We Still Serve the God of the Old Testament

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. – Heb 13:8

You won’t experience God any greater than your concept of Him. Some scholars say that there’re two “Gods” in the Bible; the harsh, unforgiving one of the Old Testament; and the gracious, loving one in the New. This only reveals the shallowness of their so-called scholarship; because any conscientious reader of the Bible will notice the unchanging Grace nature of Jehovah even with His dealings with Israel.

He presents Himself as Father, as Mother, as Husband, as passionate lover, as protector, as banner, as shield, as shepherd… (Ex 4:22; Dt 32:5,6,11; Hos 2:19,20; Ez 16; Ps 81:13-16; 3:3; 23:1…). Everything God is now, He has always been; indeed, Mal 3:6 explains that it’s because of His unchanging nature that the Jews were not destroyed under the Old Covenant.

Nevertheless, the collective experience of the Israelites was based on their perception of God and how they related with Him. Repeatedly, they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do” (Ex 19:8; 24:3,7; Num 32:31). From a Father-Children relationship (Ex4:22), it quickly became a Boss-Employee arrangement where they saw the largesse and magnanimity of the LORD as their just emoluments. Like paying customers at a chic restaurant, they gave orders concerning the menu and complained if it wasn’t served up to their expectations. Whereas their ancestor, Jacob, was grateful to have survived with just a stick, they enjoyed 5-star treatment in the desert and still grumbled.

Unfortunately, many in the Church still have this warped perception of God. 

Hearing their testimonies about how they got their miracle is a clear revelation of their theology: “We gave”, “We served”, “We sowed”, “We danced”, “We prayed”, “We Fasted”, “We, we, we…”.

Surely, they may be unaware of this, but it stops them short of receiving the full expressions of God’s unmerited favour. Like the Israelites, their sow-reap mindset is limiting the Holy One of Israel, (Ps 78:41). The New Covenant is not about you, it’s about God. The Ten Commandments of the Old Testament had a bunch of “Thou Shalt Not”s; but the terms of the New Covenant as outlined in Heb 8:8-13 is littered with God’s “I Will’s”.

Beloved, God hasn’t changed, (Heb 13:8) He’s ever merciful, ever gracious and ever abundant in goodness and truth; and is waiting to have a rich fulfilling relationship with you.

AMEN.

Have a Blessed Weekend in Jesus’ Name.
GREG ELKAN

These Are the Days of Elijah – Not!

Robin Mark, the Northern Irish composer of the song “These Are the Days of Elijah” (popularised by the sensational Donnie McClurkin in his third studio album), did publicly admit that the song was “unusual” and “a little complex”.

But beyond its apparently unintended affirmation of an extremist theological view, the lyrics of the song also unintentionally glorifies the Old Testament days as something to be yearned for.
 
Moses, David and Ezekiel may have excelled in the demonstration of God’s power and goodness in their days, but as Paul points out in 2Co 3:10, their “glory” is nothing compared to what we have today. Longing for their level of power and glory is like the owner of a Ferrari swooning over “the elegant pedalling motions” of a cyclist.

The Apostle Peter declared that these same prophets we’re feeling nostalgic over longed to see our days of glory (1Pt 1:10-12). The least person in the New Testament is greater than the best of the Old (Mt 11:11); therefore, only ignorance of what the New Covenant really is will make a Believer desire live in the Old.

Moses begged to see God’s glory, but today, “we ALL, with OPEN FACE” behold the glory of the Lord (Ex 33:18; 2Co 3:18). He begged for God to go with him, but that’s a superfluous request today as God has sworn that He’ll NEVER leave us nor forsake us! (Ex 33:15; Hb 13:5). The “Word of the LORD” came to Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, etc. but the WORD of the LORD resides in us, permanently today (Jer 1:2; Ez 1:3; Zech 4:8; Jn 14:18). They were anointed, we have the Anointing! (1Sa 16:13; 1 John 2:20)…

HALLELUJAH!!!

Beloved, the song may be great and inspiring, but these are NOT the days of Elijah; these are the days of the “Manifestation of the Sons of God”, (Rm 8:19).  We’ll never fully express the power of the New if we keep looking back to the Old. It’s time, therefore, to acknowledge every good thing in us and stir up the gift of God, which we have resident in us, to full effect (Phm 1:6; 2Ti 1:6).

“For, in fact, that which was once resplendent in glory has no glory at all in this respect, that it pales before the glory which surpasses it.” – 2Co 3:10 (WNT)

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.
GREG ELKAN

There’s Only One Testament, Actually

...for there is no difference. – Rom 3:22

The New Testament is only called “new” with respect to the Law of Moses, not with regard to God’s dealing with humanity. There has never been more than one way to please God in the history of mankind. The principle with which we attain right-standing with God today is – and has always been – by FAITH. As the Prophet Habakkuk declared six centuries before Christ, “the just shall live by his faith.” (Hab 2:4).

Abraham, Noah and the other Patriarchs all received the gift of righteousness through their acts of faith (Rom 4:3; Heb 11:7; 2). This is the single thread that connects all of God’s people for all time. There’s only one covenant and God has only one people (Rom 9:6; Gal 3:7-9, 29; 6:16; etc.).

The ancient Israelites never truly earned their blessings; what they enjoyed was always positively disproportionate to their acts of obedience. In the same way, their punishments and curses were always less than what the Law prescribed. For example, there was no time in their history that they fully met the rigid requirements of the Law, yet God never really littered the Land with the bodies of non-compliers.

Grace had always been at work, even back then. Perceptive saints like Moses, David and Jonah knew this and even exploited it to full effect. But we today have all the facts and details laid out for us.

Beloved, The New Testament is here for you to enjoy. God’s not against you; instead He has gone all out for you in Christ Jesus. All you need and will ever need is available for you in Him. And like the great Apostle, I pray that my God supplies all your needs according to His riches in glory (NOT according to your performance) by Christ Jesus, (Phil 4:19).

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.
GREG ELKAN

There’s a Difference

“...rightly dividing the word of truth. – 2Ti 2:15

The difference between the Old Testament and the New can sometimes be so subtle that one can be in the New Testament yet living under the paradigm of the Old. We need to know that Everything available to the Believer under the New Covenant – health, wealth, blessings, protection, deliverance, etc. – is also available in the Old… even ETERNAL LIFE!

In Lk 10:25-28, Jesus said all you have to do to get Eternal Life under the Old Testament was to fulfil the requirement; which is:  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself!”

Under the New Testament, however, we receive Eternal Life by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 3:16; Act 16:31).

Unfortunately, we generally receive Salvation through the New Testament route and then try to receive the other lesser blessings through the Old way.

To receive blessings under the Old, certain requirements have to be met (Ex 15:26; Lev 26:3-13; Dt 11:13; 15:5; 27:1); and indeed, not meeting those requirements incurred a curse (Dt 28:15; Mal 2:2; 3:9)! Under the New Testament, every curse is annulled (Gal 3:13) and every Blessing is pre-provided for us in Christ Jesus (2Cor 1:20; Eph 1:3).

Not knowing this distinction is what leads to wrong theology, wrong mindset… and a wrong perception of God.

Beloved, God is not withholding any blessing from you. Everything you need is already provided for in Christ Jesus. So go receive it, go get it, it’s yours. In fact, in the New Testament, “ALL THINGS ARE YOURS” (1Co 3:21).

AMEN.
More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.
GREG ELKAN

The 4 Testaments

“Study to show yourself approved unto God...rightly dividing the word of truth. – 2Ti 2:15

In Christianity, the term “Testament” has two meanings, and not distinguishing which is which in a conversation or a teaching can lead to confusion and wrong conclusions – even wrong theology.

Encarta dictionary defines “Testament” as

“Either of the two major divisions of the Christian Bible, known as the Old Testament and the New Testament”

However, the WordNet Lexicon defines a “Testament” as, firstly, 

“One of the two distinct revelations of God’s purposes toward man; a covenant.”

This second definition, though less popular, is the actual meaning of “Testament” used by the Bible authors and not the first. The first definition is actually an organisational construct used to conveniently categorise the Bible books, the second is the spiritual covenant between God and Man.

These two definitions gives rise, in essence, to FOUR “testaments”: two “Old” and two “New”. The “Old Testament” under the first definition begins in Gen 1 and ends in Mal 4. But under the second definition, the “Old Testament” begins in Ex 20 where God made a covenant with Israel and was ended by the Death of Christ.

Furthermore, the “New Testament” under the first definition begins in Matthew 1 and ends in Revelation 22. Whereas under the second definition, the “New Testament” began (simultaneously) in Mt 27, Mk 15, Lk 23 and  Jn 19; and did NOT end in Rev 22 but continues up to this very day!

Many Christians are not aware of this reality. As a Believer, be conscious that you’re still living in the New Testament. There’s a direct line between you and Pentecost. The Acts of the Apostles did not end in Acts 28 (obviously, since people like Peter and John were still “acting” after that); the Acts continues to this day!

Beloved, we’ve been ordained as “ABLE MINISTERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT” (2Co 3:6); Therefore let’s reflect it in our conduct, our belief systems, and our theology.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.
GREG ELKAN