WE HAVE THE PROMISES
1. In some areas of our nation the terror alert has gone to red (the highest level).
2. Our nation is on a high state of readiness, especially at events planned for tomorrow.
3. As of last Wednesday military police at the Pentagon were wearing bullet proof vests and helmets.
4. There is substantial concern about one or more attacks that would result in massive casualties.
5. Another recent event related to violence happened about four days ago.
6. Three men were arrested.
7. These individuals were allegedly planning one or more suicide attacks with airplanes.
8.
Muslims have been encouraged to “light a fire under the
feet of
WE ARE LIVING IN VERY UNUSUAL TIMES. THIS PERIOD IS ONE OF THE SPECIAL TIMES IN HISTORY WHEN THE FAITH POSSESSED BY CHRISTIANS IS ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGING.
A. We have used previous Sundays to examine Christianity from several different angels.
B. Today we want to sum up this study by considering a few of the promises made to God’s people.
2. If we are a child of God, we are entitled to certain promises.
3. The first promise I want to turn our attention to is found in Heb. 13:5.
4. This verse was just read.
5. There are some points about this passage that may not be immediately apparent.
A. The first item is the degree of emphasis used by the writer.
B. If we say to someone, “I am coming to see you,” that seems pretty simple.
C. The thought is more forceful if the expression becomes “I myself am coming to see you.”
6. When this kind of emphasis is used, it is like an exclamation mark, bold type, and capital letters.
7. In Heb. 13:5 this type of emphasis is found in the text.
8. God says to His people “I myself will never leave or forsake you.”
A. No matter what comes our way, if we are a faithful child of God, the heavenly Father is with us.
B. This is not always true of fathers in the physical realm.
C. In the spiritual realm this is always the case.
D. During times of unrest like we have right now, this is a precious verse.
E. I myself am with you.
9. If this is all we could extract from this passage it would be tremendous amount of information.
10. There is more in this passage to see and appreciate.
11. Those with the KJV will see the word “leave.” The ASV has “fail.”
A. This is not the word normally translated “leave.”
B. This term has the sense of “uphold, sustain.”
C. God says to His people, “I will never fail to uphold or support my people.”
12. There are supervisors and employers in the world who protect those who work for them.
13. It is as if certain employers or supervisors shield or cast a net of protection over those under them.
14. God does this plus a whole lot more.
15. The KJV rendering is correct in that God will not leave us.
16. The ASV also brings out an important point: God will not fail His people.
A. This point is driven home in the strongest possible way in Heb. 13:5.
B. In the Greek Bible there is a double negative.
C. English says double negatives are a no-no—improper.
D. The Bible writers sometimes used this construction to stress certain points.
E. Double negatives are bad English but good Greek.
17. The end of verse 5 could be translated, “I will not, I will not, fail you.”
18. God never leaves the side of a faithful Christian.
19. When we take all the information we have drawn out from verse 5, we find thrilling promises.
20. Still we still have not taken everything from this passage that needs to be taken.
21. Both the KJV and the ASV have the word “forsake” at the end of the verse.
A. This term also paints a vivid picture.
B. It describes a person who is in a state of defeat or helplessness and is forsaken.
C. The thought reminds me of a scene I saw a while back while flipping TV channels.
D. Two men were in a jeep; one of them had a gun.
E. When the pair was in a remote and desert like area, the second man was forced from the vehicle.
F. The other man began to drive away.
G. The fellow standing in the desert said, “shoot me and kill me, but don’t leave me here alone.”
22. The man standing in the desert was both helpless and forsaken.
23. God says to His people, “don’t worry.”
A. A few moments ago I spoke of a double negative before the word “fail” (leave, KJV).
B. The writer could have used a double negative just once.
C. In other words, the text could say, “I will not, I will not leave or fail you.”
D. This is equivalent to shouting the message through the printed page.
24. The way the sentence is constructed is different from this and it is an amazing construction.
25. The double negative is used before both words.
26. It is “I will not, I will not leave you and I will not, I will not fail you.”
27. This is about as strong a statement as we can make or find.
28. We do not sing it too often but there is a great hymn in our songbooks—hand in hand with Jesus.
29. This will be our invitation song.
A. In the chorus of this song we have these words:
B. “Hand in hand with Jesus, hand in hand we walk each day.”
C. “Hand in hand along the way, hand in hand with Jesus.”
30. The second line of this hymn is almost identical to the thought in Heb. 13:5.
31. “In my night of dark despair, Jesus heard and answered prayer.”
32. This is the idea of “forsake” in Heb. 13:5.
A. When we are in a helpless and desperate state, the Lord will not leave us.
B. He will be with us, His hand in ours.
IF WE THINK ABOUT THE PROMISES IN HEB. 13, AN ADDITIONAL POINT ABOUT UPON THEM IS FOUND IN ANOTHER PART OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: JOHN 6:37.
A. This is another striking passage because it also has a double negative.
B. The sense is just like Heb. 13:5: “I will not, I will not.”
C. There is something Jesus refuses to do.
D. Since the text tells us what this is, let’s read it – John 6:37 – READ.
2. The Son of God will not “cast out” His people.
3. Under no circumstances will Jesus disassociate Himself from members of His body.
4. This point has been misapplied by some good people.
A. This fact has been used to say that once a person has been saved, he will always be saved.
B. Stated another way, some think salvation cannot be lost.
C. This is not what Jesus meant.
D. Judas is described as “going to his own place” (Acts 1:25).
E. I have yet to meet someone who believes “his own place” was heaven.
5. This man helped crucify the sinless Son of God.
6. Is he now with the Lord in heaven, enjoying the presence of the one he betrayed?
7. Judas went to his own place (he was unsaved), but he had been a disciple.
8. He was an apostle (Acts 1:25).
9. He had an “office” (Acts 1:20).
10. He was part of the “apostleship” (1:25).
11. Acts 1:17 says he was “numbered with” the apostles. He had a “portion in the ministry.”
A. How can we reconcile Acts 1 with Jn. 6?
B. The answer is found in the life of Judas.
C. Jesus did exactly what He said.
D. The Lord did not “cast out” Judas. He would not do that.
E. Judas could, however, decide to leave and he did leave.
F. When he left he was entitled to a different spiritual home for eternity.
12. This is still true.
13. If we abide in the Lord He will not cast us it. He refuses to do that.
14. Those who leave the Lord through means such as false doctrine or unfaithful living are not in Him.
15. Jesus does not cast these people out; He lets them leave if they so choose.
16. The Lord may help some folks find the door because they are not content with Him.
17. People make their own choice about Christ and Jesus responds accordingly.
18. The good news in all this is the assurance of salvation.
A. There are Christians who wonder if the are saved or lost.
B. John 6 provides some information about this matter.
C. If we are in Christ, the Lord is not going to cast us out.
D. Those who have entered into the Lord and not left Him are safe and secure.
19. Jn. 6 provides us with a second promise and description of those who are Christians.
20. For the third and final promise we need to look at Jn. 4:13-14.
A. In this chapter of John’s record we read about the Samaritan woman.
B. Jesus had a discussion with her about water.
C. She was thinking in secular terms while Jesus had in mind spiritual truths.
D. There is a difference in the tense which makes the verses come alive.
21. Verses 13-14 of John 4 – READ.
22. In verse 13 the tense of “drink” is present.
23. We can drink and drink, but we will “thirst again.”
24. Gatorade says it is the third quencher, but Jesus says this is false advertising.
25. There is no earthly drink which can permanently quench the thirst (give man what he really needs).
A. There is, however, something from above which quenches the thirst.
B. Jesus said He had “water” (14a).
C. People can “Drink” this water.
D. Those who do this will “never again” thirst.
26. There are two negative particles before the word “thirst.” Means no thirsting at all.
27. After the word thirst is a word which has the sense of “forever.”
28. There is, in the Christian life, satisfaction, joy, peace, comfort, and constant hope.
29. For the Christian the day to life is always filled with bright spots.
30. This is no better time to remind us of this than right now with all the news about terrorism.
31. This is also a fitting final description for who Christians are.
32. The people of God are individuals who have found the meaning of life.
33. This way of life offers a form of contentment which is not fully understood by non-Christians.
34. I do not know what tomorrow will bring.
A. We may have a peaceful day.
B. There may be a major crisis in the streets of one more major cities.
C. If there is not an attack this weekend, perhaps one will come before the end of the year.
35. No matter what occurs in life, the Christian has promises which are sure and comforting.
36. We will not be left or forsaken by our God.
37. He will not cast us out from His presence and fellowship.
38. He wants us to find satisfaction in Him (Jn. 4).
39. Are we enjoying and using the promises of God?