The Appointed Time Genesis 21 July 14, 2013 A. Introduction What should a Christian be doing while waiting for the appointed time of God s provision in his life? Psalm 37:3-4, 107:1; Matt. 6:33, 28:19-20; Mark 12:30, 1615; John 9:4-5, 14:21; Acts 1:8; Jam. 1:27 He or she should be busy doing the work of Christ s Kingdom, trusting Him to provide all things. B. Gladness in the family 1-7 What two things did God do in his dealings with Sarah? 1 1. 2. What then happened to Sarah and how did she accomplish this? 2a, Hebrews 11:11-12 When did this conception take place? 2b What name was given to the promised son? 3 How did Sarah anticipate that others would respond to the news of Isaac s birth? 6 C. Sadness in the family 8-21 What did Abraham do in order to celebrate a significant day in Isaac s life? 8 How did Ishmael respond to the celebration? 9 As a result of her anger, what did Sarah tell Abraham to do? 10 Get rid of Hagar and Ishmael. Send them away so as not to jeopardize the inheritance of Isaac. How did Abraham feel about his wife s request? 11 Why do you think God told Abraham to send Ishmael and Hagar away as Sarah had said? 12-14 See Galatians 4:28-31. Ishmael represented man s way which cannot coexist with God s way. How could Hagar have spared herself the grief she experienced in the wilderness of Beersheba? 15-16 See 16:11-13. She should have remembered the prophecy of the Lord concerning Ishmael. D. Peacefulness in the neighborhood 22-34 What was Abraham s complaint against Abimelech, the Philistine king in Gerar? 25-26 How was the disagreement between Abraham and Abimelech settled? 27-32 How do we know that Abraham maintained a close relationship with the Lord while in Gerar? 33
The Appointed Time July 13, 2013
A. Introduction B. Gladness in the family 1-7 C. Sadness in the family 8-21 D. Peacefulness in the neighborhood 22-34
D. Peacefulness in the neighborhood
Matthew 18:15-17 - If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 - There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.
B. Gladness in the family 1-7 Genesis 21:1-2 - Then the Lord took note of Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him.
C. Sadness in the family 8-21
II Corinthians 4:17 - For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Genesis 21:8 - And the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
Genesis 21:14 - So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
Genesis 25:9 - And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite
What decisions are you making now that will bring you gladness or sadness later on in life?
Three things to consider: 1.What are you living for? 2.How will you get whatever it is that you are living for? 3.Is it worth it?
1. What are you living for? AUG Degree Approved Unto God
How will God show me His best?
The Lordship decision. Are you willing to do God s will, whatever that may be?
Are you willing to wait on the Lord for His best?
John 7:16-17 -... My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself.
John 8:31-32 -... If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
2. How will you get whatever it is that you are living for?
3. Is it worth it?
I John 2:17 - And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Genesis 21:33 - And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.
Usefulness in service is not based on isolated instances of failure but on the general trend of one s life.
Is it worth it to wait on the Lord and pursue holiness?
1.What are you living for? 2.How will you get it? 3.Is it worth it?