Pastor Jeremy Eastman discusses the importance of awakening to our new identity, heart, access, and power in Christ under the new covenant, emphasizing that believers must fully embrace the gifts and promises available to them through faith.
Pastor Jeremy Eastman opens his message with a reminder of the peace and presence of God that fills the room. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging God's presence in our lives and receiving it fully. This leads into the central theme of his sermon: awakening to the new covenant and understanding the fullness of what God has done for us.
Eastman begins by illustrating the concept of awakening, comparing it to the moments when we wake up in the morning. Often, our bodies are awake before our minds fully grasp our surroundings. He draws a parallel to many believers who are alive in Christ but remain unaware of the fullness of the new covenant.
He urges listeners to awaken to what God is doing and to step out of old mindsets and dead works into the new life that Jesus has provided. He likens this to owning a house but only living in the garage, missing out on the fullness of what is available.
The first point Eastman makes is the necessity of awakening to a new identity. He references 2 Corinthians 5:17, which states, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, the new has come." This scripture highlights that anyone who receives Christ is transformed into a new creation, leaving behind their old self.
Eastman contrasts the old covenant, where individuals were judged by the law and had to earn acceptance through sacrifices, with the new covenant, where believers are made righteous through faith in Christ. He cites John 1:12, which affirms that those who receive Christ are given the right to become children of God.
The second point focuses on awakening to a new heart. In Hebrews 8:10, God promises to put His laws in our minds and write them on our hearts. Eastman explains that under the old covenant, obedience was external, but the new covenant brings internal transformation.
He references Ezekiel 36:26-27, which prophesies that God will give us a new heart and spirit. This transformation allows believers to live out their faith not through obligation but through a genuine love for God.
The third point is about awakening to new access. Eastman highlights Hebrews 4:16, which encourages believers to approach the throne of grace with confidence. In the old covenant, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, but through Jesus, the veil was torn, granting all believers direct access to God.
He emphasizes that this access is not limited to specific times or places; believers can approach God anywhere and at any time, as they are His children.
The fourth point addresses awakening to new power. Eastman quotes Romans 8:11, stating that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in believers. This power is not about trying harder but yielding more to God.
He encourages listeners to recognize that they have resurrection power to overcome sin, endure suffering, and fulfill their calling. The new covenant is not about performance but about a relationship with Christ, who invites believers into a deeper experience of His grace and power.
Eastman concludes by summarizing the key points: awakening to a new identity, a new heart, new access, and new power. He challenges believers to stop striving and to trust in the sufficiency of Christ.
He reminds the congregation that the old covenant was based on law and conditional blessings, while the new covenant is rooted in grace and secured by Jesus's perfect obedience.
As he wraps up, Eastman encourages everyone to embrace their identity as sons and daughters of God, to live in the fullness of the new covenant, and to impact their communities through this understanding.
In closing, he leads a prayer of gratitude for the new identity and access believers have in Christ, inviting them to step into the fullness of what God has for them.
