By: T.R. Kelley
BIBLE LESSON: Characteristics of God’s promises
Many times, when we are discouraged and feel defeated, we lose sight of the many promises of God, given to His children. However, we must always remember that we have the authority to stand on God’s Word and claim our promises!
II PETER 1:4 – “Whereby are given unto us EXCEEDING GREAT and PRECIOUS promises.”
NOTE: The whereby causes us to have to go back and read the preceding verse. In this verse we discover that God has given us His precious and magnificent promises through His divine power and OUR KNOWLEDGE OF HIM.
KNOWLEDGE (GREEK – EPIGINOSKO) – “to fully perceive, notice attentively, to recognize.
EPIGINOSKO suggests an ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE or SPECIAL APPRECIATION, and sometimes implies a special participation in the object known, and gives greater weight to what is stated.
**Once we have obtained this divine knowledge of God we can claim the promises of God, which He will stand by, for they are grounded in Christ.
II CORINTHIANS 1:20 – “For the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him amen.”
REMEMBER – GOD’S PROMISES ARE CHECKS TO BE CASHED, NOT MERE MOTTOES TO HANG ON THE WALL!
I. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD’S PROMISES
A. UNFAILING – I KINGS 8:56
“…there hath not failed one word of His promise….”
B. ASSURED BY DIVINE ABILITY – ROMANS 4:21
“… what He had promised, He was able also to perform.” (see also Eph. 3:20)
C. GROUNDED IN CHRIST – II CORINTHIANS 1:20
–Promises in Christ are “Yea & Amen”
D. OF INFINITE VALUE – II PETER 1:4
–We are given exceeding great & precious promises.
E. CULMINATE IN EVERLASTING LIFE – I JOHN 2:25
–He has promised us eternal life.
II. THESE PROMISES ARE FOR GENTILES AS WELL AS JEWS
ROMANS 4:16 – “… to the end the promise might be sure to ALL THE SEED; not TO THAT ONLY WHICH IS OF THE LAW (Jews), but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham (Christians; Gentiles – US!); who is the father of us all, (Jews & Gentiles alike).
BIBLE READING: GALATIANS 3
** Galatians 3 is occupied with showing that the promise was conditional upon FAITH and NOT UPON FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW.
NOTICE – The Law was later than, and inferior to, the promise, and did not annul it. (See GALATIANS 3:21; 4:23,28).
**We are not going to see the promises of God fulfilled living only by the law of the Word, although that is very important. We must also live by faith – wherein lies the secret to receiving God’s promises, (see Heb. 11).
NOTE: Abraham, who “against hope believed in hope,” did not waver or doubtingly question God regarding God’s promise that he was made a father of many nations.
REMEMBER – THE PROMISES OF GOD ARE CERTAIN, BUT THEY DON’T ALL MATURE IN 90 DAYS!
III. EXAMPLES OF PROMISES WE CAN STAND ON & CLAIM
THERE ARE DIVINE PROMISES OF:
*Answer to prayer – Is. 58:9; Jer. 33:3; Jn. 15:7
*Blessings – Ex 23:15; Mal. 3:10; Matt. 6:33
*Comfort – Mt. 9:22; Jn. 14:1
*Longevity – I Kg. 3:14; Prov. 10:27; I Pt. 3:10
*Plenty – Deut. 30:9; Is. 30:23
*Spirit Progress – Jb. 17:9; Ps. 92:12; I Tim. 4:15
*Crown of Life – Rev. 2:10
*Wisdom – Ecc. 2:26; Jas. 1:5
PASTORAL NOTE: ALL THESE PROMISES COME WITH CONDITIONS:
*PRAYERS ANSWERED – ASK
*BLESSINGS – OBEDIENCE
*COMFORT – FAITH
*LONGEVITY – OBEDIENCE
*PLENTY (WEALTH) – WORK
*SPIRITUAL PROGRESS – RIGHTEOUS LIVING
*CROWN OF LIFE – FAITHFULNESS
*WISDOM – LIVE A GOOD LIFE
**The old saying goes, “YOU CAN’T GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING,” and the promises of God are no different. When we do our part God will do His!
As my pastor used to say:
“WHEN YOU PRAY FOR SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY A JOB, PUT LEGS ON YOUR PRAYERS AND GOD WILL DO THE REST!”
(The above material was published by Calvary Tabernacle.)
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