February 12 | The Promise of Joy

Series | The Promises of God

Scripture | Psalms 126:5-6, “5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”

Lesson 12 | The Promise of Joy

In this world you will get hurt.  You will suffer great pain.  You will bury loved ones, hear of innocent people being abused, and have let downs that will crush your heart into a million pieces.  During those times you will cry and bleed on the inside like you never imagined you could.  There is no instant cure, no protective gear for your heart, and it will not go away as fast as it came.  Sometimes the pain will last far longer than the tragedy itself.

However, as much as your weep and shed tears is to the degree that God promises to heal you.  The above verse is not a “light hearted easy answer” to your deepest hurts but rather it is a timeless promise built upon the very nature of God and the work of Jesus on the cross. 

God doesn’t want you to hold back your tears, pretend it doesn’t hurt, or even try to run away from the pain.  He wants you to take it head on with Him.  Why?  Because He will be with you through every tear you cry and make your tears seeds of joy.  And at some point, God promises to give you a harvest of joy for every tear you have cried.

As a result, though in this world you will suffer great pain, you will also have great joy that will overcome all your sorrows.  In this world the Spirit of God will fill you with inexpressible joy and the pain will pass.  The pain may last the night, but your joy will come in morning.  That simply means, there will be a time of hurt, but as surely as the sun rises, there will also be a time of joy. 

You will be overcome with happiness and inner peace beyond what words can explain.  You will have so much overflowing joy that others around you will want to know your secret.  Your joy will bring others to know Jesus as their Shepherd.

This doesn’t mean you will forget the experience of pain, loss, or let down; however, it means that you do not have to live with the agonizing pain from the things that hurt you.  You will reap joy from your tears because of God’s great love for you.  You will find your joy in God and for that reason His light will dispel the darkness of night and bring forth the morning. 

Reflection | Do you believe God’s joy is greater than your pain and sorrow?

Action | (1) Think of the greatest pain you are facing in life right now. (2) Ask God to heal your broken heart and give you His overflowing joy.  (3) Lastly, wait on the Lord in prayer and worship until the night passes and the morning comes!   

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Exodus 34:1-35:9, Matthew 27:15-31, Psalm 33:12-22, &Proverbs 9:1-6.  Click here to read online.

February 11 | The Promise of Love

Series | The Promises of God

Scripture | Psalms 23:6, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Lesson 11 | The Promise of Love

Psalm 23 is probably the most famous Psalm in the entire world.  We all know how it starts out,“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”  However, most people by the time they get to the end simply recite the words without really understanding them or the promise they bring. 

Today’s passage from Psalm 23 David proclaims, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.”  Therefore, take just a few moments to hear the wonderful promise that God is giving all His sheep today.  He is promising that no matter where you go, goodness and love will follow you.

In other words, you cannot out run His love or get so lost that love can’t find you.  Today, you have a powerful promise from your Shepherd that He will always love you and give you the goodness of His will.  You will never face a time in life where God’s love is not present.

Paul went on in the New Testament to say the following about God and His love for you in Romans 8:38-39, “38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”   

As a result, believe and receive the great love that God has for you.  He promised that His love is with you right now- it followed you from the time you woke up this morning! 

Reflection | Are you aware of God’s love for you today?

Action | (1) Take some time to meditate on God’s great love for. (2) Remember to never allow your present troubles to make you forget that God’s love is always with you.  (3) Lastly, share God’s love with others today!

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Exodus 32:1-33:23, Matthew 26:69-27:14, Psalm 33:1-11, & Proverbs 8:33-36.  Click here to read online.

February 10 | The Promise of Hope

Series | The Promises of God

Scripture | 1 Peter 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Lesson 10 | The Promise of Hope

Webster’s definition of hope is, “to expect with confidence.”  Living in the world today we face unprecedented violence, global catastrophes, and hopelessness with every news report.  However, God the Father promises to give us a living hope through Jesus Christ.  This “living hope” is the certain expectation of His salvation in this world and from this world.

We have both the hope of overcoming every situation we face in this life and to one day be with Him forever in glory for all of eternity.  Therefore, we shouldn’t lose our hope when we face all kinds of troubles in this world.  Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  Thus, we as God’s children can have full confidence in Jesus’ power to protect us and deliver us from all our troubles.

What kind of troubles are you facing in your life today- marriage troubles, money hardships, relationship problems, joblessness, or maybe inner fears and turmoil?  Whatever you are facing today God promises to give you hope beyond the scope of your human limitations.  God’s supernatural power is able to intervene in your natural circumstances and perform mighty deeds.

You do not have a hope or a wish like a lottery player, but you have a real living and active hope because your confident expectations as based on who God is- not on random chance!  And our God is a good God- He will not disappoint you or let your hope be put to shame, Psalm 25:3.  Therefore, ask Jesus to fill your heart today with hope in His plan for your life!   

Reflection | What are you hoping for today?

Action | (1) Write down three things you are hoping for in this life.  (2) Search God’s Word in prayer and ask Him to give you hope in each area according to His Word.  (3) Lastly, ask God to fill your heart with hope in each area by His Holy Spirit.    

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Exodus 30:11-31:18, Matthew 26:47-68, Psalm 32:1-11,Proverbs 8:27-32.  Click here to read online.

February 9 | The Promise of Faith

Series | The Promises of God

Scripture | Romans 10:17 (KJV), “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Lesson 9 | The Promise of Faith

Have you ever lost your faith?  Maybe there was a situation you faced and it didn’t go the way you prayed and now you don’t have the same kind of faith in God you used too?  Well, never fear- God’s Word is here!  Faith is not a mysterious substance that just comes and goes without explanation.  Paul in the above passage teaches that “faith cometh by hearing the Word of God,”thus if you’re hearing the Word of God faith is coming to you!

On the other hand, unbelief comes when the Word of God isn’t being heard.  Meaning, if you’re not meditating and believing God’s Word you will start to believe and meditate on your own doubts.  As a result, you will not have faith but unbelief.  And God teaches in Hebrews 11:6, “…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  Therefore, faith and trust in God is necessary to pleasing God and receiving all of His promises.

However, if you stop having faith for whatever reason, you aren't to remain in unbelief but you should rather repent and go back to the Word of God to receive new and increasing faith.  For Paul said, “faith comes” whenever you hear the Word of God.  So it doesn't matter whether you listen to the audio Bible, read the Word of God to yourself, or even go to church to hear Bible preaching- faith will come fresh and new to you.

Thus, for you to receive all the other promises of God you will need faith.  Today, do you desire to increase in faith for something you are facing?  If so, read God’s Word and let faith fill your heart by God’s Spirit.  

Reflection | Do you have increasing faith? 

Action | (1) Search your heart to see if you have any unbelief. (2) Repent of all of unbelief and lack of trust in God and His promises.  (3) Lastly, read the Word of God faithfully and speak His promises out loud so faith will always be in your heart.

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Exodus 29:1-30:10, Matthew 26:14-46, Psalm 31:19-24, &Proverbs 8:14-26.  Click here to read online.

February 8 | The Promise of Healing

Series | The Promises of God

Scripture | 1 Peter 2:24, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

Lesson 8 | The Promise of Healing

I believe the most difficult promise to share with people on this earth is the promise of physical healing.  The reality of suffering and devastating pain in the form of sickness and disease can cause even the greatest among us to question God’s goodness.  A parent having to cope with a child that has cancer raises more doubt about our God’s existence and goodness than all the greatest atheistic arguments combined.

Here are just some of the questions I hear from people concerning God and suffering, “Why does a good God allow the world to have sickness and pain?”  “Why does pain and suffering affect children?”  And lastly, “Why do bad things like sickness and disease happen to good people?”  These kinds of questions were even asked by the greatest people in the Bible and God’s answer was always the same.  The reason for sickness is sin.  When Adam and Eve sinned, the perfect world was affected with sin and sin brought sickness, suffering, and death.

This doesn’t mean people who are sick are being punished because of their own personal sin or that they are under a personal curse.  The idea of sickness being a form of punishment actually comes from the religion of Hinduism and the concept of Karma.  Karma is the false belief that teaches what one person did in a past life will affect them in the next life.  Hence, the reason for so many poor and impoverished people in India because to the religious followers of Karma- the crippled, sick, and poor are that way because of their previous sinful life.

However, the Bible teaches the opposite.  The Bible teaches all throughout, but especially in Romans 1-7, that because of Adam’s sin, the penalty of sin, sorrow, and sickness has been dealt to all of mankind.  Some may experience these things differently but no one is free from them- everyone will be sick, have sin, and face sorrows.  For this reason Jesus came to die on the cross and break the curse of sin over all mankind.  This promise of healing comes in the same prophecy as the promise of forgiveness of sin and comfort from sorrow.  Therefore, according to Isaiah 53, in which Peter is referring to in the above passage, Jesus on the cross removed all of our sins, sorrows, and sicknesses. 

As a result, we can pray for healing on this earth and believe that God wants to heal us.  Plus, we can be sure that when we die, all of our sickness will forever be done away with as we receive our new perfect resurrected bodies.  Therefore, in your greatest challenges with sickness and disease look to Jesus and the cross for healing and total restoration- both in this life and the one to come.

Reflection | Do you believe Jesus is your healer?

Action | (1) Ask God to remove any doubt or offense you may have towards Him because of the troubles you have faced in life. (2) Ask God to heal all of your sicknesses and diseases, including for those people who are sick in your life.  (3) Lastly, have faith in God that He is your Healer in this life and in the one to come.

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Exodus 28:1-43, Matthew 25:31-26:13, Psalm 31:9-18, &Proverbs 8:12-13.  Click here to read online.

February 7 | The Promise of Spiritual Gifts

Series | The Promises of God

Scripture | 1 Corinthians 12:7, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

Lesson 7 | The Promise of Spiritual Gifts

Imagine if Jesus had a party like the kind you went to when you were younger where the host gives everyone a gift of some kind- candy, little toys, etc.  Consider at some point during the party if Jesus came out with the gifts and started handing them out to only a few people.  Now imagine if there were fifty people in the room, but Jesus only gave the first twelve people a gift.  Now imagine if Jesus had promised that everyone who had come would receive a gift.  How would you feel if you weren’t one of the people receiving a gift?  I know I would be hurt and probably would walk over to Jesus and ask Him, “Why didn’t I get a gift?”  And I would also ask, “Why did you promise everyone a gift, if you weren’t going to give one to everybody?” 

In the same way with spiritual gifts I find it funny and sad when I hear well-intentioned preachers teach that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were only for the first century believers or that today only a certain chosen few are given the gifts.  The Bible teaches the exact opposite.  Paul said in the above verse that the “manifestation” or “appearance” of the Spirit is given to “each one” and is “given for the common good.”  He also went on to teach in 1 Corinthians 12:11 after naming the nine gifts of the Spirit, “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”

Plus, Peter on the Day of Pentecost when the baptism of the Holy Spirit was given for the first time with the evidence of speaking in other tongues stated in Acts 2:39, “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off –for all whom the Lord our God will call.”  Therefore, you have a promise today to be given not only the baptism of the Holy Spirit but also the gifts of the Spirit just as He determines.

Going back to the previous example of Jesus and the party- one wouldn’t expect Jesus to give the same gift to everyone but one would expect everyone to receive a gift if Jesus had promised to do so.  Therefore, God determines at any particular service or time who is given, (1) the message of wisdom, (2) the message of knowledge, (3) the gift of faith, (4) the gifts of healing, (5) the gift of miraculous powers, (6) the gift of prophecy, (7) the gift of distinguishing between spirits, (8) the gift of speaking in different kinds of tongues, and (9) the gift of interpretation of tongues.

But on the other had, everyone baptized in the Holy Spirit is given the supernatural ability to pray in tongues as the evidence to receiving the Father’s Promise.  As a result, every Holy Ghost filled believer is eligible to be used in the other nine gifts of the Holy Spirit for the common good in public whenever the Spirit wills it.  Therefore, receive the promise and eagerly desire to be used in the spiritual gifts, 1 Corinthians 14:1!  

Reflection | Do you desire to be used in the gifts of the Spirit?

Action | (1) Ask God to remove all doubt and bad teaching concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (2) Ask God to baptize you with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.  (3) Lastly, be open and ready for the Spirit to give you His gifts for the good of all!   

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Exodus 26:1-27:21, Matthew 25:1-30, Psalm 31:1-8, &Proverbs 8:1-11.  Click here to read online.

February 6 | The Promise of the Holy Spirit

Series | The Promises of God

Scripture | Acts 1:4-5, “4 …Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Lesson 6 | The Promise of the Holy Spirit

Jesus promised the disciples before He ascended to heaven that He would send them the Holy Spirit, the third person in the God nature.  He called the Holy Spirit, “the Father’s promise.”  Jesus then said that as John the Baptist baptized people in water, He was going to baptize them with the Holy Spirit. 

In Acts 1:8 Jesus then declares, “…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.”  And further in Acts 2:4 Luke, the writer of Acts, records, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”  Therefore, Jesus kept His Word and the disciples received the Father’s promise- the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.

Have you received the Father’s promise since being born again?  If not, ask Jesus today to baptize you with the Holy Spirit and endue you with great power.  After you have prayed, patiently wait on the Lord to confirm His gift by listening in your heart for a language you have never learned.  Once you hear this new language in your spirit begin to speak it out with boldness because you have been given the gift of speaking in tongues as the evidence of your baptism in the Spirit.

Now today and the rest of your life, pray in your new heavenly language, as often as you can because Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:4, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.” Therefore, receive the promise of the Holy Spirit and build yourself up in your most holy faith by praying in the Spirit!  And live as witness for Jesus wherever you go!   

Reflection | Have you received the Father’s promise yet?

Action | (1) If you haven’t received the Father’s promise with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, make time today to receive it. (2) If you have the Father’s gift, take time today to pray in other tongues.  (3) Lastly, be a witness for Jesus everywhere you go!

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Exodus 23:14-25:40, Matthew 24:29-51, Psalm 30:1-12, &Proverbs 7:24-27.  Click here to read online.