More Promises from God!

Last week we talked about promises and how important it was to keep your promises, vows or oaths.  There are some people that I always trust to keep their promise to me, others I am often not 100% sure of, and many I do not trust at all.  When I read of how the men of the Bible made promises and how they kept their promises, I feel ashamed of how modern mankind has lost its way.

Once, a Jewish leader named Jephtah made this promise to God: “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the people of Ammon shall surely be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” (v30-31) Surely Jephthah had animal sacrifice on his mind when he made this promise. Offering a sheep or goats was a widely used practice that expressed profound devotion. And as a man of honor, he knew he would have to kill whatever came out of the house first—even if it was the choicest of lamb or his best favorite animal—or maybe even his best servant or slave.  Unfortunately, after God answered his prayer, and he returned from defeating the Ammonites, his only child—his daughter—was the first to greet him. He would have to sacrifice her to the Lord as a burnt offering—-because of his oath—stupid as it was! He had to make a choice—keep his promise and sacrifice his daughter or sin against the Lord by breaking an oath.  For a certainty, he did not expect his daughter to be the first “thing” to greet him. Verse 35 says he “tore his clothes” and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot go back on it.” According to Mosaic Law, the purpose of a burnt offering was to offer a sacrifice as a sign of total devotion to God. And vows were never to broken to God.  In the book of Numbers, Moses wrote:  “When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.” Promises to God meant something then—-and He’s not changed! He expects us to honor our promises to Him.  Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes: ““When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.” – Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, NIV

God requires us to be like Him in this regard—keep your promise.  After all, we can depend upon Him to keep His promises—and that’s the focus again today. 

So take heart in these promises——because God cannot break His promises to us.  This is meant to give you courage and peace this week—after alll, we’re living in a very strange time.

1. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31   Now this is an important promise, but it comes with a condition: those that wait for the Lord….

Patience does not come naturally for any of us—especially me. Patience is a form of endurance, reflecting a steadfast spirit in the face of trials. It involves waiting without frustration or resentment, demonstrating self-control.  “True patience is rooted in love and compassion for others and requires a deep trust in God’s timing and purpose, even during difficult times. Patience is not passive; it actively seeks to respond with grace and understanding.Ultimately, it is a virtue that reflects one's character and faith in God.”  (Mere Christianity). 

Friends, trust His promises!Trust that God cannot and will not break what He has promised you! He will rescue you if you wait and trust!  The men that wrote about God’s trustworhiness in the Bible knew this to be true first-hand.

2. The second promise I wanted to remind you about today, is the last recorded words of Joshua to the people of Israel after they took total possession of  the promised land: “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.” Joshua 23:14. Did you hear that? He told the people to look at the facts! Everything God said He would do for them—He did!  But it took a generation to bring it all about. Not a day—or even a year or even a decade. It took a life-time, but they trusted God, and great things and incredible prosperity followed. We’re too accustomed to Amazon express deliveries and fast food restaurants!  We expect  immediate results to our prayers….we demand that He do things  according to our calendars,  plans and timing—-but He does not work that way. “In His time” He bring things about as promised—-in His time He brings all things about!

And you know, nobody listening to Joshua could deny it. God did it! God caused all those good things to happen, just as promised, but the people had to do and go as He directed and at times go to battle and get their swords sharpened!  Has He made a promise to you? He will keep it!  If it’s being delayed, it’s either because the promise is bigger than you imagined, or maybe you’re not putting on your armor and going out to battle!

3. And that leads to today’s third promise.  Paul said this—-and knew it to be true!  “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.   That’s what we grasp when we can’t find anything else to hold on to! God knows what’s going on and He PROMISES that what is happening has purpose, meaning and ultimate good——real good —which coming our way!  We have to trust and hold on while He brings all the moving parts together to create His masterpiece!  

4. Holding onto God’s promises gives us peace in a crazy and very dangerous world! We might be at the cusp of WWIII if Russia continues to send planes and drones into NATO airspace, China could invade Taiwan tomorrow!   As we think about His promises, we’re motivated and get a shot of spiritual adrenaline!    Paul said, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1   Knowing that I can trust Him and His promises let’s me “let go” of the things that I once held too tight and to instead trust Him to give me all those things in my body and spirit that I once thought I needed to be happy or complete!  And this reminds me of His finally promises that we will look at today:

5. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11.  Does that not cause your heart to beat more rapidly and lift your spirits!  NO GOOD THING—-do you trust Him with that epithet?   Do you trust that HE knows the difference between good and bad for you? My sons don’t trust me in this regard. They think, quite frequently, that they know what’s “good” for them and what’s bad—-and they have suffered, lately, by not trusting me. But how much better is HIS good for us!!!  

He then said,  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27...    Friends, we don’t have to worry or be afraid ——ever! The One that knows the precise number of hairs on our heads and knows the names of every star—-which exceed the number of sands on the oceans—-knows our needs, hopes and dreams!  John said, “:It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”   YES, I believe this!!!!   But do you? If you don’t, you are, or will soon become,  a drag and a burden on those that have CHOSEN to trust Him!!!

The assumptions of all these verses, and trusting in His promises, goes back to one thing that He requests of us:  Obedience.  That’s what He means when He says to “walk uprightly” or  “love God”. If we love Him we will walk the right way and be obedient.  Now the enemy wants to suggest to you that  have to walk perfectly—-but only Jesus could do that!  Satan whispers that you can’t trust God’s promises in your life because you’ve forgotten to confess some ancient sin that committed in grammar school,, or you’re just not “holy” enough yet.  The devil’s a liar! He does not want us to enjoy what he has had removed from him for eternity!  Trust in God and His promises!  Choose to be obedient when no one else around is and wait upon Him to keep His promises—-just like Joshua did!  Walk in a holy fear and reverence of God, and then discover how your faith and ability to trust Him has increased—-and how your worries, anxiety and the pressures that would cause others to collapse, have been removed from your life and made you into a lion!!!

In closing, as a final word of optimism and strength for whatever challenge you are facing this week, consider these words from David—a man who knew trouble and was on the brink if disaster more than once:

“Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;

for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,  your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways,  when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.”  Psalm 37:1-9, NIV

These are good words!!! Live by them and prosper!

Consider what the men of old, that God bless said, about making their promises to God: “I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot go back on it.”  Have you made a solemn oath to God? You’d better keep it! I made one to Hm last week—-specific and very clear. I have no excuse if I break it! But more profoundly, I can depend upon Him to keep His promises to me! He’s not weak, capricious, lazy or full of excuses——-and neither should you and I be in light of His overwhelming  goodness and promises.

Warmly,

Dean Barley

1945 Vineyard Road

Westfield, NC 27053

336 351 2070

www.vineyardcamp.com