What is a promise?

A promise is simply:

• A statement telling someone that you will definitely do something or that something will definitely happen in the future.

• An indication of future success or improvement.

A reason to expect that something will happen in the future.

Jesus Made Promises

Promises are not a man-made word.  The Bible is full of promises to us, His children.  Let’s read some (there are about 200):

• John 1:50 – Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.”
• John 2: “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
• John 3:16:  “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
• Mark 1:15: “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

We could go on and on.  In fact, I recommend you do an in-depth study on everything that Jesus promised to you and I.  It will change your life!  Let’s examine what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:20:

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

I like how the King James Version puts it:

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

In both the New Living and the King James Versions notice the word “amen.”  Amen is actually a very powerful word, however, we use it so much (especially in the “church world”), I think it looses some of its’ power.  The word amen means this according to Wikipedia:

The word amen (/ˌɑːˈmɛn/ or /ˌeɪˈmɛn/; Hebrew: אָמֵן, Modern amen, Tiberian ʾāmēn; Greek: ἀμήν; Arabic: آمين‎, ʾāmīn ; “So be it; truly”) is a declaration of affirmation found in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. It has been generally adopted in Christian worship as a concluding word for prayers and hymns. Common English translations of the word amen include “verily” and “truly”. It can also be used colloquially to express strong agreement, as in, for instance, amen to that.

So be it!

Whatever God has promised you (3 days ago, 3 months ago, 3 years ago or 30 years ago) it will happen, amen (SO BE IT!)