The Promises of God Part I: The Evidence (01/10/19)

How many of you have had somebody promise you something only to break that promise? How did that make you feel? Disappointed? Angry? Unimportant?

God has given us many promises. 1 Peter 1:3-4 says "His divine power has given us everything we need for a Godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

Over the next three weeks we are going to talk about some of the major promises that God has made to us. Before we break down those promises we want to discuss how we can know that God's promises are true and how we can believe that he will never break his promises to us.

  1. God confirms his promises by an oath

    1. Hebrews 6:13-20 when God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and it only confirms what I say and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the errors of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the Hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner Sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our four runner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

    2. What are some of the major points concerning God's promises that we should take away from the scripture?

      1. There is no one greater than God

      2. Abraham received what was promised

      3. God swore an oath on himself to make his purpose clear

      4. It is impossible for God to lie

      5. We can take hold of the hope and be greatly encouraged that God will keep his promises, like an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

        1. What does an anchor do? It keeps us from drifting away from are charted point so that we do not lose our way as we rest.

        2. A promise from God it's something that we can count on. We can be so sure that he will keep his promises that like an anchor we can count on it not to move or change.

  2. God remembers and keeps his promises

    1. Psalm 105:42 for he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham.

      1. What was God's promise to Abraham? (Genisis 12-25)

      2. God promised Abraham that he would give him a son. From the time of God's promise to Abraham at the age of 75, to the time when his son Isaac was born, 25 years went by. Abraham was 96 years old when his son was born. (Genesis 15)

      3. Do you think that there was ever a time when Abraham doubted that God would keep his promise? Absolutely!

    2. Acts 13:23 from this man's (Abraham's) descendants God has brought Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.

      1. Genesis 12:7 (KJV) And the Lord appeared unto Abraham, and said, unto thy seed I will give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.

      2. Paul is referencing the scripture in Genesis in Galatians 3:16 the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to his seeds", meaning many people, "but unto your seed", meaning one person, who is Christ.

      3. The scripture in Genesis is the first reference to the coming of Jesus Christ. Moses is believed to be the author of Genesis and Abraham was believed to have lived around 1700 years before the birth of Christ. That means it took 1700 years for God to fulfill his promise to us and bring us a savior who was Jesus Christ.

      4. The promise of a savior was the most important promise God ever made to man and he kept it. He has promised us salvation through his son Jesus Christ who kept his promise to die for us. If he kept promises like these we can believe that he will keep all his promises.

    3. 2 Peter 3:8-9 8 but do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

      1. God will always keep his promises but we have to understand that God's promises are fulfilled in his time not in our time. But we can comfort knowing that God's timing is perfect.

  3. God's promises never fail

    1. Joshua 23:14 now I am about to go the way of all the Earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled: not one has failed.

    2. People break promises for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes it's just because they forget but we can count on God to never forget his promises to us no matter how much time goes by. So even though it may take him some time he will keep his promises to us.

  4. More scriptures about God keeping his promises

    1. Isaiah 38:7 this is the lord sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised.

    2. Acts 13:32-33 We tell you the good news: What God has promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: You are my son; today I have become your father.

    3. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

    4. Hebrews  10:23 let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

    5. 2 Corinthians 1:18 & 20 18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No". 20 For no matter how many promises God is made, they are "Yes" in Christ and so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

    6. 1 Kings 8:56 Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest of his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave us through his servant Moses.

 APPLY

1. How can Gods promises be an anchor in your life and keep you from drifting and losing your way?

2. How do Gods promises give you a chance to rest and find peace?

3. What are some things that make it hard to trust in God's promises?

4. Please write down a prayer to ask God to help you find peace and have faith in his promises:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christin Cordova