2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT) For all of Gods promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "yes!" And through Christ, our Amen (which means "yes") ascends to God for his glory. COMMENTARY PEARL All of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" 2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT The best book of promises is the one you and God are going to write together. Search and search until you find covenants that address your needs. Clutch them as the precious pearls they are; hide them in your heart so they can pay dividends long into the future. When the Enemy comes with his lies of doubt and fear, produce the pearl. Satan will be quickly silenced. He has no reply for truth. They work, friend. The promises of God work. They can walk you through horrific tragedies. They can buoy you in the day-to-day difficulties. They are, indeed, the great and precious promises of God. Build your life on the promises of God. Since his promises are unbreakable, your hope will be unshakable. The winds will still blow. The rain will still fall. But in the end you will be standing - standing on the promises of God. [You Can Count On God by Max Lucado] COMMENTARY The precious Bible is the garden of God, and His promises are the lilies, and the roses, and the pinks The Scriptures are to be received as God's word to us, not written merely, but spoken In them He is speaking to us individually, speaking as directly as if we could listen to His voice. It is in these promises that Christ communicates to us His grace and power. They are leaves from that tree which is "for the healing of the nations." Received, assimilated, they are to be the strength of the character, the inspiration and sustenance of the life. Let youth grasp the hand of infinite power. Faith grows by exercise. Feed upon the promises; be content to rely on the simple promise of God's Word. Hang in memory's hall the precious words of Christ. They are to be valued far above silver or gold. {FLB9} As we communicate with God, our Father, it is good to know what His promises to us are. If we don't know them, how can we stand on them? It is important to know that we can ask according to His declared will and the answer will always be YES! As this verse states, His promises already have a stamp on them that reads "So be it" (Amen)! What confidence we can have as we ask God to make His promises affective in our lives. Begin today by finding promises in God's Word to attach to your specific requests. Write them out and then memorize them. Your faith will grow, along with your desire to pray, as you see the promises of God made good in your own life! [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom] Paul preached uncompromisingly of Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of all God's promises. Peace, provision, salvation, deliverance, forgiveness - Jesus is the divine affirmation to all of God's promises. Knowing that his promises are true gives us strength, encouragement, and a solid foundation for our prayers. Understanding that God has the power to do what he has promised and that he never breaks his promises gives us confidence as we come to his throne of grace. Meditating on his promises reminds us of his faithfulness to all generations. But God doesn't want us only to think on his great and precious promises or merely to thank him for his promises. He wants us to turn them into prayers and petitions, to ask him to continue to fulfill his promises, for they reflect his will and purpose for our lives and for his church. Thank You, Lord, for your great and precious promises! Thank you for reminding us that Jesus is the divine Yes," the affirmation of all your promises. Help me to sense and experience your love behind every promise as I trust in you. And help me to pray with confidence because I know that not one of your promises will ever fail. [Praying Through The Bible By Fuller] When you understand that God is not a man to lie nor the son of man to change His mind, then you can be rest assured that His promises will not fail. The best part of His promises is that in Christ, they are no more promises, they are realities. In Christ, God's promise to you is 'Yes' and only 'Yes'. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 2 Corinthians 1:20 By these promises, we are confident of dominating every circumstance that we will come up against. By these promises, we are sure to operate on the level of divinity. The realm of divinity gives us the edge over the natural and human realm. And to think it is these promises of God that usher us into that realm is amazing: 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 1:4 Think of it this way, for your success in life and every circumstance that you would ever face, God said "what will see you through are my promise". From: 5 Promises And Prayers That Will Give You The Best Year Ever by Francis Jonah ILLUSTRATION Leonard E. LeSourd has written about his late wife, Catherine Marshall, the author of Christy: "Bibles were scattered throughout our house...all editions, plus reference books and concordances. We often went to bed, turned out the light, and listened to a chapter of scripture on tape. If she could have found a way to spread Bible passages on a slice of bread, Catherine would have devoured it "When upset or under spiritual assault or in physical pain, Catherine would go to her office, kneel by her chair, and open her Bible.... She would read, then pray, then read, then pray some more. She liked to pray with the Bible clutched in her hands.... She would rest her case on its promises. Catherine didn't read the Bible for solace or inspiration, but to have an encounter with the Lord.... I think these were the most intense moments of her life.... Catherine's passion for the Word permeated her whole life. It under-girded her writing. It formed a base for us as a married team in the making of family decisions. It provided substance to her counseling of people through the mail. I'm convinced it was also the basis for her inner vitality, her charisma, and the mantle of authority she wore with some reluctance." The Bible is a living, breathing book. Let God speak to you through its pages. Let it transform your thinking and your way of life. Like Catherine Marshall, don't just read your Bible, have an encounter with the Living God. [God's Little Devotional Bible re Mat. 4:4] CLOSING THOUGHT Just say "no." I remember this phrase plastered as a slogan on posters around my high school. Saying "no" was believed by authority figures to be a talisman that would ward off all manner of teenage vices. Later I built on the power of "no" as I increased my efforts to not be a people pleaser, to draw boundaries, and keep from overloading myself with more commitments than I could handle. "No" definitely has its perks. But because I am a parent, I've lately been pondering the power of "yes." Although it's hard to say "no" to vices and pleasing people, sometimes I get into a rut with my kids where "no" just feels like the easiest answer. "No, you can't go" keeps me from having to worry about my child's safety away from me. "No, you can't make slime" can keep a mess out of my house. "No, we can't afford that." "No, it's not good for you." "No, not today; I have to work. I caught myself recently saying "no" as my default - my first and quickest answer. My kids were unhappy and I felt like a pretty crummy mom. I think we often imagine God like a grumpy parent whose default position is "no." Or maybe we assume what we want is inherently wrong so we expect Him to say "no" to the desires of our hearts. But Jesus is the resounding "Yes!" God speaks over us. Everything He's promised is fulfilled in Jesus, and that's a lot. Gwen Ford Faulkenberry Faith Step: Google "God's promises" and read up on all of the things that are yours for the asking in Jesus. Need more grace, more wisdom, more joy, more courage? Then ask! And hear Him answer with a resounding "Yes!" [Mornings With Jesus 2021 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] ONE LINERS Though the Bible be crowded with golden promises from board to board, yet will they be inoperative until we turn them into prayer. F. B. Meyer (1847-1929) Let Gods promises shine on your problems. Corrie Ten Boom LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC 2 Corinthians 1:20 - The Promises of God Are Yes in Christ. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200503-1438.html 2 Peter 1:4: There Is Power In The Promises: http://www.abible.com/devotions/2013/20131129-2022.html 2 Peter 1:4: God's Power Gives Us the Ability to Live Godly Lives: http://www.abible.com/devotions/2006/20061207-0756.html YOUR COMMENTS If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or testimony on this passage of Scripture, either personal or otherwise, I would be interested in hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred Gibbs LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT Most Important Decision in Life: http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: https://stepstopeace.org/ Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782 Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ Amazing Facts Bible Studies: http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study Guides: https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/ LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/ Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657 Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE