iTruths: Life Lessons for the iPod Generation – iStand
We continue our iTruths series today focusing on standing on the promises found within the Word of God. Standing on the truth that we gain from knowing Him, from loving Him, from telling others about Him and from serving Him. We know that within His arms we find everything we need to be successful in life.
As we move through our lives, we are always presented with situations where need owners manuals. We buy a new TV, we get an owners manual. We buy a new VCR, we get an owners manual. We buy a car, we get an owners manual. The interesting thing is that we never look at the owners manuals.
We try to figure these things out on our own. We see this over and over again. I know it’s true in my house. And we feel like we can get these items to operate just fine without reading the manual. We figure out where the record buttons are, where the power buttons are, how to make it work. Unfortunately, we never really get the full functionality out of these items because we don’t understand the intricacies of their operation.
That is exactly what happens in our lives. We go through each day operating under the assumption that we know enough to make it. We know enough to get things done. We know what we need to live. Unfortunately, we never get the full functionality out of our lives without reading the manual. And that manual is without a doubt the Word of God.
Within the Bible, we find all that we need to know to truly live. And not just live, but I mean…REALLY LIVE! God gives us promise after promise within this Book that will guide us through the ups and downs, give us direction in the midst of confusion, and will bring us through in victory.
A few weeks ago, I shared with you the theme verses for our series. John 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
That claim is what the Church was founded on! And those who had fixed their mind on Christ and the fact the His Word was true, went through a lot of scrutiny and persecution…but they never wavered in their resolute commitment to the Word of God!
That was before Christ died/rose again on the cross.
Even after Christ rose from the dead and returned to heaven, the same disciples maintained the same resolute commitment to the truth of the Word of God!
Acts 4:18-20 18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
So, what got them ‘in trouble’ with the community?
Why were they so mad at Peter & John?
What could they possibly have said that would have angered them to the point of threatening them?
Because they were preaching the Gospel:
Acts 4:11-12 11 [Jesus Christ] is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
They stood on the Word of God and proclaimed the central theme of Bible – the Person of Jesus Christ who is God come to earth.
Four Principles On Why We STAND On The Word of God!
1. We Can Count On The Promises Made
2. The Promises Change Our Lives
3. The Promises Change Our Hearts
4. The Promises Change Our Future
1. We Can Count On The Promises Made
a. God’s Promises are always true!
Is. 55:10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
2. The Promises Change Our Lives
a. Salvation
God Loves You!
I John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God!
This verse states that it is because of God’s great love that we are able to become a child of God. Here’s another exciting observation - Notice the word “lavished” or “bestowed (KJV)”…it would have been enough for the Bible to say “God loves you” and leave it at that. What is so interesting about the Bible is that often when it talks about God’s love for us, it will often offer superlatives like “God LAVISHED His love on us” to make sure that we know how enormous and grandiose the love of God is for us!
God Died For You!
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God Will Forgive You!
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God Will Save You!
Romans 10:9-13 9 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.
God Will Come Again For You!
I Thessalonians 4:15-17
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord!
b. Support
Emotional Support
I Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.
Philippians 4:6-7 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Spiritual Support
Matthew 28:19-20 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Physical Support
Luke 11:9-13 9 So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being [human], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
Matthew 6:31-34 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…
c. Success
Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
We can STAND on the Word of God because of the nature of its promises! We can STAND on the Word of God because of the specific promises it gives!
3. The Promises Change Our Hearts
a. They Make Our Hearts Break
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
A lot has been written and studied about this verse – but the bottom-line teaching on this is that the Word of God can go places in a person’s life that no one can go --- and examine areas in a person’s life that no one can examine.
Psalm 139:23-24 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties. 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
b. They Make Our Hearts Bold
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
What would cultivate this boldness in a person’s life?
Because you have seen first-hand how God’s Word:
supports you emotionally, physically, spiritually…
guides you in raising your family…
saved your soul…
secures your soul in Him…
and promised you that someday Christ will return for you…
And IF God’s Word has taken care of you with love, promises and support…
THEN, this should be something we should shout about!
We should shout it from the rooftops!
4. The Promises Change Our Future
John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”
Standing on the Word of God will always provide for our every need. It will protect us in a time of need. It will comfort us in a time of loss. It will strengthen us in time of battle. It will preserve us in times of attack.
We must stand on His word. Trusting in His everlasting promises.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
