HOLDING ON TO GOD'S PROMISES

Some of you may have heard of the controversy regarding the Harvest Crusade this year.  Sadly, for the first time in 29 years of holding this event, billboards showing Greg Laurie holding a Bible were deemed offensive by some people and the billboards were removed from shopping malls.

Interestingly, the book being held up by Greg Laurie did not even have the word “BIBLE”, however just the inference of the book offended people.

Some may wonder, “Why has the BIBLE become so offensive?”
But, the Word of God has always been offensive.
Jesus is called, The Word of God, and Jesus said, “People will be offended by Me, and they will hate you because of Me.”
That is why crosses offend, monuments with the ten commandments offend, prayer on sport fields offends, our president praying in Jesus name offends, the land of Israel offends, business owners standing on Biblical principals offend, and pastors holding Bibles offend.

You see, those offended feel instinctively the power of the Bible. It literally makes the hair on the back of their heads stand up and they recoil from the power of God’s Word. They don’t even understand why it causes them such anger, they just know that they can’t stand to be in its’ presence.

I remember before I was even a Christian, I came home from watching a horror film to an empty house. I was petrified of being home alone and I grabbed my sister’s Bible and slept with it. Even, as a Non-Believer, I knew there was power in that book to ward off evil. Years ago, I remember a friend telling me she slept with her Bible when she was going through a painful divorce because it brought her comfort.

You see, the Bible is not just an ordinary book. It is a love letter full of promises for those who will claim them. God's love is powerful. His love changes hearts, minds, and lives. However, for those who are opposed to God’s love, His Word is dangerous.

You see, God says, “My Word is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges thoughts and attitudes of heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

That is why those offended by the Bible will burn it, spit on it, step on it, sue others because of it, and demand that it be removed from their presence. They feel its’ power to the depth of their souls. They feel it penetrating and dividing their soul and spirit and judging their thoughts and attitudes of their hearts. However, they are fighting a losing battle. They can tear down monuments and billboards, shut down Christian businesses, and outlaw prayer, but the Word of God will never go away. God has declared, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away. The Word of God endures forever.” (Matthew 24:35; Isaiah 40:8)

What I find even sadder than those offended by the Bible, is that many Christians possess this book, yet they are immune to it’s power. Their Bibles sit collecting dust on their shelves or nightstands. They may even carry it back and forth to church, yet the pages are still crisp on the corners because they have never been turned.

If those offended by this book can intuitively sense the power in God’s Word, why can so many Christians live without that same power?

I know what it’s like to live the Christian life powerless. I did for 20 years. I was so lukewarm in my faith that I did not even know my spirit was dying of thirst. I was barely surviving getting drops of spiritual water every time I went to church. But, once I opened God’s Word, and read for myself the promises available to those who Believe, I now cannot imagine my life without tapping into God’s power.

This is how I know the Bible has power to impact my life:
 Recently, I was extremely worried and stressed about a petition I had to file on behalf of my daughter. Now, you fellow parents know, there is no greater worry than something affecting your child. It is a burden on your heart and soul. So, I went to bed burdened in prayer that this petition would be approved by the “courts of man.” When, I woke up and did my daily Bible reading, I read the passage in 2 Chronicles 20 about King Jehoshaphat who loved God and worshiped him. When Jehoshaphat was facing a battle against fierce enemies, he called upon the LORD in the temple and fasted and prayed. The LORD told him:
2 Chronicles 20:17 (NLT)
But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!”

When I read that verse, the Holy Spirit in me, said, “Yolanda, that promise to Jehospaphat and the people of Judah and Jerusalem is for you. Take it, hide it in your heart. Take your position, fill out all the necessary documents, turn them in, and then stand still in faith, don’t be afraid and discouraged. I will give you victory tomorrow.”

Well, I read that verse on July 27. Tomorrow came and went and no victory. Only, requests for more paperwork, more hoops to jump through. And, yet I would remember God’s promise to me. So, I’d pray and stand still. Another tomorrow came and went. About 15 days after reading God’s promise, I started to get discouraged. I would call for updates and would be told that the decision was still under review. The deadline was soon approaching, and I did not have my victory yet. Then I started to doubt, thinking, “Maybe I misunderstood. Maybe it was just a verse in the Bible and the promise wasn’t really for me.” So, I’d call out to God and ask Him, “LORD, was that promise for me? I’m holding on to it. Your Word says to hold fast to Your promises.”

On Friday, August 17, at 3:14 pm, three weeks after reading God’s promise, I received a phone call that the decision on my daughter’s petition would come in on Monday the 20th. Monday was the deadline. Nothing like being down to the wire. Then, I spent the next 40 minutes in fervent prayer, reminding God of His promise to me in the Word. Telling Him I was going to hold fast to that promise.

At 4:00 pm that same day, I received a call that the petition had been approved!
Not Monday, but literally 46 minutes later.

It was God loving me so much that He said, “I’ve heard your prayers. I gave you that promise in My Word and confirmed it through the Holy Spirit. I saw you hold on to it in faith. Didn’t I tell you, not to be afraid or discouraged, that I would be with you? You wouldn’t even have to fight. I’d fight for you and the victory would be Mine! Remember, My daughter, the fervent prayers of My children avail much. Now, go and tell others how much I love them and that My promises are for them also!”

So, I’m telling you now. God’s promises in His Word are for you! But, you won’t be able to hold on to those promises if you don’t read them for yourself. I can tell you, the Bible says this and that, pastors can tell you the Bible says this and that, but until you read it for yourself and the Holy Spirit confirms those promise to you, you are living your life anemic of God's hope and life giving power.

If those who hate God and all He stands for can intuitively sense the power in the Bible, shouldn’t we who claim to love God and all He stands for long for that same power?

God is telling His church:
Jesus, my Son, is coming back soon. Yet you don’t know the signs of His coming because you are not reading My Word that tells you what to look for. You are asleep. It’s time to wake up! My people are perishing for lack of knowledge. Open up My Word, it's a love letter to you. I’ve revealed My heart and offered you a heavenly treasure to give you an abundant life, filled with power and strength. Yet you chose to travel this world in weakness where the Devil prowls waiting to devour you. My children, open up My Word, hide it in your heart so that you will not sin against Me, read My promises to you, call upon Me and seek Me with your whole heart, and you will find Me. Get to know Me as I know you. I am compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion for you. 

So, I don’t know about you, but for me and my house we will serve the LORD and hold on to His promises. I pray that you will too.

Love,
Yolanda

PS: Thank you to my prayer partners who held me up in prayer for the last three weeks. I love you. 
Matthew 18:20 - Where two or three gather in My name, I am with them.