Sunday Sermons
The Promises
The Promises
When Nehemiah heard the discouraging news about the condition of Jerusalem almost 100 years after God’s people had been allowed to return (Nehemiah 1:3), he immediately went to God in prayer (1:4). In those prayers he acknowledged that the consequences for rebellion about which God had warned, had indeed all come true (1:8), after which he latched onto this God-given promise in Scripture: that if the people returned to God, God promised He would bring them back to the land (1:9). What a blessing that Nehemiah knew the Scriptures well enough that he could reap the benefits of clinging to them. Such caused me to ponder what things God has promised for the faithful in the New Testament? And are you and latching onto, eagerly anticipating and finding great peace He intended for us to enjoy when He made those promises? Unlike many manmade promises, God’s promises are anything but empty words. And how do we know? We know of God's truthfulness, because the faithful in the past actually met up with many of the things that God had promised (Hebrews 11:33 “obtained promises”); “that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (6:12).
The Power of Promises
What a tremendous incentive God's promises are—especially for long obedience and righteous living in the face of so many challenges:
· “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
· “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust” (2 Peter 1:4).
The Nature of the Promises
When one contemplates the promises made to the faithful in the New Testament, it becomes clear that the promises tend to fall into one of two categories: blessings we can receive in this life, and those good things that can only be experienced once we enter into eternity.
Some of the Promises Reserved for Eternity
· Eternal Life: Titus 1:2
· A New Resurrected Body: Philippians 3:21
· The Removal of All Pain and Sorrow: Revelation 21:4
· To Actually See God as He Is: Matthew 5:8
· Fullness of Joy and Indescribable Pleasures Forever Psalm 16:11
· To Rule with Christ: Revelation 3:21
· To Have Access to the Tree of Life: Revelation 2:7
· To Be Given a Crown of Life: Revelation 2:10-11
· To Be a Permanent Fixture of Heaven: Revelation 3:12
· To Walk with Jesus in White: Revelation 3:4
· We will be filled and satisfied: Matthew 5:7
Some of the Promises the Faithful are Given and Receive Now
· Not to be tempted beyond what we are able: 1 Corinthians 10:13
· That God hears the prayers that are according to His will: 1 John 5:14
· That God will always be with us: Hebrews 13:5
· That we will always have the word of God: Matthew 24:35
· That if we cast all our cares upon God we will have amazing peace: Philippians 4:6.
· That if we grow spiritually as we should we will never stumble: 2 Peter 1:10
· That we are presently and in actuality, children of God: 1 John 3:1
· The forgiveness of all our sins when we believe, repent, confess and are baptized: Acts 2:38
· That the Lord’s Church cannot be shaken: Hebrews 12:28
· The faithful will find good days and a good life: 1 Peter 3:10
A Focus on a Specific Promise
· That We Presently Reign on the Earth
“For Thou hast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And Thou has made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10). May I suggest that a similar passage is “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). I believe that these promises of inheriting and reigning must apply to something that Christians can receive now in this life, seeing that the earth is going to be destroyed when Jesus comes again (2 Peter 3:10). What is specifically being promised here?
· Some say that this means that of all people, Christians truly get the most out of this life. And this should be true. Because we follow God’s wisdom, and because we are acting like Christ, our relationships should be richer and fuller than those found in the world. As Christians, God's instructions can make us experts at what life is all about: Loving and being loved. Also, because we remember what Jesus did for us, we can be far more appreciative for both the big and small blessings of each day. And considering that we are looking forward to heaven, we can be the most optimistic people on the planet.
· “His people shall reign upon earth. This is not political triumph or material lordship. It is the secret of victorious living under any circumstances (John 16:33). In Christ there is victory over self, victory over circumstance, and victory over sin” (Revelation, Barclay,p. 225).
· We learn then, that the reigning in the passage is not talking about Christians being in all the positions of power, or Christians having the bulk of the material possessions, or Christians being immune to the problems of this life. Rather, through the strength Christ supplies, we “overcome” all the challenges and obstacles (3:21) life can throw at us. Because we are dependent upon our own finite power, we are never beaten down, we never quit, and we never give up (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
· Reigning also means that we have learned to avoid creating unnecessary problems and drama in our lives, that we live above the problems of the world. They do not consume us, eat away at us, or make us cynical.
· Reigning means enjoying the things of this life (1 Timothy 4:4), while not becoming entrapped by material things. We enjoy the beauty of the planet, but likewise remember it will be destroyed one day. We appreciate our wealth, use it wisely to help others, and like others who had much, such as Abraham or Job, we can avoid becoming a slave of our possessions.
· Reigning means being passionate people, and yet never enslaved to superficial or destructive passions.
· Reigning means going off to college and instead of losing my faith, converting someone in the process. Reigning means influencing my non-Christian friends and bringing them to services, instead of buying into their way of life.
· Reigning means inspiring my teachers, peers and even the older generation to think about eternal things and make preparations for life beyond this realm.
· Reigning means having a lot of fun (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10), without being deceived into thinking that one must enter the realm of the forbidden to have any fun.
· Reigning means defying all the odds and statistics. Reigning means being far above the norm or the average when it comes to morality, purity, honesty, etc…
· Reigning means being the one that people come to for answers when they are sincerely looking for solutions: “In those days ten men from the nations of every language will grasp the garment of a Jew saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you’” (Zechariah 8:23).
· Reigning means being salt and light in every situation. May I suggest that Joseph and Daniel are excellent examples of people who “reigned on the earth”. They were faithful in all situations. They did not compromise. They did not despair. People sought them out for answers. They directed some of the most powerful people in the world to God without embarrassment. Their enemies tried to undo their influence, yet in doing so only found themselves frustrated. They were admired and respected by various unbelievers. These men understood that a compromised believer no longer reigns, but is instead liken to a polluted fountain (Proverbs 25:26). If we have lost this promise due to carelessness or stubbornness, determine today to take back this promise. May we resolve once and for all, to be pure fountains that stand out (Psalm 1:1-4)—to be exceptional people that God may be glorified.
Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/mdunagan@frontier.com
