God, in the Bible, has given us mighty promises to live by, so that those who believe in Him should not have to live an average life, for if the sum total of Christianity results in average living, or below par, then it loses its uniqueness, relevance and appeal to those who have not yet surrendered to God. When the Bible says that we are His witnesses, or that we are a chosen generation, and a peculiar people, this means that through Christians, God expects to bring something of much value to the table.
Jesus Christ was sent to this earth as God’s greatest gift to man, and therefore, those who accept Him as Lord and Savior ought to demonstrate by His grace, the literal benefits of believing. In our neighborhood and community, on the job, or on the field, in local and federal governments, Christians are to make a marked and positive impact for the better, in those who have not yet believed.
But for us to accept Christ, and enjoy the benefits of His grace, His laws, and the truths of His word for us and our children alone, will deprive the world of the wisdom, and knowledge of God. In other words, the one who has accepted the teachings of God’s word, and who Has The Living word in the heart, will make a big difference, wherever his/her station in life may be, for God often places His people strategically in certain areas so that the practical knowledge of God and His word may be made known.
On any, and every front, the people of God are to display a superiority in intellect, understanding and workmanship. Believing Christians should also be on the cutting edge of healthful living, for it is Christ’s will that His people prosper and be in health. In the solving of difficult problems on the job, in bringing much needed innovation, Christians ought to be leading the charge.
The gospel is called “The Good News” for a reason, meaning that when one believes in God, his or her belief ought to translate into something concrete, with benefits to humanity and praises to God as the direct result. But if we claim to believe in Jesus, and our lives are constantly below average, then there is nothing to convince others that the religion of the Bible is superior in nature, and much to be desired.
Hence the reason why God expects us by His grace to be maximum on every front and issue that would pertain to the upliftment and benefit of humanity. If we harbor small or protracted views of God’s power and grace, that will be directly reflected in our aims, aspirations and accomplishments. But if we were to think big, then the sky is the limit, for there will be nothing impossible to those who believe, and God will be greatly honored.
God was greatly honored in Joseph, for he brought something unique to the table, by the wisdom and power of God working in and through Him, to will and to do of His good pleasure. The intelligence and wisdom to preserve much food for fourteen years, not only saved many people from starvation, but he benefitted the state to a great extent.
The current IRS could now use a man like Joseph, for he would, through the wisdom of God, make a tremendous impact by cutting the federal deficit to zero, working as he did in Egypt. Through his work, all the land became pharaoh’s, and the vast amount of revenues brought in from the sale of corn put the country on a solid financial footing for many years.
The same was true of Daniel and the three Hebrews whom God used to solve difficult problems within the kingdom of Babylon. Therefore, as we prepare to study the mega promises God has given us to live by, let’s always remember that they are meant, and designed to place believers above average and thus, we should always bear in mind that we are to aspire and work towards that end. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely, this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.
Isaiah 43:9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled; let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified.
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
A striking example of the breadth of wisdom God is willing to impart to believers was manifested at the time of the building of the first sanctuary. When one is filled with The Holy Spirit, the spiritual as well as the temporal aspects of life will improve quite dramatically. But those who relegate the Christian experience to only the spiritual, lose much, for the gospel is to be all-inclusive, as far as the entire man is concerned.
It addresses the restoration, and development of God’s character in man, but it also reaches into the temporal realm, with The Holy Ghost giving wisdom and great understanding in handling the mundane and temporal issues as well. In fact, the bulk of our Christian experience actually takes place in the way temporal matters are handled. Let’s read:
Exodus 31:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.
6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;
1st Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
And David, through the Holy Spirit, affirms beyond a doubt that the commandments, statutes, principles, laws, and judgments found in the Bible, are superior in nature, placing the doers and hearers of the word above average. Thus, the religion of God is found to be an indivisible whole, reaching into every aspect of our experience, and bringing forth fruit which are commensurate with the wisdom of The God whom we serve. Let’s read:
Psalms 119:96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
This prompts us to ask an important and introspect question: “If the promises in the Bible were never meant for us, then why would God cause them to be written? Why would He dangle fruit that cannot be picked or eaten, before the eyes of the faithful if He knew that it was impossible to be accomplished? It makes no sense whatsoever to do so, and God in His wisdom has declared through His servants that the promises are for us and our children, and to all who would believe in His name. Let’s read:
Psalms 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children.
In order for the promises to be accessed by us, two essential elements or keys are needed to unlock the vast treasures of heaven available to anyone who is willing. They are faith and obedience. The beginning point is belief, and the ongoing method of accessing the promises is obedience, always believing that our God is able to do exceeding abundantly more than we can ask or think. But through the indulgence of unbelief many Christians become stagnant and thus rob God of the glory which will come from a proper representation of Him. Let’s read:
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Thus, the scriptures teach, in both the old and new testaments, that God is glorified when His people allow The Holy Ghost to live and work freely within our hearts, faithfully following His every word with joy and eagerness, and choosing the principles and laws given to us in the Bible over the wisdom of the world. Whenever this is accomplished the life of the true believer would stand in marked contrast to the world, and it is thus that the earth is lightened with the glory (Character) of God.
But if as believers in The Great King, we are found to be always under-performing in those areas that folks can relate to; if in the mundane things of life we’re continually coming up short, then we’ll rob God of the glory and praise that should ascend to Him, for what He is able to do in and through us.
If a mechanic was called to fix someone’s radiator, and he pulled up in a van puffing smoke, and steam through the exhaust, with coolant spewing out from his engine, the person in question will obviously be hard-pressed to believe that such a mechanic could fix their problem, seeing that his own vehicle is not working properly, but overheating.
And though such a mechanic may produce several certificates, and may be able to explain the cooling system of myriad vehicles, yet the customer would most likely be not convinced, and in disappointment may call 911.
Therefore, if we are to represent Christ properly to the world, our “engines” should be fine-tuned, and running well; our “radiators” should not be leaking, and when we pull up to the doors of non-Christians, they will be convinced of the superiority of the good news that we say we espouse. It is thus that God is able to say with confidence, “Ye are my witnesses”.
Therefore, the mighty promises God has given us to live by will work in us for His glory, and people will be convinced that it is worthwhile, and wise to be a Christian. Thus, the following are just samples of the promises God has given us to live by, and if we trust and obey, the sky will be the limit.
[1] Promises for peace.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
166 Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Christians are not to manifest unwarranted fear of the future, nor should we ever be found worrying ourselves over things we cannot change. Whatever takes place in the spiritual or temporal realm, does not occur without Christ knowing in advance, and thus, it should put our minds at ease to know that God is still in control.
The peace that the Bible is referring to in the above passages does not come from external sources, nor is it based on the shallow empty promises of man. It comes from knowing God personally and having an experimental knowledge of His ability to guide all of our affairs in the right direction. Whether they are good, bad, or in-between experiences, we have the assurance that all things work together for the good of those who love God, and this will produce peace that passes understanding. Let’s read:
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.
[2] Promises for restful sleep.
Proverbs 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
Psalms 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalms 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Insomnia has a stranglehold on many people, and in many instances, folks struggle to get a good night’s rest. Very many have difficulty shutting their minds down, and even though they may be in their beds, under the covers, yet for some reason, sleep seems to evade them. Believing in God affects one’s sleep, and should help us avoid having to take pills to get a good night’s rest. This was never God’s ideal will.
[3] Promises for safety.
Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.
Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
With all of the gun violence taking place across the land, and with the rise of terrorism at home and in foreign countries, many have resorted to taking up arms to protect themselves and their property. But the Bible teaches us that safety is dependent on a relationship with God, because the efforts of man are futile against the assaults of the enemy.
Many have had cameras installed, and sophisticated security systems are often put into place but yet the robber and the hacker often find ingenious ways to infiltrate and cause harm. This is the reason why the following reality check was written for those who believe, for even though efforts are made to secure lives and property, yet the scriptures teach us that our safety rests with God alone. Let’s read:
Psalms 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.
6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
[4] Temporal promises
Deuteronomy 28: And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
9 The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.
10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.
12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure,
the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.
14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
After reading these passages it becomes difficult to conclude that those who espouse and keep all the commandments by the grace of God, will yet live below average. The Bible does not teach, either in the old or new testaments, that true believers are to be below par, for if the bottom line effect of us believing in Jesus is to minimize, then the gospel will leave much to be desired.
It is now a fact that because of the distortions of the health/ wealth gospels of our day, some have come to view the temporal promises of God as being very dangerous to Christianity, when indeed this isn’t the case. And because of this, some scriptural passages have been misunderstood, misinterpreted, or taken out of context. Case in point is the verse in Matthew five which says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit”.
To be “Poor in spirit” is quite different to being poor in pocket because Jesus is speaking of a humble and contrite attitude, someone that does not lift himself up against The Living, or the written word. There is no virtue whatsoever in being poor or rich, because neither condition recommends us to God. Again, in the experience of the widow who gave her last two mites, Jesus then commended her generosity, not her poverty, because God’s ideal will for His people is expressed in the following passage. Let’s read:
3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
This leads us to our last and final promise:
[5] The promise of forgiveness.
1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Some may be wondering why this promise has been chosen to end the presentation; it is because we all may need to confess the sin of unbelief, which has caused the promises of God to be unfulfilled in too many instances. Some have suffered unnecessarily from lack of sleep, from poverty, from restlessness, from health issues, and from a multitude of other problems, when in fact, such situations could have been avoided in very many instances.
Thus, as we stand upon the borders of the heavenly Canaan, and as the earth is about to be lightened with the glory of God, let it not be said that because of our unbelief, we failed to give to the unbelieving world, living examples of what the gospel produces in the lives of those who have laid hold on Jesus. Let it not be said that we were great preachers but are sloppy debtors. Let it not be said that we have the greatest health message but are short on healthful living.
Ye are my witnesses saith The Lord, meaning that in our neck of the woods, we are to demonstrate in a real and tangible way, the benefits of serving God, so that others may be convinced that it is worth the while to serve Jesus too. We will end our discourse with a passage which should encourage us to take stock of ourselves, and the depth of our belief in the mega promises of God. Let’s read:
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;
15 While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
God Bless!