The Bible is a book of promises. Literally page after page is either listing promises, or chronicling the fulfillment of those promises. Ultimately Jesus Christ is the greatest promise and the fullness of every other promise as well.
In modern life however, we tend to not think of the Bible promises as promises, but more as hopeful wishes. I have talked to quite a few believers who when they have been shown a promise in the Bible, respond with “well I certainly hope so… fingers crossed.”
My friends, this should not be; not for a believer in Jesus Christ. If you see a promise in the Bible, you can bank on it one-hundred percent of the time! Today we will be looking at what God says about His promises, and this message will help you build confidence in everything that God says.
In my talks with fellow believers, the most common reason for their problems regarding the promises is that they want to see results immediately. We learned last-week why this does not always happen that way. Yet even when we find ourselves becoming frustrated with what seems like a lack of results (remember that it only seems that way), we are given the following example of the attitude which we should have and the results which we are to expect. This is found in Isaiah 54:1-5:
“Sing, O barren, you that did not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you that did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, says the LORD.
Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations: spare not, lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes;
For you will break forth on the right hand and on the left; and your seed will inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Fear not; for you will not be ashamed: neither be you confounded; for you will not be put to shame: for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more.
For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth will he be called.”
Now on the surface, this advice in verse one would almost seem cruel to tell a barren woman to sing. And for those who are wondering a “barren woman” in the Bible is a picture of any kind of failure to produce results, not just exclusively an inability to have children.
Yes, if we simply read verse one without the benefit of wisdom, then it would indeed seem very mean to tell a barren woman to sing, but as we read the following verses, we can begin to see why this is the counsel given… Because God has promised results and He who has promised is always faithful. Then in verse four we are given a very definite statement directly from God to the reader. Fear not; for you will not be ashamed… A divine word of fact from God to us. Even if we see no results immediately, a promise has been given by God, a Word has been spoken from His mouth, a decree has been given from His throne, and it must be kept.
When the LORD healed me personally, there was zero evidence of my healing the moment it occurred; but I knew at that very moment that I had been completely healed regardless of what was seen outwardly.
My friends, these promises of God are not to be treated like promises from men. Humans often break their word, either due to malice, or even simply by overextending themselves and promising something which they can not deliver.
The wonderful news though is that God has no malice, nor can He ever be overextended. Furthermore, we read these wonderful words in Numbers 23:19:
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: has he said, and will he not do it? or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?”
If you enter into a contract with someone, even if that person utterly despises you, if they are bound by a contract they must fulfill their word. How much more will God, a being incapable of deceit and a loving Father to us, honor the covenant which we are entered into by Jesus Christ!
These are the promises of God; a solid foundation on which we can build in complete safety and security. We can trust in His Word; and we will never be ashamed!
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