December 8, 2024
The Power of a Promise | Toby Slough
Speaker:
Toby Slough
Message Resources
Message Summary
The promises of the Messiah, God’s chosen deliverer, were given to the people of Israel many years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Genesis speaks of the Messiah four thousand years before, while Isaiah and Micah prophesy his birth three to four hundred years before.) The people of God woke up every day wondering if God’s promises were going to come true.
Waiting for God’s promise is a theme in the Bible. Moses waited in the desert for forty years just to see the Promised Land. Mary and Joseph received the Word of the Lord through an angelic visitation, but they had to make a choice to wait and walk in faith through hardship. Mary knew she was blessed and favored, but she probably didn’t feel blessed when the town gossiped about her being pregnant and unmarried.
God wants to give us a miracle, but we don’t like the wrapping paper it’s in. You may not have an angelic visit, but we all have promises that God has made that are true. When your current condition doesn’t match what God promised, don’t lower your expectation, allow God’s promises to drive you forward. Faith is believing something to be true that doesn’t feel true in the moment. You have more strength than you think. Nothing is impossible with God.
Discussion
1. What hill are you looking at that seems impossible to climb? Health? Provision? Job? Relationship?
2. What promise did God give you? What doubts and fears do you have about that promise?
3. What can you do instead of rationalizing that God didn’t give you a promise, or that God’s promise won’t come true?
4. How can you be the answer to God’s promise in someone else’s life?
Scriptures
Isaiah 9:6-7 - For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform.
Micah 5:2-4 - “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” Therefore He shall give them up, Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth…
Genesis 3:15 - “And 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.”
Luke 1:27-38 - “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David… For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
Mark 9:23-24 - Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Philippians 4:19 - And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Matthew 17:20 - So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
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