Simple Thoughts On Promises

Simple Thoughts On Promises- 90

So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. (Exodus 3:20)

Has the enemy, satan, taken possession of anything that you own? Are you tormented by evil powers? As a believer are you always restless/confused/jittery/fearful/unsteady/irresponsible/unapproachable/angry/stressed???

Think about it. If it's a regular happening, it's not from Jesus who said,
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

Do you experience this "rest" that Jesus promised?
He also promised, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

And remember, Jesus gave this caution and promise,
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

Is satan stealing your peace and joy? Is he killing the peace & joy in your family life or married life. Is he destroying the goodness inside you? Don't give in to him. Stand firm.

The Bible says, Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Remember what God promised Moses & the Israelites in the title verse here."So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go." (Exodus 3:20)

The enemy that is tormenting you or your family may be stubborn but believe that Jesus is all powerful and all authority in heaven and earth is in his hands. He will set you free.
Resist the devil by continual prayer, worship and praise. The enemy will let you go because Jesus will destroy his power. Praise the Lord.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 91

He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done. (Proverbs 19:17)

It's not right to accuse a believer who is poor or finacially stressed by saying that it's because of his/her sins that they are suffering like that. If we can put ourselves in the situation that they are in and imagine the pains that they have to undergo, we will surely be more understanding.

The above verse sounds strange but is true and those who do help the poor regularly have seen that the Lord has rewarded them bountifully. The ones who do it do it because they love the Lord and his people and not because they will receive a reward.

Jesus also said,
"When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:12-14)

If we are looking at eternal rewards, these acts of kindness will come to us naturally and it would be a pleasant sacrifice in the sight of the Lord. So let us take a decision and follow what Jesus said. Paul the Apostle also affirms this by saying,
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:9, 10)

The good that you, especially for the poor will never go unrewarded. May Jesus bless you now and always for doing that.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 92

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Have you been hoping? Have you been waiting? Take heart. Your prayers are going to be answered. Will you believe that the Lord can do an extraordinary miracle for you?
What's an extraordinary miracle?
Let me quote a few from the Word of God to bolster your faith.

The men of the city said to Elisha, "Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive." "Bring me a new bowl," he said, "and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, "This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive. And the water has remained wholesome to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken. (2 Kings 2:19-22)

Elisha returned to Gilgal and there was a famine in that region. While the company of the prophets was meeting with him, he said to his servant, "Put on the large pot and cook some stew for these men."
One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs and found a wild vine. He gathered some of its gourds and filled the fold of his cloak. When he returned, he cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were. The stew was poured out for the men, but as they began to eat it, they cried out, "O man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat it. Elisha said, "Get some flour." He put it into the pot and said, "Serve it to the people to eat." And there was nothing harmful in the pot. (2 Kings 4:38-41)

The company of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live." And he said, "Go." Then one of them said, "Won't you please come with your servants?" "I will," Elisha replied. And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!" The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it. (2 Kings 6:1-7)

In the above 3 miracles, it was not the power of the salt or the flour or the stick that brought about the miracle. Instead it was the power of the Word of God that was spoken by Elisha.

Will you believe this day that the Lord will do an extraordinary miracle for you for the thing that you have been hoping and praying for? The Lord Jesus Christ will speak the Word for your deliverance.
It's my prayer for you that you may experience that miracle and glorify God. God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 93

'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' (Jeremiah 33:3)

Does the Lord still speak to his children as in olden biblical times? As he spoke to Abraham, Isaac & Jacob and to scores of others? Some say that he speaks only through the Word, others have had dreams and visions and are witnesses of that.

Whatever it be, I believe that he is still the same- an unchanging God and he communicates with his children, whatever means he chooses to use. May not be your preffered way, but he does speak and his children are witnesses of that.

He told Jeremiah, "Call to me and I will answer you..." Answer how?? By telling him great and unsearchable things that the prophet didn't know.

In Jeremiah's case, the Lord's word came to him when he was still confined in the courtyard of the guard. God spoke to him about the future of Israel. He said:
"'Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. (Jeremiah 33:6, 7)
And it did happen as the Lord said.

Today, if you are confused about many things regarding your life, not knowing how things will work out, remember what he told Jeremiah:
'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'
God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 94

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

How would it be when we appear with him in glory? How different will it be than what we experience now? I believe it will be a total change of what we have experienced here on earth.
The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth:
For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:53)

As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:48, 49)

So we are going to bear the likeness of the man from heaven- Jesus. O, how wonderful that would be!

While we are in this mortal body, the struggle continues. Battling sin, satan and the worldly desires day in and day out. But we who are in Christ have the promise:
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.(1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

Shall we shout a Hallelujah to that?
Jesus bless you this day & always.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 95

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. (Psalm 37:6)

This verse is sandwiched between 2 other verses which have a great bearing on this verse.

God will make our righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. When?? The answer is given in the preceeding verse which says,
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: (Psalm 37:5)
2 things to be noticed here are the words commit & trust. Commit your way and then trust in him. Are you committing all your ways to the Lord? And after committing are you trusting in him? Then surely, your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

What else is to be done after committing and trusting?? The answer is given in the verse after 37:6
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him...... (Psalm 37:7)

Comitting, trusting, waiting.....Are you willing to do these? God will not fail you if you do these.

He is a good God, he loves you and he will grant your request in his time. Praise the Lord.
 
That was a good word for today my friend, thanks!

Act 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 96

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31)

From a human point of view, it's quite astounding that Jesus should say, "even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Have you ever thought about the number? Researchers say these about the hairs on our head.
"Hair is the fastest growing tissue in the body, second only to bone marrow. 35 meters of hair fiber is produced every day on the average adult scalp. The average scalp has 100,000 hairs. Redheads have the least at 80,000; brown and black haired persons have about 100,000; and blondes have the most at 120,000. 90% of scalp hairs are growing and 10% are resting. It is normal to lose 100 hairs per day from the scalp. You must lose over 50% of your scalp hairs before it is apparent to anyone."

We can only approximate. Only God knows the exact number!
The finer details of our lives are also known to him. Nothing is hidden.
The greatest thing is that he loves us despite all our frailities. Man may condemn us because of our outward appearances, but God loves us as we are, because he intended to create us for his own purpose and glory.

Are you unhappy that no one cares for you as you would like them to? Are you sad that you are not appreciated by others? Take heart. Jesus cares for you.

He says, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

Of much worth in the eyes of Jesus!
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 97

"They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. (Malachi 3:17, 18)

These verses speak of the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. The distinction may not be immediately apparent what with the wicked seemingly being blessed and the righteous suffering.

The psalmist Asaph seemed troubled by such thoughts:
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. (Psalm 73:2-9)

Sometimes thoughts like these trouble many believers. Why are the wicked prospering while they are suffering in some ways. As Malachi wrote...the distinction will be clear only at God's appointed time.
Then the righteous or them who serve God will be his treasured possession and the wicked will be judged with eternal punishment.

Asaph's was troubled because of the prosperity of the wicked. He said, Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me (Psalm 73:13, 14, 16)

God clarified Asaph's doubts over God's righteousness when he entered God's sanctuary and his spiritual eyes were opened. He then understood the final destiny of the wicked. And he sang,
Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! (Psalm 73:18, 19)

Always remember, the prosperity of the wicked or those who do not serve God are only temporary, but you as a child of God are his "treasured possession" and will remain like that forever. God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 98

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, (Psalm 103:2, 3)(NIV)

I was just comparing these verses in different versions of the Bible. These were the findings:
Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; (Psalm 103:2, 3)(NAS)

Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits-- Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases, (Psalm 103:2, 3)(Amplified)

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (Psalm 103:2, 3)(KJV)

Bless Jehovah, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; (Psalm 103:2, 3)(ASV)

There's not much change in the meaning of the verses in any of these versions. The points to note being that God forgives all our sins/iniquities and heals all our diseases.

Many do believe in the sin-forgiving ability of the Lord, but when it comes to healing many doubt.
There can be many arguments regarding this, but the point is whether we are willing to take the Word literally as it is, for "today".
Can anyone of us say that the verse is untrue?
Even if we haven't seen healing in a specific case/ many cases, we cannot state that the Lord does not heal now.
He does heal and many of us are witnesses of it. So even today, shall we believe that he is still the disease-healing God as he is the sin-forgiving God?
Can we emphatically say, "Yes God, you heal all my diseases as I read in your Word and may your name be glorified".

Can we exhort ourselves and say what the psalmist sang:praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. That would be wonderful.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 99

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. (Psalm 91:3)

This promise is for all who dwell in the shelter of the Most High. Such a person can confidently say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." (Psalm 91:2)

Most of us must have had enough encounters with the fowler and his snares in our lives. Of the fowler (satan), Jesus had some exceptionally caustic statements to make and it is nothing but profound truth:
"He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.....(John 10:10)

Of course, there are many so called christians who do not believe that the fowler exists and is planning and orchestrating evil continually.
There are others who ignore him even when they know that it is because of his tricks that they are suffering.

The Apostle Paul had this to say regarding the unforgiving attitude in some of the believers in the Corinthian Church and the possibility of satan taking advantage of it.
If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven - if there was anything to forgive - I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:10,11)

Are you attentive to the voice of God in your life? It is most essential if you have to escape the fowler's snare.
He can outwit you with his schemes if you do not continually dwell in the shelter of the Most High.
If you do dwell in the shelter of the most high and abide in his shadow, this promise (surely he will save you from the fowler's snare...)will continually be fulfilled in your life too. God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 100

"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (Proverbs 30:5)

Interestingly, there are many who are fond of finding flaws in the Word of God, the Bible. Actually the Bible was written over a period of 1400 to 1800 years by more than 40 different authors. Certain mistakes and discrepencies can be found because of human errors. But the fact remains as Agur son of Jakeh says here- Every word of God is flawless.

Do you question the validity of what you read in the Bible everyday? Of course all of us have many doubts and there are many things that we don't understand when we read the Word. Yet, whatever God wanted mankind to know and understand is very clear. That's because the Bible was written by men under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God.

Yes, every word of God is flawless because God himself is flawless. His promises are flawless. Do you believe that?
King David, that great psalmist of Israel says,
And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. (Psalm 12:6)

Again David affirms the same when he says,
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 18:30)

Believe in the Lord. Believe in his words. Believe in his promises. That will bring you peace that passes all understanding. God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 101

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14)

When Jesus was born, there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

If you are reading this, God's favor rests upon you and that will bring peace to you amidst all the troubles that you face in this chaotic world.

It's not a trivial matter if God's favor has rested upon you. The Apostle Peter puts it this manner:
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9, 10)

Yes, we are the people of God and God's favor rests upon us. Let us rejoice that God has chosen us as a people for himself, that we have received mercy and that we are a people belonging to him. Praise the Lord.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 102

He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. (Song of Solomon 2:4)

Do you believe that the love that Jesus has for you is much much greater than the love that the woman here had for her lover?
God says,"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)

Everlasting love can come only from an everlasting God. The Bible says,
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

The Apostle Paul writing to the Ephesians says,
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

The love that Jesus has for you is one that surpasses knowledge and if you have to really grasp how wide, long, high and deep it is, you would need more than a lifetime.

Yes, Jesus loves you, much more than you can ever imagine, much more than you can ever grasp. In fact, the banner that he's held over you is the banner of love. God bless you.
 
Amen my friend.

1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 103

He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:8)

Do you feel that you may not be able to endure all the trials that you are facing and reach the desired end of it all- eternal union with God?
Is there a question frequently popping up in your mind whether you should have signed up for this trip- living for Jesus? Here's a promise for you right from the Word of God- He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How can a person say with surety that he/she will make it to the desired end? Well, that's what the gospel is all about. It's not on our merit, but by his Grace. The Bible says,
"God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." (1 Corinthians 1:9)

So, be assured this day, brother/sister in christ. Jesus will keep strengthening you with his Holy Spirit till the moment you join him in eternity or at his coming. You are precious to him. As precious as Jesus is to his father.
"As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him." (1 Peter 2:4)
God bless you.
 
"God said it, I believe it, that settles it". I just saw this one. I got that saying when I was a Billy Graham convention years ago and it was written down for me. Thanks for the reminder. Needing it a lot some days just now.
Ruby
 
Ruby8720 said:
"God said it, I believe it, that settles it". I just saw this one. I got that saying when I was a Billy Graham convention years ago and it was written down for me. Thanks for the reminder. Needing it a lot some days just now.
Ruby
Click to expand...

God bless you now and always.:)
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 104

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." (Acts 23:11)

A promise to the apostle that his ministry is not yet over and that he has to testify about Jesus in Rome. God spoke to the apostle not vaguely but specifically. It was not something said haphazardly but pinpointing a place where God would take him to, come what may.

In the very next verses, we read of a plan by the Jews to kill him. But since God had given him the promise, could anyone kill him?
The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot. (Acts 23:12, 13)
God foiled their plans.

Later on in Chapter 25, we read of another plan to kill Paul.
They urgently requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. (Acts 25:3)
God did not allow it to happen.

Travelling to Italy later on, the ship that Paul travelled by was hit by a violent storm.
Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "northeaster," swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. (Acts 27:14, 15)
God protected Paul because of his promise and plan.
He landed up on an island called Malta where God had a ministry for him to do.
3 months later he travelled again and finally landed in Rome.

Luke, the physician writes,
When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. (Acts 28:16)

The book of Acts ends with these verses:
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 28:30, 31)

God is faithful. He will foil every plan the enemy brings against the promise that he has given you. If he has promised you something, he will definitely bring it to pass. Just walk with him. God bless you.
 
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