Repost: 14 Principles of Fatherhood

Father’s Day is on Sunday June 15th. It’s a special day of the year that we celebrate fatherhood. In the Kingdom of God, Fatherhood is very important. In fact, the role of the father has been an important position since the days of ancient Israel. Fathers were highly regarded and were the primary dominant role in patriarch society. Today, despite carnal influences, the role of the father in the Kingdom of God continues to be a ministry and a privilege in which the father’s role is a leader, protector, provider, teacher, priest, and prophet.

Ancient Jewish Father Responsibility to His Children

In ancient Israel the father was primarily responsible for the four following things: 1. bringing his son into covenant relationship with God through circumcision on the eighth day after birth, 2. teaching his children the Word of God, 3. choosing a mate and 4, teaching his son a trade. It was said by Jewish fathers that a man that didn’t teach his son a trade was teaching him to be a thief. Jesus’ trade was carpentry. Paul’s trade was making tents. Each were trained by their earthly fathers to master a trade to help support themselves and possibly a family. The father played prominent role by establishing his family’s covenant relationship with God and establishing his family's identity. He also played a crucial role in teaching his daughter how a man must provide for her and treat her. He also taught his son how to be a godly example and man of God.

Fourteen Principles of Fatherhood in the Kingdom

Jacob/Israel Blessing His 12 Sons

1. The father is a priest of his home. and prays for his wife and children. He goes to God as an intercessor on behalf of his household (John 17:1, Ephesians 6:18). In Job 1:5, Job offered sacrifices in behalf of his sons and interceded for them in case they sinned against God.

2. A father must teach his family the difference between holy and the unholy, to not be conformed to ways of the world and to avoid ungodly influences (Leviticus 10:8-11; Judges 14:3; Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 28:7; 1 John 2:15-17 ).

3. A father and grandfather should lay hands on his children or grandchildren and pray a blessing of the Lord over each child’s life (Genesis 48:11-22, Genesis 49).

4. As a teacher, a father must instill the Word of God inside the house and make sure his children are disciplined in the study of the Word and prayer as a vital part of their children’s spiritual training for the Kingdom ( Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 22:6).

5. A father should teach his children to be obedient and know how to discipline his children when they do wrong. This ensures that bad behavior won’t be repeated or become a habit in the life of his children ( Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 23:14; Hebrews 12:5-10).

6. When a father corrects his children, it must be done in love and not with harshness and bitterness that would provoke his children to bitterness and hatred. A father should never show favoritism of one child over the other. This can cause possible division within the home. A father also needs to make sure that he spends quality time with his children so that they won’t resent him for not giving them some time ( Ephesians 6:4 ; Colossians 3:21).

7. A father should dedicate his children to the Lord at a early age( Luke 2:22).

8. A father should inquire of the Lord a prophetic word for all his children and then speak prophetically into their live. Without prophetic revelation our children will perish (Proverbs 29:18). A father is the prophet of his household. The father should speak into his children’s life concerning future occupation and ministry purpose in the Kingdom of God ( Genesis 49; Luke 1:10-17, Luke 1:59-79).

9. A father needs to teach his family to serve and love God as well as keep his commandments with their whole heart. He must teach his family that serving the Lord is trans-generational. Also, salvation is a trans-generational promise to all family members that continue in the Word and follow Jesus. A father needs to teach his children this. The blessings of the Lord can be trans-generational also to those that obey and keep the Word of God. They must stress to their children that they need to pass on the need of salvation from generation to generation ( Genesis 26:3-5; Exodus 6:3; Joshua 24:15; Acts 2:39).

10. A father who is just and walks integrity, his children are blessed after him (Proverbs 20:7).

11. Fathers should teach and steer his children away from all sexual immorality encouraging them to keep their chastity (Proverbs 5:1-23, Proverbs 29:3).

12. A good father that gives his substance unto the Lord, works diligently, and invest and saves his money leaves an inheritance to his children’s children (Proverbs 13:22).

13. A father should teach his children that God loves them and has specific purpose for their life (Luke 1:13-17; Romans 8:29-30; 1 Peter 1:3-9).

14. Father should instruct his children the importance of being born again (John 3:5; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

When the hearts of men are turned towards their children and they walk in the divine calling and principles of fatherhood, they avoid being smitten with a curse upon the earth (Malachi 4:6). In today’s time much of the social ills of children could be avoided, if godly fatherhood/parenting was in place.

Days of Noah: Same-Sex Marriage End-Time Sign

Same-sex marriage is widely being accepted in societies all over the world. Just a couple of months ago President Barak Obama stated he believed it was okay for same-sex couples to marry.  Recently the nation of Denmark legalized a same-sex marriage bill in Parliament 85-24 making them the eighth European country to legalize it, and eleventh country overall (source). The bill in Denmark now makes it legal for the Lutheran Church of Denmark to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.  In Great Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron and his political party are pushing to legalize same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom (here).

Jesus Christ Spoke About the Days of Noah 

I wrote an article about the days of Noah and same-sex marriage entitled, "Jesus, the Days of Noah, and Same-Sex Marriage"  in February 27, 2010 for the blog, "Gay Christian Movement Watch" (www.gcmwatch.com).  It was one of the first documented articles of its kind that dealt with how same-sex marriage is nothing new and was prevalent in the days of Noah.

Ironically, Jesus said in Luke 17:26-30, “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when Son of man is revealed.”

Jesus being a first century Rabbi, like most Jewish teachers, coupled Sodom with the flood generation as a typical image of evil.  His intent was to inform his audience that at His second coming the conditions of the world would mirror Noah’s days and the days of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Jewish Writings, Days of Noah and Same-Sex Marriage

The Midrash Rabbah Genesis is a specific form of rabbinic literature of ancient Judaism commentaries of the Hebrew Scriptures. It is based on the interpretation of the Torah (Old Testament). It speaks about the subject of same-sex marriage during the days of Noah.

The rabbis wrote in the Midrash Rabbah Genesis that the flood in Noah’s day was primarily triggered when males starting writing marriage deeds with other males, and between men and beasts (bestiality).  Based on the account of Midrash Rabbah Genesis, same-sex marriages took place during the days of Noah. There was nothing new under the sun and this is stated by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:9.  Lot, in Sodom and Gomorrah, is synonymous with the destruction of the flood generation in Midrash Rabbah Genesis.  It states that Lot pleaded all night for mercy for the Sodomites, and that the angels permitted him to plead for them.  But once the people said, “… bring them out [the angels] so we may have sex with them,” mercy ran out. The angels told Lot, “for now on you have no right to plead anymore.”  Judgment was sent upon Sodom.  Flood water was the judgment of God on the people in Noah’s day.  Fire and brimstone was the judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah.

The book of Enoch was written before the birth of Christ and although it is not an inspired book, it is a good resource.  Parts of it are quoted in Jude 14-15. 2nd Enoch 34-1, 3-4 states,

“God convicts the persons who are idol worshipers and sodomite fornicators, and for this reason he brings down the flood upon them. And all the world will be reduced to confusion by iniquities, wickedness and abominable fornications. That is, friend with friend in anus, every other kind of wicked uncleanness which is almost too disgusting to report, and the worship of the evil one. And that is why I shall bring down the flood onto the earth, and shall destroy everything, and the earth itself will collapse in great darkness.”

Second Enoch states that perverse homosexual relationships were the main cause of the flood.  Both Midrash Rabbah Genesis and the second book of Enoch state that God frowns on homosexuality in cultic prostitution, and in so-called “loving consensual” homosexual relationships. So don’t believe the liberal Christian theologians, gay-affirming churches and inclusionists. Homosexuality and same-sex marriage are an abomination in God’s eyesight.

In 2008 on the radio program Faith2Action host Janet Porter had guest Rabbi Aryeh Spero verified that the Babylonian Talmud, a book written 1000 years before Christ, states that men began to write marriage contracts to other men (homosexual marriage) in the days of Noah.  Rabbi Spero went on to say that G-d was compassionate. That He was patient, and  gave the people of that day a hundred and twenty years to repent.  Spero went on to say, “Even in ancient Greece they did not write marriage contracts between men. There was homosexuality, and it was wrong, but there was not an official ‘blessed’ policy. … Marriage is ‘sanctification’ (not simply a partnership).” He said to confer the title of sanctification and holiness upon this behavior is “probably one of the greatest sins of all that one does against God’s plan for this world (source).”

We are definitely in the last days that Jesus spoke about!  In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John wrote that there would be an explosion of fornication during the Tribulation period.  There will come a time when the heart of men will become so hard that they will not repent and they will be given over to a reprobated mind.

Revelation 9:20-21

King James Version (KJV)

²⁰ And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
²¹ Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

     

14 Principles of Godly Fatherhood

Father’s Day is on Sunday June 17th. It’s a special day of the year that we celebrate fatherhood. In the Kingdom of God, Fatherhood is very important. In fact, the role of the father has been an important position since the days of ancient Israel. Fathers were highly regarded and were the primary dominant role in patriarch society. Today, despite carnal influences, the role of the father in the Kingdom of God continues to be a ministry and a privilege in which the father’s role is a leader, protector, provider, teacher, priest, and prophet.

Ancient Jewish Father Responsibility to His Children

In ancient Israel the father was primarily responsible for the four following things: 1. bringing his son into covenant relationship with God through circumcision on the eighth day after birth, 2. teaching his children the Word of God, 3. choosing a mate and 4, teaching his son a trade. It was said by Jewish fathers that a man that didn’t teach his son a trade was teaching him to be a thief. Jesus’ trade was carpentry. Paul’s trade was making tents. Each were trained by their earthly fathers to master a trade to help support themselves and possibly a family. The father played prominent role by establishing his family’s covenant relationship with God and establishing his family's identity. He also played a crucial role in teaching his daughter how a man must provide for her and treat her. He also taught his son how to be a godly example and man of God.

Fourteen Principles of Fatherhood in the Kingdom

Jacob/Israel Blessing His 12 Sons

1. The father is a priest of his home. and prays for his wife and children. He goes to God as an intercessor on behalf of his household (John 17:1, Ephesians 6:18). In Job 1:5, Job offered sacrifices in behalf of his sons and interceded for them in case they sinned against God.

2. A father must teach his family the difference between holy and the unholy, to not be conformed to ways of the world and to avoid ungodly influences (Leviticus 10:8-11; Judges 14:3; Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 28:7; 1 John 2:15-17 ).

3. A father and grandfather should lay hands on his children or grandchildren and pray a blessing of the Lord over each child’s life (Genesis 48:11-22, Genesis 49).

4. As a teacher, a father must instill the Word of God inside the house and make sure his children are disciplined in the study of the Word and prayer as a vital part of their children’s spiritual training for the Kingdom ( Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 22:6).

5. A father should teach his children to be obedient and know how to discipline his children when they do wrong. This ensures that bad behavior won’t be repeated or become a habit in the life of his children ( Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 23:14; Hebrews 12:5-10).

6. When a father corrects his children, it must be done in love and not with harshness and bitterness that would provoke his children to bitterness and hatred. A father should never show favoritism of one child over the other. This can cause possible division within the home. A father also needs to make sure that he spends quality time with his children so that they won’t resent him for not giving them some time ( Ephesians 6:4 ; Colossians 3:21).

7. A father should dedicate his children to the Lord at a early age( Luke 2:22).

8. A father should inquire of the Lord a prophetic word for all his children and then speak prophetically into their live. Without prophetic revelation our children will perish (Proverbs 29:18). A father is the prophet of his household. The father should speak into his children’s life concerning future occupation and ministry purpose in the Kingdom of God ( Genesis 49; Luke 1:10-17, Luke 1:59-79).

9. A father needs to teach his family to serve and love God as well as keep his commandments with their whole heart. He must teach his family that serving the Lord is trans-generational. Also, salvation is a trans-generational promise to all family members that continue in the Word and follow Jesus. A father needs to teach his children this. The blessings of the Lord can be trans-generational also to those that obey and keep the Word of God. They must stress to their children that they need to pass on the need of salvation from generation to generation ( Genesis 26:3-5; Exodus 6:3; Joshua 24:15; Acts 2:39).

10. A father who is just and walks integrity, his children are blessed after him (Proverbs 20:7).

11. Fathers should teach and steer his children away from all sexual immorality encouraging them to keep their chastity (Proverbs 5:1-23, Proverbs 29:3).

12. A good father that gives his substance unto the Lord, works diligently, and invest and saves his money leaves an inheritance to his children’s children (Proverbs 13:22).

13. A father should teach his children that God loves them and has specific purpose for their life (Luke 1:13-17; Romans 8:29-30; 1 Peter 1:3-9).

14. Father should instruct his children the importance of being born again (John 3:5; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

When the hearts of men are turned towards their children and they walk in the divine calling and principles of fatherhood, they avoid being smitten with a curse upon the earth (Malachi 4:6). In today’s time much of the social ills of children could be avoided, if godly fatherhood/parenting was in place.

Jesus: Passover Lamb and Resurrection 1st Fruits

Jesus is the Passover Lamb

We as Christians celebrate April 8th Resurrection Sun­day(Easter), in remembrance of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. On the Jewish Calendar, however Passover falls on this month, which starts on Friday April 6, 2012 and ends in the evening of Saturday April 14, 2012 .

The Passover is a type and shadow of Christ Jesus being our Pass­over Lamb, and Jesus prophetically fulfilling the Feast of Passover, the blood of Jesus is applied upon our life, and the blood of Jesus is for remission of sins( Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, 1 John 5:8). Passover means the Lord would “pass over,” the destroyer bypass the Israel­ites homes in Egypt, because the blood was applied to the door post of their homes. As for today the blood of Jesus is a hedge of protection also from seen and unseen danger.

Here is several key factors of Jesus being our Passover Lamb:

He is the unblemished lamb (Exodus 12:5 ; John 1:29 ; Hebrews 4:14-15). John the Baptist called him the Lamb of God, which take away sin of the world.

Jesus is the lamb selected in advanced (Exodus 12:3; 1 Peter 1:19-20).

Jesus is the Lamb slain (Exodus 12:6,21 ; Revelation 5:6, 13:8).

He is the Lamb with no broken bones (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalms 34:20; John 19:33,36).

The blood applied to door of our hearts (Exodus 12:7,22 ; Hebrews 10:22).

Leaven removed and sin removed from our life through Christ( Exodus 12:15, 19:20; 1 Corinthians 5:8).

Jesus was the Lamb hidden for four days, a day with the Lord is as a thousand years. From Adam to Jesus was four thousand years, which is four days in the eyes of the Lord (Exodus 12:3, 6; Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8).

Jesus was killed exactly at 3:00 p.m. the same time the Passover Lamb was annually killed.

Other types and shadows of Passover:

Egypt as the World System.

Israel as the Children of G-d.

Pharaoh as Satan, and symbol of Egypt was a serpent (Revelation 12:9).

Passover is deliverance from Egypt( the world and sin), and the blood is for protection.

So Jesus is our Passover Lamb, and in Him is life, because life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11), His blood cleanses and delivers us from sin, and we now walk in the newness of life.  

Unleavened Bread

Unleavened Bread  Jesus is the Bread of Life, we come into a Christian life and we eat of His Word  no longer walking in a sinful lifestyle (Exodus 12:7-20, 13:6;Leviticus 23:4-8; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8).

The Feast of First Fruit

First Fruits, Jesus fulfilled First Fruits for His resurrection was the first day of the week and on First Fruits. He is first fruit of the res­urrection (Leviticus 23:9-14; Matthew 28:1; 1 Corinthians 15:20,23; Romans 8:29;  Revelation 1:5).

SEEKING THE FACE of GOD

To seek the face of God is to seek His presence. The word “face” is a Hebrew idiom that means, “The presence of God.” Psalms 24:6 states, “This is the generation that seek him, that seek Thy face oh Jacob. Selah.” Second Chronicles 7:14 states, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.”

Definition for Idiom

According to The American Heritage Dictionary, an idiom is “…a speech form of expression of a language that is peculiar to itself grammatically that cannot be understood from the individuals’ meaning and its elements.” In lay terms, an idiom is a simple word that is used to describe something much more than it actually is. In our case, when we seek the “face” of God, we seek His presence. Because God does not have a face as you and I, the idiom in this case is to seek His awesome and omnipotent presence.

Examples Coming into the Face of God/Presence of God

Jacob had seen the Face of God at Peniel, for he was in the presence of the Lord where he wrestled with a man all night. It eventually it causes a transformation in Jacob's life that he went from a trickster/Jacob to a Prince of God/ Israel (Genesis 32:24-30; Psalm 4:6). Coming into the presence of God you will never be the same, because His Divine Presence brings transformation and holiness.

People obtain favor, and have joy when they come into the face of God (Job 33:26).

Were delivered, and restored when the Face of God shine's on us (Psalm 31:16, Psalm 80:19).

Moses spoke to God face to face, as friend speaks to another friend; Moses received revelation of the Torah for the nation of Israel , and was known as the most prominent prophet of Israel secondly only Jesus Christ. When Moses left the presence of the Lord, his countenance shine with the glory when came back down the mountain to the people, he had to place a veil to cover his (Exodus 33:11; Exodus 34:34; Deuteronomy 34:10; 2 Corinthians 3:13).

Obed-Edom had the Ark of the Covenant (presence of God) for three months in his house, and the Lord blessed everything he owned (1 Chronicles 13:14), because of the Ark of the Covenant being present.

What Can Cause God to Hid His Face? Ichabod the Glory Departed !

The question should be what causes God to hid His Face/Presence from mankind? Answer would be sin. In Isaiah 59:2 says, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

Prime examples of people in the Bible that had an "Ichabod experience" or the presence of God fleeing from His people in the Word of God are as follows:

First example is when Eli the High Priest wicked sons Hophni and Phinehas went out to battle the Philistines, they were killed in battle, and all the men that went to battle with them died, their father Eli after hearing the news that his sons were killed fell back in his chair broke his neck. After all the calamity occurred, Phinehas wife birth a son and called his name Ichabod, which means the "glory of God/presence of God has departed. The presence had indeed departed, because of evil sinful leadership; they couldn't defeat the enemy because of sin in the camp (1 Samuel 4:19-22).

Second example is Samson, his continued sexual immorality was a snare and his down fall, when got up from being with Delilah, he awoke out of his sleep to fight the Philistines like other times, however the Lord had departed(Ichabod) from him(Judges 16:19-21) . The Philistines took him captive, bond him, and put his vision/sight out( without vision or prophetic revelation people perish Proverbs 29:18), Samson demise was that he rejected knowledge(Hosea 4:6).

Third example is the glory departing from the Temple in Ezekiel 10, because of the habitual sin in the nation of Judah the presence of God departed from the Temple, in which later King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem(2 Kings 25:9-10), because the glory of God had departed.

Fourth example is Adam and Eve when they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil they died spiritual first becoming sinners. The first thing they did after sinning, was hide themselves from the presence of God(Genesis 3:8). The glory had departed from Adam, what soon followed was spiritual death, ultimately physical death.

If you have carnal mind then it will bring you death, but if you're spiritually minded is life and peace (Romans 8: 5-8). Also the carnal mind hates the law of God, and being in His presence (Romans 8:7). We receive life every time we enter into the presence of God

So are you facing a hard situation? Do you need the Lord’s presence to guide and direct you through a certain valley of decision? If so, take time this week to seek His presence and not his hand. He promised that when we do this in humility and turn from our sinful ways, we will see His glory manifested in our lives.

Passover & Jesus the Messiah as the Passover Lamb

We as Christians celebrate Resurrection Sun­day, in remembrance of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. On the Jewish Calendar, however Passover falls on that month.

The Passover is a type and shadow of Christ Jesus being our Pass­over Lamb, and Jesus prophetically fulfilling the Feast of Passover, the blood of Jesus is applied upon our life, and the blood of Jesus is for remission of sins( Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, 1 John 5:8). Passover means the Lord would “pass over,” the destroyers bypass the Israel­ites homes in Egypt, because the blood was applied to the door post of their homes. As for today the blood of Jesus is a hedge of protection also from seen and unseen danger.

Here is several key factors of Jesus being our Passover Lamb:

He is the unblemished lamb (Exodus 12:5 ; John 1:29 ; Hebrews 4:14-15). John the Baptist called him the Lamb of God, which take away sin of the world.

Jesus is the lamb selected in advanced (Exodus 12:3; 1 Peter 1:19-20).

Jesus is the Lamb slain (Exodus 12:6, 21 ; Revelation 5:6, 13:8).

He is the Lamb with no broken bones (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalms 34:20; John 19:33,36).

The blood applied to door of our hearts (Exodus 12:7, 22 ; Hebrews 10:22).

Leaven removed and sin removed from our life through Christ ( Exodus 12:15, 19:20; 1 Corinthians 5:8).

Jesus was the Lamb hidden for four days; a day with the Lord is as a thousand years. From Adam to Jesus was four thousand years, which is four days in the eyes of the Lord (Exodus 12:3, 6; Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8).

Jesus was killed exactly at 3:00 p.m. the same time the Passover Lamb was annually killed.

Other types and shadows of Passover:

Egypt as the World System.

Israel as the Children of G-d.

Pharaoh as Satan, and symbol of Egypt was a serpent (Revelation 12:9).

Passover is deliverance from Egypt( the world and sin), and the blood is for protection.

So Jesus is our Passover Lamb, and in Him is life, because life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11), His blood cleanses and delivers us from sin, and we now walk in the newness of life. 


You can view two part video on this subject below. 

Covenant of Friendship: Jesus(Yeshua) is Our Friend

In today times people loosely use the term friend. Even in the church world, people use this term, however don’t maintain covenant relationships with their quote on quote friends. People in the church gossip on one another about people who are their friends; they lie and run each other’s reputation down, backbite each other, married couples at the blink of the eye getting an divorce; people borrow money and promise to pay it back and never due; just plain out right covenant breakers. Most people don’t respect or even honor covenant relationships, that is expected in the “world” with the children of disobedience/darkness, but in the church with the children of God we suppose to represent obedience/light.


Friend in the American Heritage Dictionary is defining as follows: 1. A person, whom one knows, likes and trusts. 2. An acquaintance. 3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; comrade. In other words a true friend is one who has your back, and stick with you through thick and thin, good times and bad times.

Ancient Hebrews, when two males would enter into a blood covenant or friendship they would follow nine steps. The steps were as follows: 1. Take off Coat or Robe; 2. Take Off Belt; 3. Cut the Covenant; 4. Raise the Right Arm and Mix the Blood; 5. Exchange Names; 6. Make a Scar; 7. Give Covenant Terms; 8. Eat Memorial Meal; 9. Plant a Memorial. We see a good example of this in the Old Testament scriptures in 1Samuel 18:1-4 with the friendship of David and Jonathan. In 1Samuel 18: 4, when Jonathan stripped off his robe and placed on David, it was symbolically saying I’m giving myself (total being and my life) I pledge to you and you do the same. And Jonathan gave David his sword, bow, and girdle (taking off his belt) it was symbolically saying a person is giving you all my support and protection, and they would do the same. This covenant had such a strong bond between the two individuals becoming as one in unity, is one reason David makes the statement in 2 Samuel 1:26 that his love for Jonathan pass that of a women (no they weren’t having homosexual affair, but two men with a strong bond of friendship). Secondly, after Jonathan’s death, David after being King over all of Israel, remembers his covenant with Jonathan, and takes Jonathan only surviving son Mephibosheth (he was lame) into his house(2 Samuel 9).

Jesus is our friend, we were once enemies of God, but through His death on the cross and His resurrection reconcile us back to God. Through excepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior now makes us a friend of God by being born again, and follow His commandments. Jesus said in St. John 15:14: “Ye are my friends, if do whatsoever I command you.” We can see how we relate to Jesus and this nine step blood covenant two Hebrew males would enter into. Look closely at the nine steps of this covenant.

Step 1: Take Off Coat or Robe: Now to the Hebrews, a person’s robe represents the person. By taking off the robe and giving it to someone, was symbolically saying, I’m giving you all myself (total being and my life) I pledge my life to you, and you do the same. Isaiah 61:10: I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Step 2: Take Off Belt: Means not to hold up someone pants, but hold a person weapons(armor together). A dagger, bow and arrow, or sword. Symbolically a person giving you all my support and protection and you do the same. Jesus gives us spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:13-18), and to tread upon all the instruments of the devil(Luke 10:19).

Step 3: Cut the Covenant: By taking an animal and cutting it right down the middle. After the animal is split, they would lay each half to the side of them and stand between the bloody halves, making a figure eight, and comeback to stop facing each other. In doing so we are saying that we are dying to ourselves, giving up the right to our own life and beginning a new walk with our covenant partner unto death. The second, the people point down to the bloody animal split in two and say, “God do so to me and more if I ever try to break this covenant. They would say; just split me right down the middle and feed me to the vultures because I tried to the most sacred of all covenants. Romans 6:4-5: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

Step 4: Raise the Right Arm and Mix Blood: Then they would raise their right arms, cut their palms and bring them together, to intermingle their blood; then swear allegiance to each other. By intermingling becoming one. This is because blood is life(Leviticus 17:11). It symbolically shows two becoming one. Romans 3:24-26; Hebrews 9:22; Revelations 12:11.

Step 5: Exchange Names: Then as they stand with their blood intermingling they exchange names. I take your last name as part of my name, and you take my last name as part of my name as part of your last name as part of your last name. Jesus became as sin for us when he died on the cross that we may become righteous through Him in the eyesight of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). We as believers the only we can saved is through His name, and He gives us authority. Acts 4:12 says: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Step 6: Make a Scar(Holy Ghost): The next step is they would rub our blood together as a permanent testimony to the covenant we had made. Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4: 30; 1 John 4:4 ; Revelation 12:11.

Step 7: Give Covenant Terms: Then they could stand before a witness and give the terms of the covenant. Everything I have is yours and yours is mine, both assets and  liabilities. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Romans 8:16-17 says: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be also glorified together. Jesus took on our liabilities(sins), and gave us assets(salvation).

Step 8: Eat Memorial Meal: A memorial meal was used to complete the covenant. Wine and bread was used. Wine for blood and bread as flesh(Communion). 1 Corinthians 11:24-25.

Step 9: Plant a Memorial: They would plant a tree that would have sprinkled with the blood of animal. Signaling Jesus on the cross.

Let us remember Jesus is our best friend, He stick closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24), Jesus will never fail you or forsake you(Joshua 1:5; Hebrews13:5), He doesn’t leave us comfortless ( St. John 14:15-18), but gives us Holy Spirit to dwell inside us to lead and guide us.

To conclude, let’s try to keep and honor our covenant with Christ Jesus, and just not our covenant with Jesus, husband and wives, parents and children, friends and family, and the saints of God. Please let’s not abuse our relationships with each other, but let us follow Mark 12:30-31: And Thou Shalt Love The Lord Thy God With All Thy Heart, And With All Thy Soul, All Thy Strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbor AS Thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. We must keep our covenant and love in relationships both vertically and horizontally.