Identity

One of the rich advantage of being a covenant friend is the identity of covenant. The exchange of names, the scars of cutting a covenant, the exchange of items that are strongly linked to the owner are all means of identifying a person "in covenant". A person's enemy knows immediately that he is taking on not only that person, but also the covenant friend, should he attack. Satan knows and can identify one walking in covenant with God. He knows the power and authority of a covenant.

To the Church in Pergamum, Jesus' identity is linked to the double-edged sword. All through this message there are references to teaching and eating. We know both of these are descriptions of our relation to The Word of God. Satan uses these same methods to link people to his "doctrines". I have been impressed many times as I read these messages to the churches, how very closely Satan stays to the methods of true worship of God to get people to worship him. Deception is very hard to identify by sight and hearing. To the observer there seems to be little difference. Only when you know and have paid the price for Truth do you hear the lack of Life in the words used. The religious rulers did not hear Truth even when they heard it from the mouth of Jesus. The discerning of Truth is not a human capability, but is a part of the grace of the Holy Spirit. We do not come to the Father except the Spirit draws us! This church in Pergamum had a mixture of those walking in Truth and those who clung to the Lie. Jesus told the church to repent!

The power of repentance is beyond human observance. We are told to humble ourselves and repent for sins we do not even commit so God can heal our land! We are identified by the covenant we are under. God has always seen that people are a part of the nation to which they belong, the church to which they belong, the family to which they belong and holds them responsible for that to which they are identified! It was not enough that some were holding fast to the faith in the midst of Satan's persecution if they could not expose the darkness within their own group! If they could not use the "sword of His mouth" and cut out the false, Jesus would come and do it (verse 16).

To those who would overcome, the fruit, or blessing, of covenant would be theirs. The blessing is linked to the identity of Jesus to that church. This message is concerning the Word of God. It is powerful to the bringing down of strongholds and is the bread of Life to those who eat it. Being faithful to the Truth, the very nature of God revealed in Jesus, is to overcome our human nature and let the Holy Spirit reveal in us and through us God's nature. This is walking in Light in the midst of darkness. This is abiding in Him even when we are walking in the "city" where Satan dwells! Being faithful to what we have in Him opens the door to receive more from Him. Responding to the Spirit's leading as we eat His Word, is the key to receiving the hidden manna kept from the casual and reserved for those who knock.

The exchange of names in covenant is complete when God gives to us the new name by which He knows us. It will only be complete as we give to Him the covenant response of being faithful to His Name!