Rejoicing Always!

2 Corinthians Overview of Promises, Praise, and Prayer

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless in deed you fail the test?”

2 Corinthians 13:5(NASB95)

In this life we are asked to take numerous tests— a driver’s test, test for citizenship, or even a test insuring our health. This week in our highlighted scripture passage, the apostle Paul urged the Corinthians to take a test of greater importance than any test the world requires.  The Holy Spirit inspired Paul’s command to the Corinthians and left it for us to read and heed. Wednesday’s post, “What’s Your Answer?” presented the opportunity for us to test ourselves and know whether we are in the faith or not. If we passed the test, the final verse from our 2 Corinthians Overview contains a promise for us.

“Finally brethren rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace;

and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

2 Corinthians 13:5,11

Our Promises:

“and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

The God of love—

“For God so loved the world,

that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish,

but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

the God of … peace—

“Therefore having been justified by faith,

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith

into this grace in which we stand;

and we exult in hope of the glory of God …

Romans 5:1,2 

“and the God of love and peace—

shall be with you—

“Jesus answered and said to him,

‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word:

and My Father will love him,

and We will come to him,

and make Our abode with him …

Let your character be 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 …

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

John 14:33; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20b

Our Praise:

Finally, brethren, rejoice—

“Draw me, we will run after thee:

the king hath brought me into his chambers:

we will be glad and rejoice in thee,

we will remember thy love more than wine:

the upright love thee …

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”

Song of Solomon 1:4KJV; Philippians 4:4

Rejoice because we who are in the faith have—

• eternal life and will never perish,
• the grace of God to stand in,
• hope of the glory of God,
• peace with God,
• His Presence with us forever!

And finally, brothers and sisters in Christ, rejoice for as Jesus said,

“that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Luke 10:20b

Our Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask nothing today, except to offer you the praise you are worthy of. You have given us all we stand in need of to share in godliness. What more is there to ask for. So, today, we offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving. We offer you ourselves. There is nothing else we can bring and even in that, it is you who has made our offering acceptable. Thank you, Lord.

“Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power,

be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,

and unto the Lamb for ever and ever … Amen.” (KJV)

Promises, Praise, Prayer

2 Corinthians Overview

Photo by fotografierende on Pexels.com

This Week’s Passage:

“For as many as be the promises of God,

in Him they are yes;

wherefore also by Him is our Amen

to the glory of God through us.

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ

and anointed us is God,

who also sealed us

and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (NASB*)

Promises, Praises, and Prayer:

In Richard Wurmbrand’s book, Tortured for Christ,  he tells of preparing for persecution he knew he would face. He looked for promises dealing with fear. He found 365, enough for each day of the year. He committed them to memory. As he walked through the road of persecution for 14 years, the promises of God supplied his strength to endure. God’s promises are —

• “as many as be the promises of God,
• in Him they are yes;
• wherefore also by Him is our amen to the glory of God through us.”

God’s Promises to Sustain:

Paul relates, in Corinthians, his road of sufferings— the internal, the external, and those inflicted by others. Few of us are able to come close to the suffering he endured. Yet, in one place he calls them light afflictions. Again in Corinthians he writes God’s promises—

• “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,
• that you may be able to endure it,” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“And He has said to me,

‘My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is perfected in weakness.’

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses,

that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

2 Corinthians 10:9

David, the king of Israel wrote—

• “For the LORD loves justice,
• And does not forsake His godly ones;
• they are preserved forever…
• the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
• He is their strength in time of trouble.
• And the LORD helps them, and delivers them;
• He delivers them from the wicked,
• and saves them,
• Because they take refuge in Him.” Psalm 37:28,39-40

Our Offering of Praise:

The above promises mean nothing in this life—unless the One making them is faithful and the one reading them receives them as truth.

We praise you, Father for you are our God and your word and works tell us—

“God is faithful,

through whom you were called into fellowship

with His son, Jesus Christ our Lord …

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today,

yes and forever … “

1 Corinthians 1:9; Hebrews 13:8

And your word—

“Forever, O LORD,

Thy word is settled in heaven.

Thy faithfulness

continues throughout all generations;

Thou didst establish the earth, and it stands.”

Psalm 119:89,90

We know—

“Thy way, O God, is holy;

What god is great like our God?

Thou art the God who workest wonders;

Thou hast made known Thy strength among the peoples …

Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,

who alone works wonders.

And blessed be His glorious name forever;

And may the whole earth be filled with His glory.

Amen, and Amen.”

Psalm 77;13-14;Psalm 72:18-19

Our Prayer:

Heavenly Father, You are great and mighty. There is none other like you. You are faithful and your word is “yes” and “Amen.” It is as sure today as the day you spoke it, and none can stop it.

You are our salvation, our righteousness, our strength, our deliverer.

May we, your children, bless your glorious name now and forever— filling the earth with your glory. May we remember always—

“Faithful is He who calls you,

and He also will bring it to pass.”

1 Thessalonians 5:24

Amen and Amen.

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For Thought and Praise: Which promise speaks to your heart? Take a moment and praise Him.

Have a blessed weekend and remember God inhabits the praises of His people.

Truth Triumphs

Jesus Christ is the way and the truth. He is the word of God clothed in flesh. He is the living Word. God’s word is truth. Jesus is truth, no lie is found in him. Nor will it be found in the written word.

A Prayer,Praise, and Promise from Deuteronomy 32:1-4:

“Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak: and hear, o earth, the words of my mouth.”

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” 1 John 5:14

Heavenly Father, we praise your holy name for Jesus is the way to your throne, and he is truth. He is our confidence to ask you for words of truth to speak. Your promise to hear is sure for your word is truth.

• “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:
• and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom …
• Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come,
• he will guide you into all truth:
• for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come …
• Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God:
• that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
• Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;
• comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” Psalm 51:6; John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12,13

Thank you, Father, for giving us your Holy Spirit. May we speak nothing that is not taught to us by Him, and may we speak the truth in love. May those of the earth hear your words through our speech, our lives, and true doctrine of Jesus Christ.

“My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.”

“Jesus answered them, and said,

My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,

whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory:

but he that seeketh his glory that sent him,

the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him …

Study to show thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth …

how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures.”

2 Timothy 2:15; John 7:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3b,4

Father, thank you for raining your blessing of life upon our lives – for sending us your Son to water our thirsty souls. May we be faithful to study your word and speak only of you in truth, making known Jesus is the truth, and you are our great God. May our teaching be as the gentle rain falling on parched ground bringing life to that which is dead.

Final Words of Praise:

“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment:

a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”

“But the LORD is the true God,

he is the living God,

and an everlasting king:

at his wrath the earth shall tremble,

and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation …

O Praise the LORD, all ye nations:

praise him, all ye people.

For his merciful kindness is great toward us:

and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever.

Praise ye the LORD.”

Jeremiah 10:10; Psalm 117:1,2

Jesus is the truth who reigns forever. Truth has and will triumph. May we lift our voices in praise to our great God and King, even as we cling to his promises and as we bring our prayers to him who is the way to God and the truth of God.

The Way of Promises, Prayer, and Praise

The Promises:

“And an highway shall be there,

and a way, and it shall be called,

The way of holiness;

• the unclean shall not pass over it;
• but it shall be for those[the saved]:
• the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
• No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there;
• but the redeemed shall walk there:
• And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
• and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads:
• they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:8-10

Some would say these promises are only for Israel. But notice, they are for the redeemed, the ransomed of the Lord. I don’t know about you but that’s me. And one day I will march to Zion with a song of joy and gladness. Until then I will sing it in anticipation of that day. Only those in the Way of holiness will come.

John the Baptist proclaimed that Way to those who would hear –

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away the sin of the world …

And I saw, and bare record

that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:29,34.

Through the blood of the Lamb, the precious Son of God, the wall of division between Jew and Gentile is torn down. Jesus is the way of holiness and all are invited to walk the highway with him.

The Prayer:

• “Shew me thy ways, O LORD;
• teach me thy paths
• Lead me in thy truth, and teach me;
• for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
• Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
• Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions:
• according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.” Psalm 25:4-7

Teach us the way of the cross – the bridge to the highway of holiness.

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;

but unto us which are saved it is the power of God …

For I determined not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ, and him crucified …

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,

but in the power of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:2,5

Father, you have saved us through the power and wisdom of the cross of Christ. May we proclaim, him and him alone. For it is only by your power we are saved and walk this way of holiness. By Christ we are made holy.

“But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy in all manner of conversation …

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children:

And walk in love,

as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us

an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

1 Peter 1:15; Ephesians 5:1,2

Father, may we walk in the love of Christ bearing your holy name to a lost world. May we be a sweet fragrance to you and bring you praise.

The Praise & Promise:

“Good and upright is the LORD:

• therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
• The meek will he guide in judgment:
• and the meek will he teach his way.” Psalm 25:8-9

“For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work:

I will triumph in the works of thy hands:

O LORD, how great are thy works!

And thy thoughts are very deep …

For with thee is the fountain of life:

in thy light shall we see light.”

Psalm 92:4,5;36: 9

“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

O the depth of the riches

both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are his judgments,

and his ways past finding out!

FOR WHO HATH KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD? OR WHO HATH BEEN HIS COUNSELLOR? OR WHO HATH FIRST GIVEN TO HIM, AND IT SHALL BE RECOMPENSED UNTO HIM AGAIN?

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things:

to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

Romans 11:32-36

We thank you, Father for the wisdom, power, and love found in the way of the cross of Christ. May we offer you ourselves as a living sacrifice of praise.

Prayer, Promises, and Praise

Image courtesy of Pexels.

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,

whose name is Holy;

I dwell in the high and holy place,

with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,

to revive the spirit of the humble,

and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

Isaiah 57:15

Another word for repentant is contrite. There can be no repentance – changing of our mind and according to Isaiah, our spirit –  without a humbling – a coming face to face with our need for forgiveness of sin provided in the One whose name is Holy. The One who humbled himself in our stead. The One – Jesus Christ who took our sin on himself securing our forgiveness through dying our death on the cross.

The Prayer:

“But he giveth more grace.

Father, pour out your grace upon me.

Wherefore he saith, GOD RESISTETH THE PROUD, BUT GIVETH GRACE UNTO THE HUMBLE.

I know my sin separates me from you; from enjoying being in your Presence.

Submit yourselves therefore to God.

My soul is in your hands. You are Lord of all, including me.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Be my strength against temptation.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

I come to you through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Asking you to wash me from sin and be my strength to use my hands to bless others in the name of Jesus and my heart to love others as you have loved me.  

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.” James 4:6-9

Help me remember the affliction, weeping, mourning and heaviness the Lord Jesus Christ carried to the cross for me. Help me remember the grief sin causes you and flee from it.

The Promises:

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up …

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;

and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

James 4:10; Psalm 34:18

 A broken heart – that heart which grieves over the sin that separates us from our heavenly Father as it grieves his heart. To that one with the broken heart and contrite spirit He says –

“I dwell in the high and holy place,

with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,

to revive the spirit of the humble,

and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

The Praise:

As your word declares You have lifted us up –

“And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus;

That in the ages to come he might shew

the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness

towards us through Christ Jesus …

Ephesians 2:6,7

We are seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus – us in Him and He in us. He has saved us and revived our spirit and heart for –

“if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature;

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new …

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who hath blessed us

with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ …

Jesus answered and said unto him,

If a man love me, he will keep my words:

and my Father will love him,

and we will come unto him,

and make our abode with him …

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:

if any man hear my voice, and open the door,

I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne …

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him,

to all that call upon him in truth …

My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD:

and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.”

2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:3; John 14:23; Revelation 3:20,21; Psalm 145:18,21

As our hearts and minds dwell on all our Savior and God have done to bring us into his presence, may we join as one to give him praise. May you have a blessed and joyous weekend praising our God.

Great Passages and Promises of Salvation

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name

JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21

In the spirit of this month’s theme of salvation, and today’s post of Great Passages and Promises, I am sharing the following post from Lily. You can find her website at tblsite.me. Be sure to check out her pictures and devotions. Thank you, Lily for sharing. The passages are before you and I have underlined the promises in them.

Salvation is His Name

Posted on 7 May 2021 by lily

Reflecting on my Lord & Saviour Christ Jesus..

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

Mc 7:7

The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Exo 15:2

The Lord Is My Strength and My Song; A Song of Thanksgiving

And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

And in that day shall ye say,

Praise the LORD, call upon his name,

declare his doings among the people,

make mention that his name is exalted.

Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things:

this is known in all the earth

. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion:

for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Isa 12

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I AM God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

Isa 45:22-23

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Joh 3:16-17

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Donna’s Comments:

John 3:16-17 would have to be my choice of the greatest passage among the others shared. For it embodies the fulfillment of the rest. It’s promise for the believing to be saved from death and given eternal life gives flesh to the word salvation – and his name is JESUS.

“Neither is there salvation in any other.

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

With God’s great and wonderful gift our hearts should be filled with the Song of Thanksgiving. Which passage and promise resonated with your spirit today?

Great Passages and Great Promises

I’m hoping to post on Mondays a great passage and promise from scripture. Considering it all comes from the word of God, I shouldn’t run out of material. I’m starting in Genesis and plan on taking us through the Bible. We may take a break along the way, but I hope you will join me.

Today’s Passage & Promise

“And I will make of thee a great nation,

and I will bless thee, and make thy name great;

and thou shalt be a blessing:

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:

and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Genesis 12:2,3

A great nation, a great name, and a great blessing to all.

In the days of Israel’s first three kings, the nation knew greatness. Strength, riches, and wisdom ruled her days. But once it fell, it would not rise again until 1948. Today it does not begin to compare with the days of Saul, David, and Solomon. But one day a greater King than Solomon will return to completely fulfill God’s promise to make Israel a great nation. And Abraham? His name is known as the father of Israel. Other nations are his as well.  But his children number more than those of his flesh. He is the father of faith. His children include the children of the promise –

“and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

“Even as Abraham believed God,

and it was accounted to him for righteousness,

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith,

the same are the children of Abraham.

And the scripture,

foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith,

preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying,

In thee shall all nations be blessed.

So then, they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”

Galatians 3:6-9

God chose the Israelites, born of Abraham, to bring all nations the promises of God. He chose them to bear the seed that would bless all with salvation.

“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.

He saith not, And to seeds, as of many:

but as of one,

And to thy seed, which is Christ.”

Galatians 3:16

Being born again of God, we are –

“all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:26

God’s promises to Abraham back in Genesis reaches into every nation, race, and family. God excludes no one who will come to him in faith.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God …

For the wages of sin is death,

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Ephesians 2:8; Romans 6:23

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When did you receive God’s gift of eternal life? Were you a child, an adult, or in-between? Were you in a church gathering, alone, or with a friend?

If you would like to share your story of coming to faith, leave it in the comments, send me a message, or email. With your permission I would like to share it on my blog along with your website address. This Wednesday I hope to share the beginning of my faith story. Until then, let’s pray for those who have yet to receive God’s gracious gift.

Prayer, Praise, and Promises

May we join our hearts, minds, and voices in praying and praising using the Lord’s Prayer as our guide.

Our Father which art in heaven …

“O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee,

Hallowed be thy name …

I will praise thy name:

for thou hast done wonderful things:

thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth …

Thy kingdom come …

He will swallow up death in victory;

and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces;

and the rebuke of his people

shall he take away from off the earth:

for the LORD hath spoken it.

And it shall be said in that day,

Lo, this is our God;

we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation …

Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,

and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people,

and God himself shall be with them,

and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death,

neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain;

for the former things are passed away.”

Isaiah 25:1,8,9; Revelation 21:3,4

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven …

“Jesus saith unto them,

My meat is to do the will of him that sent me,

and to finish his work …

I delight to do thy will, O my God:

yea, thy law is within my heart …

arm yourselves likewise … no longer should live the rest of his time

in the flesh to the lusts of men,

but to the will of God.”

John 4:34; Psalm 40:8; From 1Peter 4:1,2

Give us this day our daily bread …

“I have been young, and now am old;

yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,

nor his seed begging bread …

Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Psalm 37:25; Hebrews 13:5

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors …

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning:

great is they faithfulness …

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

Lamentations 3:22,23; Matthew 5:7

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil …

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience,

I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation,

which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth…

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,

and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished …

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:

he shall preserve thy soul.

The LORD shall preserve thy going out

and thy coming in from this time forth,

and even for evermore.”

Revelation 3:10; 2 Peter 2:9; Psalm 121:7,8

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen …

“Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power,

and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty:

for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine:

thine is the kingdom, O LORD,

and thou art exalted as head above all.

Both riches and honor come of thee,

and thou reignest over all;

and in thine hand is power and might:

and in thine hand it is to make great,

and to give strength unto all.

Now therefore, our God,

we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.”

1Chronicles 29:11-13

Have a blessed weekend and may we find time to gather with our brothers and sisters in Christ to continue our prayer and praise as one in Him.

Rock-Solid Promises

“If God will heal my son, I will be His for the rest of my days.” The man negotiated with God to receive what he wanted. He followed this pattern throughout his life. In this instance, God did heal his son. But the man failed to keep his end of the promise. People are fickle but God is not.

“For all the promises of God

in him(Christ) are yea, and in him Amen,

unto the glory of God by us.”

2 Corinthians 1:20

When God says he will do something or give something, it is done. God does not negotiate with us concerning his word. He lays down the terms of the promises and performs them. By his grace through faith we receive the promises. His goodness coupled with our faith works his promises in us.

“Who through faith

subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,

obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,”

Hebrews 11:33

Even when we are faithless God remains true to his word.

• “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself …
• God is not a man, that he should lie …
• My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips …
• Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away …
• it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us.”

(2 Timothy 2:13; Numbers 23:19a; Psalm 89:34; Matthew 24: Hebrews 6:18 (NASB)

The hope spoken of here is based on the character of God who cannot lie or change his mind concerning his promises. In this case we have hope- a steadfast confidence- that what God has promised he will do. He gives to us who are in the faith this promise –

“eternal life,

which God, that cannot lie,

promised before the world began …

And this is the promise that he hath promised us,

even eternal life.”

Titus 1:2;1 John 2:25

God made his gracious promise of eternal life available to all. But all will not receive his promise – not by his exclusion but by their choice.

“Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein,

and they to whom it was first preached entered not in

because of unbelief.”

Hebrews 4:6

Those believing receive the good fruit of God’s promises. We have received eternal life and the many promises bound in the one. But as with eternal life, we will not see completion of all God’s promises in this world, some, yes, but if not here, then in the world to come. The writer of Hebrews gives us Abraham and those before him as an example  –

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Hebrews 11:13

When we have prayed long and waited longer to see the fulfillment of God’s promise, let’s cling to these two verses –

• “But without faith it is impossible to please him:
• for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
• and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him …
• He is the Rock, his work is perfect:
• for all his ways are judgment:
• a God of truth and without iniquity,
• just and right is he.” Hebrews 11:6; Deuteronomy 32:4.

Purpose is revealed in the waiting –

• “ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 
• FOR YET A ; LITTLE WHILE, AND HE THAT SHALL COME WILL COME, AND WILL NOT TARRY.”  Hebrews 10:36,37

God fulfills his promises according to his timetable, his purpose, and his grace for his glory and our good. Stand fast. He is faithful who has promised. He is our Rock-solid hope. If we do not believe He is – His promises are worthless to us. Believe He is and reap his promises as your reward.

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When is it hard for  you to believe all God’s promises are yours as his child?

When Hope Comes

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick,

but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

Proverbs 13:12

“It’s been a beautiful day, hasn’t it, Mom?” My front porch provided a shady place for us to sit and chat.

Mom muttered an, “Uh, uh,” as she turned toward the road.

“Who are you expecting?” I hoped my question would return her attention to me. Her dementia had taken her far away, leaving her saddened.

She turned. Tears filled her eyes and a sigh heavy enough to take us both down a depressing road bowed her slumping shoulders.

“What’s wrong, Mom?”

Her lips quivered. Another sigh to gain composure. Then another car going by grabbed her away again. Her shoulders lifted – until the car passed. She stood and started walking away.

“Wait, Mom.” I hurried to stay with her. “What’s wrong?”

She stopped and turned my way. Her eyes begged me to understand. “I thought sure my mom and dad would come get me today.” She hesitated. “I guess they don’t want me either. I just want to go home.”

I gave her a hug and prayed for words. “Mom, you know that’s not true. Your mom and dad love you. If they could come today, they would. Maybe tomorrow. I know they will come for you as soon as they can.”

A flicker of hope brightened her eyes. Her smile told me she would hope, at least for a moment. She went inside to continue packing her things.

I saw firsthand how “deferred hope” makes the heart sick. Circumstances we don’t understand, don’t expect, or don’t like rob us of hope if we allow it. But when hope is renewed it generates new life in us. During Mom’s journey we often turned to God’s word – his promises saw us through each moment. They proved to be the seed of hope bringing new life to weary hearts.

Favorite promises can change with our circumstances. During Mom’s journey, one of my favorite was –

“FOR YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE THAT SHALL COME WILL COME, AND WILL NOT TARRY.” Hebrews 10:37

The Lord gave me this promise when I asked him how long Mom’s journey would be. So, when a caregiver said Mom would be a long-term resident at the memory care facility, the whisper of the Spirit spoke hope, “Remember my word.”  Twelve days after the nurse said those words, the Lord came for my mom. I don’t know if it’s theologically correct or not, but I tend to think her mom and dad were with Him.

No matter your situation, your pain, or your lack of understanding, you can know at the right time and place in just a little while, Jesus will come. He will not tarry. In fact, other promises tell us He is not far from us ever but walks with us through every trial. He is our hope.

You are invited to walk with me as we take a fresh look at some of God’s timeless promises and the hope – the sure hope his word plants in our hearts. I’m not sure how long this series will be, but along the way, may we find our souls renewed, strengthened and filled will life found in His promises.

What promise of God gives you hope for today?