Precious Promises

As a further confirmation of this salvation based upon the eternal purpose and plan of God for the true believer, He promises that the believer will have a real hunger for the Word of God. “...As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (I Pet. 2:2) He will also have the indwelling Spirit who will create in him a real desire for holy living. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” (I John 2:3) He promises that the true believer will have a genuine, discernible and expressed love for the brothers and a love and affinity for the congregation and house of the Lord. (See John 13:34-35, I John 3:12, Psalm 122:1, Matt. 18:20, Heb. 10:25)

His precious promise that the true believer will also desire to tell others about Jesus and to participate in carrying out all aspect of the great Commission, will never fail. (See Acts 1:8-11, 4:20, 8:4, 20:20) If we so see many failing in this first great enterprise, we can but conclude they are suppressing the desire God has given them to win the lost and are quenching the Holy Spirit’s leadership in their lives.

His purpose and plan for true believers will be consummated when He comes again and takes them home to live with Him forever. He has promised that we will have a continuing longing to see Jesus and to go to dwell in that city whose builder and maker is God. He has promised us the blessed or happy hope as a stay and encouragement in our life here below. (John 14:1-3, Phil. 1:21-23)

We have His precious promise of His powerful potential to work in and through us to accomplish His purpose on earth; winning the lost, baptizing them and teaching them all things. (Matt. 28:18-20) This promise is especially made to His churches and those who will faithfully follow his plan and pattern of New Testament church propagation in all ages.

As we accept and act upon this promise, He has promised we will be equipped with His powerful tools and His power in wielding them. Just as He supplied David with all that was needed to fell the giant by His power, He will powerfully supply us all our needs in Christ Jesus to live in this world, do His will and fight the good fight of the faith. He supplies the whole armour of God, the sword of the spirit and the powerful gospel, wielded, confirmed and affirmed by the power of His spirit . In my devotional study on Hebrews Four, “God’s Ultimate Weapon,” I said in part:

“When Paul speaks of the Word of God being the Sword of the Spirit, I understand he is deliberately using a word that specifically refers to the short sword used by what is reputed to be one of the most efficient human fighting machines of the ages, the Roman soldier. When this effective weapon was attached to the arm of that formidable warrior, terrible destruction was the order of the day. When the centuries of Roman soldiers formed their phalanx, pity those who had to oppose them. They were usually cut to ribbons. The Word of God is that effective, and more. It is designed to cut to ribbons the stoniest and hardest of hearts. It will smash the best offence , defeat the cruelest enemy and win the battle against the most overwhelming odds.