OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026

TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING COVENANTS

MEMORISE:

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Deuteronomy 7:9

READ: 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

MESSAGE

To understand what a covenant is, it is helpful first to understand what a contract is, as it is a more familiar concept. A contract is a written and signed agreement between two or more parties which outlines the expectations and responsibilities of all the parties involved in an interaction.

The moment a contract is signed, all parties involved are bound by it, and typically, the contract will outline the consequences of what will happen if any party breaches the agreement. Such consequences may include penalties, damages, and other similar outcomes.

A covenant is also a contract, but one that is signed with body fluids, mostly blood. This means that when body fluids, especially blood, are involved in a contract, a covenant has been established.

For example, in Genesis 17:1-14, God entered into a covenant with Abraham, and to sign that covenant, every male that was born into Abraham’s household was to be circumcised, beginning with Abraham himself, even though he was almost 100 years old at the time. A covenant is no joking matter, primarily because the penalty for breaking it is usually death. This is why today’s teaching is very important.

When a man and a woman come together to exchange body fluids, particularly through sex, they are entering into a covenant. They may not know it, but they have become bonded with each other.

This is why it is important for a husband and a wife to only have sexual relationships with each other, because the devil usually takes advantage of extramarital sexual intercourse to pass on demons between those who indulge in it.

Many years ago, a boy was barking like a dog and was brought to me for deliverance. When I investigated the matter, I discovered that he had been sleeping with a dog in his house. In other words, he had entered into a covenant with that dog, and the devil had obviously attacked him through that. In the same vein, when a fellow sleeps with someone who is not his or her spouse, certain things will be passed from that fellow to them, and you can be sure that they are not good things because the act that was committed was contrary to God’s will.

Beloved, do not neglect the Almighty God’s instructions about keeping yourself sexually pure.

Do not allow the devil access into your life by engaging in illicit sexual acts. I pray that the Lord will continually empower you to overcome all forms of sexual temptation, in Jesus’ name.

KEY POINT

Illicit sexual relations establish covenants that the devil can exploit.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Jeremiah 31-32

Hymn 34: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION

1. Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;

Each victory will help you some other to win;

Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue;

Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

Ask the Savior to help you,

Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;

He is willing to aid you,

He will carry you through.

2. Shun evil companions, bad language disdain;

God’s name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain;

Be thoughtful and earnest, kindhearted and true;

Look ever to Jesus,

He’ll carry you through.

3. To him that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown,

Thro’ faith we will conquer, though often cast down;

He who is our Saviour, our strength will renew;

Look ever to Jesus,

He’ll carry you through.