Title: Doctrine of the Faith-Rest Drill: Introduction: Stage One: Claiming Promises
Author: Joe
Last saved by: PJD
Company: GDC

99-03-09.JSH-111 / 

©℗ 1999  Joe Griffin

Doctrine of the Faith-Rest Drill: Introduction; Stage One: Claiming Promises

Stage 2: Concentration on Doctrinal Rationales:
	1)	Under the recall ministry of the Holy Spirit, wheel-tracks of righteousness are brought up into the conscious mind for evaluation and consideration for application.
	2)	The only source of true confidence in life is found in one’s knowledge of God’s Word.
3)	Tranquility, which results from having faith in the promises, is what allows the believer to evaluate doctrine with clarity of thought.
4)	Now your faith and trust is placed in doctrines that are backed by the integrity of God.
5)	Since true confidence is found in one’s knowledge of doctrine then in stage two your confidence is restored as you are reminded of His ability to solve your problems.
6)	There are three major areas of concentration in stage 2:
a.	The Essence of God Rationale
b.	The Plan of God Rationale, and
c.	The Logistical Grace Rationale.
	7)	After claiming promises stabilizes your soul and your concentration on doctrine reveals God’s solution to your problem, then you reach:
	Stage 3:	Doctrinal Conclusions:
1)	With confidence renewed at stage two, you are now able to deal with the problem from renewed courage.
2)	The application of the doctrine to the reality you face results in a mental attitude of spiritual unconcern.
3)	Although the problem is still unresolved, you know that the Lord has provided the perfect solution.

4)	With faith you stand on the promises, with confidence you depend on the doctrines, and with courage you apply the problem-solving devices.
5)	You are now able to rest in the knowledge that your problem has been cast upon God who promises to resolve it in a manner fair and just to all.
6)	Following rebound, the believer resumes his spiritual life as illustrated in this formula:
		F/HS  +  CP  =  TS
Filling of the Holy Spirit plus Claiming promises equals Tranquility of Soul.
TS  =  CDR  =  RC
Tranquility of Soul plus Concentration on Doctrinal Rationales equals Renewed Confidence.
RC  +  DC  =  C/MC
Renewed Confidence plus Doctrinal Conclusions equals Courage toward Man and Circumstances.
C/MC  + A/PSDs = FR
Courage toward Man and Circumstances plus Application of Problem-Solving Devices equals Faith Rest.
		We will now note the three stages of the faith-rest drill.

B.	Stage One: Claiming promises.
1-	The Bible contains over 7,000 promises from God.
2-	It is important that we have a clear understanding of what a promise is and what it means when one is given.

Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “promise”:
A declaration or assurance made to another person with respect to the future stating that one will do, or refrain from, some specified act, or that one will give or bestow some specified thing.
In religious use: One of the Divine assurances of future good or blessing, recorded in the Scriptures as made to particular persons on various occasions, or conceived as given to mankind through Christ.
That which affords a strong or reasonable ground of expectation of something to come, especially of future good; something that leads one confidently to expect good results.
3-	Note some of the elements of these definitions:
1)	“A declaration of assurance.”  There is a corny bromide that is based on this definition: “God said it, I believe it, that settles it.”
2)	“Stating that one will do, or refrain from, some specified act.”  A divine promise is backed by divine integrity.  What is stated positively will occur.  Example: “Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.”  (Joshua 1:5a)  That which is stated negatively will not occur.  Example: “I will not fail you or forsake you.”  (Joshua 1:5b)
3)	“Something that leads one confidently to expect good results.”  Promises claimed through faith, plus doctrine believed under pressure, produce confidence of a future good result.
4-	The Greek word for promise is ™paggšllw /epangellw / and is a legal term denoting a summons.  It came to mean that which is proclaimed, announced, or promised.
5-	Except for Acts 23:21, all New Testament uses refer only to promises of God.
6-	We may conclude then that promises are designed to inspire our faith so that we might increase our confidence in order to generate courage toward man and circumstances.

7-	There are promises given to specific individuals but which all believers may claim.  We have seen this in our study of Moses and Joshua.
Deuteronomy 31:6 -	“Be confident and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the One Who goes with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5 -	“No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life.  Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.  I will not fail you or forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5b -	He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”
8-	The promises of God are broad and varied, described in Scripture in various ways showing their diversity.
9-	There are promises for time and eternity, life and godliness, adversities and blessings.
1 Timothy 4:8b -	… godliness is profitable for all things since it holds promise for the present life and also the life to come.
2 Peter 1:3 -	His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness …
James 1:12 -	Blessed is a man who perseveres under testing, for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
10-	Although there are over 7,000 promises in Scripture, not all may be claimed by the Christian.  Some are universal but others by virtue of their contexts are reserved for certain people.
11-	It is important to understand that the plan of God divides mankind into three categories according to:
1 Corinthians 10:32 -	Give no offense either to Jews or to Gentiles or to the church of God.