PROMISES – 2015
The Challenge and Response
O God, do not remain silent and do not be still. For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, and those who hate You 
have exalted themselves. They make shrewd plans against Your people and conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, “Come and let us wipe them out that the name of Israel be remembered no more.” For they have conspired together with one mind; against You they make a covenant. Ps 83:1-5 O my God, make them like the whirling sands. Like fire that burns the forest, so pursue them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your storm. Fill their faces with dishonor, that they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth. Ps 83:13-18 God thunders with His majestic voice, doing great things which we cannot comprehend. Job 37:5 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or power. Col 1:16
God’s Majesty and Glory
When He utters His voice, there is a tulmult of waters in the heavens; and He causes the mist to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, He brings wind out of His treasuries. For He is the Maker of all things. Jer 10:13-14 Who has measured the oceans in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the soils of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Is 40:12 For the nations are like a drop from a bucket and are accounted as the dust on the scales; He takes up the islands like fine dust. All the nations are nothing before Him. Is 40:15 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. So the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Is 40:4,5
God’s Awesome Sovereignty
I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth all alone, Who foils the signs of false prophets, and makes fools of diviners, causing wise men to draw back and turning their knowledge into foolishness, Who confirms the word of His servants and performs the counsel of His messengers. Is 44:24-26 Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ to the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’ and I will raise up her waste places; Who says to the deep, ‘Be dried up! and I will dry up your rivers’; Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure.’ Is 44:26-28
The Role of Messiah
My heart overflows with a good theme; with verses addressed to the King. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. You are fairer than the sons of men. Grace is poured upon Your lips; as God has blessed You forever. Gird your sword, O Mighty One. In Your splendor and majesty! In Your majesty ride on victoriously, for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness. Let Your right hand teach You awesome things. Your arrows are sharp; the peoples fall under You. Your arrows are in the heart of the King’s enemies. Ps 45:1-5
Messianic Revelation to Gentiles
The woman said, “I know that Messiah is coming and will tell us all things.” Jesus replied, “I who speak to you am He.” John 4:25-26 Now there were some Greeks among those going up to worship at the feast who came Philip saying, “sir, we wish to see Jesus.” When told of this Jesus said, “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” John 12:20-23 Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king then?” Jesus answered, you say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. John 18:37
Jesus the Shepherd of Life
Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. John 10:7 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:14-16 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. John 11:25-26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; for where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. John 12:26
Jesus the Bread and Light of Life
Jesus asked them, “Have you any food?” They answered, “No.” He said, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast and could not draw it in because of the multitude of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said, “It is the Lord!” John 21:5-7 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger. He who believes in Me shall never thirst. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:35-38 I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father instructs Me, I speak these things. The Father has not left Me alone, as I always do the things that please Him. John 8:28-29
Jesus and the Father
In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:2-6 The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me, that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. John 14:10-11 Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My instructions and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:19-21
The Holy Spirit and Abiding
The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. John 14:26-28 I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:1-4
The Standard
These things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full. This is My instruction that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have made known to you all things that I heard from My Father. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you. John 15:11-16 Father, they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. Jn 17:16-19 I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24
The Process and Turning
I have waited patiently for the LORD; and He has inclined to me, and heard my cry. He has brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth — a song of praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD. Ps 40:1-3 Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. Many, O LORD my God, are Your wondrous thoughts and deeds toward us; for with You, there is none to compare. Ps 40:4-5 For You will send rain for the seed we sow and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. Is 30:23
The Expectation and Preparation
For God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they who have proceeded us would not be made perfect. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance which so easily entangles us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us. Heb 11:39-12:2 Comfort, O comfort My people, says your God. Speak kindly to Jerusalem that she has served her term. That her iniquity be removed. For she has received from the Lord’s hand, double for all her sins. The voice of one is crying in the wilderness: prepare, prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight in the barren lands, a highway for the Lord. Is 40:1-3
The Restoration
This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! He shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation. For who has despised the day of small things? Zech 4:6-10 Then He led me to the gate and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. His voice was like the sound of great waters and the earth shown with His glory. Ez 43.1-2 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Lord comes with might and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms. Is 40: 4-11
A Glimmer of Fulfillment
Instead of brass I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver, instead of wood, bronze, instead of stones, iron. I will make peace your administrators and righteousness your overseers. Violence will not be heard again in your land nor destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls salvation and your gates praise. No longer will the sun be your light nor the moon your brightness; but the Lord will be an everlasting light and God, your glory. The sun will no longer set, for the days of your mourning will be over. Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified. The smallest will become a clan and the least a mighty nation. Isa 60:17-22 Not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. Josh 23:14
God’s Glory and Reward
I am the Lord your God, Who divided the sea whose waves roared – the Lord of Hosts is My name. I have put my words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, I have planted the heavens, laid the foundations of the earth and said to Zion, ‘You are My people.’ Is 51:15-16 We give You thanks to You, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and You reign – You reward your servants the prophets, the saints and all who fear Your Name, both great and small. Rev 11:17 Now unto You, O Lord, who are able to keep us from stumbling, and to present us faultless before the presence of Your glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Jude1:24-25
