(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph. Here's wishing I haven't missed much! Happy reading!)
We are partakers of the divine nature through His exceedingly great and precious promises. (2 Peter 1:4). We know of promises that are yet to be fulfilled in heaven that as saints we will rule and reign with Jesus Christ. We also know of promises yet to be fulfilled on earth; one is that the nation of Israel will return to Christ. Whether it is probable or not, we know it will be fulfilled someday!
We also have promises for the present times that are being fulfilled in each and every single person believing in the name of Jesus Christ. These promises are for US! It is for NOW! We can claim His promises and stand on them and it will come to pass. One of the interesting thing of these present promises is that they are conditional promises; fulfill the conditions and the promises will come true.
Today, let me talk to you about 5 promises that we have in the present…
- Forgiveness of sin
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” – John 1:29
If you have never known Jesus, but are weighed down with sin-not knowing where to go and whom to look for salvation; if you are looking for restoration of the relationship with God Himself, here is the answer found in the Bible: Look upon Jesus-Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full on His wonderful face-there and then we find total reconciliation with God the Father. Jesus took away our sin on the cross-the sin of the whole world; we do not need to DO anything, except believe. And we receive God’s free gift of SALVATION…
Because of what Jesus has done on the cross, God looks upon us with renewed mercy and declares “…I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34 and Heb. 8:12). He is the LORD, merciful and gracious, abounding in loving-kindness and truth, who chooses not to remember our sins (He did not say, He will forget our sins!). We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, purchased by a price so costly that only Jesus could pay ... for you and for me.
Holy Spirit of promise
Not only that we are now born-again because we believed in Jesus, but we also have a guarantee of the down-payment done for us-His Holy Spirit. “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1: 13-14)
What a wonderful promise-the gift of the Holy Spirit to everyone, whoever, that believed in the name of Jesus. Purchased, sealed and delivered-we are His and the inheritance is as good as ours now! Praise God! If you are still in doubt over whether you have received His Holy Spirit, I ask you to first consider your belief in Jesus-Have you come to Him one-on-one? Did you really have an encounter with Jesus Christ? Because if you did, and believed, you are now sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise…and you will never be the same again!
Names written in Heaven
“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” – Luke 10:20
What a joy! Eternal is our inheritance, indelible are our names written in heaven! This is far more wonderful than knowing that we have authority over evil spirits. Rejoice! A record is made-that has your name on it; a permanent record.
If you are familiar with rent and lease agreements here in Mumbai, you will know of the very temporary nature where you have to renew the contract every 11 months. But once you purchase your own house, you can call it your home-a permanent place to stay while here on earth! But now we have a promise more precious than that-our names in heaven. No amount of money can buy that!
Hope of Glory
“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” – Colossians 1:27
We are rich! The difference between a Gentile and a Christian is this: Christ within. This is not the zenith of Christian life that I am talking about, but the starting point-the foundation and beginning of Christian walk.
- Children of God
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” – 1 John 3:2
Right here and now, we are children of God. This is not something that is for the future, but right now in the present-we are children of God. What a privilege! God is our Father; we can call Him “Abba, Father”. “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.” (2 Cor. 6:18). It is good to know Him as Almighty God; it is even better to know Him as our Heavenly Father! Have you known God as your Father? Have you dared to call Him Abba, Father? If you have children, you will know that they have free access to you anytime of the day; Just so with our heavenly Father. You can come to Him anytime and for anything.
For the Bible says, that everyone can know Him in the New Covenant; everyone- from the least to the greatest can know Him as the Father- merciful and loving. (Hebrews 8:11-13). With this confidence, we now look at all His promises. What do you do with your promises to your children? Aren’t you careful to keep them? How MUCH MORE will God our heavenly Father will keep His covenant of mercy and peace? So we ask and it is given to us; we seek and we find it; we knock and the door is opened to us! (Matt. 7:7).
- Victorious Christian Life
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” – Jude 1:24, 25
If we are His children, then we know we are victorious in Him. We are more than conquerors; because of Him who is able to keep us from stumbling. Blameless and with exceeding joy will be our conduct-this is Christian maturity. It is not enough if you know God as your Father, and you remain a child. Rather, it is trusting and walking that brings us victory. His grace is more than enough. If He keeps you from stumbling, how can you fall? The Bible clearly tell us this: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” – 1 Cor. 10:13
In the victorious Christian life, there is ALWAYS joy and peace. It is a given! In this 21st century, stress has become one of the soul-killers; and they take a toll on the body. Whatever be the circumstance, even in the midst of storm (and I’m not saying there won’t be a storm), still we can have His peace. Jesus says in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” With Jesus in our boat, there is peace.
Isn’t it sad to see so many sad faces all around? Apprehension, fear of the future, painful present filled with worries-is this LIFE? Jesus promised in John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” Complete joy in Jesus and His word. The peace of Jesus and the joy of Jesus, is given to us. When we receive these- His promises, we can experience heaven on earth!
- Ministries for God
“…and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18
If you are engaged in doing God’s ministry, this is the promise that you can take with you-Jesus is building His church and all the power and intelligence of the devil shall not be able to stop it. If God be for us, who can be against us? Whatever you put your hand to do to build the kingdom of God, will surely succeed. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. The devil can do you no harm as you stay right under the blood of Jesus-the Cornerstone of what you build. No harm, no harm, no harm! Jesus says to those who were sent out in Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” – John 14:12. We are here as representatives of Jesus Christ-doing what He would have done! The church, being His body are called to do His commands-as extensions of His service. Greater works than what Jesus did while on earth, as the time draws near. When I read the life of the Apostles, I realize all these came true!
We are armed to the teeth, able to do all that He has called us to do. Therefore, STEP OUT if God is calling you into any ministry. He, who began a good work in you, will surely bring it to completion. He will see us through, whether thro’ water or thro’ the fire!
- Material Blessings
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” – Phil. 4:19
God is concerned not just of spiritual need, but also of the natural. God shall supply-and there will be no lack; all your need-not just a bit here and a bit there; according to His riches-not according to our perceived poverty. We can cast every anxiety, every care upon Him who cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). My God – He is the one who made the universe-the sun and the moon and the stars; He looks upon me and notices my need. His eye is upon the sparrow and His eye is upon me! He feeds the sparrows and not one of them will fall without His knowledge. I am more precious to Him than many sparrows.
Do you realize He cares for you? There is the poem about the robin and the sparrow that goes like this:
Said the robin to the sparrow:
“I wonder why –
the anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so!”
Said the sparrow to the robin
“Friend! I think
They don’t have a Heavenly Father
Who cares for me and you!”
Your anxieties are time-dependent; come to Him who holds the time in His hands. Rest on His promises. As a 15 year old, as I came to Christ, I saw examinations as the biggest anxiety of my life! Now I know that was just a small step-there were other matters of greater importance! Let us therefore do what the Bible tell us to: “Be anxious for nothing…” (Phil. 4: 6-7). But, we are called to pray-and give thanks and make our requests known to God. Then we shall have His peace.
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