Life of Abraham 6
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Abram called to leave home, family, and go to a land God will show him
God makes him big promises: great nation, bless you, name great, protection plan, all families of the earth will be blessed through you
God rescues Abram from tough situation in Egypt, God has helped Abram defeat a group of four kings and rescue his nephew lot . . . you can really tell God’s hand is upon him
about ten years have passed since Abram’s first heard God’s promise
there is a whole bunch of regular living, in between these great encounters with God
don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a breakthrough every week/month/year
God IS WITH YOU!!!
Chapter 15: 1-6
Chapter 15: 1-6
God says, “Don’t fear, shield, and reward”
Abram ask obvious question, I don’t have a child, as it stand now, my servant is my heir . . .
God promises to give him an heir/child directly from him
and you will have many descendants, look at the stars
Abram’s response
6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
belief in God’s promise, led to God counting Abram as a righteous person; right standing
Want to get right with God? Have faith in God! . . . SIMPLE BUT TRUE
We see the same teaching in the New Testament: belief/faith leads to being declared righteousness, belief in God is how you get right with God
“whosoever believeth in him shall not perish” (John 3:16)
“confess with thy mouth and believe in hour heart” (Romans 10:9)
“for by grace are you saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8)
we get that grace that puts us right, through faith
The book of Romans talks about this
1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God?
2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way.
3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.
5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
You don’t gain entrance to heaven because of your work, but by your faith in God
You don’t have a better chance at heaven because you had a “good week”
no matter how good your week was, it was not good enough!
it’s your belief that what Jesus did on the cross for you was sufficient to erase your sins!
So, I can just have faith and what I want?
if you truly have faith and belief . . . there will be some proof of your faith and belief
faith without works is dead
God being God knew Abram truly believed
we being humans can see things that Abram did, that proved he believed
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,
When we see Abram’s story, we should be encouraged, that God counts us righteous when we believe
too many people still hoping they make it in
sign of you don’t truly believe . . . which means you are not making it in
or a sign you don’t know the Word of God, and are living in a spirit of fear
back to Genesis 15, God also mentions the land again in verse 7
8 He said, “O Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?”
we just learned that Abraham believed God, so this is not a question based on doubt
from chapter 13, we understand that Abram knows this land thing is more of a promise to his descendants.
So his question, “How will I know that I will possess it?”, most likely means . . .
I will be able to see a child, when he comes
but I will I know that this will come to pass? I won’t be around
9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
In those days, covenants (super serious contracts, solemn promises) were made by the sacrificial cutting of animals, with the split carcasses of the animals lying on the ground. The covenant was made when parties to the agreement walked through the animal parts together, repeating the terms of the covenant. (If I don’t follow through, may I end up like these animals)
10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds.
Abram got these animals and cut them in two… and placed each piece opposite the other: Abram knew exactly what to do with these animals; he understood that God was preparing to make a covenant agreement . . . that’s how serious God was about this promise
11 The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
God doesn’t show up right away, birds of prey try to eat the animals that have been cut in two, but Abram fights them off
God is doing all the blessing, promising, important parts, hard parts . . . our part is often to persevere until God shows up, keep watch until God shows up, stay vigilant until God shows up
wait on the Lord!
Genes 15: v12-16
God causes Abram to fall into a deep sleep and God reveals that his descendants will at first be slaves for four hundred years
but they will return and live here, it will match the time of my judgment on the people of this land
this is referring to the story in Exodus, slavery, Moses, 10 plagues, Red Sea . . .
17 It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces.
18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
then a smoking oven (firepot) and a torch passes between the pieces
these things represent God, God is God making the covenant by passing between the pieces
The LORD made a covenant in Genesis 15:18 is literally, “the LORD cut a covenant.”
Significant that Abram does not have to walk through for his side . . . this is all about what God is going to do
Abraham, you don’t have to do any work! you just believe, I’ll do work
I swear, promise, I will do what I said
Another encouragement on the surety of our salvation
God made this most solemn promise to do what he said he was going to do
by passing through sacrificed animals
When it came to our salvation, God the Father did not sacrifice animals, he sacrificed his only begotten son, Jesus Christ!
Christian, you don’t have to do any work! you just believe, I’ll do the work
I swear, promise, I will do what my word says
I go to prepare a place for you, and in my father’s house are many mansions, and I will come again and receive you unto myself
to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord
one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth, there will be no more tears, death, sorrow, or crying . . . they will all be passed away!
and not only those things, but all the promises of this life
never leave you
make things work together for your good
supply all your needs
21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
We should be fully convinced too, because God has given a much stronger confirmation to us than he gave to Abraham
Rest of the chapter, God mentions all of the people they will conquer
Mentor Moment
Mentor Moment
using race neutral communication with strangers - you don’t know who you are dealing with
I use race neutral emojis when texting strangers (door dash, target)
people are evil, racists
blacks hate blacks whites
white hate blacks
hispanic, indian, ect . . .
in any technical communication, consider remaining race-less
Church Life
Church Life
Remind.com
take time to fully read
only so many characters I can use per message, so that’s why some of your requests are edited.
if you send me text message, and you say say . . . .
Will you have the church pray for me (I will pray and share)
Pray for me (I will pray and not share) - respect your privacy
just in case you wondered why I didn’t share
Announcement
Announcement
$275 given last time I checked for our WMBC kids who needed school supplies
there will be a video sent out tonight or tomorrow at the latest. You need to watch it. 3 min long