Do Not Waver

Romans 4:13–25 NKJV

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Finding yourself in a challenging situation. Natural vs. Spritiual

You cannot “earn” the promises of God. We must meet the conditions, but without faith those conditions will not help us.

If you find yourself in a situation where God doesn’t seem to be anywhere nearby.

If you find yourself in a situation where you are desperate.

If you find yourself in a situation that seems hopeless or impossible.

Look at Abraham’s life.

Here are a few tips we can learn from Romans 4 and Abraham.

God gives life to dead things. Romans 4:17 “(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;”

God calls those things which do not exist as though they did. God is greater than the natural. God is greater than the impossible.

When all hope is lost, we can hope in God! Romans 4:18 “who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.””

Be careful not to let your faith grow weak! Romans 4:19 “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.”

Stop focusing on your circumstances. “Consider” in the Greek means to focus or fix your eyes on mind on attentively.

Do not waver. Romans 4:20 “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,” “Waver” means to withdraw from or desert. Contend (argue or oppose) Hesitate

Unbelief kills the promise.

When we do not waver…our faith will be strengthened by God.

When our faith is strengthened we need to give glory to God…even if we are still waiting on the promise!

Faith is being fully convinced that God can do what He said he would do. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Genesis 15 NKJV

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. Then He said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” And he said, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?” So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

How to strengthen your faith so you don’t waver.

Remember God is your reward…not the promise or what you are wanting. Genesis 15:1 “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.””

Remember who God is and what He has done for you in the past! Genesis 15:7 “ThenHe said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.””

Remember it’s ok to question or struggle…just don’t get stuck there! Genesis 15:8 “And he said, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?””

Remember the covenant God has made with us. Genesis 15:18 “On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—”

1 Corinthians 11:25 “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.””

Understand that while we need to believe and follow…it is ultimately the faithfulness of God that will determine the promise…not our faithfulness.