WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch.

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 Good morning. My name is August Fern and I am one of your deacons, which means I wear one of these orange name pads.

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 It also means I'm one of your deacons that stands up to the front, just on my left, your right, after service every week,

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 praying and hoping and hoping to be there to pray with you and for you for anything that might be happening in your life,

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 anything that the sermon or the service brings up.

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 But I just want to remind you that the deacons are here after every service right over here,

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 and we would love, love, love to pray with you.

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 But right now we're going to read a reading from the book of Genesis, chapter 15, verse 1.

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 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision.

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 Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.

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 But Abram said, Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless

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 and the one who will inherit my estate is the leaser of Damascus?

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 And Abram said, You have given me no children, so a servant in my household will be my heir.

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 Then the word of the Lord came to him.

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 This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.

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 He took him outside and said, Look up at the sky and count the stars, if indeed you can count them.

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 Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be.

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 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

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 He also said to him, I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur and of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.

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 But Abram said, Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?

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 So the Lord said to him, Bring me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.

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 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two, and arranged the halves opposite each other.

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 The birds, however, he did not cut in half.

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 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

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 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

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 Then the Lord said to him, Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own,

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 and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.

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 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.

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 You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age.

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 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.

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 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.

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 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said,

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 To your descendants I give this land, from the wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates,

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 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Cadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Raphites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.

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 The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.

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 Good morning, Christ Church.

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 I wonder if you ever said these words as a kid.

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 Did you ever say, but mommy, you promised?

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 Or, but daddy, you promised?

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 When we're little, we understand that even the smallest of parental promises are for us, little people, solemn and unbreakable undertakings.

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 Right?

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 If your parent says even something small to you, like, you're going to get a special treat after dinner.

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 Or, you're going to have an extended bedtime.

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 Or, you get to choose the menu for breakfast.

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 You get to pick out the movie we're going to watch as a family.

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 That is not a huge deal to you as a parent, but in your child's mind, it's an unshakable expectation that what you just said is going to structure my entire reality.

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 And these become sort of the load stars by which I, as a child, am going to navigate sort of the day-to-day uncertain waters of my life.

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 Sometimes, as parents, we struggle to follow through on particular promises.

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 And broken promises, even small promises, can create existential crises in the little world of a child.

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 Kids, of course, not only remember our small promises, but they build their lives on them as if they're this firm and sure foundation.

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 And they hang their hopes and their dreams on the scaffolding, even of our most offhanded parental pledges.

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 You said 12 months ago that I could have ice cream if I brushed my teeth every day today.

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 And you're like, I said that?

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 I don't think I said that.

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 But the time frame doesn't matter because these scrupulous little enforcers will ensure that your solemn undertaking is kept.

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 And I can just confess this morning, as a parent, I've committed myself to all manner of enterprises of which I have absolutely no recollection.

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 And promises, you know, they not only structure reality in life for kids, but they structure reality in life for adults as well.

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 I have three major promises that I've made.

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 I've made a promise to my wife to have and to hold till death do us part.

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 I've made promises to my kids in their baptisms that I'll live before them a Christian life and help them learn what it means to have a Christian life.

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 I've made promises to the church.

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 You, this church, to the church as a pastor, much like you've made as members to be members of the church,

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 that I'm going to do what I'm supposed to do even when it hurts.

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 And these promises, a cluster of vows and commitments that I've made, it's what clarifies and simplifies when life gets complicated, when life gets hard,

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 it tells me who I am and what I'm supposed to do.

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 And this is important for us because the whole foundation of the scriptures is about the vows, the promises, the commitments that God has made to us as his people.

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 If we can pull up a slide from last week, we talked about Genesis chapter 12.

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 And we really said that this fourfold promise that God gave to Abraham 4,000 years ago,

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 this promise of a people, a place, a protection, international blessing,

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 this promise is really what drives the drama of the book of Genesis.

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 It drives the drama of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible.

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 It drives the drama of the rest of the Old Testament.

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 It really drives the drama all the way through to the end of the New Testament.

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 You cannot understand Christianity if you don't understand these promises that God has made.

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 And I want us to keep those promises of God in mind as we dive back in today to Genesis, Genesis 15,

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 and we track Abraham's journey of faith.

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 And we're going to talk about three things.

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 First of all, doubting God's promises.

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 Secondly, believing God's covenant.

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 And third, living in the already but not yet.

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 So doubting God's promises, believing God's covenant, and living in the already but not yet.

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 First of all, doubting God's promises.

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 To me, it's amazing that, you know, here's Abraham.

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 Abraham, he's looked upon by three major world religions.

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 A good chunk of human beings on the planet look to Abraham as the paragon of faith and the model of how to live.

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 And yet what fascinates me is that the Bible is so honest.

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 It gives us this real, unfiltered, unvarnished picture of Abraham as a person who wrestles with fear

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 and who has questions for God and who voices his doubt in lament to God.

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 And he struggles with uncertainty.

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 Anybody relate to Abraham this morning?

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 The Bible doesn't give us this flat, you know, one-dimensional, perfect hero or any heroes of the faith.

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 These are real, earthy, human people who have dirt under their fingernails

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 and are complex, multidimensional people.

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 And you see that in verse 1.

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 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision.

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 Do not be afraid, Abram.

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 I am your shield, your very great reward.

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 Why is Abraham afraid?

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 Why does the Lord have to come and calm his fears?

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 Because in Genesis 14, Abram's just had this battle with these tribal chieftains

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 who've attacked his nephew Lot.

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 He has to go rescue them.

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 And now he's fearing reprisal.

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 And he's afraid of retribution from his enemies.

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 Fear is just a part of what it means to live in a fallen, broken, violent world.

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 And just because you're a person of faith doesn't mean you're immune to fear.

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 And God doesn't come to Abraham and say, Abraham, what's the matter with you?

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 No, he doesn't shame or rebuke Abraham.

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 He comes alongside Abraham to encourage him, to put courage inside of him and to say, Abraham, fear not.

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 And then he says, I am your shield.

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 I am your protector.

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 And then in Hebrew, it says, your reward shall be very great.

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 Not only am I your protector, but I am your reward.

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 I'm your provider.

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 And how does Abraham respond to the Lord's reassurance?

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 Well, it's interesting that these words right here from Abraham are the first time we've actually even heard Abraham speak to God since Genesis 12.

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 God called him in Genesis 12.

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 Abraham doesn't talk so much as he just walks, right?

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 He shows his faith by what he does.

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 And finally, we now hear him speak.

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 And Abraham doesn't say, well, gee, Lord, thank you so much.

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 I feel so much better.

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 I was really starting to lose my grip.

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 And this really helps me.

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 I appreciate you so much.

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 No.

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 Abraham, like many of us, has got some stuff bottled up inside of him.

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 And as soon as God approaches him, he just starts to pour it out to God.

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 And he says, well, Lord, since you mentioned reward, we need to talk.

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 And how does Abraham pray?

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 Well, he asks a question.

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 And this is what he says in verse 2.

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 Abraham said, sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless?

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 And the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus.

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 You have given me no children, so a servant in my household will be my heir.

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 Now, in the Psalms, which is the prayer book of the Bible, you get this a lot, right?

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 The people that are praying in the Psalms, they're having a dialogue with God.

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 They're asking questions of God.

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 And they're in this posture of what we call faithful lament or holy complaint.

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 It's a wonderful way to pray.

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 And Abraham is saying, Lord, do you remember the fourfold promise that you made back in Genesis 12?

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 I trust in your promises, but I'm experiencing the exact opposite of your promises.

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 I've broken all my ties with my family to come and follow you.

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 I've become a childless wanderer.

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 I've been in constant danger, and you promised to give me a child, but it's been 10 years since you made that promise,

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 and I remain childless, so what's up with that?

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 Why is there this gap between your promise and my reality?

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 And how, Lord, are you going to keep your promises?

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 Does anybody ever pray like that?

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 This is how the people of the Bible pray.

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 Abraham, the psalmist, is how we're supposed to pray.

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 Disappointment and frustration becomes too much for Abraham, and so he just begins to respectfully, reverently,

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 pour out his soul, pour out his complaint to God.

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 And how does the Lord respond to Abraham's question, his lament?

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 Does he say, well, how dare you question me, you little mortal?

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 No, verse 4.

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 Then the word of the Lord came to him, this man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.

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 And he took him outside and said, look up at the heavens and count the stars, if indeed you can count them.

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 And then he said to him, so shall your offspring be.

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 It's amazing in this moment of holy complaint.

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 That God comes and he basically puts his arm around Abraham.

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 And he says, look up at the innumerable stars.

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 Which we have the benefit of knowing today there's about 300 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

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 Two trillion galaxies.

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 There are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand in all the beaches of the world.

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 And God says to Abraham, that's how powerful I am.

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 And that's the extent to which I plan to be true to my promises to you.

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 And that is the extent to which you're going to have children.

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 The extent to which I'm going to bless all the peoples of the earth with salvation through you, Abraham.

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 This is one of the most loving, one of the most encouraging assurances in the whole Bible.

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 And what happens next is it says in verse 6, Abraham believed the Lord and he credited to him as righteousness.

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 And it seems at this moment like Abraham's fear and all of his questions and all of his doubt have been overcome.

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 But then verse 7 it says,

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 The Lord also said to him, I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.

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 But Abraham said, Sovereign Lord, how can I know?

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 How can I know that I will gain possession of it?

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 As soon as the subject changed from this promised people and these promised children now to the promised place and the promised land,

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 now Abraham's uncertainty comes rushing back and his questions are pouring out and his doubts.

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 He says, Lord, how can I know?

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 And does God dismiss him?

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 Does God just wave him off?

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 No, what happens next is one of the greatest scenes in the whole Bible, which we're going to look at in just a moment.

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 But the question is, how does this apply to us?

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 Well, on the one hand, what I want you to see is that God is quite open and he's quite gentle with our doubts.

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 When we're taking him seriously.

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 Right?

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 He's very patient with doubters because he knows that doubt is just inevitably a part of the life of faith.

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 But on the other hand, God also doesn't want us to stay in our doubts.

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 And even though the Lord doesn't condemn Abraham for his questions, he also challenges him and keeps coming after him in this remarkable balance.

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 Right?

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 And so, first application is that the church should be a place where doubters are completely invited and welcomed.

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 Conservative minded people tend to create churches where no one is allowed to talk about their doubts.

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 Nobody's allowed to express their intellectual questions or their emotional struggles.

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 And doubt is seen as a sign of weakness and immaturity and failure.

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 And the problem with such churches is that they're telling people,

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 you just can't be intellectually honest or emotionally authentic and be a Christian at the same time.

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 And so lots of people have been turned off from Christianity because such churches see doubt as a total failure.

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 And therefore, they're not very welcoming of outsiders with doubts.

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 And people feel condemned and they can't get answers to any of their questions.

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 But if Abraham had said, I don't have any doubt, then we wouldn't have gotten Genesis 15,

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 which is one of the greatest things that's ever happened in human history.

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 Another point of application is this.

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 The church should not only be a place where doubters are completely invited and welcomed,

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 but also the church should be a place where doubters are clearly addressed and challenged.

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 Liberal-minded people tend to create churches where doubt is a virtue,

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 where doubt is so intellectually sophisticated and emotionally mature

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 that you're encouraged to be perpetually in a state of doubt

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 and to be skeptical about everything and basically uncommitted to anything.

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 And the problem with such churches is you're basically telling people

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 there are no solid answers to your questions.

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 And that anyone who does have convictions, anyone who does have confidence about their faith

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 is either a naive rube or a backwards fundamentalist.

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 And what I want you to see in Genesis 15 is that God doesn't do the conservative thing

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 and say, how dare you doubt?

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 No, he's gentle, he's patient with Abraham's doubt

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 because he knows that an admission of difficulty and struggle is how we grow in the faith.

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 But then God doesn't do the liberal thing and say it's fine to just stay in unresolved doubt.

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 No, he addresses and he questions Abraham's doubt with clear and strong revelation.

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 He says, you cannot stay here.

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 You need to doubt your doubts.

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 You need to be skeptical of your skepticism.

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 Jesus does this.

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 When he's raised from the dead, he comes to the guy named Thomas, one of his disciples.

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 And he says, hey, Thomas, I've heard you've had doubts about whether or not I've been raised from the dead.

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 And he says, hey, you know, if you want to, you can see and touch my wounds.

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 But then he says, Thomas, stop doubting and believe.

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 And that's what God is doing with Abraham.

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 He says, Abraham, I'm going to help you resolve your doubts.

00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:29.099
 I'm going to help you trust in my trustworthiness.

00:19:29.179 --> 00:19:32.219
 I'm going to help you hope in my reliable promises.

00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:34.739
 Does that make sense?

00:19:37.399 --> 00:19:41.619
 So, Abraham shows us something about doubting God's promises.

00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:46.179
 But also he shows us something about believing in God's covenant.

00:19:47.139 --> 00:19:48.519
 Believing in God's covenant.

00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:58.519
 Like all of us, we, you know, we forget God's words or we're not sure about God's words.

00:19:58.599 --> 00:20:00.319
 And so we need them to be repeated to us.

00:20:00.419 --> 00:20:01.719
 We need them to be reaffirmed.

00:20:01.819 --> 00:20:03.039
 We need them to be restated.

00:20:03.239 --> 00:20:05.539
 And that's exactly what Abraham needs.

00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:06.639
 And that's what he's getting here.

00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:12.120
 And verse 6 tells us that at the core, Abraham trusts the Lord.

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:14.440
 Abraham hopes in his promises.

00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:19.660
 And it says that by Abraham's faith, it's counted to him as righteousness.

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:26.520
 By the object in which Abraham puts his faith, he is counted as one who's in the right.

00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:28.060
 One who's justified.

00:20:28.300 --> 00:20:32.400
 One who will be acquitted and saved in the day of judgment.

00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:35.040
 Because of his faith and the object of his faith.

00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:40.720
 But even then, Abraham says in verse 8, he says, sovereign Lord, how can I know?

00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:42.180
 How can I know?

00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:46.859
 And you know what Abraham needed in addition to God's word?

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:55.779
 Abraham needed God's audible word to be confirmed and to be guaranteed by God's visible sacrament.

00:20:55.779 --> 00:21:04.859
 He needed this acted out covenant where he could not only hear the grace of God, but he could also see the grace of God.

00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:11.680
 And what you see in Genesis 15 is that the Lord gives Abraham and gives to us both word and sacrament.

00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:19.840
 Just as Abraham needs to go outside and look up and see the uncountable stars.

00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:25.779
 So that he can trust in God's creative and sovereign and unlimited power.

00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:29.460
 So now, God gives him another picture.

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:41.380
 So now, Abraham needs to see these broken bodies and the shed blood of all these animals so that he can trust in the unbreakable bond of God's loyal covenant love.

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:43.160
 What in the world am I talking about?

00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.799
 Well, look at verse 9.

00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:54.440
 So the Lord said to him, bring me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.

00:21:55.599 --> 00:22:01.460
 Abraham brought all these to him, cut them in two, and arranged the halves opposite each other.

00:22:03.639 --> 00:22:13.319
 Abraham knew what to do in this situation because he and all people in the ancient Near East understood intrinsically what it meant to, quote unquote,

00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:16.859
 cut a covenant, which is what the Hebrew says here.

00:22:16.919 --> 00:22:17.799
 He's cutting a covenant.

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:21.240
 The rabbis call this the covenant between the pieces.

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.799
 And it's strange for us.

00:22:24.159 --> 00:22:25.240
 We're not used to this.

00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:32.980
 In our written culture, we tend to, you know, make commitments by putting pen to paper, right?

00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:37.159
 And we outline, okay, here's all the commitments I'm making to you.

00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:39.559
 Here's all the stipulations of those commitments.

00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:47.359
 And here's my signature that guarantees that I'm going to follow through on everything I'm committing to do today.

00:22:50.159 --> 00:22:57.559
 But even in our written culture, I think we know how to make ritual commitments like ancient people did.

00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.659
 Because remember what we used to say as kids?

00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:10.160
 We used to say, cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:20.040
 And when we said that childhood oath, we were emphasizing the absolute truth and sincerity of the statement that I just made.

00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:27.019
 I'm implying that I'm willing to suffer terrible consequences if I'm lying.

00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:30.899
 I'm willing to be, have my eye poked with a needle.

00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:35.259
 I'm willing to die if I don't do what I just said I'm going to do.

00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:45.599
 Well, how do people in this ancient oral culture cut a covenant or ritually act out their commitments?

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:49.160
 Well, what you would basically have is you would have two kingdoms.

00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:51.059
 You would have a greater kingdom and a lesser kingdom.

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:54.440
 And the representative of those kingdoms, the great king and the lesser king,

00:23:54.500 --> 00:24:01.339
 they'd come together and they would walk between these pieces of broken bodies and the shed blood of these animals.

00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:06.740
 And they would act out and they would dramatize the consequences of breaking their vows,

00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:08.619
 of not following through on their promises.

00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:14.179
 And what they were doing is they were walking down the aisle between those bodies

00:24:14.179 --> 00:24:17.399
 as they were ritually identifying with the pieces.

00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:24.619
 And they were saying, if in the future I do not do all that I'm saying today that I will do,

00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:30.939
 if I break my vows and my promise, if I fail to be committed to you,

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:32.660
 then may I be like these animals.

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.779
 May I be cut apart.

00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:35.100
 May I be torn up.

00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:37.059
 May I be ripped to pieces.

00:24:37.340 --> 00:24:38.059
 May I die.

00:24:40.100 --> 00:24:43.920
 Perhaps we should think about bringing back this form of making a covenant.

00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:44.680
 Right?

00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:48.580
 If you're having trouble with your contractor at your house.

00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:53.259
 You know, if your spouse isn't really caring for you like they should,

00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:55.500
 you just say, hey, look at these bloody pieces.

00:24:55.500 --> 00:25:00.740
 That's going to be you, pal, if you don't straighten up.

00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:04.059
 Verse 12 says,

00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:06.899
 As the sun was setting, Abraham fell into a deep sleep,

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:09.319
 and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

00:25:10.379 --> 00:25:11.379
 And then in verse 17,

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:13.720
 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen,

00:25:14.159 --> 00:25:17.819
 a smoking fire pot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.

00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:21.019
 And on that day the Lord made a covenant with Abraham and said,

00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:24.379
 To your descendants I give this land.

00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:29.279
 See, these are symbols of God's awesome presence.

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:33.039
 This cloud of smoke that's rising from this pot.

00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:37.859
 This soaring tongue of flames of fire from this torch.

00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:44.039
 And you see that again in Exodus where God's presence goes with his people in cloud and fire.

00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:48.440
 And what's happening here is that the Lord takes the initiative

00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:50.640
 And he says to Abraham,

00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:53.380
 If I don't bless you,

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:59.420
 May my immortality become mortality.

00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:06.480
 May my immutability become mutable.

00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:10.559
 May the impossible become possible.

00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:14.460
 May I be cut off if I'm not faithful to you.

00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:21.240
 And it's astonishing that the maker of the stars cuts a covenant with Abraham.

00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:23.579
 But what's, you want to know what's even more staggering?

00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:27.759
 It's not just amazing who passes through the pieces,

00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:32.140
 But what's more, the more amazing thing is who does not pass through the pieces.

00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:34.600
 And who does not give an oath.

00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:37.480
 And who is not asked to do basically anything.

00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:40.920
 Because verse 18 does not say,

00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:42.799
 Then after the Lord passed between the pieces,

00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:45.640
 Abraham passed between the pieces as well.

00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:51.220
 There is no corresponding covenantal commitment made by Abraham.

00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:55.079
 The Lord is the only one who walks down the aisle

00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:56.779
 And he does it on Abraham's behalf.

00:26:56.860 --> 00:26:58.400
 He does it in Abraham's place.

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.599
 And basically he says,

00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:02.219
 Abraham, if I fail to keep the covenant,

00:27:02.439 --> 00:27:03.459
 And I will not,

00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:06.219
 May I become like these broken bodies.

00:27:06.919 --> 00:27:10.159
 But Abraham, if you fail to keep the covenant,

00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:14.079
 May I become like these broken bodies.

00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.359
 Abraham,

00:27:17.219 --> 00:27:18.819
 I will pay the penalty

00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:21.240
 If you are unfaithful to the covenant.

00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:25.159
 And I'm making myself accountable today

00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:28.120
 To pay the penalty for your failure

00:27:28.120 --> 00:27:30.700
 To fulfill your end of the covenant.

00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:31.300
 May I,

00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:32.400
 If that's you,

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:34.279
 Then may I be cut to pieces

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:36.740
 And may I be completely cut off.

00:27:39.300 --> 00:27:39.620
 You see,

00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:42.460
 God alone makes a covenant with us.

00:27:43.580 --> 00:27:45.640
 And he obligates himself to Abraham.

00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:47.440
 He obligates himself to his people

00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:49.140
 In a unilateral,

00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.220
 Unconditional,

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.800
 Immutable,

00:27:53.040 --> 00:27:53.920
 Unchangeable,

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.140
 Inviolable,

00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:56.860
 Irrevocable,

00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.420
 Unbreakable,

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.080
 Commitment.

00:28:02.080 --> 00:28:04.200
 And in passing through these broken bodies

00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.180
 In the shed blood,

00:28:05.320 --> 00:28:07.880
 God invokes a curse upon himself.

00:28:08.120 --> 00:28:08.660
 And he says,

00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:10.420
 If you fail,

00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:12.920
 Then you can be absolutely sure

00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:15.759
 Of my grace,

00:28:16.080 --> 00:28:16.820
 And my promise,

00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.080
 And my blessing.

00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:23.120
 And Abraham had absolutely no idea

00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:26.539
 Of what that was going to cost God

00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:29.599
 To make that oath of grace.

00:28:30.959 --> 00:28:32.539
 Because centuries later,

00:28:33.659 --> 00:28:35.099
 God's word became flesh.

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.419
 Centuries later,

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.659
 That cloud and that fire

00:28:38.659 --> 00:28:39.979
 Became a human being.

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:44.019
 And on the night before Jesus went to his cross,

00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:45.500
 In the gospel of Matthew 26,

00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:45.900
 It says,

00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:47.059
 Jesus took bread,

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.720
 And when he had given thanks,

00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.839
 He broke it apart.

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:53.339
 And he gave it to his disciples,

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:54.039
 Saying,

00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:54.660
 Take and eat,

00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.740
 This is my body.

00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:58.460
 And then he took a cup,

00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.400
 And when he had given thanks,

00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:00.079
 He gave it to them,

00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:00.360
 Saying,

00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:00.920
 Drink from it,

00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:01.340
 All of you,

00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:04.600
 This is my blood of the covenant,

00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:07.500
 Which is poured out for many,

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.860
 For the forgiveness of sins.

00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:11.820
 Jesus is ritually acting out

00:29:11.820 --> 00:29:14.080
 The covenant in this sacrament.

00:29:16.080 --> 00:29:17.900
 And just like this thick and dreadful

00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:19.800
 Spiritual darkness came down upon

00:29:19.800 --> 00:29:21.360
 Abraham in this moment,

00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:22.960
 We're told that when Jesus went

00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:24.900
 To his cross,

00:29:25.580 --> 00:29:27.480
 That darkness came down again.

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:30.880
 Gospel of Matthew chapter 27 says,

00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:32.640
 From noon until three in the afternoon,

00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:34.900
 Darkness came over the whole land.

00:29:35.840 --> 00:29:37.039
 And about three in the afternoon,

00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:38.700
 Jesus cried out in a loud voice,

00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.620
 My God, my God,

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:41.800
 Why have you forsaken me?

00:29:43.560 --> 00:29:45.539
 This one who is both the son of Abraham

00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.820
 And the son of God,

00:29:48.100 --> 00:29:50.759
 Is cut off from the land of the living.

00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:53.680
 His immortality became mortality.

00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:57.120
 And his immutability became mutability.

00:29:58.120 --> 00:30:00.560
 And the impossible became possible.

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:04.019
 And he experienced all of this,

00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:06.480
 So that he could bless you,

00:30:06.560 --> 00:30:07.920
 Even when you fail him.

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:11.140
 And so that your salvation would be

00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:13.640
 An absolutely one-sided salvation

00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:14.380
 That depends,

00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:16.160
 Not on you,

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:17.740
 But entirely on him.

00:30:19.800 --> 00:30:21.340
 So you don't have to walk through the pieces,

00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:22.759
 You don't have to take the oath,

00:30:22.840 --> 00:30:25.259
 Because Jesus did that for you,

00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:28.359
 And no matter how much of a failure you are,

00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:29.920
 If you enter into a covenant,

00:30:30.900 --> 00:30:31.799
 With God the Father,

00:30:31.879 --> 00:30:32.900
 Through his son Jesus,

00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:36.940
 You are saved by sheer grace,

00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:39.079
 That has nothing to do,

00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:41.379
 With what you bring to the table,

00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.980
 And none of your failures,

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:46.119
 Are going to get in the way,

00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:48.180
 Of him blessing you.

00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:51.640
 The apostle Paul says it this way,

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.840
 In his letter to the Galatians,

00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:53.560
 Chapter 3,

00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.500
 He says,

00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.619
 Christ redeemed us,

00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:58.440
 By becoming a curse for us,

00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:01.460
 In order that the blessing given to Abraham,

00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:03.599
 Might come to us through Jesus Christ,

00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:06.059
 God in his grace,

00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.759
 Gave the inheritance to Abraham,

00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:08.740
 Through a promise,

00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:10.500
 So in Christ Jesus,

00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:12.539
 You are all children of God,

00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.359
 Through faith,

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.680
 And if you belong to Christ,

00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:17.079
 Then you are Abraham's seed,

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:19.660
 And heirs according to the promise,

00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:19.900
 Friends,

00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:21.960
 Friends,

00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:23.680
 We have so much more reason to,

00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:26.140
 Than Abraham did,

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:28.200
 To call upon God,

00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:28.519
 And say,

00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:29.420
 Sovereign Lord,

00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:32.340
 You are my shield,

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.140
 And my protector,

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.860
 You are my reward,

00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.720
 And my provider,

00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.820
 And when those doubts,

00:31:41.060 --> 00:31:41.900
 And uncertainties,

00:31:42.060 --> 00:31:43.160
 Inevitably creep in,

00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:43.880
 And we say to ourselves,

00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.420
 Yes Lord,

00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.560
 But how can I know,

00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.540
 How can I know,

00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:50.420
 We simply look at the cross,

00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:51.200
 And we know,

00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:54.079
 Lord how can I know,

00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:55.200
 That you are going to be my shield,

00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:55.879
 And my protector,

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.659
 Well look at the broken bread,

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.839
 That you are holding in your hand,

00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:01.519
 Lord how can I know,

00:32:01.659 --> 00:32:02.799
 That you are going to be my reward,

00:32:02.899 --> 00:32:03.539
 And my provider,

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.279
 Friends,

00:32:04.399 --> 00:32:05.339
 Taste the wine,

00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.460
 In your mouth,

00:32:07.399 --> 00:32:09.259
 That's how we know,

00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:13.399
 See Abraham is telling us,

00:32:13.399 --> 00:32:13.980
 Something about,

00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.920
 Doubting God's promises,

00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:17.119
 But also something about,

00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:18.899
 Believing in God's,

00:32:18.899 --> 00:32:20.379
 God's covenant,

00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:21.599
 That he's fulfilled,

00:32:21.719 --> 00:32:22.559
 In Jesus Christ,

00:32:22.899 --> 00:32:25.000
 And finally,

00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:26.159
 Before we close,

00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:27.299
 I wanted to say a word,

00:32:27.399 --> 00:32:28.739
 That's been speaking to me this week,

00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:30.599
 About,

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:32.119
 Living in the already,

00:32:32.239 --> 00:32:32.819
 But not yet,

00:32:33.739 --> 00:32:36.259
 We live in the already,

00:32:36.619 --> 00:32:37.479
 But not yet,

00:32:38.239 --> 00:32:40.899
 The drama of,

00:32:41.159 --> 00:32:42.139
 Abraham's life,

00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:42.739
 Is that,

00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:44.619
 He has to go,

00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:46.899
 Live by faith,

00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:48.640
 That,

00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:49.920
 The promises,

00:32:50.120 --> 00:32:50.940
 That God has made,

00:32:51.040 --> 00:32:51.580
 And the covenant,

00:32:51.740 --> 00:32:52.180
 That God,

00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:53.680
 Has guaranteed,

00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:56.019
 Are going to be kept,

00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:57.220
 They're going to be fulfilled,

00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:59.680
 Even when he can't see it,

00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:02.220
 Even when,

00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:04.280
 He's not experiencing it,

00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:05.840
 In his circumstances,

00:33:06.060 --> 00:33:06.680
 Even when,

00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:07.920
 His situation,

00:33:08.280 --> 00:33:08.680
 Feels,

00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:10.580
 The exact opposite,

00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:14.099
 Abraham has to learn,

00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:14.559
 How to,

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:17.500
 Use his sanctified imagination,

00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:19.960
 When God's,

00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:20.759
 Heavenly vision,

00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:21.859
 Seems impossible,

00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:24.339
 In light of all the harsh,

00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.980
 And contrary realities,

00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:27.679
 That are surrounding him,

00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:30.100
 And Christians,

00:33:30.100 --> 00:33:31.240
 Christians are in a very similar,

00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:31.820
 Position,

00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:32.259
 Aren't we?

00:33:32.320 --> 00:33:32.700
 Because,

00:33:33.320 --> 00:33:34.700
 When Jesus rose from the dead,

00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:36.080
 He brought that future,

00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.900
 Kingdom of God,

00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:37.759
 Into the present,

00:33:38.600 --> 00:33:39.519
 But he did so,

00:33:39.560 --> 00:33:40.779
 Only partially,

00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:41.500
 And not fully,

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:44.319
 And we call that,

00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:45.880
 The already,

00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:46.680
 But not yet,

00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:49.380
 Because we're already,

00:33:49.799 --> 00:33:52.059
 United to the resurrected Lord,

00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:52.839
 And his victory,

00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:54.839
 But,

00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:56.940
 And we're redeemed by him,

00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.759
 But we're not yet,

00:33:57.900 --> 00:33:58.740
 Fully redeemed,

00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.140
 Are we?

00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:01.819
 And so in that overlap,

00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:02.859
 Between the already,

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.599
 Of God's kingdom,

00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:04.440
 And the not yet,

00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.640
 Of God's kingdom,

00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:07.380
 We have to live by faith,

00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:09.579
 In things that we cannot see,

00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:11.219
 Like Abraham,

00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:13.599
 And here's,

00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:14.679
 The interesting thing,

00:34:14.760 --> 00:34:15.239
 In this text,

00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:16.219
 And I don't have time,

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:17.360
 You can come ask me questions,

00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:18.159
 Afterwards about,

00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:19.619
 The ins and outs,

00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:20.719
 But verse 13 says,

00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:21.719
 Then the Lord said to him,

00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:22.579
 Know for certain,

00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:24.599
 That for 400 years,

00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.980
 Your descendants will be strangers,

00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:26.659
 In a country,

00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.380
 Not their own,

00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:28.179
 And that they will be,

00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:30.119
 Enslaved and mistreated there,

00:34:30.579 --> 00:34:31.820
 But I will punish the nation,

00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:32.840
 They serve as slaves,

00:34:32.900 --> 00:34:33.340
 And afterward,

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.019
 They will come out,

00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:34.840
 With great possessions,

00:34:35.699 --> 00:34:36.500
 You however,

00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:37.519
 Will go to your ancestors,

00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:38.059
 In peace,

00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:39.420
 And be buried at a good old age,

00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:40.980
 And in the fourth generation,

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:42.420
 Your descendants will come back here,

00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:43.579
 For the sin of the Amorites,

00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:44.619
 Has not yet reached,

00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:46.260
 Its full measure,

00:34:46.760 --> 00:34:51.260
 What the Lord is saying to Abraham,

00:34:51.900 --> 00:34:53.519
 Is Abraham,

00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:55.300
 My friend,

00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:57.719
 I have,

00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:59.619
 A deliberate plan,

00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:01.900
 And an outcome,

00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:02.760
 That I'm pursuing,

00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:07.360
 With respect to,

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:08.099
 My covenant,

00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:10.120
 And with respect,

00:35:10.120 --> 00:35:10.780
 To my people,

00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:13.980
 But that plan,

00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:15.300
 Involves opposition,

00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:17.740
 That plan,

00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:19.160
 Involves difficulty,

00:35:19.720 --> 00:35:21.099
 That plan,

00:35:21.160 --> 00:35:22.620
 Involves judgments,

00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:24.519
 That plan,

00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:26.680
 Involves other dark powers,

00:35:27.140 --> 00:35:28.340
 That are going to do,

00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:29.680
 Their absolute worst,

00:35:30.340 --> 00:35:31.460
 To try to undo,

00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:33.340
 All of my promises,

00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:36.579
 So Abraham,

00:35:36.760 --> 00:35:37.900
 What I'm asking you,

00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:39.100
 And what I'm asking all of your,

00:35:39.100 --> 00:35:40.180
 Spiritual descendants,

00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:41.559
 To do,

00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:44.880
 Is to lean all your weight,

00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:45.440
 On me,

00:35:46.100 --> 00:35:48.480
 Because I have much to do,

00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:50.180
 Over the next 400 years,

00:35:50.340 --> 00:35:51.039
 God says,

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:52.940
 And indeed,

00:35:53.059 --> 00:35:55.200
 Over the next 4,000 years,

00:35:55.900 --> 00:35:57.519
 I've got a lot of things to do,

00:35:57.559 --> 00:35:58.519
 To work out my,

00:35:59.220 --> 00:36:01.360
 Good purposes,

00:36:01.360 --> 00:36:03.700
 I've got a lot to do,

00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:04.780
 To work for the good,

00:36:04.780 --> 00:36:05.340
 Of those,

00:36:05.820 --> 00:36:06.460
 Who love me,

00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:07.140
 And have been called,

00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:08.400
 According to my purpose,

00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:09.700
 And my promises,

00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:11.240
 Abraham,

00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:13.059
 Horrible things,

00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:14.300
 Are going to happen,

00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:15.000
 That are completely,

00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:16.360
 Out of your control,

00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:18.440
 Your descendants,

00:36:18.620 --> 00:36:19.220
 Are going to go through,

00:36:19.400 --> 00:36:20.760
 Three stages of suffering,

00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:21.400
 God says,

00:36:22.200 --> 00:36:23.620
 They're going to be exiled,

00:36:23.720 --> 00:36:24.360
 And alienated,

00:36:24.420 --> 00:36:25.240
 Because of famine,

00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.760
 They're going to be enslaved,

00:36:28.340 --> 00:36:29.380
 By the Egyptians,

00:36:29.559 --> 00:36:30.920
 For 400 years,

00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:32.760
 They're going to be,

00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:34.059
 Increasingly mistreated,

00:36:34.300 --> 00:36:34.980
 And afflicted,

00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:35.599
 And oppressed,

00:36:35.700 --> 00:36:36.340
 By Pharaoh,

00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:37.539
 And his taskmasters,

00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:39.220
 And absolutely,

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.500
 None of this,

00:36:40.620 --> 00:36:41.300
 Will mean,

00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:42.280
 That I've abandoned,

00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:42.980
 My promises,

00:36:43.160 --> 00:36:44.460
 Absolutely none of this,

00:36:44.599 --> 00:36:45.300
 Will mean,

00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:46.420
 That I've forsaken,

00:36:46.640 --> 00:36:47.300
 My covenant,

00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:48.820
 Do not believe that,

00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:49.579
 For a second,

00:36:50.360 --> 00:36:53.579
 And God says,

00:36:53.660 --> 00:36:54.579
 These three stages,

00:36:54.660 --> 00:36:55.099
 Of suffering,

00:36:55.200 --> 00:36:55.840
 Are going to be followed,

00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:56.760
 By three stages,

00:36:56.760 --> 00:36:57.700
 Of redemption,

00:36:57.699 --> 00:37:00.259
 That judgment,

00:37:00.460 --> 00:37:00.980
 And plagues,

00:37:01.019 --> 00:37:01.539
 Of punishment,

00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:02.439
 Are going to come down,

00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:03.460
 On your oppressors,

00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:05.839
 And that,

00:37:06.259 --> 00:37:06.739
 In the Exodus,

00:37:06.899 --> 00:37:07.819
 I'm going to bring Israel,

00:37:07.919 --> 00:37:08.799
 Out with great,

00:37:08.799 --> 00:37:09.699
 Possessions,

00:37:09.779 --> 00:37:10.719
 As restitution,

00:37:10.899 --> 00:37:11.559
 And reparation,

00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:12.779
 For all their free labor,

00:37:13.399 --> 00:37:14.159
 As slaves,

00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:16.339
 And then,

00:37:16.419 --> 00:37:17.159
 I'm going to bring Israel,

00:37:17.159 --> 00:37:18.319
 Into this promised land,

00:37:19.319 --> 00:37:20.839
 Even as I use them,

00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:21.279
 To,

00:37:22.819 --> 00:37:24.659
 Judge all the injustices,

00:37:24.659 --> 00:37:26.659
 And all the wickedness,

00:37:26.739 --> 00:37:28.239
 And all of the oppression,

00:37:28.359 --> 00:37:28.960
 Of the Amorites,

00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:29.480
 I'm going to come,

00:37:29.599 --> 00:37:31.279
 And put all that's wrong,

00:37:31.359 --> 00:37:31.859
 To rights,

00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:34.379
 And the reason,

00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:35.440
 This spoke to me this week,

00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:36.019
 Is because,

00:37:36.659 --> 00:37:37.679
 I heard God saying,

00:37:37.839 --> 00:37:38.199
 Abraham,

00:37:40.399 --> 00:37:41.420
 Jonathan,

00:37:43.420 --> 00:37:44.319
 My people,

00:37:46.319 --> 00:37:47.599
 Here's the kind of faith,

00:37:48.319 --> 00:37:49.559
 I want from you,

00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:52.599
 Trust me,

00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:55.779
 Trust my integrity,

00:37:57.139 --> 00:37:58.599
 Trust my authority,

00:37:59.860 --> 00:38:01.480
 Even when there's so much,

00:38:01.500 --> 00:38:02.079
 In my plan,

00:38:02.179 --> 00:38:03.500
 That is not yet accomplished,

00:38:03.639 --> 00:38:04.659
 And not yet fulfilled,

00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:07.659
 Even though so much,

00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:08.460
 Of the kingdom of God,

00:38:08.539 --> 00:38:09.880
 Has not yet been established,

00:38:09.880 --> 00:38:10.639
 On the earth,

00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:12.039
 As it already is in heaven,

00:38:13.319 --> 00:38:15.019
 Even though horrible things,

00:38:15.079 --> 00:38:15.619
 Are happening,

00:38:15.759 --> 00:38:16.519
 And horrible things,

00:38:16.579 --> 00:38:17.679
 Will continue to happen,

00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:20.219
 Don't forget,

00:38:20.360 --> 00:38:21.000
 That I'm patient,

00:38:21.139 --> 00:38:22.219
 In keeping my promises,

00:38:22.599 --> 00:38:25.360
 And even as so much,

00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:27.059
 Is not yet here,

00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:29.440
 What I'm asking you to do,

00:38:29.539 --> 00:38:29.920
 Jonathan,

00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:31.779
 And what I'm asking you,

00:38:31.819 --> 00:38:32.559
 To do church,

00:38:33.279 --> 00:38:34.259
 Is I'm asking you,

00:38:34.299 --> 00:38:35.599
 To take all the weight,

00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:36.639
 Of your reliance,

00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:38.319
 Off of all your other,

00:38:38.319 --> 00:38:38.880
 Securities,

00:38:39.619 --> 00:38:41.400
 And I'm asking you,

00:38:41.400 --> 00:38:42.539
 To lean all the weight,

00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:43.239
 Of your trust,

00:38:43.799 --> 00:38:44.880
 In my word,

00:38:44.980 --> 00:38:46.079
 That I've already given,

00:38:46.819 --> 00:38:47.819
 And in the promises,

00:38:47.819 --> 00:38:49.259
 That I've already made,

00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:50.840
 And in the covenant,

00:38:51.220 --> 00:38:51.980
 That I've already,

00:38:52.580 --> 00:38:52.880
 Cut,

00:38:53.580 --> 00:38:55.020
 Through my son,

00:38:56.640 --> 00:38:56.960
 Jesus,

00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:57.140
 Jesus,

00:38:57.140 --> 00:39:05.460
 When the apostle Paul,

00:39:05.820 --> 00:39:06.680
 Reflected on this,

00:39:07.060 --> 00:39:08.260
 Passage of Genesis 15,

00:39:08.360 --> 00:39:08.960
 He said this,

00:39:09.100 --> 00:39:09.740
 In Romans 4,

00:39:09.860 --> 00:39:10.080
 He said,

00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:10.920
 Against all hope,

00:39:12.580 --> 00:39:14.060
 Abraham and hope believed,

00:39:15.160 --> 00:39:16.340
 And so became the father,

00:39:16.420 --> 00:39:17.100
 Of many nations,

00:39:17.099 --> 00:39:19.819
 He did not waver,

00:39:19.819 --> 00:39:20.839
 Through unbelief,

00:39:21.400 --> 00:39:22.779
 Regarding the promise of God,

00:39:23.779 --> 00:39:24.900
 But was strengthened,

00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:25.579
 In his faith,

00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:27.739
 And gave glory to God,

00:39:28.819 --> 00:39:30.279
 Being fully persuaded,

00:39:31.299 --> 00:39:32.199
 That God,

00:39:32.880 --> 00:39:33.659
 Had the power,

00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:35.259
 To do,

00:39:36.159 --> 00:39:36.719
 What God,

00:39:36.900 --> 00:39:37.599
 Had promised,

00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:39.799
 And said that he would do,

00:39:41.019 --> 00:39:41.699
 So friends,

00:39:41.759 --> 00:39:42.599
 Let's think about that,

00:39:43.239 --> 00:39:44.039
 In the name of the Father,

00:39:44.179 --> 00:39:44.299
 Son,

00:39:44.339 --> 00:39:44.940
 And Holy Spirit,

00:39:45.900 --> 00:39:46.139
 Amen.

00:39:47.539 --> 00:39:47.539


00:39:47.539 --> 00:39:47.539


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