This sermon explores the power and permanence of God's promises, emphasizing their role in providing hope, guidance, and comfort in times of uncertainty and hardship.
Good morning, dear family of God. It's a beautiful day, isn't it? A day filled with hope, a day filled with promise, a day filled with God's love. We gather here not by chance, not by mere circumstance, but by divine design. We gather to celebrate the faithfulness of our God, to bask in the warmth of His love, and to find comfort in His promises.
Promises. Aren't they something? They hold so much power, so much potential. They can uplift a downtrodden spirit, mend a broken heart, and inspire a weary soul. But what makes a promise truly powerful? Is it the words used? The person who makes it? Or the certainty that it will be fulfilled?
Today, we are going to turn our hearts and minds towards the promises of God as revealed in Scripture, the power these promises hold, and their enduring permanence. We will find that the power of a promise is not in the words, not in the one who makes it, but in the assurance of its fulfillment.
Let's turn our attention to the book of Ezekiel, chapter 34, verses 11-16: "For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak."
What a promise! What an assurance! Let's take a moment to pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for Your love, and for Your promises. As we delve into Your Word today, we ask for Your guidance. Open our hearts and minds to understand Your promises, to feel the power of these promises, and to find comfort in their permanence. We ask this in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Transition. So, let's embark on this exploration of God's promises together, shall we?
As we look at the Scriptures, we find a wealth of promises made by God to His people. These promises are not just words, they are divine guarantees, assurances given by an unchanging God. They are declarations of His intentions, His plans, and His love for us.
In Ezekiel God promises to search for His sheep, to look after them, to rescue them, and to provide for them. This is not a vague or conditional promise. It is specific, detailed, and unconditional. God says, "I myself will search for my sheep and look after them." He doesn't say, "I might search for my sheep," or "I will search for my sheep if they do this or that." No, He says, "I myself will search for my sheep and look after them." This is a promise, a divine guarantee.
Now, let's consider the nature of these promises. They are not just for a select few, they are for all of God's people. In the passage from Ezekiel, God doesn't say, "I will search for some of my sheep," or "I will look after the good sheep." No, He says, "I will search for my sheep and look after them." All of them. Every single one. This is a promise for all of God's people, regardless of who they are or what they've done.
Moreover, these promises are for all times and all places. Again, in the passage from Ezekiel, God doesn't say, "I will search for my sheep and look after them in this place or at this time." No, He says, "I will search for my sheep and look after them." Period. This is a promise for all times and all places.
Furthermore, these promises are not just for our physical needs, they are for our spiritual needs as well. In the passage from Ezekiel, God doesn't just promise to provide for the physical needs of His sheep, He also promises to provide for their spiritual needs. He says, "I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak." This is a promise for our spiritual healing and strengthening.
In addition, these promises are not just for our benefit, they are for God's glory. In the passage from Ezekiel, God doesn't just promise to do these things for our sake, He promises to do them for His sake. He says, "I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord." This is a promise for the glory of God.
Transition. So, as we look at the promises presented in Scripture, we find that they are divine guarantees, they are for all of God's people, they are for all times and all places, they are for our spiritual needs, and they are for God's glory. These are not just words, they are divine assurances, given by an unchanging God, for our comfort, for our encouragement, and for our hope.
As we turn our gaze to the power of God's promises, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a vast ocean of divine assurance ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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