Promise Keeper of the Ages

Has someone every made a promise to you? Maybe a parent or friend? I love thinking of A Christmas Story and that Red Rider BB Gun. Quite possibly the best movie ever created. Ralphie wasn’t even promised this but he had this hope in his heart that he was going to one day be the proud owner of a red rider BB Gun. It kind of makes me think of one of the greatest gifts I have ever received, my wife. Not sure how many people know this but Alex and I have known each other since around 6th or 7th grade. We dated in 9th grade for a month and then we broke up. As we broke up, for whatever reason, I just felt like God told me I was going to marry her. So, as any 9th grader would do I remember saying to Alex, “It’s fine. We are breaking up now, but God showed me this blue print. We wont be together for a long time after this but eventually, you and I are going to get married.” Full disclosure: I don’t recommend this. Also, I am not totally sure I heard from God but it seems like I was right!

As we launch into Advent this week, I can’t help but think of this major theme of waiting on THE promise of God. Advent is a time to reflect on the waiting and longing for what is to come. Tish Harrison Warren put it this way: Before we celebrate the birth of Christ, we remember the pain of labor - we wait with this whole longing world, with all creation, groaning for redemption to be born.”

As we dive into scripture we remember the waiting of the historic church for the coming messiah. With this we are reminded of our own longing for Christ to be present now in our lives and in our world. And this leads us to our ultimate longing: the final return of Christ where everything is made whole. What we get to see in our journey is God is not just a promise keeper… but He is THE Promise Keeper of the Ages.

Matthew 1:1–17 (NASB95)

The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.

Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah.

Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah.

Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud.

Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Now, the purpose of this scripture for the Author Mattew is to show the geneology that ties Jesus Lineage to the throne of David which is extremely important to Messianic prophecy. Matthew was writing to Jewish people creating a case for Jesus as the Messiah. Admittedly, this is lost on us, however, Matthew is still introducing us to something extremely rich: The long arch of redemption as God moves through the brokeness of humanity. Consider Abraham for a moment. Look at the scripture in Genesis 12 where Yahweh makes a promise to Abraham, his lineage, and all of humanity.

Genesis 12:1–3 (NASB95)

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Abraham: Right after this Abraham lied saying Sara was his sister. Neglected to wait on the promise of God and employed his servant Hagar to be the false fulfillment of the promise.

Isaac: Lied about his wife being his sister as well.

Jacob: Known as a deceiver. Deceived his father to steal his brother’s birthright and blessing. Later in life played favorites among his children which would lead to difficult familial relationships.

Judah: Literally sold his brother into slavery. Had sex with his daughter-in-law Tamar, mistaking her for a prostitute.

Rahab: Known as a prostitute.

Ruth: Came from Moabites who lived in constant conflict with God’s chosen nation, Israel. Have you ever felt like your family disqualifies you?

David: Committed adultry. Murdered Bathseba’s husband.

Solomon: Turned away from God, marrying foreigh wives that lead him into idolatry.

Rehoboam: Arrogant and harsh king that created policies that would split the nation of Israel into two.

Joram, Ahaz, Manasseh, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin: All of these played major roles in leading Israel away from God and into captivity.

What is it exactly that you think disqualifies you from the promise of God?

*Is your sin too great?

*Are you living a lie?

*Are you stuck in sexual sin?

*Are you a murderer?

*Are you an adulterer?

*Have you led people away from God instead of too Him?

I am not advocating for a life of sin or licentiousness. The list of people above are made of a mixed bag of very imperfect people - However, there is a difference between the life of David (adulterous murderer, rapist) and Solomon. One of these men ran away from sin and toward God in repentance and the other gave in and resigned himself to the operation of sin in his life.

God’s ability to work His promises out are greater than your ability to ruin them.

I remember going through seasons of turmoil in my life feeling like I could never shape up or amount to anything that would be able to effectively serve God. Take a season of life and I will name you my issue or insecurity that I believe would be large enough to disqualify me from God’s plan for my life or even God’s ability to work through humanity.

*I remember struggling with so much shame in high school attached to my addiction to pornography. First time I saw pornography would have been around 1st or 2nd grade by a babysitter. From that time forward I would struggle with desiring to look at explicit material whether in magazines or eventually online content. It wasn’t until this was confronted in my life by pastors and leaders that I was able to get the help needed.

*I remember struggling in the beginning of my marriage to alex in finding acceptance with her and others. In order to find acceptance, I made myself a deceiver. This permeated my early childhood and early adulthood. I actually remember hearing the story of Jacob and Essau and how Jacob was the trickster or deceiver and thinking in my head in 6th grade, “I am a deceiver.” And it was true. This affected me in high school. A teacher asked, “I don’t understand your lying. What you lie about doesn’t even matter most of the time.” This came to a head for Alex and I in 2016 or so where I was finally confronted and “found out.” My healing journey from this started then when I flew out to Kansas City for Inner Healing and intensive individual therapy.

Jesus doesn’t need you to be great to make Him look good.

Let me say that again: Jesus doesn’t need you to be great to make Him look good. Breathe that in for a moment. Internalize it.

*Abraham thought it was on him to fulfill the promise of God on his life and it lead to Ishmael.

*Rehoboam thought it was up to him and his power to lead Israel into prosperity and it lead to the split of the nation of Israel and ultimately captivity down the road.

Self reliance leads to captivity and conterfeight kingdoms.

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.”

*This is the difficulty sometimes of Western Christianity. The west does a great job with personal responsibilities and roles in participating with the Lord as co-laborers for the kingdom. You have a role in the kingdom of God. You were made with a purpose and intention. You are meant to declare Jesus is Lord, to allow His work to be displayed in your life: to BEAR fruit.

*****Mary and Martha - Sitting at his feet V.S. Producing.**** JOHN 15 - BEARING FRUIT (Carrying Fruit) - Illustrate carrying a backpack full of fruit and handing the fruit out. Filling your bag full of fruit happens by practices/disciplines. Use a volunteer. Print signs for discipline stations.