July 29, 2007

Abraham #2

 

1)      Introduction

a)      Abram’s name was changed to Abraham

b)     Abraham had two sons Isaac and Ishmael

c)      Jews are descendants of Isaac

d)     Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born

 

2)      Covenant Chapter 15

a)      15:1 after these things the word of the Lord came to Abram saying, “Do not fear Abram I am a shield to you.  Your reward will be very great”

i)        Psalms 7:10 My shield is God most high who saves the upright in heart

ii)      He will protect you

iii)    He will reward you

b)     15:6 Then he believed in the Lord and He reckoned it to him as righteousness Explanation of the vision

i)        15:12-13 Terror and great darkness

(1)   In Egypt Israel would be oppressed for 400 years

ii)      15:16 The iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete

(1)   God was allowing time for repentance

(2)   2nd Peter 3:8 The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness but is patient toward YOU not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (why the Lord has not returned yet)

iii)    15:17 The smoking fire pot, or oven, and the flaming torch represents the presence of God

iv)    15:18-21 Represent the boundaries of the promise land

c)      15:18 On that day the Lord made a COVENANT with Abram saying, “To your descendants I have given this land”

d)     Covenant is based on trust and life long commitment

e)      Only God passed through the pieces of the animal Abraham did not.  God accepts 100% of the responsibility

f)       Our relationship with God is a covenant relationship through the BLOOD SACRIFICE of Jesus Christ

g)      God will not break His covenant with you

 

3)      God’s Timing Chapter 16

a)      The promise 15:4 “This man will not be your heir but a son coming from you own body will be your heir”

i)        16:2 So she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children go sleep with my maidservant perhaps I can build a family through her”  Abram agreed to what Sarai said

ii)      Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD will renew their strength they will mount up with wings like eagles they will run and not get tired they will walk and not become weary

iii)    Patience is a difficult characteristic to develop

iv)    Moving WITH THE Lord is a skill that is developed through prayer

v)      What are you waiting on the Lord for?

 

4)      Abraham was a man of Worship

a)      Abraham’s obedience and sacrifice

i)        22:1-2 Now it came about after these things that God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham” and he said, “Here I am”.  And He said, “Take now your son your only son whom you love Isaac and offer him as a burnt offering

ii)      Isaac  = means laughter

iii)    Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 years old when Isaac was born

iv)    Isaac was born through a miraculous birth

v)      Isaac was the only son of his mother and father

vi)    Isaac was innocent

vii)  This was anguishing for Abraham

viii)            God’s question: do you love me more than anything else

ix)    God provided a lamb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5)      Abraham was a man of worship

a)      The tent = a stranger and a pilgrim in this world

b)     The altar = a citizen of Heaven and a worshipper of the true and living God

 

6)      10 Good Men (Prayer)

 

7)      Isaac the son of promise Chapter 18:11-15

a)      Isaac = means laughter

b)     Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 years old when he was borne

c)      He was a type of Christ a foreshadowing of what was to come

i)        He was a child of promise

ii)      His birth was miraculous

iii)    He was Abraham’s beloved son

iv)    He was almost sacrificed

 

8)      Abraham’s obedience and sacrifice

a)      Now it came about after these things, that God TESTED Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am. And He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and offer him as a burnt offering.  So Abraham rose early in the morning and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son

d)     Often our most beloved possession or our greatest dream or even the person we love most can become greater than our relationship with God

e)      His obedience was total complete and without question

f)       God must be first

 

9)      18:4 Is anything to difficult for the Lord