Remember the Promises of God
Prophecy Study 17
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In our journey, our walk with God, we are certain that we will meet struggles along the way. In fact, struggles may be an understatement.
2 Timothy 3:10-17, “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
We have studied that God is love and that He created us in His image and wants the best for us. God wants us to have life and to have it more abundantly. John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
In our world, we all have made promises. Promises to other people, promises to businesses through contract, and promises to ourselves. Many of us can claim that we have kept most of our promises, but it would be hard to find someone who has kept every promise they had ever made.
Why is this? In some cases, the promise is to repay a debt, but bankruptcy seemed the better solution. Or the promise to love, honor and cherish forever but divorce became the choice later on. Or the promise to be kinder, lose weight, exercise, quit smoking, to return that thing on Tuesday… etc.
The fact is, people change their minds. Sometime we are just plain negligent and in many cases, the world throws obstacles at us and due to circumstances beyond our control, we can’t keep the promises we made.
James 1:17, “Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven’s lights. Unlike them, He never changes or casts shifting shadows”
Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever”
The first promise, that God love us all and wants us all to have a happy, healthy and long life can change the way you feel every morning when you wake up.
The second is just as important, that God doesn’t change. What does this mean to you?
Philippians 4:19, “ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 7:7-11, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
God promises to provide for those that have faith in him and obey him.
I suggest at this point that we nail down a principle. Every time we read the promises of God, very nearby are the conditions. The verses that we see here are often quoted, but without the conditions, we lose the context.
Examples from above: We read Philippians 4:19. Jump back to Philippians 4:8 to get the context.
Also in Matthew 7:7-11, take a look at verse 13 and onward to get the context.
Can you think of other promises made to us by God? Can you also think of the conditions?
Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 John 2:1-2, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
What great news is this? How does this build your love for and faith in God.
1 Timothy 2: 4-6, “ Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
John 14:1-4, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
John 1:12, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
1 Corinthians 2:9, “ But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
God has a plan for you. He wants to know you and save you. Be obedient to Him and He will sustain you, provide for you, strengthen you, build your will, show you the way. Give God permission and he will save you.
Read also:
Luke 12:32 Psalm 37:18 Psalm 139:7-10
Hebrews 6:17-18 Revelation 21:4 John 16:12-13
Luke 12:29-31 2 Timothy 2:13 Psalm 40:1
Ephesians 3:17-19 James 1:5 Ephesians 6:9
2 Samuel 22:36
