God Keeps His Promises

Notes: Essentials: God Keeps His Promises
October 9, 2014
Pastor Jason Powell
Harvest OC

We are going to be getting into a heavy subject tonight.

We have been looking at the topic of the last days, eschatology. The Biblical perspective of the last days.

Pastor Jason is talking about getting directions and an over view from his smartphone. How we have been looking at the last days like that in our Bible studies lately.

That tonight we are going to zoom in on some of those subjects topics.

Jason is saying how all we have have is what we can see like being in fog, and God is looking at it above the fog.

Snapshots in the Bible are prophecies. 

It's been said promises are like babies, they are easy to make and hard to deliver.

Skeptics say that all promises are meant to broken. 

God does not just make promises, when he says something is going to happen, then it will.

For the believer, God's promises are comforting. For the nonbelievers His promises are not a comfortable thought.

Many Bible scholars believe we are in the last days.

The signs that we are to be looking for concern Israel.

Deuteronomy 7:6-9 NKJV
[6] "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. [7] The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; [8] but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. [9] "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

The Jews have had their highs and their lows all through history. They have turned their backs and God has punished them. Other times they have had great revivals. God has always loved the Jews in-spite of themselves.

Just like the Jews,  God loves us in spite of us.

God disciplines his children. Famine, wars and conquering nations have disciplined the Jews.

These things happen to us as His children as well. Gods discipline may be harsh, but it is not meant to tear you down, but to build you up.

Ezekiel was written during Babylonian captivity. Chapters 1 to 32 deal with the punishments. Chapters 33 and beyond are his promises.

1. God promises to reunite the land of Israel with the people of Israel.

Ezekiel 36:10-14 NKJV
[10] I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. [11] I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. [12] Yes, I will cause men to walk on you, My people Israel; they shall take possession of you, and you shall be their inheritance; no more shall you bereave them of children." [13] 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because they say to you, 'You devour men and bereave your nation of children,' [14] therefore you shall devour men no more, nor bereave your nation anymore," says the Lord GOD.

God tells us, that the land of Israel will have inhabitants that will worship Him.

2. God promises His people the land

Ezekiel 36:23-24 NKJV
[23] And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. [24] For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.

Ezekiel 36:28 NKJV
[28] Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.

God describes the land like dry bones.

Ezekiel 37:11-14 NKJV
[11] Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!' [12] Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. [13] Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. [14] I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'"

God makes the promise, that though they may be gone, He will bring them back.

3. He will multiply and unify his people.

Ezekiel 37:21-22 NKJV
[21] "Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; [22] and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.

Ezekiel in his day there were two kingdoms. We have never seen this promise in history. 

Today this promise has been fulfilled.

This is a promise that has been waiting to be fulfilled since 70 A.D.

This is 1900 years later that this prophecy has been fulfilled.

No people group on the planet have ever been brought back together like they were on May 14, 1948.

That is when the clock started ticking for the end time events. Pastor Jason said he would argue this point with anyone, because the Bible is so clear about this prophecy. He said there is no word play on this, God said it would happen and it has, 2500 years later.

Every Bible prophecy assumes that the Jews have their own land. So their return was a super-sign.

1. Recall the past.

Isaiah 46:9 NKJV
[9] Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me,

God will not let you down. Keep seeking the Lord, He is faithful. 

God has been faithful to His people and He will be faithful to you.

Think back to a time when God has been faithful to you. Use those past praise reports, to comfort your heart for current prayer request.

2. Realize the future.

The next big event will be the rapture of the church.

Jesus and the rapture is a real event, 

John 14:1-4 NKJV
[1] "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. [2] In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. [4] And where I go you know, and the way you know."

John 14:18 NKJV
[18] I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

God has made a promise to us and He will keep.

God loves His kids and He disciplines us for our good.

If you are playing with sin, He will discipline you. It may be a painful punishment, but it is for our good.

God gives us what we do not deserve.

Ezekiel 38:18-23 NKJV
[18] "And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel," says the Lord GOD, "that My fury will show in My face. [19] For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: 'Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, [20] so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.' [21] I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains," says the Lord GOD. "Every man's sword will be against his brother. [22] And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. [23] Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD."'

God keeps His Word. When He says it, it is going to happen.

That means we can trust Him now and in the future.

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV
[9] The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

He has waited for me, and He has patience to wait for others. We should be thankful for that. 

Who in your life do you not want left behind? 

God is waiting for them too!