Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

perform."you."Lesson Helps for the Week of December 5, 1954C. Y. P. V. TOPICfor Dec. 5, 1954by Rev. D. Howard ElliottGOD'S PROMISES TO US(Used by permission of the ChristianEndeavor Society.)Scripture Texts: I Kings 8:56;^^^^Isaiah 7:14; 9:6Psalm Selections:Psalm 75; verses 1, 4-6,Psalm 91; verses 7-10,page 182page 225c^Esalm 86; verses 1-4, page 210Psalm 119; verses 1-5, page 291"JjJ1. God's promise*, are numerous.God's promises to us in the Bible areso many, that it would take a long studyto gather them all out. Almost any Biblewith helps will give you a long list ofGod's promises. Thompson's Chain-Reference Bible lists the following: promises of blessing, Mai. 3:10; Matt. 6:33;of cleansing, Is. 1:18; Heb. 9:14; I Jo. 1:7; of comfort, John 14:1, 18;16:33;' ofdeliverance, I Cor. 10:13; II Tim. 4:18;of forgiveness, Matt. 6:14; I John 1:9;of guidance,~Ps. 25:9; John 16:13; ofhealth, Ex. 15:26; of mercy, Is. 55:7; ofpardon, Is. 43:25; of peace, Ps. 29:11;Is. 26:3; John 14:27; of plenty, Deut. 30:9; of preservation, Ps. 31^23j_37^28j/ ofreward, Matt. 10:42; Lu. 6:35; of salvation, Mk. 16:16; Acts 16:31; of spiritualgifts, Lu. 11:13; John 10:28; Rev. 2^10;]of strength, Is. 40:31; 41:10; of wisdom,Lu. 21:15; James 1:5; to the afflicted, Ps.34:19; Is. 43:2; to believers, Mk. 9:23;Lu. 17:6; John 14:12; to children, Deut.5:16; Ps. 27:10; Acts 2:39; to the humble,Lu. 14:11; to the liberal, Ps. 41:1; Prov.3:9, 10; Lu. 6:38; to the obedient, Lu.11:28;- Jo. 14:23; to the penitent, Prov.34:18; Acts 2:28; 3:19; to the prayerful,Ps. 91:15; Lu. 11:9; John 15:7; to therighteous, Is. 3:10; Matt. 13:43; to seekers, Deut. 4:29; II Chron. 7:14; Prov. 8:17; to the tempted, I Cor. 10:13; Heb.2:18; to religious workers, Dan. 12:3; ICor. 15:58.Of course there are manymore thanthese listed, but here are enough to givean idea of the number, nature and varietyof God's promises.2. God's promises are conditional.Are God's promises handed out toeveryone without requiring any thing inexchange? No, for in general God's promises are dependent upon the attitude oraction of the benificiary. As an exampletake II Chron. 7:14. God makes threepromises, viz. "I will hear from heavenand will forgive their sin, and will healtheir land." Yet before these promises314may be realized, God has laid down fourconditions, the people must humblethemselves, pray, seek God, and turnfrom their evil ways. Another exampleis John 14:13 "And whatsoever ye shallask in my name, that will I do, that theFather may be glorified in his Son."It is most important that we recognizethese conditions, for God's promises willnever become realities until we fulfillHis conditions. Take notice and point nu*the specified conditions to the promisesas you study over the list above.3. God's promises are backed by Hisunlimited ability to perform them.At the time of this writing, the nationis concerned with its political campaigns.Political candidates are noted for theirpromises to the people, and also notedfor their failure to carry out such promises, based largely on their inability toproduce. It is not hard to make highsounding promises, but it is another thingto carry them through.There can be no doubt about God'swillingness to keep his promises,norabout His ability to do so. "He is ableto make all grace abound toward"He is able to do exceeding abundantlyabove all that we ask or think." And particularly Rom. 4:21 says, "And beingfully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also toSeealso II Cor. 1:20.Thus if we feel that there is any breakdown in the fulfillment of God's promisesto us, the fault lies not with God, butwith us who have not fulfilled what islaid upon us regarding His promises.4. God's promises never fail."Blessed be the Lord, that hath givenrest unto his people Israel, according toall that he promised: there hath notfailed one word of all his good promise,which he promised by the hand of Moseshisservant."I Kings 8:56.Christians the world over have givenforth great volumes of testimony to thefact that God is not slack concerning Hispromises.Some of God's promises have alreadybeen completely fulfilled such as thepromise of redemption through His son.Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6 are promises of thecoming Messiah. This having alreadybeen accomplished, then the climax ofall other promises in the future for usis seen in the fulfillment of this onepromise and finally realized in eternalsalvation. "Whereby are given unto usexceeding great and precious promisesthat by these ye might be partakers ofthe divine nature, having escaped thecorruption that is in the world throughlust"(II Pet. 1:4). "And this is thepromise that he hath promised us, eveneternal life" (II John 2:25).Prayer suggestions:Thanksgivingto God that He haspromised abundant good things to us,and that he is able and anxious to perform on our behalf.Confession of sinour unwillingnessand inability to meet the conditions ofHis promises without the help of theHoly Spirit.Petition that our eyes may be openedto what is required of us in the fulfillment of His promisesdiligent in the fulfillingthat we may beof the promisesthat we make to others, especially untoHim,Psalmsexpressed in our Covenant.JUNIOR TOPICDecember 5, 1954JACOB COMES TO EGYPTMrs. M. K. CarsonScripture: Genesis 45: 25-28; 46Memory Verse; Proverbs 3:5-6105:1, 2, 5, page 25755:12, 13, 17, page 14046:1, 6, page 118136:1, 2, 12, 13, page 334.References: Three places to find on themap1. Where in Canaan did Jacob live?Gen. 37:142. Where was the first mentioned stopon the way to Egypt? Gen. 46:13. In what part of Egypt did Jacob settle? Gen. 46:28Three questions to answer with numbers4. How old was Jacob when he went downto Egypt? Gen. 47:285. How many sons did Jacob have?Gen. 46:206. How many were in Jacob's family.Gen. 46:27Three things God promised to Jacob7. I will Gen. 46:3c8. I will Gen. 46:4a9. I will Gen. 46:4bYou remember that in our previouslessons we talked about the chapters inthe life of Jacob, four of them. Three ofthese chapters we had in our lessons inOctober. Do you remember what theywere? First, his life at home and thatchapter ended when he ran away fromhome for fear of his brother Esau. ThenGod spoke to him for the first time. Canyou tellthe'story? Gen. 28:12-15. Tellsome of the things which happened inHaran. When it was time for him to return to the land of Canaan, his old home,COVENANTER WITNESS