Believe It Or Not

Someone once told me that there are about 32,000 promises in the Bible. That's an amazing number. Who in their lifetime has ever made 32,000 promises to one particular friend, and kept every single one of them? I think I can quite confidently say that nobody has or ever will be able to do that. But the fact is, God has. Each and every promise, all 32,000, that God made in His Word, He will fulfill them.

But some of you may say that when you went through situations in your life, you tried to hang on to promises, but God never answered. My question to you today is, did you really fully believe in the promises of God? The Bible tells us that God is gentle, and He will not force us to co-operate with Him. And to co-operate, we need to fully believe in the promises of His. Without us, God will not. Every person has both a heart and a mind. The heart is one of God, belonging to God. The mind belongs to the world, it contains your carnal thoughts. You can believe in the promises with your mind, because it will just do whatever you tell it to. Say to yourself that you will believe and your mind will believe. But your heart works differently. Only by believing with all your heart are you truly believing in the promises of God. It's amazing how many promises can be found in a comparably small book, but what's more amazing is that even us as Christians, some of us do not believe in the promises of God.

We say we are Christians, but do we dare believe the promises of God. Or do we think that they are only false hope portrayed in the Bible? False ropes to hang on to in difficult situations? The Bible tells us that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing., but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1Cor1:18) By not believing in the promises of God, you are rejecting His grace, you are refusing His love, you are denying the fact that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross. That makes you an atheist, someone believing that God doesn't exist. Harsh words, but which we cannot and must not run away from.

Remember the disciples on their way to Emmaus? In Luke24 two disciples are on their way to Emmaus. Their hearts are heavy because Jesus had been crucified. The one they thought was Messiah was crucified on a cross. The one whom they called 'Lord' and thought he was indeed the Son of God now lay in a tomb. And so they began to doubt the Scriptures, they began to doubt everything that Jesus had said to and taught them. And so when Jesus met them while they were on their way, they could not recognise that it was Jesus. Because of their doubt their eyes were covered and they were kept from recognising Jesus. And Jesus said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!' Jesus called them FOOLS! And after that Jesus began to explain to them the Scriptures beginning with Moses and all the prophets. And that night when he had dinner with the disciples their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus at once. Because once again they believed, their eyes were opened and they recognised Jesus.

Friends are we going to be fools in our Christian walk? Are we going to declare that we are Christians yet do not believe the promises of God? We cannot be fools any longer if we are going to walk this journey of faith. If we want to progress in our relationship with God we have to believe in His promises. A relationship is about trust, and we have to start trusting God for all His promises.

-God promises that His grace is more than sufficient for you(2Corinthians12:9), do you believe it?
-God promises that in everything all you have to do is be still, and He will fight for you, and you will be victorious.(Exodus14:14) Do you believe it?
-God promises that His plans for you are to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.(Jeremiah29:11) Do you believe it?
-God promises that if you truly seek Him you will find Him.(Deuteronomy4:29) Do you believe it?
-God promises that He will give you wisdom, all you have to do is ask.(James1:5) Do you believe it?
-God promises that He will never leave you nor forsake you.(Joshua1:5) Do you believe it?
-God promises that if you trust in Him, He will make your paths straight.(Proverbs3:5-6) Do you believe it?
-God promises that if you commit all your plans to Him, you will succeed.(Proverbs16:3) Do you believe it?
-God promises that if you call on Him, He will answer you.(Jeremiah33:3) Do you believe it?
-God promises that His love for you is everlasting.(Psalm103:17) Do you believe it?

There are so many more promises in the Bible, but the point is, are we believing? When Jesus comes again, will he call us fools for not believing? Let us not be like the disciples at Emmaus.

-God promises that He will be faithful(1Corinthians1:9). Do you believe it?

'For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.' (2Corinthians1:20)


In Christ alone will I glory
Though I could pride myself in battles won
For I’ve been blessed beyond measure
And by His strength alone I’ll overcome
Oh, I could stop and count successes like diamonds in my hands
But those trophies could not equal to the grace by which I stand

In Christ alone
I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone

In Christ alone do I glory
For only by His grace I am redeemed
For only His tender mercy
Could reach beyond my weakness to my need
And now I seek no greater honor in just to know Him more
And to count my gains but losses to the glory of my Lord

In Christ alone
I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone