Sermon Tone Analysis

Secular:

*  Aren’t you glad…

* Faith isn’t a feeling…

* Bad morning… before coffee… eternal destiny

* Fight… anger…

* Like Love… isn’t a feeling

* Divorce

* Abuse

* Hostility

* Focused on a sure goal  ________|>

* Faith is anchored in truth… not airy fairy mysticism… truth and belief in it…

* Anchored in God

* God is a fact

* True

* Loves

* Saves

* Creates ~/ Created

* Given by his grace

Biblical:

/God’s Promise to Abraham…/

Romans 4:18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE." 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 /He /who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

Personal:

* Faith isn’t about filling the gaps…

* Not about believable or not…

* It is about trusting… knowing… living and acting… according to the belief in God… supplied by God… realized in us!

*  Quick Word study…

* Baptism… dip, plunge, dunk

* Ecclesia… gathering, assembly, people

* Faith… anchored in certainty

Bridge:

* God gives faith

* We can be sure

* We can trust

* We can live a hope of Faith

* Lets look a six aspects of Abraham’s faith in Romans 4:18-25

 

Body:

Aspects of Faith:

4:18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE." 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

#. * /In hope against hope he believed/*

* Hope is desiring something beyond normal human capacity

* We often use the phrase… “I hope that works out” Usually referring to a desired but unlikely outcome…

*  Abraham’s faith under girded his hope… hope against hope… for He knew God’s promise was beyond his capacity… from his vantage point highly unlikely… but it says /“hope against hope he believed”/

* It was not a blind wish or desire…

                                                              i.

Lottery but didn’t buy a ticket

                                                            ii.

Roll-up the rim…

* But on anchored in God…

* What was impossible for Abraham… was possible with God

* /I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars…/ Genesis 15:5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them."

And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

* The First aspect of Abraham’s faith… was that there was hope… hope anchored in faith… true hope in the Promise of God

                                                              i.

Do you have hope?

Real hope in Faith?

* Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

2.  */Without becoming weak in faith/*

* He was steadfast… * Sure he wrestled…

* Sure he wondered…

                                                              i.

Likelihood

                                                            ii.

Magnitude of the promises

1.      Possible?

2.      In our world… look around

* That’s not easy… *  Steadfast… want to talk about steadfast?

Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son

*  God promised Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars… despite the circumstance… Abraham continued to demonstrate… faith… steadfastness in the promises of God

*  Steadfast… not an emotion… not a roller coaster… The Second aspect of Abraham’s faith… was Steadfastness… to be Steadfast anchored in faith in the Promise of God

* Are we steadfast?

When are we not… why?

* Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

3. */Not Discouraged/*…

*  /Abraham/ contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb *  Enough reason to go thanks… but really… who are we trying to kid here?

* Not according to our schedule or plan…

                                                              i.

Heal now

                                                            ii.

Fix it now

                                                          iii.

Fleeces

* The flesh is weak… * Subject to corruption

* It gets old and worn out

*  The flesh can be discouraging… head scrtaching

* But Abraham is not discouraged… grew strong in faith

                                                              i.

Not lost in the trials of the moments

*   Being an Optimist… not discourage the third aspect of Abraham’s faith… was to be encouraged… to be encouraged….

optimistic in faith… in the Promise of God * How do we live it?

4. No doubt… Unwavering

* Was there reason to doubt… *  Again….

/Abraham/ contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb

*  From my perspective… lots of reasons to doubt…

                                                              i.

Way past child bearing years…

                                                            ii.

From the time of the promise to the time of fulfilment… many years had past… Sarah had had her chuckle…

* In the face of greatest opportunity for doubt… /yet, with respect to the promise of God, Abraham  did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith,/ * What God promises he delivers… NO DOUBT