Sermon Central
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Possessing The Promises
Contributed by Jerry Vargo on Nov 12, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: This message encourages all of us to go after the things that God has promised.
If you use any or all of this message--would you be willing to fire off a quick email to:pastorjerryvargo@juno.com? I would like to have an idea of how often my sermons are actually being preached to strengthen the Body of Christ. Thanks!
Possessing the Promises
Pastor Jerry C. Vargo
I. Introduction.
A. Promises—what are they? Think about that for a minute. What is a promise?
B. Well…
1. Promises are the seeds implanted in our inner man that give us hope!
2. Promises (in a good sense) declare something good is about to happen!
3. Promises (in a bad sense) declare that something bad is about to happen!
4. Promises are written or spoken words that inform us of an intention toward us.
C. Now, let me ask you another question. What does the word "possess" mean?
D. To possess is to have, hold, own, and enjoy! In the Hebrew, it means to be "entrusted" with something. If God gives you something—you do not earn it or necessarily deserve it.
E. In the Greek, for instance, in 1 Thessalonians 4:4, it speaks of how to "possess" for ourselves sanctification and honor…the word means: To acquire, get or procure a thing for oneself!
F. It gives us the idea of being entrusted with something, but also a need to go after it.
G. Therefore, we see that a promise is something that is offered…possession is something that is entrusted and something we go after to acquire or get for ourselves.
H. Today, I want to talk to you about Possessing the Promises!
II. Body.
A. One of the most fundamental things that you and I must understand as blood-washed, born-again believers is this:
EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR THROUGH THE SACRIFICIAL OFFERING OF JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS AT CALVARY!
B. In other words, we do not have to work to purchase something that has already been bought for us.
C. Yet, we do not always seem to possess the promises do we?
1. Bills need to be paid—Where is the promise of Provision?
2. Sicknesses need to be healed—Where is the promise of Healing?
3. Life seems depressing—Where is the promise of Joy?
4. Relationships break down—Where is the promise of Unity?
D. Why is that promises do not seem to manifest in our lives?
E. Well, there are many reasons. We might be ignorant of them. The enemy may have stolen our promises. We don’t get excited about the promises, etc.
E. Listen to 2 Peter 1:3
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."
NIV
F. Before I launch into HOW to possess the promises, let me just encourage your faith by reminding you what God’s Word says about promises…
"Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass."
"For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us."
NASB
"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
NASB
"(Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises."
NASB
OK, let me move on now—How do we receive the promises?
1. Patiently Acknowledging That They Already Belong To Us!
A. We won’t take the time to read it, but remember that God was constantly saying to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua something like this...
"Go up and possess the land which I have ALREADY given you…"
B. Now, possession takes time often. We must be patient with the promises.
Promises are like a baby in the womb—they need time to grow and mature before they come forth.
C. Turn to Hebrews 6:10-15.
"For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply you." And thus, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.
NASB
Transition: We receive the promises by…
