F. BECOMING AND GROWING AS A DISCIPLE

In 1985, I attended a conference with Paul Drake. Paul was the Navigator leader and always discussed God’s desire to bless us. He would quote from 2 Corinthians 1:20, which says: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “yes” in Christ.” Wow! What a statement. I was floored when I thought about that. I have read promises in the Bible, but this verse says that in Christ, they are “Yes.” We have a wonderful privilege that as we are in Christ, we can reach out and claim these promises of God in our lives.

2 Peter 1:3-4

His Divine Power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises so that through them we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world caused by evil desires.

1. What does it mean that he has given us everything for life and godliness?

2. What does God’s only glory and excellence have to do with God’s promises?

3. What will these promises provide for us in the future?

4. What life situations are you experiencing that need God’s promises?

1. What is your understanding of how you can claim God’s promises?

2. What will be your steps in going about studying His Word and claiming His promises?

3. When will you work on these steps?

(If you want more resources regarding God’s promises, you can go to Design for Discipleship on NavPress and order Book 3 of the Design for Disciples to study more verses on the Promises of God.)

When I began to believe this, I thought I would claim some promises from God. As I read and studied the promises in the Bible, they came alive to me and I began to make them “MY” promises. One such promise helped my wife and I to trust God for his provision in our work with the ministry of “THE NAVIGATORS” As we were fundraising. We decided, with the Spirit’s help, to claim Hebrews 13:5-6. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (Which is a promise from Deuteronomy 31:6) and vs. six says, “So we say with confidence, THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?  (This promise comes from Ps. 118:6, 7). It was this promise of provision that has sustained my wife, Mary Jane, and me for the last 45 years of ministry.

1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.

2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?

3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?

4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?