I Got This

Introduction

Since chapter 12 we have been discussing one thing and one thing only. The Abram and Sarai would have a child.

Why is this so important?

It would be a miracle because of their old age and Sarai is barren.

Abraham’s seed will bring forth a son.

That son will bring forth a nation.

That nation will bring forth the Messiah.

The Messiah will save the world. The Messiah is Jesus.

This is important stuff. This is God sized stuff. This is change the world stuff.

There are times that God calls us to some crazy things, Incredible things, miraculous things. Isn’t it good that God has given us a brain so that we can Help God Out.

I mean, God didn’t raise no dummy. I’ve got skills.

I can see where he’s going and what he told me he was going to do, so I will just jump right in and get my hands dirty and just HELP GOD OUT!!

Isn’t that they way we think. If it going to get done, I have to ________________ do it myself.

So we plan and we scheme and do what we can to Help God out.

There is a problem. You can’t do the impossible! You can’t preform miracles! The only thing you do when you try and help God is get in the way and mess stuff up!!

Let’s look at Genesis chapter 16 and see how Sarai tried to help out God.

Genesis 16:1–2 ESV

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

Gen 16:1-

The Things of the Flesh will Never Substitute for the Things of the Spirit.

God had limited their resources on purpose.

If Sarai and Abram could have had kids they would have doubted the miracle of God.

They would have always asked the question: Was it God or was it me.

Sometimes we pray, “God if I just had all the resources then I could really serve you.”

Instead of, “God you are the only resources that I need. If I have you I have everything.” (Oh you did not hear me this morning.)

God Pleasers: By faith we will please God as we trust him with our lives.

Be careful of the voices you listen too.

Genesis 16:2 ESV

And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

God had already spoken.

He didn’t stutter or stamper.

He was clear and concise.

Genesis 15:4 ESV

And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”

Another voice just brings confusion.

He listened to the voice of his wife. (Move on Pastor Bill, Just Move On)

Even the voices closest to you need to be drowned out by the clear voice of the Lord.

Genesis 16:4 ESV

And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.

Gen 16:

What You Produce in the Flesh always breeds Contempt with the Spirit.

The flesh always looks down on the Spirit.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary Contempt

the feeling that someone or something is worthless or beneath consideration.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary Contempt

contempt

■ noun

1 the feeling that someone or something is worthless or beneath consideration.

Contempt: The feeling that someone or something is worthless or beneath consideration.

Call up Jessica and have her give a woman’s look of contempt

The flesh is in Bondage while the spirit is free.

Gal 4

Galatians 4:22–23 ESV

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.

The pattern of Ishmael and Isaac ()

The difference in a slave and a son

Hagar’s son Ishmael became the father of the Arab nations.

Sarah’s son Issac is that seed of promise and the nation of the Jews.

Both claim the first born rights to the promises of their father Abraham.

Ishmael was born of slavery

This is the cause of the current war over in the Gaza strip and most of the Middle East.

Isaac was born of promise

(; )

b) Isaac was born of promise

One is flesh and one is promise

The flesh always lusts after the Spirit

Gal

Galatians 5:17 ESV

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Galatians 5:17 ESV

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

The flesh always persecutes the Spirit

The flesh always persecutes the Spirit ()

b) The flesh always persecutes the Spirit ()

The flesh always persecutes the Spirit

Galatians 4:29 ESV

But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

Galatians 4:29 ESV

But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

The pattern of a Fleshly Christian

B. The pattern of a Christian

B. The pattern of a Christian

The pattern of a Fleshly Christian

B. The pattern of a Fleshly Christian

a) Listening to many voices.

a) Trying to accomplish the Spiritual in the flesh.

b) Trusting in your own power to do it.

c) Producing fleshly conflict with the Spirit.

The pattern of a Spiritual Christian

a) Listen to the voice of the Lord

b) Trust in His power alone to do it.

c) Producing Spiritual results that your flesh could never do.

d) Rest in God