Genesis 15 The Lord dealing with His friend - An offer too good to refuse

I. An offer too good to refuse: Understanding His unbelievable offer

A. Based in who He is v 1

(ESV) Genesis 15 1 After these things the word of the Lordcame to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

a. No need to fear

b. Our protector

c. He is a rewarder

d. It is always worth it to follow Him (tired workers)

B. In spite of our inability v 2-3

2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”

a. Personal inability

b. Can’t blame God

c. Our schemes inadequate

C. The Lord offers the impossible v 4-5

4 And behold, the word of the Lordcame to him: “This man shall notbe your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”

5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

D. To be received by faith in Him v 6

6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

II. An offer too good to refuse: Preparing to respond

A. Seeing God’s purposes and plans v 7

7 And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

B. Alleviating the fears v 8

8 But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to knowthat I shall possess it?”

C. Offering the sacrifices v 9-11

9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 And he brought him all these, cutthem in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

D. Reacting with awe and worship v 12

12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.

III. An offer too good to refuse: Resting in Him

A. His process of fulfillment v 13-16

1. Means difficult delays

13 Then the Lordsaid to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.

2. But certain fulfillment

14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.

15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.

3. In the midst of His work with others

16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

B. His presence v 17

17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

C. His unconditional covenant v 18-21

18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

Be seated.

The covenant with Abraham involved specific promises to Abraham. As described in Genesis 12, those promises included being a blessing to the world. This promise looks to the coming of Christ.

Looking to this Christ another covenant would be made. The New Covenant. The promise that we can be cleansed and transformed from the inside out.

Through Christ, all the people of the world would be blessed. The New Covenant would become available. In this Christ, salvation is now available to any who trust in Him. We have been blessed through the seed of Abraham.

These blessing come because Jesus died on the cross for our sins. The innocent was declared guilty and received the punishment for our sin. Now when we place our faith in Him this faith is counted to us as righteousness.

We regularly need to remember and celebrate what He has done for us.

Deacons come forward.

Danny moves to the table and takes up a cup

(ESV) Luke 22 19 And he (Jesus) took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Danny holds up the bread. This represents “His body given for us”

Danny holds up juice. This represents “His blood shed for us”

And because of His death we now find salvation in Him.

Let us rejoice and praise Him for what He has done for us.

Let us reflect and remember the price He paid.

Let us offer ourselves anew to Him.

Danny gives the trays to Mike Miller. Mike to the servers.

There are double cups one has the bread and one the juice.

“Please take one of these double cups and hold the cups and after the are passed out, we will pray and then take the elements together.”

You do not have to be a member of this church to partake. But we do ask that you examine yourself. You should be a Christian in order to partake. You should be seeking to walk with Christ in order to partake. If you have unconfessed sin in your life, we would encourage you to forsake it and ask the Lord for forgiveness and then partake with us. Let us seek the Lord as the deacons pass out the elements.

Pass out the cups. Return to the front. Serve Danny. Stand with the trays.

Danny will take the trays, and put them on the table and then serve the deacons.

Xxxx will you pray and give thanks for the bread – a symbol of Jesus’ body, given for us.

Let us eat together.

xxx will you pray and give thanks for the juice – a symbol of Jesus’ blood shed for us.”

Let us drink together.

Let’s sing together. I love you Lord.

Sing. Chad close in prayer.