“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” (1 Cor. 10:6 KJV)

Avoid the school of hard knocks

This is the promise of many “examples” readily available throughout the Bible to help us avoid evil things. By using them for instruction we don’t have to learn critical lessons first-hand at the “school of hard knocks”. They will provide insight to keep us from making the same mistakes others have made.

In some cases, the examples are positive ones (Esther and Joseph) and teach us about faith.

Here are two examples

The first one is about Joseph who remained faithful to God, and was blessed even during negative times. The second is about David, who fell into deep sin, but was eventually restored to God.

We can learn some important lessons by reading about their lives

· Joseph – A young man with visions from God, was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. He was lied about and betrayed by his slave owner’s wife. He was put into prison and remained there for many years. But, he did not lose hope because he knew God was with him! He was always faithful to God and God blessed him and made him successful. He went from the pit to the palace in one day! (Gen. 41:46).

· David – Lusted after another man’s wife, had an affair with her, then committed murder to try and cover it up. He was shown his sin by Nathan, he then repented, and was restored to God. (Psalm 51). He is referred to as “a man after God’s own heart”.

“Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it.” (1 Thes. 5:24 KJV 2000)

This promise says two wonderful things!

· First, “God is faithful”! You can count on Him one hundred percent of the time!

· Secondly, if He has called you to do something (anything!) “He will do it!”

What this means is that you can count on God to make it happen (empower and help you do) anything that He has called you to do! For instance, When God gives me an opportunity to speak publicly somewhere, I am confident! I expect God to speak through me! And He does!

Don’t allow the devil to intimidate you!

The devil sometimes tries his best to scare me, but I know who has created me, gifted me, and produces in me positive results! Praise God for His Holy Spirit who does it!

Here is scripture to back this up:

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11 KJV)

“Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 ESV)

It’s not what you think!

This promise is a trick one, sort of. It is not a recipe for getting just anything “you desire” because desires are sometimes wrong. God, for instance, won’t give anything that is inconsistent with his Word. He won’t give you someone else’s spouse or help you rob a bank.

What this promise does

But, what this promise actually does is this; as you delight yourself in God (get to know and enjoy him better), He CHANGES the desires of your heart to be in line with what your desires should be. And this is great news for you because you end up with Godly desires, the kind that God can and will bless.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14 KJV)

Notice that this promise does NOT say: “if the government leaders”, or “if the world’s royalty”, or “if any dictatorship”, or ANY kind of secular group or leadership of any kind! It says, “If my people which are called by my name” will humble themselves and pray!

Remember this!

This promise is especially important to remember during this political season when the media (including social media) is alive with so much angst from every possible direction regarding what will happen if the “wrong” person or “wrong” side of the aisle gets into office. And yes, it’s very important to vote. But, don’t lose site that the REAL answer about how to “heal the land” is not about politics but is about what God’s people do!

Here it is spelled out simply

Who and what:

1 – if my people, which are called by my name

2 – will humble themselves

3 – and pray

What God promises:

1 – I will hear from heaven

2 – I will forgive their sin

3 – and heal their land

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you; because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV)

Trust God to help you!

The enemy strikes with fear! But when you look to God, and you keep your “mind stayed on Him”, and you “trust Him”, no matter how bad things seem to be, He will give you perfect peace. Trust God to help you!

Positive Triggers

Use fearful situations as triggers to apply God’s promises to each situation. God’s word is much stronger than anything the devil can throw your way! You can trust Him always! Show the Lord that you trust Him rather than what the enemy is telling you and the result will be peace!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 NKJV)

Strength for everything needed!

This is a promise to think about and claim constantly. It is a powerful, wonderful, encouraging and empowering promise! No matter what happens during your day, this promise holds true and never fails.

Say to yourself

Today, as you attempt to do difficult things, make this promise a big part of it. Say to yourself, “I can do (put whatever it is here) through Christ who is giving me the strength to do it.”

“But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33 NKJV)

Simple and powerful!

This is another of my favorite promises that comes directly from Jesus Himself. It is so simple, direct, powerful, and filled with great promise!

Basically, if you SEEK the Lord FIRST (in every situation) along with His RIGHTEOUSNESS (doing God’s right thing in the circumstance), then all the things He mentioned in the previous verses 25-32, about the things you need in life, will be added to you automatically.

“But, my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil.4:19 KJV)

The Golden Promise!

I meditate on and confess this wonderful promise a lot! It is the golden promise that you can apply to every single “need” that arises, whether physical, mental, social, or spiritual!

ALL your need!

Notice that the verse says, “all your need”. That’s a HUGE statement and a wonderful blessing for us to have! And notice that He supplies “according to His riches in glory!” It’s not according to any earthly thing! And notice too, that the last part of the verse says that it’s “by Christ Jesus”. Praise God for that!

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Eccles. 4:9-12 KJV)

This is another flexible promise that you can use in many applications. It will work in a family (working together as a team), in a business (partnerships), and all kinds of positive relationships (friendships).

It especially works well in marriage relationships!

Couples who see themselves as totally committed partners (the Bible calls it “one flesh”) are empowered to accomplish amazing things together. They become stronger working together than what was ever possible going it alone! They are able to take advantage of each other’s strengths to overcome challenges and succeed.

A threefold cord

The last part of this promise says, “a threefold cord is not quickly broken”. In a marriage relationship that third cord must be God! When a couple puts God into their relationship, something wonderful happens. As they pray together to get closer to God, they get closer to each other in the process! And, another wonderful thing happens! The promise of Matthew 18:19 becomes active for them: “If two of you will agree together on anything, then God will do it”.