We are all accustomed to promises. We are also accustomed to seeing them made and broken. Anyone who has lived for a number of years would certainly never lay claim to having kept every promise made. There are many reasons why this is true. Sometimes we forget, sometimes we are negligent, and sometimes it may be due to circumstances beyond our control.
A brokenhearted young lady will often say, "But he promised to marry me". And the answer comes back: "Yes, but I changed my mind". People do change their mind, and they do break their promises.
What about the promises of God? How certain are they?
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. I Cor 1:20-22
AMEN:- The concluding “Amen” of the Christian’s prayer and proclamation expresses confidence in God’s Love and Faithfulness and the certainty of his promises. It is the voice of faith, reaffirming and identifying with the truth of Christ’s unshakable gospel. Rev 3:14
The Promises are For Us
"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."
(2 Corinthians 1:20)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ". (Ephesians 1:3)
If we are in Christ, then all the promises in the Bible can be found, claimed and received by us. Any Bible teacher who declares "this biblical promise is no longer for today" is a deceiver. Such a teacher places his own theology above the plain declarations of Scripture. Satan used to whisper to me that the promises were for another time, another person, that they were not worth having, and later, that I would not receive. All these kind of lies can be overcome by immersing ourselves in the Word of God - by pondering it, speaking it, and hearing people of faith preach it. Like anything worthwhile though, it takes some effort and diligence to renew our minds according to the Word of God. Satan is out to promote unbelief. Unbelief is sin, and we do well to make war on the unbelief in our own hearts, so that the new man in Christ can start to live and move through us.
This most important promise, apart from the promise of justification and the new birth to those who believe, is the promise of the Spirit. It helps a great deal to receive the Spirit as the disciples did on the day of Pentecost, and on other occasions throughout the book of Acts. We need the power of the Spirit. It is the Spirit of God who then leads us through the Word and teaches us how to pray so that God is glorified through the fact that His promises come to pass in OUR lives. The prayers belong are based on Scriptural promises. By thanking God for making them a reality in our lives, we please God who told us "in everything give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and to offer thanks when we pray (Philippians 4:6,7).
"How do I know which of God's promises are for me?"
To frame this question another way, “How can one tell the difference between general promises and specific promises?” A general promise is one that is given by the Holy Spirit to every believer in every age. When the author penned the promise, he set no limitation on time period or recipient.
An example of a general promise is 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This promise is based on the forgiving nature of God and is available to all believers, everywhere.
Another example of a general promise is Philippians 4:9, “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” This promise is made to all believers who, refusing to worry, bring their requests to God (verse 8). Other examples of general promises include Psalm 1:3; 27:10; 31:24; John 4:13-14 (note the word whosoever); and Revelation 3:20.
A specific promise is one that is made to specific individuals on specific occasions. The context of the promise will usually make it clear who is the intended recipient. For example, the promise of 1 Kings 9:5 is very specific: “I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever.” The preceding verses make it clear that the Lord is speaking only to Solomon.
Luke 2:35 is another specific promise: “A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also.” This prophecy/promise was directed to Mary and was fulfilled in her lifetime. While a specific promise is not made to all believers generally, the Holy Spirit can still use a specific promise to guide or encourage any of His children. For example, the promise of Isaiah 54:10 was written with Israel in mind, but the Holy Spirit has used these words to comfort many Christians today: “My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed.”
As he was led to take the gospel to the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul claimed the promise of Isaiah 42:6-7: “I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth” (see Acts 13:47). Isaiah’s promise was originally meant for the Messiah, but in it Paul found guidance from the Lord for his own life. When claiming a promise from scripture, keep the following principles in mind:
1) Promises are often conditional. Look for the word if in the context.
2) God gives us promises to help us better accomplish His will. A promise does not make God bend to our will.
3) Do not assume to know when, where, or how the promise will be fulfilled in your life.
God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28). It may be difficult for us to see and understand how this is accomplished at times, but God has promised it, and He will deliver.