Standing On God's Promises (2)
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Introduction
Introduction
Many of you have tarried before the Lord in prayer for His promises. After a while it is easy for anyone to get discouraged when you are waiting on the Lord’s timing.
We are ready to get things done, but the Lord has a different way of doing things.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
It is God Himself that has seen fit to plant hope as a basic instinct in the human heart.
But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.
President Ronald Reagan was quoted as saying, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast”.
We start life with a storehouse of hope laid up in our soul and it takes much to kill or to exhaust it. It lasts most people through life. Even though the troublesome experiences they pass through weaken it, they cannot deal it a deathblow. The old saying is true: “Where there is life, there is hope.”
I. HOPE IS A SOURCE OF GREAT STRENGTH AND JOY
I. HOPE IS A SOURCE OF GREAT STRENGTH AND JOY
1. It leads the entrepreneur to consider that the future may be worth all the fussing, finagling, fighting and failures along the way. It gives him boldness to enter upon new ventures. It carries him along during many struggles and through much difficulty. It sustains him to the end, when he is weary, when everything seems against him, and when he is baffled.
2. It makes the parents of a prodigal keep praying that their wayward son or daughter will eventually come back home and back to God.
3. Hope enables the terminally ill person to be always on the lookout for a cure for his disease.
2. Hope is also a constant source of joy. If the devil can rob you of anticipations, he will deprive your life of a very large share of its appeal and satisfaction. But if you will set your sights on the glory that is yet to be revealed, and not be deterred, you can bear your cross gladly even though you despise its shame. As it is written, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
II. SIN INTRODUCED DISAPPOINTMENT INTO THE HUMAN RACE
II. SIN INTRODUCED DISAPPOINTMENT INTO THE HUMAN RACE
This is a very serious part of the penalty of sin. Not, of course, that each disappointment is the result of some particular wrongdoing; but it does form a part of the whole burden and trial of life. We all experience light disappointments that do not count for much, though these put together might make us of a heavy heart. But there are heavier disappointments in the realm of godly hopes that amount to a very large and serious part of our life sorrow. It is this kind of “hope deferred” that does indeed make the heart sick.
At one time, for example, Adam & Eve lived in the midst of the paradise of God where they ate often of the tree of life. Their desire came every day; but when the serpent tempted them, they chose to believe his lies and to disobey God’s word. They forced the Lord’s hand to such an extent that he threw them out of Eden. But before the gate clicked shut behind them, they heard him tell the serpent, I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
They heard their Creator make the profound statement that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. This let them know that when that particular desire came, it would be a tree of life.
As Jackie Gleason sashayed onto stage years ago to the accompaniment of music and applause, he often said, “How sweet it is”! When you and I accomplish our desire, it is sweet to the soul.
Another very important point due our consideration is:
III. DELAY IN THE FULFILLMENT OF GODS PROMISES
III. DELAY IN THE FULFILLMENT OF GODS PROMISES
Is God slack to fulfill his word? This is often a trial to believers. But God’s promises are sure, though the time may seem long. The fulfillment of promises of great blessings has almost always been slow, as we count time.
Somewhere east of Eden’s garden gate, Adam knew his wife and she conceived, saying “I have gotten a man from the LORD”. She must have thought in her heart, “this is the promised seed that will defeat the devil and give us access to the tree of life again.” That son was Cain. He, of course, did not fulfill the desire of her heart. In fact, he killed a younger sibling named Abel, one who was righteous, and ended up a fugitive from the presence of the LORD God.
And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.”
And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord.
The entire theme of the OT seems to be that of expectation and longing.
Abraham waited long. Ge 12:1-3
12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
He & Sarai had been promised a son. That hope was deferred for many years.
In Romans 4, Paul draws from ancient history to prove his point regarding the faith of Abraham:
(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”
And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
That’s a very important part of the waiting process. While you wait, you give Him glory. While you trust Him, you give Him glory. While you accept the fact that, even though you’re antsy to take off to your desired destination, He has you in a holding pattern, you give Him glory.
and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Genesis 21 lets us know that the LORD is not slack, as some men count slackness, for it declares:
And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age.
You see, logical thinking will discourage you at times; it may even move you to try to help God bring his promises to pass; but if you put the Greek word for God (theo) in front of “logical’, and let your thinking become theological, it will encourage you. We’ve got to starting seeing things that are not, as though they really are, and thinking things that are not, as though they were already brought to fruition.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
It may help you to think of the time that seems so long as not mere delay, but preparation. While the seed lies in the soil a process is going on, even though unseen, without which the perfect plant could not be formed.
And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,
and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.
For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.
But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Don’t forget that “When the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” The original language suggests that the word ‘life’ is in the plural form: “tree of lives”. In other words, when you and I have a God-given, righteous desire, it’s going to produce a lot more than we put into it. That’s because of the God-factor.
A related proverb is found in Pr 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.
The fruit, or harvest, of a wise soul-winner is many people who are delivered from the power of darkness and brought into the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
One must hold on to hope for his salvation, the salvation of family members, and that of others as well.
Hear the word of hope found in Ps 145:18-19
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
Cornelius had been praying “memorial” prayers for himself, his family, and for his relatives, friends and acquaintances…
Became desperate and added fasting to his prayers…
Spirit moved upon Peter while he was in prayer
An entire household was saved. When that devout man’s desire finally came, it was a tree of life!
The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And the desire of the righteous will be granted.
Let this truth serve as an encouragement.
· If you have been disheartened by slow progress in bringing others to a saving knowledge of Christ, and
· if you have prayed often and long with little apparent result, and
· if you have put much effort into seeing changes in the lives of your own children or in your Sunday School class, yet ungodliness is not checked…
I would that you would let the word of God’s grace build you up! We have many great and precious promises that are ‘yea’, and ‘amen’ in Christ Jesus. Just keep teaching. Keep praying. Keep witnessing. Keep a right spirit. In his own time God will make his promises good.
In like manner if your own striving for personal holiness, or for the good of others, seems to have little success, don’t give up. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but if the desire is godly, it will come!
We require the training of disappointment to check our foolish pride. God will see to the result. Gal 6:9
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Keep in mind that we are but instruments in the Lord’s hand. Let every work be performed while “looking unto Jesus”.
It is imperative that we exercise the patience of hope in the matters pertaining to:
· The long and weary waiting for the return of the backslidden loved one;
· the manifestation of love that has been ungratefully, and perhaps cruelly, withheld;
· the health and strength that no treatment seems able to restore;
· the opening that would prove a great opportunity;
· the relenting and reconciliation of one who has long departed.
These things may fill the soul with an aching such as no other trouble brings. They may be some of life’s very heaviest burdens. But take this strengthening testimony and advice of the psalmist to heart:
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!
You need to hold on to hope when the situation seems hopeless
IV. IT IS THE PART OF CHRISTIAN SUBMISSION TO ACCEPT DISAPPOINTMENT AT TIMES.
IV. IT IS THE PART OF CHRISTIAN SUBMISSION TO ACCEPT DISAPPOINTMENT AT TIMES.
We must suffer when our hopes are unfulfilled; but we may find great relief in the thought that it is the will of God to which we submit ourselves.
The feeling that it is our Divine Friend who is letting us pass through the dark shadow of disappointment, and that it is the holy Lord seeking our highest good who is sending us through the refining fires, – this will give balm to our wounded spirit; this will lighten the heavy load we bear.
A songwriter penned these comforting words and I pass them on to you: “Someone to care; someone to share, all your troubles, like none other can do. He’ll come down from the skies; wipe the tears from your eyes. You’re his child, and he cares for you.”
We have been constructed to withstand an enormous amount of pressure. God has made us to be fairly resilient people. We have the capacity to leap into the air, grab the ball on the rebound, and slam-dunk the winning basket. We can survive the heat of the tropics or the icy winds of winter. With undaunted courage we can go through seasons of illness, financial reversals, domestic disappointments, unemployment, and the death of someone dear to us. Just don’t lose hope. It’s the one essential ingredient.
We can make a come-back against wind and weather, calamity and tragedy, disease and death, so long as we have hope. We can live weeks without food, days without water, and even several minutes without air, but take away our hope and within a brief amount of time we are apt to toss in the towel.
V. GOD GIVES HIS PEOPLE SOME GOOD MEASURE OF FULFILLMENT.
V. GOD GIVES HIS PEOPLE SOME GOOD MEASURE OF FULFILLMENT.
We shall prove by our experience in many ways and in many areas – particularly in those of our inner life and
our work for our Lord – that “the light of the righteous rejoiceth;” that, “when desire cometh, it is a tree of life;” that “desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.” If we rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him, he will give us our heart’s desires.
Mary & Martha immediately sent for Jesus when their brother got sick…
Jesus loved Lazarus, yet he put their fondest hope on hold for four days.
“Lord, if thou hadst been here…”
“I am the resurrection and the life”.
“Lazarus, Come forth”.
It was a “tree of life”.
A certain woman had an issue of blood many years
Spent all she had – many physicians. Hope had been deferred time and time again.
“If I can but touch the hem…”
“Who touched me?” She thought she was touching his hem; in reality she was touching him.
“Touching Jesus is all that really matters…”
“Daughter, thou art made whole…”
A certain man had waited a long, long time to be the first one in the pool of Bethesda when the waters were troubled…
VI. HOPE TO SUSTAIN YOU IN THE DARKNESS
VI. HOPE TO SUSTAIN YOU IN THE DARKNESS
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
True wisdom teaches us not to set our hopes on the unsatisfying things of earth, but on that which will not disappoint us in the end. There will be times when our hope is exercised with long waiting, but when that which is desired comes, it will be as “the tree of life” that was in the midst of the “Paradise of God”.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
“For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
In Haggai, chapter 2, two men named Zerubbabel and Joshua had become discouraged and disheartened. Their cherished hope of building a beautiful place of worship had been delayed by selfish actions on the part of some of the people. Now that the project was finally nearing completion, they were wondering if their efforts had been worthwhile.
The prophet spoke in the name of the LORD and told them
‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?
Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts.
‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’
“For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land;
and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.
‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.
‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
He prophesied that God would once again do for his people as he did when he brought them out of Egypt; he shook the heavens and earth at Mount Sinai, with thunder, and lightnings, and earthquakes; he shook the sea and the dry land when lanes were made through the sea and streams flowed out of the rock.
This was done again, when, at the sufferings of Christ, the sun was darkened, the earth shook, the rocks were rent-when, at the birth of Christ, Herod and all Jerusalem were troubled.
When Christ’s kingdom was set up it was with a shock to the nations; the oracles were silenced, idols were destroyed, and the powers of the kingdoms were moved and removed.
Jesus came as the desire of all nations-desirable to all nations, for in him all the families of the earth were blessed with the best of blessings-long expected and desired by the good people in all nations.
The house Zerubbabel and Joshua were building would be filled with glory to such a degree that its glory would exceed that of Solomon’s temple.
It is God’s prerogative to fill with glory; the glory that comes from him is satisfying, and not vain glory. Moses’ tabernacle and Solomon’s temple were filled with glory when God in a cloud took possession of them; but this house would be filled with glory of another nature.
Simeon waited for the consolation of Israel. He waited until his eyes beheld the promised Christ child.
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Yes, Christ came in the fullness of time.
The Holy Ghost fell in the fullness of time.
He will give you the desire of your heart. Though it tarry long, wait for it, for “the desire accomplished is sweet to the soul!”