September 7 Keeping Your Promises Galatians 3:15-18
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.” (Galatians 3:15-18)
KEEP YOUR PROMISE - TO SERVE THE LORD …Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Do you keep them? What does the Bible say on this subject? In Old Testament times, some Israelites made vows to God. Vows are commitments to God to perform some duty or abstain from some activity. There is a story told of a wealthy oil tycoon that lay on his deathbed, his pastor talked of Gods healing power. “Pastor, he gasped, if God heals me, I’ll give the church a million dollars.” Miraculously, the man revived and within a few short weeks was out of the hospital. One day, several months later, he and the pastor chatted on the sidewalk in front of a hardware store. You know, the pastor said, when you were in the hospital dying, you promised to give the church a million dollars if you got well. We haven’t got it yet. “Did I say that?” the tycoon asked. “I guess that goes to show how sick I really was!” HOW ABOUT THE PROMISE WE MADE IN THE PRAYER FOR SALVATION? “Dear Lord Jesus, I believe that you have died on the cross for my sins. I ask you now to come into my heart and to make me a new creation. Forgive me of all my sin. Wash me. Cleanse me. I promise to follow you for as long as I live. I thank you Lord Jesus for coming into my life.” You made a promise to be faithful to Jesus. You made a promise to serve Him and Him alone. This was your resolution. It was a resolution that has eternal consequences. The best New Year’s resolution one can therefore make is to remain loyal to Jesus and to excel in our service to Him and to obey His Word! Obedience brings joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength. The way of obedience is the way of blessing. When we make a vow to the LORD or take an oath to obligate ourselves, by a pledge, we must not break His word, but must do everything He said for us to do!.. God knows the heart. He hears vows and takes them seriously without embellishments. Your vow to serve the Lord is a covenant, a contract you made with God, so, keep your vow. He keeps his promises and expects us to keep ours, it is a serious matter. PUT SERIOUS THOUGHT INTO THE PROMISES THAT YOU MAKE TO THE LORD. Let me quote Mrs. Ruth Driver: “Remember who you are and where you came from!” Remember what you committed and remember what HE has done in order for you to be “SAVED!” Right now, in this time of chaos and uncertainty, are you committed to honoring your promise to God, or are you being influenced and guided by the Evil influences that are dictating the attitudes of our present circumstances? KEEP YOUR PROMISE! HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES!! What God does with you, depends upon what you do! It Always has; It Always will!! Be sure, be productive and continue to share the Love of God with others! To God Be the Glory! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…Remember, THE BEST IS YET TO BE!