2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory.

     As one who has received personal promises from God -- both directly to myself and through my husband -- I am ashamed to admit that Satan still tempts me with moments of doubt and anxiety.  As I battle these spirits of deception, I cling to the certainty that His grace and mercy will always be sufficient to help me through these struggles, until I can regain my focus on my Savior.

     For I know that all God's promises are reflected in Jesus.  My part in believing those promises is to  not only trust the vision of Jesus that is portrayed in the Bible, but to trust in the power of the One that presents Himself to me daily.  

     Jesus, Himself, trusted in the power of God's promises when He declared, "I am that bread of life", (John 6:48); "I am the light of the world", (John 8:12); and "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25).  The trust that Jesus had in God's power to raise Him from the dead gave Him the confidence to make those bold statements.  

     So what is the power of the promises that God has given us?  What is it that we can risk eternity on?  Consider the following promises and what they say about God's character:

1.  He has promised to supply every need we have. The Bible says: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Notice that God promises to meet our needs ... That would include food, clothing, shelter, companionship, love, and salvation through Jesus Christ. It does not include the superficial "needs" as the world translates it.  All our needs are met in Jesus.

2.  God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). In our moments of doubt and temptation, He has made provision for our salvation by His grace, and it is through our faith in Jesus.  It is through our obedient faith that we have access to this abundant grace, and it will always be enough to sustain us and deliver us through anything we experience.

3.  God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation. Instead, He assures us that a way of escape will be provided. This promise is recorded in I Corinthians 10:13, when the Bible tells us that there is no temptation that we endure that is not common to man.  When I am attacked by spirits of temptation, it gives me great comfort to know that God will not let me be tempted beyond what I can endure. Jude wrote: "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" (Jude v. 24).  Darius, King of the Medes, said to Daniel, "Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee" (Daniel 6:16). And God delivered Daniel in so many ways; least of all from the den of lions.  That same deliverance is available to us when we believe in God's promises.

4.  God has promised us victory over death. Jesus was the first fruits of God's resurrecting power, and this to assure us of our resurrection.  Peter said: "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses" (Acts 2:32). Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (I Corinthians 15:3,4).  Later on, he adds: "but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 15:57).  The victory is God's, the Victor is Jesus, and we are the beneficiaries of their defeat over Death.  

5.  God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28). It may be difficult for us to see and understand how this is accomplished at times, but God has promised it, and He will deliver.  How many times have looked back on an event in our lives that we felt was devastating or a failure?  Has time revealed that God was taking you down a path that resulted in blessings beyond your imagination?  We need to cling to this verse, knowing that God will be always be faithful to complete the good work He has begun in us. 

6.  God has promised that those who believe in Jesus and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins will be saved. (Read Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38).  I think we sometimes take these verses too lightly.  Believing in Jesus is more than just a statement of faith; it is living our lives so that they are evidence of our belief, trust and confidence in Him for every aspect of our daily existence.  And being baptized is an important step that shows the spiritual realm to whom you belong.  It is a statement to Satan and his servants that you have chosen a side and you are in this battle for the eternal glory of God.  When we take this step, we can expect that the forces in the spiritual realm will see us as the enemy, but we have the promise of God that we will be saved from our enemies (Psalm 18:3).

7.  God has promised His people eternal life (John 10:27, 28).  This is the promise that we won't realize until we have conquered Death.  This is the hope for which we long; the hope that Jesus instilled in our hearts when He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us.  This is the promise for which my spirit praises God, and the pledge that Jesus has given me by providing the means of my salvation from God's coming wrath against the wicked.

     So, as you can see, all of God's promises DO find their affirmation in Jesus Christ, our Savior.  Through Jesus the purposes of God are established -- our needs are met; His grace will always be enough; we will be able to withstand temptation; we will have victory over Death; God will complete the work He has begun in our life; we will receive salvation and forgiveness of our sins; and we will spend eternity in their Holy presence -- and it is all accomplished through our faith in Jesus and for the unmeasurable glory of God.  Hallelujah!