GOD’S PRESENCE IN PRACTICE.
PART TWO - THE COMMITMENT
Hebrews 13:5-6
Last Sunday Morning we gave our attention to
THE CONDITION attached to the promise that we will be looking at this morning. If we have worked through the requirements clearly seen in the Word of God, then we will be able to claim the fulfilment of the promise for ourselves.
What a wonderful God we have who is willing to pledge His word to us. Never hesitate to turn to the Lord and say ‘you said’; that is, if He did say it! To do this we need to know what God has said! On a personal note, I am always pleased when people take me at my word! If I am pleased, then I feel sure that the Lord is pleased when we believe what He says! So let us look at this wonderful truth that God has made us a promise, bound by His Word!
First of all I want to look at THE COMMITMENT that the Lord makes in the promise; and to help us do this, please look with me first of all at THE STATEMENT that is made!
THE COMMITMENT
1. THE STATEMENT
because God has said, [NIV]
We have a very important matter just here. ‘God has said’. But you will note that it says ‘because God has said’. The reason we can claim this is not because we would like it, or it would be good, but because God has said it. Do we know what God has said? The source for learning what God has said is God’s Word – the Bible. Over the years I have heard people make some strange statements about what they believe God had said, and when asked where God said it they are unable to give a source. Sometimes it has been what other people have said! We can think God said it, or even wish God said it, but the only way we can claim the promise is if God actually said it! So we see that there is a great need to read and study the Word of God for ourselves. Please do not make a claim on what someone else has stated that ‘God has said’. We need to have first-hand knowledge of what God said, and it is there for us to discover in His Word!
There is a simple way to do this, and that is to follow the example of the Christians at Berea.
Acts 17:11 The Jews proved more sympathetic than those in Thessalonica, for they accepted the message most eagerly and studied the scriptures every day to see if what they were now being told were true. [Philips]
They wanted to be able to place their faith on the Word of God, not the word of Paul! I feel sure they were glad that Paul pointed them in the right direction, but they were able to discover for themselves what was true. This is a vital reality. Godly leaders are needed to lead us into truth, but our faith must be based on what the Lord says in His Word. If we do that then it becomes effective in our lives. The Apostle Paul encouraged the Colossian believers to let the Word live in them.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word spoken by Christ (the Messiah) have its home in your hearts and minds and dwell in you in all its richness. [Amp]
We can only let it live in us if we know what it says, and have made it a part of ourselves.
Can we rely on God’s Word? I pose the question simply because much doubt is thrown on the Word of God these days. So can we trust it?
Psalm 19 has a lot to say about the Word of God, I shall use just one verse from that Psalm;
Psalm 19:7 The Law of the Lord is perfect; it gives us new life. His teachings last forever, and they give wisdom to ordinary people. [CEV]
So the Psalmist claims that the Word of God can be relied on.
It is also good to see that the Apostles also make the same claim. Take note of what Paul says to the Corinthian believers,
I Corinthians 9:9 God . . . is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
We need to really know, and believe verses like that for it shows just what the Lord wants to do with us – take us into partnership with His Son!
We can totally rely on the Word of God, simply because it is an eternal Word – it does not change with changing situations. Peter declares this
1Peter 1:25 The word of the Lord stands for ever.”
To confirm this we have the word of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, and He promises that the Word of God will all be fulfilled.
Matthew 5:18 I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished.
It is quite wonderful that later the Lord Jesus repeats this statement to His followers, as if to reinforce the reality of it.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Luke 11:28 Jesus said, "they are blessed who hear God’s Message and carefully keep it."
The acceptance of the reliability of the Word of God is vital, as we cannot confidently place our trust in something in which we do not really believe! When we come to the place of believing God means what He says, then we can move on and make the claims on the wonderful promises of His Word. The Bible ceases to be simply reading matter, and now it begins to make an impact on our lives, helping us to conform to the pattern the Lord has for us.
Romans 8:29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son.
When we reach that place ‘in Christ’, we will live with a desire to please the Lord in all we do – living as He would have us live, and saying those things the Lord would have us say. This was the standard and way of life the Lord Jesus had while on earth.
John 8:29 The One who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.” [Holman]
Please note those words! Here we have the Lord Jesus being assured of the presence of the Father ‘because I always do what pleases Him’. When we put the Word into practice in our lives, then we can be aware of the glorious significance of the promise of His presence.
2. THE SIGNIFICANCE
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." [NIV]
Five times in Scripture is this precious promise renewed; that we may press and oppress it, till we have expressed the sweetness out of it. [John Trapp].
I like the imagery used here by John Trapp. It is like taking a piece of fruit and squeezing it until all the juice is out of it, enabling us to enjoy its sweetness! It seems as if the Lord is underscoring this for us, to draw our attention to this fact. The Amplified Bible draws attention to the absolute certainty of this statement.
I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down.
Matthew Henry makes a interesting and helpful comment just here, he says,
Here are no fewer than five negatives heaped together, to confirm the promise; the true believer shall have the gracious presence of God with him in life, at death, and for ever.
John Trapp gives the translation as
"I will not not leave thee; neither will I not not forsake thee."
God loves to be bound by his own words, to be sued by his own bond.
Take that thought and make it yours – Get to know what God has said and claim it for yourself, and don’t be afraid! There upholding us in our time of need is the right hand of God, which is victorious.
Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. [NLT]
Isaiah 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. [AV]
I have to bring in the words concerning the Lord Jesus in His final hours
John 13:1 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
And the words of the Lord Jesus to His disciples as He was about to leave them and ascend up to heaven;
Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” [Holman]
What a wonderful truth for us to personally hold on to in the days that are ahead – the Lord has promised to be with us - always!
Have you ever promised to be somewhere, and circumstances have caused you to break that promise? The bus did not turn up! The car wouldn’t start! The snow was too deep to get out! You became unwell! I want to assure you that God is never taken by surprise by circumstances; in fact He orders circumstances to bring about His purposes!
I remember Billy Graham saying,
God said it. I believe it. That settles it.
We are going to leave our meditation this at this point, and enjoy the Word of God becoming more real to us as we experience an awareness of the presence of the Lord with us each day. We shall pick up this study next week as we see further encouragement for us in these amazing verses, placing our confidence in the Lord and His Word.
