Yesterday being Father's
Day, I began to think about all the fathers in this country and the impact
that they are having on this nation and the children within it. Overall,
you'd have to admit, things are in sorry shape as far as dads are concerned.
Many father's have left their wives and children, have broken the promises
they've made before God to stay together "till death do us part". They
have been drawn away from their homes and responsibilities of their own
lusts. Some even have to be chased down for child support by the courts,
yes, chased down to keep their promises to their families, if you can
imagine such a thing! What is left among the ruin, what impact has this
had on society? A very definite
insignificance placed upon the keeping of promises is clearly evidenced
as a result.
Jesus Himself said we would be strongly affected by our fathers....
John 8:38,"I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that
which ye have seen with your father."
A promise is defined as a declaration, written or verbal, made by one
person to another, which binds the person who makes it, either in honor,
conscience, or law, to do or forbear a certain act specified; a declaration
which gives the person to whom it is made, a right to expect or to claim
the performance or forbearance of the act. For example, if I promise
my neighbor to visit her, I have given her the right to expect a visit
from me. I am bound by my promise to her to perform what I said I would
do, correct? Think now for a moment... How much faith have others been
able to put in the promises you have made them? You haven't had to be
chased down to keep them, I hope! How much faith do you put in the promises
people make to you? Do you find yourself always doubting the promises
of others? What about the promises your Heavenly Father has made you??
How do you feel about them? We are going to see today that even though
we can't always trust in the promises of man, we can always trust God
to perform what He says He will do!
Romans 4:18-25, "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become
the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall
thy seed be. [19] And being not weak in faith, he considered not his
own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet
the deadness of Sarah's womb: [20] He staggered not at the promise of
God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; [21]
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also
to perform. [22] And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
[23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to
him; [24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe
on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; [25] Who was delivered
for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."
What was God's promise to Abraham in verse 18? We see that Abraham was
promised to become the father of many nations, and yet, at age 99, he
was now a very old man. Old men of this age don't usually make babies
anymore! Abraham knew that, his wife Sara knew that - you and I know
that. No doubt the delay in Abraham and Sara's life was Divine intervention,
so that all human possibility of fulfilling such a promise had declined,
had long since disappeared. From a reproductive point of view, verse
19 says both husband and wife were dead... Certainly then, this would
be the kind of promise one would be tempted to doubt, amen? Yet the Bible
says of Abraham that He staggered not at the promises of God...
Hebrews 3:12, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil
heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."
Ladies, whether we realize it or not, every time we doubt the Lord, we
distance ourselves from Him... How in verse 20 of our main text above,
does it say Abraham was able to resist the temptation to doubt God's promise?
The answer is that Abraham was strong in faith, he walked by faith, not
by sight! You see ladies, when Abraham admitted that he was dead, that
he was unable to perform this act himself, God's power went to work in
his body! Hence, he trusted in God's ability, not his own....
Romans 7:18, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no
good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which
is good I find not."
I like that description of Abraham - "he staggered not", don't you? Such
a perceived impossibility did not disturb Abraham in the slightest, he
didn't waver a bit in his faith in God at such a promise made him in his
old age! This man stood firm in his faith in God and overcame the temptation
to doubt and brought glory to God. If God said it, Abraham had a perfect
right to expect that God would do it! His confidence in the Father sure
makes it seem easy, amen? How's your confidence in the Lord today??
Philip. 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun
a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"
I am reminded by our story today, of when I came to that same type of
place in my life where, like Abraham, I admitted I was unable to help
myself, admitted I was spiritually dead and lost in my sins, thereby realizing
then that God alone was able to save me.
1 John 2:25, "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal
life."
Ladies, God has promised us in His Word that whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved. We therefore have a perfect right
to expect that God would do what He said He would do and save us from
our sins when we asked Him to, amen? Based on what? Based on us and
what WE can do? No, based on His Word and what HE can do! To rest in
your own works for salvation is to make the promises of God of no value
whatsoever.... As a matter of fact, every time you trust in yourself you make
void God's promises! You see, Abraham was strong in his faith in God,
he stood on what God promised, and this faith gave him strength to beget
a son in his old age, making way for a miracle!
"And being fully persuaded, that what he had promised, he was able also
to perform."
What in verse 21 above, did Abraham believe about God that convinced him
God could keep His promise? Abraham believed that God was able! Do you?
Are you so persuaded in God's Word or more persuaded in your own strength
and understanding? What promises in God's Word have you been standing
on, dear lady? Have you believed God, or staggered at His Word? Are
you divided in your thinking about God's promises? Is "maybe He will,
maybe He won't, I'm not sure, but I hope so", the kind of thinking that's
been going on in your head and heart? Has your walk with the Lord been
rock solid firm, or weak and unstable?
You need to be fully persuaded of your Heavenly Father! Believing God's
promises brought strength to Abraham's life and will do the same for you
and I, even today! Our Father IS able to perform that which He promises
and delights to do so...
John 5:19-20, "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the
Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
[20] For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself
doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel."
Ladies, you don't have to chase God down to keep His Word... Whatever
you may have experienced thus far in your life, don't let man's failure
to keep his promises color your thinking of God, let the Word of God set
your thinking right about your Father in heaven. It's the pathway to
miracles taking place in your life!
2 Peter 3:9a, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men
count slackness...."
In closing, what promise are you waiting for God to fulfill in your life
right now? Are you walking by faith or by sight while you wait? Are
you about to give up because you don't see any possibility of such a promise
being fulfilled? Are you staggering in unbelief or trusting in His Word
and bringing God glory? How does God's relationship with Abraham help
you understand His workings in your life? Perhaps there are some Divine
delays you are experiencing at present so the Lord can get you to realize
that it is apart from your ability that these promises will come to be
fulfilled. Don't deny your Father the chance to keep His Word to you!
Your Christian walk will be limited to what you believe or see in your
heavenly Father... Do you truly see that He is able?? Abraham believed
God and righteousness was deposited into his account. Will it be so for
you, dear lady? Let me encourage you today to fully rest in our Father's
promises!
Psalm 105:42, "For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant."
God Bless, Pam Isaiah 60:1&2 Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello Back to Top
