Holding on to the Promise
26/04/09 17:04
After three years of
Jesus teaching the disciples, you would think that
they had their hearts set on Him fulfilling the
promises that were foretold by the prophets and
patriarchs. And that’s just what we see in the
first chapter of the book of Acts. Jesus was
returning to Heaven and He gathered His apostles so
that they could know for sure just where He was going
–there would be no doubt!
Jesus gave them instructions to stay in Jerusalem until they received power from on high. But they interrupted Him and asked if He was going to restore Israel to her glory. Jesus said to them, “ It is not for you to know the times and dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
The comfort that these words of Jesus brings enabled the apostles to endure all that they were about to experience. And if we would, by the same faith, take His words to heart, they will also enable us to endure all things. And he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved! Jesus tells us that the Father has set the times and dates that He would restore Israel to her glory. We, like the apostles, should also be aware of that which the prophets have promised; that when Israel regains her glory, we shall rule and reign with Him.
For a thousand years Israel will be the home of the righteous and the law of God shall go out from Jerusalem. The earth shall be blessed and all the nations shall know that God is God, Yea, the earth shall be filled with the glory of God! Remember, God has set the time for this to happen. Jesus has promised that God has set the time for His return and for all things to be renewed! O, Praise God that it wasn’t just a fable, or that God was just kidding. God has sworn by His own Name and He will never change His mind. The promise is as good as the One who gave it!
So, when you are going through the valley, hold on to the Promise. When you’re sick in body, hold on to the Promise. When temptation tries you, hold on to the Promise. When trials assail you from every side, hold on to the Promise! The Promise is one of the greatest assets of our faith. The Promise encourages, strengthens and gives us hope. The Promise makes us to stand when everyone around us is falling. The Promise moves mountains and calms the seas of trouble.
Oh, by the way, the Promise was sealed with a grand affirmative when Jesus rose from the dead. The Resurrection means the Promise is good –and that is good news! So, you can see why the apostles asked Jesus what they did. The thing that is the hardest right now is waiting for what God has promised and set by His own authority. But child of God, it will come! It will happen! God is faithful, and what Jesus told his disciples, He tells us, “Hold on to the Promise.”
Have a great week! Pastor Jim
Jesus gave them instructions to stay in Jerusalem until they received power from on high. But they interrupted Him and asked if He was going to restore Israel to her glory. Jesus said to them, “ It is not for you to know the times and dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
The comfort that these words of Jesus brings enabled the apostles to endure all that they were about to experience. And if we would, by the same faith, take His words to heart, they will also enable us to endure all things. And he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved! Jesus tells us that the Father has set the times and dates that He would restore Israel to her glory. We, like the apostles, should also be aware of that which the prophets have promised; that when Israel regains her glory, we shall rule and reign with Him.
For a thousand years Israel will be the home of the righteous and the law of God shall go out from Jerusalem. The earth shall be blessed and all the nations shall know that God is God, Yea, the earth shall be filled with the glory of God! Remember, God has set the time for this to happen. Jesus has promised that God has set the time for His return and for all things to be renewed! O, Praise God that it wasn’t just a fable, or that God was just kidding. God has sworn by His own Name and He will never change His mind. The promise is as good as the One who gave it!
So, when you are going through the valley, hold on to the Promise. When you’re sick in body, hold on to the Promise. When temptation tries you, hold on to the Promise. When trials assail you from every side, hold on to the Promise! The Promise is one of the greatest assets of our faith. The Promise encourages, strengthens and gives us hope. The Promise makes us to stand when everyone around us is falling. The Promise moves mountains and calms the seas of trouble.
Oh, by the way, the Promise was sealed with a grand affirmative when Jesus rose from the dead. The Resurrection means the Promise is good –and that is good news! So, you can see why the apostles asked Jesus what they did. The thing that is the hardest right now is waiting for what God has promised and set by His own authority. But child of God, it will come! It will happen! God is faithful, and what Jesus told his disciples, He tells us, “Hold on to the Promise.”
Have a great week! Pastor Jim
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