Between the Promise and the Deliverance of the Promise

2 Peter 1:3-4 

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  (4)  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

One of the hardest things to do is to wait for the promise that God has given us.  From the time we receive the promise until the time that the promise is delivered, can be some of the most frustrating and trying times of our lives.

Psalms 84:6-7  Who passing through the valley of Baca (tears) make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.  (7)  They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

But we need to remember what the Bible says:

Habakkuk 2:3  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

The promise will come at its appointed time.

Hebrews 10:35-36  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  (36)  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Isaiah 46:10-11  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:  (11)  Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

So what can we do between the giving of the promise and the receiving of the promise.

1.  We are going to proclaim the power of the promise.

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

There is power in the word and the word is magnified above the name.

Psalms 138:1-2 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.  (2)  I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

As we proclaim the power of the promise to the word you can stand on the power of the promise that comes from the word.

Matthew 7:7-8  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  (8)  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

John 14:13-14  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  (14)  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

1 John 5:14-15  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  (15)  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

2.  We are going to praise the person of the promise that is our God.

Psalms 56:10  In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.

Micah 7:7  Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

He is the God that does not change.

Malachi 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Why are we going to praise God who has given us the promise?  Because, He has the resources to back the promise.

Our God has never made a promise that He could not keep, he Has never failed one word of His promise and He will do what He has promised.

Hebrews 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;

Numbers 23:19  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Isaiah 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

3.  We are going to practice the position of the promise.

What this simply means we are going to live and act based upon the word of the promise God has given us.

2 Corinthians 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Mark 11:22-24  And Jesus answering saith unto them,  Have faith in God.  (23)  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  (24)  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

In Him the promise blossoms; when I am in Him and I am in the right position I have a right to the promise.

John 15:4-5  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  (5)  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

·        In Him there is life,

·        in Him there is power ,

·        in him there is deliverance,

·        and the victory of the promise.

Weslaco, Texas November 2009