What is a promise from God? I. Define a promise II. Why is a promise from God a big deal? III. His promises show love

Transcription

1 God s Promises

2 Meeting Objectives 1. To strengthen the faith of those in the Lord s body, by bringing out the very nature of God s love through his promises 2. To help those who are not Christians see that there IS a GOD who not only has promised us many great things, but has power over us ALL 3. To answer any questions or doubts some might have in regard to what God would have us to do as his people

3 Meeting Layout Friday: What is a promise from God? Saturday Part 1: Old Testament Promises Saturday Part 2: Old Testament Promises in the New Testament Sunday Part 1: New Testament Promises Sunday Part 2: What do we do with these Promises?

4 What is a promise from God? I. Define a promise II. Why is a promise from God a big deal? III. His promises show love

5 Defining a promise Undertaking or assurance given to indulge in or refrain from some specific form of activity. Such commitments are made commonly between individuals, and can embrace a wide range of human activity. Simple promises can be both written and oral. They can be temporary in nature or made binding for the indefinite future (Baker s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology)

6 Types of Promises Nature 1.) Oral (or written)(a) Genesis 3:15 2.) Visible (B) Genesis 9: ) Grand Scheme (C) Genesis 12:1-3 Time 1.) Temporary (D) Exodus 16:2-7 and Joshua 5:12 2.) Everlasting (E) Isaiah 55:1-5

7 Oral (Genesis 3:15)(A) 1. and between her seed and your seed 1. Galatians 4:4 2. Hebrews 4:11;14 2. and you shall bruise him on the heel 1. Hebrews 4:14 3. He shall bruise you on the head 1. Colossians 2:15 2. Luke 10:18 3. Romans 16:20 4. Revelation 20:10 (Gen 3:15) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.

8 (Col 2:15) When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. (Luke 10:18) And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. (Rom 16:20) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. (Rev 20:10) And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

9 Visible (Genesis 9:8-13)(B) 8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying 9"Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. 11 "I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth. 12 God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; 13 I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.

10 Grand Scheme (Genesis 12:1-3)(C) 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. 1. Land 2. Seed 3. Blessings

11 Temporary (Exodus 16:2-7;35; Joshua 5:12)(D) (Jos 5:12) The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year. (Joh 6:32) Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.

12 Everlasting (Isaiah 55:1-5) (E) 1 Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. 2 "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. 3 "Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David. 4 "Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples, A leader and commander for the peoples. 5 "Behold, you will call a nation you do not know, And a nation which knows you not will run to you, Because of the LORD your God, even the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you."

13 Types of Promises Nature 1.) Oral (or written)(a) Genesis 3:15 2.) Visible (B) Genesis 9: ) Grand Scheme (C) Genesis 12:1-3 Time 1.) Temporary (D) Exodus 16:2-7 and Joshua 5:12 2.) Everlasting (E) Isaiah 55:1-5

14 Why is a promise from God a big deal? 1. His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:6-9) 6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

15 Ephesians 3: For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

16 Why is a promise from God a big deal? 1. His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:6-9) 2. WE break promises CONSTANTLY 3. God NEVER broke a SINGLE promise! 1. Context 2. Contingencies

17 God s Promises Show LOVE HOW? By the fulfillment of his promises (John 3:16-18) His promises only benefit US (Matthew 26:51-54)

18 Matthew 26: And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus *said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. 53 "Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 "How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?"

19 God s Promises Show LOVE HOW? By the fulfillment of his promises (John 3:16-18) His promises only benefit US (Matthew 26:51-54) WHY? We are HIS people (Revelation 21:3-4)

20 Revelation 21:3-4 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

21 God s Promises Show LOVE HOW? By the fulfillment of his promises (John 3:16-18) His promises only benefit US (Matthew 26:51-54) WHY? We are HIS people (Revelation 21:3-4) HE created US (John 1:1-3)

22 What is a promise from God? I. Define a promise II. Why is a promise from God a big deal? III. His promises show love

23 Salvation Hear: Romans 10:17 Believe: Hebrews 11:6 Repent: Acts 2:38 Confess: Romans 10:10 Be Baptized: Mark 16:16 Continue Steadfast: 1 Corinthians 15:58