Sarah’s Corner www.thecarpenterschurch.org/sarahscorner
Volume 76 - 17, October 2017
The Nature Of God’s Promises
Pastor Charles Omofomah 14 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known.
If you are expecting or trusting God for a child or for some other thing, then
And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these
this is your day. Nothing compares to the promises you have in God that is
powers are at work in him.”
why I’ll be sharing with you on The Nature Of God’s Promises.
15 Others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”
One way to learn about a thing is to turn it around and look at it from another
16 But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has
side. When you use the same principle in viewing the Word of God, you will Uind
been raised from the dead!”
that a lot of things that look negative become positive on the reverse side. That’s
17 For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in
the approach we’ll adopt here.
prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her.
In talking about the nature of God’s promises, let’s begin by answering the
18 Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your
question: What are promises? The dictionary deUines a promise as an
brother’s wife.”
engagement to do or keep from doing something (Let me tell you: Everything God
19 Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she
has promised you, He will do). A promise also means to expect, an expectation or
could not;
that which raises expectation; to be betrothed, a ground for hope or future
20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and
excellence and to encourage.
he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
Everything that God has promised will not come to you will not come to you. For
21 Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast
instance, God’s Word that says, “I will put none of the diseases on you, which I have
for his nobles, the high ofUicers, and the chief men of Galilee.
brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26) goes
22 And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased
beyond being a fact to standing as the truth. However, if such diseases come upon
Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me
you, you should know it is not from God. You may be suffering from things that
whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”
are undesirable to you, excellence will come unto that part and that thing will be
23 He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half
no more. The Bible says your expectations if you are righteous will not be cut off
my kingdom.”
(Proverbs 23:18).
24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”
God Backs His Covenant With An Oath
25 Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I
Herodias was angry with John and I imagine her thinking John was standing in
want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
the way of her promotion. So, she wanted to kill John the Baptist but she could
26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and
not until her daughter received a blank cheque and asked for his head. The point
because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.
here is that Herodias would have killed John but she couldn’t; but then she
27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to
understood the power behind Herod’s oath and cashed in on it. Simply because of
be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison,
that oath, Herod ordered John’s death.
28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.
Every promise of God is backed by an oath, or by a covenant. Understand that
29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and
whatever could not be done by anything else in your life, the promise of God that
laid it in a tomb.
is backed with an oath will do it. Herodias’ inability became irrelevant due to an Mark 6:14-29
oath.
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