The Bible Speaks - God’s Assurances

[00:00:00] Let us pray, pray together on our knees

[00:00:07] Let us pray, pray together on our knees

[00:00:14] When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun

[00:00:21] Oh Lord, never see all the knees

[00:00:27] Welcome to the Bible Speaks with Elgin Carelock

[00:00:30] The Bible Speaks is a weekly ministry of Harvest International

[00:00:33] Our prayer is that the Bible Speaks will encourage you in your study of God's word

[00:00:38] You will be able to contact Elgin at the address given at the end of this broadcast

[00:00:44] And now, here's Elgin

[00:00:46] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of our risen Savior, Jesus the Christ

[00:00:51] And as we celebrate this season of Pentecost, we want to look at various aspects of what we gained when Jesus got up

[00:01:01] And once again, as in earlier this week, I have the distinct privilege of having my wife of 38 years, Judy Carelock joining me

[00:01:12] And we are discussing one of her scriptures that really brings her comfort

[00:01:19] And so we're going to speak on the topic of God's Assurances

[00:01:25] The scripture of inspiration is 1 Corinthians 2, verse 9

[00:01:31] Which I'll ask Sister Judy to read for you now

[00:01:34] Hello everyone

[00:01:36] 1 Corinthians 2, 9

[00:01:39] But as it is written

[00:01:41] I have not seen nor ear heard

[00:01:44] Neither has entered into the heart of man

[00:01:48] The things which God have prepared for them that love him

[00:01:52] 1 Corinthians 2 and 9 is a profound verse that offers a powerful assurance from God

[00:01:59] About the future that awaits those who love him

[00:02:02] The verse states, however as it is written

[00:02:06] What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard

[00:02:10] And what no human mind has conceived

[00:02:14] The things God has prepared for those who love him

[00:02:17] This passage is incredibly encouraging

[00:02:20] And is often cited to inspire hope and anticipation among believers

[00:02:26] For the divine blessings that are to come

[00:02:29] The verse explicitly tells us that glories awaiting believers in the future

[00:02:35] Are beyond anything we can currently perceive or imagine

[00:02:40] This assurance speaks of the infinite creativity and generosity of God

[00:02:45] Who has prepared unimaginable blessings for his children

[00:02:50] These blessings are not limited to material or earthly rewards

[00:02:55] But encompass the full scope of spiritual and eternal riches

[00:03:00] That will be fully realized in the presence of God

[00:03:04] 2 Corinthians reads, for we walk by faith not by sight

[00:03:10] Which for me means we have to trust in God's timing

[00:03:15] Trust in God's plan for us

[00:03:18] And not by what we see, hear, feel

[00:03:21] Not by our emotions, our anxieties and those things

[00:03:26] We have to trust in what God is telling us is coming

[00:03:31] Amen. And for me this is exciting

[00:03:34] Because I have a pretty good imagination

[00:03:37] And hopeful what I would like to see God do in my life

[00:03:41] And the lives of those I come in contact with

[00:03:44] So if he's saying I can't even imagine

[00:03:48] What he is capable of doing in my life

[00:03:51] It gives me goosebumps

[00:03:54] But how do we prepare for those promises?

[00:03:57] Since the promises are specifically for those who love him

[00:04:01] The primary preparation involves deepening our love for God

[00:04:05] This can be nurtured through regular prayer, meditation on God's word

[00:04:11] And engaging in worship

[00:04:14] Loving God encompasses obeying his commandments

[00:04:18] Seeking to please him in all aspects of life

[00:04:22] And cultivating a relationship that prioritizes God above all earthly concerns

[00:04:29] We must also live by faith, not by sight as I mentioned earlier

[00:04:35] This means trusting in God's promises

[00:04:38] When they are not yet visible

[00:04:40] Or when current circumstances seem contrary to the assurance of good things to come

[00:04:47] Faith involves holding on to God's truths

[00:04:50] And living in a way that reflects complete trust in his word

[00:04:55] We must also regularly engage in spiritual discipline

[00:04:59] Such as prayer, fasting, Bible study

[00:05:03] And service to align our hearts with God's will

[00:05:07] These practices help strengthen our spirituality and maturity

[00:05:12] Which are essential for fully appreciating and receiving the things God has prepared

[00:05:18] Prayer is another vital tool in preparing to receive God's assurances

[00:05:23] Through prayer we maintain an open line of communication with God

[00:05:28] Express our desires and fears and receive spiritual guidance and reassurance

[00:05:34] It's through this dialogue that we can continually affirm our trust and dependence on God's promises

[00:05:42] We must also adopt an eternal perspective rather than a purely earthly one

[00:05:48] By focusing on eternal blessing prepared for us

[00:05:53] We can better navigate the challenges and temptations of the world

[00:05:57] Without becoming overly attached or discouraged by temporary situations

[00:06:03] Knowing that God has prepared such incredible things for those who love him

[00:06:08] Serves as a strong motivation from believers to continue living faithfully and loving God wholeheartedly

[00:06:15] It reassures us that our faith and love toward God are not in vain

[00:06:21] But are moving us toward a glorious future that far outweighs any present hardship or sacrifice

[00:06:29] Romans 8 18

[00:06:32] Brothers and sisters, once again I want to thank you for spending time with us for words of inspiration

[00:06:39] And we look forward to speaking with you again on tomorrow. Till then, God bless

[00:07:02] And good news on the air. We look forward to hearing from you and invite you to write us at Harvest International

[00:07:09] Post Office Box 6690 Ocala, Florida 34478

[00:07:15] Again, that's Harvest International Post Office Box 6690 Ocala, Florida 34478

[00:07:24] Coming home, coming home, never more too wrong

[00:07:43] Open wide and all the love

[00:07:52] Lord, I'm coming home