A promise is a commitment by someone to do or not to do something. It is made between two parties. So, every promise has two sides: that of the giver and that of the receiver. The Bible, consisting of 66 books, contains a multitude of God’s promises to His people—the promises made between God and mankind.

The Old Testament is the old covenant given by God to the Hebrew people, and the New Testament is the new cov- enant given by God to us. No one can change this promise of God—not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen—or replace it with anything else. So, the Bible tells us never to add to or take away from the words of promise between God and us (Rev 22:18-19). It is God’s promises that we aim to preach to all people in the world.

Letting them know the promises of God, including the promise of blessing and the promise of the eternal kingdom of heaven—this is preaching. Now many of our members of Zion are going out into the whole country and the entire world. When we go out to preach the gospel, we just need to think about what promises God has given us and believe those promises and put them into practice. Now let us carefully examine God’s promises in the Bible, so we can walk the path of faith with a firm belief in the promises of God.

“I will help you”

The ceremonial rituals for baptism and worship, preaching, prayer, singing new songs, and so on—all these things we perform now contain God’s certain promises. We, the people of God, believe the promises of God and proceed on the path of faith. God’s promises are being fulfilled exactly on this earth. However, as a promise is made between two parties, there are things that we must do in the process where the promises of God are being fulfilled.

There are the words of God that we have not fully preached yet, and there are still our brothers and sisters who have not come back into the truth because they have not been able to listen to God’s words of promise. We should all keep the promises of God in mind and gain courage and strength, so that all of God’s promises can be fulfilled and we will be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Isa 41:8-10 “But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isa 43:1-7 . . . “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . . Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

When we examine the prophecies carefully, it is an undeniable fact that we are to encounter fearful situations in preaching the gospel. God said, “I will help you.” This implies that there are many things we cannot do by ourselves. However, God promised that He would be with us in any and all situations and gather together all the dispersed members of the heavenly family.

This is the promise made by Father and Mother. If we believe in God, we must believe God’s promises, too. God never breaks a promise.

There is a big difference in results between the person who believes God’s promises and carries out the gospel work and the person who doesn’t. God, who can do everything, is always with us and gives us strength and courage. Even when we walk in the path of darkness, God protects and leads us. We must not forget this.

If you feel that an invisible wall is blocking the way, please look to the promises of God. When we believe God’s promises and carry out the gospel work, asking God for help all the time, every footstep we take will bring forth a beautiful result.

Mt 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Our Elohim, who has all authority in heaven and earth, has promised to be with us always, to the very end of the age. So, we should trust the promises of God who helps us and gives us strength to accomplish the gospel work.

God never changes His promises

God has promised to be with us and to strengthen and help us. Nevertheless, sometimes we are seized with a vague fear and impatience, which makes us think too much into things. We do not need to depend on our own ability or rely on others. All we have to do is preach the gospel fervently as God has told us to, no matter what situation or circumstance we are in. If we do so, God will surely open all doors for us. God’s promises never change.

Heb 6:17-18 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.

God is unchangeable in His purpose for the heirs of what was promised. No one can change any of God’s promises arbitrarily. These unchangeable promises of God lead us to the eternal world, where we will shine like the stars forever and ever.

Da 12:1-3 At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

“Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever.” This is the promise of God and it is what pleases our Heavenly Father and Mother the most. They want us, Their children, to receive the glory of shining like the stars rather than to find ourselves ashamed before the angels. That is why They have given us the mission of preaching the gospel and the opportunities for it as well.

This mission and the opportunities given to us will come to an end someday. In the parable of the ten virgins, they had a limited amount of time to prepare to meet the bridegroom. Once the door was shut, it never opened again, no matter how desperately they knocked on the door and cried out for the Lord to open it for them, because the prophesied time came to an end (Mt 25:1-13).

Perfect faith in God’s promises

We believe all the promises of God, including the promise to be with us to the very end of the age and the promise to help us.

God has also given us the ability to lead many to righteousness and salvation. However, opportunities never come to those who just wait without any effort. God gives opportunities to those who work hard, seek earnestly and make every effort, and fulfills all the promises of blessings to them.

Ro 4:18-22 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Abraham was blessed to be called the “father of faith,” because he did not doubt the promise of God. Although he was 100 years old and Sarah was also very old, he absolutely believed the promise that God made to him: “I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven.” This absolute faith of Abraham serves as a good example of faith for us today.

Everything God has promised is to be fulfilled without fail. The gospel will also be surely accomplished because God has promised that it will be preached to Samaria and to the ends of the earth. God is so faithful that He has personally prepared everything for us and opens people’s eyes, ears and minds wherever the gospel is preached.

Now we are moving according to the trumpet sound of prophecy. Those who turn a deaf ear to the trumpet of prophecy, no matter how loud it sounds, are no different than Esau who did not realize the value of the blessing which God had promised. God’s promised blessings are given only to those who move according to the voice of prophecy—those who believe the promises of God absolutely and put them into practice.

Jas 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

God has promised to give the eternal kingdom of heaven as an inheritance to those who love Him. In order to go to the promised kingdom of God, we must be guided by God’s promises.

Whenever we have a hard time, let us open the Bible and take a look at the promises of God, which are contained in the 66 books. Then we will realize that God has promised us a brilliant and glorious world, which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived.

This promise is not made by an untrustworthy person or someone who cannot keep his promises. It is the promise made by God Almighty who is unchangeable in His promises and fulfills them without fail. God has promised to be with us and help us wherever we go. Let us not forget this gracious promise of God, and proceed towards the everlasting kingdom of heaven by depending on that promise.

Those who put God’s promises into practice will win the promised future

God has given us such amazing and brilliant promises. However, the promises are ineffective for those who do not put them into practice; they have an effect on those who follow them. The Bible says that our faith is dead unless we put God’s promises into action.

Jas 2:17-26 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. . . . You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. . . . You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. . . . As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

As stated above, faith without action is dead. How can fruit be borne from the dead? How can a dead tree bloom flowers and emit a scent? God’s holy promises can bloom gorgeously and bear fruit when they are put into practice.

Those who put God’s promises into action and move according to them receive the promised results from God without fail. However, to those who do not walk in the promises of God and do not try to accomplish them, all the promises are nothing but letters. In other words, they receive the same result as when they are not given any promise. To make God’s word come alive and work for us, we must follow all the teachings of God. When we put God’s promises into practice, we can experience the results promised by God.

Abraham believed God’s promise and did what God said. The faith that Abraham showed was the faith in God and His promise. The Bible shows that Abraham’s faith was made complete when he put into practice his faith in God and His promise.

Now world evangelism is being accomplished by our Church of God. It is possible because God always helps us. This is also a result of believing in God’s promises and putting them into practice. Still now, the gospel prophets including the long-term and short-term mission teams are going out into the whole world and working hard to preach the gospel, shedding beads of sweat. All the members are making every effort to preach the gospel in their own country or overseas.

Let us read the promises that God has made to us and review them again. Those who believe God’s promises and preach the gospel are always joyful and happy. “I will help you.” With this promise of God guaranteed to us, let us spend our daily life preaching the gospel joyfully, along with Heavenly Father and Mother.

Those who believe in the promises of God can be said to believe in God correctly. Think about how great and valuable God’s promised blessings for us are. On the day of glory, God will fulfill all His promised blessings to us. Believing the promises of God firmly, let us, people of Zion, try our best to glorify God greatly during the time of opportunity given to us.