Understanding God's Promises

[Dr. Shane]

Isaiah 58:

9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you take away the yoke from your midst,

the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.

11 And the LORD will guide you continually

and satisfy your desire in scorched places

and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail.

12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach,

the restorer of streets to dwell in.

Are these promises we can count on? If we take care of the poor and don't take advantage of those that work for us, will God guide us continuously and make sure we are cared for?

How did God do this for martyrs like John The Baptist?

If a man loses his job, his car and his house does that mean he wasn't taking care of the poor and feeding the hungry?

[Gibs]

There is an old saying that His promises and condemnation alike dependent upon obedience.

Ex 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Well we know he expects obedience as He states,

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Then Paul revealed how He makes it possible for us to do that as he knows we need more than what we are to do that. He made it so He can dwell within and then we can be more than conquerors,

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Dr. Shane]

There is an old saying that His promises and condemnation alike dependent upon obedience.

So John the Baptist and other martyrs were not obedient? Is that what you are trying to say?

[Gibs]

Shane,

It wasn't God who condemned John the Baptist and other martyrs to death, they were obedient to Him to their own death as the ultimate witness that they would die first before disobedience.

There will be many martyrs again and mybe more than there was in the dark ages.

I would believe though that will be but a small percentage of claimed believers today as most will cave in to the demands of TPTB.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[BobRyan]

Originally Posted By: Gibs

There is an old saying that His promises and condemnation alike dependent upon obedience.

So John the Baptist and other martyrs were not obedient? Is that what you are trying to say?

Turns out - that except for the 144,000 at the end of time - both the wicked and the righteous "die".

the question is whether they die in sin as an act of judgment and condemnation or whether they choose to "lose their life for Christ's sake" as we see in Matt 10.

in Christ,

Bob

[joeb]

Originally Posted By: Gibs

There is an old saying that His promises and condemnation alike dependent upon obedience.

So John the Baptist and other martyrs were not obedient? Is that what you are trying to say?

Are you implying God doesn't honor His promises to martyrs?

Oh, how often we take such a shortened view of God's promises. This life is not the be-all and end-all. If God waits to fulfill His promises to us until we reach heaven, why should we care? He is faithful. He will keep His word to us.

[Gibs]

And it ends up His promise of eternal life in Heaven is also dependent upon obedience. That obedience though comes from true faith and trust in Him and full surrender. Not just a surface Christian who says he loves Him but the ones who prove they do by obedience.

Was Jesus Christ just "whistling dixie" when He stated, Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

EGW speaks on this also,

"We have reason for great thankfulness that we have the perfect example of the life of Christ. As he did, so day by day we are to obey the word of the Lord. Let us cultivate a grateful spirit. Let us make sure work for eternity. The humility and benevolence of Christ's life revealed in ours, is the testimony we give to the world that we are his disciples. Through a life of obedience and self-sacrifice we are to reveal the love of God for fallen man. {RH, September 17, 1908 par. 16}

Those who would have the life that measures with the life of God, must be workers in this life. They must watch unto prayer. They must not fail nor be discouraged. By faith they must work out their own salvation. By faith and complete submission to the will of God, they must become partakers of God's love and doers of his will." -

{RH, September 17, 1908 par. 17}

Those who will not find the way to be Obedient of course are condemned for the oposite, In actuality they condemn themselves.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Dr. Shane]

Are you implying God doesn't honor His promises to martyrs?

I am not implying anything. I am asking questions.

The question is: if I am obedient, does that mean God will take care of me in this life? Will I lose my job? Will I lose my house? Will I lose my family? Will I lose my health?

[Woody]

Originally Posted By: joeb

Are you implying God doesn't honor His promises to martyrs?

I am not implying anything. I am asking questions.

The question is: if I am obedient, does that mean God will take care of me in this life? Will I lose my job? Will I lose my house? Will I lose my family? Will I lose my health?

Good Questions Shane. Certainly God doesn't promise us ANYthing in this life. His promises are for the life hereafter.

I want a pot of Gold. But his promises exclude life on this earth. So, I will not be getting that pot of Gold anytime soon. But later - I will walk on Gold.

[Gerr]

Originally Posted By: joeb

Are you implying God doesn't honor His promises to martyrs?

I am not implying anything. I am asking questions.

The question is: if I am obedient, does that mean God will take care of me in this life? Will I lose my job? Will I lose my house? Will I lose my family? Will I lose my health?

Yes, you may lose all of the above, for reasons we may never know this side of heaven. Job did. And he never had any of his "why" questions answered directly.

My wife is having a really hard time wrestling with this issue right now - whether God keeps His promises. She has an incapacitating condition. She has asked for an anointing which was done 2 years ago. There has been no improvement. In fact, she is worse than she was 3 yrs ago. Has His promises failed?

[Gerr]

Good Questions Shane. Certainly God doesn't promise us ANYthing in this life. His promises are for the life hereafter.

I want a pot of Gold. But his promises exclude life on this earth. So, I will not be getting that pot of Gold anytime soon. But later - I will walk on Gold.

Nothing? REALLY? Woody, are we reading the same Bible? If God can't deliver on His promises now, how can you be sure you will EVER walk on gold?

[Dr. Rich]

What 'promise' did God make that you want Him to keep? Were those promises conditional on your choices?

[Gail]

Mark 10:30 says that we WILL receive, an hundredfold(!) in this life, if we forsake all for Him. But if you read on, it comes with persecutions...

Sometimes the blessings He gives us are disguised until the time we need it, sometimes the blessing comes as a bigger faith.

I like the comment that this life is not all there is. It is easy to live as if WE are the world (like the sun revolves around US). I like to think that God wants us to look at a larger picture.

The Bible says that God gives good gifts to His children just like we do, so yeah, the gifts will be there :)