The Reach of God's Promise

Sermon Title: "The Reach of God's Promise"

Text: Acts 2:39 (NKJV) – “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

1. The Promise Defined

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:4 – "…by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises..."

Key Idea: God’s promises are not blurred but are sure and steadfast, rooted in His character.

Joel 2:28-29 – "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days."

Fulfilled in Acts 2, this prophecy underscores God’s promise to all.

Romans 10:13 – "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Highlights the acceptance of salvation for all who respond.

2 Peter 3:9 – "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise... but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

Shows God’s patience and desire for everyone to embrace His promise.

Illustration: Share an example of a legally binding promise, living trust, to highlight the unbreakable nature of God’s promises.

Application: Recognize that God’s promises are eternal and unchanging, based on His Word.

2. The Promise to You

Scripture: John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”

Genesis 17:7 – "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you."

God’s covenant includes future generations.

Deuteronomy 7:9 – "Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments."

A reassurance that God’s promises extend across time.

Psalm 103:17-18 – "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant."

Emphasizes God’s promise to future generations of the faithful.

Key Idea: The promise starts with an individual call. Each person is invited to respond to God's love.

Illustration: Compare to a letter personally addressed to you in a mailbox—it demands your attention. Application: Reflect on how you have responded to God's promise. Are you living in the reality of His provision?

3. The Promise to Your Children

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go…”

Isaiah 57:19 – "I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near, says the Lord, and I will heal him."

God’s promise of peace and restoration to all.

Ephesians 2:17 – "And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near."

Reinforces that Christ’s message reaches all people.

Revelation 5:9 – "And they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.'"

A vision of the inclusivity of salvation.

Key Idea: God's promises extend generationally. Parents are stewards of passing on the legacy of faith. Illustration: A family heirloom passed down through generations can symbolize the faith we instill in our children. Application: Pray for and nurture the next generation in faith, modeling a life grounded in God’s promises.

4. The Promise to Those Afar Off

Scripture: Ephesians 2:13 – "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

Hebrews 10:23 – "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

A reminder of God’s reliability in keeping His word.

Joshua 21:45 – "Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass."

Evidence of God fulfilling His promises in history.

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."

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises.

Key Idea: God’s promise is inclusive, reaching people from every nation, background, and culture.

Illustration: Imagine a lighthouse shining across a dark sea, guiding ships from far away to safety.

Application: Be intentional in sharing the gospel with those who feel distant from God.

5. The Call of God

Scripture: Romans 8:30 – “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called…”

Mark 16:15 – "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'"

Jesus commissions us to bring His promise to others.

Romans 1:16 – "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

Reinforces the power and scope of the gospel.

Psalm 96:3 – "Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples."

Calls believers to proclaim the promise of salvation universally.

Key Idea: The promise is for those who respond to God’s call. He initiates the relationship.

Illustration: Share a story of someone who received an unexpected but life-changing phone call.

Application: Ask, “Are you listening to the voice of God calling you today?”

6. The Faithfulness of God

Scripture: Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, that He should lie…”

John 6:37 – "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."

Assurance that anyone who responds to God’s call will be accepted.

Isaiah 55:11 – "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

Confidence in the effectiveness of God’s promises and His Word.

Philippians 1:6 – "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

God is faithful to complete what He has started in us.

Key Idea: God’s promises are reliable because His nature is unchanging.

Illustration: Share an example of someone making a promise they failed to keep, contrasting it with God’s faithfulness.

Application: Trust God fully, even when circumstances make His promises seem distant.

7. Sharing the Promise

Scripture: Matthew 28:19 – "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…"

Key Idea: As recipients of God’s promises, we are commissioned to share them with others.

Illustration: Picture a chain reaction, like lighting one candle after another until a whole room is illuminated. Application: Commit to sharing the hope of God’s promises through word and deed in your daily life.

Conclusion

God’s promises are vast in scope—personal, generational, and global. They are trustworthy because they originate from a God who is faithful.

Closing Illustration: End with a story of a fulfilled promise (spiritual or personal) that reinforces the power and reliability of God’s Word.

Call to Action: Challenge the congregation to reflect on their role in living out and sharing God's promises. Ask:

Have you embraced His promise for yourself? Are you nurturing faith in your children and others? Who is “afar off” in your life that needs to hear of this promise?