From the beginning, God has given promises that are the bedrock of faith. These promises of God are the basis for the lifestyle of victory and overcoming faith in the midst of our trials and tests of life. We need to keep the promises of God in the forefront of our minds and spirit. Keep reminding yourself that everything that God has promised He will perform. God’s word and promise are the source of our strength and the foundation of our faith. Many times in life our faith in the promises of God will be challenged by the host of things we face. Under the impact of those challenges, God’s promises may appear to be lost. God is faithful to His promise. Paul instructed the Corinthian believers about the certainty of God’s promises.
2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
God’s promises are guaranteed and confirmed in Christ. Everything God has promised will come to pass. In Christ, we have a “yes” and an “amen.”
When Israel entered into the land which God had sworn to give to their fathers, the Lord gave them rest.
All of their enemies were delivered into their hand.
Joshua 21:45 NKJV Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.
That is a word that we all must hear. Not one word of God’s promise failed.
Timothy, the Apostle Paul’s son in the faith, was being challenged in such a way that his faith was wavering.
Some of Timothy’s contemporaries had rejected the faith and the promises. The difficulties of life had brought Timothy to the brink of following their bad example.
1 Timothy 1:18–19 NKJV This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
Pay attention to these words: “This charge I commit to you, …according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience…”
This is a charge that everyone must hold on to in faith. Don’t allow the trial and tests of your life to challenge your faith or your memory of God’s faithfulness. Paul was reminding Timothy of the things that God had promised and given to him.
1 Timothy 4:14-15 NKJV Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
In the favor of God’s presence, we must live by His promises.
This is critical for everyone who is facing the test and trial of their faith.
We need to keep rehearsing all of the promises that God has made. Some of those promises are given to everyone that has faith in God, and some of them are specific for you. God has given certain promises that are specific to who you are, where you are, and what you are doing. These promises come to us in varied ways. However you came to know that promise, you need to firmly hold on to it. All of God’s promises are true and reliable. You need to renew those promises by meditating on them and giving yourself entirely to them. Paul’s encouragement is good for each of us.
Meditate on these things.
Think about it. Do you remember how God made His promise real to you? Get back to what God said and hold firmly to it. Give yourself entirely to what God has said. Don’t just think about God’s promise, give yourself entirely to them. It is easy to do this when you first receive that inspiration or promise from God. At that moment, you sensed an anointing and inspiration that God would do it and you believed that nothing could hinder what God had said.
Giving yourself entirely to His promise means getting out of the boat and walking on the water to Jesus.
Jesus said “Come,” and you jumped and ran. Once you start, you have to keep waging a good warfare of faith. You started in faith and you must continue to persevere in faith.
When Peter stepped out of the boat, his progress was evident to everyone in the boat.
Do you remember telling someone, “God gave me this promise?” Did you tell them, “He told me to get out of my boat?”
Having started in faith, don’t waver as time passes.
This is critical for continued success. The Word of God is sound doctrine for your life. You can live by every Word of God’s promise. We must persevere in holding ourselves to the word of His promise.
Moses was having his first encounter with God while standing on holy ground at the burning bush.
God was telling him why He came down to meet with him. Moses was receiving an assignment that would occupy the remainder of his life. God was telling Moses how he would deliver millions of people into God’s purpose and plan. Moses was feeling incapable and inadequate for the task.
Exodus 4:12 NKJV God said: “Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”
When Moses received this word from God, he said, “Please, send someone else to do it.” Sometimes we don’t see how we can do what God has promised. Moses thought he was just telling God, “I am too weak, too little, and not able to do it.” What he was really saying was: “God, you are not able to do what you said you would do in me.”
Several years later after God had brought them through the Red Sea, Moses had another conversation with God.
Exodus 33:16-18 NKJV For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth. So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”
It was obvious to Moses that he did not get where he was on his own.
He had seen the handiwork of God all along his journey and in the wilderness. Moses was having the same challenge of his faith that Timothy had.
Listen to this.
Exodus 33:12-14 NKJV Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ 13Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” 14And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Moses was doing what so many other people try to do.
God’s promise was: “You go and I will be with your mouth and teach you what to say.” (Exodus 4:12)
When you are living in the favor of God’s presence, you need to live by His promise.
You need to remember what God has done. Moses knew he got where he was because God had brought him through.
Remember all of the things God has done for you.
It is hard for us to look at Moses’ experience and see why he needed more.
He had been to the burning bush, stood on holy ground and heard the voice of God. He had stood under the pillar of fire and the pillar of a cloud in the presence of God. God had opened up the Red Sea and Moses and Israel crossed over on dry ground. The glory cloud and fire of God had descended on Mount Sinai and God called Moses to come up into the cloud of His glory. He had heard the voice of God that shook his mind and body and the mountain. In order to go forward, Moses needed more.
Moses was no different than Peter walking on the water.
Peter was standing on the water in Jesus’ presence, but the water was raging all around him. The wind blowing and water raging was no different than when Peter stepped out of the boat. While in the turbulence of the wind and water, Peter needed more from Jesus.
Moses is standing there in the presence of God and needed more.
I am glad that God is patient and kind, and knows our frame.
God wants us to remember some things.
How did you get here? How did you win those battles in your past? How did you gain those successes? Why are you still standing?
Moses came to realize, “I didn’t get here on my own.” “I need the Lord, if I am going to make it.” “I need the Lord, if I am going to survive.” He did some awesome things with God’s help. Timothy’s faith had been strong. Peter had got out of the boat and walked on water. They did it because God had given them His promise.
In the favor of God’s presence, we need to continue living by the promises.
God told Moses: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
You are not going alone into the things you are facing. You can find the strength that you are going to need, because God is going with you.
