II Peter 1:2-4
INTRODUCTION: God’s promises are vital to the praying Christian. God’s people live solely by the promises of God, and not by explanation of them.
I. THE PROMISES OF GOD (v.4) ARE DESCRIBED AS BEING OF TWO TYPES: (1)Exceeding Great and (2)Precious
A. “Exceeding great”: (1)as to number (30 Thousand+) = 1 new promise each day for 82+ years) they’re also great (2)as to scope. Meaning they are superior to our need(s) or problem(s).
1. Spirit is saying through Peter, “Whatever your need(s),1God has plenty of promises [that are equal to or greater than your need (s)], 2find a promise(s) from the Word of God that corresponds to the need and claim it (them) before God in prayer, Who is faithful!“
2. Naturally, questions arise; such as: 1Are there such promises? 2Are they for us today? Answer to both questions is found in:
Eph. 3:20-21 “Now unto him that is 1able (willing) to do exceeding abun-dantly above all that we ask or think], according to the power [“dunamis” – Holy Ghost power] that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus 2throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
3. Is He only able, OR Is He also willing? It is one thing to believe He is able, but quite another to believe He is willing! God is willing!
Rom. 8:32 “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” [“Hard to imagine God not freely giving us all things.”] Paul also said in:
2 Cor. 1:20 “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” Amen = So be it, it is as good as done. Again Paul tell us:
Phillip. 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need (all kinds) according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus
B. Second kind of promises are called “Precious Promises” = Precious means: dear (close to the heart), priceless, and costly.
1. They were costly to God, yet He knew what He was doing!
2. They are still dear to Him and should be priceless to us!
3.God hasn’t forgotten He made them and doesn’t want us to! He even had them recorded for future generations. He doesn’t renege on His promises!
4. God has every intention of keeping every promise and is able to do so; He is also willing! Let us look now at some:
II. EXCEEDING GREAT = Superior and Precious Promises
A. Promises To Afflicted Saints
1. Brighter Days
Psa. 30:5 “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” 2. Song: “The Sun’s Coming Up In The Morning.” Tomorrow can be a day of new beginnings!! Today can also! He promises:
3. Deliverance – Psa 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: BUT the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” He promises:
4. The Comfort Of His Presence
Isa. 43:2 “When thou passest through the waters (ref. Israel & Red Sea), I will be with thee; and 2through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee (ref. Israel & Jordan River): when thou 3walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; (unheard of as of yet) neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Did God really mean it? Will He really do so?
a. Ask the three Hebrews Boys, 109 years later, who found this promise to be great and precious! [Jesus was the 1st man in the fire.] He promises:
5. Sufficiency Of Divine Grace
2 Cor. 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
a. This promise was made to Apostle Paul, but it was recorded in the Word of God for our benefit because of its greatness and preciousness, and the scope of what it covers.
b. It’s like a blank check on the Bank of Grace, signed by God Himself.
B. GOD HAS MADE SOME SPECIAL PROMISES TO BELIEVERS:
1. Unlimited blessings – Mark 9:23 “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
2. Answers To Prayer – Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
“Shall” puts it into God’s hand and leaves “when” up to Him. Listen again to:
Matt. 18:19 “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”
3. He promises: Spiritual Fullness
John 6:35 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth1 on me shall never thirst.” Then again He said:
John 7:38 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” Find out what the Scripture says!
a. We must base what we believe on what the Scriptures say!
4. He promises: Spiritual Light
John 12:46 “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”
5. He left us the: Promise Of An Eternal Home
John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
6. He Promises Final Deliverance from Sorrow And Pain
Rev 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
C. God’s Promise To Seekers
Luke 11:9 “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; Seek, and ye shall find; *Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (*polite, reverent, sincere knock).
Matt. 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” This includes being filled with Spirit.
Acts 2:39 “For the promise (Holy Ghost Baptism) is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
D. Promises For The Tempted
Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
1. Claim that power, humble yourself, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Let him know that the blood of Jesus is against him.
2. He promises a way to escape
1 Cor. 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
a. “To escape” means He provides the way, but we must do the escaping. “Of escape” would have meant God does it all and we do nothing.
1. Let’s look now at the:
II. PRECIOUSNESS OF THE PROMISES (That which makes them precious)
A. We are assured of answers by Divine Ability
Rom. 4:21 “And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.” He still has all power in heaven and in earth!
Josh. 23:14 “And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.”
B. They are Grounded In Christ
2 Cor. 1:20 “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”
III. OTHER PROMISES TO BE FOUND IN BIBLE – TO THOSE WHO AREN’T SAVED (These promises, all believers need to memorize)
A. Promise To The Sinner
John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; andhim that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
B. Promise To Backslider – Jer. 3:22“Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” =(Heal the hurts, and injuries caused by people, and those who are sick in spirit, discouraged, etc).
CONCLUSION:
A. Which of the Promises of God would you like to claim in an altar of prayer? Salvation of loved ones? Personal salvation? Healing?
1. Needs too personal to mention openly. Special needs that only He can meet?
Rom 8:32 “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
B. God’s people live on the promises of God, not explanations of when or how! What have you been living on or waiting for? Dare to believe God!!
C. Sometimes we have to stretch our faith. Faith puts God between us and our circumstances. Doubt puts circumstances between us and God.
D. Cast your cares and needs upon Him, He cares for you!!