The chapel at Assembly of God Church in Bothell, WA is the place of worship for the Nejat Church. Today, as with most other Sundays after the sermon, some Iranian Muslims came forward, ask for prayers and gave their heart to Jesus Christ. After a spirit-filled worship in songs and prayers, Pastor Massoud Sadeghi gave the following sermon (and I paraphrase):
Welcome to the Nejat Church. This is your church. The people’s church. I’m going to talk to you today about the Blood Covenant. What is it and why is it significant? Let me begin by saying that God has made a blood covenant with mankind. God’s blood scares Satan. Every time I preach about the blood of Jesus, I find the miraculous results of healing, freedom from bondage of sin, peace, prosperity and promises of God fulfilled among the people. The blood of Jesus is able to cleanse everything and all things. In all other religions the believers have to give of their life and blood to their god or gods, but in Christianity, it is God Himself, Jesus Christ who gave His blood to his followers.
I want to disclose this important fact to you. Please read John 5:51-57. The blood of Jesus can take any sickness, sadness and sin and result of sin away and it can overcome any problem in your lives. Jesus came for all generations and people of all races. He came to heal the broken hearts. Anyone who takes the body of Christ and His blood, he/she will have eternal life. I wan tot tell my people in Iran that religion does not save them, but Jesus, His blood and body gives eternal life. When you take the sacrament, a token of the body and blood of Jesus, then Satan will flee from you. Satan will be afraid of you.
You can not dislike others as you have now taken the body and blood of Jesus in your vein. You must forgive and love others just as Jesus did love us. I know Satan is very unhappy today as I talk about the blood of Jesus.
You know, I’m tired of Satan and his tricks on my people. I’m sad to see that believers who have so much power in Jesus Christ in Heaven are not prospering because of Satan. Remember Jesus is and dwells in us. How could we have Jesus in us and fight with one another? Now that we are one body in Christ, it does not make sense to be fighting withone another! Jesus said: Just as the living God has sent me and I’m alive today, anyone who eats of my blood and flesh will have eternal life. The Bible tells of the blood covenant in both the old and the new testament. There is no salvation anywhere else but in Jesus who gave His blood for our sins.
In the history of man, there have been many forms and rituals of blood covenant. All nations have practiced some form of blood covenant. These rituals have independent of one another evolved, but they all go back to what happend in the garden of Eden. Likewise, Abraham made a blood covenant with God so God could give him many promises. In the new testament, God gave His Son’s blood for a new covenant and gave us many more and much more powerful promises.
There are three reasons for blood covenants:
1) For protection. A small tribe would make a covenant with a larger more powerful tribe for protection. I praise God that we are given a covenant with Him, Jesus Christ who is the most powerful. He protects us against anything.
2) To promote trade. Nations made covenants to promote long lasting parternships and cooperation between each other lasting many generations and even governments. God’s covenant with us through Jesus Christ provides fully and most completely for us. We have again prosperity through this covernant with God.
3)To form a family relationship. To take of each other people made blood covenants to become brothers. We’ve a brother in Jesus Christ who protects and looks after our needs. In Christ we enjoy all three forms of covenants. I have good news for you: Jesus is holding the bread and blood in his hands waiting for us to take it. No other blood covenant is required for you, since you have already made such a covenant with Jesus.
In each covenant, God changes the person and their family just as He did with Abraham and Sarah. In the new covenant with Christ, you have changed and so has your family. You are amongst a new family now. Whatever is in God is now in you. Look how much God blessed Abraham and Abraham’s descendants. How much more has He blessed you who He calls as His children? (Read Galatians 3:7 and 1Peter2:9)
Jesus is alive today for us. He is now sitting in the right hand side of God. He can provide and protect us from everything.
In John 16:24, Jesus said: You have not asked anything yet, but ask in my name and you will receive so your happiness is complete. If you feel you are alone or feel that you need something, just ask in Jesus’ name and you will receive. You are no longer alone, as you have Jesus in you as you take this sacrament. God bless you. Amen.
Nejat Church