Understanding God’s Promises.

SOMEONE said, “People with good intentions make promises, and those with good hearts keep them."

Abraham Lincoln had a good intention, so when a colonel in the military offered him a drink, he said, “I promised my mother that I never would, and up to this hour, I’ve kept this promise! Would you advise me to break that promise?

GOD is not a man, so he never breaks his promise. (Numbers 23:19)

However, why does God make promises?

GOD makes promises to get our attention.

When God told Abram to leave his father’s house for a land he would show him, he made him a promise.

God told him that he would make him a great nation and bless him and make his name great (exalted, distinguished), and Abram would

be a blessing [a source of great good to others]. (Genesis 12:2)

When the children of Israel rebelled against God, he told them that if they were willing and obedient, they would eat the good of the land. (Isaiah 1:19)

So there are conditions to meet for God’s promise to be fulfilled.

Rainbow is God's promise

God makes promises to start conversations.

A CONVERSATION began between God and Abraham the moment God told him to leave. (Genesis 12)

So every promise of God is intended to kickstart a conversation.

God makes promises so we can confess His Word.

PROMISES are meant to be confessed and prayed. See what God said to Joshua.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful. (Joshua 1:8 AMP)

So your success will pivot on what you do with the promises of God.

God makes promises to make us align with His will.

ABRAM walked in obedience as he left his father’s house for the land that God would show him.

He knew that God’s promise was intended to make him behave a certain way, so he had to give God pleasure to realize God’s promise.

You must give Him pleasure to have His Promise.

God makes promises to bring us hope.

ABRAHAM saw hope on the horizon when God made him a promise, and every bulb in his life began to turn on. (Genesis 12)

No wonder when Sarah’s body was considered to be past the age of bearing, she thought of God, who had promised to be reliable and true to his word. (Hebrews 11:11 AMP)

Whenever you see God’s promise, what comes to mind?

FOR the children of Israel, they understood there was an end date to their captivity when God told them to build houses and live in them, plant gardens and eat their fruits.

Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there and do not decrease [in number]. (Jeremiah 39:5-7)

If you are a believer in Christ, there's an end date to the troubles you face, and your expectations will not be cut short.

God makes promises to bring us faith.

DAVID knew there was an end date when God told him to pursue the Amalekites. and recover all. (1 Samuel 30:8)

God’s word assured him of victory. He realized that adversity was his door to faith.

‘Adversity is your door to faith.’

RAHAB knew her city was next when she heard the exploits of Israel.

When she saw the spies walk into her inn, she understood she needed to help them, so she hid them from the king’s soldiers.

And when the time was right, she asked them to promise her. (Joshua 2) She had faith in them.

FAITH is where you meet with God; it is the currency through which you buy His promises.

‘Faith is the currency through which you buy God’s promises.’

Bringing it Together

WHENEVER God makes a promise, he declares the end from the beginning.

He provides certainty and stability, and stability creates hope. Hope in him makes one unashamed.