The story of Abraham is extremely rich. It reveals to us one man’s journey to becoming God’s friend. Today we will see the importance of standing on the promises of God.
Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.” Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. (Gen 15:1-6 NLT)
Aren’t you glad to know that the Lord can read your mind? Perhaps not, depending upon what’s on your mind. Though Abram had not voiced his concern to the Lord, God knew the fear that was in His friends’ heart. Every moment of every day contained the desire to have a son; yet Abram and Sarai remained childless.
As I write this, the Spirit has brought to my mind a phrase from scripture. It contains the words – “swear by no greater.” Searching through the Bible, I found it in Hebrews 6, with this subtitle over it - “God’s Promises Bring Hope.”
For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.” Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.
Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.
Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. (Heb 6:13-20 NLT)
“God’s Promises Bring Hope.” Why? Because God is the One who has made the promise. Scripture says that God has taken an oath in His own name. For God to break His promises means that He would dishonor Himself.
Many years ago, a young pastor was called to his first church. Shortly after he arrived, he noticed that there was one man in particular who seemed to have great power in prayer. Almost everything that happened in the church was somehow tied to the intercession of Brother Smith. One day the young pastor visited the elderly man and asked if he would teach him the secret to his dynamic prayer life. “Follow me”, the old saint instructed and led the young man out to the barn. Without another word, the old man climbed a ladder that led to the hay loft and there before them was an open Bible. The old man knelt in front of the Bible and began to pray. As the young man knelt beside him and listened, he noticed something different about the man’s prayers: there was a boldness and confidence before the throne of God like he had never witnessed before. Finally the old man finished and waited for the young pastor to take his turn. But instead of praying, all the pastor could do was remain silent. Finally he looked over at the old man and saw him intently gazing at his open Bible. “I don’t know how to pray”, the young pastor said. “After listening to you, I realize that I don’t know what to say.” The old man quietly slid his open Bible over so that it was in front of the young pastor and then he said, “Just pray the promises son. Just pray the promises.”
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
Standing On The Promises
1. Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
through eternal ages let his praises ring;
glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
standing on the promises of God.
Refrain:
Standing, standing,
standing on the promises of Christ my Savior;
standing, standing,
I'm standing on the promises of God.
2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
by the living Word of God I shall prevail,
standing on the promises of God.
(Refrain)
3. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
bound to him eternally by love's strong cord,
overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword,
standing on the promises of God.
(Refrain)
4. Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
listening every moment to the Spirit's call,
resting in my Savior as my all in all,
standing on the promises of God.
(Refrain)
Daily Smile:
Just think, in a few million years Barney will be motor oil
In The News:
Morocco: Christian Converts Unsettled by Fatwa Calling for Execution of Those Who Leave Islam
A Moroccan fatwa calling for the execution of those who leave Islam has
left many Christian converts in turmoil, Morning Star News reports.
There is still much debate over how the fatwa, which only recently came
to light after the government’s top authority on Islam issued it last
year, could change laws in Morocco. But a Moroccan Christian convert
active in the house church movement said many former Muslims who are now
Christians fear for their lives. "The fatwa showed us that our country
is still living in the old centuries – no freedom, no democracy," he
said. "Unfortunately, we feel that we aren’t protected. We can be
arrested or now even killed any time and everywhere. ... The majority of
the Christian Moroccan leaders have the same feeling. We are more
followed now by the secret police than before. Only the Grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ gives us courage and peace." The governmental High
Council of Ulemas, the highest religious authority in Morocco, issued
the ruling last year, but only released it in April upon request of the
government’s Delegation for Human Rights of Morocco, according to
Arabic-language daily Akhbar al-Youm. Whether the fatwa will
have any effect on Moroccan criminal law remains to be seen: "The fatwa
doesn’t all of the sudden become an amendment or an addendum to the
penal code," said. a representative of Middle East Concern. "That’s why
we don’t actually know what it’s going to look like in practice or
principle." Still, the ruling could represent a major shift within the
government, as apostasy currently isn't against the law in Morocco. Even
if the ruling never becomes law, it sets a dangerous precedent for how
converts and Christians in general will be treated in Morocco. If
leaving Islam is seen as an act worthy of death, then "proselytizing" --
which is illegal -- could then be treated as a much more serious issue.
Gay Teacher Fired by Catholic School Claims Discrimination
Carla Hale, 59, a lesbian P.E. teacher, has filed a grievance against
the diocese of the Ohio Catholic school where she worked for 19 years
until administrators fired her for "violating moral law," WORLD reports. According to The Columbus Dispatch, Hale's sexual orientation became public when
an obituary for her late mother published Hale's name along with the
name of her female partner, Julie. An anonymous parent sent a letter to
Hale's employer, Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus, Ohio,
complaining about Hale’s presence on staff. The school fired Hale in
March, explaining that by maintaining a homosexual relationship she had
violated the diocesan policy requiring Catholic school personnel to be
examples of moral behavior. So far, the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops and the local diocese have declined to comment.
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