GOD’S PROMISES AND THE BIBLE PART 1

TEXT - 2 PETER 1:4

2 PETER 1:4 THROUGH THESE HE HAS GIVEN US HIS VERY GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES, SO THAT THROUGH THEM YOU MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE DIVINE NATURE AND ESCAPE THE CORRUPTION IN THE WORLD CAUSED BY EVIL DESIRES. (NIV)

INTRODUCTION


THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN A SERIES OF SERMONS THAT I WILL BE PREACHING ON THE THEME, "STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD."

WITHIN THE BIBLE WE FIND LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PROMISES THAT GOD HAS MADE.

IN FACT, IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED BY SOME THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 3,000-7,000 PROMISES WITHIN THE BIBLE.

FOR THIS REASON, I HAVE DECIDED THAT SUCH AN EXTENSIVE SUBJECT CAN NOT BE COVERED IN ONE 30-45 MINUTE SERMON, AND THEREFORE I’LL BE SPEAKING ON THIS TOPIC DURING OUR SUNDAY MORNING AND SUNDAY EVENING SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF AUGUST.

SOME OF THE TOPICS THAT I’LL BE COVERING IN THIS SERIES OF SERMONS ARE: THE PROMISE CONCERNING JESUS; THE PROMISE CONCERNING ETERNAL LIFE; THE PROMISE CONCERNING THE CHURCH; THE PROMISE CONCERNING OUR PERSONAL NEEDS; THE PROMISE CONCERNING PRAYER; THE PROMISE CONCERNING THE SECOND COMING; AND THE PROMISE CONCERNING BLESSINGS AND REWARDS.

THE WORD "PROMISE" IS DEFINED IN THE DICTIONARY AS, "A PLEDGE TO DO, BRING ABOUT, OR PROVIDE SOMETHING."

AS WE LOOK AT THESE VARIOUS PROMISES THAT ARE FOUND WITHIN THE BIBLE, WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT MAN HAS NOT MADE THEM, BUT RATHER GOD.

THIS OUGHT TO GIVE US GREAT COMFORT, BECAUSE AS ME ALL KNOW MAN IS A LIAR.

NUMBERS 23:19 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? (NIV)

AS CHILDREN OF GOD, WE CAN BE ASSURED THAT WHEN GOD MAKES A PROMISE HE WILL KEEP IT NO MATTER WHAT.

HEBREWS 10:23 LET US HOLD UNSWERVINGLY TO THE HOPE WE PROFESS, FOR HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL. (NIV)

A YOUNG PARATROOPER ADMITTED THAT HE HAD BEEN FRIGHTENED THE FIRST TIME HE JUMPED. THERE WAS NOTHING BUT A BIG PIECE OF FABRIC BETWEEN HIM AND DEATH. WHAT IF THAT FABRIC ACCIDENTALLY TORE APART? WHAT IF HIS RIPCORD DIDN'T WORK AND THE PARACHUTE FAILED TO OPEN?

BUT WHEN HE JUMPED, EVERYTHING FUNCTIONED PERFECTLY. SUPPORTED BY THAT LIFE-PRESERVING UMBRELLA OVER HIS HEAD, THE MAN FLOATED EARTHWARD. HE SAID, "I HAD A RELEASE FROM FEAR AND A MARVELOUS FEELING OF EXHILARATION."

WHAT ABOUT THE PROMISES GOD MAKES IN THE BIBLE? WILL THEY UPHOLD US IN TIMES OF CRISIS? IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHETHER WE BELIEVE THEM TO BE GOD'S PROMISES--NOT MERELY PRINTED WORDS, BLACK MARKS ON WHITE PAPER, NOR SIMPLY THE GUESSES OF FALLIBLE HUMAN BEINGS LIKE OURSELVES. BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PROMISES OF GOD, WE CAN CLING TO THEM WITH ASSURANCE. THIS WILL BRING RELIEF FROM FEAR AND IMPART A DEEP INNER PEACE.

THROUGHOUT THE AGES, OUR GOD HAS BEEN TRUSTED MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF TIMES. AND HE HAS NEVER BEEN PROVEN UNTRUSTWORTHY. SO LET'S TRUST HIM TODAY AND ADD OUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY TO THAT OF THE COUNTLESS HOST OF FELLOW BELIEVERS WHO HAVE FOUND THAT OUR PROMISE-KEEPING GOD IS UNFAILINGLY FAITHFUL.


STANDING ON THE PROMISES THAT CANNOT FAIL,

WHEN THE HOWLING STORMS OF DOUBT AND FEAR ASSAIL,

BY THE LIVING WORD OF GOD I SHALL PREVAIL,

STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD. --CARTER


HOW IS THE BIBLE DESCRIBED FOR US IN TERMS OF GOD’S PROMISES? THIS MORNING WE ARE GOING TO CONSIDER FOUR PROMISES CONCERNING THE BIBLE.