Experiencing God's promises

Experiencing God's promises Ross Wakeley

2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's (Psalms 103:2-5). In a world filled with deadlines, fear and pressure, it s really easy to allow God s presence and promises to slide out of our daily reality. So easily, we can slip from God dependence to self-reliance, as we focus on the tasks to be done and the people to see. It s so easy to go from a place of rest to a place of stress and anxiety. Our stomach is knotted up, we snap at those we love and life just seems to be a serious hassle. We need help to get a handle on ourself and life.

3 God understands the inner turmoil with us perfectly. Not only did He make us (Deuteronomy 32:6), God, as Jesus Christ, lives with us. He fully understands the emotional, physical and spiritual pressure of every day. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one (Jesus) who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:15,16). Knowing us and our inner needs, God speaks into that reality with amazing promises that are totally reliable. Each promise comes to us as a gift from the Father. We can receive it as information and as a new fact that we chose to just study and memorise. Or, we may decide to invite God to speak that specific promise as a fresh revelation. That word will go deeply into our heart and our spirit. By the power of God s Spirit, it will release life, hope, empowering and peace.

4 God didn t provide promises for us to parade before people. They are life words. Freedom truths. Promises that lodge in our inner being that we draw from when under pressure. Revelation that we use to stand firm, spiritually and emotionally, when under attack from the enemy. Promises the Holy Spirit will activate as we choose to take hold of by faith. It s a 24:7 choice. Instead of reacting to what s happening at work and in our life, we take an intentional, proactive step. We choose to step back into God. To shift back into our identity in Him, our confidence in His promises and our reliance on His power to bring break through into the situation. Does this approach really work? In the period 1995-2005, over 10,000 Christians have been killed in Indonesia by militant Islamic warriors. Churches have been burned down. Villages destroyed. It s been a time of deep suffering.

5 So how have the Christians in Indonesia responded to this attack? Stepped back into claiming and then releasing the promises of God. Looked to Jesus and His power. Never surrender! On the sides of surviving church buildings, the Christians have painted key scenes that affirm that God is with them. They have invited God s Spirit to speak scripture promises as words of hope and revelation into their lives. The LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn (Isaiah 61:1,2). Renewed, these Christians have then gone out in God s power, and security. Following the terrible tsunami on Boxing Day 2004, it s been the Christians of Aceh, Indonesia who have shown practical compassion to the same people who had been persecuting them.

6 The promises of God s Word (see 2 Timothy 3:16) are truths to speak out as affirmations. God s promises are declarations we should proclaim with authority, given the true position Almighty God has enabled for every Christian. God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). We might live physically in Australia, but we are people with a third heaven perspective, who can boldly stand on God s promises. As we speak them out, so we speak life into our heart and we take ground spiritually. Jesus said, If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing your selves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. (John 15:7-9)

7 Allow your spirit to feed on these promises these mighty declarations. Speak them out. Claim them. If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:31-39). Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you (James 4:7,8). With your help O Lord, I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him God arms me with strength and makes my way perfect he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle You give me your shield of victory (2 Samuel 22:-37, 47).

8 God s promises also speak comfort and peace into our heart and mind. Take hold of these truths day-by-day. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea (Psalms 46:1-3). Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." (John 14:1-4) Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

9 Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:28-31).

10 Scripture also declares promises about the way God is at work in our lives. Precious truths to receive and accept. They are key indicators of how we may align our mind and spirit to God s so that we mature and develop in effectiveness. Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (Romans 5:1-8). Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:6,7).

11 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1). To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! (Jude 1:24,25) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7).

12 God s Word is true All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. Psalm 119:160 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 God s promises are sure For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:20 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19 He graciously forgives us If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7,9). He has our best at heart For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:11,12 He is always there The Lord says "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When

13 Throughout Scripture we have promises for us to make as declarations that renew our mind, re-focus our spirit and bring us comfort and security. God also shares with us the promise that our mighty Saviour, Jesus Christ is returning as King! According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away... "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4)

14 Jesus spoke many promises that we can trust. God s Word contains promises that are life principles that will bring fruitfulness to our lives and bring glory to God as we apply them to our lives. Promises when we are afraid: Psalm 50:15 - Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me. Deuteronomy 31:8 - The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. James 4:8 - Come near to God and he will come near to you. Promises when we make decisions: Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. John 14:26 - The Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. Promises when we have sinned: Matthew 6:14-15 - For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Promises when we need encouragement: Romans 10:9 - If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

15 Luke 6:35 - Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. John 10:28 - I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. James 4:10 - Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 1 John 5:14-15 - This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us what ever we ask we know that we have what we asked of him. Promises when we are tempted to do wrong: 1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 - The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. To go further The apostle Paul teaches, Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praise worthy think about such things (Philippians 4:8). How true! Applying this is vital to each day. Hunger more after God as we read and meditate on Scripture; listen to and soak in worship CD s; limit the input we get from the media; share what God is revealing to us with Christian friends so we inspire one another and spend time in God s presence.

In Experiencing God's promises, you ll discover: The reliability of God s promises Freedom truths for our lives Jesus words of hope to each person How God realigns our mind to shift higher in Him Promises concerning Jesus return Specific promises for each season of life All Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society Photo credits; Passion of the Christ, R Wakeley. 2009 Ross Wakeley