THE HOLY SPIRIT GUARANTEES FUTURE PROMISES

International Bible Baptist Church

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THE HOLY SPIRIT GUARANTEES FUTURE PROMISES

Day 176

June 25, 2024 • Ephesians 1:13–14

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Ephesians 1:13-14

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Who are the “you also” to whom Paul referred? This meant all non-Jews who had become believers. Christ came to die for everyone—not just Jews, but Gentiles too. God had promised that through one of Abraham’s descendants, “and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3). Jesus fulfilled that promise when he opened the way of salvation to everyone. When we believe the Good News, God saves us. In that moment God gives us his Holy Spirit, who is like a security deposit. The fact that we have the Holy Spirit means that all the rest of God’s promises will come true.

God’s promises about eternity are as certain as our salvation. There is no need to doubt what God says. While we may not understand everything in our lives or even agree on how the future will play out, we can agree that Jesus is coming back to take us to heaven to be with him forever.

We can have confidence in God’s promises for the future. The Holy Spirit testifies daily to the fact that all of God’s promises will come true “to the praise of his glory.”

GOD’S PROMISE TO ME:

• I gave you my Spirit as a guarantee that I will give you everything else I promised.

• You can be confident in all of my promises for the future.

MY PRAYER TO GOD:

God, thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit and for identifying me as your child. Thank you for the glorious future you have in store for me. Amen.

GOD PROMISES THAT YOU WILL BE LIKE HIM

June 28, 2024 • 1 John 3:2

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. We are already God’s children—not when we’re good enough, not sometime in the future, not if we prove ourselves—now. Yet there’s something more to come, something we cannot even imagine. When Christ returns, “we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” We not only share in his family, his blessings and his inheritance, we will also share in his glory. This is a vision of what awaits us. We may not understand fully, but we do know that it is what we strive for. Even as we live our lives seeking to obey God and become more Christlike, we know that we cannot do it in this life. We will not be perfect until we see him as he is. When he returns, we will look into the face of our Savior and become like him in his glory. Think of it: Christ will share his glory with us! We can trust in this glorious future. No matter how many times we may trip and fall as we seek to grow in Christ, when we belong to him, our future is secure. One day we will be like him, “for we shall see him as he is.” GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • One day you will share in my glory. • When you see me, you will be like me. MY PRAYER TO GOD: You say that I am your child, Lord. Thank you for that amazing privilege. I trust that one day I will be like you, for I will see you as you are. Help me to await that day with eager anticipation. Amen.

GOD PROMISES A PRICELESS INHERITANCE

June 27, 2024 • 1 Peter 1:3–4

1 Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, You’ve seen it in the movies—an expectant family gathers around to hear the reading of the will. Family members are especially interested if the recently-deceased loved one (or maybe even not-so-loved one) had a lot of money. Everyone wants a piece of the pie. They all expect a windfall of money or stuff. And too often, that little session in the lawyer’s office doesn’t end well for everyone involved. And frequently those who do receive a large inheritance find a way to blow it. Inheritances aren’t always what they’re made out to be. But not so with God. He who owns everything, who gave it all up to save you, and then returned to heaven to prepare a place for you, also has an inheritance waiting for you. It can never perish, spoil or fade. And it lasts forever. GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • I have reserved a priceless inheritance in heaven for my children. • When you believe in me, you are promised that inheritance. • I will protect you until you receive that inheritance. MY PRAYER TO GOD: Lord, it is because of your boundless mercy that I have the privilege of being born again. Thank you for giving your Son to die for me so that I could become your child. You promise that I can look forward to a priceless inheritance with you, an inheritance that “can never perish, spoil or fade.” Amen.

GOD PROMISES RESURRECTION

June 26, 2024 • 1 Corinthians 15:20

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.. Jesus rose from the dead. People may deny it, but it is a fact recorded in God’s Word and verified by many people who saw him. It is a fact for which the disciples—and many believers across the centuries—gave their lives. The promise for us is that because Christ was raised from the dead, so we will be raised. Jesus said to a weeping Martha at the tomb of Lazarus, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26). Eternal life begins the moment we trust Jesus as our Savior, and it carries us through our physical death into our resurrected life in heaven with God. Death is not the end; it is merely the transition from this life into the glorious promised eternity. When we know Christ, we need not fear death. We may experience the sadness of losing loved ones or our own mortality through sickness. But we can take comfort in the promise that as children of God, we will be raised from the dead to be with Christ forever. GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • I rose from the dead. • I am the resurrection and the life • When you believe in me, you will not perish but will have everlasting life. MY PRAYER TO GOD: You were raised from the dead, Jesus, the first of many who will be raised. Death comes to everyone, but you are the resurrection and the life. One day all believers will be raised to live in a glorious eternity with you. Thank you for that amazing gift! Amen.