Characteristics Of God's Promises

Rev_Rick · 06-09-2007, 01:14 AM

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD'S PROMISES

BIBLE LESSON: Characteristics of God's promises

Many times, when we are discouraged and feel defeated, we lose sight of the many promises of God, given to His children. However,
we must always remember that we have the authority to stand on

God's Word and claim our promises!

II PETER 1:4 - "Whereby are given unto us EXCEEDING GREAT and PRECIOUS promises."

NOTE: The whereby causes us to have to go back and read the preceding verse. In this verse we discover that God has given us
His precious and magnificent promises through His divine power and OUR KNOWLEDGE OF HIM.

KNOWLEDGE (GREEK - EPIGINOSKO) - "to fully perceive, notice
attentively, to recognize.

EPIGINOSKO suggests an ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE or SPECIAL APPRECIATION,
and sometimes implies a special participation in the object known,
and gives greater weight to what is stated.

**Once we have obtained this divine knowledge of God we can claim
the promises of God, which He will stand by, for they are grounded
in Christ.

II CORINTHIANS 1:20 - "For the promises of God in Him are yea, and
in Him amen."

REMEMBER - GOD'S PROMISES ARE CHECKS TO BE CASHED, NOT MERE
MOTTOES TO HANG ON THE WALL!

I. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD'S PROMISES

A. UNFAILING - I KINGS 8:56

"...there hath not failed one word of His promise...."

B. ASSURED BY DIVINE ABILITY - ROMANS 4:21

"... what He had promised, He was able also to perform." (see also
Eph. 3:20)

C. GROUNDED IN CHRIST - II CORINTHIANS 1:20

--Promises in Christ are "Yea & Amen"

D. OF INFINITE VALUE - II PETER 1:4

--We are given exceeding great & precious promises.

E. CULMINATE IN EVERLASTING LIFE - I JOHN 2:25

--He has promised us eternal life.

II. THESE PROMISES ARE FOR GENTILES AS WELL AS JEWS

ROMANS 4:16 - "... to the end the promise might be sure to ALL THE
SEED; not TO THAT ONLY WHICH IS OF THE LAW (Jews), but to that
also which is of the faith of Abraham (Christians; Gentiles -
US!); who is the father of us all, (Jews & Gentiles alike).

BIBLE READING: GALATIANS 3

** Galatians 3 is occupied with showing that the promise was
conditional upon FAITH and NOT UPON FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW.

NOTICE - The Law was later than, and inferior to, the promise, and
did not annul it. (See GALATIANS 3:21; 4:23,28).

**We are not going to see the promises of God fulfilled living
only by the law of the Word, although that is very important. We
must also live by faith - wherein lies the secret to receiving
God's promises, (see Heb. 11).

NOTE: Abraham, who "against hope believed in hope," did not waver
or doubtingly question God regarding God's promise that he was
made a father of many nations.

REMEMBER - THE PROMISES OF GOD ARE CERTAIN, BUT THEY DON'T ALL
MATURE IN 90 DAYS!

III. EXAMPLES OF PROMISES WE CAN STAND ON & CLAIM

THERE ARE DIVINE PROMISES OF:

*Answer to prayer - Is. 58:9; Jer. 33:3; Jn. 15:7

*Blessings - Ex 23:15; Mal. 3:10; Matt. 6:33

*Comfort - Mt. 9:22; Jn. 14:1

*Longevity - I Kg. 3:14; Prov. 10:27; I Pt. 3:10

*Plenty - Deut. 30:9; Is. 30:23

*Spirit Progress - Jb. 17:9; Ps. 92:12; I Tim. 4:15

*Crown of Life - Rev. 2:10

*Wisdom - Ecc. 2:26; Jas. 1:5

PASTORAL NOTE: ALL THESE PROMISES COME WITH CONDITIONS:

*PRAYERS ANSWERED - ASK

*BLESSINGS - OBEDIENCE

*COMFORT - FAITH

*LONGEVITY - OBEDIENCE

*PLENTY (WEALTH) - WORK

*SPIRITUAL PROGRESS - RIGHTEOUS LIVING

*CROWN OF LIFE - FAITHFULNESS

*WISDOM - LIVE A GOOD LIFE

**The old saying goes, "YOU CAN'T GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING," and
the promises of God are no different. When we do our part God will
do His!

As my pastor used to say:

"WHEN YOU PRAY FOR SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY A JOB, PUT LEGS ON YOUR
PRAYERS AND GOD WILL DO THE REST!"

(The above material was published by Calvary Tabernacle.)