383 - The Promises of God Are Real Regardless of Their Number#
383 - The Promises of God Are Real Regardless of Their Number
(JP Text Group - Shalom Compilation)
Dear family, peace in the Lord, and welcome to your arrival.
The topic of sharing is: The Promises of God Are Real Regardless of Their Number.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22:
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise You. Thank You for preparing such a wonderful time for us to come before You. We live in Your promises and draw from Your promises. Every day is filled with hope; Your promises, regardless of their number, are Yes in Christ. Through Jesus Christ, we receive all of God's promises. You are a faithful God; You desire for us to live out Your image, to live out the image of God, so that You may be glorified and we may be blessed! Lord, thank You for preparing this time for us to know You more, to change our lives through the truth, and to change our living. Thank You and praise You, bless all the brothers and sisters who seek You, so that we may all receive supply from You. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen.
The topic of sharing is: The Promises of God Are Real Regardless of Their Number.
What do the promises of God refer to? They refer to the commitments made to us. After believing in the Lord, we have established a covenant with the Father in Heaven, a covenant established by the blood of Jesus, which is an everlasting covenant known as the New Covenant. In this covenant, God has given us many promises, including salvation, life, victory, glory, and also peace, blessings, health, abundance, and everything we need He has supplied us.
The purpose of the promises of God written in the Bible is to give to us. When reading the Bible, do not think that it is written for the Israelites, or that it is just a historical book that records what Jesus did, or that it is merely a letter written to a certain church. You should see it as written for you. When you feel that the words are for you and receive them, they become yours. Amen.
The promises of God, regardless of their number, are Yes in Christ. This means that no matter how many promises God has, how many commitments there are, through Jesus, all of these will be given to us, which can be understood as all will be given to me. Hallelujah! What is given to us through Jesus has no curse, only God's abundant promises; what is given to us through Jesus is freely given, not because we have worked hard or have good behavior, but God gives freely! And with God's words as our firm faith, the one who anoints us is God, meaning that God gives us this power, and the one who adds strength to us is this God, not through our own efforts.
Another point is that the Holy Spirit dwells in us, which is the guarantee of our inheritance. The Holy Spirit will testify with your heart that God's words are true. Hallelujah! I want to emphasize again that all of God's promises are given to us through Christ, not based on human good behavior, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-10:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
This passage of scripture is very clear; our salvation is by God's grace. Through believing, we receive the grace of Christ and are saved by Him, which has nothing to do with our behavior. Before God's promises, we are recipients, and there is nothing to boast about, not even a little! No matter how hard we try, we cannot earn God's salvation or grace. The best things that God has created for us are all free, but when people create something, they must charge for it because they have put in a lot of effort and labor and need a return. But Jesus is not like that; He has accomplished everything and gives it to us freely. As long as we receive it, we have it, and it allows God to be glorified.
Some people ask, after receiving God's salvation and blessings, what should we do? We receive God's blessings and then give them out so that more people can see God's goodness; this is doing good. Hallelujah! So the gospel is very simple; God gives it to us through Jesus. After we receive it, we gain His benefits, understand His salvation, and give salvation freely to others, living it out through us. This is what God desires for us to do; God hopes that more people receive salvation and promises. We have needs and lacks; why do we believe in Jesus? Because we need the life of Jesus and need to live a victorious life like Jesus.
All of God's promises are certain, real, and Amen in Christ because God will be responsible for what He says. When a person fully believes that God's promises will be fulfilled, they will surely see the fulfillment of those promises. Our God will be glorified, and those around us will see that God is real! Mark 16 mentions: "And these signs will follow those who believe," confirming that God's word is true. Through these things, people will know that God truly exists; although we cannot see Him with our eyes, we can experience Him in our lives.
Through His words, experiencing His words, we know that He is real and reliable. God tells us that He will strengthen us, and the Holy Spirit in our hearts serves as a guarantee. When a sinner accepts Jesus, believing that Jesus shed His blood for their sins on the cross and rose from the dead three days later, the Holy Spirit will enter and dwell in their heart, becoming a permanent guarantee. They will be able to understand the words of the Bible and see the real world through the spiritual realm.
Sharing the first point: God's promises are given to us and should be kept in our hearts.
To cooperate between people, a contract must be established, which includes requirements and commitments written in the contract, and both parties must abide by it. If one party breaks the promise, they must compensate the other party for their losses. Let's take a look at the covenant God made with the people of Israel.
Deuteronomy 31:6-8:
6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” 7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
When Moses' time came, he handed over the matters to Joshua, who was relatively young at the time and did not know how to lead these people. This is a one-way street, just like our lives, constantly moving forward, not knowing how to walk the road ahead, not knowing how to get along with others, not knowing how to educate children, not knowing how to deal with people. Many years later, when one is in their seventies or eighties, they may realize some truths about life, but looking back, many things have already passed and cannot be returned to. Many people often regret saying that if time could flow back once, they would definitely live it again!
In fact, life has a guide; our God is your guide, and God's words are the manual for your life. When Joshua did not know how to do it, God spoke to him through Moses, and God personally comforted him to be strong and of good courage, not to be afraid. You must go with this people into the promised land I have given them and inherit that land. Although you will encounter enemies, do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
In our lives, we have the best and most powerful guide walking with us. He has said that under any circumstances, He will not leave you nor forsake you. Our lives will surely be glorious and strong; there is nothing to fear! Believe that our God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent! Thank and praise the Lord; the promise given to Joshua at that time was that the Lord would go before you, meaning that in life, no matter what difficulties you encounter, God will make a way for you. This promise is also for you; no matter how big the problem you are facing now, please remember that the Lord goes before you.
The Lord means the God who makes a covenant with you. Who is the God who makes a covenant with you? Our Father in Heaven, through the blood of Jesus, we have established an everlasting covenant with the Father. He is our God, our guide; He will go before you, and He will be with you wherever you go and in whatever you do. This is the promise God has given you!
Since we know that God is with us, how should we walk? Many people know that God is with them but have never relied on God to live, still relying on themselves, as if God's words have no effect on them, which is very unfortunate. Such Christians' lives do not improve much. They know that God is with them and will not leave them or forsake them, but when faced with problems, they still fear and panic. When will they be able to cast away this fearful heart? Knowing that God is with you, He goes before you, you must hold on to God's promises and live; this is the promise God gave to Joshua at that time.
Deuteronomy 32:45-47:
45 And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them: “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life; and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.”
Moses was very sincere; he knew his mission was coming to an end and said these profound words to the people of Israel. This passage is something we should always keep in our hearts. Moses said many words to the people of Israel; the meaning of Deuteronomy is to reiterate God's words and commandments. Why did Moses reiterate God's commandments? Because it concerns the life and death, success and failure of the people of Israel.
God does not want our lives to be chaotic and unaccomplished; God wants us to prosper, to prosper in all things and be in good health! Where is the difference between us and the world? We have a God; this is a fact. Relying on the words of this God allows us to live a different life, which the Bible calls a sanctified life. Therefore, Moses said to the people of Israel, "You shall set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today."
What I want to tell everyone is that you should keep God's promises in your hearts. Keeping them in your hearts means that you should think about them at all times. When encountering any situation, take these words out to recite and meditate on, using them as the standard in your life. Hallelujah! Not only should you do this, but you should also command your children to observe God's words. In the past, this scripture referred to the Pentateuch, but now it refers to all of God's promises. Not only should you receive them yourself, but you should also teach your descendants to observe these words.
Some may say, doesn't this become the law? No, knowing that God has already given you the blessing, freely given through Jesus, you should tell your descendants to receive God's promises and live. Observing does not mean relying on oneself to explore and seek God's blessings, but rather telling them the way to receive the blessings, letting them rely on Jesus. Hallelujah! Through Jesus, receive all the good blessings that come from Heaven! This is not the law but allows us to have someone to rely on and someone to guide us.
Verse 47 says, "For it is not a futile thing for you."
Brothers and sisters, do not treat God's words in the Bible as a set of theories or doctrines. If treated as theories and doctrines, one will argue with others about right and wrong. God's words cannot be wrong; they are not meant for us to argue about but for us to receive. What you receive is what you should live by. You cannot read blindly or receive randomly; it must be based on the correct words of God. This is not a matter unrelated to us; it is closely related to our lives and our living. Moses said, "This is your life." God's words are our life; we receive the life of Christ by believing in God's words. To live a victorious life, we also need to believe in God's words; this is not futile.
Some words may seem outdated, but God's words will never be outdated! Our Lord created all things, knows the laws of the universe, and understands all the rules. Therefore, placing His words in the Bible is to tell you that this is the mystery of the world, this is the law of the world. When you rely on Jesus, your life will be different; it is not futile, it is not unrelated to you. Do not think that this is the history of the Israelites or something that happened in the Middle East; this is your matter, this is your life, this is also your living!
At that time, God told the people of Israel that if they wanted to live long in the land after crossing the Jordan, they needed to rely on these words. Some may say, what if we do not rely on God's words? Many unbelievers also live and have no problems! When you live relying on God's words, your days will be prolonged, your heart will often be joyful and satisfied, and you can have an abundant life. You are completely different from the world. Amen! This is what God wants to give us. We did not know how to live since Adam was expelled from the Garden of Eden due to sin; their lives became chaotic!
Jesus came to reveal the victorious pattern of the Son of God on earth. By believing in Jesus, we are willing to live differently like Jesus, and God's words are the guarantee for your days to be prolonged. This is the principle you can follow. Hallelujah! The promises of God, regardless of their number, are real; if you believe, you will receive.
Abraham believed in God's promises and thus received God's blessings. He lived according to God's words, and his life was never the same; Isaac believed in God's promises and lived according to God's words. Even in a year of drought, he still held on to God's words and reaped a hundredfold harvest, becoming very prosperous, and his possessions increased month by month. His understanding of God deepened! So how should we act? We should meditate on God's words day and night so that we may prosper in all things.
Let's look at Joshua 1:1-8:
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
The last verse is the result we all like to see. No one on earth hopes to live in failure and chaos; everyone wishes to prosper and succeed in all things! How can we receive God's blessing and promise? We look at what God said to Joshua at that time. God first reiterated His promise. After Moses died, God said to Joshua, "Arise, now go to the land I am giving to the children of Israel!" What does this mean? God has already given the land of Canaan as the promised land to the people of Israel. Now He tells Joshua to go; you go into that land, I have prepared it for you. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
Think about it; did Joshua know that there were tall enemies in the land of Canaan? He knew, but God's promise also told him, "Go, do not worry, I am with you!" From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. Although there are enemies in the land, God still lets them go! Brothers and sisters, after believing in the Lord, it does not mean that we will no longer encounter any difficulties or challenges; these will still exist, but God's promises will still be fulfilled. Amen!
God's promise to the people of Israel is that He will bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey. Now He tells the leader of the people of Israel, Joshua, "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life." Why can Joshua have such great power? Because Joshua believes in God's words! Through previous sharing, we know that Joshua's great power does not come from his martial skills since childhood, but from his faith in God's promises. He and others entered the land of Canaan, and they had seen the situation in Canaan. In this situation, he still believed in God's promises, treating the enemies as food. Therefore, God, according to his faith, said, "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life!"
Joshua believed that God's promises would surely be fulfilled. He believed that God is faithful, so he no longer feared. Believing in God is one thing; when you actually have to step into that land, people will still have some fear! Just like many soldiers, they have training, but when they actually step onto the battlefield, they will definitely have fear in their hearts. At this moment, God still tells him, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not leave you nor forsake you." Have you noticed that God repeatedly emphasizes this: "I am with you; I will not leave you nor forsake you!"
These words keep coming out to tell you that His promises are real, and what He has said will surely be fulfilled! Why do we make contracts with people? It is because we fear that people will not keep their word and may change their minds one day. Even if a contract is made, there may be deceit within it, and there may be traps in the contract. But the covenant God made with us is for our good! The purpose of His covenant is to hope that we believe He is faithful, that we believe He will not forsake us, and that He will always be with us, no matter when!
Often, in times of difficulty, we forget this promise and complain to God, asking where He has gone, why He does not care for us, why He does not save us, and whether He really exists. Brothers and sisters, please do not let such thoughts arise in your hearts; this is the devil's doubt. God truly exists, and His promises to you are also real! What you need to ask is, "Lord, what should I do? How should I act to overcome these problems? Please grant me wisdom!" Instead of asking, "Lord, where have You gone? Do You not love me anymore?" Do not ask such questions; these promises are certain! Since God has told you, He will not change!
At that time, our Lord said to Joshua, "Be strong and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land." Why could Joshua lead the people into the land as an inheritance? It is because God saw his faith. Therefore, God not only allowed Joshua to receive this blessing but also hoped that Joshua would bring this faith to all the people of Israel, so that the people could inherit the land with him! God usually allows those with faith to lead those with little or no faith. The size of our faith depends on whether we believe in God's promises and whether we believe steadfastly.
Joshua believed; although he would fear when difficulties came, he would remember God's promises during the fear, rely on God's promises, and no longer be afraid. At the same time, God also gave him a way: "Be careful to observe all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left." At that time, God gave the law through Moses, which is the Pentateuch, and it contains the principles for their lives.
Of course, those principles also apply to us. I am not referring to the Ten Commandments but to the statutes and ordinances on how to be victorious in life and how to live wisely with others. Those are written down and still have effect to this day. Therefore, when Joshua did not know how to handle something in his life, as long as he read God's statutes and ordinances, he could prosper in all things! "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night."
I want to remind everyone again that the Book of the Law here refers not to the Ten Commandments but to the Pentateuch, which are the first five books of the Bible. These words were given to Joshua to meditate on repeatedly. Therefore, when you are unsure about something, read Genesis, and many doubts can be resolved. When you do not know how to get along with others, read those statutes and ordinances, and they will give you some wisdom. Thank the Lord! If you are uncertain whether you are accepted by God, Joshua read Leviticus and knew that through the sacrifices, God had accepted him. All of this would fill Joshua's heart with confidence, and he would no longer doubt God's promises.
When God gave these words to Joshua, He hoped that Joshua could meditate on them day and night, often reflecting on these words. God would give him wisdom, strength, and open up paths through these words! Now many Christians know Jesus; they only know that Jesus shed His blood for us, and God no longer holds our sins against us. However, they do not know how to live in their daily lives. God has given us many wise ways to act in the Bible. It is not enough to just read about Jesus on the cross; in daily life, we face many situations and may encounter many difficulties. When you read the Bible in order, you will find that many similar situations are recorded in the Bible, and those are places where we can learn. You will discover how those people relied on God and gained victory, and we can also rely on this God.
Joshua meditated on God's words day and night and kept them. This means that he acted according to how God said, and thus his way would be prosperous and successful. Through the book of Joshua, we can see that Joshua relied on God's words, and throughout his life, he had almost no defeats in battle. Joshua was an ordinary person, but because he completely believed in God, he stood out among the people. We can also do this. After receiving God's promises, not only can we be blessed, but we can also lead those around us to experience the goodness of this God. Amen! I hope everyone can believe that this promise is for us; you should keep it in your heart and let it become the standard in your life. Amen.
Sharing the second point: God's promises are fulfilled in us through Christ.
Our covenant with God is different from contracts between people. Contracts between people bind both parties, and both must work hard to fulfill them. However, in the covenant we have with God, the human side only needs to believe in God and believe in Jesus. By fully believing in what Jesus has done, one can receive this blessing! In other words, contracts between people are made by two people, while the covenant we have with God has Jesus in the middle. Jesus has fulfilled all the requirements that God needs on our behalf. For example, God requires people to be holy, righteous, and perfect in order to bless them, which we cannot achieve. Jesus said, "I have come to fulfill what man needs to accomplish." After He completed it, He freely gave us these blessings from God. We can receive God's promises and blessings because of Jesus. Amen.
For example, our life, our identity, our glory, are all given to us through Christ, and there is no human effort involved. As long as a person believes in Jesus and the redemptive work He accomplished on the cross, all these blessings will be upon them. There is no distinction between those who believe, whether they are Jews, Greeks, or Gentiles; believing in Jesus means acknowledging this covenant, and God is willing to freely give you these blessings.
Ephesians 1:3-6:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
From this passage, we can see that all of the Father's blessings are given to us through Jesus. In Christ, He has given us every spiritual blessing; in Christ, He has chosen us, and in Christ, we are made holy and without blame. You are in Christ, clothed in the righteousness of Christ; God sees you as blameless and holy. Amen.
Because He loves us, according to His good pleasure, God has predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ. What does this mean? Jesus is the beloved Son of God; through Christ, we also become sons of God, and our identity is certain. Only sons have the right to inherit the inheritance. You have become a son of God through Jesus Christ and have the right to inherit the inheritance of the Father.
We inherit the inheritance of the Father, and while living on earth, we can also bring glory to our Father. People will see a different life through you; they will say, "This person is full of love and is worthy of our admiration." Amen! All grace is given to us by God in Christ. Ultimately, God hopes that we receive and live out this blessing on earth, influencing the world. Hallelujah!
Psalm 34:7-10:
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. 8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
The angel of the Lord, you can understand as God's angels, encamp around those who fear Him and deliver them. When you accept Jesus Christ, God's angels also encamp around you to rescue you at any time. You do not need to worry about problems that cannot be solved; just pray to God, and He will give you wisdom and strength to overcome these problems.
Through Job's story, we can see that Job had doubts about God and withdrew the hedge, resulting in the devil attacking him. However, even so, the devil did not have the power to take Job's life. Although Job's faith was problematic, after he adjusted his faith, his life completely turned around! His surroundings became stronger.
Through these scriptures, we can also supplement our shortcomings. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good." Many people have prayed and been healed by God, and their prayers have been answered; this is tasting the goodness of the Lord. In fact, the more we come to know our God, it is not just tasting but soaking in His grace, becoming increasingly unwilling to leave His goodness because all who trust in God know they are blessed, and in Him, there is satisfying joy. Who would want to leave?
If a person cannot even fill their stomach, and one day a wealthy person takes them in and provides for their food and shelter, how could they possibly abandon that and run outside to starve? This is impossible. Many people do not seek to believe in God's words but argue: "What if this happens?" In fact, there is no "what if."
When you know God's goodness and have tasted the goodness of the Lord, you do not want to leave. How much more when you enter into His goodness, no one wants to come out! Hallelujah! The more you come to know God's grace and goodness, the more you can forsake evil. "Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!" In the New Testament, this can be understood as worshiping Him with your spirit and truth, looking up to our Lord and relying on our Lord; you will surely lack nothing! If your problem is that there are too many gaps in your life, it means you need to rely on God more! Do you understand? This is not condemnation or criticism; it simply means that there are many problems and gaps in life, indicating a need to know this God more, and you will become one who lacks nothing.
Verse 10 says, "The young lions lack and suffer hunger."
The young lion symbolizes strength; people are afraid when they see it. When it goes hunting, it cannot return empty-handed. However, even the young lion may sometimes not find prey. But here is the contrast: if you seek the Lord, you will not lack anything good.
We need to renew our minds, that is, God's promises are willing to be fulfilled in us through Jesus. God is willing to place all His goodness upon us. Are you willing to fully believe in Him? Do you believe that God's promises will surely be fulfilled in you, regardless of how the environment changes or what others say? Are you willing to live according to God's words and set your heart on this as the standard for your life? Others may be deceitful; I do not want to do such things. Others may deceive others to gain wealth; I do not want to do such things. I am willing to treat others honestly and to give as Jesus Christ did. I am willing to live this way; such a person is blessed and will surely lack nothing. Hallelujah!
God's promises are not fulfilled in those who are deceitful. Deceitful people always weigh gains and losses; they look at whether something can be done. If there is a loss, they will not do it. These are called wise people, but many times God does not use such people. It is not that such people cannot be used, but they cannot fully believe in God's promises.
I do not want brothers and sisters to pick and choose God's words, weighing them back and forth. God has given us so many promises, not for us to argue or discern, but for us to obey! It is not about how much truth we understand that we are blessed; rather, you are inherently blessed. The more you understand, the more you use, the more you will truly receive, and that promise will be fulfilled in you. Amen. We are more willing for everyone to receive correctly and then use it. It does not matter how much you understand; if you continuously absorb but do not digest, it is of no use! Therefore, in all things, seek God. When encountering problems, be able to think of using God's words to solve them; this is learning to use God's words.
Let's look at a passage of scripture, Psalm 16:1-6:
1 Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. 2 O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.” 3 As for the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. 4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take up their names on my lips. 5 O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. 6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance.
David's life was quite tumultuous, yet it was also very glorious! David experienced God in a special way throughout his life. Although his life had ups and downs, his understanding of God was different from others. David's understanding of the Lord was truly profound! He relied on this God for any problem he encountered.
Some may say, "I also know to rely on God." Whether one relies on God or how much they rely on God's promises can be seen from their first reaction when sudden events occur. This reveals whether they rely on their own wisdom or on God.
For example, if a two or three-year-old child suddenly has a high fever at night, what is your first reaction? "Oh no! I need to quickly bring down the fever, or else what will happen... I need to rush to the hospital; if I am late, what will happen..." Thinking of a lot of negative outcomes shows that you are worried and anxious, but not relying on God.
We need to adjust our thinking to have God's promises rooted in our hearts. Using the same example, if the child suddenly has a fever of 38 degrees Celsius, think of God's promises and declare in the name of the Lord Jesus that the fever will go down, declare in the name of the Lord Jesus that this sickness will leave this child. After declaring, if there is still worry, it is fine to give the child medicine or take them to the hospital; that is not a problem. What I want to say is, what is your first reaction? If your first thought is to think of the worst-case scenario and then feel afraid, worried, and panicked, it shows that God's promises have not taken root in your heart.
When we encounter problems, we should pray to God. David had been tempered through many trials; he sought God for any problem he encountered. In this text, we see David saying, "O Lord, preserve me, for in You I put my trust." David knew that his goodness was not apart from God, and regardless of the temptations he faced, he did not fall into them because he knew that only this God could bless him. He was willing to offer the blood of sacrifices on God's altar and did not even want to mention the names of other gods because he knew that God's words are true!
Regardless of how many promises God has, God is real, and David believed very much that his inheritance was given to him by God. His past was merely that of a shepherd, but now God has exalted him to become the king of Israel. This was not maintained by his own power or ability; it was God who maintained it for him.
I also wish that everyone could experience this God in their lives, knowing that everything you have now is given to you by God. This is the inheritance given to you by God, your portion, and it is God who maintains it for you. Trying to rely on your own ability, deceit, or even some methods to maintain these things is not as simple as relying on God to maintain them for you; He will never let you down!
The inheritance that God wants to give you cannot be taken away by anyone, and the inheritance that God gives you is certainly good! Because what people earn through their own ability and wisdom can disappear in an instant; perhaps an accident or a huge storm can turn years of accumulation into nothing. But if God maintains it, no one can take it away!
Finally, let's look at Colossians 2:6-9:
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Those who have received Christ Jesus should live according to God's words. There are some things we should not touch, and some truths we must keep in our hearts. For example, the identity and promises that God has given us are freely given and are real; we must keep them in our hearts, rooted and built up in us, and our faith will be strengthened. We should often keep God's words and teachings in our hearts and obey them to be blessed.
Paul emphasizes that since you have understood the truth, you should obey and practice it. The purpose is to turn this spiritual blessing into a visible blessing that we can see. We thank God even more as we understand spiritual blessings. Understanding spiritual blessings is already a reason to thank God. Turning spiritual blessings into earthly blessings that we can see brings real renewal and change, and our hearts of gratitude will grow even more.
One problem is that when we obey God's words, some people's theories come out, and some empty and pleasing words conflict with God's words and truth. For example, people tell you about things that come without labor; almost a small investment can yield a large return. Do not believe it; do not let these elementary principles take you captive. We should live according to God's words.
Because in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. You see, those who seek to get rich overnight often fall into traps. We need to be wise people who believe that God has given you the right way to do serious things in the world and accumulate wealth. This is appropriate. Living in harmony with others is in line with God's will.
We should not participate in crooked paths; they will surely cause people to suffer. Again, God's promises should be kept in our hearts; regardless of their number, they are real! When you read the Bible, you will find that this passage is for you. Hold on to this promise and let it work in your life, and you will receive blessings!
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise You. The promises of God, regardless of their number, are real in Christ. We believe in Your promises; through Jesus Christ, we have received the life of God. Through the blood of Jesus, our sins are forgiven. Through the words of Christ, we are a blessed people! We are more willing for this blessing to be manifested through us.
In the new week, I am willing to walk according to Your words in my life. Please grant me wisdom to personally experience You. David experienced You countless times in his life, even in danger, and he experienced Your presence. This week, let me experience Your presence and have a real testimony that You are a faithful God. I am willing to know You more, believing that I am a channel of this blessing, allowing me to receive this blessing and be a help to those around me. All glory be to You. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen.