Promises in God’s Word!

“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19).

tumblr_mdmtblcgR41qhmhdfo1_500

It was one of those rare moments sketched in memory. During the introduction to my Sunday morning message I asked the African village congregation, “How many promises are there in God’s Word for you!” Enthusiastically, a young girl raised her hand and said, “There is one promise in God’s Word.” Someone else added, “There are two promises.” Finally, the church drummer enthusiastically proclaimed, “There are seven promises in God’s Word for His people.” All were wrong. All were far from the answer.

There are 7,487 promises in the Bible from God to man, and many of them are directed to us. Sadly, through ignorance, we live far below what God has in mind for us. We are the children of the promise (Romans 9:8; Galatians 4:28) and the heirs of promise (Hebrews 6:12, 17). It is our inheritance. God has many good things in mind for us.

Is Your Name in the Bible?

There is even a Personal Promise Bible presently available. You can read your name personalized in over 5,000 places in the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs.

Here are a few examples:

  • “If Kofi dwells in the secret place of the Most High, Kofi will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalms 91:1).
  • “By which He has granted to Kofi His precious and exceedingly great promises..” (2 Peter 1:4).
  • “The Lord is Kofi’s shepherd. Kofi shall not want” (Psalms 23:1).

You may never own a Personal Promise Bible but you can mentally insert your name into every promise God intended for mankind.

19015

Promises can be placed in all kinds of categories. Basically there are only two types: conditional and unconditional.

Most promises are conditional. God says, “I’ll do this if you do that!” The condition(s) must be met in order for the promise to be fulfilled. God waits on us to do our part, so He can do His.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Unconditional promises are without conditions. God will do it no matter what we do or don’t do. Nothing can stop it.

“This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11, NIV).

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh” (Acts 2:17).

Some promises combine both.

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

The unconditional part of this promise is that the Holy Spirit was to be sent. The condition was they had to wait in Jerusalem to receive it.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Who Can Have It?

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39).

holyspirit

For Who? 

  1. To all Flesh – Acts 2:16-17
  2. For all – Matthew 3:11
  3. For you – Acts 2:39
  4. For your children – Acts 2:39
  5. For those afar off – Acts 2:39
  6. Those who obey Him – Acts 5:32
  7. Samaria – Acts 8:5-25
  8. African – Acts 8:27-39
  9. Cornelius – Acts 10:22, 44-48
  10. Every nation – Acts 10:35; Revelation 5:9
  11. For Religious Leaders – Acts 1:13-14; 2:1-4
  12. Blessed People, Highly Favored – Luke 1:28, 42; Acts 1:14
  13. Those Healed and Delivered – Acts 8:7-8; 8:15-17
  14. Sincere But Misguided People – Acts 22:3; 26:9-19; 9:17
  15. Generous People – Acts 10; 11:14
  16. Prayerful People – Acts 10
  17. Believers – Acts 19:2; 5-6
  18. Everyone – 2 Peter 3:9
  19. Jailer – Acts 16:12-34

Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? (Acts 19:2).

Enhanced by Zemanta