In the education and business worlds it is not uncommon to hear the term affirmative action, but what does it mean in our everyday life to affirm someone? Basically, it is a statement or action that encourages someone. The Bible is filled with promises that affirm an endless supply of riches, privileges, joys, and blessings that we’ve never appropriated. These are the promises in the Bible we haven’t claimed. There are levels of peace we’ve not experienced. There are joys we’ve underappreciated. There are answers to prayer awaiting us.
Scripture is filled with affirmations about all God has given us. For an interesting Bible study, read the first half of Ephesians and notice how the words inheritance and riches and wealth and blessing fill the first three chapters of this book: [He] has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ … the riches of His grace … we have obtained an inheritance … the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints … rich in mercy … the exceeding riches of His grace … the gift of God … the unsearchable riches of Christ … the riches of His glory (Ephesians 1:3, 7, 11, 18; 2:4, 7, 8; 3:8, 16).
In Christ we’ve inherited a fortune beyond anything this world can imagine, but perhaps we’re largely unaware of it.
Every Promise Finds Its Affirmation in Him
The apostle Paul had an interesting way of putting it. His ministry had fallen under criticism among the Corinthians, and some of his skeptics accused him of reneging on a purported promise to visit them. Paul told them, in essence, “We try to honor our ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ But when it comes to God, He unfailingly keeps His every promise with a resounding ‘Yes.’” The actual wording is: “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Our Heavenly Father is always faithful to His promises, and He always says “Yes!” to His Word. That doesn’t mean He always says “Yes” to each of our requests, desires, wants, or demands. Yes, He sometimes says “No.” Yes, He sometimes withholds a blessing. Yes, He sometimes allows a trial. But yes, all these things work together for the good of those who love Him. And think of His other alls. Yes, He works all things according to the counsel of His will. Yes, all needed things are given to those who seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Yes, we can cast all our cares on Him. Yes, goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. Yes, as we trust Him with all our hearts, He will direct all our paths. Yes, if He “did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32, emphasis added) He gives us all things to enjoy, and that’s why we can count it all joy.
All Christians Find Their Preapproval in Him
God’s yeses and alls are everywhere in the Bible, and with Christ as our Savior we’re preapproved in Him to appropriate them by faith, and that leads to rejoicing.
If you examine Scripture closely, you’ll find dozens of these affirmations to explore and enjoy. Here’s a sampling.
- Yes, I have a good inheritance—Psalm 16:6
- Yes, our God is merciful—Psalm 116:5
- When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet—Proverbs 3:24
- Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand—Isaiah 41:10
- Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you—Jeremiah 31:3
With these verses in your Bible and these yeses in the billfold of your faith, you needn’t ask permission to live abundantly; you have it. When we more fully realize our riches in Christ, we will think and live and act differently. Exercise affirmative action and see how many yeses God has promised you in His Word.
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David Jeremiah is the founder and host of Turning Point for God and serves as
Senior Pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California.
For more information about Turning Point, go to www.DavidJeremiah.org.
