deliverance from his "thorn in the flesh", the Lord's answer is simple and enlightening. By the way, that thorn in the flesh was a messenger sent from satan, not God (2 Corinthians 12:2 KJV). Regarding the phrase "thorn in the flesh", if you look up the other uses of this figure of speech in the Bible you'll find that God always uses it to refer to the ill effect of unbelievers upon His people. Paul had many people come against him because of the truth that he taught. What was the Lord's answer this prayer?

2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

The Lord's grace was all sufficient to bring Paul victory. That's why Paul said "I will glory in my infirmities". No matter what he was going through he knew Christ was working in him (Ephesians 3:20). That's not the same thing as saying "I glory because of my infirmities". We don't glory in what the enemy sends our way. We glory in Christ in spite of what the enemy does, and Christ brings victory.

In Acts chapter twelve we have an example of both tragedy and defeat in the same chapter. Herod had James, the brother of John killed. Then Herod had Peter jailed with the intent to do him harm. The account tells us that the saints were praying for Peter. It also tells us that God once again sent the "Jail Break Angel" who walked Peter right out of that jail to freedom.

Acts 12:11 KJV
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

No one can convince me that the God of love and light, in whom is no shadow of turning sent His angel for Peter but just decided to let James die. People have come to this conclusion based upon the theology that God can do anything. That's not true. It is clear from the Bible that there are things that God cannot do because of His nature. He is a God of love and light. In Him is no darkness at all. Being a God of love, He doesn't control us. We have been given the choice to trust Him in all ways. That being said, do I think I would have done better in James' situation? I don't know. It's easy to speak of your faith from the sidelines but it's a whole different situation when death is staring you in the face. What I do know is that God was there willing to deliver James, just as He later delivered Peter.
Our God loves all His children and is no respecter of persons.

A modern day example of that would be the 9/11 tragedy when the Twin Towers in New York City came crashing down. I've heard a number of Christians share their stories of deliverance from that satanic attack. Many were led away from the danger by a leading to do something else, go into work late or not go in at all that day.

One testimonial that really shows the heart of the Father was a woman in the second tower. When the first tower went down this Christian woman said they were told that everything in their tower was OK. That was not what God told her. God told her to get out and take as many people with her as were willing to go. She repeated out loud what God had said. Some went with her and were saved in doing so. Others chose to remain behind. It was a tremendous tragedy that the others died but their deliverance was available. Our God loves all but doesn't control all.

I didn't write this article to place dispersions upon martyrs of the Christian Faith who have lost their lives in service to God. Not any means, they are heroes of the faith. But don't you think it broke our Father's heart that they were killed and that He was willing to deliver them? I'd go to battle for my family and I'm just a human being. Our Father loves us so much more. That being said I'd like to end this article with encouraging accounts of God's deliverance.

My wife and I knew a faith filled woman that we'll call Ms. L. She told us of an incident that happened when she was ministering the word of God in New Jersey. She had witnessed to this one guy who was coming out of a gang life style. One day, as she went to pick him up for fellowship she found his house surrounded by a gang of guys. They were waiting on him to come out so they could "put a hurtin on him" as the saying goes. When Ms. L found out what their intent was, she pointed her finger at them and commanded them to "Go - in the name of Jesus Christ!" They immediately scattered in all directions. She knew of her covenant with Jesus Christ. We wrestle not against flesh and blood!

This next account was one that I heard at a fellowship where people were sharing testimonies of their victories in the Lord. I don't remember the young woman's name but she shared about an incident that happened to her in a city. She'd been walking along when suddenly a man had pulled her into an ally. He threw her down with the intent of raping her. She quickly got her wits about her and rebuked him in the name of Jesus Christ. She said that suddenly he got up and just ran into the wall behind him. He then fell, got up again and ran out of the ally. She was safe, and saw for herself that "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world".

This last one has to do with my wife and me. We had a guy named Tony (named changed) staying with us temporarily. He'd recently gotten saved and was just coming out of the mob life style. We came to find out there was a contract on him, by the mob, to take his life. One day when I came home from work, my wife mentioned a strange phone call she'd received. Someone wanted to know about our friend's whereabouts. When she asked who was calling, his reply was, "none of your business lady. You have a good life." Needless to say we prayed for protection for us and for our new friend. We remained under that protection and no harm came to any of us.

Satan messed up in reverse on this one. One of the guys they'd sent to kill Tony was an acquaintance of his. This guy showed up disguised as his old buddy. Well, Tony stated sharing the word of God with him and brought him to our home fellowship. The guy got saved, spoke in tongues, the whole nine yards. One day he confessed to Tony, "I can't do what I was sent here to do. This is the real deal". By the way, this all happened years ago. Today, Tony is alive, married, doing well and carrying out his ministry.

We have a big God who is able to deliver to the uttermost. We need our eyes spiritually opened to the protection afforded us by God in Christ. Let us encourage ourselves in the Lord to rise up and trust Him in all ways. His covenant is a sure reality that we can trust.
God bless you.
Our website: www.comewalkwiththefather.com

My name is Joseph. I became serious about walking with the Lord back in 1972. My wife and I have been married since 1975, and have two grown daughters. We presently live in Texas. Our e-book -"Come Walk With The Father" is available at amazon.com.

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