Listening For Life (Part Three)

The Bible promises that if we listen for God's voice our souls will live and we will encounter the unfailing love of God. It is His unfailing love (Is.55:3 NLT) that undergirds His covenant promises to us. His promises are derived from His character. He is love and therefore His covenant promises are everlasting because His love is everlasting.


Abraham received a promise that he would "go to the land that (He) would show him... all the people of the earth will be blessed through you." (Gen.12:1-3) Abraham then began the journey of life that was promised for him and his descendants. He travelled upward of 800 kms to the land that God would show him. The geographic journey however was not as challenging as the journey from his head to his heart. The most challenging journey that we will travel in 2016 is not the geographic journey but is the faith journey. Abraham did not "waver at the promise of God through unbelief but was strengthened in faith ...and being fully convinced that what He had promised he was able to perform. And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness". (Rom.4:20-22) When we exercise faith in the promises of God, He will perform the very things that we cannot do nor are supposed to do.


There is a journey that God the Holy Spirit wants to lead us on so that we both hear and act upon His promises to us. Holy Spirit, will unpack the new covenant promises. He will direct us toward Jesus. Whenever we position ourselves to hear from Him, veils are removed. Under the terms of the old covenant, there were obstacles of condemnation, guilt and shame. But under the terms of the new covenant, these obstacles have been removed because the believer is now the beneficiary of total cleansing given or imputed through the finished work of the Son. How well will you grow when you know that you are totally forgiven? How well will your soul - that is your mind and emotions - thrive when you know that whenever you turn to the Lord, "there is liberty". (2 Cor.3:17) How well will you be when you look into the mirror of His Presence and glory, that you receive nothing less than His perfect love, acceptability and grace. How well will you be when you know that He will never leave you or forsake you because He is the covenant keeping God. This is the stuff that will cause us to thrive in 2016.


When we journey the covenant promises of God we will experience renewed minds. We will be protected from the need to be "squeezed into the world's mould" (Rom.12:2 J.B.Phillips) Instead we will be conformed to the promises of God. Circumstances - good, bad and downright ugly - will give way to the covenant promises of God. This is His best for you and I in 2016.
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health just as your soul prospers." (3John 2)












This blog is based on a message given by Ross Smith at The Vine church, Springwood, Logan City, Queensland, Australia on 17th Jan. 2016 called "Listening For Life" (Part Three). The full message can be accessed by podcast from www.thevine.org.au/teaching.