Standing on God's Promises
Scripture
II Corinthians 1:19-20
19 For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. 20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore, also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
II Peter 1:4
4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
Wingmen, I challenge you to stand on God’s promises found in His Word. There are approximately 8,810 promises in the entire Bible, 7,706 in the Old Testament, and 1,104 in the New Testament. Peter calls God’s promises “precious and magnificent.” Paul tells us that God will always keep His promises. Those promises are realized in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Christians cannot live by explanations, speculations, rationalizations, observations, or situations. We must live by revelation, the promises of God’s written Word. Let’s consider how to stand on a promise from God:I. What a Promise IsA promise is someone’s word of certainty that he or she will act on what they told you they would do. A promise from God is something He has gone on record that He will do. Every promise of God assures us of hope that God will act, God will do something, and God will be involved.II. A Promise Is Only as Good as the One Making the PromisePeople can make promises all day long, but the promise is only as good as the person making it. Even the devil makes promises, but of course, he never keeps them. But when God makes a promise, you can trust Him, you can believe what He says. You are dealing with a God Who cannot lie. So when God makes a promise, you can know that behind it is the all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present Creator of the universe. He always remembers what He said He would do.Romans 4:20-2120 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbeliefbut grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that whatGod had promised, He was able also to perform.God’s promises are as sure as God Himself.III. God’s Promises are Found in God’s WordGod’s promises are written down. They aren’t found in some emotional experience or subjective words from someone who says, “God told me to tell you…” His promises are not hidden. The Bible is a promise book. When God makes a promise, it will always be consistent with His written Word.IV. Search the Scriptures for a Promise that Relates to Your Specific NeedGod has a promise for whatever it is you are facing. His Word is more relevant than today’s news. Your circumstances will change, yet God’s Word never changes. There are Scriptures that will meet your need more at one particular time than another. Why? God’s Word is alive!V. The Holy Spirit Will Bring to Your Mind a Promise from God’s Word if You Are in God’s Word and in God’s WillJohn 14:2626 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.The Holy Spirit works through the Holy Scriptures. That is why it is essential that you open the pages of the Bible every day, and allow God to speak to you. I use a One-Year Bible, which divides the Bible each day into an Old Testament passage, a New Testament passage, a Psalm, and a Proverb. In one year you read through the entire Bible. My point is this: I am amazed each day that what I read is exactly what I need for that day. Also, the Holy Spirit will sometimes impress you to seek out a Scripture, or God will use someone to prompt you to look for a promise.VI. Stand on God’s Promises, Not on Your Feelings or CircumstancesYou cannot trust your feelings; they are constantly changing. Trusting your circumstances can discourage you. God’s promises are designed to help you live above your circumstances, not below them. Stop looking around at what is going on in your life, and start looking in God’s Word so you can look up to Him, knowing that His Word never changes as do your feelings and circumstances.VII. Only Faith Can Activate the Promises of GodYou have to believe what God said:Hebrews 11:66 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.Faith doesn’t focus on “How,” it focuses on “Who.” Faith is stubbornly hanging onto God’s Word even when it seems like God is not at work. Faith gazes at God and glances at the circumstances. We get in trouble when we gaze at our circumstances and glance at God.VIII. Get Ready for a TestA test of your faith will come. You cannot escape it. God wants to use that test to strengthen you, not to defeat you. When that happens, cooperate with God. If not, Satan will turn God’s helpful test into a defeating temptation. The test determines how much you believe God. Be prepared for the “What If’s”—“What if it doesn’t happen?” “What if God doesn’t come through?” “What if He doesn’t come through in time?”—and keep standing!IX. Give It TimeThings don’t normally happen on your time table. God Standard Time is different from our time. God is seldom early, but He is never late. Don’t run ahead of God by taking matters into your own hands. Sometimes the waiting on God’s timing produces more spiritual growth and insight than the actual answer.X. Pay Attention to the ConditionsMost of God’s promises have conditions, strings attached. Meeting the conditions is essential for God to do what He promised. God will only do what He can do when you do what He told you that you must do. Ask yourself, “What is God requiring me to do in order for Him to work?”XI. Look to God, Not to Anyone or Anything Else as Your SourceStop looking at what you can see, hear, smell, taste, or touch. God is responsible to do what He said He would do. No person is your source. No position is your source. No thing is your source. Only God has the ability to deliver His promise.XII. Claim These Promises Regularly
1. The Promise of Salvation
Romans 10:13 - for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
2. The Promise of Forgiveness When a Christian Sins
I John I:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
3. The Promise of God Working Even through Difficult Circumstances
Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
4. The Promise of Answered Prayer
Matthew 7:7-8 - “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.I John 5:14-15 - This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
John 15:7 - If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
5. The Promise of Overcoming
I Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
6. The Promise of His Presence
Hebrews 13:5 - Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”
7. The Promise to Meet your Needs
Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
8. The Promise of a Future
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
9. The Promise of Peace in the Midst of a Storm
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.John 16: 33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
10. The Promise of Heaven
John 14:1-2 - “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so,I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.