February 8, 2015 - Sunday

Start Time: 9:00 AM

End Time:  11:00 AM

Title: The promises of God

Scripture: Genesis 15

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ 1) God's promises or covenant is always connected with His calling in our lives (verse 4-5)

background:

*Abraham made his calling his life

*he was a businessman or merchant by nature and God called him to be the father of a great nation

*Our profession or occupation is different from our calling

*Abraham's heart showed when God met him in a vision, he could have spoken to God about anything, yet the only thing that bothered him is that he has no heir - an heir is the fulfillment of his calling from God

*We are called to love God, love others and spread the word - no matter what are job is, we are all called to love God, love our neighbors and spread the word.  Whether we are a doctor, teacher, mother, businessman, pastor, etc.  We are all called to do these 3

All of God's promises are connected to our calling.  So when God blesses us, when he heals us, when he provides for us, etc... it is always for a purpose!  That we may spread the word and share Him to the world!  So all the promises in the Bible is for the purpose of us doing His will and calling in our lives.

2) God's promises must be supported by a vision and a testimony

Verse 4 - 7

God brought Abraham out to see the stars so he will be able to visualize the plan of God in his life - that God was not thinking of just giving him 2 - 10 descendants, we're talking about billions here.

In our walk with God, to fulfill our calling and receive the blessings he promised, we ought to visualize ourselves receiving it so we can continue to walk the journey with God.

Another thing that we need to receive God's promises and fulfill our calling is to to hold on to our testimony.  God reminded Abraham that HE was the one who brought him out of Ur to the land of Canaan.  The journey from Ur to canaan was no easy yet God was with him.  It is important to remember God's goodness and testimony in our lives becasue this will keep up in continuing the journey towards fulfilling God's calling in our lives and receiving His promises.

In psalms, David spoke to God "I trust in You Lord, Please do not put me into shame." In the next verse, David wrote, "No one who puts his trust in You will be put to shame."  When I read it I thought, it was like David was reminding himself or correcting himself in his first statement then he continued on speaking of God's greatness in his life.  So our testimony will actually give us the strength and the hope and the joy to continue on even in difficult times or times that feel like the Lord is so far away!  So never forget your testimony!

3) God's promises require Faith!

Verse 6

Faith that will allow us to see things even before it happens.  Faith that will help us to know for certain that it is true eventhough things are not showing them to be true.

David was asking God for deliverance from his enemies in Psalms.  One time, as I ponder into this request, God impressed in my heart that when David seeked God and asked for deliverance, whether God gives him victory or death, David was assured that whatever the outcome is will be the answer to his prayer - meaning, it will be his deliverance.  Now that's faith!  Because David was so certain that God is in control of his life, he was so dependent to God that whether he dies or wins the battle with his enemies, it will be his deliverance from the Lord!

May we have the same faith like David did - the ability to see things whether we think it is good or bad, it will be the answer from the Lord because He holds our lives.