Doubting In The Waiting

-Food Pantry & Mudd ES collection bins

-Avert Women’s Retreat Registration (5 spots already filled, 15 ladies max)

-Easter Weekend! 3/29 (Good Friday Fish Fry) 3/31 (Easter Sunday)

-Avert Teens Talent sign up for Easter Sunday at the welcome desk. Avert Kids Easter dance info there as well.

-Wednesday Night Bible Study (at the building and on zoom @7pm)

-Thursday Night Prayer @6:45

-Offering/Giving, Online or in the black box.

-Family Talk, First Time guest connect with Pastor Manny and I.

Genesis Series:

-In a world that often seems chaotic, where uncertainty and confusion abound, it becomes imperative for us to seek a source of clarity and purpose. The book of Genesis serves as an unparalleled foundation for understanding not only the origins of our existence but also as a timeless guide for finding meaning and order amidst life's tumultuous circumstances.

-Genesis unfolds the narrative of creation, revealing a God who, in the midst of formless darkness, speaks order and beauty into existence. As we read, we discover profound insights into the nature of God, our identity as His creation, and our responsibility to bring order to the world around us.

-The history in the first eleven chapters of Genesis appears in skeletal form. One cannot know how much time transpired between chapters or, in some instances, between sets of verses. There are times when the events of one chapter may have actually begun in time before the events occurred at the end of the previous chapter

-We have covered a lot so far! From creation, sin causing chaos, and God continually bringing slarity to the chaos we bring into the world.

-We started our journey with Abram (Now Abraham) a few weeks back, pastor tony covered the life of Hagar last week. Which the whole situation for her is all about Abraham and Sarahs doubting God on fulfilling His promise.. Today we are going to continue our journey with Abraham and Sarah.

Todays sermon is titled the “Doubting In The Waiting”

Read Proverbs 16:32 “Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.”

PRAY

Name Changing & Promise Reminder Section:

-Who in here likes to wait? And would consider themselves a patient person?

-We all like to see things happen quickly, anticipating and waiting can be exhausting. When things dont happen fast, doubt can begin to creep in.

-We have seen impatience and doubt play a big role in the lives of Sarah and Abraham. Let's see how their journey goes today.

Read Genesis 17:15-22.

-When God changed a person’s name and gave him a new name, it was usually to establish a new identity. We see this happen a few times in Scripture.God changed Abram’s name, meaning "high father," to “Abraham,” meaning "father of a multitude" (Genesis 17:5). At the same time, God changed Abraham's wife's name from “Sarai,” meaning “my princess,” to “Sarah,” meaning “mother of nations” (Genesis 17:15).

-This name change took place when God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. God also reaffirmed His promise to give Abraham a son(speak on this), specifically through Sarah, and told him to name his son Isaac, meaning "laughter." Abraham had another son, Ishmael, through Sarah's handmaiden, Hagar. But God's promise to bless the nations through Abraham was to be fulfilled through Isaac's line, from whom Jesus descended (Matthew 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38).

-In the New Testament, Jesus changed Simon’s name, meaning "God has heard," to “Peter,” meaning "rock" when He first called him as a disciple (John 1:42). It was Peter who declared that Jesus was "the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Jesus replied to him as "Simon son of Jonah," saying that he was blessed because God revealed Jesus' identity as Messiah to him. He then referred to him as "Peter" and said that Peter's declaration was the basis, or "rock," on which He would build His church (Matthew 16:17–18).

-Peter is also often seen as the leader of the apostles. Jesus occasionally called Peter “Simon” at other times. Why? Probably because Simon sometimes acted like his old self instead of the rock God called him to be. The same is true for Jacob. God continued to call him “Jacob” to remind him of his past and to remind him to depend on God’s strength.

-Why did God choose new names for some people? The Bible doesn’t give us His reasons, but perhaps it was to let them know they were destined for a new mission in life. The new name was a way to reveal the divine plan and also to assure them that God’s plan would be fulfilled in them.

-Sarah has really only been mention in passing the last few weeks but lets take some time to get to know who she is. Sarah was barren, an issue of personal distress as well as cultural shame. Abraham was worried that he would have no heir. But God gave Abram a vision in which He promised him a son and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15). God also promised Abraham's offspring the land of Canaan.

-The problem was that Sarah remained childless. Ten years after God had made His promise to Abram, Sarah, following cultural norms, suggested that Abraham have a child with her servant, Hagar. The child born of that union would be counted as Sarai’s. Abram agreed, and Hagar conceived a son—Ishmael.

-Thirteen years after Ishmael was born, God reaffirmed His covenant with Abram, Abraham laughed that, at 100 years old, he could have a son with Sarah, who was 90 years old and had been barren her entire life. Sarah, too, laughed at the prospect (Genesis 18:9–15). -Sarah was a simple, beautiful (Genesis 12:11), and very human woman; she made mistakes, just like we all do. She stepped ahead of God and tried to handle His business on her own by foolishly sending her handmaid, Hagar, to Abraham to bring forth the child God had promised. In so doing, she ignited a feud that has lasted for 4,000 years (Genesis 16:3).

She laughed in unbelief when, at 90 years old, she heard an angel tell Abraham that she would become pregnant (Genesis 18:12), but she gave birth to the promised child and lived another 30 years, dying at the age of 127 (Genesis 23:1).

- Hebrews 11:11 uses Sarah as an example of faith: "And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise."

-First Peter 3:5–6 uses Sarah as an example of a holy woman who hoped in God and who adorned herself by submitting to her husband. Sarah willingly left her home and stepped out into the unknown to follow Abraham, as he followed the directions of a God with whom she was unfamiliar at the time.

- She endured much to try to provide an heir for her husband and to keep her husband safe in dangerous lands. In the end, she had faith enough to believe that she and her husband, at the ages of 90 and 100, would produce the promised heir, Isaac. Although she lived in a world of danger and confusion, Sarah stood firm in her commitment to her husband and to God, and her commitment was rewarded with blessing.

The Visitors Section:

Read Genesis 18:1-8.

-Abraham was visited by three men one day; the men turned out to be unusual guests, to say the least, and the visit was life-changing for Abraham and Sarah. Abraham showed immediate hospitality to the three men, inviting them to rest under a tree and preparing a big meal for them (verses 3–8). -During their visit with Abraham, the three men warned him that God’s judgment was about to fall upon Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20–21; 19:12–13).

-Some have suggested that all three of these “men” were angelic beings who appeared to Abraham in the form of men.

-However, Genesis 18:1 says that it was “the LORD” (Yahweh) who appeared to Abraham. It is the LORD who speaks in verses 13, 20, 26, and 33. Abraham stands “before the LORD” in verse 22. So, one of the three “men” must have been God Almighty taking on the appearance of a man.

-We call such an appearance a “theophany.” When Jesus appears in His pre-incarnate body in the Old Testament, we call it a “Christophany.” Whether God’s appearance to Abraham here was a theophany or a Christophany, we don’t know. But it does seem clear from the context that one of the visitors was God Himself (Genesis 18:22) and the other two were the angels who later visited Sodom and spoke to Lot (Genesis 19:1). -Abraham’s response to the appearance of the three men also suggests that he instinctively knew that he was in the presence of God. A typical response to visitors in that culture was to rise and wait for them to approach the home. But Abraham ran to meet them and “bowed low to the ground,” a prostrate posture reserved for royalty or deity. -Abraham was well acquainted with the LORD and would have instantly recognized Him, because the Lord had spoken and/or appeared to him many times before. Those appearances include the following occasions: • when God first called him (Genesis 12:1–3) • when Abraham parted ways with Lot (Genesis 13:14–17) • when God made a covenant with him (Genesis 15) • when God restated His covenant (Genesis 17) -These three visitors whom Abraham entertained were heavenly, and Abraham and Sarah were in the company of God Himself. The story teaches us that God is aware of what is happening on earth, and He is involved. God can even visit or send His heavenly messengers to help fulfill His plans. We may not always realize whom we are speaking with, so we should treat everyone as though they were on special assignment from God. Hebrews 13:2 reminds us, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

Ok lets continue on in God’s word.

Waiting & Laughing (doubts) Section:

Read Genesis 18:9-15.

-It’s here we find Sarah and Abraham in the midst of a long period of waiting. They had been promised a son by God, but years had passed (24), and Sarah remained barren. This waiting period was filled with uncertainty, doubt, and frustration.

-So when Sarah hears one of the visitors say she will have a child, she laughs…

- Sarah's laughter was not one of joy or excitement but of skepticism and doubt. She struggled to believe that God's promise could come to fruition in her life. Her doubt was understandable given the circumstances, but it also revealed a lack of faith in God's ability to fulfill His promises.

-And if we are being honest we can all probably relate to this laugh, when we think of our own faith journeys. At least for me i can think about the times i laughed (and more times than not, it was because i doubted God could do what He said) Share some personal story here!

- The Lord, in His grace and mercy, addressed Sarah's laughter and doubt directly. He asked her, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14). This not just a rhetorical device. It's a statement of God's omnipotence. It's a reminder that our God is not limited by human constraints or natural laws. He is the Creator of the universe, the One who spoke everything into existence. If He can create the heavens and the earth, if He can part the Red Sea, if He can raise the dead, then surely nothing is too hard for Him.

This question challenged Sarah's limited perspective and reminded her of God's unlimited power and faithfulness.

As we reflect on this passage, we can glean several important lessons:

Doubt is a natural part of the human experience, especially in times of waiting and uncertainty.We often find it hard to believe in God's promises because they seem impossible from our perspective. But God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. He sees the end from the beginning, and He knows what is best for us.

God is not threatened by our doubts. He invites us to bring them to Him in prayer and to trust in His faithfulness.

God's promises are sure, even when they seem impossible from a human perspective.

Our doubts can be transformed into deeper faith when we choose to trust in God's character and His ability to fulfill His word.It's a reminder that God is faithful to His promises, and He will never leave us or forsake us. It's an invitation to surrender our doubts and fears and to place our faith in the One who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

Patience, Promise Fulfilled Section:

Read Genesis 21:1-7.

-we all Struggle with Impatience: As humans, we are wired for instant gratification. Waiting goes against our natural inclinations. When faced with delays or unanswered prayers, we often wrestle with impatience. We want things to happen on our timetable, forgetting that God's timing is perfect.

- Impatience often stems from doubt and fear. We doubt God's faithfulness and provision, fearing that He has forgotten or forsaken us. This lack of trust leads to anxiety and frustration as we try to take matters into our own hands.

-Comparison and Envy: In our fast-paced world, we are bombarded with images of others' successes and blessings. We compare our journey to theirs, feeling envious of their seemingly effortless progress. This comparison breeds discontentment and impatience as we long for what others have.

-Although most people consider patience to be a passive waiting or gentle tolerance, most of the Greek words translated "patience" in the New Testament are active, robust words. Consider, for example, Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us"

- Does one run a race by passively waiting for slow-pokes or gently tolerating cheaters? Certainly not! The word translated "patience" in this verse means "endurance."

-A Christian runs the race patiently by persevering through difficulties. In the Bible, patience is persevering towards a goal, enduring trials, or expectantly waiting for a promise to be fulfilled.

-Patience does not develop overnight. God's power and goodness are crucial to the development of patience. Colossians 1:11 tells us that we are strengthened by Him to "great endurance and patience," while James 1:3-4 encourages us to know that trials are His way of perfecting our patience.

- Our patience is further developed and strengthened by resting in God's perfect will and timing, even in the face of evil men who "succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes" (Psalm 37:7). Our patience is rewarded in the end "because the Lord's coming is near" (James 5:7-8). "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him" (Lamentations 3:25).

-Surrendering to God's Timing: However, when we choose to surrender to God's timing and will, we experience a profound shift. We recognize that His ways are higher than ours, and His plans are for our ultimate good. We release control and trust in His faithfulness, finding peace in knowing that He is working all things together for our good.

-Rewards of Patience: The rewards of patience are abundant. When we wait on God, we are strengthened in our faith and character. We experience a deepening intimacy with Him as we rely on His guidance and provision. We also witness His faithfulness firsthand, as He fulfills His promises in His perfect timing.

-Peace in God's Timing: Above all, embracing patience leads to a profound sense of peace. When we align ourselves with God's timing, we are freed from the burden of striving and striving. We rest in the assurance that He is in control, and His plans will come to fruition in their appointed time. It took 25 years for Abraham and Sarah to see God’s promise fulfilled.

-Don’t put time lines on God, for you will only cause yourself stress and chaos. But you will find both peace and clarity when you surrender to His way and trust HE is faithful to His promises and what He is calling you to!

Questions:

1.Reflecting on Sarah's laughter when told she would have a child, can you share a personal story of a time when doubt affected your faith journey?How did you handle it?

2.In what ways do you relate to Sarah's struggles with infertility and cultural expectations?

3.How does impatience manifest in our lives, and what role does comparison and envy play in fostering impatience?

4.What does it mean to surrender to God's timing, and how can we find peace in doing so?