Connect Group - God's Promises

Recap from last week:

Romans 12:2 “2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Who has been applying last week’s discussion to their day to day? What are some examples of how you’ve had to renew your mind? What were the results?

Have any of you struggled with renewing your mind, or did it come easier than you thought it would?

This week’s discussion:

One of the biggest mistakes that believers make is reading the Bible assuming everything written in it is directly written for them.

If you only read a verse, or a small bit of scripture, anything can be taken out of context.

It’s important to weigh scripture through a filter:

Who wrote it?

Who was their intended audience?

What was their culture like?

What were the current circumstances?

What did the rest of the chapter say?

What was the message of the book?

How does it align with other scriptures?

How does it align with other things this author wrote?

One of the most dangerous ways to misuse scripture is to assume every promise in scripture is for you personally. Sometimes the author or Jesus is speaking directly to the audience at the current time. It’s important to use discernment when reading scripture so that God isn’t perceived as unfaithful or untrue. If you assumed God promised you something he really didn’t, you’d be setup for some heartache.

How are you at keeping promises?

What’s the best promise you’ve ever kept? What about the best promise someone has delivered on for you?

Have you ever broken a promise? Has someone ever broken a promise to you?

Let’s read a story of a very specific promise to two specific people:

Luke 1:5–25 (NIV)

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Luke 1:57–66 NIV

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

What do you think about this story? What stands out to you?

Let’s break it down:

-Verse 5 says Zechariah belonged to the priestly division of Abijah

The priestly order of Abijah to which Zacharias belonged originated with King David and his desire to build a Temple for the Most High God in Jerusalem. Not permitted to do so because he was a man of war who had shed much blood, David did the next best thing: He prepared for it with all his might (1 Chr. 29:1–5).

He gathered building materials, precious stones, gold, silver, and bronze in abundance to make his son Solomon’s task easier, since the new king was young and inexperienced. David gave Solomon all the plans for the Temple—“the plans for all that he had by the Spirit”—including “the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ” (28:12–13).

Previously the priests and Levites worked with the Tabernacle, which was a much smaller, portable house of worship. The Temple would be substantially larger and permanent, with stationary furniture.

Those Levites who were not physical descendants of Moses’ brother Aaron, Israel’s first high priest, had the unique responsibility of ministering “over the tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its furnishings, and over all things that belong to it” (Num. 1:50).

David divided the descendants of Levi into smaller divisions so that each family would have an equal opportunity to minister. Likewise, the priests were also divided. There were 24 divisions, which allowed each division, or order, to serve for two weeks each year (1 Chr. 24:4-6).1 The order of Abijah was the eighth order (v. 10).

The fact that the order of Abijah used lots to determine where one would minister indicates there must have been more priests than avenues of service. God’s people often used lots (Hebrew, purim) to discern His will and direction (Acts 1:26). This means Zechariah beat out many other priests who might have had to wait another year for a chance to win the right to go into the temple to burn incense.

-Verse 5 also says Elizabeth was a descendent of Aaron. Verse 6 goes on to say “ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.”

This shows that God’s Promises are not dependent on our good deeds. Elizabeth being baron was a huge culture blow and very embarrassing during their age. We know this from what she says in verse 25: 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” Even though her and Z were holy and blameless, God allowed them to suffer disgrace for years, and their actions did not determine how he was going to fulfill his will.

-Later, an angel appears to Z and he was gripped with fear. This means he respected the angel and his presence.

-The angel says don’t be afraid, 1. Your prayer has been heard instantly, and 2. it’s going to be granted! Think about that! Z went into the temple, he prayed a specific prayer, the angel shows up immediately and says we heard it, and we’re going to deliver on it. But wait, there’s more....

-Your son is going to be miraculous! He’s going to be the guy who leads all kinds of cold and dead hearts to God and prepares the way for the Messiah! Not only did I hear you, not only is it going to granted, but it’s going to be spectacular!

-Abraham comes back with… wait how can I be sure this is going to happen?!!?!?!

Can you imagine what the angel and God are feeling in that moment?

The angel decides I’m going to shut you up, because you opened your mouth in disbelief. OUR WORDS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO GOD!

-Fast forward, being mute for months proved to work, because when it came time to name the baby and everyone was giving Z and Elizabeth a hard time, they stood their ground. God said John, so it’s John! End of story.

Last week we discussed how God designed us each uniquely and meticulously with purpose in mind. We all have different gifts and talents, and we’re all our own person, but with the same idea in mind to love God, love others, and make disciples of all nations. Knowing this, that also means he has very specific promises for us that he will deliver on.

What has God spoken to you specifically?

Promises for all:

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

John 8:12 I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 11:25 Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.’

John 15:5 Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you

Luke  11:9-13 So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Psalm 14518 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 34:10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.