Believing the Impossible Genesis 17-18:15 June 2, 2013 A. Introduction Why do you think it is so difficult to believe God for impossible things? Lack of faith, lack of experience in trusting God, and reliance on my own assessment of the situation. B. New revelation 17:1-16 How old was Abram when the Lord next appeared to him and how long had it been since God had last communicated with him? Genesis 16:16, 17:1 Abram was 86 when Ishmael was born. He is 99 in chapter 17. It had been at least 13 or 14 years. How did God identify Himself and what did He tell Abram to do in this fifth communication? 17:1 What is the new description of the same promise God had made to Abram in 12:1-3? 17:2-8 See text. The promise is described in greater detail and expanded. God s revelation is progressive. What are the new names given to Abram and Sarai? 17:5, 15 What symbol was chosen by God to be the new sign of His covenant with Abraham? 17:10-14 C. Same stipulation 17:17-27 When God announced that Sarah would bear a son, how was the news received? 17:17, 18:12-15 Both Abraham and Sarah laughed but, it would appear, for different reasons. See Romans 4:16-22 How did Abraham reveal that he was not thoroughly convinced of God s plan at this point? 17:18 What was God s response to Abraham s request? 17:19-21 What were the specific things God told Abraham regarding Isaac and Ishmael? 17:19-20 1. He should name his son Isaac. God would establish His covenant with him and with his descendants. 2. He would bless Ishmael, make him to be fruitful and multiply him exceedingly. Ishmael would become the father of 12 princes and God would make of him a great nation. D. Final calculation 17:21, 18:1-15 (10,14) What date for the beginning of fulfillment of His covenant did God give to Abraham? 17:21 What promises did God make to Sarah, Abraham s wife? 17:16 1. 2. How did Abraham and Sarah respond to the guests who came to visit him at his home in Mamre? 1-15 He welcomed the men with hospitality, had a meal prepared for them, and listened to what they had to say. Sarah laughed to herself when she heard the impossible news of her bearing a son the next year. How do you know that Abraham believed what God had told him? 17:23-27
Believing the Impossible June 2, 2013
A. Introduction B. New revelation C. Same stipulation D. Final calculation
A. Introduction
Q. Why is it so difficult to believe God for impossible things? A. - Lack of faith - Lack of experience in trusting God - Reliance on my own assessment of the situation
B. New revelation 17:1-16
Genesis 17:1-2 - When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."
Believing God for the Impossible.
1. Plan to persevere in your faith. Don t ever give up on God. (17:1)
Galatians 6:9 - And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. AMPLIFIED BIBLE
I Samuel 30:6-8 - Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Please bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. And David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?" And He said to him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them, and you shall surely rescue all."
Isaiah 40:30-31 - Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
2. Walk in the Spirit and be wholehearted about it. (17:1)... I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless.
Romans 8:4-5 - That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:6 - For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
3. Humble yourself in the presence of God. Bow your heart to His will. (17:3)
Genesis 17:3 - And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,
I Peter 5:5-7 - Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
4. Listen to what God has to say and keep on listening. (17:4ff)
In chapter 17:2-8, God would: Change Abrams s name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude) Establish His covenant with Abraham Multiply Abraham exceedingly Make Abraham father of a multitude of nations Make Abraham exceedingly fruitful Make nations of him so that kings will come from him
In chapter 17:2-8, God would: Establish his covenant with Abraham s descendants Give Abraham s descendants the land of Canaan and be their God
C. Same stipulation 17:17-27
Genesis 18:12-15 - And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" And the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?' "Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." Sarah denied it however, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh."
5. Believe God for the impossible. Nothing is too hard for Him. (18:14)
Genesis 18:14 - Is anything too difficult for the Lord?...
Jeremiah 32:15-17 - 'For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, "Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land."' After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, then I prayed to the Lord, saying, 'Ah Lord God! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee,
Jeremiah 32:26-27 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?"
Matthew 19:26 - And looking upon them Jesus said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Romans 4:16-25 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be....
...He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead ( since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord...
...who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
John 8:56 - Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.
6. Cry out to God. Express what is in your heart. (17:18)
Genesis 17:18 - And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!"
Galatians 4:22-23 - For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,
John 1:12-13 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 - I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
D. Final calculation 17:21, 18:1-15 (10,14)
7. Obey what God has already said and expect Him to reveal more in answer to your prayer and His promise. (17:23-27)
Abraham and every male in his entire household that day obeyed God s instructions regarding circumcision.
Deuteronomy 30:6 - Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the lord your God, with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.
Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
1. Plan to persevere in your faith. Don t ever give up on God. (17:1) 2. Walk in the Spirit and be wholehearted about it. (17:1) 3. Humble yourself in the presence of God. Bow your heart to His will. (17:3) 4. Listen to what God has to say and keep on listening. (17:4ff)
5. Believe God for the impossible. Nothing is too hard for Him. (18:14) 6. Cry out to God. Express what is in your heart. (17:18) 7. Obey what God has already said and expect Him to reveal more in answer to your prayer and His promise. (17:23-27)