God of Promises...Gods Covenant With Abraham

God made a promise to make Abraham’s descendants a mighty nation, even though he had no children. His promise to Abraham was also a promise to us. Even though we’re not perfect, God has a plan for our lives!

Memory Verse...

Joshua 1:8 MEV

This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night so that you may act carefully according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way successful, and you will be wise.

A covenant is a “Life Agreement” between two or more parties or individuals. They commit to each other with promises and obligations. A covenant in the O.T. would begin with a sacrifice. They would cut certain animals in half and arrange them opposite each other. Then the two parties or individuals would pass between the two halves. This would symbolize the agreement, that if either party of individual broke the agreement, they would die just like the animal.

A covenant would usually consist of responsibilities for both parties. In this Abrahamic Covenant God’s presence alone passed between the halves. This means that God alone made the promise, and God alone determined the obligations of the covenant. Abraham only had to except them in obedient faith.

Gods Promise

God comes to Abraham in his old age, and gives Abraham the promise of nations!

Genesis 17:1–9 AMP

WHEN ABRAM was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete). And I will make My covenant (solemn pledge) between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly. Then Abram fell on his face, and God said to him, As for Me, behold, My covenant (solemn pledge) is with you, and you shall be the father of many nations. Nor shall your name any longer be Abram [high, exalted father]; but your name shall be Abraham [father of a multitude], for I have made you the father of many nations. And I will make you exceedingly fruitful and I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting, solemn pledge, to be a God to you and to your posterity after you. And I will give to you and to your posterity after you the land in which you are a stranger [going from place to place], all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said to Abraham, As for you, you shall therefore keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

Abraham and Sarah are way past the point of having children. God promises them a child! How many times has something seemed impossible, BUT GOD!

God reveals Himself as “God Almighty”. He is El Shaddai! He is all powerful and nothing is impossible for Him. God’s promises aren’t moved by what we see, hear, or feel. He is all powerful. We see mountains, He sees mountains moved. We see sickness, He sees healing. We see impossible, He sees possible!

Abrahams Obedience

Faith is required to receive the covenant promise. Faith is expressed though our obedience.

God commanded Abraham to walk after Him blameless. The promise is contingent on obedience. If Abraham hadn’t walked blameless with the Lord, He’s disqualified. God is no longer obligated to His promise.If hid descendants choose not to walk with God then they break the covenant promise.

Genesis 17:15–19 AMP

And God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai; but Sarah [Princess] her name shall be. And I will bless her and give you a son also by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall come from her. Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said in his heart, Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a son? And [he] said to God, Oh, that Ishmael might live before You! But God said, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed, and you shall call his name Isaac [laughter]; and I will establish My covenant or solemn pledge with him for an everlasting covenant and with his posterity after him.

Our Promise

John 3:16–18 AMP

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.]

God has promised us that if we believe in the name of His son Jesus, that we would not perish but be saved.

Our response to this promise, like Abraham is obedient faith. God has called us to believe and walk after Him. If I have obedient faith, God is faithful to His promises.

Romans 1:5 AMP

It is through Him that we have received grace (God’s unmerited favor) and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name’s sake among all the nations,

When I believe in Jesus and I practice obedient faith, my life will look different...

Our Obedience

Galatians 5:16–26 AMP

But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God). For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do. But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.] Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.

It’s because of Abrahams obedient faith that Israel has a land to call home. He was faithful to God, and God is faithful to His promises. It’s because of Jesus’ obedient faith that you and I have any hope at all. If we practice obedient faith to God’s plan, He is absolutely faithful to His promises!