Our study this week is on "How to become a promises believer". Last week we looked at some guiding principles for believing the promises of God. God's Word is full of promises for us. But it is like the man who owns a goldmine. He can't enjoy the benefits of it until he gets in there and digs out a few nuggets.
Some Christians seem to rise far above the average. It is because they become promises believers. Every area of our Christian life is based upon the promises of God. So every believer ought to strive to become a promises believer.
I. Let's look at a couple of biblical examples of promises believers.
A. Abraham:
1. Note: Ro. 4:18-21
2. Abraham 'staggered not'...usually we associate staggering with one's walk.
3. Abraham's walk with God did not become unsure or wavering.
4. He was 'fully persuaded'...totally convinced that what God said; He would do!
5. That is being a promises believer!
B. The Widow of Zarephath.
1. Note: 1Kings 17:8-16
2. Notice again that the promise was conditional. v14
3. Four truths we can see from this passage concerning this promises believer:
a. We are to believe God's promises regardless of the circumstances. v12
b. God's promises are intended to remove fear from our lives. v13
c. Believing God's promises may seem to involve some personal risk. v15
d. When we live by faith in the promises, God will always supply. v16
II. How To Become a Promises Believer.
A. Know that God wrote every promise hoping you would believe.
1. Jer 33:3, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."
2. God delights in showing His power unto us.
3. Remember the promise from Lu 6:38? "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
4. Peter said that the Lord gave us exceeding great and precious promises...He desires for us to believe them!
B. Reject every thought that would cause you doubt the promises of God.
1. Pro 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
2. Trusting with all our hearts leaves no room for doubting the promises of God.
3. The enemy attacks our minds and the way that we think.
4. Paul admonishes us to bring "...into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" cf 2Co. 10:5
5. Ro. 14:23b, "...Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Doubt does not come from God! Faith does!
C. Realize that God is able to do even more than He has promised.
1. God's promises are the beginning, not the end!
2. Ep 3:20, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,"
3. Men do well to live up to the expectation of their promises, but God is able to do far more than what He promises!
D. Memorize God's promises.
1. Ps 119:11, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
2. We can't stand on the promises if we don't know what they are!
3. We ought to try to learn at least one promise a week.
E. Put God's promises into practice in your personal life.
1. We talked about the importance of this last week.
2. Jas 2:17, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
3. We cannot truly believe the promises of God until we act upon them by faith.
The difference between some believers and other believers is the matter of believing the promises of God. Let's determine to become promises believers!