The Promises Of God: Take Him At His Word At Times Like This

His intercession is the one of a spotless and victorious life, and all the wounds of Calvary.

Furthermore, our High Priest, is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, who was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15.

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25.

Believe and claim the promises of God

Christ has promised: Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37.

He will hear and answer our prayers. This faith appropriates the promises of God, believing they are for us.

Here is faith - to believe that we receive the blessing, even before we realize it. When the promised blessing is realized and enjoyed, faith is swallowed up.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1.

Many suppose they cannot have faith unless they feel the power of the Spirit. They confuse faith with the blessing that comes through faith.

The very time to exercise faith is when we feel destitute of the Spirit. 

True faith rests on the promises contained in the Word of God, and those only who obey that Word can claim its glorious promises.

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7.

Whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22.

The power to exercise faith is yours. Believe, claim the promises, and praise God that you do receive the things you have asked of Him.

Thus when your need is greatest, you will experience His blessing and receive special help.

We grow stronger in faith as we accept the promises of God. Moreover, we find God's Word fulfilled as He has spoken it.

We may feel our weakness and unworthiness, and because of this, realize our dependence upon God.

Jesus is a present help in every time of need

He is our mighty helper. Christ invites us to trust Him fully.

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

This is the Christian's privilege, to believe and still to continue to believe that God will be an ever present help in time of need.

The promises of God are sufficient. The gospel was not given to awake desires it could not satisfy.

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; 

for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30.

Becoming familiar with God's promises

Study the Bible more and become familiar with the promises of God. Thus you'll be able to resist Satan's temptations with It is written.

Then you may be shut in by the promises of God, which will be as a wall of fire about you. 

For faith plants itself on the promises of God and claims them as surety that He will do just as He said He would.

It is the medium by which human hearts renewed by the grace of Christ, are made to beat in harmony with the great Heart of love.

Do not look to yourself to see if your prayer is answered after asking God for His help and blessing. 

Furthermore, do not look for evidence of God's answer in your happy flight of feeling or satisfaction.

This is not faith, but unbelief. You should trust God, whether you experience any change of feeling or not.

We cannot expect to be very joyful and hopeful while we look to ourselves. For we must think of self as sinful.

A large number of professed Christians are watching their feelings. Those who depend upon them are in danger of being deceived.

Satan can move upon our feelings. Moreover, he can so arrange surrounding circumstances as to make our feelings changeable.

Victory in God is not feeling, but faith. It is the faith that will not yield although there are seeming impossibilities to be encountered.

The promises are sure

Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by strong faith. The promises are sure. Believe ye receive the things ye ask for, and ye shall have them.

For instance, Elijah was subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly. 

His faith endured the trial. Seven times he prayed before the Lord, and at last the cloud was seen.

How not to doubt the sure promises and grief the Savior by our lack of faith?

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:16, 17.

Therefore:

• look to Jesus – dwelling upon His love, mercy, worthiness and merits

• believe in Him

• exercise faith.

As soon as you take off your eyes from Christ, you'll be exposed to Satan's fiery temptations.

Many who are sincerely seeking for holiness of heart and purity of life seem perplexed and discouraged.

They are constantly looking to themselves, and lamenting their lack of faith. 

Moreover, because they have no faith, they feel that they cannot claim the blessing of God.

They look above the simplicity of true faith. Thus bring great darkness upon their souls. 

They should simply believe that He will fulfill His word.

We are not to trust in our faith, but in the promises of God.

God's promises are given upon condition

There are many who profess holiness. They claim a right to the promises of God, while refusing to render obedience to His commandments.

They claim everything that is promised to the children of God. This is presumption on their part.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:8, 10.

John tells us that true love for God will be revealed in obedience to all His commandments. 

It is not enough to:

• believe the theory

• make a profession of faith in Christ

• believe that Bible religion is not a fable.

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1 John 2:4, 5.

He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. 1 John 3:24.

John did not teach that salvation will be earned by obedience. On the other hand, he pointed that obedience is the fruit of faith and love.

Ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin. 

Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. 1 John 3:5, 6.

If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in the heart, our feelings, our thoughts, our actions, will be in harmony with the Will of God.

The sanctified heart is in harmony with the precepts of the Law of God.

Take as well as you give

Some have fallen into the opposite error. They acknowledge the claims of God's law, and teach the people the duty of rendering obedience. 

Furthermore, they present the love of Christ in connection with the claims of the law.

In every discourse the love of God, as manifested in Christ, the sinner's only hope, should be dwelt upon until the people realize something of its power and preciousness.

Though we believe in giving everything, we do not see that we must take as well as give. 

We fail to have that trust, that faith, which keeps the soul abiding in Christ.

We claim little, when we might claim much. For there is no limit to the promises of God.

Through a lack of faith, many who seek to obey the commandments of God have little peace and joy. 

They do not correctly represent the sanctification that is to come through obedience to the truth.

If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1.

This promise comes down along the line to our time.

Let us take this precious promise into heart. Thus when Satan tempts us to doubt the power of God to save, let us repeat the words of Christ: 

Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37.

Conclusion

God has promised, and He will not fail us. It is not difficult or mysterious to believe it.

Take Jesus at His word. Come to Him with all your burdens and needs. Find in Him a helper and a strong deliverer according to His promise.

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: 

that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4.

Darkness and discouragement will come upon the soul and threaten to overwhelm us. 

We should:

• not cast away our confidence

• keep the eye fixed on Jesus, regardless of feelings

• faithfully perform every known duty

• calmly rest in the promises of God.

Jesus comes to the sinful, helpless, needy soul, and says: 

What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24.

Do not open your mind to entertain doubts, for even an instant. Fasten the mind upon the promises of God. Talk of them, rejoice in them. 

Thus the peace of God will rule in your heart.

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Psalms 34:18.

References:

1. ST, Mar, 1888; EW 72; ST, May, 1884; SL 89; AA 153, 562; RH, Dec, 1883; GW92; RH, Jan, 1888 - The Ellen G. White Estate

2. The Bible, King James Version (KJV)

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