Faith will Always outlive me
Notes
Transcript
Handout
When I consider going into something that requires sacrifice, I first think about how it will benefit me… How will it make my life easier… how will it make me better off? Will it make my life more comfortable… financially, personally, relationally, will it entail the least amount of change… Is there more upside, then downside? Will this better my career?
When we weigh out the benefits is not only natural but it’s also smart, especially when making a big move.
So… Since we are talking about Legacy Faith, how does our faith tie into major changes? How do I know I’m hearing from God especially when dealing with major, life altering decisions? Decisions that impact not only me but my wife and my kids, my job, my home, school…
This morning, we will be focusing on Abraham and Sarah and how, even though they weren’t perfect, they are perfect examples of faith.
Trusting God means learning to hear HIS voice.
Illustration: Blind Faith… hearing a voice and responding in obedience.
Abraham was faithful to the Lord regardless of cost or comfort. And because of Abraham’s great faith, he occupy’s more space than any other ancient in Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11:8–16 (ESV)
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
PRAY
Abraham went not knowing where he was going.
Looking forward to that place of rest where God will do or has already done all the work building.
Not settling for what is seen here but in faith we are looking forward to something better, something promised by God.
The Story of Abraham in the Bible is found is Genesis 12-23.
It starts off in 12 where Abraham left Ur at the age of 75 years old.
Abe knew God, he wanted to please God and he had 75 years of waiting for God’s direction.
Gen 12:6-7 - First thing he did when he entered Canaan was he built an altar to the Lord and offered sacrifices to the Lord.
When they came back from Egypt after a famine in Gen 13:3-4, Abe came back to that same altar and sought the Lord at Bethel.
Then Lot, Abe’s nephew, separated from Abraham and then he got into trouble and Abraham rescues Lot.
After that victory, Gen 14:18-20, Abraham was blessed by the Priest of the God Most High named Melchizedek. Abraham gave HIM a tenth of everything.
Then in Gen 15:1, the Lord reminded Abraham Don’t be afraid, I am your shield, your reward shall be great.
God made a covenant with Abram, the promise that will be produced through Abe.
So naturally, reminds God how impossible that would be. He is old, Sarah is old and everything that he has will be passed down to the next heir, Eliezer of Damascus.
God made it very clear that your offspring will be the heir and I will work my blessing and my promise through your son. But… God doesn’t mention Sarah until Gen 17:15.
Then God shows Abraham the stars and promises that his descendents will be just as numerous.
At the same time, God revealed the painful abuse for 400 years and 4 generations they will possess this land that I promised.
God revealed HIS plan to Abraham one bite at a time.
God said that Abraham would be the father of many nations but God never mentioned how HE would make that happen.
Sarah was barren, unable to have children so Sarah said since the Lord has prevented me from having children go to my servant Hagar and get her pregnant and boom… he will be our offspring.
The problem was that in Gen 16, they never sought the Lord, they just thought that this is the only possible way for us to have any offspring.
So Hagar gave birth to Ishmael… Sarah became Jealous, Abraham was in the middle of a pickle. All this could have been avoided by simply seeking the Lord before making such a life altering decision.
Even though this created many unnecessary problems but God never reprimanded Abraham and Sarah for doing this.
WE see that God’s promise fulfilled.
We may think, boy I blew it, there is no redemption, there’s no hope after that major mess up.
God’s promise will always be fulfilled and if we are willing to trust HIM, God will use us to fulfill HIS promise through us as we seek the Lord and respond in faith.
Genesis 17 God established the covenant through Circumcision. At 99 Abraham was circumcised and all the male’s under HIS authority were circumcised.
Then Genesis 17:15-21 Sarah was now in the picture, she was a part of the promise… late in life, past child bearing age. Abraham, the man of faith, laughed and then explained the impossible situation to God and give HIM an easier option through Ishmael but God insisted on the impossible… vs 19.
God shows us that HE can use anybody regardless of age, barrenness, or complicated circumstances to fulfill HIS promised everlasting covenant child.
God is never too late, HE is always right on time. HE has a way of blowing us away with 2 min left in the 4th quarter.
Every step of the way God revealed each part of his faith journey. God showed up and when there was only confusion Abraham sought the Lord and God was faithful to show up. We don’t have to live in confusion, just seek God’s voice, HIS still small voice, and step out, walk out in obedience.
In Gen 18:13-14, after 3 visitors showed up and confirmed God’s plan saying that in a year, Sarah will become pregnant and when she overheard that, Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”
Then after she was confronted for her laughter, she denied it.
We know that nothing is to difficult for the Lord and God will eventually confirm that truth. But, sometimes laughter is all that you have to keep you from crying your eyes out.
14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”
God wants to blow us away… God want’s to amaze us as we see HIM work through in those situations that are more then difficult, they are impossible. Those are the situations that God get’s all the credit.
If God chose Ishmael, Abraham and Sarah would get the credit, at least part of it… God does not share HIS glory with anyone but faith is always the conduit God uses to include us in HIS plan.
God spoke to Abraham and he responded in faith
God spoke to Abraham and he responded in faith
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Faith is the evidence of things hoped for the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Abraham and Sarah were first called by God to go and so they went.
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
In Chapter 12 God first calls Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldeans to go the Promised Land. He was 75 years old.
God will always equip the called, HE never calls the equipped.
Without faith it is impossible to please GOD, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that HE exists and that HE rewards those who seek him.
Abraham responded to God in faith as he sought the Lord and believed HIM.
God called Abraham righteous because of his faith.
God called Abraham righteous because of his faith.
His faith wasn’t a one time thing, it was a time after time thing.
Stepping out, leaving Ur and heading to Canaan. Hearing from God talk about HIS promises… the land, his offspring and then watching God get all the credit and the glory through it all… through his faith.
11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
Through every step, he built an altar to the Lord and offered sacrifices.
When He got to Canaan… When he came back from Egypt… when he had questions we went to the Lord for answers, seeing God at altars, offering sacrifices and not leaving until he got an answer from the Lord.
1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
God made a covenant with Abraham, God knew that he was old, Sarah is old, and God knew in the current legal situation that everything Abraham had would be passed down to the next heir, Eliezer of Damascus.
But that wasn’t God’s plan… God made his plan clear that his very son will be the heir I will bless.
Then in Genesis 15:5-6
5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Sometimes we need to get out of our tent which limits our vision and our perspective and see God’s limitless, wonderful, amazing promise God has for us.
It was Abraham’s faith that was counted to him as righteousness.
God’s promise to Abraham & Sarah came beyond their lifespan.
God’s promise to Abraham & Sarah came beyond their lifespan.
Abraham did not settle in the land of promise, he moved around because it was not his land yet. Instead of building houses, they lived in tents as foreigners.
9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
Abraham was simply setting up this legacy of faith from one generation to the next as long as he was alive, Abe was going to put his faith in the Lord.
This faith in God’s promise was passed down from Isaac, then to Jacob and so when things got difficult, his eyes were fixed on drawing his strength from the Lord.
10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Abraham was by no means perfect, he didn’t always understand what God was doing or why HE was doing what HE was doing. He had the long term perspective that God is much bigger then me.
We must come to accept that God is so much bigger then me so if legacy faith is going to begin, it better begin with me.
Once it begins, it won’t end if we keep believing in God’s promises every single day.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
We are still exiles and strangers on earth because we belong to the Lord… so, what are we living for…
Are we living for what this world can give us?
Or, are we living for what God has promised us, for those who live by faith?
TAKE AWAY:
God works in HIS process
God is faithful to HIS promise
The Lord sees our faithfulness and rewards us according to our Faith in HIM.