April 30th, 2024
The Bible is full of promises that have demonstrated the character of God to His people throughout history. Most of them are conditional, meaning there’s an “if” attached, but it’s as simple as agreeing to obey Him! The God of the universe has desired relationship with His creation since Adam took his first breath, and even the marring effects of sin didn’t deter Him from declaring His love over and over again.
The book of Hosea is a picture of this, as was the prophet’s life. Hosea 3:1 says,
“The LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.”
God doesn’t condone sin, but His love is unaffected by His righteous judgment. He loves the sinner farthest from Him, but relationship with Him allows us to receive the fullness of His love. This week, the promise that has been on my heart is a very simple one. It’s elementary Christianity really, but I haven’t been able to get away from it.
“I will be with You.” It’s such a simple promise of the Father, but it’s one that has been shaping humanity since the beginning.
To Jacob He said,
“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:15)
To Moses He said,
“I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)
To Joshua He said,
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
To Gideon He said,
“I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” (Judges 6:16)
These are just a few examples of this promise given to specific men, but it’s for all of God’s people.
Isaiah 41:10 says,
“Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 43:2 says,
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.”
Psalms 23:4 says,
“Even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;"
There is no clearer picture of this truth than Jesus Himself, who brought us near through the redemption of mankind by His own blood. Matthew 1:22-23 says of our Messiah:
‘All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).’
God with us. Jesus is the heart of heaven and the door through which God abides with men.
He said,
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come and make our home with Him.” (John 14:23)
To His disciples before ascending He said,
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
He is with us, always. It wasn’t just a promise for Jacob, Gideon, David, or anyone else. The promise of His abiding presence is for all His people.
Now, many of us know this in our minds, but walking in revelation of this truth will change our lives. There’s a difference between knowing God loves you and knowing God’s love. There’s a difference between believing there’s a King who cares about you, in some far-off land, and living with that King. God isn’t looking down from His throne, distractedly hoping you finish your race and make it to heaven. He is with you. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). He's with you when you wake up and when you go back to bed and in every moment in between, whether big or small.
Do you live like that’s true?
When we fully understand that He’s with us, we’ll be fearless. Look at Isaiah 41:10 and Psalm 23:4, again. Why do we fear nothing? He’s with us.
If we know He’s with us, it’s impossible to be lonely or despondent. Look at John 14:23 again. He’s made His home with you!
The secret to living in the fullness of the life that God has for you lies in knowing the basic and fundamental truth that you aren’t alone. If you strive to please Him without walking with Him, you’ll fail. If you walk with Him daily, failing is impossible.
The Word of God is full of His Covenant promises, for healing, freedom, hope, and deliverance, but all those things, the “abundant life” for which Jesus died, are born from one simple truth. The God of heaven is with You. His light, the light of heaven, will illuminate every area of your life. Darkness must flee when He comes into the room. Don’t fight the things that will run from Him. He’s the Lion of the tribe of Judah and He's with you, as He’s been with every hero of the faith since the dawn of time.
David wasn’t special. He killed giants because God was with him.
Abraham wasn’t special. He prospered because he obeyed, and God was with him.
Daniel wasn’t special. He slept peacefully in a lion’s den because God was with him.
The disciples weren’t special. They turned the world upside down with the gospel, healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out devils, because God was with them.
The God of heaven is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He’s with you!
The book of Hosea is a picture of this, as was the prophet’s life. Hosea 3:1 says,
“The LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.”
God doesn’t condone sin, but His love is unaffected by His righteous judgment. He loves the sinner farthest from Him, but relationship with Him allows us to receive the fullness of His love. This week, the promise that has been on my heart is a very simple one. It’s elementary Christianity really, but I haven’t been able to get away from it.
“I will be with You.” It’s such a simple promise of the Father, but it’s one that has been shaping humanity since the beginning.
To Jacob He said,
“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:15)
To Moses He said,
“I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)
To Joshua He said,
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
To Gideon He said,
“I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” (Judges 6:16)
These are just a few examples of this promise given to specific men, but it’s for all of God’s people.
Isaiah 41:10 says,
“Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 43:2 says,
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.”
Psalms 23:4 says,
“Even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;"
There is no clearer picture of this truth than Jesus Himself, who brought us near through the redemption of mankind by His own blood. Matthew 1:22-23 says of our Messiah:
‘All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).’
God with us. Jesus is the heart of heaven and the door through which God abides with men.
He said,
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come and make our home with Him.” (John 14:23)
To His disciples before ascending He said,
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
He is with us, always. It wasn’t just a promise for Jacob, Gideon, David, or anyone else. The promise of His abiding presence is for all His people.
Now, many of us know this in our minds, but walking in revelation of this truth will change our lives. There’s a difference between knowing God loves you and knowing God’s love. There’s a difference between believing there’s a King who cares about you, in some far-off land, and living with that King. God isn’t looking down from His throne, distractedly hoping you finish your race and make it to heaven. He is with you. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). He's with you when you wake up and when you go back to bed and in every moment in between, whether big or small.
Do you live like that’s true?
When we fully understand that He’s with us, we’ll be fearless. Look at Isaiah 41:10 and Psalm 23:4, again. Why do we fear nothing? He’s with us.
If we know He’s with us, it’s impossible to be lonely or despondent. Look at John 14:23 again. He’s made His home with you!
The secret to living in the fullness of the life that God has for you lies in knowing the basic and fundamental truth that you aren’t alone. If you strive to please Him without walking with Him, you’ll fail. If you walk with Him daily, failing is impossible.
The Word of God is full of His Covenant promises, for healing, freedom, hope, and deliverance, but all those things, the “abundant life” for which Jesus died, are born from one simple truth. The God of heaven is with You. His light, the light of heaven, will illuminate every area of your life. Darkness must flee when He comes into the room. Don’t fight the things that will run from Him. He’s the Lion of the tribe of Judah and He's with you, as He’s been with every hero of the faith since the dawn of time.
David wasn’t special. He killed giants because God was with him.
Abraham wasn’t special. He prospered because he obeyed, and God was with him.
Daniel wasn’t special. He slept peacefully in a lion’s den because God was with him.
The disciples weren’t special. They turned the world upside down with the gospel, healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out devils, because God was with them.
The God of heaven is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He’s with you!
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