Some "I will's" of Jesus, part 1

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Some "I will's" of Jesus

People who make the statement, "I will", quite often "will not!" It's not that they are necessarily intentionally lying, it's more of a case of saying things in a generalized sense. "I will" needs a "qualifier" to be more accurate when it comes to people, such as, "I will be at your house by 8 P.M" should have a qualifier added like, "if traffic is not too heavy and my car doesn't break down." Since very few people use such preciseness in their speech, it means we need to realize they may not do what they say they will. We cannot take people's statements as "Gospel", meaning absolute fact. We cannot stake our lives on them being able to accomplish what they say. God, on the other hand, is absolutely trustworthy. When HE says I will, you can just settle back and relax on that issue, because HE will!!! His Word is the law, and cannot be broken. In this and the following messages in this series, let's look at some of the things Jesus said HE will, and therefore, will do!

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19 (KJV) Christians tend to, as individuals, believe Satan's lies and believe God cannot use us or make us usable for His service. If you look at various Scriptures that reveal the traits of the 4 future disciples mentioned in the immediate context of this "I will" of Jesus, you would probably think the same of them. Peter was a brash, impulsive man who ran his mouth far too often, saying the wrong things, such as when He made Jesus, Moses, and Elijah equals when he saw them on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9), because, it said, "he didn't know what to say!" He also brashly made the statement that, even though the other disciples might deny Jesus, he never would, though he did so 3 times in rapid succession shortly thereafter. He contradicted Jesus a number of times, and cut off the ear of the High priest's servant in the Garden of Gethsemane. James and John tended to be self centered, as they asked Jesus to elevate them above the other disciples by placing them on His right and left sides as He later sat on His throne. They also wanted to "call down fire" upon those villages that didn't immediately accept their preached messages. Several other passages beside these would make us believe there was no way Jesus could have made them usable, yet look at what HE did with them later. If Jesus says HE will make you into an instrument for His service, believe Him, for HE will! Do as the old phrase says, "let go and let God!" HE will do what HE says!

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13 (KJV) Great weight was attached to the Law by the Israelites. They thought obedience to it was the way to eternal life, often not realizing that the Law was, as Paul put it, a schoolmaster pointing them to the grace of God, by revealing their heavy burden of sin and the utter impossibility of their being able to fulfill its demands. Jesus told them it wasn't His will for them to concentrate on the letter of the Law, but the spirit. To those who thought they were righteous because of all their sacrifices, in other words, who thought they saved themselves, HE said, "I will not have you in my Kingdom, but I will have those who admit they are sinners unable to save themselves and call out to me for mercy. When Jesus says I will do it that way, heed His Word; HE will do what HE says!

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 (KJV) This is a blessed promise, one like John 3:16 with its "whosoever will." HE said "all of you who come to me, laying your burdens at my feet, looking for the rest that only I can give, I will give you rest. No one else can, but I can, and I will. If you are tired of carrying the burdens in your life, take Jesus at His Word; HE will do what HE says!