Precious Promises
September 4, 2024
Pastor Gordon Cook
Psalm 107:8-9
This psalm deals with a lot of problems or crises, heavy trials and God comes to the rescue every time. And then there's a common refrain of giving thanks to God for his steadfast love. Well, I just want to give a few minutes on the importance, the value, the reason why we should keep meditating upon the promises of God, the divine promises of God. And just give you a little summary statement by Peter in 2 Peter 1. Here's what Peter says about God's promises, “They are precious,” he says, “and they are exceedingly great.” And that word precious is the same word that the writer of Hebrews uses to describe the precious blood of Jesus.
So the promises are precious and exceedingly great, and where do we go? We could go almost anywhere in our Bibles to grab hold of some of those promises. In Psalm 23 you have four great promises: the promise of provision in green pastures, still waters; the promise of guidance, he leads us into those pathways of righteousness; the promise of protection, his rod and staff; the promise of preservation, his mercy and goodness shall follow us all the days of our life. You could go to Romans 8, it starts with that great promise, “There's no condemnation,” and it ends with that promise of “no separation.”
And when we think of bringing the gospel to the world we have that promise in Matthew 28:20, “Lo, I am with you always.”
When you think of death, when you think of heaven, what's the great promise? Well, it's the promise of his presence. Paul could say in Philippians 1, “To depart and be with Christ is far better.” And then Jesus gave that promise to that thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” We could also think of promises that God gives when it comes to suffering. Psalm 23 again, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death you are with me,” and God promises to be with His people. I think Paul picks up that promise when he's sitting in a jail cell. Remember what he says, “All have forsaken me, but the Lord stood with me.”
We also have the promise of His presence when we gather. Matthew 18:20, “When two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.” And you might say, well, we're not gathered together physically, but we are gathered in His name.
You have the promise of the helper when it comes to prayer, the Holy Spirit helps us when we pray, Romans 8. You have the promise that he will draw near when we draw near to him, James 4.
And so we shouldn't forget, Brethren, when we come to pray those wonderful promises, it doesn't mean you have to always articulate them, or put them on your lips, but we should keep in mind the promises of God. God is the great promise maker and the great promise keeper. He never ever fails to keep his promises, and again we could argue over which one's the greatest. Certainly one could say the promise that he's given us his Son, surely he will give us all things.
Pastor Gordon Cook
Psalm 107:8-9
“Let them thank the Lord for a steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men. For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”
This psalm deals with a lot of problems or crises, heavy trials and God comes to the rescue every time. And then there's a common refrain of giving thanks to God for his steadfast love. Well, I just want to give a few minutes on the importance, the value, the reason why we should keep meditating upon the promises of God, the divine promises of God. And just give you a little summary statement by Peter in 2 Peter 1. Here's what Peter says about God's promises, “They are precious,” he says, “and they are exceedingly great.” And that word precious is the same word that the writer of Hebrews uses to describe the precious blood of Jesus.
So the promises are precious and exceedingly great, and where do we go? We could go almost anywhere in our Bibles to grab hold of some of those promises. In Psalm 23 you have four great promises: the promise of provision in green pastures, still waters; the promise of guidance, he leads us into those pathways of righteousness; the promise of protection, his rod and staff; the promise of preservation, his mercy and goodness shall follow us all the days of our life. You could go to Romans 8, it starts with that great promise, “There's no condemnation,” and it ends with that promise of “no separation.”
And when we think of bringing the gospel to the world we have that promise in Matthew 28:20, “Lo, I am with you always.”
When you think of death, when you think of heaven, what's the great promise? Well, it's the promise of his presence. Paul could say in Philippians 1, “To depart and be with Christ is far better.” And then Jesus gave that promise to that thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” We could also think of promises that God gives when it comes to suffering. Psalm 23 again, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death you are with me,” and God promises to be with His people. I think Paul picks up that promise when he's sitting in a jail cell. Remember what he says, “All have forsaken me, but the Lord stood with me.”
We also have the promise of His presence when we gather. Matthew 18:20, “When two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.” And you might say, well, we're not gathered together physically, but we are gathered in His name.
You have the promise of the helper when it comes to prayer, the Holy Spirit helps us when we pray, Romans 8. You have the promise that he will draw near when we draw near to him, James 4.
And so we shouldn't forget, Brethren, when we come to pray those wonderful promises, it doesn't mean you have to always articulate them, or put them on your lips, but we should keep in mind the promises of God. God is the great promise maker and the great promise keeper. He never ever fails to keep his promises, and again we could argue over which one's the greatest. Certainly one could say the promise that he's given us his Son, surely he will give us all things.
Posted in Pastor Devotional