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Malachi 3: 16

Ask. Seek. Knock. Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. (Matthew 7: 7,8)
Religious or spiritual, without faith it is impossible to please Him

Types Of Promises.
The legal basis for the promises is in the covenant. The emotional basis is the love of God which made Him make the covenant.
All promises are based on God's actions which are determined by the people and their actions. There are two major classes of promises whose scope range from the general population to a limited population. Witin these classes the promises might be conditional or unconditional depending on the behavior of the people.
Not By Flood Waters. And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. (Genesis 9: 11-16)

- | Jesus Christ | Holy Spirit | The Father
--- | --- | --- | ---
Promise | Mercy | Salvation | Prosperity | Power | Protection | Eternal Life
Nation | Forgive | Free | Body | Soul | Overcome | Latter Rain | Plagues | Hell | New Earth
Righteous | Sin | Repentance | Health | Life | Resist Sin | Gifts | None | None | Life
Wicked | Spurn | Neglect | Sick | Death | Submit | No Rain | Plagues | Hell | Second Death

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3 John 1: 2)
Every promise has its season. There is always a time and condition under which God must answer His promises immediately.
A promise is a contract made by one or more than one to perform some action that will affect one or both. Implied in the promise is the ability of each person to perform the duties of the contract.

- Basis.
  - Oath. One party agrees to accept full responsibility for ensuring that the contract will be fulfilled. An oath guarantees the success of the outcome because this is a promise made with one's self. As such, there is an implied guarantee that the promise will be fulfilled because the promise is based on the full faith and resources of the maker without consideration of the actions of others. Although this promise or covenant to Abraham was triggered by Abraham's response, the subsequent behavior and disappointments did not change God's mind and the promise became an oath.
    . And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; (Genesis 22: 16-17)
  - Covenant. A promise made between two or more parties.
    - Parties. Even when the promise is based on an oath, there is a party who receives the terms of the covenant even if they are not aware of it.
    - Duration. The promise may last forever, or until one party breaks the covenant or until the terms are completed.
    - Rewards (Blessings). Making a covenant usually implies a benefit.
    - Consequences (Curses). Both rewards and punishment may be included in a covenant as an incentive to keep it and as grounds for termination.
    - Token (Sign). A covenant may include a sign or downpayment especially if the contract is of a long duration. Abraham walked through the land that he was promised (Genesis 13: 14-17). Circumcision was a sign of the covenant. When Jesus was circumcized or "cut off" at the cross it was a sign that God's part of the covenant was being kept. It was a downpayment of the full completion of the promise to remove sin (Genesis 17: 10-11,13).
    - Seal. Although the Gentiles were officially included in the New Covenant, this "new" covenant was still made with Israel and the Gentiles were included by adoption (grafted in). How was this not a change in the terms?
      From the beginning the promise was made to one person - the Seed of Eve. Abraham inherited this original covenant to be passed on to the one person who would fulfill it - God Himself. This is how this covenant with the nation of Israel was actually an oath of God who said, "by myself, I have sworn". By becoming a human, a Seed of Eve, who would be faithful to the covenant God guarantees that He will be able to fulfill the covenant without reservation. Christ became Israel - the last remaining faithful Prince. Jesus Christ bore the consequences, distributes the rewards and became the sign and guarantee of God's good intentions towards us.
- Terms. Some conditions of the contract may affect its start or termination.
  - Conditional. The contract will end or be enforced under certain conditions. e.g. Marriage is for life and only under death or adultery can a marriage be terminated.
  - Unconditional. There are no conditions under which the contract will be terminated or abandoned or delay enforcement. e.g. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. God's love is as permanent as marriage. Notice however that nothing in this promise guarantees the behavior of the second party. We can choose to separate from God and to stop loving God. God's love is unconditional, ours is not.
  The covenant is a conditional promise.
- Limited. Certain promises are limited and when they expire the Promise ends.
  - Israel. They have the promise because of Abraham's faith and obedience. Their mission was to act out the covenant, have God demonstrate it in their lives and have the blessings come with it.
  - Obedience. The covenant was dependent on their obedience. If not, God would be giving rewards for the wrong reasons.
  - In Season. They were Promises that rarely come in a particular season.
    Rain. That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. (Deuteronomy 11: 14)
- General Or Universal. Some promises apply generally, no matter our obedience. They are unconditional. Rain And Sun. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5: 45)
  - Unconditional (Prospering The Soul). . Some are unconditional. We don't have to do anything to receive it. It is in God's best interest that our souls will survie whatever challenge He gives it.
    - Salvation. His grace is sufficient for us. He compensates for our weakness by His strength.
      And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)
    - Temptation. We cannot be tempted more than we can bear it.
      No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (I Corinthians 10: 13)
    - Called And Chosen. Nothing can derail us, because we are called to withstand what we can bear. So everything will work out in the end.
      And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8: 28)
    So if you want to overcome, you will, but you have to have faith and not give up.
  - Conditional (Prospering The Body). Others are conditional and are based on our participation. These types of promises are related to the physical.
    - Assistance. He will help us.
    - Health. We will not be prone to diseases if we obey Him. It could happen though.
    - Protection. The righteous can guarantee that God hears them, but the wicked have no rights.
      Call Me Anytime. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me. But to the wicked God says, "What right have you to tell of My statutes and to take My covenant in your mouth? For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you." (Psalm 50: 15-17)
    - Prosperity. He will make sure that we are prosperous.
    - Long Life. A commandment with a promise.
      Ephesians 6: 1-3 says, "Obey and honor parents", so that we will have a long life.
    - Persecutions. We will get much more than we give.
      For The Gospel. Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10: 29-30)

Practically, promises do not work out as seamlessly as one would like, even when one takes into account the righteous behavior of the people. Job Jacob - every day has been evil, he told Pharaoh Abraham

Blessings And Curses.
Nobody has within them the power to supernaturally bring blessings or curses on you, especially the wicked. People have within them the powers that are available to all mankind. We can help or destroy through our actions and our resources. A criminal can take a life and a good man can help to educate a poor man. When we obey God we can drastically reduce the risk of having evil encounter our lives and we can drastically increase them.
Do Not Be Afraid Of Evil Men. Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. (Jeremiah 10: 2-5)
They Can Kill The Body. So What? And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Luke 12: 4-5)
Be afaid of God. He can kill both body and soul in hellfire.
God sends these, asssuming we have a covenant. If we have a covenant God will neglect us if we neglect Him..
Disasters. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favour of our God by turning away from our sins, giving attention to Your Truth. (Daniel 9: 13)

- Blessings. Prosperity ministries feed off the promises of blessings. They will tell you what God has promised you with a litany of tricks to separate you from your money.
  Send $10 to get $100 or $1000 to make $10,000.
  It is nonsense. You cannot give to receive. Someone is being cheated. This is NOT the gospel.
- Curses. The existence of diseases, negative events, unfulfilled hopes and desperation has led to another branch of supernatural ministries based on the curses. Witch doctors, astrologers, sooth-sayers, tea leaf readers, readers of omens and signs. Businesses that put on curses and remove curses. These claims are not only in realm of the occult but are alive and well among Christians.
  - Curses. This business of frightening people with curses are huge.
  - Generational Curses. Others claim that a curse from your ancestors is stalking you. While your ancestor might be the source of your problems, it is generally superstition and lack of common sense and forgiveness on the part of others that perpetuate these ongoing traumas.
    God says that a child will not be punished for his father, nor a father for his child.
    The lack of resources unavailable to the family as a result of the parents problems is simply that - the parents fault. The fact that we make children suffer for it is not God's fault.

Failing Promises.
The righteous also suffer the curses. Daniel was enslaved, turned into a eunuch. Jeremiah was badly treated, thrown into a pit and kidnapped by people who refused to listen to him, but it seemed as if they wanted him as a good luck charm. If they never intended to obey God, then how can they hope that his hair-brained schemes would turn out? Other prophets were dragged along with them. Why?
Despite their unfaithfulness God wanted to give them a witness and a hope - even though they don't intend to obey. This is the reason why we suffer.
. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. (1 Peter 4: 12-16)

- The Temptation Of Christ. Satan quoted scripture but Jesus refused to obey him.
  - Stones. He was hungry, but he never gave in quoting, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God".
  - Throw Yourself Down The Cliff. You should not put the Lord to the test.
  - Worship Me. I Will Give You The World. You should only worship God.
  Every promise must take into account God's instructions.
  Every promise must take into account not only the present, temporary physical need but the future implications. We are not living for the here and now, for me. We are fighting a battle for humanity.
- Greedy. Prosperity ministers train people to be greedy thinking that they are aiming for God's promises.
  Wrong Motives. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. (James 4: 3)
- Begging Bread. We are never forsaken, but we have begged or asked for assistance. This is just his observation it is not a promise. God arranges for the poor and He says they will always be with us.
  Never Seen It. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalm 37: 25)
- No Diseases. We might not get diseases that we actively avoid be we have communicable diseases that are contagious.
- Trouble. Martyrs can say this promise was not fulfilled. The reason why we call them martyrs is because they are dead! When they cried out to avenge their death. Jesus told them to wait. He cannot respond to them untill more martyrs are have been killed.
  Rescue Me. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me. (Psalm 50: 15)
- Never Die. Except for less than 24 people, every body who is over 130 years old has died.
  The wages of sin is death, but the gift of gift is eternal life.
  Jesus is speaking about the second death. The first death is just a sleep.
  It is never over until God says it is. It is a continuum.

  Past | Present | Future
  --- | --- | ---
  1st Death | Sleep | 2nd Death or Eternal Life
  Reality | Greatness of God | Wages | Promise Fulfilled | Gift

  In understanding God, we tend to focus on the here and now and the physical. God's concepts are bigger. Some of these promises can only be understood with God's perception of time.
- Move Mountains. We can move real mountains but we do not take God seriously. So we fail.
  . Jesus said, For truly I say unto you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain remove hence to yonder place; and it shall be moved; and nothing shall be impossible to you. (Matthew 17: 20)
- Never Hunger Or Thirst. You will be filled if you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
  Righteousness. Jesus said, I am the bread of life: he that comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. (John 6: 35)
- You Have A Cross. You have a cross to bear. You must take it up and follow Him.
- Never ....

Appeasing The Gods (Beads, Tokens And Talismans).
What is the difference? A pagan and his ritual prayers and tokens and our behavior? We have even elevated these to an art and a business. We are desperately trying to catch God's attention with everything except what he requires - Justice, mercy and walking humbly with God (obedience).
. What Does It Take. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6: 8)
But we think there is a short cut.

- Saints (Dead People). A whole sect speaks to anyone except God because God does not want to hear their prayers. Pray to Mary, all the dead popes and all the saints for the day and the saints who specialize in in one thing.
- People In The Know. God listens to special people. They are know how to be "godly".
- More People. If we ask more people to pray then we have a greater chance of inviting someone who God listens to or all the volume of prayers will make God give in.
- Prayer Formulas. Special prayers, special .objects, worn on special days. Use the prescribed prayers because we certainly cannot have people praying with their own words
  - Special Days. Once a year God hears the dead that are lost. On Fridays certain requests are handled.
  - Special Objects. On the first Tuesday of every month, wear a special piece of clothes for Mary to hear us.
  - Beads. Count your rote prayers with beads so that you don't miss one. What happens if you go over?
  - An Order Of Rituals. Bow, kiss a statue, light a candle then take out the beads and start praying.
  - A Prescribed Number (Much Prayers). Overwhelm the dead person who is going tp stand in line for a petition to god with you sincerity by the number of requests on your behalf. After all this is a competition. The most impressive display wins.
  - More Beads or Bigger Beads. Much beads gives much better chance of a response.
  - Money. God is impressed with money. A bigger check will get the pope to see you. Imagine what god will do for you.
- Sacrifices And Offerings. This is serious business. If you want god to hear you then you have to give soomething that costs something.
- Children. They are so innocent. God might hear them. They stared burning their children to Baal.

Enough!
All these things are getting between you and God. Yes, God does listen to some more than others but He will listen to the others if they will turn to Him. Besides nothing will change His mind if He has made a decision.
But never give up, because God can answer anything.
King Manasseh was wicked, yet he repented and God did not take the kingdom from him. It would happen to his grandson, the third generation. King Josiah was righteous, yet his repentance and turning the nation to God did not stop Babylon.

Excuses For God.
So when our promises fail and the world does not work in the way we imagined and God refuses to respond in the way we think He should, the faithful begin to make excuses for God. Generally, these excuses involve blaming the victim.
The most popular excuse for God is to blame some perceived failure of the seeker because they must have done something wrong, We cannot think that we don't know and that it is OK for us to wait for as long as it takes.

- Blaming The Victim. Some sins are nobodys fault. It is a random event that is caused as the planet gets older and weaker and an accumulation of genetic changes happen.
  God certainly does not cause people to be sick. He especially does not punish a child for his parents.
  His disciples asked, "who sinned Lord that he was born blind?" The assumption is that if you are living in a state of blessing, any sign of a curse (an obvious unwanted outcome) is the result of sin.
  Nobody sinned. No body, but that the power of God may be revealed.
  Who Sinned. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. (John 9: 2-3)
  Most often nobody sinned. It was a random mutation, even a genetic mutation that can be inherited. It is rare that this sort of event happens because God was trying to make a point. When He does, He only chooses his people.
  In the case of Job it was because he had done everything right.
- Blaming The Seeker. There must be something that they are no doing right.
  In the case of Christ this was the will of God to save the rest of humanity.
  - Pray Long Enough. The heathen believe that in much speaking God hears.
  - Pray Harder. If you are earnest enough and plead with enough shouting and emotion, God is impressed.
    Hide And Pray. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
    Louder! God Is Deaf! But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6: 6-8)
  - Pray More Often. Being persistent means you have to pray more often.
  - Confess Your Sins. You have a sin that is "blocking God's answer". While God will not hear you if you are doing wrong, this is most often not the case.
  This is all so wrong!
  The 450 prophets of Baal, prayed for 8 hours, shouting and cutting themselves, and still Baal would not answer. He could not, because he ws not a god and he had not learned how to dublicate this miracle with a cheesy knock-off that would impress stupid people.
  Then one man, Elijah, prayed in less than one minute and God answered with fire!.
- Self-Help. God helps those who help themselves. This advice must be in the heathen Bible, because it is not in God's.
- There Is No God. Then there are those who adjust their understanding of the power of God and fall into unbelief.
  - Misinterpret The Scriptures. We think that there is something faulty about our understanding.
  - Not Literal. We think that God made up stories to teach us.
  - Unbelief. We stop believing and choose a better "more scientific" understanding of life.
  - Myths And Fairy Tales. Since there is no God there must be inventors of wicked tales in the bible.
- No Excuses. God does not need us to explain why He behaves in a certain way. We just know that in the end we will realize that it was a righteous decision. We do not need to blame the seeker or the victim or give any advice about how to approach God.
  Prayer is supposed to be a natural step, as uncomplicated as walking. Tell God what is in your heart.

A Formula For Victory?
God always answers prayers and He always responds to everyone. So there must be a reason why we are not getting responses. Or are we? We have certain criteria to meet to receive help. The biggest excuse for God is to blame the seeker because he must be at fault.

- Try Asking. You do not get because you do not ask.
  Ask. Seek. Knock.. And I say to you, Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. For everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. (Luke 11: 9,10)
- Try Believing. God loves a person who takes His words at face value.
  All Things Believing. And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive. (Matthew 21: 22)
  The priests who walked into the Jordan river believed that God would open a way. So they stepped in the river. Only after trusting did the Jordan river part.
  If you are praying for rain, you need to carry an umbrella while the sun is shining. You have to prepare for your miracle, believe that it will happen and act like it will or is happening.
- Try Trusting. God is a good Father. This means that He has His pockets full of gifts.
  Gifts. If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that asks Him? (Luke 11: 13)
  The Holy Spirit is there if you ask and He comes immediately.
- In The Name Of Jesus. We attach these words to our prayers because we think that if we don't God won't hear them. We do not consider their implications. The problem with these words is that they have become that "just words" in the same way that the sacrifice was just another victim who was a substitute for us. The sacrifice was supposed to be in our home, being lovingly cared by us, for 5 days before it was sacrificed. We should have bonded with it. It should have torn us up to realized what it means. Instead it was jsut another animal, not us.
  The Father will also hear us.
- Holy Spirit. He brings gifts, teaches, woos, grants repentance, sorrow and washes us.
  - Sorrow And Repentance. He gives these without restriction to all.
  - Teaches. He teaches those who are willing to listen.
  - Washes And Cleanses. He does this if we accept it.
  - Distributes Gifts To Whom He Chooses. He grants these only to people whom He chooses. You can request a gift, but it is not your choice, it is His best choice
    » Name It And Claim It.
    God set apart the tribe of Levi as priests to work in His sanctuary and a system of contributions to support His work and His priests. After the exodus all the tribes received an inheritance of land, except the tribe of Levi. They received what God has.
    We cannot "name and claim" a specific gift. He chooses.
- Seek God First. First, seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, THEN all these things will be given to you.
  There is a process.
  There are basic things that God must answer immediately, every time. However, those who make requests for His kingdom have certain requirements they must meet. If you are a baby drinking milk, God cannot give you the keys to the car. If you are irresponsible God will not give you more responsibility.
  In the parable of the talents, he gave one more talents because he worked hard at doubling his, but punished the one who did not try. Your faithfullness shows. He gave every man according to his abilities. The ones with 5 and 2 talents doubled theirs. The one with one talent buried his.
  Their Abilities. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. (Matthew 25: 15, 28)
  - Abiding In Jesus. To abide in Jesus His words have to abide in you. You must have a relationship.
    Abiding In Jesus. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you will and it shall be done for you. (John 15: 7)
  - Ask Whatever You Will And It Is Done.
    In Jesus' Name. Whatsoever you shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it. (John 14:13,14)
    Will Give. That whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My Name He may give it to you. (John 15:16b)
    Now Ask. And in that day you shall ask Me nothing. Truly, truly I say to you, Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it to you. Hitherto have you asked nothing in My Name: ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:23,24)
    Freely. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things. (Romans 8:32)
    Call Upon The Lord. For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10: 13)
    Supplies All. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 19)
  - According To His Will. You have to know the will of God.
    Pleasing To Hims. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we should believe in His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (We do believe in His Son, and we do love one another.) (1 John 3: 22,23)
    Confidence. This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know, that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. (1 John 5: 14,15)
  - Partner. You and the Holy Spirt are two. So you do not need another human being to agree with you.
    Two Agree. Again I say to you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18: 19)
- Steadfast And Immovable. Remain confident that this will happen and do not waver.
  Sir Isaac Newton was born ahead of his time, about 400 years too early. God could not reveal His secrets to him, but He would give him the next best thing. He is still considered the most brilliant scientist and mathematician, even Albert Einstein. What secret did He think God has?
  Faith. But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that comes to God, must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11: 6)
  Not Wavering. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally and reproves not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like the wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (James 1: 5-8)
- No Doubting. He means a literal mountain, not a figurative one. He can move those too.
  Moving Impossible Things. Whosoever shall say unto this mountain. Be thou removed and be cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass: he shall have whatsoever he says. (Mark 11: 23, 24)
- So You Think You Are Perfect? The Job's friends advice. They thought that any sign of unfavorable events was proof that he must have transgressed. The fact that he kept insisting that he was innocent was their proof that he was an arrogant and unrepentant bastard who deserved to be pilloried on the nearest public square.
  They were wrong. He was right. If you believe and you know you have been faithful hang in there.

Adjusting The Formula.
Promises fail or cannot be immediately granted for a variety of reasons. There is nothing wrong with how Go works. There is however a failure of expectations and a failure to communicate. You refuse to hear the terms.

- Greedy.
  Fighting And Envying. From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
  Sinners. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
  Submit. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
  Humble. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4: 1-10)
- Wealth. He gives you the education, brains, family, friends, opportunity and arranges coincidences and a chance to seize a moment. Your ability is a power God gives in fulfillment of the blessing.
  Power. You might say to yourself, My power and the strength of my hands, has produced me, this wealth for me. But remember the Lord your God, for if is He, Who gives you the ability to produce great wealth and confirm the Covenant He made with your forefathers as it is today. (Deuteronomy 8: 17-18)
- Unfair. You might say God is unfair for a variety of reasons. But he gives you what you asked for. You set the price you thought was fair. He gives others what He believes will entice them.
  Same Wages. For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
  . And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
  More Workers At A Premium. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
  Payment. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
  Not Wronged. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
  . Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Matthew 20: 1-2, 8-16)
- Limited. The promise is not meant for you. Sometimes a promise is made for either one person or a sma;; group to accomplish a specific task for which they have qualified.
  Jesus was the single Seed promised to Eve. Judah was the family through which the Seed would come. Israel was the nation who would produce the Seed.
- Timing. While timing does not matter with many things, with some there is a precise moment. Too early or too late would create a significant loss. Jesus came at the right time. A confluence of events caused the right circumstances in which He came at the darkest hour.
- Unlimited. Perhaps God wants to work with the status quo.
- Creating Your Own Answers. Most of us settle for self help and adjustment of our beliefs. Most of us think we still believe in God but we do not.

Promises That Must Be Kept Immediately.

- Repentance. He must give us repentance if we seek it because the realization that we need to repent is critical.
- Forgiveness. He must rescue us from the blood avenger. One we have genuinely repented He must forgive.
- Fruit Of The Spirit. The fruit is our change in charaacter. This is what he hopes to accomplish, so it is His mission to grants us these.
- Gifts Of The Spirit. These are rare gifts and are only given in season and to whom He grants it. The Spirit is only given to those who obey Him. Once these rare powers are granted He has to answer the request because God's reputation is on line. They must be answered or God will be seen as impotent and no better at controlling natural events than a medical doctor.
  - Power. You have overwhelming power.
  - Healing. You can change the course of sickness to health, innediately.
  - Power Over Life And Death. You can raise the dead.
  - Power Over Nature. You have the power over nature.
- Immediate Assurance. In regards to other promises you can be assured that whatever He gives you, He will remember you.
  - In His Image. You have His divine nature, made in His image.
    Divine Nature. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. (2 Peter 1: 4)
  - Peace. No matter what we have no fear.
    Peace. But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm. (Proverbs 1: 33)
    Peace. I am leaving you with a gift peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. (John 14: 27)
  - Good Plans. All His plans for you are good.
    Good Plans. They are not burdensome. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29: 11)
    A Light Yoke. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11: 28-29)
  - Assurance. We are confident that we will have victory and be safe.
    Victory! No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow�not even the powers of hell can separate us from God�s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below�indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 37-39)
    Safe. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10: 9)
  - Care. We are being well cared for.
    Takes Care Of Us. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
    Free Gift. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6: 23)
  - Restored. Our strength will be restored.
    New Strength. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40: 29-31)
  An atheist or a disobedient sinner cannot receive the spiritual gifts of power.

In His Time.
God Stores requests and answers them all at once. "There is a season and time for everything".
. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8)
All prayers and not answered as they are requested. The seasonal feasts teach us about when certain requests are handled. God stores requests and answers them all at once.

- Yom Kippur. This season is for judgment and God answers all requests for vengeance for His people at one time.
- The Martyrs. In Revelation the martyrs are told to wait until all martyrs are killed then he will answer at the same time. No prayers are ever unanswered. You will live to see it, even if it means you are resurrected.
- Rewarded. In the same manner, all the saints are rewarded at one time. They are not handed out as you die. One group will not precede another, with people trickling in as they die. Everybody will see it and experience it at the same time.
- Resurrection. None precede others, the exception is the first fruit.
- Passover. This is the work for God alone to do. He must be crucified as a ransom to Satan.
- A Season. The Holy Spirit brings the rain in its seasons, but there are other seasons. In this life we will pass through many seasons where we will experience certain events and this life and then they will cease. When the wicked are to be terminated at the final judgment, this is when we will no longer experience one of these.
  - Birth And Death. Once a fact of life, death will no longer exist.
  - Plant And Pluck Up. The wicked will be plucked up, root and branches.
  - Kill And Heal. After they are gone we will heal.
  - Break Down And Build Up. After they are broken down we can build up.
  - Weep and Laugh. We will laugh again.
  - Mourn And Dance. After we have mourned our losses.
  - Cast Stones And Gather Stones. We will throw away the wicked like an infection in a house.
  - Embrace And Not Embrace. We will not embrace them.
  - Get And Lose. We get life and they get death.
  - Keep And Cast Away. God keeps us and casts them away.
  - Rend And Sew. They have torn apart the creation, now we will sew it together.
  - Silent And Speak. Their trial will be their time to speak and defend themselves and then be silent.
  - Love And Hate. We will hate Amalek, a type of Satan, forever.
  - War And Peace. After the war of Armageddon, the universe will be at peace.

Presumption.
A person who acts with presumption deliberately places themselves in danger so that God can show His power.

- Satan. Satan tried to tempt Jesus to test God. Jesus' response shows the practical side of God and the purpose of these promises. When evil persecutes you then God may fulfill these promises.
  However it is sin to try to force the hand of God, because it is wreckless behaviour.
  Jump Off A Cliff! God Will Save You! Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. (Matthew 4: 5-6)
  The Wicked Fall. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
  The Rigteous Saved. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. (Psalm 91: 7-12)
  Satan was quoting a promise that was written for the time when the wicked will receive their reward. In the destrution the righteous will be spared. At hell fire they will see the reward of the wicked.
  Do Not Test God! Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Matthew 4: 7)
- Snake Handlers. They see Jesus' promise as a divine directive. Proof signs are not what you do. It is what God does. Whole denominations are babbling in "tongues" like idiots and they have not even begun to meet the simplest criterion - speaking in a real language. How can this feat of GOd be tested if you are not required to speak a language that nobody understands?
  Proof Signs. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
  Casting Out Devils And Tongues. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
  Venomous Snakes And Deadly Poison. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
  The Sick Healed. they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16: 16-18)
- Judas. His actions were meant to force Jesus to use His power to take the kingdom of Israel by force from the Romans. God does not use force. He probably thought that Jesus needed a little push in the right direction. He broke many laws to achieve his goals, never once considering that Jesus would not break the law, nor force anyone to do his will.
  You must "turn the other cheeks" and "go the extra mile".
  No Force. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5: 39)
  Do The Extra Mile. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. (Matthew 5: 41)
  The end never justifies the means.
- Martyrs. In our era there are a group of people who will murder themselves and others and call this act martyrdom.
  A martyr does not kill himself for God. He tries to avoid it.
  A true martyr is one who is captured and killed while boldly doing the righteous service of God. A martry may refuse to sin and refuse to deny His God even under penalty of death.
  This position is different from being caught in an immoral act that is justified by appealing to obeying God. Robbing a bank to finance your cause or making yourself a human bomb to blow up "infidels" is not martyrdom. Being killed for publicly praying to God in your own home in defiance of laws out-lawing religion is martyrdom.
- Jesus: The Martyr. If it possible let this cup pass from me ... but nevertheless, not my will by your will. He was not going to "marytr" Himself and take all infidels with Him. He was trying to save the life of His enemies.
  He Dreaded The Ordeal. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26: 38-39)
  No Retribution. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
  Love Your Enemies. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5: 38-39)

Faith.
Faith is directly related to the claims and promises of God. He will deliver what he has promised and He will respond to every petition. When promises fail or seem to fail, how does the true person of faith respond?

- Evidence. There is this notion that faith is based on a sight-unseen stab in the dark and cross your fingers type of scheme. This is far from thes fact. Faith is based on the best evidence there could possibly be. So if God says something we are certain it will happen even if we have never seen it before. The evidence of faith not seen is based on believing God because He has shown Himself trustworthy in the past so your faith is based on God as a guarantor of his claims.
  The Evidence Is God. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11: 1)
- Promises. They are made in anticipation of what He plans to do.
  - No Excuses For God. We make no uninformed or ignorant excuses for God.
  - Comforts The Seeker. We comfort others instead of trying to find answers we know nothing about.
  - Death. God does not let a little thing like death bother Him or thwart His plans. You have to think like God. So death does not derail His plans and not ours.
- Faith (Believe, Trust, Expect). We believe Him, trust in His word and the promises He gave us. We will expect a response even if we do not know when. So we wait.
  If we are dead then our children will wait for us.

Rejoicing In Adversity.
The heroes of faith show us how it done and what God admires.

- Blessings. It can be said with confidence that the heroes were not blessed.
- Suffering Like Christ. They walked in the sufferings of Christ and are blessed to share in His suffering.
  - The Master. We are no better than Him. If they treat Him like garbage then step in line and be priveleged to suffer the same.
    A Slave Of God. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (John 15: 20)
  - Expect Trials (Not Unusual). So trials are not unusual. You should expect them.
    Not Strange. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
    Suffer Like Christ. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
    A Criminal Get What He Deserves. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
    A Christian Should Be Proud. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. (1 Peter 4: 12-16)
  - Prison. He was falsely arrested and condemned, dying like a criminal.
    . But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. (Luke 21: 12)
  - Homeless. He had no place to live as an adult. As a child he was born in a barn (a cave for animals) and then grew up in a ghetto. To represent man, He had to be placed in this type of no-frills life to suffer like us.
    . And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Luke 9: 58)
  - Hungry. He could perform miracles to multiply food, yet he ate what was provided for the poor.
  - In Want And Lack Of Things. He lived in poverty and lack and died as such.
- Types of Trials. So we should not faint at hardships but remember that this is how He suffered and nothing God allows is out of the ordinary or what you cannot handle.
  - Common To Man. God will not give you more than you can bear but will make a way to escape it.
    . There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10: 13)
    - Natural Disasters. You have weak structures or live in areas prone to disaster.
    - Accidents. Random events.
    - Health Problems. Either a genetic mutation or a lifestyle time bomb.
    God could save us and Satan could destroy us, but these sorts of events are due to our world and our bodies getting old and genetically degrading.
  - The Works Of Perfection. What you experience is designed to take the cheap metal and reveal the nugget of gold.
    A Test Of Perfection. The good work He has begun will lead to perfection. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philipians 1: 6)
  - God Does No Tempt Us. Tempting means that you are being enticed to sin. God can never do that because that is a sin in itself. God tests you with hardship and other righteous methods, but none of them wil be sin. Satan tempted Eve with evil and he tempted Jesus to sin. God gave him a hard life so that he could "learn obedience through trials". God has given us a hard life for that same reason.
    School Of Hard Knocks. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
    Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5: 7-9)
    He learned how to obtain victory.
    No Temptation. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (James 1: 13)
  - Endurance. God will test you, but not tempt you with sin, but you must endure.
    Hang In There! And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Mark 13: 13)
- Restitution. We will receive what we lost a hundred times over. We may have to wait unitl God's kingdom is here.
  - Receive All That Was Lost. We will get back everything multiplied. This is promised now, in this life and in the world to come.
    . And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. (Mark 10: 29-31)
    And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Matthew 19: 29)
- The Faithful Are Persecuted. They risk their lives for Him.
  - Faced With Death. They took the challenge.
    . And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. (Revelation 12: 11)
  - Evil. When Pharaoh asked Jacob about his life, he said that he lived shorter than his forefathers and every day has been evil.
    Evil Years. And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. (Genesis 47: 9)
  - The Unfaithful Are Not Persecuted. It is more likely that if you are not faithful, you will not be persecuted. Since He does not tempt men, He leaves them alone if this is the only life they choose. Therefore, it is Satan who tries his best to discourage us.
- Chosen Vessel. Sometimes some people are asked to endure and incredible amount of suffering. In this case God actually lets you see some of what you will experience. It is a carefully planned life that models the life of Christ.
  Planned Suffering. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 9: 15-16)
- The Faithful Examples. These Hebrews 11 group never got anything that they were promised.
  The Faithful. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
  Faith. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
  Fiery Trials. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
  Stoned. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
  A Good Report. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11: 32-48)
  We are not worthy of them.

My Favourite Promises.
My favorite promises are not about what God gives us but about the incredible love and emotion He has towards us. Caregivers can give excellent care without having the incredible bonds of parent and child. God is much more than a responsible and ethical Care Giver. God is lovingly devoted to the human race. Therefore I reason that if I am loved with such magnificent devotion then nothing that God does or appears to do or not do for me will be interpreted as malice or intention of harm or neglect.

- Strong Support. It makes sense for God to strongly support those who will do His will.
  Intently Seeking For Me. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. ... (2 Chronicles 16: 9)
- Inseparable. Through this promise I realize that if I am separated from God it will be because I choose to be separaed because of the influence my own stubborness and pride or works and influence of others.
  No Circumstance. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
  No Enemy Or Obstacle. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 35-39)
  Satan is constantly accusing us while he and his angels are working diligently to make us fail.
  Nobody can complain to God about us to make Him change His mind about us.
  Similarly, no adverse circumstance should make me change my mind about how much God loves us. If I am ever separated from God it will be because I believe the propaganda against God more than I trusted His love for us.
- He Will Not Forget. He has not forgotten and your work is not in vain.
  Not Unjust. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. (Hebrews 6: 10)
- The Broken-Hearted. He is close to us and comforts us.
  Close. The Lord is close to the broken hearted The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34: 18)
- The Poor And Unfortunate. He knows our pain and sorrows.
  He Sympathises. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. (1 Samuel 2: 7)
- The Only One. Who else will help us?
  Who Do We Trust? Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73: 25-26)
- The Good News. God loves the poor.
  Tidings To The Poor. The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. (Isaiah 61: 1-3)
- My Hearts Desire. God will reveal your righteousness.
  Wait Patiently. Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD; and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass (Psalm 37: 3-7)
  Refuge. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us. (Psalm 62: 7-8)
- Comfort. His experience helps Him to comfort us.
  In Affliction. This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant. let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word. (Psalm 119: 50, 76, 169)
  In Tribulation. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1: 3-4)
  Comforting. I even I, am He who comforts you (Isaiah 51: 12a)
- Consolation. This comfort brings hope.
  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. (2 Thessalonians 2: 16-17)
  Death Valley. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23: 4)
- No Disgrace. Prosperity ministers will see wealth in this promise but when we examine the lives of the faithful what we see is that the righteous are promised public vindication in the eyes of their peers before they die. Martyrs die in disgrace in the eyes of their enemies who rejoice in triumph over them. However among their peers this is not evidence of God's neglect or their failure but of admirable faith and devotion. So even for those who have the gift of martyrdom, this promise is also true.
  Recompense. Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (Luke 18: 28-30)
  Moses was permitted to see the Promised Land from afar but he could not enter it. Abraham died without seeing all the promises of God but he lived to see the miracle of Isaac, the child of the promise, while his wife and servants were still alive.
  Jesus died but He was resurrected in three days. His friends and enemies saw it in His lifetime and they will see His glorious return at the end of time.
  Coming Back. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1: 7)
  In all these examples the people who lived with them during their struggles saw the fulfillment and they were able to see enough of the promise before they died. They did not die in disgrace in the midst of their peers.
  We will all receive ultimate vindication at the Second Coming when our lost enemies watch with envy as we triumph and those enemies who are saved finally realize that they are wrong. However, does it matter then? Isn't it a greater triumph for them to understand that this was God's will while we are still in this life of uncertainty. Now our struggles mean something. In the future it will not matter any more.
  If they are preaching about wealth without the cross and Jesus in a cadillac, they are promoting another Jesus and another gospel.

Study to show yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2: 15 | Time: 70 minutes Print: 14 pages
Copyright First Created 26 January 2010. Credits: The Holy Spirit and personal experience. Author: Laverna Patterson. Editor: Patterson (January 2010)