BELIEVING GOD’S PROMISES TO THE RIGHTEOUS--I CORINTHIANS 16:13

BELIEVING GOD’S PROMISES TO THE RIGHTEOUS

I CORINTHIANS 16:13,

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

Romans 4:20-21, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

Introduction:

There are many promises in the Word of God and time will not allow us to list all of them today. However, we can consider a few that will encourage us and manifest our need to fully trust our Lord.

The Scriptures tell us that God hears when we call, Psalm 4:3, “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” They tell us that God gives us protection, Psalm 5:12, “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” Now consider the following:

I. OUR GOD PROMISES THAT HE WILL NEVER CHANGE

Hebrews 6:18, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”

A. He is the anchor of our soul, Hebrews 6:19, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”

1. He is an anchor sure and steadfast, Psalm 42:5, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”

2. He is in the presence of the Father making intercession for us, Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

B. As for God’s mercy it will be ours for life, Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

1. His mercy has made us glad, Psalm 30:11-12, “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12- To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”

2. We have a heavenly home, 2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

C. He is the Lord is our strength, Psalm 28:8, “The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.”

II. OUR GOD PROMISES TO BE OUR PROTECTION

A. God is our hiding place, Psalm 32:6-8, “For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. 7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

1. He is a refuge in time of trouble, Psalm 9:9, “The LORD also will be a refuge [a high place] for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”

2. He will instruct and counsel us, Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

3. He will guide us with his eye, Isaiah 49:10, “They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.”

B. The Lord blesses His people with peace, Psalm 29:11, “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”

C. There is no want to those who fear God, Psalm 34:9, “O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

1. God supplies good things for those that seek Him, Psalm 34:10, “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

2. The Lord hears our cry and restores our peace, Psalm 34:15, 17, “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”

3. The faithful believe will live content, Psalm 25:12-13, “What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose . 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.”

D. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, Psalm 25:14, “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.”

1. The Lord has made known the mystery of His will to His people, Ephesians 1:9, 18, “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”

2. The Lord looks on the heart and knows its secrets, 1 Samuel 16:7, “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

CONCLUSION

The Lord will keep His Word and fulfill His promises to His people. He has promised salvation to those who trust His Son and has fulfilled that promise and continues to save those that come to Him. The Apostle Paul wrote in Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”