Sermon Central
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Living In The Moment Of God's Promise
Contributed by Randy Trotter on Feb 17, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: So many Christians live with the "HOPE" of God fulfilling His Promise and they never move beyond that "HOPE!"
“LIVING IN THE MOMENT
OF GOD’S PROMISE”
“FOR ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD IN HIM ARE YES, AND
IN HIM AMEN, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THROUGH US.”
Introduction:
So many Christians live with the “HOPE” of God fulfilling His Promise in their lives, THAT, THAT IS A FAR AS THEY GET! They never go beyond that place of “HOPE” & they get frustrated with God & the situation & by omission resign themselves to live with “HOPE” never gaining the Victory! They may not think it as such but by human nature that is what they do & that is what happens.
Our Scripture says: HIS PROMISES ARE “YES & AMEN”, IN HIM TO HIS GLORY THRU US! FOLK, IT’S GOD’S “DESIRE & WILL” TO FULFILL HIS PROMISES IN & THROUGH US! BUT IF WE LIVE IN “HOPE” ALONE THEN WE NEVER GO BEYOND THE PLACE OF “HOPE!”
“HOPE” is good, Romans 5:5 says “HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT” but if “HOPE” is all we live by, then “WE” are failing the “MISSION OF HOPE!” “HOPE” is not a “PANACEA” “ of what God desires to do in our lives. But “HOPE” is the “FOUNDATION OF OUR DESIRES TILL THEY ARE FULFILLED!” One has to remember & understand that “HOPE” is not where God wants us to remain! But to move beyond “HOPE” & into the VICTORY OF THE PROMISE!
Look at II Peter 1:4 with me. Peter is speaking of Him, our God:
“...BY WHICH HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO US EXCEEDINGLY GREAT & PRECIOUS PROMISES, THAT THROUGH THESE YOU MAY BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE...”
So many, without realizing it, resign themselves to living in “HOPE” & not moving on to “VICTORY BY THE PROMISES” in & through Christ!
Jesus Christ has made “PROMISES” us, to “HOPE” in those promises is not wrong in & of itself but to “LIVE IN HOPE ALONE” defeats the purpose of “HOPE” & the purpose of the “PROMISE!”
If I promise to give you a Hundred dollar bill & you resign yourself to never receive it but to only “HOPE” for it alone, even though I have it to give to you & am ready & willing, then the “PROMISE IS DEFEATED” & the “HOPE” is nullified.
Folk, “HOPE” is not the end all that God has promised but “HOPE” is the “DRIVING FORCE” for receiving what He has for us!
Here is what I’ve come to realize & believe in & for myself! We need to
“LIVE IN THE MOMENT OF GOD’S PROMISE”
in what “HE HAS PROMISED US!”
IF HE PROMISED VICTORY THEN LIVE IN THE MOMENT WITH AN “ATTITUDE OF VICTORY!”
IF HE PROMISED PEACE THEN LIVE IN THE MOMENT WITH AN “ATTITUDE OF PEACE!”
IF HE PROMISED JOY, THEN LIVE IN THE MOMENT WITH AN “ATTITUDE OF JOY!”
HIS PROMISES ARE NOT CONDITIONAL OTHER THEN YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THEM. “AND” (THAT IS A BIG AND!) ACCEPTANCE REQUIRES “FAITH & OBEDIENCE!” WE CAN’T JUST ACCEPT WITHOUT “RESPONSIBILITY!”
“FAITH & OBEDIENCE IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY!”
FOLK, REMEMBER THIS! THE PROMISE HAS BEEN MADE “TO & FOR YOU” NOT SOMEWHERE WAY OFF IN THE FUTURE BUT HAS BEEN MADE TO & FOR YOU IN THE “NOW!”
WE NEED TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT OF GOD’S PROMISE!
SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO “SPEAK TO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NOT AS THOUGH THEY ARE!”
DOES THAT (ONLY APPLY) TO THE “PHYSICAL THINGS” WE DESIRE OR DOES THAT ALSO APPLY TO THE “PROMISES OF GOD” IN OUR LIVES.
EVEN THOUGH WE DON’T (SEE THE PROMISE) WE SHOULD ALSO SPEAK TO THEM THAT HAVE BEEN “PROMISED” IN THE SAME MANNER! WE SHOULD SPEAK TO THOSE “PROMISES” AS THOUGH THEY ARE A REALITY! FOLK, IN GOD THEY ARE A “REALITY!”
WE NEED TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT OF GOD’S PROMISE!
GOD HAS PROMISED HIS SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE! HE HAS PROMISED “SIGNS, WONDERS & MIRACLES” TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW!
FOLK, WE ARE FOLLOWERS! WE SHOULD “LIVE IN THE MOMENT OF MIRACLES PROMISED!” WE SHOULD LIVE IN THE MOMENT AS “WE BELIEVE” A MIRACLE WILL TAKE PLACE ANY MOMENT!
THAT IN & OF ITSELF IS “SEEING, BELIEVING & SPEAKING” TO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NOT AS THOUGH THEY ARE! WE SHOULD LIVE IN THE MOMENT OF GOD’S PROMISE!
GOD’S PROMISES ARE NOT FOR THE FAR “BY & BY” BUT GOD’S PROMISES ARE FOR THE “PRESENT & NOW!” PEOPLE ARE DYING IN A WORLD OF “UNFULFILLED PROMISES”, YET WE SERVE A GOD OF “FULFILLED PROMISES!”
So then why do we not “SEE or EXPERIENCE” in the manner PROPOSED BY GOD? It’s because “WE’RE NOT” LIVING IN THE MOMENT OF GOD’S PROMISE!”
Many Christians are happy to just live in the “MOMENT OF HOPE!” The “MOMENT OF HOPE” requires little other than “HOPE!” But LIVING IN THE MOMENT OF GOD’S PROMISE REQUIRES “ACTION ON THE PROMISE!”
