Simple Thoughts On Promises

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But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the LORD, 'because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.' (Jeremiah 30:17)

Israel was a diseased nation because of the many sins that it had committed, but God here was promising them restoration. He was going to bring them health and healing.

God is our healer. He always was and always will be. Leading his children through the wilderness enroute to Canaan, God gave them a promise of healing.

He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you." (Exodus 15:26)

Yes our Lord is Jehovah Rapha or Ropheka, God our Healer. He promised healing to the Israelites many a times. The psalmist David sang,

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. (Psalm 103:2, 3)

Once when 2 blind men followed Jesus seeking healing for their blindness, Jesus asked them; "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied.

Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you" and their sight was restored.

Jesus can heal you too. He can still do a miracle. Will you believe despite the arguments against your healing from a scientifical/medical point of view?

Will the following be your testimony?

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. (Psalm 107:19, 20)

God bless you.

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But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16:13)

Everyone needs a guide, especially in unfamiliar terrain and what better guide can one have other than the Spirit of God. He is not just another guide, he is the guide who guides believer's in all the truth.

After being a believer for a while, we sometimes tend to think that we have learnt it all and some do behave as they are "know it all's." But we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit each day of our lives until the moment we step into eternity.

God was with the Israelites continually from the time they left Egypt and travelled to Canaan.

By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. (Exodus 13:21)

Nehemiah commented: "Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. (Nehemiah 9:19)

And even now God desires to guide his children. That's why he's given us the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, to guide us in the truth continually. Each day, we can pray these prayers that the psalmist's prayed and recieve divine guidance and counsel in our lives.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:5)

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. (Psalm 31:3)

Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. (Psalm 43:3)

As we pray and receive guidance each day, we too can confidently say what the sons of Korah said: For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. (Psalm 48:14)

Praise the Lord.

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And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him." (Romans 15:12)

In the fullness of God's time, part of this prophesy came into being and the Savior came into the world to save sinners. Peter the apostle writes of what our true condition was without Christ and with Christ how dramatic a change has come about.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9, 10)

The Apostle Paul shares his views in this manner:

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:1-5)

And the prophesy written above will soon be brought into completion, for the Bible says,

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)

Your Savior is coming back...very soon...Are you ready to meet him?

Escape the wrath of God's judgement by living a holy life, obeying the Word of God and obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit. God bless.

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I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8)

Can't preach as effectively as others do? Can't sing as well as others do? Can't pray as mightily as others do? You would if asked, describe yourself as one with "little strength". Well then, what you read above, is a wonderful promise for you that was once given to the church at Philadelphia in Asia Minor.

Faithfulness is what counts on the long run. Jesus knows our deeds. Keeping his word and not denying his name were a couple of important factors that Jesus saw in the church at Philadelphia, so he gave them a wonderful promise..."See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut."

Mind you, the promise was given by Jesus Christ, of whom the Bible says,

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. (Revelation 3:7)

Sustained faithfulness is what Jesus desires, so he exhorted the believer's in the church at Philadelphia saying,

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. (Revelation 3:11)

Jesus knows how much strength each one of us has and even if our strength may same little compared to others, keeping his Word and not denying his name always brings wonderful blessings from the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

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Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)

So what have you been giving? And does the above promise on giving work as Jesus said? It does, but the dividends come back to us only as heaven decides.

Not only money-wise, even in other ways things can be measured back to us as we give. Talking about love, can you expect it from others without giving any? Of course God gives his love to us without us having given any, but speaking in terms of our relationship with our family members or others, nearly everyone expects us to give as we wish to receive.

Jesus also said,

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1, 2)

That means whatever you measure out to others, the same will be measured back to you in one way or the other. A very good example of this is Jacob (from the book of Genesis) who happened to deceive his father Isaac and his brother Esau and then went away from home fearing that Esau would kill him. He landed up in his uncle's house where he laboured for 20 years and was deceived by his uncle continually. With the measure he used, it was measured back to him.

If we measure out love, peace, joy and the other wonderful fruit of the Holy Spirit to others; in due time, these will also be measured out to us. And when we give, Jesus says,

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. And the golden rule that Jesus taught is so very right. He said,

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

Shall we then be doers of the Word rather than just listeners or readers? If we do, then surely this promise of Jesus will come true in our lives too. God bless you.

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And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain." (1 Kings 18:41)

This is what the Lord must have spoken to Elijah and as the Lord said, so Elijah proclaimed to king Ahab. Mind you there was no trace of rain, not even a small rain cloud or even a distant thunder. The sound of heavy rain first sounded in the spiritual realm but Elijah was sure that it would happen physically soon enough. But instead of just waiting, he chose to pray and see the miracle being birthed.

So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. (1 Kings 18:42)

Amidst praying we read of Elijah searching for signs of the impending miracle.

"Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." (1 Kings 18:43)

And finally....The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea." So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.'" (1 Kings 18:44)

A sign that his prayers had been answered was sent from God- A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea. A sign, not very prominent, nevertheless a sign to indicate the miracle will happen immediately.

And then the miracle itself...after 3 and a 1/2 years of drought....

Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:45)

Hallelujah! The drought was finally over. Promised by God. Birthed by Elijah's prayer.

God will end the drought in your life too. Meanwhile get into the birthing mode..prayer, prayer and more prayer...and don't forget to look for the signs..even small ones..for they signify a soon happenning miracle.

Praise the Lord.

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The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. (Exodus 14:14)(NIV)

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. (Exodus 14:14)(KJV)

The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent. (Exodus 14:14)(NAS)

Be still; hold your peace; keep silent.

The message is clear; whatever be the translation you use. Don't get fidgety; don't mess around; don't do something against God's plan. The Lord will fight for you.

But how does one stand still when the enemy is close on the heels? Especially with a huge sea in front and mountains on either side. The enemy is no stranger to you. You've just escaped from him with the skin of your teeth. Now he's back again to haunt you as a bad dream.

But Moses says, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever."

Can we believe Moses? Must we believe him?

There's no other go. So better believe.

And when they held their peace, God revealed his plan to Moses:

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. "As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. "As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. "Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen." (Exodus 14:15-18)

And it happened exactly as God said it would.

Are you being pursued by the enemy? Hold still. Don't murmur. Listen to what God has to say to you. He has a plan for your deliverance. Follow that plan and God will destroy the satanic forces that are troubling you. Remember,

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!' (Deuteronomy 33:27)

Praise the Lord.

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Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." (Psalm 50:14, 15)

In this promise from Psalms 50, God speaks and tells the Israelites of what pleases him and how they can get deliverance when they are in trouble. God made it clear that he was not so much interested in the outward expressions of their faith as he was in their inner purity and faithfulness, which he was always looking for in their lives.

God spoke through his servant Asaph and said,

"Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice." (Psalm 50:5)

God told them that he was not rebuking them for their sacrifices or burnt offerings, but he also wanted them to know some facts. So he said:

I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? (Psalm 50:9-13)

Outward expressions of our faith are good, but what God desires in our lives is inner purity. If we can give that to the Lord, he would be very pleased with us and answer our prayers. Jesus said,

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)

May the Holy Spirit help each one of us to purify ourselves with the Word of God so that we may continually experience the deliverance of God in our lives. God bless you.

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Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18, 19)

Magicians rely on tricks to deliver their goods; the Lord of the heavens, he who created the heaven and the earth does not depend on such trivialities. He is neither limited by time or space or season. He is Almighty God and he can do miracles that have never happened before.

Would the splitting of the Red Sea rank as the greatest miracle on our list? Or would it be the parting of the Jordan? The change of bitter waters to sweet at Marah? Water gushing forth from the rock at Horeb? The fall of the walls of Jericho? The virgin birth? The feeding of the 5000? Turning of water into wine?

The dead being raised up?

It's an infinite list considering the fact that God is still doing new things even today and many of us are recepients of the same. So what's in it for me? you may ask.

That's what Martha, the sister of dead and buried Lazarus must have thought when Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25,26)

Her brother was already dead; sure, he would rise at the resurrection, but what about her grief now?; if Jesus had come when they had called him to see sick Lazarus, perhaps he would have been alive today.

She didn't argue but gave Jesus the hard facts when they reached the tomb of Lazarus.

"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." (John 11:39)

But Jesus thoughts were far from what she was thinking.

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40)

She did see the glory of God because when Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb, to everyones' amazement, he did come out...not dead but fully alive.

So will you believe that God can still do the impossible? Something new? Like it has never happened before? Just for you?

Believe and see the glory of God. God bless you.

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For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

We all desire commitment in our relationships and so does God. He wanted his first human creations Adam and Eve to be committed to him, but they fell short of his asking. Even in our lives God desires commitment on our part because he is committed to us totally from the time we acknowledge his sovereignty and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

In the above promise we see that God