What has God promised?

What a question. It would take volumes to answer that question from the Bible. But, let's look at 2 of them from the Book of James. They are listed below.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

The word promised, means, to announce that one is about to do or furnish something. It's a voluntary act...something that one does on their own. So, we have then, 2 promises that God has made. Again, let's take a closer look.

1. These promises are for "those who love Him"

2. Each promise is a little different then the other.

The first promise is to those who endure temptation, or trials. They will receive the "crown of life." This is reserved specifically, for those who have patiently endured, and persevered the testings of their faith down here on earth. What a person may be going through now, has the potential then, to put them in line for this crown. If you are going through a trial, hang in there, God will get you through, and He will wind up giving you the crown of life someday.

The second promise, ( it's stated in James 2:5 more as a question ) is to those who the poor of this world, who are said to be rich in faith. They are heirs of the kingdom. And, God is going to give them His kingdom.

Jesus said "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". The kingdom of heaven is that period of time here on earth, when Jesus is going to reign and rule upon the earth.

One last thing about God's promises. He is always faithful to fulfill them, and accomplish them. There has never been one promise He has made that has not been carried out by Him.

God is faithful, God is dependable, God can be counted on, and trusted completely.

Father, these things make us rejoice, and we find great comfort in them. Thank You for who You are, and what You have done for us, and what You will do for us in the days ahead. We will spend eternity thanking You. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. How many promises do you know from God?

2. Can you list a promise you know from God?

3. Has God already accomplished some promise for you?

4. Please make a note when reading the Bible of promises.

5. Our God is faithful.

6. He is going to do more then we can ask or think.

7. What a glorious future awaits those who love God.

Is the tongue connected to the heart?

Yes, there is a very important relationship. The tongue says so much about the heart.

Pastor Bob Grenier, explains this from James 1:26

Is the tongue connected to the heart?

1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

In the verse above, James may be posing a supposed thought and possibly a statement that some people were making. I'm a religious person" or, "I think I'm religious" etc. But, they were not bridling their tongues.

Religious, or religion here, means, the person who is worshipping, or fearing God. So, when a person says, "I'm a worshipper, I'm a follower of the Lord, I fear God", but they are not at the same time bridling their tongue, they are deceiving their own heart, and their religion is useless, it's empty, it's vain.

To bridle the tongue, would be for the tongue to be led, or to be restrained. Or, for a person to be in control of themselves, and not unrestrained in what they are saying. They are watching what they say. They are controlling what they say.

James will have more to say about the tongue in chapter 3. But for now, he makes this one simple, short little statement. Jesus spoke about the connection between the heart and the tongue. Let's take a quick look.

Lu 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Jesus had been talking about good trees and bad trees ( Luke 6:43-44 ) Good trees bear good fruit, and bad trees bear bad fruit. And, a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Trees bear what they are, either for good, or for bad. A tree cannot bear something other then what it is. For example, an apple tree does not bear oranges, or pears, but apples, because it is an apple tree.

Now, turning to men, Jesus says that a good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. And then Jesus gives an explanation. "For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" Meaning, that what a man is full of, is going to come out in the way that he talks. You can tell what is in a man's heart, by listening to him speak. The tongue and the heart are connected in that sense.

Why would this kind of man's religion then be useless as James says? Useless, means, to no purpose, or of no purpose, barren, and futile. But, again, why is this person's religion useless? It is a good question. As some have said, "talk is cheap", and "actions speak louder then words" I believe that's true when it comes to our walks with the Lord. We can talk all we want about the Lord, but if it's not showing up in how we live, it's really useless. There is power in love. And, God's love can change our hearts, and make us careful and aware of what we say, and of how we act. God's love, can make us watchful over how we are living, and encourage us to live and act in His love.

We probably have all heard the statement, "Walk Your talk" In other words, if you are saying one thing, then show it in the way you live. James will also deal with that subject later in chapter 2. The relationship between our faith and our works.

Father, I'm sure we have all been guilty of saying and not doing. And, I know that You forgive sins, and cleanse us of all our un-righteousness. We thank You that You can not only forgive, but You can change us, and we can bear fruit in our lives, and we can seek to control our tongues and have our hearts pleasing before You. Help us Lord. In Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. God is so good.

2. God seeks to change us from the inside out.

3. God gives us self-control.

4. We need what God gives.

5. God does not condemn us for our sins.

6. God sent Jesus to save us from our sins.

7. God wants us to shine and bring glory to Him.

Why be interested in the Bible?

Pastor Bob explains why the Bible ought to be of great interest to us. It's because of what God can do through it, to the heart that is humble and receptive.

How does God bless our lives?

No one wants misery, trouble, or affliction, and difficulties ( though they come ) but, we all desire blessing from God, and the fact is, He wants to bless your life also.

Numbers 6:24 tells us so “The LORD bless you and keep you;

And so does James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Blessed, means, to be fortunate, happy, well off. It means to experience blessing in direct relationship to being a doer of God's Word, and not a hearer only. When a believer in Jesus Christ, hears God's Word, and then responds to it by obeying it, doing what God says in His Word, the net result is blessing.

God uses His Word being received into our lives, understood, and responded to as the means of bringing blessing into our lives. Remember, Jesus Christ is Himself the Word of God. He is the supreme blesser of any and all who place their faith in Him.

Oh Yes, sometimes, many times in fact, we are in the fire of a trial, and dark nights of the soul, but even then, we can find blessing from God.

But in James 1, the point is made a number of times, that when we receive God's Word, we hear God's Word, and we respond to God's word in obedience, it brings blessing into our lives.

What is the blessing? How does it look when it comes? One of the main ways, in how the Lord works in our hearts personally, building us up, freeing us from guilt, sin, temptation, sadness, depression, hatred, bitterness, etc, etc. He leads us in the paths of righteousness, and satisfies our souls, giving us spiritual wisdom and understanding about life. He also energizes our lives with His Holy Spirit, and we become more interested in the things of God, then the things of this passing world. Probably the biggest blessing, is the expansion of His love in our hearts and souls and minds.

Father in Heaven, we love You, and lift Your name on high today. Come and bless us Lord, fill us Lord, baptize us Lord in the Holy Spirit again today. Show us Your ways, and lead us in Your paths, all the days of our lives. Cause Your face to shine upon us, and give us peace. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. No matter what your condition, God can bless you.

2. A simple step of obedience to the Word lays before all of us.

3. It's step by step, day by day.

4. When He speaks through the Word, let's receive it in humility.

5. Hearing and doing are meant to do together.

6. Blessing comes through hearing, and doing.

7. Abiding in His Word, is Abiding in the truth of God.

8. May blessings abound in your life.

Why should we be interested in the Bible?

Simply put, because of what it can do in our lives. ( in fact, nothing else can equal what God's Word can do in our lives ) See what's said below........

James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Please notice the three things that are said about the Word of God.

Firstly, the Word is to be received by us in meekness. Which means, we are to have a humble and gentle spirit, a meek spirit. that's the first thing, to be of a ready heart towards the Word.

Secondly, it's the implanted Word, which means, it's in your life. We know of course that Christ ( Who is the Word of God ) is in us. So, the Word of God, Jesus Christ is within you. He came into your life the very moment you received Him at salvation.

Thirdly, it is able to save your souls. This means that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, can continue the good work that He has started in you. He is able to save you, to rescue you, to protect you, to care for you, and to deliver you, that's what save means. It literally means, to make you whole, to heal you.

So, we have been saved by "the Word of truth" See James 1:18. The Bible actually speaks of our salvation in past, present and future tenses. We have been saved, and we are being saved, and we will be saved. James is speaking in 1:21, about this present and future aspect of our salvation. God's Word can save your soul.

Jesus also prayed about the power of the Word of God in peoples lives, when He said in John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Jesus was asking His Father to sanctify, or set apart for God's exclusive use, the disciples by God's truth, the Word of truth. The Word of God has that power in our lives, to set us apart to God.

God wants to save us, God wants us to draw near to Him, God wants to accomplish His will in our lives, and He uses His own word to do so.

Father, we want to pray right along with this prayer of Jesus's, and ask that You do indeed set us apart to Yourself. No one else can do that for us, nothing on earth has the power that Your Word has. Thank You for Your loving interest in us, thank You for wanting to change our lives, and thank You for providing us with the means to do so.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. Nothing equals the Word of God.

2. Jesus Christ truly is with His people.

3. God has future plans for us.

4. May we receive God's Word in a gentle and humble way.

5. We can cooperate with God, let's do it.

6. God is not finished with you yet, He still has a work to do.

7. God uses His Word, to bring about His ways.

What can God do in your life?

What does the Lord want to do in your life? What can He do in your life? What will He do in your life? How can He do it in your life?

Pastor Bob looks to 1st Thessalonians 1:7-9 for the answers