IN COVENANT WITH GOD
¶ THE COVENANT! Is a Work in progress, under Creation, by Yours Truly! It is a Letter From Over Yonder based on the book entitled, “COVENANT, ITS BLESSINGS – ITS CURSES” by Bob Phillips
¶ My Letter From Over Yonder, “THE COVENANT” based on the book by Bob Phillips, “COVENANT, ITS BLESSINGS – ITS CURSES”, has been (by permission of the publisher ©1986 World Challenge, Inc., Lindale, Texas, 75771) fitted with the comments and infused with the writings of Will Callery.
¶ David Wilkerson said this of Bob Phillips, “Bob Phillips is one of the most convicting, scriptural Bible teachers I have ever met. He makes the WORD come alive and it pierces to the spiritual marrow of the bone. In his hands, the WORD is truly a hammer, but it is balanced by a tender heart and a loving concern for the spiritual welfare of men and women of God. You will never forget this man.” – David Wilkerson
Wilkerson goes on to say, “This book, “COVENANT, ITS BLESSINGS – ITS CURSES” will draw you to the Lord. It will open your eyes to the majesty of God’s holiness and faithfulness. It will make you hate sin – in your own life and in the church. It will renew the fear of the Lord in your heart and produce a desire for purity as you have never before experienced. – David Wilkerson
¶ Now, please allow me, Will Callery, the liberty to go on to say, that this book, “COVENANT, ITS BLESSINGS, ITS CURSES”, by Bob Phillips, will not only open your eyes to God’s holiness and faithfulness, it will also open your heart to a warmth, a kindness, a confidence, and a friendship that can only be FOUND in the “FRIEND that sticks closer than a brother“. I must say, “I have never met a friend that knows me more thoroughly or loves me more deeply, than my Lord”, Who, has from the “Beginning” and is to this very hour, beckoning, out of His Great Love, for everyone who desires to escape this very Present Evil World, the Harlot Church and the “Final Fate” of all those who are infatuated with them, to come out from among them and into COVENANT with the God of All Creation before the Final Curtain Falls. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!!!
¶ Considering all of this, I have two “Key Scriptures” that just will not leave me alone.
The 1st one is Proverbs 14:92, which reads, “There is a road that runs thru the course of this life that does seem so right to man but does indeed, lead nowhere, but straight to Hell. (¹wcv)
The 2nd is, 2 Peter 2:19, which states, “…of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought into bondage to.”
¶ Once again, considering all of this we must yet again consider more. We must come to terms with the TRUTH of the Matter, that…
At “The Fall of Man”, EVERYTHING CHANGED! My Lord and My God!, in the blink of an eye, how EVERYTHING DID CHANGE!
¶ Mankind became apostate, God was provoked, the Holy Spirit left the polluted temple (our hearts), the unclean spirit moved in and took possession. Man’s Divine Image was defaced and in its place, Satan’s image was impressed upon the soul, the heart, and the mind of mankind, where just a moment before, the Divine Image of God did rest. Man began doing things “Satan’s way” thinking it was “his way”. That Badlands Magician is a tricky son-of-gun. “There is a road that runs thru the course of this life that does seem so right to man, but it does, indeed, lead nowhere, but straight to Hell. (Proverbs 14:92, ¹wcv)
¶ The CONSEQUENCE? Take a long and goodly gander! The CONSEQUENCES of the “CURSE” are overwhelmingly visible everywhere; The depravity, arrogance, wickedness, filth, oppression, confusion, perversion, violence, misery, sickness, disease, instability, and stupidity of mankind is everywhere… (Scott/Callery) …not to mention the ominous and forboding darkness that is rabidly wrapping itself about the earth and her inhabitants, out of which the faint sounds of rattling sabres, the pounding hoofbeats of the warhorse, the roaring of cannons and cries of anguish are growing louder by the minute. Are you deaf? What we are witnessing is the absolute self-centeredness, selfishness, arrogance, perversion, abject evil, malevolence, wickedness, deception, and torrid greed for ownership of the souls of men by The Abomination of Desolation who is, this very hour, setting up camp in the “Temple Mount”, the hearts of men, instilling in the wilderness of their god-forsaken void a brew of insanity that is about to peak into an epitomic explosion. The JOKE is on the WOKE, they will finally get their “BIG BANG”! All of this is, of course, nothing less than the “SORCERY of the HARLOT Riding on the Back of the Beast, Drunk on the Blood of the Saints” who is fueled, and enabled by the absolute STUPIDITY of FALLEN MAN and RELIGIONS VOID OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
¶ The AntiChrist is not coming as a “Great Political Figure”, no, he is coming as a “Great Religious Figure.”, a “Counterfeit Christ”, not a “Counterfeit Washington”, an “AntiWashington”, or a “Counterfeit Lincoln”, an “AntiLincoln”, but a “Counterfeit Christ” known thruout the universe as the “AntiChrist”. If that were not so, why would he employ a “Prophet” known in the Word of God as the “False Prophet”? We are approaching “SATAN’S HEYDAY”! Therefore, keep in mind, “BY WHOM A MAN IS OVERCOME, OF THE SAME IS HE BROUGHT INTO BONDAGE TO.” (2 Peter 2:19)
¶ This book, “COVENANT-ITS BLESSINGS-ITS CURSES”, “IF” “Studied, as to show yourself approved by God… as one who can rightly divide the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, ¹wcv,²), and “IF” “Taken to Heart” and “Lived Faithfully” will bring you into a CLEAR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD and out from under “The Shadow of the Black Swan”, the “Curse”, and all of its lingering strongholds. It will give you a True Understanding of the WORD OF GOD, His Love, His Friendship, His Promises, His Power, His Spirit, the HOLY SPIRIT, and the “NEW COVENANT” so that you might, as never before, experience a Freedom you had no idea even existed. (Galatians 2:4, John 8:32) and, of course, be delivered from the coming wrath of God. “For the wrath of God is about to be revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who <HOLD THE TRUTH> in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).
¶ To “HOLD THE TRUTH” you must first, know the Truth. The Greek word for “hold” is “ketecho”. Because, according to the Scripture (Romans 1:8), the TRUTH is being “held” in unrighteousness, the proper interpretation for the word “hold” would be “WITHHOLD” or “HOLD BACK” (Strongs Grk. Ketecho – “withhold”/”hold back”, 2722/2596/2192), which gives us the liberty to lay it out like this: “For the wrath of God is about to be revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who ‘HOLD BACK THE TRUTH’ in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). That doesn’t sound like the unbeliever, the atheist, or ’em ere heatherns to me. To me, it certainly has the smack of a spiritually educated, highly literate “snake in the garden”.
This Scripture is describing today’s do-lally-land-hirelings who dub and tag themselves as preachers, teachers, prophets, and apostles, etc. who do indeed “Know the Truth” but are HOLDING IT BACK INTENTIONALLY – to misconstrue IT. Why? In order that they may “BUILD” A “RELIGIOUS STRUCTURE” of their own. WHY? So they can “RULE”, and ACCUMULATE WEALTH. “…make merchandise of you.” (2 Peter 2:3) of which the Lord says, “…whose judgment has lingered for a long time now…”, but know this, “…their DAMNATION is not asleep, it slumbers not.”
¶ Now, in the First Epistle of John, chapter 2, in verses 18 and 19, The Word clearly states, “Little children (child of God, newborn soul), the last hour has come; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, so even now many anti-Christs have appeared. By this, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE IN THE FINAL HOUR. They went out from us; for if they had been one with us, they would have, no doubt, remained with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest (made known to you) THAT THEY ARE NOT ONE OF US.” (1 John 2:18,19, ¹wcv) How? “You will know them by the fruit they bear.” However, without the operation of the Nine Gifts of the Spirit, it is impossible. To operate in the Gifts of the Spirit you must have the Evidence. There is no such thing as the “Gift of Discernment” as some say, There is according to the Scriptures, “God’s Gift of the Discerning of Spirits”, one of the three Revelatory Gifts. It is a supernatural Gift that can only be possessed by those who own the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire with the Evidence”, and that, my friend, is available to everyone, simply for the asking. The only great hindrance to it is PRIDE. However, I must warn you, it also has many COUNTERFEITS.
¶ “THEY WENT OUT” – They went out where? They certainly did not go out to “Deceive the World”, the “World” is already deceived. Satan is the Prince of this World! When they “went out from them“, they “WENT OUT” to misconstrue the “TRUTH”! Why did they go? To DECEIVE GOD’S PEOPLE! To BUILD RELIGIOUS STRUCTURES OF THEIR OWN! WHY? To “RULE” – “Driven by greed, fame, fortune, and ego, with great swelling words, flattery, and (Oscar Winning) charisma they will make merchandise of you….they are ungodly men who creep in unaware… to turn the Grace of God into lascivious liberties…(they are nothing less than) false prophets and false teachers who misconstrue the Truth for fame and filthy mammon, of whom…” The Scriptures say that “… in the Last days there will be MANY who (fall to their deception, and²) follow their pernicious ways.” (Jude 1:4, 2 Peter 2:1,2,3, ¹wcv,²)
¶ So, what is the ANTIDOTE to counter these anti-Christs?
We all know that an ANTIDOTE is a medicine taken or given to counteract a particular poison or affliction.
¶ Forgive me for this, but far too many of those who call themselves citizens of Christendom today believe that the Name of Jesus <alone> is the ANTIDOTE – as if His Name was some kind of “Good Luck Charm” –
“Wail, jes call on the Name a Jaysus, you know, “The Man Upstairs”, n everthang’ll be awright!
That is not well and good, but a nonsensical, daffy practice that will cause those who take part in such malarky to break water down both legs and soil their britches at the first sight of His return, for the Lord Himself said,
“SEE TO IT and BEWARE that you be not deceived, for MANY shall come IN MY NAME, and they shall say, ‘I am God, The Messiah’, and (tell you that) ‘The time is near (now)’, DO NOT GO AFTER THEM. DO NOT FOLLOW THEM” (Luke 21:8, Aramaic in plain English, ¹wcv) We cannot “SEE TO IT and BEWARE” unless we “STUDY TO SHOW OURSELVES APPROVED”. NO ONE CAN DO THAT FOR US!!!
And so I am urged to repeat, “… in the Last days there will be MANY who (fall to the deception of DECEIVERS and²) follow their pernicious ways.” simply because they refuse to “Study to show themselves approved…” (Jude 1:4, 2 Peter 2:1,2,3, ¹wcv)
¶ So, tell me, Just how do we “SEE ” “TO IT“? Just how do we “BEWARE“? …as the Lord commands us in Luke 21:8. The Scriptures are more than clear on the matter, for right there in the book of Hosea, Chapter 4, verse 6, the Scripture distinctly declares, “My people are destroyed for their LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. Because they REJECT KNOWLEDGE, I will REJECT THEM…” In the first place, let me clear out some religious fog here, God’s GRACE does not CANCEL OUT His WORD! For LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, for REFUSING to “study to show yourself approved”, for REJECTING KNOWLEDGE, YOU WILL PERISH! I don’t care “Who You Are” or what your religious or financial status might be – unless you realize that without knowing the Word of God and Walking in the Spirit we are all creatures that are susceptible to deception, which takes a degree of humility and obedience, then your ABILITY to “SEE” “TO IT” and “BEWARE” has been STOLEN by the one who “comes to kill, STEAL, and destroy”. In the second place, the Crow is not a delectable dish, but a truly humble man, throughout his life, will certainly have to eat his share of it. A prideful man will not eat crow. He would rather be deceived and starve to death spiritually If you already KNOW IT ALL, you cannot BE TAUGHT. There is no price that can be put upon a HUMBLE, TEACHABLE SPIRIT that operates in the Gifts of the Spirit. It is PRICELESS.
¶ The ANTIDOTE is GODLY KNOWLEDGE, “UNDERSTANDING” the COVENANT, the GOD of the COVENANT, possessing His GIFTS of the SPIRIT, and the ability to receive His PROMISES. It is not God that is obstinate and difficult, it is us.
And so, we delve into the book by Bob Phillips, entitled,
“COVENANT” “Its Blessings – Its Curses”
Chapter I
“I WILL BE GOD TO YOU”
Jumping ahead a bit to page 4 we find Bobby Lynn Phillips quoting The Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 29, verses 10,12,13, which is an ancient DECLARATION and INVITATION from the Ancient of Days, Himself.
¶ (Just as were the Israelites, coming out of Egypt, we are, likewise, extended the very same “OFFER”, and INVITED by the very same Lord, not only to escape the Present Evil World of today but to also “Come out of her My people.” Come out of who? “The Harlot Church”. The Lord is, indeed, this very hour, INVITING all of us to come and… “…To stand, all of us, before (Him) the Lord our God:…(with) our little ones, our wives, even the strangers who are in our nation,…that we may ENTER INTO A COVENANT with the Lord our God,…in order that HE MAY <ESTABLISH US> <ESTABLISH US> <ESTABLISH US> TODAY AS HIS PEOPLE – THAT HE MAY BE OUR GOD.” (Deuteronomy 29″10,12,13).
¶ We must KNOW, INTIMATELY, the GOD of the COVENANT and the TERMS of the COVENANT, or we will perish! (Hosea 4:6)
(p.4, ¶ 5, to p.6, ¶1) GOD HAS GIVEN US A SECURE HOPE
¶ Almighty God has made and established a COVENANT for (us) His people! (and for all who are not yet His, but, somewhere down the line may desire to be His²) A COVENANT, which, if you will LAY HOLD OF IT, will recover all you have lost, ransom you from death, deliver you from the CURSE on the land, and advance you into the GLORY OF HIS PRESENCE. (“IF” YOU LAY HOLD OF IT WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART.²)
¶ P.5, ¶1, “This is My Body, which is for you” (1 Corinthians 11:24). That is the great and awesome PROMISE God has made to His people. “I will be (your²) God, and (you²) shall be (Mine²) My people” (Jeremiah 31:33).
The Lord of heaven and earth is saying, “I AM God, and what I AM is all theirs (YOURS²) – Myself, in all My glory; all My character and attributes; My power; My presence; My wisdom; My righteousness; My holiness; My all-sufficiency; My faithfulness; I will give (all of²) MYSELF to them (YOU²) and be theirs (YOURS²) forever!”
My goodness, people of God, PUT A HANDLE ON IT and TAKE HOLD OF IT!
¶ ¶2 This NEW COVENANT is the FOUNDATION upon which ALL SPIRITUAL LIFE IS BUILT. “No man can lay a foundation other than the ONE which is laid, which is JESUS CHRIST” (1 Corinthians 3:11). (No “other foundation”, or anything you build upon it will STAND before the Judgment Seat of the Fiery Touchstone.²)
It is through this NEW COVENANT that we have access to the “Blood of the Eternal Covenant” for forgiveness of sins and cleansing of our conscience from dead works to serve the Living God (Hebrews 13:20). It is because of this NEW COVENANT that we are ABLE to OBEY God and “Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in ALL respects, bearing fruit in every good work and INCREASING (daily²) IN THE KNOWLEDGE of God; (and to be²) strengthened with ALL POWER” (Colossians 1:10,11) It is through this NEW COVENANT that we have DIRECT communion (intimate fellowship²) with Almighty God and can KNOW Him DEEPLY within our HEARTS. Our ability to bear fruit unto the Lord (to be effective according to His will²) DEPENDS ENTIRELY upon this NEW COVENANT. ALL OUR RESOURCES FOR STRENGTH AND POWER FOR DAILY LIVING ARE FOUND IN THIS COVENANT.
¶ ¶3 Every child of God must KNOW this COVENANT if he is to COMPREHEND “what is the hope of His calling, what are the RICHES of the GLORY of His INHERITANCE in the saints, and what is the SURPASSING GREATNESS of His POWER toward us WHO BELIEVE” (Ephesians 1:18,19)
Note: We must KNOW this COVENANT inside-out for the PROMISES of GOD to manifest in the natural and the Character of our King to manifest in us.²
In Summary, I would like for you to CONSIDER THIS:
♥ If you are “In Love” with someone, not only are they on your heart every waking moment of the day, they are also the object of your sweet dreams throughout the night. Not only do you want to KNOW THEM INTIMATELY, you want to KNOW EVERYTHING about them so that you might PLEASE THEM. So it is with those who are “TRULY” Born Again of the Spirit OF God. (wc)
However, it is quite different for those who have been “Born” into the religious, by-the-numbers, doctrines of men, whose STRUCTURES have been engineered by the spirit of error and whose FOUNDATIONS ARE BUILT UPON THE SHIFTING, SINKING SANDS OF TIME From the CESSATIONISTS to the SENSATIONALISTS, from the comatose and the fearful to the gifted intellectual orator, from the flattering intellectual orator to the great emotional fellowships of the flesh, and everything in between. From the silence of the fearful to the chaotic commotion of the zealot, who is maniacally fervent in the “defense” of his “Religious Structure”, of which, out of all of the above, there are NONE, “No Not One” that is “IN LOVE or “IN COVENANT” with the Lord. (Psalm 14:3, ¹wcv)
♥ You can always tell when someone is “IN LOVE”. ♥ And still, there is an eternity of difference between being INFATUATED with your RELIGION – and being IN LOVE WITH THE LORD.
For they that are INFATUATED with their RELIGIONS “serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites; and by the pomp invested in their oratory skills, with flattering speeches do they deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Romans 16:18, ¹wcv) Which is why the Lord says, “Come out of HER, My people! Return to your First Love.” (Revelation 2:4, 18:4)
The ANTIDOTE? “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and all of your mind, with all of your soul, and with all of your strength; and Love your neighbor as you love yourself… and study to show yourself approved by God, that you are a workman that is not ashamed – because you know (by the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit²) how to rightly divide the Word of Truth”. (Luke 10:27, 2 Timothy 2:15, ¹wcv & ²) Do this, and you will never “LACK FOR KNOWLEDGE” – Do this, and you will indeed, be in COVENANT with the GOD OF ALL CREATION.
THE ROAD TO FORGIVENESS by Will Callery & Joe Forlini ©William & Cynthia Pub. Co. / ©Joe Forlini Music ©2013 BMI
Letters From Over Yonder, The Deep Fetch, & The Covenant are published by William & Cynthia Pub. Co. ©2023 {All Rights Reserved}
¹wcv / My Emphasis/Version
² / My Insert
Black & White Photograph by HARVEY BELGIN entitled “Drought Breaker” – shot on Resurrection Day in Old San Antone (1951)
Thank you, Harvey! Truly, that picture is worth a thousand words!
