Abraham The value of waiting pon God
Abraham
The value of waiting upon God
Call to worship
Bible Verse
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. (Psalm 95:6-8)
The Lord’s Prayer
Blessing
Grace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord, through the Holy Spirit.
Hymn No 43: “O Lord the Judge of all the earth”
Announcements
Scripture Reading Psalm 37:1-9
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Declaration of pardoning
Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)
Hymn No 377: “Come to the Saviour, make no delay”
Offering and Dedication
We sing hymn while offering is taken up.
Hymn 364 Sing only verses 1-2, 5-6
Scripture Reading Genesis 12:6-20
Sermon
Introduction
One of the doctrines of the Bible many Christians find difficulty understanding is the doctrine of God’s sovereignty.
8 When we say God is sovereign, we acknowledge what the apostle Paul writes about in Rom 11:33:
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are things.
The concept of God’s sovereignty is beautifully expressed in some verse of Daniel where Daniel was in conversation with Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel urged the godless king to bow under the sovereignty of God. The king would not do it, until God dealt with Him according to his plan and purposes. Nebuchadnezzar was disposed from his position as king according to the Word of God through Daniel.
You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times [years] will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. (Daniel 4:25)
He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes. (Daniel 5:21)
8 Sometimes we acknowledge that God can do what He promises, but we start doubting his timing. We think about the when and when that time is passed we not only doubt that God do as He promises, but we in the same time start doubting God’s person, Himself.
8 The next step is that we step in. We try to play God, we try to do what we think God should have done.
When this happens, we find ourselves in a position where we actually exhibit our unbelief in the sovereign and faithful God. That makes our unfaithfulness show very clearly.
n “To your affspring I wil give this land” (Gen 12:7)
n Abram continued toward Negev (Gen 12:9)
n Abram in Egypt (Gen 12:10-20)
n “Go walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you” (Gen 13:17)
n What about Eliezer? (Gen 15:2)
n “A son coming from your own body will be your heir.” (Gen 15:4)
n “To your descendants I give this land” (Gen 15:18)
n Sarai had no children (Gen 16:1)
n What about Hagar and Ishmael? (Gen 16:2, 15) (Ishmael = God has heard)
n Abram is now 99: “You will be the father of many nations” (Gen 17:4)
n The family of Lot destroyed (Gen 19)
n Abraham and Abimelech (Gen 20)
n Abraham 100: Isaac born! “The Lord did for Sarah what He had promised” (Gen 21:1)
n “Sacrifice your son Isaac” (Gen 22:2)
n “The Lord will provide” (Gen 22:14)
n Abraham died – only Isaac!
n By faith! (Hebrews 12:8-19)
Prayer
Hymn No 99: “Behold the Potter and the clay”
Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.