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IN LIFE WE FIND COMFORT AND STRENGTH IN THE ASSURANCES OF GOD.
GOD THRU HIS SON JESUS CHRIST HAS GIVEN AND ALLOWED US TO FIND STRENGTH
WHERE WEAKNESS IS PRESENT, HEALING WHERE SICKNESS HAS ATTACKED, PEACE
WHERE TURMOIL HAS DISRUPTED YOUR LIFE AND A SOUND MIND WHERE FEAR IS
TERRORIZING YOU.
THERE ARE PRINCIPLES IN THE BIBLE THAT GOD INTENDS US TO APPLY TO OUR
LIVES AND THERE ARE PROMISES GOD DESIRES HIS CHILDREN TO INHERIT AND
WALK IN.
THE PRINCIPLES WHEN APPLIED TO OUR LIVES BRING DIVINE ORDER AND THE
FRUITS OF THIS IS AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE.
THE PROMISES OF THE BIBLE ARE THE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS WE HAVE INHERITED
AS HEIRS OF GOD THRU JESUS CHRIST.
OF COURSE THE RECIPIENT OF ALL PROMISES IS ABRAHAM AND HIS RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD SET A PATTERN FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL’S RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR
LORD.
SALVATION AND EVERY PROMISE FROM GOD IS FOR ALL WHO HAVE AN ABRAHAM LIKE
TRUST IN THE GOD WHO RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD.
DO THE PROMISES GOD MADE IN THE BIBLE APPLY TO ME?
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO SEE THESE PROMISES BECOME REALITY IN MY LIFE.
WHY DO I CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THIS TURMOIL AND WHY DOESN’T GOD DO
SOMETHING.
2 Peter 1:4 And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other
rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to
save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his
own character. TLB
WE HAVE PROMISES FROM GOD WHICH ARE OURS TO GRASP AND WALK IN.
THESE PROMISES ARE MADE AVAILABLE THRU THE WORK OF CALVARY.
EACH ONE OF US IS ABLE TO TAKE THESE PROMISES AND CLAIM THEM FOR OUR
FAMILIES AND OUR LIVES.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A EARTHLY PROMISE AND A PROMISE FROM GOD IS THE
PROMISE OR COMMITMENT ARE NOT TEMPORARY OR CONDITIONAL,
EXCEPT ONE THE PROMISE OF SALVATION, THE CONDITION IS YOU MUST ACCEPT
JESUS AS SAVIOUR AND LORD.
GOD’S PROMISES, OR HIS SPECIAL COMMITMENTS ARE CALLED COVENANTS.
PROMISES CAN BE TEMPORARY AND SINCE GODS PROMISES ARE NOT TEMPORARY,
THIS IS WHY THEY ARE CALLED COVENANTS.
THE WRITER OF HEBREWS LOOKS BACK ON GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM AND
EXPLAINS WHY GOD CHOSE TO CALL THIS SPECIAL COMMITMENT A COVENANT.
Heb 6:15 Then Abraham waited patiently until finally God gave him a
son, Isaac, just as he had promised. 16 When a man takes an oath, he is
calling upon someone greater than himself to force him to do what he has
promised or to punish him if he later refuses to do it; the oath ends
all argument about it. 17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that
those he promised to help would be perfectly sure and never need to
wonder whether he might change his plans. 18 He has given us both his
promise and his oath, two things we can completely count on, for it is
impossible for God to tell a lie. Now all those who flee to him to save
them can take new courage when they hear such assurances from God; now
they can know without doubt that he will give them the salvation he has
promised them. TLB
GOD DID NOT NEED TO PUT HIS SPECIAL COMMITMENTS IN CONVENANT FORM.
GOD KEEPS HIS WORD, BUT HE CHOSE TO USE COVENANT FORM FOR MANKIND'S
SAKE
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD WILL NEVER, EVER CHANGE HIS
MIND ABOUT WHAT EACH COVENANT DECLARES.
GODS CONVENTS ARE SO SECURE THAT WE CAN ANCHOR OURSELVES TO THEM.
THE WRITER OF HEBEREWS TELLS US WE CAN ANCHOR OUR VERY SELVES TO GOD’S
COVENANT COMMITMENTS.
HOW EVER FIERCE THE STORMS OF LIFE, THIS ANCHOR WILL NEVER DRAG AND
THREATEN US WITH SHIPWRECK.
WE WILL BE SAFE WITH OUR HOPE FIXED FOR TIME AND ETERNITY IN THE
COVENANT PROMISES OF GOD.
THERE IS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL ABOUT GOD’S PROMISES.
THEY ARE UNILATERAL AND THUS UNCONDITIONAL.
IN OTHER WORDS UNLIKE A COMMITMENT BETWEEN TWO PARTIES WHERE BOTH MAKE
COMMITMENTS,
HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS MADE A COMMITMENT.
AND HIS COMMITMENT TO YOU AND I IS UNCONDITIONAL.
GOD DOES NOT MAKE HIS PROMISES CONDITIONAL ON ANYTHING THAT PEOPLE MIGHT
DO.
THIS MEANS THAT WHEN YOU AND I FALL SHORT AND SIN, OR EVEN TEMPORARILY
ABANDON HIM,
GOD WILL NOT GO BACK ON HIS PROMISES!
2 Cor 1:19 Timothy and Silvanus and I have been telling you about Jesus
Christ the Son of God. He isn't one to say yes when he means no. He
always does exactly what he says. 20 He carries out and fulfills all of
God's promises, no matter how many of them there are; and we have told
everyone how faithful he is, giving glory to his name. TLB
THE BIBLICAL COVENANTS STATE WHAT GOD WILL SURELY DO, NO MATTER WHAT
HUMAN BEINGS DO OR DON’T DO.
IF IT WAS BASED ON OUR COMMITMENT, WE WOULD SURELY BE IN TROUBLE.
HIS COMMITMENT TO US DOES NOT WAVER AS OURS DOES TO HIM.
AND YET WE CAN POSITION OURSELVES TO OBTAIN HIS PROMISES BY AND THRU OUR
FAITH AND OBEDIENCE TO HIM AND HIS WORD.
Heb 11:17 While God was testing him, Abraham still trusted in God and
his promises, and so he offered up his son Isaac and was ready to slay
him on the altar of sacrifice; 18 yes, to slay even Isaac, through whom
God had promised to give Abraham a whole nation of descendants! 19 He
believed that if Isaac died God would bring him back to life again; and
that is just about what happened, for as far as Abraham was concerned,
Isaac was doomed to death, but he came back again alive! 20 It was by
faith that Isaac knew God would give future blessings to his two sons,
Jacob and Esau. TLB
GOD HAS COMMITTED HIMSELF TO DO WHAT THE COVENANTS STATE NO MATTER WHAT!
IT DOES NOT FEEL THIS WAY WHEN LIFES STORMS BLOW OUR WAY, BUT I MUST
TELL YOU,
GOD IS NOT WAVERING, HE HAS NOT GONE BACK ON HIS WORD.
Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for
good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His
purpose. NAS
THIS IS A PROMISE OF GOOD THINGS IN OUR LIVES..BUT PAUL IS NOT SAYING
THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO US IS GOOD.
RATHER PAUL IS SAYING THAT GOD IS SO GREAT, HE IS ABLE TO WORK IN ANY
SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES FOR OUR GOOD.
HIS PROMISE OR COMMITMENT TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM IS TO WORK IN AND
THROUGH EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE TO OUR BENEFIT.
Rom 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed
to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many
brethren; NAS
GOD’S INTENT IS THAT WE SHOULD BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON.
TO BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS IS THE ULTIMATE GOOD.
AND GOD IS ABLE TO WORK THROUGH ALL EXPERIENCES WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE US
MORE LIKE OUR LORD.
TO HAVE HIS CHARACTER.
GOD MAKES YOU A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST BUT THERE MUST BE A CHANGE IN
CHARACTER THAT TAKES PLACE IN YOU.
THERE SHOULD BE A CHANGE IN YOUR MINDSET TOWARDS LIFE.
HE DESIRES TO SEE YOU WITH A POSITVIE OUTLOOK ON LIFE, A HEART THAT
KNOWS HIS PROMISE TO YOU IS YES AND AMEN.
HOW CAN YOU INHERIT A PROMISE IF YOU ARE CONSTANTLY SPEAKING WORDS
WHICH DESTROY THE FAITH IN YOUR HEART
WORDS WHICH REPLACE THIS FAITH WITH DESPAIR AND A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK ON
LIFE?
BUT MOST OF ALL HE DESIRES TO SEE YOU WALKING IN THE REALITY OF THOSE
PROMISES OR COVENANTS HE HAS MADE WITH YOU.
THIS MAY TAKE A CHANGING OF PRIORITIES AND MOTIVES.
AND POSSIBLY A CHANGE OF CHARACTER IN YOU.
IS YOUR CHARACTER CHRIST LIKE?
ARE YOU A PERSON WHO RELEASES FAITH OR OPINIONS?
TO MAKE US MORE LIKE JESUS IS A PROMISE WHICH GOD HAS MADE AND
CONFIRMED.
2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in
a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same
image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. NAS
BUT THIS PROMISE WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESPOND TO.
IF WE SLIP INTO DESPAIR WHEN TRIALS COME, IF WE DOUBT GOD’S LOVE,
OR IF WE BECOME ANGRY, IF WE ACT IN ANY WAY OUTSIDE OF THE CHARACTER OF
GOD,
WE ARE FAR LESS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THE GOOD GOD INTENDS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE SHOULD DO AS CHRISTIANS IS ROUTINELY EXAMINE
OURSELVES AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING IS PLEASING TO THE LORD.
Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine ourselves instead, and let us repent
and turn again to the Lord. TLB
ON THE OTHER HAND IF WE FACE OUR TRIALS IN THE CALM CONFIDENCE THAT WE
ARE SURROUNDED BY THE LOVE OF GOD,
AND IF WE ASK GOD TO TEACH US WHAT HE INTENDS US TO LEARN,
WE WILL EXPERIENCE HIS TRANSFORMING TOUCH.
Rom 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor Principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NAS
YOUR STRUGGLE HAS NOT ESCAPED THE EYES OF GOD... HE IS WELL AWARE OF
YOUR PAIN…
HE IS MORE THAN ABLE TO SURROUND YOU WITH ENOUGH GRACE TO KEEP YOU
MOVING FORWARD.
YOU MUST BE WILLING TO SURRENDER YOUR STRUGGLE TO HIM, SURRENDER YOUR
PAIN AND SURRENDER YOUR FEARS.
THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE ARE CALLED TO PUT OLD THINGS IN THE PAST..
WE HAVE A CHOICE, WE CAN GO ON LIVING IN THE OLD WAY, MOVED BY OLD
PASSIONS AND DRIVEN BY THE OLD VALUES.
OR WE CAN OPEN OUR EYES TO OUR LORD JESUS, LETTING HIM GIVE US NEW
DESIRES AND ENGRAVE HIS VALUES ON OUR HEARTS.
THE SOONER WE CHOOSE TO LIVE AS THE NEW CREATIONS THAT WE ARE, THE
SOONER WE WILL EXPERIENCE THE JOY AND MEANING THAT JESUS IS EAGER TO
BRING INTO OUR LIVES.
WHAT MANY CHRISTIANS FAIL TO REALIZE IS WE SERVE A GOD WHO DESIRES TO
HAVE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH ONE OF US.
HE HAS GIVEN US A PROMISE OF A RELATIONSHIP EXPERIENCE.
2 Cor 6:16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with
idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I
will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and
they shall be My people. 17 "Therefore, come out from their midst and be
separate," says the Lord.
"And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. 18 "And I
will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,"
Says the Lord Almighty. NAS
THE ISSUE HERE IS NOT OF SALVATION, BUT OF THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE.
WE DO NOT BECOME SONS AND DAUGHTERS BY SEPARATING OURSELVES FROM
UNBELIEVERS.
PAUL SAID WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD..
WHAT PAUL WAS CONCERNED HERE WAS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES AS
CHRISTIANS
AND THE IMPACT THAT BEING UNEQUALLY YOKED CAN HAVE ON OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH OUR LORD.
THERE IS A BALANCE TO MAINTAIN IN APPLYING THE PRINCIPLE OF UNEQUAL
YOKING.
WE ARE NOT TO CUT OFF ALL TIES TO THE UNSAVED
BUT WE ARE TO AVOID PARTNERING WITH THEM IN ANY ACTIVITY WHICH MIGHT
LEAD US TO COMPROMISE OUR COMMITMENT TO JESUS CHRIST.
AS WE MAINTAIN OUR COMMITMENT TO JESUS CHRIST
WE WILL EXPERIENCE HIS PRESENCE,
WE WILL KNOW HIS WELCOME AND BE TREATED AS DEARLY LOVED SONS AND
DAUGHTERS.
AND IF SONS AND DAUGHTERS THEN ABLE TO CLAIM EVERY PROMISE FROM GOD.
Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and
heirs according to the promise. (from New International Version)
ONE OF THE GREATEST WEIGHTS I HAVE SEEN THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM LIVING
OVERCOMING CHRISTIAN LIVES AND WALKING IN HIS PROMISES
IS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE HARBOR SO MUCH UNFORGIVENESS AND BITTERNESS IN
THEIR LIVES.
JESUS GAVE US THE PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS
Matt 6:14-15 Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you
forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he
will not forgive you. TLB
WHEN WE FORGIVE WE RESPOND TO HIS PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS FOR OUR SINS.
I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU TODAY TO MAKE A CHOICE TO LIVE A LIFE OF
FORGIVENESS.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND TO RELEASE ALL THAT HURT, RELEASE ALL THAT
PAIN, AND ALL THAT BITTERNESS.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CAUSE YOU TO HURT AND YOU HAVE TO RELEASE AND GO ON
WITH YOUR LIFE.
2 Cor 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for
power is perfected in weakness." NAS
THIS IS HIS PROMISE TO GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU
CAN’T ON YOUR OWN.
SEE, WHEN YOU ARE NOT FORGIVING SOMEONE YOU ARE NOT HURTING THEM, YOU
ARE ONLY HURTING YOURSELF.
WHEN PEOPLE DON’T FORGIVE THEY ARE REALLY JUST POISINING THEMSELVES.
HE WANTS YOU TO DEAL WITH IT SO YOU MAY LIVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE AND THE
ABUNDANT CHRISTIAN LIFE GOD HAS FOR YOU.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE FEEL THAT GOD MUST BE ANGRY WITH US.
PERHAPS WE HAVE CHOSEN SIN AND EXPERIENCED PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES.
PERHAPS WE’VE DONE NOTHING WRONG THAT WE’RE AWARE OF AND YET WE ARE
STILL SUFFERING.
WE LOSE OUR JOB, SICKNESS ATTACKS OUR BODY, WE SUFFER THRU A BROKEN
RELATIONSHIP.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THIS PROMISE THAT GOD’S WRATH WILL NOT BE DIRECTED
AT US BECAUSE WE ARE SAVED,
WE ARE NEVER THE OBJECT OF HIS WRATH.
IN THOSE HARD TIMES, HIS PROMISE IS TO ALWAYS GIVE US HIS LOVE AND
GRACE.
TO ALWAYS BE PRESENT IN OUR TIME OF NEED.
WRITTEN IN DEUT AND IN HEBREWS GODS PROMISE IS;
Heb 13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." NIV
MAKE A CHALLENGE TO THE CONGREGATION TO LOOK UP PROMISES. |