The
Seven
Promises
of GODa Promise
Keeper
Promise #1
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17God promises that when a person is saved, and spiritually born again, they become a new creature.
This doesn't mean they are "perfect" and incapable of sinning, but it does mean they possess an
inward desire that wasn't there before: a desire to follow God's will; a resolve to live according to God's
Word. "...old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."Their orientation now is toward godliness and not toward habitual sin. An inner struggle now ensues
because, "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary
the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." Gal. 5:17More importantly, this God-given, supernatural transformation that results in a new creature occurs
from the inside -- NOT FROM THE OUTSIDE! Not through any self- effort or regular participation in
some humanly devised motivational group. That's why God gives:Promise #2
"I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:13God is the only one that does the changing, and He does it spiritually from within. Changes in a person's
character, attitude, and demeanor can only occur through the power of God: "But as many as received
him, to them GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on his
name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the WILL OF THE FLESH, NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN,
BUT OF GOD." John 1:12-13No "outside" force, be it the "WILL OF THE FLESH, NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN," or any organized
group, can transform a person into what God wants them to be. True, long lasting change COMES FROM
WITHIN, for "THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, Meekness, temperance: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW." Gal. 5:22-23No law, no matter how strictly enforced, can induce the kind of change that God wants. No "keeping"
of man-made promises, for that matter, can accomplish this change either. Human efforts are hopeless
when it comes to being transformed into the NEW MAN. In fact, the Bible teaches that the best anyone
can do is to "Put on the new man, WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED in righteousness and true
holiness" (Eph. 4:24). The new man has already been created-- BY GOD! He comes with the new
creature. It's a matter of claiming it, not making it. No friend, nor you, nor I, nor any support group can
do from the outside what only God can do from within. Our reliance must be totally on God, Himself,
because of:
Promise #3
"IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD than to
put confidence in man." Psalm 118:8To place one's confidence and trust in a "man-made, support group" such as Promise Keepers is unnecessary
and unscriptural. Unnecessary, because of everything we've read so far. Unscriptural because, to claim that,
for many, such a support group is the only means of instilling personal godliness, is to circumvent a key role
of God's Holy Spirit; it says that a personal relationship with God alone is insufficient and thus human
intervention is required. To seek the presence and support of "other men" is to deny the fact that, "IT IS
GOD that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect." (Psalm 18:32) "As for God, HIS WAY
IS PERFECT: the word of the LORD is tried: HE IS A BUCKLER to all those THAT TRUST IN HIM"
(Psalm 18:30). The fact is, no organized support group is necessary to keep one in line and make sure they
remain committed to pursuing godliness (by trying to enforce "from the outside" the inner-discipline one
needs) because of:Promise #4
"For whom the Lord loveth HE CHASTENETH and scourgeth
every son whom he receiveth." Hebrews 12:6When a true child of God gets out-of-line and goes contrary to their heavenly Father's will, it is God who
disciplines; it is He who reminds that child of what they should be doing; it is He that takes the initiative in
dealing with that person's sin. To have to seek some man-based support group is to admit that God's rod of
correction does not exist in that person's life, to which the Bible warns: "But if ye be without chastisement,
whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, AND NOT SONS" (Hebrews 12:8). When a person truly
gets saved, and becomes a new creature in Christ, they are given the wherewithal to follow God's will. They
simply have to lean on HIM and rely on HIS STRENGTH. That's why God gave:Promise #5
"Faithful is he [God] that calleth you, who also will do it." 1 Thess. 5:24 The truly born again Christian's inclination is to go to God when they can't overcome the temptations
of the world. It is God, and only God, who can lend a hand mighty enough to conquer the sin that
besets a Christian's life. No man-based support group, no matter how large, can do it, "Because greater is
he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). For example, it is no surprise that the unsaved
turn to groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous when they need strength in overcoming the bondage of
sin. They have no indwelling Spirit to help them; they have no personal relationship with the God of the
universe through which they can find help. Notice where the psalmist turns to for help in overcoming his sin:
"I called upon the LORD in distress: THE LORD ANSWERED ME, and set me in a large place" (Psalm
118:5). "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and MY DELIVERER; my God, MY STRENGTH, in
whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I WILL CALL UPON
THE LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies" (Psalm 18:2-3).
"Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may CONTINUALLY RESORT..." (Psalm 71:3). "The
LORD IS THY KEEPER" (Psalm 121:5). "MY HELP COMETH FROM THE LORD, which made
heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2). It is God the psalmist turns to, NOT PROMISE KEEPERS. How much
more are New Testament Christians, who have been given God's indwelling Spirit, expected to turn
directly to God during their hour of need? To say that a person needs PROMISE KEEPERS to help point
them toward a better relationship toward God is absurd! Why would any truly saved person need an
"external" organization when they already have God's "indwelling" Spirit! After all, God gives:Promise #6
"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF so be that the Spirit of God dwell in
you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Romans 8:9Friend the bottom line is this: the reason for there even being a Promise Keepers is because, MANY
PEOPLE TODAY ARE NOT TRULY GETTING SAVED! False professions have become the norm and
not the exception. Therefore, many can't find, LIVING WITHIN, the power, strength, resolve, or even the
desire to live godly lives. Naturally, how else can these "unsaved" people possibly expect to live a saved
life unless they are encouraged and motivated by some OUTSIDE means. They have no other choice but to
band together and help each other live the Christian life. BUT IT CAN'T WORK without God's indwelling
Spirit. Man can't reform himself from the outside. The transformation must come FROM THE INSIDE!
Sadly, many are calling upon Christ to save them without truly repenting, only to later discover that there
is no inner inclination to practice godliness -- they lack the new nature, and must therefore, resort to
organizing themselves in an effort to collectively muster up enough wherewithal to live according to God's
will. Whereas, if they were truly getting saved in the first place, they wouldn't need to start organizations
like Promise Keepers. After all, what did Christian men do for almost 2,000 years without it?!Right about now, some having read all this, are scoffing at the implications being made. They'll cite the
outward display of emotion and tears seen during a typical Promise Keepers meeting. They'll refer to the
sense of unity, and brotherhood. They'll point to the outward "manifestation of The Spirit" during the
conferences as prime examples of God's presence. However, if they need an outward sign of "The Spirit"
as proof of their spirituality, then most likely, they don't have the quiet assurance of God's presence on the
inside. Sadly, many who participate in Promise Keepers, having nothing on the inside to lean on, end up
using the organization as a crutch. Friend, the outward signs experienced at a typical stadium-filled
conference don't prove a thing. After all, consider the horrible fate of the souls cited in:Promise #7
"NOT EVERY ONE that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me
in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not PROPHESIED IN THY NAME? and in thy name
have CAST OUT DEVILS? and in thy name done MANY WONDERFUL WORKS? And
then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, ye that work
iniquity." Matthew 7:21-23
IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE
you would go to Heaven? The Bible says
YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13).q BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps
you from going to Heaven are your sins, because:
"...your iniquities [sins] have separated
between you and your God," Isa. 59:2.
In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For
all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God;" Rom. 3:23.q SECONDLY, you must realize that there is
NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn
Heaven: "For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: Not of works, lest any man
should boast." Eph. 2:8-9 Baptism, good deeds,
church membership, self-righteousness are all
examples of good works that cannot save you,
because: "Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he [Christ] saved
us," Titus 3:5.q THE ONLY WAY you can get saved
is through Jesus Christ. He said: "I am the
way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me."
(John 14:6) THAT'S WHY: "...while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us."
(Rom. 5:8-9) THEREFORE: You must REPENT
(change your mind); admit that you are a Hell
deserving sinner and can't save yourself. And
call upon Christ, and Him alone, to save you.
"if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus [REPENT], and shalt believe in thine
heart [TRUST] that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9SEND THE LIGHT
P.O. Box 815 Fargo, ND 58107
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