MONDAY, AUGUST 12
Scripture: Acts 13:28-34

Verse 24 is about as clear as it can be. Jesus bought and paid for the covenant of Sure Mercy that God gave David for every single one of us. Verse 34 says, “And that He raised, Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’” Jesus guarantees God’s covenant with David to the church. The first thing we have to ask is, what does that really mean? The answer to what does that really mean is found in II Samuel chapter seven where God gave David that covenant. The very first side of the covenant that is emphasized is not the priestly but the kingly. II Samuel 7:8,9 says, “Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of Hosts: “’I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. ‘And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name like the name of the great men who are on the earth.” From this passage we understand why Jesus guaranteed the covenant of Sure Mercy that God made with David and it has to do with rule or dominion. In order to bear rule we have to have the authority to pray and watch God cut off the enemy. Jesus guaranteeing God’s covenant with David gives us the ability to pray and ask God to cut off an unrelenting enemy. That is the promise. That is what God is doing, and that is what we need to be crying out for! The Lord is ready, but are we? We know the second half of the covenant but we have for the most part not taught the first half. That has been a mistake and it has to stop! A passive church is the fruit of preaching only “turn-the-other cheek”!