God's Promise: Purification

 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." NIV

"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." NLT

1 John 1:9

    The promise of purification is the cleansing that comes through faith.  God removes all your sins when you step through the door of faith into a relationship with Him.  After that you work to stay pure so you can stay close to Him and be a walking testimony of who God is.  

    The promise requires confession because you need to recognize that your sin is actually sin.  God knows everything.  It is not for anyone else, but you.  It is how you purge and empty yourself from all that makes you spiritually sick, so that the Holy Spirit can come in and make you clean, healthy, and help you understand the love that God has for you.  

    All you have to do is confess.  When it is between you and God, it feels really good.  Everything that was holding you back or weighing you down is released.  Be careful to leave it with God and not pick it back up.  Once He frees you, you don't need to go back to your bondage.

    God is faithful and just.  He removes all your sins so they are no longer held against you.  Jesus paid the price, now you can go forward and sin no more.  You have to spend time with God in prayer and His Word to know how not to sin.  You have to ask Him to reveal any inherited or deep rooted sins, so that you can break free from them.  As you learn you will confess as sins become apparent.  You will not live a perfect life in this world, but you can strive to move closer to God every day.

    The purification comes from God's forgiveness and loving mercy.  When you accept His gift of salvation you are purified before you ever get baptized.  Baptism is a statement of faith and the first act of obedience, but it doesn't change you.  It doesn't purify you.  God's forgiveness is the only thing in the world that can do that.  Then you work hard to keep your mind pure, so that your body and actions will stay pure.

Psalm 32:5, 51:2, Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:7-9

    

God's Promise: Spiritual Healing

 

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." ESV

1 Peter 2:24

    The promise of spiritual healing is conditional.  It all comes down to faith.  Jesus opened the door and set you up for success.  It is your choice to walk through by faith into a place of healing, peace, and satisfaction.  The only way you will ever find true spiritual healing is through Jesus.  He died for everyone, but only removes the sin and gives soul healing to those who live by faith and follow him.

    To find spiritual healing you have to believe that he died for your sins, rose again, and ascended into Heaven while alive.  You have to be willing to tell the world what he did and how it has affected your life.  You have to be willing to turn away from your sinful nature to follow him as he instructs.  There are no alternative.  You can believe lies for so long to make you feel better, but you soul knows the truth and it will not allow you to rest easy forever.  

    Some of the worse soul wounds can be found in church or through church people.  Remember that that people in the church are people doing their best to follow Jesus while still sinners.  There are people that are not Christian that are trying to learn, but have not gotten there yet.  Some go to church to cause discord.  The church is a hospital for the spirit.  Sick people are not perfect.  If a person is miserable, then they want the people around them miserable.  Do not allow these people to control your relationship with God.

    If you want to follow Jesus to spiritual healing you have to go through a process of intense forgiveness.  It will not happen over night, but remember that Jesus forgave you when you didn't deserve it.  You forgive to find freedom and healing.  In the process you will not be perfect either.  You may hurt people along the way.  Search forgiveness from them and yourself if that is true, then keep going.  Do not let people stop you from getting what you need.  You are growing and changing to be more like Jesus.

    When you find spiritual healing you really become a partner with Jesus.  You start living out your righteousness.  You are able to help people find their way to God.  The moment you accept salvation you are spiritually healed.  The rest of the healing comes as you allow it and discover the wounds and give to God.  You may have scars and some scars may stay sensitive, but that doesn't mean that you have not been healed.  You live in a world full of evil and sin.  Things will not be perfect until you get to heaven, but you can have healing and peace now.  

Isaiah 53:4-11, Matthew 8:16-17, Romans 6:1-2, Hebrews 9:27-28, 1 Peter 2:22-25

God's Promise: Healing

 

"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven" NIV

"Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well.  And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven." NLT

"The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." CSB

James 5:15

    The promise of healing comes with instruction.  In verse 14 James tell the church what when someone is sick to gather the elders (spiritually wise leaders) to come pray over the sick person.  The sick are to be anointed in oil.  It goes back to the rituals of the old testament, but with the intent of doing spiritual warfare.  The oil anoints the person to God.  If you are sick and need healing, then you need strong prayer warrior supporting you.

    In verse 15 is where you find the promise.  You have set yourself up to be healed, but the key ingredient is faith.  You have to believe that you will be healed.  Some illnesses come from living in this world while others come from sin.  This is why you need to trust your prayer warriors with confessions of sin.  You confess to God and He will forgive.  Confessing to people is not how you are forgiven.  It empowers the prayer warriors to know how to pray over you better.  It helps them know how to pray for your healing.  

    Verse 16 ties it all together in how it should be performed.  In the gathering before the laying of hands, oil application, or corporate prayer begins, everyone needs to confess if there is anything that could block their prayers from being heard or would hinder the process.  Once confession and repentance happens, then your group will have power behind the prayers.  

    Here is where it gets tricky.  God promises healing, but he never promised that every time it would be this body that is healed.  Everyone has sinned, so everyone will die.  He heals the body to serve a purpose.  It is better for a true Christian to find the eternal healing that comes after this body is gone.  It hurts the loved ones left behind, but it is better for them.  If God heals you, saves you, or keeps you from harm it is insurance that He still has a purpose for you here and now.  If you are not a Christian, then you need to understand that you only get so many chances to accept salvation before the door closes forever.

    To sum it all up.  It takes faith, prayer, and confession to find true healing.  It is about having and maintaining your relationship with God.  Repentance is when you turn from your sin.  God knows the heart.  He knows if the confessions were true or a lie.  That is between you and Him.  He knows immediately if you have a repentant heart.  This repentance I am talking about is being held accountable to who is now you prayer group.  They are also no accountable to you.  The goal is to find physical and spiritual healing while leaning on God.

Isaiah 33:24, Matthew 9:2-6, Mark 6:13, 16:18, & James 5:14-16

God's Promise: Satan Will Flee

 

"So humble yourselves before God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  NLT

"Therefore, submit to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  CSB

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” NIV

James 4:7

    The promise that you can make the devil flee from you is unlike any of God's other promises.  It doesn't even seem like a promise, but He is giving you what you need to see His power work within you.  If you humble your heart, then you are willing to listen to instruction, guidance, and correction.  

    When you live in obedience to God, then you are empowered by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will indicate to you when there is a spiritual battle that can be avoided.  He is not asking you to fight it.  He is telling you keep your armor in good shape and flee.  I will take care of this.  Flee from temptation.  Flee from the presence of evil.  It is not your place to fight.  You don't need to live in fear, but there is no reason to fight battles that were never meant for you.

    When you feel alone remember God is there with you.  Pray that He provides a support group of mature Christians to help you resist Satan.  This is how you stay strong in spiritual warfare.  God would never leave you alone to face evil.  Satan wants you to feel isolated so you will isolate yourself and become easy prey.  Satan's game plan is not too hard to figure out if you are paying attention.

    When you learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and obey your life becomes simpler.  You are able to hold onto peace with confidence.  You do not live in fear of man or evil, but in what God will do to all those who ignore and turn against Him.  He has already laid out His playbook because He is not afraid of any power.  He already has given you end game.  It is your choice on how it will end for you.

    The promise in this verse is humble submission and active resistance to temptation means that Satan can't get to you in this moment.  He has no choice but to flee.  He would be wasting his time and drawing more attention from God if he kept pushing.  No matter how powerful Satan is, he is nothing in comparison to God and he knows it.  The closer you move toward God, the farther away you are pushing Satan out of your life.  

Ephesians 4:26-27, 6:11, James 4:6-7, & 1 Peter 5:9

God's Promise: His Character

 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:2-5 (NIV)

    The promise of God's character is direction.  Throughout the Bible you are able to discover the character of God, but you really see it in His promises fulfilled.  This promise is a road map for followers of Jesus to have their character reflect His character.  This is a promise to obtain wisdom.  

    God allows trials in your life to benefit you.  Trails are hard, but they produce endurance.  If you have endurance then you are building strong faith.  Strengthening your faith is what leads to maturity, being complete in Jesus, and finding stability in life.  It takes hardship to gain these gifts.  You find joy in hardship as you become more like Jesus because you are able to see the benefits and know that you are closer to God.

    When you are in the thick of trial or tribulation it can be very hard to imagine any benefits.  This is when you need to hold onto God's promises, His Word for encouragement, and prayer.  Pray for wisdom and God will reveal what you are looking for in His Word.  Hardship that is endured produces patience.  Patience produces character like God's character.  Producing Godly character leads you to wisdom.  This is the pattern for the maturing Christian.  Wisdom produces understanding and gratitude.

    You ask for wisdom and He will give it abundantly, but to gain wisdom means you have to live through some things to gain perspective, widening your horizons, and opening your mind to His truth.  As your wisdom grows you will find that you are less judgmental, but you will face sin head on.  You call sin sin, but not in a way where the sinner feels condemned by you.  They may get angry because they are not ready to face the truth yet.  Your job it to speak truth and guide those who accept it to find the truth.  This is wisdom being used God's way which produces confidence in life.

Proverbs 2:1-5, Matthew 5:12, 7:7, Mark 11:24, Luke 11:9, John 16:23, Acts 5:41, Romans 5:3-4, Hebrews 10:34, James 1:2-5, & 1 Peter 1:6-7, 4:13-16

God's Promise: Provision

 

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." NIV

"Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have.  For God said, I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you."  NLT

"Keep your life free from the love of money.  Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you." CSB

Hebrews 13:5

    The promise of provision is a promise of security.  You do not have to cling to anything else.  Trust God and He will provide.  He will never leave you to bare anything alone.  He will not abandon you.  However, if you choose to love money and find security in that over a relationship with God, then you will find emptiness and loss.  Money comes and goes, but God is constant.

    The love of money leads to all kinds of evil.  Loving God leads to an abundant life here and for eternity.  The love that comes from Him endures everything.  It allows contentment in your life.  Stop comparing your life to anyone else.  Your journey with God is personalized.  It shouldn't look like anyone else's journey.  If it does. then that means you have taken too much control and need to submit to God to follow Him in obedience. Contentment with your life and journey will God brings joy, simplicity, and clarity.

    A life that loves money above anything is lonely.  It is meaningless.  It is selfish ambition that leads no where.  You become greedy, but where are your relationships?  What gives you comfort when you are alone in the silence?  Who will you leave all your wealth to if you don't have anyone in your life?  Covetousness is never rewarded.

    If you want peace, fulfillment, and gratification in life then you need to lean of God.  Everything else may bring temporary happiness, but it doesn't last.  If you choose money over God, then it will cost you more than you realize or you would not do it.  Choosing God over everything else leads to a bold and courageous life.  He is able to remove all fear if trust Him.  How money affects and influences your life is a statement about your relationship with God.  

Genesis 28:15, Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 37:25, Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:11-12, 1 Timothy 6:6-8, & Hebrews 13:5

God's Promise: Prayer

 

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God's Peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Sar Shalom.  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing.  Then the God of peace will be with you."  Philippians 4:6-9

    This is a promise that when you pray you can let go of everything that brings you anxiety and worry because you trust God to take care of it.  It is the promise that prayer will change your perspective and how you think.  It is a promise that prayer allows peace in your heart and mind.  It is all about communicating with God and trusting Him to take care of you.  

    You cannot focus on your anxiety and worry when you are allowing God to fill you with gratitude and good thoughts.  That is why Paul states focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, beautiful, moral execellence, and praiseworthy in the world.  It will replace what is scaring you about the unknown future.  Remember how God has come through for you in the past to reassure yourself that He will do it again.  This allows transcendent peace into your heart.  

    Prayer with petition allows you to have thanksgiving for all God does in your life.  Focusing on what you are thankful for changes your heart and mental perspective on situations.  It will allow the peace from the Holy Spirit to guard your mind.  Prayer allows you to take what you learn from God to apply it to life.  This will accumulate in results of God's peace protecting and blessing you.  Even if nothing in your circumstances change it doesn't mean you can't be thankful for God and what He gives you.

    Prayer brings peace into your heart and mind.  No one can take that away from you unless you allow it.  God will sustain His righteous family.  Nothing you give to God is too much of a burden.  He will take it gladly and allow you to see what He can do with it as a gift of love.  The Holy Spirit will guide your plans so that they will prosper and serve a purpose and not be meaningless.  He has everything under control.  He is the order in your life.  You only have to pray, petition, and obey to reap the blessings of peace.

Psalm 55:22, Proverbs 16:3, Matthew 6:25, Luke 12:22, John 14:27, Romans 5:1, 15:33, 16:20, 1 Corinthians 14:33, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Philippians 3:17, 4:6-9, Colossians 3:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23, Hebrew 13:20-21, & 1 Peter 5:6-7

God's Promise: Sufficient Grace

 

"Each time he said, My grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness.  So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  NLT 

"But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.  Therefore, I will gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.  So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecution, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  CSB

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

    The promise of grace is a promise of sustaining you.  It all comes down to your perspective on who God is, what grace is, who you are, and the situation.  If you align yourself with God, then you will start seeing His grace in situations that could destroy you.  The more you invest into the relationship you have with God the more you understand and appreciate all He does: hardship produces endurance that produces character that produces hope.  It takes pressure to be refined and change.

    Suffering is not pleasant.  It is not easy.  It will bring the worst out in you, but that can be good.  It reveals truths to you about you.  That is a gift.  It will open your eyes to how much you really need God or it will cause you to slam the door of opportunity in His face.  It is better for you to see the opportunity to learn and grow in Jesus, than shut yourself off from any good that could come from something bad.  Shutting the door only makes it worse for you in the long run even if it makes it easier for you now.

    It is when you accept your weaknesses and flaws and give them to God humbly do you grow and change.  It is when you can see God use what you hated about yourself to bring about something that seemed impossible to you.  Moses was not a natural leader, but he lead a nation because he submitted his weakness to God and God gave him grace to fulfill his purpose.  God will do the same for you.  It is when you can accept this gift of grace that you are able to find joy within your suffering.

    Sufficient grace is unearned favor and strength given to you by God.  It completes you in the areas you are lacking.  It sustains and strengthens you to get through any and every trial.  It is when you abandon the ideology that you can do it all on your own that true spiritual strength arrives as you depend on God to get you through whatever is trying to break you.  It takes faith and experience to really understand and accept this promise from God.  If you are a Christian, then this should encourage you.

Romans 5:3, 2 Corinthians 7:4, 11:30, 12:9-10, 13:4, & 1 Peter 4:14

God's Promise: New Life

 

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.  The old life is gone; a new life has begun." NLT

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." ESV

 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come" The old has gone, the new is here!"  NIV

 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." NKJV

2 Corinthians 5:17

    This promise is that when you become a Christian your past is removed from God's memory.  Any sin you committed is gone.  Now you have a fresh start.  You are like a new born baby able to start over.  In your journey, you will not be perfect.  God knows that, but repent to maintain your righteousness.  Sin should affect you differently.  You should not be okay living in your sin.  You were given innocence and through this new perspective you will see things differently.

    Salvation starts here.  You do what you can to get closer to God and let all the past go.  When you get to heaven it will be easier.  Nothing that is hard, holds you back, or evil will be present there.  You may not be able to envision it perfectly since your entire world has been influenced to some degree by sin and evil.  That is okay.  Lean into God.  He has the vision for you.

    The promise of a new life is having a life joined with Jesus.  You start walking your life in faith.  You become bold and strong in His name.  You align yourself with the victor and it empowers you to do good, share love, and be like Jesus in this world.  You will no longer fit in the world.  

    You probably will not fit in with religious people either.  Your faith is more than a set of rules.  It is how you live your life.  Find people that walk in faith and they will become the church with you.  They will be your support system within the religious world.  The closer you get with God the more lonely the world becomes.  However, your relationship with God fills you in ways that the world never could.  You can be alone and not lonely because you always have Jesus.

    The fundamental truth that you have this promise is that your identity is found in Jesus.  Your heart changes to hurt over what is evil and desire what is good and right.  You judge evil, but you do not judge people.  You allow the Holy Spirit to teach you to love like Jesus.  It does not happen at once, but He does change your heart as you give everything the world has control over to Jesus.  You change as you spend time in God's Word an prayer.  Do not judge people in the church for not being where you are or people in the world for not understanding.  You focus on Jesus and the path God created for you.  Let God handle everything else.

Isaiah 43:18-19, 65:17, Romans 8:9, 16:7, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 5:6, 6:15, Ephesians 2:15, & Revelations 21:5

God's Promise: Fellowship

 

"God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." NLT

"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." ESV

1 Corinthians 1:9

    The promise of fellowship is a promise of faithfulness.  No matter who you are, God is faithful to His Name and His Word.  God's faithfulness is where you find security and rest.  His character does not change.  He is steadfast.  His love never stumbles, gets bored, or stops.  He teaches you how to be faithful and have fellowship.  He gives you the strength to endure and find the way out of temptation.

    This promise is an invitation or partnership with God.  His invitation is a divine call to be a part of His family, united with other believers, and to become strong in faith.  It takes your Christian walk to the next level.  You need to lean on other Christians to be strong, but your partnership with Jesus.  If you accept this promise, then you are on a journey to becoming the person you were created to be.

    Fellowship with Jesus is a holy unity.  It is like a marriage.  You have to be committed and work to maintain the partnership.  It is an honor to be partners with God, not just a body serving a purpose.  You are not a slave or servant,  You are valued, loved, and empowered with Spiritual Gifts to enable the relationship to work and grow.  In a healthy marriage you flourish.  In fellowship with God you flourish in a supernatural way.

    Fellowship gives you since of belonging.  It also is a responsibility.  It means you take on the needs, concerns, and issues of other people in your church to support and pray for each other.  It means that you pick up the cross and follow Jesus.  It means you fight the good fight out of love.  You face it and don't run because of what Jesus did for you.  He did not abandon you, so you do not abandon your faith journey with Him.  

Isaiah 49:7, John 15:4, 17:21, 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, 10:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Hebrews 10:23, & 1 John 1:3, 4:13

God's Promise: Righteousness

 

"If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.  Romans 10:9-10 

    The promise of righteousness is the promise that you will be made right with God if you believe and do not hide your faith.  God is not ashamed of you when you are at your worst.  He is perfection, so why would you be ashamed of Him.  He declared that if you don't acknowledge Him in life, then He will not acknowledge you on judgment day.  

    It is simple be proud of your relationship with God and you will reap all the benefits.  Fear is something that could silence you, but that is why the commandment do not fear is so important.  It takes practice.  You will die one day because everyone does.  The question is are you willing to die for your faith?  Jesus died for you.  You should never need to die for your relationship with God, but if put to the test would you?  

    It was Jesus' death and resurrection that allows you to be righteous.  It is your faith and relationship with God that gives you that righteousness.  Do not hide it.  Salvation is what makes it where you are sealed in righteousness by the Holy Spirit.  Be proud and tell the world how Jesus changed your life.  Give those who are lost in their sin the opportunity to find righteousness even if it threatens your safety.  Trust God to protect you physically or at least your soul.

    Righteousness is lived out by how you love.  Do you love like Jesus which is sacrificial?  Or do you love like the world where it is all about what benefits you and makes you happier?  Loving like Jesus is a journey.  As long as you are growing in your relationship and learning how to love like him, then you are living out the gift of righteousness.  There is no righteousness without salvation.

    Your salvation justifies you.  Give other people the opportunity to choose for themselves to be justified or stay slaves to their sin.  Salvation is sincere and based on faith.  Your actions and words should support that, but it is personal.  You deal with your issues while telling the world how God rescued you spiritually and redeemed your soul.  That is your testimony.  That is the beginning of your faith story.  Getting baptized and telling your testimony to people is the first steps of obedience after salvation.

Matthew 10:32-33, Luke 12:8-9, Acts 8:37, & Romans 10:9-10

God's Promise: Good Things

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to the purpose for them."  Romans 8:28 (NLT)

    This is a promise of all good things to those who love and follow Jesus.  The passage is very controversial, but you can keep it simple to gain the truth and wisdom that comes from it.  If you love God then you are obedient.  If you are obedient and accept salvation, then you will be blessed to be a child of God.  When you are a true Christian, then nothing can separate you from God's love, provision, and blessings.  

    God knew from the beginning who would accept or reject His gift.  He never had favorite.  It is you who gets to make the choice to be in right standing and blessed or be an enemy of God and cursed.  If you choose to reject God, then you are already cursed.  Nothing will give you what you want for eternity.  You soul longs for God.  Until you turn to Him, you will never be fulfilled.  If you reject Him, then on judgment day he will reject you.  Nothing will ever allow you in His presence again at that time.  

    You live in a fallen world which means that you are not in the presence of God, but you are not in the absence of God either.  You can see His creation everywhere.  We have the Holy Spirit if you are a Christian.  At the same time, you experience evil and all that Satan has brought to corrupt what God created.  Depending on the choices you make now will determine what judgment day will look like for you.  Accept Jesus, allow the Holy Spirit to live within you, and obey God and you get an eternity of uncorrupted perfection with God.  If you reject Him for any reason, then you will never see His face again after you are thrown in the pit with Satan and his demons.

    The world is broken by sin.  It comes with pain, agony, hardship, suffering, brokenness, and anger.  You can anticipate better days or accept status quo.  How you face life depends on you.  You can have hope for the final redemption or you can live like you will never face consequences for your choices.  God loves you and His love has given you purpose.  It is time to embrace it and accept the good along with the bad in life to be able to have the perfect eternity.  Jesus is the only way to your calling, justification, and divine blessings.  Christians work together for the good of God and find strength to pursue all that is good.

    

Romans 8:28-35, 9:11-24, & 2 Timothy 1:9 

God's Promise: Peace

 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” NIV 

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart because I have overcome the world."  NLT

"I told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  You will have suffering in his world.  Be courageous!  I have conquered the world."  CSB

John 16:33

    The promise of peace is not a promise of a perfect life.  It is the promise of hope that gets you through the hard times.  It is a promise of a happy ending.  It is a promise that you can find peace of heart and mind even if life is chaotic, dangerous, or difficult all around you.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  He is the living promise. 

    Jesus gave this promise during the last supper.  He knew that in a few shot hours he would endure abuse, lies, injustice, and a criminal's death to make sure that this promise would happen.  He lives out the promise by being in peace while he endured horrible things.  He shows you the way.  You are lucky that you will probably never face what he faced, but if you did would you face it like him?

    The reality is that life is full of trouble, trials, and conflict.  You bring the majority of it upon yourself by attitude, decisions, and how you react.  However, sometimes bad things happen that you had no part in making it happen.  Now is the time to decide on how you will handle it.  Make a choice and then take the steps to make the choice a reality.  You have to decide for yourself how you will follow Jesus and face persecution for that relationship.

    Following Jesus was never easy.  It requires a lot of sacrifice, but it is the only way to true peace and the happy ending.  Jesus is the source of peace.  When you remain loyal to him, he is loyal to you.  He will protect you from the worst of it.  He never promised that you would live forever.  He promised that he would be with you.  His way leads to eternal victory even if you loose your life for faith now.  It takes courage and resolve to follow Jesus in faith.  Take comfort in having peace with God because of Jesus.

Isaiah 9:6, John 14:27, 16:33, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14, Colossians 1:20, & 2 Timothy 3:12

God's Promise: True Freedom

 

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." NIV

 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."NKJV

"So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free." NLT

John 8:36

    Jesus stated this promise during a discussion with religious leaders.  It is a simple statement that holds a lot of power, but that was Jesus.  He was flamboyant.  He was simple and impactful.  He always told the truth.  He was kind, but not nice.  He words were promises and direction to freedom.  Faith and salvation through him are the only true freedom you will ever experience.  His freedom frees you from sin habits, inherited sin, and strongholds.  There is nothing more powerful than that.

    Sin bounds you into slavery.  It is a kind of slavery that you may not even realize that you don't have control over your life.  Everything is about how Satan has manipulated you and how he can keep controlling you.  He hates you and takes pleasure in any hurt, harm, or doom he can cause in your life.  He turns Christianity into a religion that doesn't look anything like Jesus' life.  The truth is that if you do not follow Jesus, then you are not a true Christian.  You can claim the religion, but you can't claim the title that makes you an inheritor in Heaven.  You have to open your eyes to the truth and accept it to become truly free.

    Jesus came to set you free because he loves you.  He wants you to live, thrive, and become strong.  The strongest thing in life is love which is taught by Jesus.  The love that Jesus gives and shows you how to obtain is liberating.  Love is more than politics, society rules, and religion.  The love that Jesus provides opens your eyes to the truth where boundaries become a gift.  Forgiveness enables you to move on with your life.  Death is no longer something you need to fear.  God's love is truth and it will keep you from the bondage of sin if you allow the Holy Spirit to change you from the inside out.  

John 8:30-36, Romans 8:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:7-8, & Galatians 5:1

God's Promise: Salvation

 

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." NIV

"For this is how God loves the world: He gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."  NLT

John 3:16

    The promise of salvation is conditional.  It is an opportunity for every living person, but it is conditional because you have to walk in faith.  You have to allow God to change you from your heart, mind, and soul.  It is equal to everyone, but not everyone will accept the terms.  It is your choice.  God has left it up to you.  You can't blame God if you do not have salvation.

    This promise came to Nicodemus when he was having a meeting with Jesus.  Nicodemus was a Pharisee.  He knew who Jesus was and wanted to know more.  However, the Pharisee political party aka religion hated Jesus, so Nicodemus had to sneak to meet Jesus.  He did not have time to beat around the bush.  He needed to make the most of the time he had.  That is where Jesus met him.  Jesus didn't have time to play around either.  His time was limited in a way that no one understood yet.  

    Jesus meets each of us where we are in our sin and when you take the step of faith into salvation, he leads you out of your sin.  He took everyone's including your sin upon himself.  He took your punishment, so that you have the freedom to follow Him.  He went 99% of the way.  All you have to do is that one percent step into faith.  It is his love that transforms you and motivates you to change.  When you see sin for what it really is, you no longer want anything to do with it.

    Salvation is a promise made in love.  It is a gift that only God can give.  It can only be obtained through faith and walking life with Jesus.  It is sealed by the Holy Spirit living within you.  Nothing can imitate true salvation or God's sacrificial love.  This is why every religion is dead.  Christianity is not a religion.  It is a way of life.  It is a personal relationship with God.  It is only natural for Christians to gravitate toward each other because you need others that believe like you do and help you not stumble in your journey.

John 3:16, Romans 5:8, & 1 John 4:9

God's Promise: Certainty

 

"For the Word of God will never fail." NLT

"For with God nothing shall be impossible." KJV

"For no word from God will ever fail" NIV

"For nothing will be impossible with God." CSB

Luke 1:37

    This promise of certainty comes from the angel Gabriel as he tells Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah even though she was a virgin.  Angels know God.  His Word was a message to prepare Mary, but to help people also see that God always keeps His Word and how to find His promises.  God's promises are trustworthy and dependable.

    You have limitations, but God does not.  Do not place your limitations on Him or you will not be able to expand on your own.  There is no way Mary would have ever been pregnant with Jesus if it had not been for God.  He expanded her world and mindset in a way that was impossible.  In doing so, He has opened the door for you to be able to have a relationship with Him which was impossible before Jesus.

    God's power is limitless, endless, and boundless.  It is true.  It will always happen even if it is not in the way you may expect.  You can rely on His Word even if you can't trust the world around you.  If you follow Jesus, then there is nothing spiritually impossible for you.  You are still tied to the laws of natural science like gravity, but the spiritual world is open up before you.

      The promise of certainty is that you can be certain in what Jesus and God said throughout the entire Bible is true.  If it has not happened, then it will.  It should make you feel safe, loved, and seen.  It should enable you to walk in faith.  However, if you are not a true Christian, then there are parts that should scare you.  As a Christian this promise should empower you to follow Jesus with the Holy Spirit's wise counsel to accomplish anything God lays before you.

Genesis 18:14, Jeremiah 32:17, Zechariah 8:6, Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 1:37, 18:27, & Romans 4:21

God's Promise: Answer Prayer

 

"I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours".  NLT

"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them" NKJV

"Therefor I tell you, everything you pray and ask for-believe that you have received it and it will be yours."

Mark 11:24

    This promise from God is to pray in faith without doubt and you will receive what you ask for.  It is about trusting Him with your heart desires, fears, anxiety, and everything else. He wants you to see how He is there for you.  He can and will provide even if you do not ask, but when you ask it makes you aware of His presence and what He is doing.  It is for your benefit not His to pray.

    The promises of God are ways to build your trust in Him.  The purpose is for your faith to grow, so you can have a stronger and more real relationship with God.  He can be trusted and He makes you more trustworthy in your journey throughout life with Him.  Faith is the key to prayer and your future.

    Prayer makes you more confident in approaching God, living life faithfully, and speak against evil boldly.  It changes every aspect of life.  It helps you work through things.  It purifies your inner thoughts.  It makes your faith active as you align with God's will for your life.  Your prayer life changes as you mature to become more like Jesus.  It is okay to pray for the impossible.  You get to watch what God does with that and how He makes it possible.  However, doubt destroys any benefits of prayer that you could receive.  

    Your heart transforms and you are able to start loving people that you found unforgiveable.  You can't help it.  When you pray for your enemy your heart softens.  It does not mean that you give them free access to hurt you, but you start understanding that God loves them as much as He loves you.  You want them to have a relationship with God that can remove all the evil in their heart.  Prayer enables forgiveness over time.  Unforgiveness puts barriers between you and God, so forgiveness is more about your relationship with God than the offender(s).

    This promise to answer prayers builds trust and wisdom.  You have to have faith for it to really work.  It builds wisdom because God rarely answers in the way you have in mind.  He normally will change your perspective and allow you to see things better or in a new way.  He changes your heart.  The miracles are more subtle because they are meant for you and sometimes only you.  It works because your prayer life is aligning with God's path for your life.  It works because you are confident and persistent.  It works because God is who He is.

Matthew 7:7, Mark 11:24, Luke 14:13, 15:7, 16:24, & James 1:5-6

God's Promise: Always with You

 

"Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: Yahweh Shammah is with you always, even to the end of the age."  Matthew 28:20

    This promise is for all followers of faith, the people that walk like with Jesus.  It is it the last verse in Matthew given after the instructions of the Great Commission that Jesus gave his apostles before he ascended to Heaven still alive.  It is about how faith and obedience make you a true Christian.  A true Christian is in the family of God.  If you are in the family of God, then you can walk through life in confidence in all of God's promises, especially that He will never leave you.

    If you love God, then you are obedient.  That means you will spend time with God to know what His boundaries and expectations are.  Then you go and apply that to your life trying to do good in the world that hates what you have to offer.  You would never succeed if you don't have the Holy Spirit in you giving you wise counsel and comfort throughout the journey.  You are a student to build your relationship, then you become go out into the world with God to make disciples to be baptized, taught, and strengthened to carry on the good work.  Through this journey, Jesus never leaves you.

    Do not focus on just the reassuring part of the verse.  Look at the entire section.  Seek to become a Christian that works with Jesus the rest of your life instead of sliding by doing status quo or doubt.  Be confident in what you do and say.  Do not allow people to place doubt in your mind or have you second guessing what God has sent you to do.  It only reveals their lack of faith.  Become a teacher by how you live your life more than the words that come out of your mouth. Devote yourself to God's Word, fellowship with mature Christians, living faithfully in your community, and prayer.  You can do this because Jesus is with you. 

Matthew 28:16-20 & Acts 2:42

God's Promise: Find Rest

 "Jesus said, Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am bumble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." NLT

Matthew 11:28-30

    This promise is a promise of communication and God being the problem solver.  Go to God in prayer about every aspect of your life and trust Him to take care of it.  You can live life doing good and watch as He does all the big impossible things.  You can't do things as good as Him, so relax and let Him do His thing.  It takes a lot of stress out of your life and brings joy to watch Him work in your life.

    This promise is an invitation to have a real relationship with God.  Nothing is too heavy for Him.  There is no aspect about yourself that will scare Him away.  He loves you and wants the best for you, but you do have to admit that sin is sin.  You do have to repent and start walking with Jesus to have a real relationship.  He will heal what the world has broken and what sin has corrupted.

    The yoke is burdens, heaviness, and hardship in life.  It can be oppression, dealing with hard hearts, selfishness, trials, tribulations, or hurdles in life.  When you feel like you are buckling under the pressure of life, go to God.  Give Him everything you know you are carrying and pray that what is hidden is revealed.  He will take it gladly so you can keep going and doing good in the world.  

    This is a gentle love promise because He wants you to be able to keep going and facing life with Him.  He give you the Holy Spirit to direct you and lead you through the hard parts in life.  Don't give up on yourself and God.  Give up on what is holding you back.  Jesus is the way to living a triumphant life.  He is the source of energy to keep you going without growing faint.  He is your role model that was an open book to show you how to obey God and be strong.  Follow His steps into eternity of peace, harmony, and burden free.

Jeremiah 6:16, Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 11:28-30, John 13:15, Philippians 2:5-7, 1 Peter 2:21, & 1 John 2:6, 5:3

God's Promise: Tithing

 

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." NIV 

"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my temple.  If you do, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, I will open the windows of heaven for you.  I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in!  Try it!  Put me to the test!" NLT

"Bring the full 10th into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this way, says the Lord of Armies. See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure."  CSB

Malachi 3:10

    This promise is reward for being obedient.  Tithing is hard for some people.  God wants you to be able to give everything you have back to Him in your heart, but He provides generously because He knows what you need and want to bless you.  All He ask is that you give 10 percent of what you have.  If you do, then the church would never need to ask for money, service, food, or anything else.  It is the responsibility of the entire church, not a select few.

    You are never to test God, but here God gives you permission to test what He can do.  He knows that security is hard to let go of.  Many people find security in money.  If you are willing to give a portion of what you make willingly, then He will bless you in ways you can't imagine.  You test God by doing it and waiting to see what He does.

    The promise of tithing is a command and promise.  The purpose is to act on faith.  This is how you start working out your faith and making it stronger.  It also helps the church: building, pastors, missionaries, people in need, and more.  You being faithful helps you, but also serves your community.  

    You being faithful and giving even when there is no guarantee that the people you give to will be honest, is rewarded with blessings.  You are called to give no matter what other people do.  God will deal with them.  Jesus had Judas in charge of their money.  You can see what happened to him for his evil heart.  You have to face God one day.  Isn't it better to do so with a clear conscience rather than trying to explain what He already knows?  

    Whenever you choose to trust God there are only benefits. He will provide for your needs, but He will also bless you beyond your imagination.  You are blessed with good character, wisdom, understanding, love, discernment, financially, health, youthfulness, and more.  You can be blessed financially without ever being rich.  You can see God provide the exact amount of money you need to get you through.  That is a blessing that removed stress and enables you to relax for a minute.  Do not overlook the blessings God provides.  Give Him praise and worship for all the blessings He has given.

Genesis 7:11, 2 kings 7:2, 1 Chronicles 26:20, 2 Chronicles 31:10-11, Nehemiah 10:38, 13:12, Proverbs 3:9, & Malachi 3:10