Restoring Covenant: Walking in God's Enduring Relationship

God is a covenant-keeping God, and His desire for relationship with us is not fleeting or shallow, but enduring and deeply committed. From the very beginning, God established a covenant with Adam and Eve, giving them dominion over the earth and asking only for honor in return. This honor was symbolized by the one tree in the garden that was set apart for God. The essence of covenant is mutual commitment, responsibility, and the expectation of good for both parties. When Adam and Eve broke this covenant, the consequences were severe—sin entered, and with it, death and separation from God. Yet, even in humanity’s failure, God’s faithfulness remained. He continually sought ways to restore relationship, culminating in the new covenant through Jesus Christ.

Throughout history, covenants have been central to God’s dealings with humanity. They are not just legal agreements, but binding relationships that carry both blessing and responsibility. Breaking a covenant always comes at a high cost—emotionally, spiritually, and even socially. This is true in our relationships with one another, as well as with God. The enemy, Satan, is always seeking to undermine these covenants by targeting our hearts—using attitudes like pride, jealousy, lust, and offense to gain a foothold. He rarely comes in obvious ways, but rather seeks to hijack our heart attitudes, leading us down paths of destruction if we do not process our wounds and temptations in God’s presence.

Examples from Scripture, such as Cain and Abel or David and Bathsheba, show how unchecked heart attitudes can lead to devastating consequences. Yet, the hope we have is in Christ, who came to restore what was lost. Jesus, through His suffering and death, reclaimed the dominion and glory that humanity forfeited in the garden. He is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters, even in our weakness, and He invites us to walk in restored authority and victory. The key is to remain vigilant, process our hurts and temptations before God, and refuse to let the enemy hijack our hearts. In Christ, we are empowered to walk in the fullness of the covenant, reclaiming our inheritance and living in the victory He has won.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Covenant is not a casual agreement but a binding, enduring relationship that requires ongoing maintenance and honor. God’s faithfulness to His covenant is unwavering, even when we fall short, and He continually seeks to restore us to right relationship with Him. Our part is to honor Him and steward the responsibilities He entrusts to us. [04:54]
• 2. The enemy’s primary tactic is to hijack our heart attitudes—pride, jealousy, lust, offense—rather than simply tempting us with obvious sin. If we do not process these attitudes in God’s presence, they can escalate into actions that break covenant and bring destruction. Vigilance and self-examination are essential to guard our hearts. [14:54]
• 3. Processing wounds, betrayals, and temptations before God is crucial. When we bring our pain and struggles to Him, He can heal and transform them, preventing the enemy from gaining a foothold. This is how Joseph was able to rise above betrayal, and how we too can avoid becoming tools of vengeance or bitterness. [17:36]
• 4. Sin always seeks an entry point, even in the hearts of those who desire to do right. The story of Cain and Abel illustrates that God is willing to accept us if we come to Him rightly, but if we allow jealousy or offense to fester, it can lead to tragic outcomes. We must be quick to bring our struggles to God and seek His wisdom. [19:31]
• 5. In Christ, the new covenant restores our lost dominion and authority. Jesus took on our suffering, defeated the power of death, and reclaimed the glory that was lost in the garden. Even as we continue to battle the enemy’s schemes, we do so from a place of victory, knowing that Christ is not ashamed to call us His own and is actively restoring us to our rightful inheritance. [27:28]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:34] - God’s Covenant Nature
• [04:54] - The First Covenant: Adam and Eve
• [06:05] - Dominion and Authority in Creation
• [07:45] - The Honor Code and the Forbidden Tree
• [08:54] - Defining Covenant and Its Implications
• [12:37] - The High Cost of Breaking Covenant
• [14:54] - Satan’s Tactics: Hijacking the Heart
• [17:36] - Processing Wounds and Betrayal
• [19:31] - Cain and Abel: The Danger of Unchecked Attitudes
• [21:16] - Responding to Betrayal and Temptation
• [22:07] - David and Bathsheba: The Progression of Sin
• [24:58] - Losing Inheritance Through Sin
• [25:48] - The New Covenant in Christ
• [27:28] - Jesus Restores Dominion and Glory
• [30:07] - Living in Victory and Guarding the Heart

Bible Reading

Genesis 1:26-28 (NKJV) — > Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
> So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
> Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 2:16-17 (NKJV) — > And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Hebrews 2:8-11 (NKJV) — > “You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
> But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
> For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
> For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.

Observation Questions

1. In Genesis 1:26-28, what specific responsibilities and authority did God give to Adam and Eve?
2. According to Genesis 2:16-17, what was the one command God gave Adam, and what was the consequence for breaking it?
3. In Hebrews 2:8-11, what does it say Jesus accomplished for us, and how does this relate to the original dominion given to humanity?
4. The sermon describes covenant as more than a contract. What are some key features of a covenant relationship, according to the message? [[08:54]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God set apart one tree in the garden as a symbol of honor in the covenant with Adam and Eve? What does this teach us about God’s expectations in relationship? [[07:45]]
2. The sermon says that breaking covenant comes at a high cost, not just spiritually but emotionally and socially. Why do you think the consequences are so far-reaching? [[12:37]]
3. According to the sermon, how does the enemy (Satan) usually try to break our covenant relationship with God? What are some of the “heart attitudes” he targets? [[14:54]]
4. How does Jesus restore what was lost in the garden, and what does it mean that He is “not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters”? [[27:28]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says that covenant with God is not casual, but requires ongoing maintenance and honor. What are some practical ways you can “maintenance” your relationship with God this week? [[04:54]]
2. Think about a time when you felt pride, jealousy, offense, or lust creeping into your heart. How did you respond? What could you do differently next time to process these attitudes in God’s presence instead of letting them grow? [[14:54]]
3. The message gave examples like Cain and Abel, and David and Bathsheba, where unchecked heart attitudes led to serious consequences. Is there a current attitude or temptation in your life that you need to bring before God? What’s stopping you? [[19:31]]
4. The sermon talked about processing wounds and betrayals before God, like Joseph did. Is there a hurt or betrayal you’re carrying that you haven’t brought to God yet? What would it look like to do that honestly this week? [[17:36]]
5. Jesus reclaimed our lost dominion and authority. What does it mean for you to “walk in restored authority and victory” in your daily life? Are there areas where you’re still living as if you’re defeated? [[27:28]]
6. The enemy tries to hijack our hearts in subtle ways. What are some warning signs in your own life that your heart might be getting hijacked? Who can you talk to for accountability or prayer? [[30:07]]
7. The sermon says that even when we fall short, God’s faithfulness to His covenant is unwavering. How does this truth encourage you when you feel like you’ve messed up or failed? [[04:54]]