Introduction to the Next Series of Studies: Covenant Promises

(John 16:33 NKJV) “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

This series focuses on our amazing Lord Jesus, and his setting up of a new covenant. This continues from the previous series, Becoming Friends, which was set in the upper room at the last supper. During the same Passover meal, Jesus began to unveil his new covenant, with its invincible promises and covenantal meal.

Jesus’s amazing new pledge and its promises would be in effect for his recently acknowledged friends; but only if they continue to abide in him, his love, his word, and to obey him. The promises he made to them as he instituted their covenant would be of immeasurable value to them—his graduating class of apprentices, for fulfilling his commission and assignment for them.

I pray that as you read and meditate on the Bible passages in this series of studies—taken from John 14–16—that you will feel Jesus’s heart of love and friendship for his disciples, apprentices, and now friends. It is a very relational passage set at the last supper—the Passover meal he shared with his friends just prior to his arrest, trial, and crucifixion.

The Passover meal gave the perfect setting for Jesus to unveil the concealed truth of the Old Testament festival—it was all about him, the true and unblemished Lamb of God. This gave him the opportunity to unveil the new covenant he brought into being for all those who would be “in him.”

Jesus fulfilled all the conditions of the old covenant himself, but the new one he set up has conditions of its own. Primarily, it is available for all of those who abide in Jesus—who walk in the Spirit, are led by the Holy Spirit, who love Jesus enough to obey him, who abide in his word, and who are filled with God’s Spirit of Holiness.

I encourage you to fulfill these conditions as you digest and assimilate the amazing spiritual banquet Jesus lays out for us in his many promises—all of which are available to us in his new covenant. May God’s Spirit of wisdom and revelation flood your inner man with light as you progress through this series of devotional studies.

(Mark 14:22–24 NKJV) And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” (23) Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. (24) And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.”

Part 1 – GREATER AND MORE PROLIFIC WORKS THROUGH A NEW ARRANGEMENT

(John 14:12 NKJV) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

Jesus did only what he saw with his Father, and said only what he heard with him (John 5:19–20; 8:26). Jesus confirmed this during the Last Supper:

(John 14:10 NKJV) “… The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”

In saying this, our Lord revealed that the works he did in his Father’s name were associated with the words he heard from his Father in the spirit and then spoke out into this natural realm. Hearing and speaking what God was saying resulted in great miracles, and supernatural interventions. This reflects the Biblical pattern; the first use of spoken words in the Bible was for creation, not communication:

(Genesis 1:1–3 NKJV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (2) The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (3) Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

In John 14 (above), Jesus said: “He who believes in me, the works that I do he will do also.”

How could Jesus—the spotless Son of God, who performed miraculous works through his righteous standing with his Father—say this about us who are ex-sinners? He gave us the answer: “Because I go to my Father.” Jesus’s relocation to the Father’s right hand, not only meant that the Holy Spirit would come to fill, empower, and guide every believer who is open to him; but it also meant that Jesus could move onto his new ministries:

● Head of the church (Eph. 1:22)

● Lord of lords (Rev. 17:4; 19:16)

● King of kings (Rev. 17:4; 19:16)

● High Priest of our confession (Heb. 3:1)

● Our eternal High Priest (Heb. 6:20)

● Author and Perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2)

● Our eternal Intercessor (Heb. 7:25)

● Surety of the New Covenant (Heb. 7:22)

● Our Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1)

● Our Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14)

With the infinitely powerful, omnipresent, and all-knowing Holy Spirit in us and with us; and with our Lord Jesus directing us, coaching us, interceding for us, and guaranteeing the New Covenant, no wonder he said:

(John 14:12 NKJV) “… the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

Through Jesus’s achievements and his ongoing ministry, we have access to all he used when he was here. We have:

● His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21)

● His innocent blood (Rev. 1:5)

● His clean conscience (Heb. 9:14)

● His nature in the new birth (Rom. 8:29)

● His access to Father (Eph. 3:12)

● His acceptance with the Father and Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:6 NKJV)

● The right to revelation of God’s word (1 Cor. 2:10)

● His offensive weapon—the word of God (Eph. 6:17)

● His name and authority (Mat. 28:18, Mark 16:15–20)

● His armor (Eph. 6:10–18)

● His grace to help us in our time of need (Heb. 4:16)

● The Greater One inside us (1 John 4:4)

In truth, Jesus has done everything necessary to free us from restrictions, and to enable us to operate as he did. What’s more, because his body now has multiplied mouths, hands, and feet; through us, the number of miracles and works can be “greater” as he said.

By the time our wonderful forerunner and Lord Jesus had risen from the dead, ascended to the Father, and sent the Holy Spirit to be with us and in us; he had fully achieved the objective he had in mind when he called his apprentices. His goal was the multiplication and longevity of his mission. The Master had truly made them competent at fishing for men; he had successfully multiplied himself and his ministry in and through his apostles. Now, because of the success of his bride—the church—he has increased and multiplied his character, assignment, and works worldwide.

What’s more, now after such a long time, God has fulfilled a promise he made centuries ago. Through the main miracle of a new birth, the call of God, and all the associated miracles and works performed through the church, God’s glory is finally filling the whole earth:

(Numbers 14:21 NKJV) “But truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.”

(Habakkuk 2:14 NKJV) “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.”

Now is Jesus’s finest hour; his church is shining his glory like never before. What’s more, his glory in the church is increasing; the number of miracles and new births is burgeoning; and his word is being spread into the entire world in an increasing variety of ways, through more and more voices:

(Acts 12:24 ESV) But the word of God increased and multiplied.

(Isaiah 60:1–3 NKJV) “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. (2) For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. (3) The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.”

Today is the day for Jesus’s bride to make herself ready (Rev. 19:7); it’s time for her to be spotless and without wrinkle (Eph. 5:27). It is also time for the glory of our King to be known all around the world.

Our Lord and Savior has done all that is necessary to make this possible. Now it’s our time to focus on his glory. After all, he has given us his glory so we can be unified—a glorious church. Let’s take our focus off what may appear to be the church’s flaws, and let’s put it on Jesus’s glory—through worship, his word, and the greater works he has prepared for us to walk in:

(Ephesians 2:10 NKJV) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

After all, church unity will come because of the glory; not the other way around:

(John 17:22–23 NKJV) “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: (23) I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

We note that in speaking of his Father’s glory, Jesus said, “I have given them.” He spoke of his giving us the glory as past tense; this is something that he has already done. We already have the gory inside us, in potential, waiting to be let out to unify the church and flood the earth:

(Colossians 1:27 NKJV) To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

God is hoping for all the glory that’s locked inside your potential to be released into the world. This way, you can make your assigned contribution to his glory covering and filling the whole earth.

What adjustments do you have to make today to line up with Father’s dream to see the whole earth filled with his glory? Today, you can walk in the glorious works that he has prepared for you—supernatural, miraculous works—your part in the “greater works” (Eph. 2:10). Listen to his still, small, friendly voice, focus on his word, love him with all your heart, and watch for what he shows you in the spirit so that, like Jesus, you can imitate him as your Father.

(John 14:12–14 NLT) “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. (13) You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. (14) Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”