Sermon Devotional: The Power of a Promise
Sermon Title: The Power of a Promise
Scripture: Revelation 7:1–8; Romans 11:25–29 (ESV)
PROMISE – a word that inspires hope, a commitment, declaration and assurance of something good. This is a word that, as humans, we long to hear and to embrace.
At the opening of scripture in the beginning of time and creation and after the fall of man, God makes a promise (Gen 3:15) that the seed of woman (Jesus Christ) will crush the head of the serpent (Satan) and provide a path of salvation for all mankind. Then when God destroys the earth because of the sinfulness of man, He promises Noah (Gen 9:11-17) that never again will he destroy the earth with a flood. God calls Abraham and promises to make him the father of a great nation whose descendants will outnumber the sands of the seas or stars of the sky (Gen 15:5). God reaffirms that promise with Abraham’s son, Isaac (Gen 26:3-4) and Jacob (Gen 28:13-15). These promises are God’s covenants with his people.
God established the nation of Israel with the Mosaic covenant (Ex 19-24), a conditional, two-way agreement that God would bless the nation if they obeyed Him. The Old Testament is the documentation of Israel’s persistent disregard of their promise. But God faithfully continues His promises with King David (2 Sam 7) that his physical lineage would rule an eternal kingdom, culminating in the Messiah – Jesus Christ.
The Bible is filled with examples and depictions of a covenant-keeping God, making and always keeping His promises to mankind. Conversely, we see example after example of people breaking their promises to God (and each other). We have all experienced the utter feeling of brokenness and disappointment when a promise is unfulfilled, and we have all been perpetrators of broken promises. Can we keep a promise? Yes, at times, but every human on the planet has at some point failed to keep their promises. The Bible shows us that God NEVER fails and is ALWAYS faithful to His promises.
In our passage today, the four angels poised at the four corners of the earth are commanded to hold back destruction. This is the justice requested by the martyred saints under the altar (the fifth seal). An angel, who arises from the east – the rising place of the sun – the area from which God’s glory manifests itself commands the four angels to hold until the believing remnant of Israel are sealed by a mark on their forehead.
At the eve of the Lord’s coming, Israel will be re-embodied as a nation. From these, a believing remnant will be preserved from the judgments which will destroy all the anti-Christian confederacy. Israel’s spiritual resurrection will be “as life from the dead” (Rom 11:15) to all the nations. Israel can no more pass away before Christ’s advent, than Christ’s own words can pass away. The sealing of the remnant of Israel looks back to Ex 28:36-38, where God instructs the creation of high priestly garments fashioned for Aaron. “You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the Lord’…it shall be on Aaron’s forehead.” This is an exciting fulfillment of God’s promise in Genesis to Abraham and in Exodus to the nation of Israel.
The Bible is “His Story” showing us countless promises of a faithful God to people throughout time. This is the power of a promise – a covenant-keeping God, faithful, true, believable and confirmed. This is a hope to which we can cling and an assurance in which we may trust.
Consider –
╬ Does knowing that we are children of a promise-keeping God inspire hope, commitment and confidence in you? Does knowing the power of God’s promise to forgive, redeem and rescue you affect your day-to-day walk?
╬ During difficulties and trials, how does embracing the power of God’s promises change your perspective?
╬ Promise-Keeper God – Father, Son and Spirit, thank you for your promises to your people. Thank you for your promise to be with us, to love and protect us. Thank you that you are our strength and our provider. Thank you that you hear us when we cry and you answer us by giving us peace and presence. May the power of your promises pervade our lives and relationships so that all the world will see that you are a covenant-keeping God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Scripture: Revelation 7:1–8; Romans 11:25–29 (ESV)
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” Romans 11:25-28
PROMISE – a word that inspires hope, a commitment, declaration and assurance of something good. This is a word that, as humans, we long to hear and to embrace.
At the opening of scripture in the beginning of time and creation and after the fall of man, God makes a promise (Gen 3:15) that the seed of woman (Jesus Christ) will crush the head of the serpent (Satan) and provide a path of salvation for all mankind. Then when God destroys the earth because of the sinfulness of man, He promises Noah (Gen 9:11-17) that never again will he destroy the earth with a flood. God calls Abraham and promises to make him the father of a great nation whose descendants will outnumber the sands of the seas or stars of the sky (Gen 15:5). God reaffirms that promise with Abraham’s son, Isaac (Gen 26:3-4) and Jacob (Gen 28:13-15). These promises are God’s covenants with his people.
God established the nation of Israel with the Mosaic covenant (Ex 19-24), a conditional, two-way agreement that God would bless the nation if they obeyed Him. The Old Testament is the documentation of Israel’s persistent disregard of their promise. But God faithfully continues His promises with King David (2 Sam 7) that his physical lineage would rule an eternal kingdom, culminating in the Messiah – Jesus Christ.
The Bible is filled with examples and depictions of a covenant-keeping God, making and always keeping His promises to mankind. Conversely, we see example after example of people breaking their promises to God (and each other). We have all experienced the utter feeling of brokenness and disappointment when a promise is unfulfilled, and we have all been perpetrators of broken promises. Can we keep a promise? Yes, at times, but every human on the planet has at some point failed to keep their promises. The Bible shows us that God NEVER fails and is ALWAYS faithful to His promises.
In our passage today, the four angels poised at the four corners of the earth are commanded to hold back destruction. This is the justice requested by the martyred saints under the altar (the fifth seal). An angel, who arises from the east – the rising place of the sun – the area from which God’s glory manifests itself commands the four angels to hold until the believing remnant of Israel are sealed by a mark on their forehead.
At the eve of the Lord’s coming, Israel will be re-embodied as a nation. From these, a believing remnant will be preserved from the judgments which will destroy all the anti-Christian confederacy. Israel’s spiritual resurrection will be “as life from the dead” (Rom 11:15) to all the nations. Israel can no more pass away before Christ’s advent, than Christ’s own words can pass away. The sealing of the remnant of Israel looks back to Ex 28:36-38, where God instructs the creation of high priestly garments fashioned for Aaron. “You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the Lord’…it shall be on Aaron’s forehead.” This is an exciting fulfillment of God’s promise in Genesis to Abraham and in Exodus to the nation of Israel.
The Bible is “His Story” showing us countless promises of a faithful God to people throughout time. This is the power of a promise – a covenant-keeping God, faithful, true, believable and confirmed. This is a hope to which we can cling and an assurance in which we may trust.
Consider –
╬ Does knowing that we are children of a promise-keeping God inspire hope, commitment and confidence in you? Does knowing the power of God’s promise to forgive, redeem and rescue you affect your day-to-day walk?
╬ During difficulties and trials, how does embracing the power of God’s promises change your perspective?
╬ Promise-Keeper God – Father, Son and Spirit, thank you for your promises to your people. Thank you for your promise to be with us, to love and protect us. Thank you that you are our strength and our provider. Thank you that you hear us when we cry and you answer us by giving us peace and presence. May the power of your promises pervade our lives and relationships so that all the world will see that you are a covenant-keeping God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.