Rev Christopher Rao gave a very inspiring and stiring sermon today and I found it really profound. Based on Genesis 15:18, "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates'", he spoke about The Promises of God.
He approached the promises of God in a way I have never thought of before. He said that "promises are part and parcel of the Christian life". I was a bit skeptical when he said that. All along, I never really looked at the promises of God like that, as something that take such a prominent place in my life - I do believe in his promises but look upon it as God's blessings, nothing more. And here he is paying a tad too much attention to God promising and keeping his promises. But as he went, I began to see his point view. God is a God of promises. In a great many places in Scripture, God's commandments are often accompanied by promises, as a result of obedience. Just like ordinary life, promises come with requirements and conditions. Do this and I promise you will get that.
But more often than not, we do not experience God fulfilling his promises in our lives. If we don't keep our part of the bargain, don't be caught expecting anything good from the Lord. As long as we do not appreciate his promises, and do not obey, God will not be able to work in our lives. Think about this - Abraham had to leave his home for God's promises to be fulfilled in his life, and beyond.
The question is, do you want to be a people of promises? Then discover the will of God and get involved, do it. Not the will of God for you, but the will of God, period.
But in the end though, even Abraham discovered something far greater than promises and receiving from the good Lord - and that is faith. And his faith brought him justification in God's sight.
pearlie
Hi Pearlie, Nice subject to hear about. I'm back now to the Eastern Time Zone, a full 12 hours away from you and have missed reading your blog. I forget how hard it is to be propelled through the time zones and think the older I get, I may never make it to KL!
ReplyDeleteNice header, BTW!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Puritans were all about the promises. Faith is not faith in just a person, but in the promises that Person has made. I can have faith in God, but that still leaves me hung out. Instead, I have faith in the God Who promised to give me a new heart, cleanse me of all sin, lead into righteousness, save me from deep waters, love me forever, and never give up on me.
ReplyDeleteThey were like doctors who listened to your symptoms, then prescribed exactly the right promises of God. And it was not quack medicine, but the application of revealed fact. Do I feel like my heart will break? Scripture promises that He binds the broken heart. It does not deny that hearts break, or that breaking is horrible, and it doesn't promise that He binds our broken hearts "today." He promises to bind our broken hearts. Wait on the Lord, and one day your heart will beat new again.
So many believe God for promises that are pie-in-the-sky false, that they give the good word of God a bad name. The believer stands firm on the promise anyway.
Great sermon. :-)
I stand firm in the promises of God. But, as you pointed out...each promises is accompanied with a requirement on our part. It usually begins "If my people..... thus and so" and the opposite.... "If my people do not... thus and so". You have to take the promises in context.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually put in my 2 cents worth!!! But I stand firm on this!
If for some reason the promise does not come forth..... the short coming is ALWAYS on our part...not God's!
((hugs))
Susan
Susan
"Not the will of God for you, but the will of God, period."
ReplyDeleteAhh, that one hit the nail in! Thanks for sharing, Pearlie. :)
Hi Julia,
ReplyDeleteThen come tomorrow! Coffee is already waiting! lol
Nice to know you like the new header :) Thanks!
Thanks Codepoke for you thoughts. It is true, we rest on the promises of Christ our King, who died and rose again, a testament to him being able to keep what he promised us.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you Susan,
ReplyDeleteI am going to prepare a big box all ready for your 2-cents, and treasure that box forever! So, please fill it up!! ;)
Hey Missy,
ReplyDeleteI have been asking that question almost all my life, until I realised that is just not it.
Pearlie, you are so sweet and gentle!!
ReplyDelete((hugs))
Susan