IS GOD A UNIVERSAL PROMISE KEEPER?

By Bill Ellis

SCOTT DEPOT, WV  (ANS) -- You can be sure of one thing, God is a promise keeper. He is the original promise maker. He is the first promise keeper.

Dr. Herbert Lockyer, one of the most gifted of teachers and writers of the last century, born in London 118 years ago, wrote a book which he titled, ALL THE PROMISES OF THE BIBLE. There are approximately 7,457 promises by God to man.

God’s first promise to man appears in Genesis 2:17: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (NKJ). Adam and Eve died spiritually that day.

Dr. Lockyer suggests that the first promise and prophecy of redemption God made was to Satan. God said “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 32:15).

Whether it be a promise of heaven or hell, if made by God, you can count on it. God is not a promise breaker. He is a promise keeper.

On Friday and Saturday, July 9-10, 2004, 8,000 men from throughout West Virginia and surrounding states, including 12 football players with the Miami Dolphins, met in the Civic Center at Charleston, to sing, pray, repent, forgive and listen as the Word of God was taught and preached. They made commitments to Christ that will produce changes in their lives, their families, communities, and churches.

They met to bring themselves to the place where they could be the recipients of one of God’s promises as revealed in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (NKJ). That is God’s promise and He is a promise keeper.

There are the critics, but most of them do not have the slightest idea of what is going on or what Promise Keepers are trying to accomplish. Here are “The Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper”.

1. “A Promise Keeper is committed to honoring Jesus Christ through worship, prayers, and obedience to God’s Word through the power of the Holy Spirit.

2. A Promise Keeper is committed to pursuing vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises.

3. A Promise Keeper is committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity.

4. A Promise Keeper is committed to building strong marriages and families through love, protection, and biblical values.

5. A Promise Keeper is committed to supporting the mission of his church by honoring and praying for his pastor and by actively giving his time and resources.

6. A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity.

7. A Promise Keeper is committed to influencing his world, being obedient to the Great Commandment (Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).”

Promise keeping is a process, vitally connected to a man’s relationship with Jesus Christ. Attending one or many rallies does not complete the process. Those who seek to be Promise Keepers are not perfect. They are “becoming” what God wants them to be. The process involves being a promise seeker, a promise receiver, a promise maker and a promise keeper.

St. Paul wrote, “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 NKJ).

Not one of the thousands of promises made by God will ever fail. You can count on that. God is a promise keeper! And men who love God can also be promise keepers.

Bill Ellis is a syndicated columnist, and convention and conference speaker on every continent. He is the writer of more than 1600 columns and widely known as a motivator utilizing enjoyment of life and just plain fun and laughter while speaking to high school, university and professional sports teams as well as to business and professional groups of all kinds. His keen understanding of human problems make him a favorite speaker for youth, parent, and senior adult meetings. He is accompanied by Kitty, his wife, favorite singer, editor and publisher.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2004