Thankful In The Mess

 Onward: God’s Promises 

Introduction:

Good morning friends and family. Here we are again, the last Sunday of this new series entitled “Onward”. Onward, one of my favorite words. Onward is the opposite of backward. You know, most people live their lives in the backward instead of the forward. Most people view their lives through the lens of past mistakes, former missteps, sad judgements that led to failure, and flaws in their character that damaged important relationships or even ended precious friendships. Most people are not living with an “Onward” vision. They are living life in the reverse. 

But why? Why do people do this? Why do we live life in the rear view instead of looking forward to our future? I think that the answer is really pretty simple. I think it is two fold. First, living life in reverse, focusing on the past is easier than looking forward to the future. The future is unknown. It is scary. The future exists somewhere in the dark regions of our mind. The past is known. We know what happened in the past and it is easier for us to dwell there. Secondly, we have an enemy. An adversary. Satan and his forces seem to lurk behind every corner. These dark spiritual forces seem to have a hard drive filled with all of our deficiencies, a book with all of our blunders, and a model of all of our mistakes. Satan and his pals love to remind us of all of our trials, all of our troubles, and all of our tragedies. 

Onward! That is where we need to live in this 2024. Pressing on. Moving forward. Why? We must move onward, with our eye on the future because friends, that is where Jesus is moving. There are so many stories in the Bible where Jesus recognizes our sin but then tells us to “go, sin no more”. Jesus came to set us free from our past. Free from our imperfections and iniquities. 

Most Christians have a favorite verse in the Bible. I ran across a fantastic verse the other day while doing my quiet time. Psalm 103:8-13. It has quickly become one of my favorite passages. I think that you will find out why when I read it to you. Check it out.

Psalm 103:8-13 NASB

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.

12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

According to Scripture, God takes all of our past flaws, all of our past failures, all of our past foibles and puts them so far away that it challenges our sense of direction. His love for us fills the earth from the ground to the sky. Naturally the Psalmist is being a bit hyperbolic. What he is really saying is that God’s love for us has no end and it cannot be measured. 

God’s love is not like human love. God’s love, when we are in Christ,  remembers not our sin. He does not remember or record our sin. That is so different from you and me. God has the ability that humans do not. God can literally forgive and forget. So many Christians live under the illusion of false guilt, thinking that God is waiting to send down death and disease as punishment for things that He has promised to forgive. Brother and sisters, that is not the promise of God. God forgives. God forgets. He knows not our sin. Listen to the Old Testament prophet Micah. Again, one of my favorite passages of Scripture. Micah claims that God takes our sin, the memory of our sin, and tosses it into the deepest parts of the ocean of His forgetfulness. 

Micah 7:19 AMP

He shall again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our wickedness [destroying sin’s power]. Yes, You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.

This type of grace is the very definition of love. Love without forgiveness, love without mercy is not love at all. Again, listen to Paul in I Corinthians 13. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NLT

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud [5] or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

Did you hear that friends? Love keeps no record of being wronged. That means everything that has been done in the past should remain in the past. If you are dragging past failures, past sins, into the present…even if they are your own past sins and failures, you are NOT being loving. You are not following the model and the example of God. 

Friends, I will tell you this, the promise of God’s forgiveness, the promise of His mercy and grace may very well be the greatest promise found in Scripture. It has been said that there are some 8800 promises found in the Bible. 7500 promises of God to man, nearly 1000 promises made man to man, and a grand total of 2 promises made from God the Father to God the Son amongst many others. 

Do me a favor this morning, fill in the blanks under “Today’s Thought”. This morning we are talking about God’s promises. While God’s promises may be delayed, remained devoted, God always delivers. 

Do you believe that this morning? Do you believe that God always keeps His promises? I know that I sure do. I have seen them over and over again. 

The other day I was talking to a church member. Her mother, who is named Martha, is in the SICU at Mobile Infirmary. Martha was given some difficult news. She was told that she needed emergency heart surgery. However, a by product of the surgery was strokes. There was a high degree of likelihood that she may not even wake up from the surgery. As I prayed with Martha, I prayed John 16:33 over her. Jesus tells us that in this world that we will face trails and difficulty. That is a promise. Then Jesus tells us to “not fear” because He has overcome the world. That is also a promise. Martha had her surgery but for hours she refused to wake up. The family began to panic. As I talked to Martha’s daughter, she expressed to me that she was fearful…worried. But then she told me that this was all in God’s hands and that she was choosing to believe God’s promises. Not an hour later, Martha’s daughter called me back, “guess what Stuart, Mom is waking up and she is responding to commands”. Sure God’s promises may be delayed, but they will always be delivered one way or another. 

Today’s Thought:

While God’s Promises May Be Delayed, Remain Devoted, God Always Delivers!

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran Pastor during the days of the Nazi regime. He was a believer in God, and a passionate follower of Christ. He believed in the promises of God. Listen to what he said in his most famous work, “The Cost of Discipleship”, 

“God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.”

Bonhoeffer was a recipient of God’s promises. He died in the Flossenburg Concentration Camp in Germany. 

“Wait a second preacher, you said that Bonhoeffer was a recipient of God’s promises. Bonhoeffer died.”

Friends death is not an end but a beginning. It is a doorway to another new and eternal reality. Im sure that Bonhoeffer prayed for release. Im sure that he prayed for his captivity to end. God answered his prayer. Not in the way he was hoping but it was answered nevertheless. God kept His promise to Dietrich. God’s promises may not end with every disease healed, every mental disorder cured, or death being thwarted. Sadly we still live in a fallen world and we still walk in a sinful state. Still, our God is in the redeeming business, making old thing new and dead things alive. 

Today’s Quote:

“God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.”

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Background and Context:

Before we read Scripture this morning, I want to give you the background and context of 2 Corinthians 1:12-24. 

Imagine, if you will, a bustling city in the ancient world – Corinth, where the Christian community faced a myriad of challenges and uncertainties. The Apostle Paul, our guide and author of this letter, wrote to the Corinthians with a pastor's heart, addressing their concerns, sharing his own experiences, and pointing them to the unwavering hope found in Christ.

In these verses, Paul invites us hear his heart. He unfolds a narrative of integrity and trustworthiness, affirming the authenticity of his ministry. It's like peeking into a letter from a trusted friend who, in the midst of life's storms, assures us that God's promises are true and reliable. Paul wants these believers to know that they can bank their lives off of the promises made by God in His Word. 

You see, the backdrop of these verses is Paul's journey through trials, afflictions, and unexpected turns. He faced opposition, and yet, in the face of it all, he stood firm in his commitment to walk in the light of God's truth. Paul's words carry the weight of a traveler who has weathered storms and emerged with a story of resilience, anchored in God's truth and promises.

So, as we embark on this journey through 2 Corinthians 1:12-24, let's open our hearts to the lessons Paul imparts. This isn't just ancient history – it's a living testimony that resonates with the challenges and victories we encounter in our own lives. May our hearts be receptive, and may the Holy Spirit guide us as we explore the richness of God's Word together. 

Statement of Belief:

We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect.  

Today’s Scripture:

Remember, after I read our Scripture this morning, I will say “this is the Word of the Lord” and you will respond, “praise the Lord, praise His Holy name”. 

2 Corinthians 1:12-24 NLT

We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God's grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. [13] Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can't understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, [14] even if you don't understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you. [15] Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice- [16] first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia. Then you could send me on my way to Judea. [17] You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say "Yes" when they really mean "No"? [18] As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between "Yes" and "No." [19] For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between "Yes" and "No." He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God's ultimate "Yes," he always does what he says. [20] For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory. [21] It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, [22] and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us. [23] Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn't return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke. [24] But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.

3 Lessons To Remember About God’s Promises 

Lesson One: God’s Promises…Are Fulfilled In Jesus Christ vs. 12

So, let’s answer these three lessons this morning. Lesson one, God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We see this illustrated in verse 12. 

“We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God's grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.”

Paul, in all of his dealings, all the good and the bad, the ups and the downs, the painful and the joyful, Paul depended on God’s grace, not on his own human wisdom. 

Why is this an important thing to understand this morning? Friend, if you lean on your own understanding, being guided by your own emotions, being manipulated by this ever changing culture, you’ll never ever have a solid place to stand. If you lean on your own understanding, if you listen to the advice of your lost friends, people that are happy to claim the name of Christ but bear not the fruit in keeping with being a Christian or by what the latest Taylor Swift songs tells you to do, you will be like a feather blowing in the wind. You will be a boat without an anchor, worse yet, a boat without a rudder. 

Can you imagine what your relationship with God would look like if you based it on the day to day operations of your life? 

The other day, one of my sons came home from baseball. He was so excited. “Dad, I had a great day at practice. I threw the best I have ever thrown. All strikes no balls. Dad I hit the best I have ever hit. Dad, you should have seen me out their fielding. No errors.”

He was so excited. Baseball was coming easy for him. His coach even remarked how well he was doing. He got a pat on the back from his position coach. 

“Great job kid” the coach said. 

The next day, he came in dejected and down. He had had the worst practice of his life. Nothing worked on the mound. He said his hitting was terrible and all that good work in the field the day before, it was like it never happened. 

I looked at him and said, “baseball give and baseball takes away”. I told him that he could not place the worth, the value of himself as a player on his best…or his worst practice. 

Brothers and sisters, our relationship with Christ cannot be built on the shifting sands of this world. Remember, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:45 that God makes the “sun to rise on the evil and the good and God sends the rain on the just and the unjust.”

So, if our relationship with God, if our outlook on life cannot be based on the good, the bad, the sun or the rain, what should we base our outlook on life on? That is a simple answer. 

Base it on the consistent presence of Jesus Christ. Base your life on the promises found within His teachings. Jesus Christ never changes. His Words are like a bedrock to our lives. His promises are foundational truths that we can trust. 

Peter knew a thing or two about basing his life on the promises of Jesus. Listen to what he says in 2 Peter1:3-4. 

2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

3 Lessons To Remember About God’s Promises 

Lesson One: God’s Promises…Are Fulfilled In Jesus Christ vs. 12

Lesson Two: God’s Promises…Bring Comfort In Trials vs. 20

So, lesson one, God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Our second lesson, God’s promises bring comfort in trials. We see this illustrated in verse 20. Let’s read that together this morning. 

[20] For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory.

Sadly, we live in a time of broken promises. We see politicians break their promises on the daily. We see treaties broken between countries all the time, leading to devastating consequences. Think about what happened on October 7th when Israel was attacked by the Palestinians, breaking a peace with Israel that existed since 2007. What about Russia, invading the boarder of Ukraine? 

We even break the promises that we make to ourselves. How many of you created a New Year’s resolution to start on January 1st? How many of you are still holding on to that promise, that resolution? A study was done on making resolutions and it was discovered that 80% of people that make promises to themselves break them. Then there are the promises that we make to each other. The New York Times reported in August of 2022 that infidelity was on the rise. A quarter of all the couples getting married in that year and the year before admitted to having adulterous physical affairs and even more admitted to having non physical but emotional affairs. 

Numbers 30:2 states the following, “when a man makes a vow to the Lord or sears na oath to put himself under obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whoever he has promised”. 

Do you know why we break our promises? There are probably a lot of really good reasons but I can think of one really big reason. The reason that most people, including myself, break promises is due to selfishness. We are just selfish. Making a promise requires you and I to put someone else above ourselves. We must put their needs, their wants, their desires above ours. Gentlemen, when we make vow to our wives, we promise to her above all other earthly wants. She is greater than our pursuit of personal happiness, she is greater than our personal desire to succeed, our desire to have more money, power, or pleasure. Ladies, when you make a vow to your husband, you have promised to serve him above yourself. You have promised to love him and honor him above yourself. 

Here is the good news, while we may break our promises, Jesus never does.  

According to the Bible, God will never break his promises, as stated in Numbers 23:19 NRSV, "God is not a human being, that he should lie, or a mortal, that he should change his mind." God also says, "I will not break my covenant, Nor alter what my lips have uttered." (Psalms 89:34).

You know, life can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster, with ups and downs, twists, and turns. And when we hit those lows, when the tears start flowing and the hurt sets in, it's easy to feel lost, right?

But hold on! Our God is not just any God – He's the God of promises, and these promises are like a hiding in the arms of your parents when you fell as a child. Remember those moments when you hurt as a young child. You ran to your mother or father and they swept you up in their arms. Hold you tightly. Somehow, that moment of pain is transformed into a nostalgic memory. You don’t remember the pain, you remember the love. That is how it is with God. I want to take you to a place in the Bible that's like a treasure chest of comfort – Psalm 34:18. The Psalmist says, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Can you believe that? Our God is not some far-off deity, looking down from the clouds, oblivious to our pain. No, He's right here, close to us when we hurt the most.

You see, God's promises are like love notes written just for us. They're not empty words; they're living, breathing assurances that He's got our backs, no matter what. When our hearts ache, when the world seems heavy, we can cling to the promise that God is near, ready to save and bring comfort.

And that's not all! Remember in 2 Corinthians 1:20, Paul tells us, "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him." Every promise in that big book of love letters finds its "Yes" in Jesus Christ. He is the living embodiment of God's promises, and that means they're not just wishful thinking – they're a reality! So, my friends, when you're hurting, remember this: God's promises are not just words on a page; they're your lifeline. God’s promises are your rescue. Jesus is the "Yes" to every promise, and His love brings comfort like nothing else. Let's hold onto that truth, dance in the joy of God's promises, and face whatever comes our way with the confidence that we are loved, cherished, and comforted by the One who holds the universe in His hands. Amen!

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

 

3 Lessons To Remember About God’s Promises 

Lesson One: God’s Promises…Are Fulfilled In Jesus Christ vs. 12

Lesson Two: God’s Promises…Bring Comfort In Trials vs. 20

Lesson Three: God’s Promises…Are Sealed By The Holy Spirit vs. 22

To recap, lesson one, God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Lesson two, God’s promises bring comfort in trails. Lastly, lesson three, God’s promises are sealed by the Holy Spirit. We see this discussed in verse 22. Let’s check it out. 

“and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.”

You know friends, it has been a long long time since I played a video game. I loved playing video games when I was a kid. My favorite one, and man I spent hours playing this game when I was a kid. My favorite game was Super Mario Brothers. You know the one that I am talking about? The Super Mario Brothers game that came with the original NES system. Remember that game?

You remember how the game started? 

First off, you never wanted to be player two because that meant that you were Luigi. You wanted to be player one, Mario himself. Now, go back to your memory banks. When the game started, were you big Mario or small Mario?

That’s right, you were small Mario. The goal was to power up Mario. 

Do you remember what you need to power up Mario? That’s right, you would need to get that mushroom. When you got the mushroom, you were suddenly transformed to Big Mario. But Big Mario was not enough. You wanted to power up him even more. Do you remember what you needed to do next. You needed to get the flower and that flower helped you throw balls of electric fire at your enemies. Still, there was one extra power up. Remember that one? That’s right, it was the star! The star made Mario indestructible. He was able to run through life no matter what the game threw at him. 

Some of the senior adults are thinking, “why did we let this guy be our pastor again”. 

I get it folks but I am going to bring this illustration home. 

The Holy Spirit, is our ultimate power up in life. Just like little Mario, we are transformed when the Holy Spirit take possession of us. Sadly no, we do not throw balls of electric fire but the Spirit does out fit us for battle with spiritual arms. 

The Belt of Truth

The Breastplate of Righteousness

Feet Fitted With Readiness That Comes From The Gospel

The Shield of Faith

The Helmet of Salvation

The Sword of the Spirit

God’s promises are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Sealed is just another word for guaranteed. The Holy Spirit gives believers the ability, the assurance, and the confidence to know that no matter what life throws at us, that we are ready for war. 

That's not just any sealing; it's like God saying, "I've got you, and I'm not letting go!"

Imagine you order something super cool online, and it arrives with a seal of quality. You know it's legit, right? In the same way, God puts His seal on us through the Holy Spirit. It's like He's marking us as His own, guaranteeing that His promises are true and will come to pass.

A few weeks ago I was introduced to TEMU. Ever heard of it? It is an online store where you can buy just about anything. It’s a lot like Amazon but cheaper and everything is made overseas. Let’s say that you know a family who just had a new born baby born. You are wanting to get them something nice for the new baby. They couple has asked for a new high chair. The top rated chair is by Graco. Anyone with kids knows that Graco makes really good stuff. It is good but it is expensive. Now, would you rather hop on TEMU and purchase a high chair there and give it to the couple or would you rather go to the Graco store and purchase a legit Graco chair? The latter right? When that chair arrives at the house, that couple is going to be confident that the chair is good because it has that Graco logo, that Graco seal on it. You would not get on TEMU and buy a $10 Cheapco chair because you know that a precious child will sit in that chair. You don’t want to be responsible for a child getting hurt. You get the chair with the seal because the seal guarantees quality, safety, and it guarantees goodness. That Graco seal is a promise that what is made is true and right. You can put your faith, better yet, you can put your child into that chair with confidence. That’s what it means to be sealed. 

But wait, there's more! Let me take you to another verse, Ephesians 1:13-14. It says, "In him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Picture this: You hear the incredible news of salvation, and you're like, "Yes, I'm all in!" That moment, God seals you with the Holy Spirit – not just as a one-time thing, but as a continuous guarantee. It's like God saying, "I'm with you every step of the way, and the best is yet to come!"

So, my friends, when life gets crazy, when doubts creep in, remember this – God's promises are not wishful thinking. They're sealed with the Holy Spirit, the ultimate assurance that He's got a plan for you, and it's beyond anything you can imagine.

Walk in confidence, knowing that the Holy Spirit is your constant companion, reminding you of God's promises and guiding you on this incredible adventure of faith. You are sealed, you are loved, and your future is secure in the hands of the One who sealed you with His Spirit. 

Remember, our God is a promise keeper! Praise God. 

Remember, Our God Is A Promise Keeper!