Standing On The Promises Of God
Do you know what the size of a mustard seed is? It is about 1 to 2 milli-meters or 0.039 to 0.079 inches (You can’t see me but I’m smushing my fingers together). Now that is small! And Jesus says that is all the faith we need for nothing (NO THING) to be impossible for us.
~ Dr. Wanda Hudson
Hello!
Let’s go to the Lord in Prayer: Father God thank you for another opportunity to be on Spiritual Situations to share the Word that you gave me. Anointed these listener ears to hear and open their hearts to receive exactly what they need from you. Let their minds be the fertile ground in which your word is planted. In Jesus’s name we pray AMEN!
Today we will be discussing: Standing on the promises of God!
What is a promise?
As a noun a promise is defined as a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen, as in, “What happen to all the promises you made to clean the house.”
When used as a verb it means to assure someone that one will definitely do, give, or arrange something; undertake or declare that something will happen, (I promise I will be there on time) or to give good grounds for expecting a particular occurrence or situation as in “the upcoming women’s conferences promise to have a lot of attendees.”
For today we are going to use it as a noun to discuss the declaration or assurance that what God said He will do HE WILL DO!
Jesus is our promise:
Did you know that Genesis 12:1 through Exodus 12:37 is known as the Dispensation of Promise? (dispensation meaning the method or arrangement in which God carries out his purposes towards man). These chapters received this name because this is where the promises and covenants with Abraham and his seed begin. You might say but what about Genesis 3:15, 4:25 and 9:24-27. True a seed is mentioned in these versus. but in 12:1 through Exodus 12:37, it is now that Abraham’s seed is designated as the line through which Christ will come. Genesis 12:1-3 God tells Abraham (who is still Abram) “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
Also in Genesis 17 God, now began to deal with Abraham’s lineage in fulfillment of his plan that the Messiah would come through them when in verses 15 and 16 it says: Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. 16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”
In Matthew 1:1-16 you can read about the ancestry of Jesus (from Abraham to Jesus). God fulfilled his promise to provide us with a Messiah who spare his life so that we can be saved, for in Matthew 18:11 (Amp) Jesus said, “For the son of man came to save [from the penalty of eternal death] that which was lost.
All God’s promises are Yes:
1st Corinthians Chapter 1 verse 20 in the King James. It states: For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
The New Living Translations says, For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
In both of these versions (the King James and the NLT) it states ALL (A-L-L), and we know the Word is true so when it says ALL that is exactly what it means, every last thing that God has promised us is ours!
Now let’s look at another promise: the promise to provide what we need:
In Philippians, Paul was writing to the people of Philippi when in Chapter 14 verse 19 he stated. “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
Also do you recall in Genesis 22 Abraham and Isaac were going to sacrifice a burnt offering up to God, when Isaac said to his dad, “we got the wood, and we got the fire but where is the sheep for this burnt offering?” and in verse 8 Abraham answered, “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son” then in verse 13 a ram was caught in the bush and it says Abraham sacrificed the ram as the burnt offering. You see Abraham knew his promise. He knew that God promised his seed would be more than the sand on the ground and the stars in the sky. That through Isaac he would be the Father of many nations. So, standing on that promise he knew that God would provide something else for the burnt offering or and this is just my opinion, that if he did have to sacrifice Isaac no harm would come to the boy.
Can you just image that? First Paul is shackled and locked up in jail, but he still stands on the promise that God will supply everything that he needs. Then Abraham has his son tied up ready for the sacrifice still knowing that God would supply his needs.
Receiving the promise:
God has made us promises in his word, and receiving these promises require a correct response on our part. But do not get having a correct response to receive confused with doing works to receive; there is a difference.
When we were under the law we had to work (do something) to received God’s blessing, his promise. But if we did not work to receive the promise we would then receive the curse. Deuteronomy 28
Now that we are under Grace – with a better new Covenant (Hebrews 8:6-9) there are only two responses that we need to have to receive the promises:
1: Faith and 2: Rest. We must have faith that the promises of God will come to pass, and we must rest in the finished works of God while they manifest.
Faith:
In Matthew 17 Jesus is talking to the Disciples. They asked him why they could not cure a certain man’s son. In versus 20 Jesus replies, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
Do you know what the size of a mustard seed is? It is about 1 to 2 milli-meters or 0.039 to 0.079 inches (You can’t see me but I’m smushing my fingers together). Now that is small! And Jesus says that is all the faith we need for nothing (NO THING) to be impossible for us.
How is your faith? Do you have more faith in the facts or more faith in the promise? When unsurmountable tangible facts are staring you in your face do you give into them, or do you remain faithful and believe the promise.
In another one of his letters to the church Paul said (Romans 10:16-17) “But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” So, faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
What have you said or heard about yourself that did not come from hearing the Good News of God; things that are not from the Promises of God? Borrowing from my pastor, Pastor Taffi Dollar, “you can throw that in the trash!”
The first thing that comes to my mind is “I am sick”. Now don’t get me wrong our body will go through attacks because we are in this world. But that doesn’t mean we have to go around proclaiming out sickness. Psalm 91:16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. Matthew 8:16-17 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
How about I am not good enough, I’m weak, not worthy or not loved. Have you ever heard that? If so throw it in the trash because the Word says:
You are made in the image of God
Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
You can conquer and overcome anything
Romans 8:37 in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
God replaced your weakness with the power of Christ
2nd Corinthians 12:8-10 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 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, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
You are worthy
Luke 12:6-7 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins[b]? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
You have always been loved by God
1st John 4:19 We love because He first loved us
John 3:16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world, that He even gave His One and only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him as Savior shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 15:19 I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. This is Jesus talking
Have you heard as a black woman you were ugly? That your lips are too big, your hair too course, or that you will always be fat and unattractive? Trash!
Let’s talk about the Shulamite woman who was black (Solomon 1:5).
In the Songs of Solomon, King Solomon was visiting the northern part of his Kingdom. When he arrived in Shuemen he saw a shepherdess (the Shulamite woman) and was so captivated by her beauty and charm that he took her home to Jerusalem hoping that he could make her his Queen above all other Queens. He told her (1:9-11), You remind me of Pharaoh’s well-groomed and satiny mares. (yes that was a compliment). Pendant earrings line the elegance of your cheeks; strands of jewels illumine the curve of your throat. I’m making jewelry for you, gold and silver jewelry that will mark and accent your beauty.
In Chapter 7 he described her this way, “How beautiful are your sandaled feet, O queenly maiden. Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of a skilled craftsman. Your navel is perfectly formed like a goblet filled with mixed wine. Between your thighs lies a mound of wheat bordered with lilies. Your breasts are like two fawns, twin fawns of a gazelle. Your neck is as beautiful as an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the sparkling pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is as fine as the tower of Lebanon overlooking Damascus. Your head is as majestic as Mount Carmel, and the sheen of your hair radiates royalty. The king is held captive by its tresses. Oh, how beautiful you are! How pleasing, my love, how full of delights! You are slender like a palm tree, and your breasts are like its clusters of fruit.”
And when her man (the Shephard) came to rescue her from Solomon’s tent he proclaimed, (4:7) The sweet, fragrant curves of your body, the soft, spiced contours of your flesh. Invite me, and I will come. I will stay until dawn breathes its light and night slips away. You’re beautiful from head to toe, my dear love, beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless.
Then there Ephesians 2:10 which tells us we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Oh, this one got kind of long. It always irked me when people try to diminish our greatness based on the standards of this ungodly society! Become that Shulamite Women. Tell yourself that’s me –I am his handiwork! I am beautiful because I am made in the image of God!
EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST TRASH AND LIES! LIES AND TRASH!!!!
Rest
When I say rest I do not mean inactivity. When I say we must rest I mean we must stay in faith and be at peace KNOWING what God says in true. When we rest in God’s word we do not let the situations and circumstances of this world change our position. We stand firm on the promises of God no matter what it looks like or how we feel!
In Matthew 11:28-30 again Jesus is speaking when he censured and criticized the cities where he demonstrated and performed his miracles, for not repenting (having a change of heart). He told them, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, 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.”
God wants us to rest in Him. He wants us to reply on his word and believe in his promises. 1st King 8:56 Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses
Our burdens will also be removed when we rest in/stand on God’s promises. Matthew 11:28 “Jesus says Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”
Here are just a few of the promises that I stand on:
God promises to take care of all my needs.
Philippians 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
God’s promise that I am healed no matter my present condition.
Isiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.
Jeremiah 30:7 For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the LORD, because they have called you an outcast: 'It is Zion, for whom no one cares!
Philippians 3:20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.
God promises to work everything out for my good.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
God has a plan for my life
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
God can be trusted
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
God promises to strengthen me.
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
God promises to answer my prayers that are based on His word.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
God promises to be with me
Joshua 1:9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Verse 5 says, No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.
Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
God promises to protect me.
Psalm 91:
2 This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
14 Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
God’s promise that nothing can separate me from Him.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psalm 91:15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
God promises me eternal life:
John 3:13-15 Jesus was talking: No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.
John 6:54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.
Titus 1:1-2 This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to[a] those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. 2 This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.
Titus 3:4-7 When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
And don’t forget
John 3:16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world, that He even gave His One and only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him as Savior shall not perish but have eternal life.
And this is only 11 of over 7,000 promises that God made to us.
In closing,
Promises are in the Word:
I stated earlier: that the answer to God’s promises are yes. Keep in mind that I did not say whatever you ask from God will be a yes! The promises are in the Word which means whatever you stand on needs to be in the Word. Therefore, in order to know what you are promised you need to read the Word!!
What promises are you standing on? For the rest of the year, I challenge you to pick up your bible and find out the promises that are yours right now! You don’t have to wait until you get to heaven to have the things of God – he wants you to have his best starting today!
Father God thank you for your promises! I will no longer believe the lies of the enemy and what he says about me; my promises reside in you! Starting today I will actively study your word and find out what you say that I can have, because your word is the only truth that I know. Lord I thank you for your PROMISE!
Amen!!!
Goodbye everyone and Merry Christmas and Happy PROMISED filled New Year