Biblical Covenant Relationship

by Pastor Wes Mosteller

Have you noticed that people, even in Christian circles, are in a relationship only for what they may receive from them? I have discovered that some people abandon relationships when it looks as though it will cost them something. 

A Refusal to Abandon Biblical Covenant Relationship | Naomi and Ruth

In the Bible, Ruth—who refused to abandon her relationship with her mother-in-law—and Naomi understood biblical covenant. Both women saw extremely difficult days and their relationship endured.

Covenant Relationship Overcomes Hardship

Naomi, along with her husband and their sons, fled their land of Judah because of the great famine. They settled in Moab.

While in Moab, Naomi’s husband died. Her two sons married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. Then, another hardship pressed into Naomi’s life. Would you believe that her sons died while in Moab as well?

By this time, Naomi was advanced in age. She decided to make the trip back to Judah because there was no one left to care for her in Moab. Before Naomi began her journey home, she told her daughters-in-law to return each to their mother’s house. 

All of the women are weeping and in great distress. Again, Naomi told the women to return to their own families. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and left. However, Ruth clung to her (Ruth 1:14).

Mercy and Love in Covenant Relationship

Naomi said to Ruth…

• “… ‘Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ But Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.’”—Ruth 1:15-17

What a beautiful description of a biblical covenant relationship!

Ruth refused to go back to her family… or her old gods. Ruth had found her people, Naomi’s people. Ruth wasn’t about to abandon what she had clung to… Naomi or her God!

Naomi had nothing to give Ruth. She was old and poor. But Ruth didn’t care! Why?  Because she understood covenant relationship.

Ruth declared, “Death will be the only thing that separates you and me.”  She had found her people!

Covenant Relationship and Finding Your People

Have you found your people? 

Your people are those who can only be separated from you by death. If you’ve found them, then you have found your covenant people.

Pastor Wes Mosteller’s Personal Story about Covenant Relationship

In March of 1996, we founded New Beginnings Community Church. Since our inception, we looked diligently for our people. We searched for somewhere to belong, making efforts to discover our covenant people. 

Many denominations showed interest because of our heart for missions and our willingness to give. But we just didn’t seem to fit with any of them.

It wasn’t them; it was us!

Finding Covenant Relationship

Sometime between 2008-2010, I was introduced to Rabbi Curt Landry at the Fresh Oil New Wine Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

He was teaching on identity, inheritance, and the Jewish roots of our faith. As he taught about the tallit, shofar, and the Feasts of the Lord, something inside me seemed to  awaken.

From an early age, my dad instilled in me a love for Israel and the Jewish people. But as I listened to Rabbi, I began to receive revelation as to why certain things were working out like they were.

Let me explain…

Before meeting Curt Landry at the conference, I was doing things out of obedience with little to no revelation.

For example, our church would receive a special offering in the fall of the year that we called a Harvest Offering.

After hearing Curt Landry’s explanation of the Jewish roots, I learned that during the pilgrim feasts, the children of Israel would bring an offering to God. I discovered that we were receiving this offering during Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles.

Finally, it made sense as to why this offering was the largest that we received—because we were actually on God’s calendar! 

As the years passed, Rabbi would minister at a conference at New Beginnings Community Church in the fall each year. As a result, our relationship began to deepen. We also ministered together in Nicaragua as well as in Arkansas.

2016 was a pivotal moment, Greg Spencer and I attended the One New Man Conference at House of David. As I mentioned earlier, we had been searching for our people. 

That weekend, we discovered covenant relationship with our covenant people. I’ll never forget the moment when Rabbi invited Greg and myself into the immersion pool. He looked at us with a smile on his face and uttered these words, “Welcome home.”

I was overjoyed that we had found our covenant people! After years of searching, we had finally come “home.” 

The following February, Rebekah and I joined our covenant people on a trip of a lifetime to Israel. 

Covenant Teaching Opens Doors of Destiny and Favor

The message of the One New Man and the teaching of the Jewish roots has opened an incredible door to our local school system.

On many occasions, Greg and I have been asked to come and speak at schools. We take our tallits and shofars and have been dubbed ‘The Horn Guys.’ It is exciting to teach the next generation about their Jewish roots.

We also have a yearly invitation to teach The Bridge from Judaism to Christianity to the entire sixth-grade social studies class at a local school.

Here’s the Key…

When you discover your covenant people, the doors to your destiny are opened! The schools are my favorite assignment…

I look forward to seeing you at the One New Man Conference, June 26-28, where together we will discover more about biblical covenant.

Remember, covenant relationship is about what you give to the relationship, not just what you get from it.

Let’s be like Ruth. Let’s get connected for life, for love, and for God!

Do you want to know more about the One New Man?   

Check out our events page HERE, and discover how you can attend the One New Man conference.   

Friday June 26, 2020 to Sunday June 28, 2020  

BIO

Pastors Wes and Rebekah Mosteller are senior leaders at New Beginnings Community Church in Cana, Virginia. New Beginnings is a Spirit-led community church, established in 1996, and is dedicated to worshiping God, growing spiritually, and reaching the nations with the love of Messiah.