Chapter 15—Great and Precious Promises

BIBLE GEM

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”—2 Peter 1:4CWG 42.1

QUESTION

Is my daily life in harmony with God's will so that I can confidently claim His precious promises?CWG 42.2

ANSWER

Purpose of God's promises: “God has placed the promises in His Word to lead us to have faith in Him. In these promises He draws back the veil from eternity, giving us a glimpse of the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory which awaits the overcomer.”—My Life Today, 338CWG 42.3

Prayers will be answered: “The simple prayers indited by the Holy Spirit will ascend through the gates ajar, the open door which Christ has declared: I have opened, and no man can shut. These prayers, mingled with the incense of the perfection of Christ, will ascend as fragrance to the Father, and answers will come.”—Testimonies For The Church 6:467CWG 42.4

The Trinity will help: “The fact that you have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is an assurance that, if you will claim Their help, these Powers will help you in every emergency.”—Testimonies For The Church 6:99CWG 42.5

Angels, likewise, will help: “The guardianship of the heavenly host is granted to all who will work in God's ways and follow His plans. We may in earnest, contrite prayer call the heavenly helpers to our side. Invisible armies of light and power will work with the humble, meek, and lowly one.”—Selected Messages 1:97CWG 42.6

Help pledged for every emergency: “Toilers in the busy walks of life, crowded and almost overwhelmed with perplexity, can send up a petition to God for divine guidance. Travelers by sea and land, when threatened with some great danger, can thus commit themselves to Heaven's protection. In times of sudden difficulty or peril the heart may send up its cry for help to One who has pledged Himself to come to the aid of His faithful, believing ones whenever they call upon Him.”—Prophets and Kings, 631, 632CWG 43.1

Love unchanged: “If one who daily communes with God errs from the path, if he turns a moment from looking steadfastly unto Jesus, it is not because he sins willfully; for when he sees his mistake, he turns again, and fastens his eyes upon Jesus, and the fact that he has erred, does not make him less dear to the heart of God.”—E. G. White, The Review and Herald, May 12, 1896CWG 43.2

By faith claim every promise: “Is Jesus true? Does He mean what He says? Answer decidedly, Yes, every word. Then if you have settled this, by faith claim every promise that He has made, and receive the blessing; for this acceptance by faith gives life to the soul. You may believe that Jesus is true to you, even though you feel yourself to be the weakest and most unworthy of His children.”—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 517CWG 43.3

SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT

When we become baptized in water in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, then we become a clean dwelling place for the Trinity. By God's help we will experience on-going victory, and we become overcomers. Then we can come with confidence in prayer, knowing that God will answer more abundantly than we can ask or think.CWG 43.4

Whatever dangers, difficulties, threatenings, trials, temptations or problems we may face, an army of heavenly guardians will protect and help us. Jesus said, and we can trust Him, with full confidence: Be of good courage, I am with you, even unto the end of the world. I will never leave you, nor forsake you.CWG 43.5