13 Mar, 2017 4. The power of a promise from an unchanging God
Getting started
Can you think of a promise someone made to you recently (whether big or small) that brought new hope to a situation?
A look at the Bible
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… …And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. For the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:1-4
In your own words, what promise from God is reflected in these Bible verses? How does faith in this promise affect life today?
How important is the source of a promise? (E.g. if your neighbour promises that everything will work out in the end for you — can you believe them? How are God’s promises from the Bible different to your neighbours?)
To help us understand the Bible’s many promises, there are two different types of promises to be aware of: Conditional promises depended on what a person did in response to God’s message, while an unconditional promise did not (it depended solely upon God — who said he would fulfill it). Can you think of some examples of each of these in the Bible?
Our Response
Make a list of 5 or 10 great promises from God, and then say prayers inspired by the hope that each of these promises creates in you.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you that you do not change, and that you keep your word! Thank you for the many promises you have given us in the Bible that fuel our prayer lives, and bring us hope. We now come to you, based on what you have promised, and ask that…
In Jesus name we pray
Amen.
