God's promises and love are steadfast and unfailing, even in the face of unbelief and the challenges of the world.
So, with that thought in mind, let's read our passage for today, Romans 11:7-10: 7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” 9 And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. 10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.” As we explore this passage today, let's remember that God's promises and His love for us are steadfast, even when it seems like the world around us is crumbling. Let's open in prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing promises and Your unwavering love for us. As we delve into Your Word today, help us to understand the lessons You want to teach us through this passage in Romans. Open our hearts and minds to receive Your truth, and guide us in applying it to our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
"God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves." —A.W. Tozer
In this sermon, we are focusing on the first point, which is God's Unfailing Promises. As we explore this idea, we will look at several aspects, including the nature of God's promises, the role of faith in receiving these promises, and the assurance we have in God's faithfulness.
Throughout the Bible, we see numerous examples of God making promises to His people. These promises are not mere human words or wishful thinking; they are divine declarations backed by the power and authority of God Himself.
When God makes a promise, He is not only expressing His intention to do something, but He is also committing Himself to fulfill that promise, no matter what the circumstances may be. This is why the Bible often refers to God's promises as "covenants" – they are binding agreements between God and His people that cannot be broken.
One of the most significant aspects of God's promises is that they are rooted in His character. God is not like humans, who may make promises and then fail to keep them due to weakness, forgetfulness, or a change of heart. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and unchanging, which means that when He makes a promise, He has both the ability and the intention to fulfill it.
As the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:20, "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." In other words, every promise that God makes is guaranteed to come true because it is grounded in the very nature of who God is.
Another important thing to note about God's promises is that they are often conditional. This means that God's fulfillment of a particular promise may depend on the response of His people. For example, in Deuteronomy 28, God promises to bless the Israelites if they obey His commandments and to curse them if they disobey. This does not mean that God's promises are uncertain or unreliable; rather, it underscores the importance of faith and obedience in our relationship with God. When we trust in God's promises and align our lives with His will, we can be confident that He will fulfill His promises to us.
The Bible makes it clear that faith is essential for experiencing the blessings of God's promises. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." In other words, we must not only believe that God exists, but also that He is faithful to fulfill His promises to those who trust in Him.
Faith is not a passive acceptance of God's promises, but an active response that involves both trust and obedience. When we have faith in God's promises, we are not merely hoping that they will come true; we are confidently expecting that they will be fulfilled because we know that God is faithful and trustworthy. This kind of faith enables us to persevere through trials and challenges, knowing that God's promises will ultimately prevail.
The story of Abraham is a prime example of the role of faith in receiving God's promises. In Genesis 12, God promises to make Abraham into a great nation and to bless all the families of the earth through him. Despite the fact that Abraham and his wife Sarah were well past childbearing age, Abraham believed God's promise, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6).
Over the course of many years, Abraham's faith was tested and refined, but he continued to trust in God's promise, even when it seemed impossible. Eventually, God fulfilled His promise to Abraham by giving him a son, Isaac, through whom the nation of Israel and the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come.
As we have seen, God's promises are rooted in His character and His commitment to fulfill them. This means that we can have absolute confidence in God's faithfulness to keep His promises, even when our circumstances seem to contradict them.
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:13, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." In other words, even when our faith wavers or we fail to live up to our part of the covenant, God remains steadfast in His commitment to fulfill His promises.
This assurance is not a license for complacency or disobedience; rather, it is a source of hope and encouragement that enables us to persevere in faith and obedience. When we face challenges or setbacks, we can be confident that God's promises will ultimately prevail, and that He is working all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
Despite being God's chosen people, many Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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