The "I will" Statements of God
Hearsay. When I look up the etymology, hearsay means "to hear or listen (to)" plus "to speak, tell, or report." In other words, if a friend says to you, “I’m telling you what I heard,” they are speaking hearsay.
No doubt, at some point, you’ve played the game Telephone where one person whispers something to the person next to him, who whispers what he heard to the person next to him, and so on. If your game played out in the usual way, you and your friends had some good laughs, and you learned that hearsay can skew a message.
Hearsay is very different from verbatim, which comes from Latin, meaning "word for word." No room for messing with the message.
I’m going to go out on a limb and declare that Genesis 3 records the first case of hearsay. The serpent asked Eve what God really said, and she responded with hearsay, not God’s actual words but the version she heard and retold. The message was skewed. Somewhere between what God said, what Eve heard, and what she retold, God’s words were miscommunicated.
This is why I love the “I will…” statements of God. They are God’s words, not someone’s report of God’s words. When God says, “I will…” we can know exactly what he will do, and because he is able to do anything and faithful to complete his promises, we can trust that he will do it. Oh, the comfort.
D.L. Moody put it this way:
"When a man says, “I will,” it may not mean much. We very often say “I will” when we don’t mean to fulfill what we say. But when we come to the “I will” of Christ, He means to fulfill it. Everything He promised to do, He is able and willing to accomplish. I cannot find any Scripture where He says “I will” do this or “I will” do that but that it will be done."
So, because I love lists (as you know), I have started a list here of "I will" statements. I encourage you to start your own. Be comforted.
The "I will" statements of God
God says, I will …
… give you strength — Isaiah 41:10
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.
… give you a calling/service/job — Matthew 4:19
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
… claim you — Matthew 10:32
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
… give you rest — Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
… build the church — Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
… cleanse you — Luke 5:12-13
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
… save and secure you — John 6:37
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
… resurrect you — John 6:40
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
… make you a home in Heaven — John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
… give you the Holy Spirit — John 14:16
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever
… give you the Holy Spirit — John 16:7
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
… comfort you — John 14:18
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
… love you —John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.
… give you a glorious future — John 17:24
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
… be present with you —Hebrews 13:5
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.”
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I’d love to send it to you.
