WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.860 Well, good evening, everyone. It's great to see you tonight. Thank you so much for coming. 00:00:05.580 --> 00:00:09.919 Glad Scotland won. Otherwise, I was fearful for how we would get this evening. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:15.800 But thank you so much for coming. Thank you for Fiona and the band for leading us thus far. 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:25.480 And as we'll journey through this chapter, we'll just see that the truths that we've been singing are so beautiful and so poignant for what we're going to be looking at this evening. 00:00:25.820 --> 00:00:31.440 So why don't we pray? Maybe you want to have Genesis 15 open in front of you. Let's pray and then let's get into God's word together. 00:00:36.380 --> 00:00:45.120 Holy God and dearest Heavenly Father, we just want to ask that you would be with us now as we turn to your word. 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:53.740 That by your spirit that you would help us to grasp something more of your greatness and something more of the greatness of your Son. 00:00:53.740 --> 00:00:58.039 And our Saviour Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. 00:00:59.980 --> 00:01:02.520 So how does a politician sleep? 00:01:04.939 --> 00:01:10.480 So they lie on one side and then they turn over and they lie on the other side. 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:15.500 What do dinosaurs and honest bankers have in common? 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:18.439 Both extinct. 00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:23.140 I'm sure you've heard many, many jokes at that before. 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:28.340 And believe you me, if you hunt hard enough on the internet, you will find thousands of them. 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:32.700 But they illustrate something that we all know to be true. 00:01:33.819 --> 00:01:39.780 That there are certain people in life who we have real difficulty taking at their word. 00:01:39.780 --> 00:01:43.680 Example of how this worked out for me this week. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:47.900 On Tuesday, my wife Alex phoned me up and she told me that our car had a flat battery. 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:52.439 Now I couldn't immediately get back and she managed to call somebody out and get the car started again. 00:01:52.500 --> 00:01:58.819 I managed to get home and I took the car to an unnamed garage and for a free battery check. 00:01:59.159 --> 00:01:59.920 You ever done this before? 00:02:00.020 --> 00:02:02.659 Your battery goes dead, you take it for your free battery check once I think. 00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:05.259 I soon realised why it was called a free battery check. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:09.819 Because I got there and the mechanic advised me that lo and behold I needed a new battery. 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:12.900 And it would be about £100 to get a new battery. 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:17.819 And lo and behold he just happened to have a battery and he was free to fit it. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:23.060 And I must say my immediate thought was that I was extremely suspicious. 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:26.840 And I think because I'm a tight Scot, I said I'll think about it. 00:02:27.079 --> 00:02:27.960 And I drove home. 00:02:28.780 --> 00:02:29.759 But it's not true in life. 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:36.000 We know that there are certain people whose word we have difficulty in believing. 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:39.359 So here's the question I want to ask you at the outset of this evening. 00:02:39.979 --> 00:02:41.579 As you think about your own life. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:44.139 I don't know how you come here this evening. 00:02:44.239 --> 00:02:46.659 Maybe you come and you're a regular to this church. 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:50.799 Maybe you come here this evening and this is your first time ever at Brunsfield. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:53.399 Maybe this is the first time you've been at church in a while. 00:02:53.659 --> 00:02:55.639 Maybe you wouldn't even call yourself a Christian. 00:02:56.879 --> 00:02:58.120 I want you to think about your life. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:00.580 I want to ask you this evening. 00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:03.759 Is there anyone in your life who you can trust? 00:03:08.140 --> 00:03:11.140 Is there anyone in life who will be 100% true to their word? 00:03:13.219 --> 00:03:16.020 Is there anyone in life who will never ever let you down? 00:03:16.020 --> 00:03:24.080 And is there anyone in life on whose word you and I can base and build our lives? 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:27.520 Is there anyone in life who we can trust? 00:03:28.580 --> 00:03:32.820 Because trust is right at the heart of this passage this evening. 00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:34.700 So here's Abraham. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:40.080 And the thing about Abraham is that he is asking himself those kind of questions. 00:03:41.060 --> 00:03:44.320 And he's specifically asking them in relation to God. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:47.180 Now if you want to flick back to Genesis chapter 12. 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:50.739 Where we started out this series a number of weeks ago. 00:03:52.239 --> 00:03:53.719 God has spoken to Abraham. 00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:58.500 And he's made him some pretty big promises. 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:01.120 So if you just flick your eyes there. 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:02.639 He's promised them a great nation. 00:04:03.319 --> 00:04:05.280 Great nation are going to come from Abraham. 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:08.639 And he is going to have that great nation. 00:04:08.740 --> 00:04:12.219 And that great nation will live in a land flowing with milk and honey. 00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:16.240 And God through Abraham would bring blessing to the whole world. 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:17.740 Now they are big promises. 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:21.379 Big, big, big promises. 00:04:21.379 --> 00:04:24.879 And we've got to ask ourselves as a reader. 00:04:25.019 --> 00:04:27.139 I'm sure the question that Abraham is asking himself. 00:04:27.219 --> 00:04:28.459 Is God good for his promises? 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:30.659 Is God good for his promises? 00:04:31.219 --> 00:04:36.000 Or is he going to turn into another joke like the politician and the banker? 00:04:36.939 --> 00:04:40.000 Well here is the big thing that this passage would teach us tonight. 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:41.040 Really simply. 00:04:41.699 --> 00:04:45.699 That the God of the Bible is good for his word. 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:46.839 Really simply. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:48.199 If you get one thing from this evening. 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:50.939 And I really pray and hope that you get more than one thing from this evening. 00:04:50.939 --> 00:04:51.759 But if there's one thing. 00:04:51.899 --> 00:04:52.519 Make it that. 00:04:52.899 --> 00:04:55.339 That the God of the Bible is good for his word. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:57.319 In fact so much so that I want you to get it. 00:04:57.379 --> 00:04:58.399 That I would love us to repeat it. 00:04:58.540 --> 00:04:58.699 Okay. 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:00.379 One, two, three. 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:04.060 The God of the Bible is good for his word. 00:05:05.019 --> 00:05:08.159 Now a few weeks ago we saw Abraham respond to a family crisis. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:11.659 His nephew Lot had been caught up in a skirmish. 00:05:12.220 --> 00:05:13.860 He'd been effectively kidnapped by. 00:05:13.959 --> 00:05:17.699 If you want to scan your eye over chapter 14 there. 00:05:17.699 --> 00:05:22.819 Kidnapped by Ker-de-Lomar and the kings that were allied with him. 00:05:24.659 --> 00:05:25.920 What's Abraham going to do? 00:05:26.039 --> 00:05:26.779 Lot's been kidnapped. 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.199 Abraham chooses to get involved. 00:05:31.019 --> 00:05:34.419 And because God is the one who's orchestrating all things. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:38.060 Despite the fact that Abraham has an inferior army. 00:05:38.719 --> 00:05:41.699 Abraham manages to defeat the larger and more powerful armies. 00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:43.879 And rescue Lot. 00:05:44.899 --> 00:05:47.779 But the most significant moment for Abraham was not the battle. 00:05:48.539 --> 00:05:50.740 It was what happened when he was returning from the battlefield. 00:05:52.039 --> 00:05:54.279 Because he's approached by two kings. 00:05:54.939 --> 00:05:56.480 The first king. 00:05:56.860 --> 00:05:58.360 The king of Sodom. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:02.659 A nation who represent all that God hated. 00:06:02.660 --> 00:06:05.200 And the second king. 00:06:05.300 --> 00:06:06.060 The king of Salem. 00:06:06.880 --> 00:06:10.180 And a priest of the one true God named Melchizedek. 00:06:10.520 --> 00:06:11.400 And both of them. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:11.900 What did they do? 00:06:11.960 --> 00:06:14.260 They offer their right hand of allegiance to Abraham. 00:06:14.520 --> 00:06:16.700 And the question we've got to ask ourselves as the reader is. 00:06:16.820 --> 00:06:18.280 Who is Abraham going to choose? 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:21.980 Who will Abraham side with? 00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:23.760 It's a real test of his integrity. 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:24.920 A real test of his faith. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:27.700 A real test of what this guy is really made of. 00:06:27.699 --> 00:06:32.959 And what we find is that Abraham sides with God. 00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:34.019 Why? 00:06:35.039 --> 00:06:39.659 Because he's confident that this God who has spoken to him is the real deal. 00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:44.599 Well hot on the heels of that test come our verses this evening. 00:06:45.159 --> 00:06:48.620 And it would appear that Abraham finds himself asking, 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:51.000 Is God good for his word? 00:06:51.899 --> 00:06:53.139 Can I trust you God? 00:06:53.639 --> 00:06:54.519 Can I trust you? 00:06:54.599 --> 00:06:56.259 Are you really all that you're hyped up to be? 00:06:56.259 --> 00:07:00.839 And God once again so graciously and lovingly says, 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:04.439 Abraham, Abraham, I'm good for my word. 00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:07.699 I am good for my word. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:09.680 So let's look at this together, shall we? 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:11.319 Firstly, verses 1 to 6. 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:16.019 God says, Abraham, like Fiona said, 00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:18.800 My word is a word that you can count on. 00:07:19.860 --> 00:07:21.420 Verse 1 of chapter 15. 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:23.439 What do we read? 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:25.719 The word of the Lord came to Abraham. 00:07:26.379 --> 00:07:28.219 The word of the Lord came to Abraham. 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:29.879 It's not just a throwaway line. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:30.959 See what's going on here. 00:07:31.019 --> 00:07:33.219 It's a wonderful truth about who this God is. 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:36.039 That this God makes the first move. 00:07:37.420 --> 00:07:38.379 He made Abraham. 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:40.159 He loves Abraham. 00:07:40.939 --> 00:07:42.300 And he knows Abraham. 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:44.779 And he knows the questions. 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:49.500 And he knows the doubts that are deep inside Abraham's heart. 00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:50.720 Now what are those doubts? 00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:53.019 Look what the Lord says. 00:07:54.220 --> 00:07:55.079 Don't be afraid. 00:07:56.600 --> 00:07:57.339 Don't be afraid. 00:07:57.459 --> 00:07:59.519 Now we've got to ask, if we not, why would he be afraid? 00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:01.360 Why would he be afraid? 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:06.060 Well, could it be that he's thinking maybe, can I really trust you God? 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:09.519 I mean, yes, I've defeated those enemies because you were with me. 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:11.759 But I mean, there's no guarantee that's going to happen again. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:15.159 Yes, I, maybe somebody wants to get the door. 00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:19.719 Yes, I have said no to worldly pleasures and yes to God. 00:08:19.819 --> 00:08:20.620 And I did it then. 00:08:21.139 --> 00:08:24.180 But there's no guarantee that I will always do that. 00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:27.000 See, Abraham's afraid. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:33.019 And stepping into his troubled situation and speaking into his troubled heart. 00:08:33.379 --> 00:08:35.539 Like a caring mother or father. 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:38.019 Do you see how God steps in with his word? 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:41.320 Not just any random thoughts. 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:43.220 But the right words. 00:08:44.059 --> 00:08:45.320 For the right man. 00:08:45.940 --> 00:08:46.919 At the right moment. 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:50.460 This is the kind of God that we're dealing with. 00:08:52.100 --> 00:08:55.120 As Abraham thinks of his surrounding armies round about. 00:08:55.259 --> 00:08:56.639 I'm sure want him dead. 00:08:57.419 --> 00:08:58.340 What does God say? 00:08:59.659 --> 00:09:00.860 I'm your shield, Abraham. 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:02.539 I am your shield. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:03.980 Not I will give you a shield. 00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:06.240 Not take up your shield. 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:09.059 But I am your shield. 00:09:10.419 --> 00:09:12.700 I will protect you. 00:09:13.019 --> 00:09:15.360 Now, presumably Abraham has to stop at this point. 00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:17.360 And he's got to think about who is in his corner. 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:21.279 And as he looks to his corner, he's not looking at Mike Tyson. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:23.240 He's not looking at Tyson Fury. 00:09:24.419 --> 00:09:26.899 In his corner is the God of angel armies. 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:33.200 The God that has revealed himself to Abraham. 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:34.860 It's the God of the universe. 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:38.559 He is the possessor of heaven and earth. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:41.159 Abraham, I am your shield. 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:44.359 And then as Abraham thinks of his possessions. 00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:48.039 Remember those possessions that he turned down when he said no to the king of Salem? 00:09:48.579 --> 00:09:50.039 And that wee voice goes in his head. 00:09:50.079 --> 00:09:52.459 I'm sure like the worst game show host ever. 00:09:52.819 --> 00:09:53.819 Here's what you could have won. 00:09:55.579 --> 00:09:56.959 Abraham must have thought, what was I doing? 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:57.919 Did I make the right call? 00:09:58.919 --> 00:09:59.879 What does God say? 00:10:00.739 --> 00:10:01.239 See it? 00:10:01.980 --> 00:10:04.240 Abraham, I am your great reward. 00:10:05.340 --> 00:10:06.980 I am your great reward. 00:10:07.060 --> 00:10:11.419 You are worried about the fact that you may have failed to add some digits to your bank account. 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:13.940 Well, let me tell you, I am the possessor of heaven and earth. 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:17.720 Your reward, Abraham, is me. 00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:20.060 It's not stuff. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:21.240 It's me. 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:24.680 Now, what a wonderful truth about this God. 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:26.279 Let's just stop and think about that for a minute. 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:34.980 That not only does he know our hearts, not only does he know our troubled minds, not only does he know our doubts, 00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:41.159 but he steps into them with words of comfort and words of promise. 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:43.539 This is the kind of God that we're dealing with here. 00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:50.060 Leading, comforting, shepherding all by his words. 00:10:50.059 --> 00:10:52.799 The words of the old hymn, 00:10:52.939 --> 00:10:54.599 Praise my soul, the King of heaven. 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:57.079 Father like he tends and spares us. 00:10:57.639 --> 00:10:59.919 Well our feeble frame he knows. 00:11:00.459 --> 00:11:05.159 In his hands he gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes. 00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:09.959 Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise them widely as his mercy flows. 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:12.799 This is the kind of God we're dealing with here in Genesis 15. 00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:13.919 What a God. 00:11:14.859 --> 00:11:15.579 What a God. 00:11:15.580 --> 00:11:18.840 But here's Abraham. 00:11:20.280 --> 00:11:22.700 And he's probably thinking to himself, God, that's great. 00:11:22.780 --> 00:11:23.720 I mean, don't get me wrong. 00:11:23.820 --> 00:11:27.340 I love when you go on the whiteboard and chuck words up there, vision stuff. 00:11:27.420 --> 00:11:28.020 I love that. 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:29.000 But here's the problem. 00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:31.960 If you remember back to biology, 00:11:33.280 --> 00:11:34.360 there's a big problem. 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:37.900 Surely you can see you've promised me a big family, 00:11:38.020 --> 00:11:39.180 but what have you not given me? 00:11:40.059 --> 00:11:42.519 You've not given me any children. 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:43.819 You've not given me a son. 00:11:45.839 --> 00:11:46.959 Now if you do the maths between, 00:11:47.599 --> 00:11:50.099 sorry, by the ages recorders in these chapters, 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:52.979 it's something like eight or nine years that have come and gone 00:11:52.979 --> 00:11:56.459 since God first called Abraham and made those promises. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:59.120 Eight and nine years, that is a long time. 00:11:59.939 --> 00:12:01.019 A long time. 00:12:01.099 --> 00:12:04.240 And still, there is no child. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:09.840 And at his age, Abraham, probably in his 80s and given Sarah's age, 00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:14.480 I mean, the odds are not in their favour. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:16.220 And that's a real problem. 00:12:17.259 --> 00:12:18.440 That is a real problem. 00:12:20.060 --> 00:12:22.879 So reader, you can appreciate, can you not, Abraham's frustration. 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:26.799 You can understand his questions. 00:12:27.560 --> 00:12:30.159 And you can feel his pain. 00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:31.419 I mean, that's a real question. 00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:32.519 God, how can I know? 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:34.480 How can I know? 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:38.559 Now, I do not love how real the Bible is sometimes. 00:12:39.439 --> 00:12:41.100 How real the Bible is sometimes. 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:44.460 Because is that not what it is like in the Christian life? 00:12:45.579 --> 00:12:46.699 God, I just don't get it. 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.699 I just don't get it. 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:50.539 Don't understand what you're doing. 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:51.919 I don't understand what you've said. 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.579 I just don't get it. 00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:58.240 Well, here, as it were, is God giving us permission, 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:02.460 as his people, to come to him with our frustrations. 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:06.039 God is saying, come to me with your questions. 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:07.480 Come to me with your pain. 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:10.320 And in all of that, know that I am God. 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:12.580 And know that I am good. 00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:14.720 And know that I am gracious. 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:16.879 And know that I care. 00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:18.820 And know that I am sovereign. 00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:20.640 And know that I have a plan. 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:25.440 This is the kind of God that we're dealing with here in Genesis 15. 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:29.080 And you see that in the way that God responds to Abraham. 00:13:30.400 --> 00:13:34.300 Now, I remember last summer, we're a very frugal family. 00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:39.500 So my wife, Alex, went on Gumtree and found a balance bike to give to our little girl. 00:13:40.579 --> 00:13:42.579 So Chloe, we give her the balance bike. 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:45.000 We take her around to the park, just around the corner for us, 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:47.979 to find her safe space to try out her balance bike. 00:13:49.099 --> 00:13:51.000 So she gets her wee frozen helmet on. 00:13:51.959 --> 00:13:53.359 She gets her trainers on. 00:13:53.459 --> 00:13:55.279 We go around to the park and she goes for it. 00:13:55.839 --> 00:13:57.579 Now, we've all been in that situation, haven't we? 00:13:57.579 --> 00:14:00.979 Either we've been the child in that situation or we've been the adult in that situation. 00:14:01.079 --> 00:14:02.000 It's never pretty, is it? 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:05.399 In fact, it's probably more like one of the clips you've seen. 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:06.159 You've been framed. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:07.419 It's that kind of thing, isn't it? 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:10.120 So she goes for it and she falls. 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:12.139 She goes for it again and she falls. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.779 She goes for it again and she falls again. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.299 Do you know what I didn't say to her? 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.059 I didn't say, Chloe, how can you not get this? 00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:20.919 How can you not get this? 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:22.940 I mean, this is so second nature to me. 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:24.600 How can you not get this? 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.419 What are you doing? 00:14:27.419 --> 00:14:28.340 No, she fell again. 00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:29.179 I said, come on, get up. 00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:30.799 She fell again. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:31.480 Come on, get up. 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:33.980 I want to help you get this. 00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:36.059 I want to help you get this. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:38.440 It's exactly what God is doing here with Abraham. 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:43.480 Do you see, God, he doesn't put space in his hands when Abraham doubts here. 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:45.879 God doesn't go running and say, do you know what? 00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:50.879 I'm going to go find someone else to give those big promises to who actually has the spine to believe me. 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:54.440 God doesn't throw in the towel and say, I'm done with you. 00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:57.559 Do you see, God graciously meets Abraham in his doubting. 00:14:57.559 --> 00:15:01.759 And God says to Abraham, let me help you get this. 00:15:02.819 --> 00:15:04.179 Let me help you get this. 00:15:05.119 --> 00:15:07.719 What I got, I mean, this is the kind of God that we're dealing with here. 00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:10.679 Verse five, love what he does. 00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:13.199 Let's go for a walk outside. 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:18.179 It's amazing how, isn't it, often a good walk just brings that sense of perspective. 00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:20.159 Let's go for a walk outside. 00:15:20.319 --> 00:15:21.079 It's a dark night. 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:22.120 God says, what does he say? 00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:22.559 Look up. 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:24.199 What does he see? 00:15:25.199 --> 00:15:26.439 What do you see when you look up? 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:28.940 Now you do this an average night in Edinburgh. 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:31.060 You don't see a lot. 00:15:32.160 --> 00:15:35.640 Because of the smog, because of the light pollution, you look up and maybe, what do you see? 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.600 One or two stars. 00:15:37.280 --> 00:15:42.020 This is more like if you've ever been out in the middle of nowhere camping and you look up. 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:49.600 The only time I've ever experienced anything like this is when I was in Mozambique. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:53.120 And I just remember pitch black looking up and going, wow. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:54.840 Wow. 00:15:56.940 --> 00:15:57.259 Wow. 00:15:58.680 --> 00:16:00.180 This is what Abraham's doing here. 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:03.019 If you've ever had a moment like that, this is what he's experiencing here. 00:16:03.060 --> 00:16:04.399 He looks up and what does he see? 00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:05.340 Stars. 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:07.720 Thousands of stars. 00:16:08.180 --> 00:16:09.259 And what does God say? 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:10.600 He says, count them. 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:13.720 And I love to think that Abraham actually had a shot at counting them. 00:16:13.800 --> 00:16:14.139 Do you know what? 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:18.200 One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirty, forty, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen. 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:20.220 And there's the point where he says, right, I get it. 00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:21.480 I get it. 00:16:22.140 --> 00:16:23.759 I understand what you're trying to say. 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:28.259 God breaks in, end of verse five. 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:30.980 So shall your offspring be. 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:39.220 Abraham, in your mind, you are thinking, one child, let me tell you, I, the one who created the stars, 00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:43.040 the one who spoke them into existence, the one that calls them out each by name, 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:45.600 that's how many descendants I'm thinking of for you. 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:48.399 See what God is doing. 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:50.879 How gracious and how patient is this God? 00:16:51.540 --> 00:16:54.100 He gives Abraham this visible picture. 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:56.620 Something that he can understand. 00:16:56.800 --> 00:17:04.039 Something that he can see to help him grasp the truth and remember the truth of God's spoken word. 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:05.480 This is what's going on here. 00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:07.240 How good is this God? 00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:12.440 And a side note, that's exactly what we do every time we take communion together. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:14.059 I don't know if you've ever thought about it like that. 00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:19.259 That God has given us something that we can see, something that we can understand, 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:23.000 to help us grasp and to help us remember the truth of his word. 00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:26.559 But why is God doing all of this? 00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:31.839 It's to show Abraham that he is good for his word. 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.339 He is good for his word. 00:17:34.339 --> 00:17:39.639 And though Abraham, you see, he can't physically see the plan unfolding right in front of him. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:44.659 Verse 6, he decides that he's going to believe God. 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:48.539 He is going to count on the name of the Lord. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:53.619 He chooses to walk by faith and not by sight. 00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:57.799 His heart, God, I'm trusting you. 00:17:58.119 --> 00:18:01.559 His heart, Lord, I'm going to walk in the light of your words. 00:18:03.679 --> 00:18:05.559 That's why we call him the father of the faith. 00:18:05.639 --> 00:18:08.279 This is him living by faith and not by sight. 00:18:10.439 --> 00:18:11.399 But here's the question. 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:16.560 If that's what Abraham believes to be true about God, what does God believe to be true of Abraham? 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:24.080 This sinful man, this fallen man, this man who made mistakes, this man who will continue to make mistakes. 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.519 What does it say? 00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:29.980 Because he trusts God, he is declared righteous. 00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:33.660 The word meaning to be right before God. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.320 This is Abraham. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:40.059 God says, Abraham, because you believe in my promises, you are deemed righteous. 00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:44.759 Do you see that Abraham doesn't need to do anything? 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:52.339 Doesn't need to do anything other than trust and walk in light of the fact that God will do everything. 00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:58.399 Actually, verse 6 is one of the most important verses in the whole of Scripture 00:18:58.399 --> 00:19:01.319 because it's the very definition of what it means to have faith. 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:04.639 Have you ever wondered what true faith is? 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:11.700 Maybe you've heard someone like Dan Brown, author of the Da Vinci Code, that says this, 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:17.879 faith is the acceptance of which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove. 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:19.200 Let me say that again. 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:24.899 Faith is the acceptance of that which we imagine to be true and that which we cannot prove. 00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:26.460 I mean, is that what faith is? 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:28.839 Not according to the Bible. 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:34.919 You see, Abraham shows us what true, gritty, biblical faith is. 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:39.220 It is not poking around, hopefully in the dark, for something to cling on to in life. 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:43.779 It is trusting that God is who he says he is. 00:19:44.159 --> 00:19:49.099 And knowing that what he says is true and walking in the light of it. 00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:55.740 Verses 1 to 6, God says, Abraham, my word is a word that you can count on. 00:19:55.740 --> 00:20:02.680 And secondly, verses 7 to 21, God says, Abraham, my word is a word that you can be certain about. 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:09.359 So God has just assured Abraham, hasn't he, about the people aspect of that promise that he made in Genesis 12. 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:11.640 What else had God promised Abraham? 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:13.359 A place. 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:21.599 Again, verse 7, God takes the initiative in assuring Abraham of the certainty of his promise. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:23.219 What does he say? 00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:24.779 I am the Lord. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:27.339 The covenant name of God. 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.419 This is Yahweh. 00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:36.439 He is the promise-making and promise-keeping, steadfast, never-changing, all eternity God. 00:20:36.639 --> 00:20:38.659 This is the kind of God that we're dealing with here. 00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:46.420 The God, do you see him declare, who has taken Abraham out of the land of Ur of the Chaldeans, 00:20:46.540 --> 00:20:48.740 where he started out at the tail end of chapter 11, 00:20:49.320 --> 00:20:53.120 and the God who has led him to the land of Canaan where he currently is. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:56.320 This is the God who is speaking to Abraham. 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:59.000 But Abraham looks out. 00:20:59.060 --> 00:20:59.720 What does he see? 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:03.980 He sees his enemies possessing the land. 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:08.599 But you see, God's promise is not that, Abraham, you will live in Canaan. 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:11.599 It is not, Abraham, you will have a timeshare in Canaan. 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:16.160 His promise is that he and his descendants will possess Canaan. 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:18.220 It will be their home. 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:20.819 And their enemies will be no more. 00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:21.799 It will be theirs. 00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:29.980 The Amorites who are currently living there and who are graciously being given time by God to turn to him, 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:32.579 they will one day have to answer for their sin. 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:35.360 God knows what he's doing. 00:21:36.299 --> 00:21:38.019 God knows where he's leading these people. 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:41.000 Again, that's a hefty promise. 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.220 That's a hefty promise. 00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:45.039 How can Abraham be sure? 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:55.960 Again, God shows Abraham something visible to help him grasp the truthfulness and trustworthiness of his word. 00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:56.720 Verse 9. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:59.440 All this strange stuff, okay? 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:06.039 Of collecting animals, cutting some of them in half, lining up on either side opposite each other. 00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:07.279 I mean, what is going on there? 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:09.960 Love the Old Testament for stuff like this, do you not? 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.380 What is going on there? 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:14.920 What's going on there is something common in this day. 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.940 It's the making of a covenant. 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:20.700 A covenant is a binding promise. 00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:24.120 The closest thing I guess we have is a marriage. 00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:26.519 Two parties making binding promises to one another. 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:28.640 That's what's going on here with all these animals. 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.779 These parties are saying to one another, 00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:34.519 if either of us falter on our side of the covenant, 00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:36.700 then we will become like these dead animals. 00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:39.660 Now just think about that for a moment. 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:42.840 Here is God saying, 00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:51.200 Abraham, to show you how committed I am to following through on my promises, let's make a covenant. 00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:58.680 That's the lengths that God will go to to help Abraham see just how trustworthy his word is. 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:05.700 That God would even be willing to take that curse on himself if he is not true to his words. 00:23:06.840 --> 00:23:07.900 That's astounding. 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:12.100 This is the kind of God that we're dealing with here. 00:23:12.860 --> 00:23:15.759 The God of the Bible is good for his word. 00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:20.120 And God doesn't simply tell Abraham that possession is going to happen. 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.779 He tells him how it is going to happen. 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:24.860 From verse 12, it's going to be a long time. 00:23:27.060 --> 00:23:30.680 See, this plan that God has hatched before the foundation of the world, 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:36.040 and this plan will not go down according to our timetable. 00:23:36.600 --> 00:23:38.279 It will go down according to his. 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:40.779 We're so impatient, are we not? 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:42.819 So impatient. 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:45.000 In our age of fast food, 00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:47.839 in our age of next day delivery, 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:51.200 I mean, I clicked buy on Amazon at 11 o'clock last night, 00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:52.399 and it came at 3 o'clock today. 00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.019 Incredible. 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:53.839 Age to living. 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:58.059 Super fast broadband makes us impatient. 00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.779 As Dale Ralph Davis says, 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.420 he puts it like this, 00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:03.340 we always want God to march to our microwave time. 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.480 I think it's a great phrase. 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:07.560 We always want God to march to our microwave time. 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:11.620 These verses tell us that God is not in a rush with his plan. 00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:13.440 He's not in a rush. 00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.480 He has a plan. 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:21.200 And this plan will go down exactly as he has said it will go down. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:25.720 And praise God that that is true because his ways are so much better than our ways. 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:29.420 And his wisdom is so much wiser than ours. 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.420 And what is this plan? 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:33.559 400 years in Egypt as mentioned there. 00:24:33.620 --> 00:24:34.160 Do you see it? 00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.539 But when you do the math, 00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:38.799 it's actually the time gap between this promise 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:42.399 and Abraham's descendants being rescued from slavery. 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:44.779 It's somewhere between 600 and 800 years. 00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:47.339 I mean, that is a long, long time. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:50.480 And it's going to be a hard time. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.119 Do you see that? 00:24:52.639 --> 00:24:55.039 They will be ill-traited slaves. 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:59.659 So God's covenant promises will come to pass exactly as he said they would. 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.480 Be assured of that. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.399 But in the meantime, 00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:04.480 life will be long and life will be hard. 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:07.839 Again, is this not the Christian life? 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:13.440 Faithfulness and trust in God 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:18.059 in the everyday unspectacular grind of life. 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:21.700 And I love how God tells us that that is how it's going to be. 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:24.720 Love how he doesn't hide the small print from us. 00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:27.399 God says, I know what's going to happen. 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:29.700 And I love you enough, Abraham, to tell you. 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:32.299 So that when it happens, 00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:34.440 as you've passed that message on, 00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:38.079 you'll say that's exactly how God said it was going to be. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:42.859 Does it not give us truth to cling on to when things are hard? 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:45.680 That this is how our God has told us it's going to be. 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:48.259 When we, like Abraham, cry, 00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:49.480 how can we know? 00:25:50.399 --> 00:25:51.619 How can we know? 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:52.839 God says, I've told you. 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.740 I've given you my word. 00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:55.480 I've spoken. 00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:58.259 Abraham, that's the plan. 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.279 Oh, and by the way, 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:01.299 drops this one in, 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:04.240 you won't get to see the fulfillment of it. 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:07.779 You see, this is not about Abraham. 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.639 This is not about him. 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:12.200 This is about this gracious God 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.759 who, beginning with Abraham, 00:26:13.919 --> 00:26:15.200 is working out his plan 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.700 to bring blessing to the nation 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:19.700 so that he can dwell with his people fully and forever. 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:22.059 This is the kind of God that we're dealing with here. 00:26:23.639 --> 00:26:24.599 Friends, how often, 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:27.899 and this is something I felt convicted of this week, 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:29.800 how often do we make the story about us? 00:26:31.280 --> 00:26:32.860 It is never about us. 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:34.820 It is about this God 00:26:34.820 --> 00:26:37.360 who is true to his word. 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:40.880 This is the kind of God that we're dealing with here. 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:43.780 The kind of God who doesn't just suggest a covenant, 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:46.000 but who makes a covenant. 00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:48.580 This smoking brazier and blazing torch, 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:49.600 they represent him. 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.900 God walks through. 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:56.340 What is Abraham doing this whole time? 00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:58.199 He's not saying, 00:26:58.559 --> 00:27:00.179 here I am, Lord. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.379 He's sleeping. 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.259 Do you see it? 00:27:02.939 --> 00:27:04.019 He's asleep. 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:06.579 He could not be any more passive 00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:09.419 in this covenant if he tried to be. 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:11.839 But that's the whole point. 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:15.059 That Abraham doesn't need to do anything 00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:18.220 other than trust and walk in light of the fact 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:20.199 that God will do everything. 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:24.539 My word is a word that you can count on. 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:27.019 And my word is a word you can be certain about, 00:27:27.159 --> 00:27:28.240 says God to Abraham. 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.720 The God of the Bible 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:32.899 is good for his word. 00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:35.779 Have you heard that phrase, 00:27:35.879 --> 00:27:36.759 it takes tooth to tangle? 00:27:37.899 --> 00:27:40.159 Which for years I thought referred to the soft drink 00:27:40.159 --> 00:27:42.379 until I realized I actually referred to the dance. 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.519 It takes tooth to tangle. 00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.740 It takes tooth to covenant. 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:45.619 Okay? 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:47.319 Two parties. 00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:51.599 God will never be anything other than true to his word. 00:27:51.919 --> 00:27:52.759 I can guarantee that. 00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:55.379 Never be anything other than 100% true. 00:27:56.679 --> 00:27:57.179 But Abraham? 00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.359 Abraham is not like that. 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.960 And you are not like that. 00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:04.019 And I am not like that. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.200 If I give it another chapter, 00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:08.960 Abraham is all over the place again. 00:28:09.899 --> 00:28:10.619 Give it tomorrow, 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:12.259 I'm sure I will be all over the place again. 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.299 So where does that leave us? 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:17.000 Well the marvel is, 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:21.039 so committed is God to his promises to Abraham, 00:28:21.879 --> 00:28:24.200 that not only is he willing to open himself up 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:27.140 to the potential possibility of death, 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:29.680 but he years later, 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.720 sent his son, 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:34.579 one of Abraham's descendants, 00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:38.139 Jesus into this world. 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:41.699 The perfectly righteous one, 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:43.579 the covenant keeper, 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:47.240 who would be treated like a covenant breaker, 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:52.019 who would be treated like you and I deserve, 00:28:52.399 --> 00:28:55.919 who would take our covenant breaking curse upon himself, 00:28:56.179 --> 00:28:58.179 who would become like one of those dead animals, 00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:59.419 and who would die on the cross. 00:29:00.679 --> 00:29:01.279 Now why? 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:06.740 Well so that covenant breakers like you and like me, 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:09.039 would in him, 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:13.000 be treated as if we were covenant keepers. 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:17.039 That is how committed God is to his word. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:19.299 That he will make a way, 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:21.859 so that even the failure of his people, 00:29:23.139 --> 00:29:24.319 even our failure, 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:29.039 will not stand in the way of him accomplishing his promises. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:34.519 That is how committed this God is to his word. 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:36.859 This is the kind of God that we are dealing with here. 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:41.559 And so we are invited tonight to follow the example of Abraham. 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:43.019 What did he do? 00:29:43.099 --> 00:29:45.559 He believed that God was good for his words. 00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:49.579 He believed that he didn't need to do anything 00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:52.019 other than trust and walk in the light of the fact 00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:53.740 that God would do everything. 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:56.720 And it is the same for you and I tonight. 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:59.180 How are we made right with God? 00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:01.740 You will see Paul pick this up in Romans 4, 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:03.620 if you want to go home and check it out later. 00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:07.600 Exactly the same way that Abraham was. 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:12.079 Believing that God is good for his word. 00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:16.299 And by trusting that God deems us righteous, 00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.940 because we have done that. 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:21.180 Except standing where we do in this story, 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:23.740 we don't see this plan in embryo form. 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:26.000 We see where it was leading all the way along. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:27.559 It was leading to Christ. 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:34.200 To be a Christian is to believe that we don't need to do anything 00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:39.460 other than trust and walk in light of the fact 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:43.099 that Christ has done everything. 00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:45.099 He's done everything. 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:47.539 Absolutely everything. 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:52.019 And so when you and I find ourselves, friends, 00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:54.299 in the place of Abraham in this story, 00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:56.019 when we find ourselves asking, 00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:57.480 Lord, how can I know? 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:59.079 Do you find yourself asking that? 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:02.500 I find myself asking it on a daily basis. 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.039 Lord, how can I know? 00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:06.259 How can I know? 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:07.680 How can I know that I am forgiven? 00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:11.819 How can I know that I am right with you? 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:14.700 How can I know that my fallenness, 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:17.099 my heart that is prone to wander, 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:20.720 how can I know that you will be true to that? 00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:25.700 And how can I be sure about what you have said is ahead of me? 00:31:26.379 --> 00:31:27.460 The promise of heaven. 00:31:27.559 --> 00:31:28.619 How can I be sure? 00:31:29.179 --> 00:31:30.319 How can I be sure? 00:31:31.919 --> 00:31:35.000 Well, God would comprehensively say tonight, 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:36.459 how can you be sure? 00:31:37.639 --> 00:31:38.699 Look to the cross. 00:31:40.119 --> 00:31:41.219 Look to the cross. 00:31:41.439 --> 00:31:43.419 How can you know you are forgiven? 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:46.219 Past, present, and future. 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.519 Look to the cross. 00:31:48.739 --> 00:31:49.859 Look to the cross. 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:52.779 Robert Murray McShane, a great Scottish preacher, 00:31:52.899 --> 00:31:53.979 died when he was 29. 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.559 He used to say, 00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.980 for every one look at my sin, 00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:59.279 I take 10 looks at Christ on the cross. 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:02.480 God says, look to the cross. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:03.779 How can you be sure? 00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:05.440 How can you be sure? 00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:06.759 Look to the cross. 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:10.679 The call tonight is to trust this God, 00:32:11.419 --> 00:32:13.179 to come to this God, 00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:14.919 to trust his son, 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:16.740 to receive forgiveness, 00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:21.460 to place our hope fully in every word 00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:23.319 that proceeds from his mouth. 00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:25.700 And like Abraham, 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:27.359 receive him. 00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:29.179 Receive him. 00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:32.359 And what's the difference 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.439 between a lawyer and a liar? 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:37.339 Try not to look at anyone in the room here. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.619 Simply the pronunciation. 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:42.639 How many car salesman jokes are there? 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:43.839 None. 00:32:43.939 --> 00:32:44.839 They're all true stories. 00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:48.319 Well, I hope we've seen tonight 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.480 that God is not like us. 00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.700 He is not like us. 00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:54.980 Is there anyone in this life 00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:57.700 whose word we can fully trust? 00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:59.660 The God of the Bible 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:02.279 is good for his word. 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:05.460 That is the message of Genesis chapter 15. 00:33:06.840 --> 00:33:09.240 Standing on the promises of Christ my King, 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:12.600 through eternal ages let his praises ring. 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:16.100 Glory in the highest I will shout and sing, 00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:17.960 standing on the promises of God. 00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:19.960 Standing, standing, 00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:24.220 standing on the promises of God my Saviour. 00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:25.960 Standing, standing, 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:30.420 I'm standing on the promises of God. 00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:31.420 Let's pray together. 00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:31.500 Father. 00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:35.660 And maybe just in this silence, 00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:38.940 before we head out into another, 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:40.900 what I'm sure will be a busy week, 00:33:42.580 --> 00:33:45.120 maybe just use this time of reflection 00:33:45.120 --> 00:33:46.779 just to come to God and say, 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.519 help my unbelief. 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:51.700 Help me believe your promises. 00:33:51.700 --> 00:34:02.279 Every word of the Lord proves true. 00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:06.559 He is a shield for those who trust in him. 00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:09.659 Father, thank you so much 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:13.039 for your steadfast love. 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:16.340 And Lord, we ask that you would help us all 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:17.579 this week, Father, 00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:19.619 to know the truth of your promises. 00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:22.039 Father, that by your Spirit, 00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:23.779 you would help us to stand firm 00:34:23.779 --> 00:34:25.940 on every word that proceeds from your mouth. 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:28.420 Lord, thank you that you are a God 00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.739 full of compassion 00:34:29.739 --> 00:34:31.480 and never changing, 00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:33.859 never giving up steadfast love. 00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:36.199 And it's to you we look tonight, Father, 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:37.519 asking that you be with us 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.440 for the rest of the week. 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:39.980 In Jesus' name, amen.