I. Introduction
(live as message starts)
me: Della, Did you bring that powerpoint?
No,
You told me you would
I am sorry but with convention and stuff
But, Della I was counting on you, I don’t know what I am going to do for the Sermon
Pastor J, I never promised anything
I know but…
Della’s Husband Eric: Pastor, Della has done more than enough; cut her some slack!
How many of you have ever felt like you were counting on someone, but they let you down?
- hand shake meant something
- no need for contracts, lawyers
- Your word was your oath
1. Open to Joshua 9 Story of Gibeonites came acted as it they were someone else,
Deception
But Joshua’s word was his promise
v. 26 So, Joshua saved them from the Israelites, they did not kill them as a matter of fact he fights for them Joshua 10:6 (The Amorite kings were going after them)
2. Story of Jacob, Essau, and Isaac (Gen. 27)
a. We often look at this about the blessing (there is validy in the blessing) but we often overlook the importance of someone giving their word
b. Could Isaac have said, I gave that blessing by deception… I think so…
i. But he spoke it, he declared- he was not going to go back on what he said,
Today we have categorized our words
1. Do you promise
2. Do you swear on the Bible
3. Scouts honor
4. pinky promise
5. Lies are so popular today
If we don’t do what we said, we come back with
1. I never promised
2. I just got too buzy
3. I forgot
4. I don’t feel good
5. I am over whelmed
Marriage is a joke because we no longer care about integrity, respect, keeping our word. The marriage vow begins to mean NOTHING!
What do your words mean? Are you a person of your word? Does your yes mean yes? Does your no mean no? Are you double minded?
What does God say about your word? Does it really matter? God is not silent.
Transition: Share some Declarations that God makes
II. Body
1. Declaration: Your word Is binding Mat. 5:33 (Let your yes be yes, no be no)
a. Contracts
i. We are all familure with contracts, both parties sign in agreement I will pay x amount of $ and you will give me your car.
ii. A contract is binding meaning: There is an obligation to do something
iii. Our words are to be binding (an obligation, trustworthy)
b. Sermon on the Mountain Turn to Matthew 5:33
i. Jesus discoursing on how people had abused some of the laws
ii. You are to be salt in this generation, in this culture, in your community.
1. fulfillment of the law
2. Murder same as hatred
3. Adultery – whoever looks a someone with lust in his eyes committed adultery
4. oaths
a. I swear by heaven
b. I swear by the gates of heaven
c. I swear by Jerusalem
5. Jesus said, let your yes be yes and No be no
iii. Jewish people came to the point that if you did not swear by God or swear by heaven it was not binding. Tamud states, "If any adjure another by heaven or earth, he is not guilty. (from Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) Jesus said simply, “Let your yes be yes and no be no”
1. Be a person with integrity (honesty, truthfulness, reliability)
2. Be a person who can be trusted
3. IN other words be salt in this generation, be a light for all to see.
iv. Let your words mean something!
2. Declaration: Not keeping your word gives false hope (prov . 25:14)
Proverbs 25:14 Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give. NIV
Latin Vulgate says, “a bragging man who does not fulfill his promise”
a. Compared to clouds and wind that come
i. Farmers in a dry land look forward to it, prepare for it, excitement, joy…
ii. “Our crops are saved”… but then NOTHING
b. This is the same as the person who gives His word on something, then doesn’t follow through
i. It crushes people
ii. It discourages people
c. WE have all been effected by someone, company, that told us we could count on them only to have them
i. Not show up
ii. Find something else more important
iii. Conviently forget
iv. Run out of time
d. Not keeping your word destroys your (reputation) name. We all know people that we have a difficult time trusting, we find them undependable. To some degree have lost value in their name.
3. Declaration: Keeping your word leads to a good name
Why is that important?
Proverbs 22:1
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. NIV
a. Character will follow you weather poor or rich
b. When you stand before God He isn’t going to care if you were rich; He will care about your character, your integrity.
c. Jon Gibbs, super bowl coach of Redskins, Own one or two cars that race in NACAR shares, “my dad often repeated two things. There are only two things you can take with you when you die. One was your name. The legacy you left behind when you die, Riches will fade, glory will fade, but your name will remain forever.
4. Declaration: God loves to be in the presence of people who go out of the way to keep their word (psalm 15:1-5)
i. The question is asked, Lord, who may dwell in Your Sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
1. Blameless walk
2. He who does what is right
3. He who speaks the truth
4. He who has no slander, treats his neighbor right,
5. despises a depraved, evil man
v. 4 who keeps his oath even when it hurts” (NIV)
Illustration: Clip from Chronicles of Narniah when the Lion keeps His word by giving His life
ii. It is not hard to keep you word when it is convenient
1. Take me out for lunch at Cody’s hm..
2. You want to buy me a car and I have to meet you where?
iii. Difficult when not convient
1. I know I told you I would help you paint your house today, but… The Bear are finally winning!
2. Mr. Boss, I know I told you I would make sure I finished this before I left work…. But, its 70 degrees outside.
iv. Ananias and sapphire
1. It was never said they had to give their all the prophets
2. But, there word meant nothing. They lied to the people and to the Holy Spirit and God took their lives
3. You want day of Acts?
a. Sell all possessions
b. Be killed for a simply “white lie”
Anything taken too far is unhealthy, but if you find yourself to be a person that commits to things only to not show up, forget, get preoccupied, have a hard time saying no let me give you two things. What should you do if you have a difficult time keeping commitments?
5. Ask God before you agree to do anything
a. If we are honest this is the #1 problem we face in life; we don’t seek the God’s council
i. I am having financial problems, did you seek God before you maxed your credit card?
ii. I am not spending enough time with my family, did you seek God before you took the job you have or before you decided to work 60 hours a week?
iii. Some have said, I just don’t have the time to seek God….YOU DON’T HAVE THE TIME NOT TO!!!
Joshua 9:14 The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. NIV
b. Judges 11:28 – 40 story of Jephthah going against the Ammonites, made a vow “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph form the Ammonites will be the Lord’s and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.
i. What kind of vow is that? “whatever come out of the door of my house to meet me”
ii. What was he expecting, his calf ? A goat?
iii. I kind of think he was having a difficult time with his wife; he was hoping she might come out
iv. It was his daughter
c. He kept his oath, but was an idiot for making it!!!
d. Prov. 29:20 says that there is more hope for a fool than for a man who speaks in haste (not having sought the Lord, or thought trough)
Prov 29:20 There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking. NLT
e. Consider what you are saying yes too
i. Give me a day to pray about it, the get back to the person
ii. Let me talk with my family before I commit to something
iii. Give me some time to pray
f. There are things you can yes to on the spot, some things need may need more time in prayer!
Transition: What do you do when you have too much on your plate or when you gave your word that you just can’t keep The proper way of releasing yourself from your word
6. With humility ask to be released from your word
Proverbs 6:1-5
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have struck hands in pledge for another,
2 if you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth,
3 then do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go and humble yourself;
press your plea with your neighbor!
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler. NIV
a. I am really sorry, I over committed… will you release me of my word?
b. I am sorry, my children are sick will you release me of my word?
III. Conclusion
1. God keeps his word too
Isaiah 55:11
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
NIV
