From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2004 6:41 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: March 7th Greeting

"For no matter how many  promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ..." 2 Corinthians 1:20

Our God has given us many promises and He withholds none for they are all 'Yes' in Christ Jesus.  If this were not so He would not have made them. Because of the One who made them we know that they are of infinite value; and because He is faithful, we know that they are assured and unfailing! Let us look at more of the promises made in specific circumstances.

To the humble:
"For though the Lord is on high,
 Yet He regards the lowly;
 But the proud He knows from afar."  Psalm 138:6

"The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord
 Are riches, honor and life."  Proverbs 22:4

"For this says the high and exalted One
 Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,
 'I dwell on a high and holy place,
 And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit
 In order to revive the spirit of the lowly
 And to revive the heart of the contrite.'"  Isaiah 57:15

"But He gives more grace, therefore He says,
'God resists the proud,
 But gives grace to the Humble.'"  James 4:6
( Here in the New Testament James is repeating Psalm 138:6 as does the Apostle Peter in the following verse.)

"Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.  Yes all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud,  But gives grace to the humble"  1 Peter 5:5

To the poor:
"'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy,
  Now I will arise,' says the Lord;
 'I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.'"  Psalm 13:5

"You shame the counsel of the poor,
 But the Lord is his refuge."  Psalm 14:6

"For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor;
 To save him from those who condemn him."  Psalm 109:31

To the generous giver:
"Blessed is he who considers the poor;
 The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble."  Psalm 41:1

"Honor the Lord from your wealth,
 And from the first of all your produce;
 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
 And your vats will overflow with new wine."  Proverbs 3:9-10

"The generous man will be prosperous,
 And he who waters will himself be watered."  Proverbs 11:25

"Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap.  For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."  Luke 6:38

"Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.  Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."  2 Corinthians 9:6-7

To the seeker:
"...You will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul."  Deuteronomy 4:29

"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."  2 Chronicles 7:14

In Luke 11:9-10 Jesus said,
"And I say to you, ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

The promises we have looked at are only a very very few of the promises of our loving and gracious God.  What joy unspeakable and full of glory to know that we have a personal relationship with Almighty God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit!  This not by our doing, but by His loving kindness and infinite grace.  To be sure, it is beyond comprehension that Holy God has so lovingly drawn each one unto Himself. I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead and guide each of us into the worship that pleases the heart of our glorious Lord God. Amen.