How do we become able to experience God’s promises in life?
The experience of God’s promises is grounded in Who God truly is and capable of doing.
So, let’s first look at what a promise represents.
- A promise establishes some ground for hope and future.
- A promise means an undertaking to do something.
- A promise means a vow, which, in turn, implies potential and ability.
Know that God is dependable
God’s dependability is that God cannot be compared to humans. God does not lie. Nor does God change God’s mind. What God says is what God does. What God promises, God fulfills it. Read Numbers 23: 19.
What does this mean?
It simply points out to three things:
- First, God’s promises are immutable and unalterable.
- Second, God, the One Who makes these promises to humankind, is Eternal and immutable.
- Third, God keeps His promises.
God’s nature is to Keep God’s Word
There are four things that describe the nature of God, which defines Who God is.
- God has the power to do what God promises.
- God is faithful and able to keep God’s Word.
- God accomplishes God’s promises out of God’s goodness and glory.
- God confirms God’s promises through God’s covenant.
God’s Word is grouped into two groups in the Bible known as the Old and New Testaments. These are God’s covenant with all humankind.
The first testament describes promises God and people have made with each other. God made several covenants with people such as Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, David, etc.
Promises God made with people in the Old testament were primarily for Abraham and his descendants.
But, that’s changed in the New testament. To experience God’s promises, one has to believe in Jesus Christ.
How do we receive God’s Promises?
- Faith in Christ makes us a new creation.
- Faith in Christ makes us a child of God.
- Faith in Christ makes us a descendant of Abraham too.
- These are two attitudes we embrace as a result of loving God.
- We are all about pleasing God through our personal needs.
- We only worship God by seeking His glory.
Bringing it together
First, God’s promises are best experienced in the context of a personal relationship with God. Second, God never fails anyone. Last, God does not let people down and will never give up on you. That’s God’s promise to you!
This is a reflection based on the sermon, Biblical Understanding of God’s Promises, I delivered at the United Methodist Church in Harris and Lake Park. Click here to listen to the full audio. You can also learn more through my book, Christ Is Risen: SO WHAT? Get a copy on www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com and www.lulu.com/EmmanuelN.
