God Has Made Some Promises

Jan Smith

Someone has said that the Bible contains some 7500 promises from God. Now: if there is one axiom that every person who even thinks about calling themself a Christian should agree with and live by, it’s this:

God Always Keeps His Promises

A lot of people are skeptical, perhaps because they think of God’s promises as carrying about as much weight as our promises. You know…

  • “I promise… to try…”
  • “I promise… until I get a better offer…”
  • “I promise… unless you make me mad…”

That’s how people often are with the “promises” they make. But see: God’s not like that. God cannot lie. He cannot!

17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:17-19)

Knowing that to be true, we ought to be certain that when God promises something in His Word, He will keep that promise.

Many of God’s promises are unconditional. For instance, the Bible promises over and over that God is always with us. In the following examples, I have underlined the key words:

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)

And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. (1 Chronicles 28:20)

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

God continued to hammer that nail through the pen of the Prophet Isaiah:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you (Isaiah 43:2)

Fear not, for I am with you; (Isaiah 43:5)

In the Psalms, David realized there wasn’t a place on earth he could go that would get him away from God:

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
(Psalm 139:7-10)

In the New Testament, Jesus said”

I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

Notice: these are unconditional promises. There’s nothing we have to do to get God to be with is. He’s promised that He’s always going to be with us. Period.

Some Promises Are Conditional
Some of God’s promises carry a condition. There is a part we must do before God will do the part He has promised to do. It’s like He’s saying, “If you will do this, I will do that.” And here’s the deal: He waits until we do our part before He does His part.

Again, I could list many examples. Instead, I will make my point with three promises from Jesus Himself, knowing that because these are true, all promises are also true. Jesus said:

“ 13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; 14 if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)

23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:23-24)

“If you abide in me, and my Words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7)

Let’s eliminate frivolous, stupid, or illegal requests that a true disciple would never ask for. Jesus is talking about God-honoring things that are within the will of the Father. Those verses could not be any clearer: “ask anything…I will do it”; “whatever you ask…it will be yours”; “ask whatever you will…it shall be done for you”. Either those promises are really true, or Jesus is a liar!

Those are the promises I’m putting my full weight upon. To do anything else would be calling Jesus Christ a liar! I am not willing to do that!

Not only are there Biblical promises, there are examples in the Bible to show us how we should pray.

So… what kind of things are we supposed to pray for? Any such list would have to include things that are within the will of God. That’s what Daniel did. After reading the words of Jeremiah, where God promised to bring judgment upon the Israelites, Daniel lamented over how sinful the people were and cried out to God for His will to be done.

“… O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake…” (Daniel 9:19)

Jesus taught us to pray for the will of the Father, and He Himself prayed for the will of the Father to be done:

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)

So… what is God’s will for a married couple?

4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it;
For He has no pleasure in fools.
Pay what you have vowed—
5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
(Ecclesiastes 5:4-5)

Sometimes what it seems God is asking us to do seems hard, if not impossible. But remember what Jesus said:

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30)

It’s like when you go to help someone move their piano. They carry the piano… and you carry the little round stool. Get it? You get the easy part.

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