Promise (Abraham)
Part 4 – When promises are made only to be broken then we are talking about human promises. Politicians are a good example of them all. Many of them while campaigning for positions promised most everything. They speak the best words to voters to get their attention to get their votes. They will even use God’s name to be believable, using their bad or good experience, accepting their misjudgments to grab sympathy from the voters. These politicians are indirectly buying the votes of the citizens through promises.
No way in this world that a politician will face the voting public without promising of something. Most of the time it turns into disappointment for the public because these promises were broken after they were elected. These are all acts of a person to manipulate our mind, a deceitful performance by a lying tongue, not only we are deceive, we also fall victim of their ugly motive. “The world is like a stage” as Williams Shakespeare’s most quoted passages which could mean, that human play a certain role, some play a heroic act and some villainous, cruel and wicked and the weak is always the victim.
Promises sometimes become a part of our daily play. A man can promise the world to his woman just to prove how much he cares for her. Of course the woman is not clueless that this line is impossible without hearing what exactly the man meant. We heard a lot of promises being mentioned inside the church and sometimes they included in the preaching. How are we going to disagree with the Pastors when they refer it to the word of God? We can express a different opinion with the interpretations or illustrations but never argue the spoken word of God in reverence to God.
This world also assigned people to a role as travelers though still needs more time to stay with the family. A family man knows his responsibilities and obligations at home. He has the responsibility to continue the journey to fulfill his promises; to give a good future to his family, better education, food on the table, clothing, and shelter. When we promise we have to fulfill that promise or better not promise at all because the expectation of a result is so high that sometimes fulfilling a promise is way beyond your means.
When we loan money to a friend with a promise that it will be paid back in time but failed. That friend may avoid seeing you apologize or make renewed promises. You can set this play differently either you lend the money and forget about it or just give the money considering that the borrower is sincerely in need of help that forces him to make reckless promises. This lesson tells us not to lend money to a friend unless we are ready to forgive and avoid unhealthy friendships, or borrow from a friend if we know we cannot pay it back.
The bible is very clear also about promises “*It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.” “**It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows. *Ecclesiastes 5:5 NIV; **Proverbs 20:25 (NKJV).
What do we feel when somebody promises us something only to be broken? Do we foolishly injure their dignity to get even or disgrace them? What if we made a promise to God and not fulfill it? What will God feel? We can feel anger, hatred, and humiliate the person that broke their promises, but what good will it bring to us? Nothing, but harming ourselves. On the other hand, when we make a vow to God and not do it, this promise is missing the mark, it is a sin. When we follow our vow, we are worth the trust in human standards and in the eyes of God, and it is His delight.
The Bible utterly says: “If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.”Deuteronomy 23:21; and in Jonah “But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!” Jonah 2:9
We have to be very careful in handling the Truth of God. It will not please Him when using His word without sincerity or dividing the truth. We cannot form an opinion regarding the servants of God that will cause to divide the body unless he is selfishly serving his self-interest that will put the faithful to walk away from the truth. We can deal with the circumstances by asking for a meeting to address the questionable behavior and at the end to settle it with the body of believers and make a vow or covenant to the congregation.
We already heard this very common phrase in the church, “the more you give the more you receive” it sounds like a promise and indeed it is a promise. Some may say that when you give you loss, what people do not know is when you give you to gain the Spirit, but we have to be careful also in giving to either poor or rich church. We must be aware of how their leaders live their lives, how they walk and talk about their behavior and attitude, and their maturity towards handling the struggles that their members are experiencing.
Leaders below or above the level of a luxury lifestyle are successful using their talents, not their spiritual gifts. They are more concerned about their performance in the pulpit rather than the growth of their members’ spiritual enlightenment. Likewise, the members should always be aware that their leaders are not a performer to entertain them, but instead, expect them to lead them to be equipped to have a close relationship with God. We have to check ourselves if our joy is from our emotion or it is from the Spirit that gives joy. We have a warning as it is written that giving to the rich leads to poverty.
Do not be afraid that you will lose by giving. The law of the Spirit is different from the law of man. Jesus said “*Give and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Many ministers are using this scripture only to enrich themselves and employ their families. We are not talking about living in pennies but living in mansions.
Why God allow this to happen? Sometimes God uses these people for us to see or experience the truth of His word. There are ministers in sheep’s clothing preaching the promise of prosperity and sometimes put fear in our mind so we can dig more dipper into our pocket and yet a wolves extremely hungry hunting for prey. God gave us wisdom not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed with the renewal of our mind. Using the word of God we can discern the true motive of ungodly deeds using flattering words to gain your pocket than equipping you with the words against those kinds of ungodly people like them.
As God’s sons and daughters, we must build our lives on the core message of Jesus and then continue getting in touch with Him through prayer, live in peace by obeying the commandments of love, and follow through with our promises. Staying faithful to God includes moral living. When we bless others God will bless us “I bless those who bless you,” He said. Giving is sharing and sharing is caring, there are many forms in blessing others; through financial gifts which matters to most recipients, material things can be a blessing too, we can bless them by letting them feel our concern and compliments, blessing them with the word of God, recite prayers to uplift someone in need of spiritual strength, or greeting them well with the love of the Lord. “Do not judge others of what they can afford to give or what kind of gift they gave for it will come back to you.”*Luke 6:38 NIV.
God made promises to individual persons as it is written; God promised Noah that every living creature that’s on the earth and those living on it will never be destroyed again by a flood. This happened after the universal flood that perished mankind and every living creature that was not in the ark of promise. Eight people and their livestock were saved, they were told to be fruitful and multiply and they obeyed the will of God.
Go Back To: Introduction to Dispensation of Time
God made a covenant with Abraham and said, “To your descendants, I give this land” Genesis 15:18-21. God also promised Abraham to make him the father of many nations and his name will be great and he will be a blessing to all the people on earth. Genesis 12:2-3. Promised also was made to Isaac, son of Abraham “Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants, I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham”-Genesis 26:3, and then to Abraham’s grandson Jacob “I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.”Genesis 28:13.
God promised Moses the land of promise. Due to disobedience, Moses was not allowed to enter the land of promise. God who keeps His promises never change, but His mercy and grace can change the circumstances. As to Moses, God allowed him to see the whole land of promise from the top of a mountain but was never allowed to set foot into the promised land.
God promises David that He will establish his son’s kingdom and build a house for His name forever and His faithful love will never leave him. “I will be his father, and he will be my son” His kingdom will be established forever2 Samuel 7:11–16 The Promised Land can be found in Exodus 23:31.
From Old Testament to New Testament God is present in human lives. He loves us at the same time he chastises us when we do wrong. Whether sinners or saints, we need God in our lives to guide and protect us from this violent world. It doesn’t mean that we are sinless we do not need God, how can we claim to be sinless or being a saint? Does our mind tell us or our hearts? We cannot judge others to be sinless and we are not! Our conscience can testify but God looks into our heart. Solomon the man who received wisdom from God during his advanced age questioned life why he had to accumulate all the wealth and just to leave it to somebody that had nothing to do with his hard work, that life is meaningless, but at the end, he realized that life was only worthless without God. God will never leave us nor forsake us. It was a promise then and still remains up to the end of the ages.
In the New Covenant, Christians believe that the promise is about the relationship between God and humans reconciled by Jesus through his sacrifice on the cross. Jews and Gentiles’ believers, upon profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in accordance with a promise of eternal life in John 3:16 will be saved. Our salvation is a gift from God through believing in His Son Jesus, but it does not mean we can continue living in sin. Salvation is by grace, but grace only comes to those who obey God’s Law. Jesus who is blameless should be our model in righteousness and to be like Him will be God’s delight. Joshua reminded us to be careful; *But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” *Joshua 22:5
“When the Gentiles, who have no knowledge of the Law, act in accordance with it by the light of nature, they show that they have a law in themselves, for they demonstrate the effect of a law operating in their own hearts. Their own conscience endorsed the existence of such a law, for there was something which condemns or commends their actions.” “God’s judgment is absolutely just” “All who have sinned without knowledge of the Law will die without reference to the Law; and all who have sinned knowing the Law shall be judged according to the Law. It is not a familiarity with the Law that justifies a man in the sight of God, but obedience to it.” Romans 2:12-15 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
Paul has written in Romans “While we were “in the flesh” the Law stimulated our sinful passions and so worked in our nature that we became productive—for death! But now that we stand clear of the Law, the claims which existed are dissolved by our “death”, and we are free to serve God not in the old obedience to the letter of the Law, but in a new way, in the spirit.” Romans 7:5-6 (PHILLIPS)
God promised that when we trust Him with all our heart He will guide us and we will never be lost- After all that being said and asked; the Bible says that Jesus has a tattoo on His thigh, “On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Revelation 19:16 (NLT). Its either literal or symbolical, I tend to lean not to the understanding of men but rather submit to God whose thought is higher than our thoughts and ways higher than our ways.
Let God adorn us what is pleasing to His sight. His work will never fail us for He wants us to be like Him. He wants us to be blameless one more time. He will reform us to perfection. He wants us to be perfect as Adam before the fall. He will erase the old and give us a renewed Spirit and He will proclaim us wholly and fully sanctified and ready to receive His blessing of glorified body and the throne of righteousness will be delivered to those who He glorified and will be Sons and Daughters of the Almighty
Paul said in 2Cor 6:18: And “ I will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” We, whom the Holy Spirit dwells, are sons and daughters of the LORD Almighty, isn’t it great to be sons and daughters of the Almighty God? We cannot get a any higher relationship than that.
Jesus Christ who will rule the earth forever with His saints and the kingdom of God will be free from the dust of the earth, free from pain and sorrow, free from slavery under religion made by man and no possessions to fight for. No more past to look back and no worries about savings and preparing for the future, what we will eat and what we will wear, There is no need for the sun to shine the day and moon to light the night. God will outshine the sun and the moon. God will be the light and the lamb will be the lamp. No more countries that divide the kingdom and the land will be one as it was before and one language, the language of God.
Everything will be good as God’s purpose and all will be loved as the Will of God. God is good and God is love, therefore God wants us to be good and wants us to love and be loved. Jesus said not to say that He is good for only the Father is good. Jesus replied to the accuser in claiming to be God; “isn’t it written in your law “I have said you are gods, the accuser themselves are gods and the name to whom the word of God came.” If this is not true Jesus will not say it and whatever is written cannot be broken especially if it is a promise. If you claim this today, some fundamentalist Christians will right away make a conclusion – perhaps a negative judgment.
The Promises: God will cover your naked body with a promise that we belong to Him, adorn us with jewelries and beautiful crown on our heads, adorn with gold and silver, clothe with fine linen and become very beautiful and rose to be a queen made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign Lord – Ezekiel 16:8-14 (NIV); we enter the world naked and we will leave this world naked, everything will be left behind, no material or possessions can be brought to eternal destination. Buried body or cremated all go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.
“*For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” *2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV); God kept His promises, when he said it He will do it. God is the only way and to be fooled by deceivers is a wrong way. God gave us free will but if we keep constant communication with Him, God’s Spirit will guide our free will without interfering our daily decisions, but we need to be aware that when the Spirit prodded us, which means something that we have to double check what we are doing. God promised that if we search for Him with all our heart and soul, we will find him-Deuteronomy 4:29. When you ask God you will hear His response; when you seek Him you may see His face shine upon you and when you knock, He will open His heart to welcome you.
Likewise; when you open your heart to Him, He will accept your invitation and your body will become the temple of God. We should bear in mind that God looks into our heart. It is His delight that our body is His temple. God is near to us whenever we call on Him- Deuteronomy 4:7- The enemy of the faith cannot be near you nor harm you; when God is in you no one can be against you.
God promised prosperity to all who delight in His Word-Psalm 1:1-3. God will prosper us to anything we do. We will be appreciated and acceptable to many that will hear or work with us or for us. Prosperity is not all about money it could be wealth of knowledge, healthy body and everything we do is for His glory. Money can buy many things but not everything and don’t let money separate you away from God who gave it. Money is temporal – you can have it today and gone tomorrow. Stay blessed and submit to Him all your ways and let Him do His ways and His Spirit will guide you on every decision and direction.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”- Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV
Go Back To: Introduction to Dispensation of Time
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:2-4; our behavior and attitude reflect the character of God and it impacts the very purpose of our existence.
Human beings are still in the image and likeness of God (James 3:9; 1 Corinthians 11:7). Jesus Himself is the image of the invisible God through Him we attained the gift of salvation. (Colossians 1:15; compare 2 Corinthians 4:4). Now that the word has been revealed to us; that we are partakers of the Divine Nature of God, His Holy Temple what more could we ask when He gave us more than enough. We are part of the I AM of God-The TrinityPromises of God in the New Testament.
God promised salvation to all who believe in His Son (Romans 1:16–17). God promised that all things will work out for good for His children (Romans 8:28). God promised comfort in time of trials (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). God promised new creation in Christ and the old has gone (2 Corinthians 5:17). God promised to blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Whereas, in the Old Testament; an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:4).
God promised to completion a good work He began at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6). God promised to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and not to be anxious about anything.(Philippians 4:6–7). God promised to give us the things we need when we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness(Matthew 6:33); God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus(Philippians 4:19). Our Heavenly Father valued us more than the birds He feeds (Matthew 6:26).
Jesus’ promises in the Gospels.Jesus promised He will give rest to our souls (Matthew 11:28–30). Jesus promised not just life but abundant life to those who believe (John 10:10). Jesus promised spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14). “Jesus promised to give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:28). Jesus promised power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. (Acts 1:8). The Jews, in a fury of jealousy accused the believers who turned the world upside down, (Acts 17:6). Jesus promised to come back and take you to be with Him that you also may be where He will be (John 14:2–3).
There are thousands promises of God available in the written Word of God in the Bible to help us in every needs. Some were fulfilled in the ancient time, and some find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, “the exact representation of His being” (Hebrews 1:3). “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Promises can be good and can be dangerous too. When promises are not followed through, it may cause disappointment to the person where promises are made and may cause to harms ways. Our imperfection can cause to break a promise and our imperfection can cause a person to be less patient. When we made promises and not keep it, it turns out to be a lie and lying is a sin. We should only make promises with care and respect the other person’s trust.
Promises are important that it identifies our trustworthiness. When we make a promise to God, we better fulfill it. The Bible is very clear. “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin” Ecclesiastes 5:4–5.
A willful sin like a promise with intention not to fulfill it the; Scripture stated – “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” Hebrews 10:26. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 “Forgiveness is available to all, but we leave it to God’s sovereign grace to cause the transgressor to truly repent in order to be pardoned” Ephesians 2:4.
The apportioned time of Promise ended at Mt. Sinai, where God gave Abraham’s people the Law to Moses.
1)Innocence 2)Conscience 3)Human Government 4)Promise 5)Law 6)Grace 7)Kingdom