The Promise Keeper
I have never been to a Promise Keepers men’s conference. I’m afraid the name puts me off, though I know many godly men go along to them and have been blessed and encouraged. But I feel it’s just setting up me to fail. I know all too well that there are promises I and others haven’t kept. But I do know there is one Promise Keeper who will never fail, the Promise Keeper. And I rejoice in His promises.
My personal favourite promise is: “I will never fail you nor forsake you,” which for some reason I have buzzing around my head all the time. It sounds as though it should be found in John’s Gospel but in fact it comes from the end of the Letter to the Hebrews. One of the themes of that letter is the utter reliability for Christians of God’s promises in Christ.
As some of you may know I am a Bible College lecturer at Eastwest College, at Gordonton, training Christian missionaries. This past Saturday I did some open-air evangelism with my students in Hamilton. I confess that it is not something I rush to do naturally when I get up in the morning, though having done it I am always glad. But what amazes me is the astonishing resistance of men and women to the promises of the Promise-Keeping God as we announce them in the gospel – the most glorious and simple promises in the universe.
I have been at the college for 20 years and during that time we have seen nearly 400 students graduate of whom over 250 have been or still are working in 44 different countries around the world. Every one of those missionaries is going out on the promises of the Promise-Keeping God. It is exciting to see the faithfulness of God as these missionaries are provided for and protected and used by God – as they have stood on his promises.
I thought that tonight I would conclude this brief talk with some of God’s promises which might be a fresh blessing for you in our current lives:
Romans 9:10 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
James 1:15 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
One of the great things about worship is that we have the immense privilege of singing out the promises of the Promise Keeping God to music – especially in our Christmas music in December. So let us proudly sing the promises of the Promise Keeping God.