05/23/2024
This morning let’s talk about "God's Promises" and how they are personal to each of us. They are true, good, eternal, and should be expectantly called out in our prayers. God stands by his promises always, and His Word is not only unchanging, but His promises are unfailing.
“And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.”
Joshua 23:14 KJV
This morning I read the words of E.M. Bounds as he wrote that "God's great promises find their fulfillment along the lines of prayer." and he went on to say that "God's promises are always personal and specific." Isn't it wonderful to know that we serve a God whose word is always kept? When Bounds speaks of God's fulfillment along the lines of prayer he is reaffirming the notion that God is good to His word, but he is also telling us not to pray for things that are contrary to that word, and God’s will. Isn’t this how Jesus prayed?
“saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.””
Luke 22:42 ESV
Every household has rules, and when they are established there are also consequences for breaking them. In a Christian home these rules are in keeping with God's word. This is very different from the unbelieving society which surrounds us. They have sayings like "rules are meant to be broken", and "know the rules well so you can break them effectively." This kind of thinking promotes chaos and that is exactly what we see in the world today. Even the most basic principles are called into question... Marriage, sexuality, truthfulness, honesty, and the list goes on, but God's Word is as good today as it was the moment He spoke it. So in our prayers we should be careful to abide by God's promises. Asking Him to provide something that is contrary to His Word is blasphemous, it dishonors Him to ask that His word be broken. We are His children and we should honor and glorify our Father.
When God makes promises they are not vague and in need of interpretation, they are not fluid and ever changing, nor do they conform themselves to man's social desires. One of the first promises we encounter on our journey of faith is this one...
“But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”
Deuteronomy 4:29 KJV
God promises to show Himself to us if we seek Him, and the Bible also speaks of our walk with Jesus...
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
When we pray for faith and to see God in our lives, these are the promises He will stand by, and the Bible is full of them. He also promises to help and comfort us in times of trouble and hardship, and to teach us to comfort others...
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 KJV
When we pray, these promises should follow us into our prayer closets, and as we sit in our prayer chairs. Jesus spoke one of the most profound utterances in the Bible during His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane when He said "not my will, but thine, be done." Jesus was honoring His Father even unto death. When we pray we have needs, pains, and sufferings; our trials are many but the path through them is always directed by the will of God. He speaks to us individually in our prayers and lives, and His love for us is like the promises He makes... they were for all men, and yet we find that they are meant for us individually, and to guide our personal relationship with Him.
So this morning when we pray let's ask God for those things which are good, righteous, in conformity to His promises, and within His will. Then let's expect Him to honor our request because that is a promise Jesus made to us...
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
Matthew 21:22 KJV
The good and the bad in our lives; the sadness and the joy we experience; there are promises and commandments that instruct us in every aspect of living, but are we praying within these guidelines? Are we obeying and praying within the constructs of a righteous life? Are we repeating God’s Word and the gospel of Jesus, then allowing them to mold our lives as we follow them? Righteous lives begin with righteous prayers... how do we pray today?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Holy Word, and the guidance it gives us in our faith, belief, and in every aspect of our lives. Thank you Lord for your promises which are never broken, and in which we can trust completely. You sent your Holy Spirit to help us as we pray, and we ask that you strengthen us in our resolve to follow his teaching. Through him give us an understanding of your will so that it will provide the foundation of our prayers, and help us to remember all of your commands and commandments so that we can pray them, and allow them to transform our lives. Holy Father, let our prayers lead us into righteous lives, and holy thoughts. Let no evil, or temptation follow us into our prayer closets, nor allow them to make us uneasy in our other places of prayer. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is the embodiment of love, goodness, mercy, and truth. Holy are you in all things, and perfect is your will. Hear our prayers Abba, even as you hear this one now, and shape our lives as we conform them to your commandments, and will. Help us in our unbelief that we can look to Jesus and through Him find you. Help us to see the power in His name and thus understand why He has commanded us to ask all things in His name that we might have them. You gave Him His name, and in so doing you gave Him your authority so that He could administer your will… hear us now as we offer this prayer in the name of Jesus, and ask you expectantly for the strength and understanding we need to adhere to a life molded by righteous prayer, a firm belief, and which will lead us to become more like Christ with each passing day. Praised be your name Father, and forever let our obedience and conformance to your will and commandments bring you glory. Let our prayers be contrite and made holy as they lead us into righteous lives, and an eternal relationship with you.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Amen.
Rich Forbes