WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.520 a beautiful song. If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn to Genesis chapter 15. 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:12.679 Genesis chapter 15. Benjamin Franklin once wrote in a letter that there are only two things certain 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:20.100 in life, death and taxes. And for some of you, that may not be that funny coming in the week 00:00:20.100 --> 00:00:29.260 coming up. But anyway, I want you to see some other certainties in life today. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:39.820 And we look at a passage that, you know, there's always those folks who write in their Bibles 00:00:39.820 --> 00:00:49.539 when the preacher preached a sermon and write the date down. And so if you ever do use it again or 00:00:49.539 --> 00:00:55.400 even preach from that passage, they come back and tell you, you know, you preach that back, you know. 00:00:55.399 --> 00:01:06.980 So if you're one of those smart addicts, I dealt with this passage before Easter and had planned 00:01:06.980 --> 00:01:14.799 to preach this sermon on a Sunday that I couldn't be here and you didn't want me to be here right 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:19.759 before Easter when I got sick. And so then we went into five weeks of emphasis for Easter and talked 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:27.620 about the last week of Christ. But I want us to look at this passage again and I want to point out 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:34.580 a different aspect than I previously addressed. Now, I realize nobody, unless you wrote it in your Bible, 00:01:35.180 --> 00:01:41.520 nobody knows I preached this passage six weeks ago. And the reason why is because when I was 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:49.539 with some pastors one time on a retreat, an old sage among us said, all you ever need is five years of 00:01:49.539 --> 00:01:57.959 sermons. I said, really? I said, well, after five years, I mean, you know, you preach it again, 00:01:58.140 --> 00:02:03.459 they don't know, you know, that you already preached. He said, they don't know what you preached last week, 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:14.479 let alone five years ago. So Genesis 15 verse seven says, and he said to him, I am the Lord who 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:20.799 brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess. But he said, oh Lord God, 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:28.620 how am I to know that I shall possess it? And he said to him, bring me a heifer three years old, 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:33.460 a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle dove, and a young pigeon, 00:02:33.580 --> 00:02:40.980 and he brought them all. These cut them in half, laid each half over against the other, 00:02:41.099 --> 00:02:47.400 but he did not cut the birds in half. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:54.060 Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, 00:02:54.060 --> 00:03:01.120 dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. Then the Lord said to Abram, know for certain that your 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:07.680 offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there and they will be 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:12.500 afflicted for 400 years, but I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve. And afterwards, 00:03:12.659 --> 00:03:19.460 they shall come out with great possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace. 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:25.600 You shall be buried in a good old age and they shall come back here in the fourth generation for 00:03:25.600 --> 00:03:34.100 the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, 00:03:34.260 --> 00:03:44.420 behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day, 00:03:44.419 --> 00:03:50.019 the Lord made a covenant with Abram saying to your offspring, I'll give this land from the river of 00:03:50.019 --> 00:04:01.859 Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates. God's covenants are kept and fulfilled by the Lord. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:08.379 And there are a few of them in scripture. He made a covenant with Noah and promised that the earth 00:04:08.379 --> 00:04:18.439 would never be destroyed by flood again. And he put a rainbow in the sky to mark that. In the Hebrew, 00:04:18.719 --> 00:04:27.100 that word for rainbow was literally bow as in a hunting bow. And it speaks of the wrath of God 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:37.500 being eliminated. No longer will God point his bow upon the earth in the way that he did the flood. 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:44.500 Instead, he'll hang that bow up. That's the idea behind the idea of the rainbow. 00:04:46.020 --> 00:04:50.960 He made a covenant with Moses that actually reestablished and backed up the one that we see 00:04:50.960 --> 00:04:56.960 here. He made one with David to establish the Davidic throne, which would be fulfilled through 00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:04.500 Christ, which is the promise of the new covenant in Jeremiah chapter 31 verses 31 through 34. 00:05:05.419 --> 00:05:12.959 This is also an establishment of covenant with Abram and is a promise for the prospering and the 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:21.779 founding of the nation of Israel. And this is a rare, holy moment. And through it, I want you to get just 00:05:21.779 --> 00:05:27.879 two certainties. Now, when a preacher says two, people get their hopes up, but I wouldn't if I were you. 00:05:29.419 --> 00:05:36.899 Two certainties in life that I feel sure are relevant to us today. And knowing these two 00:05:36.899 --> 00:05:43.919 certainties will come and planning for them to come, knowing they'll come, will help us to live a more 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:51.319 focused life on what God would have us to be. First certainty is this. There's going to be troubles 00:05:51.319 --> 00:05:58.819 in this world. It's a certain thing. There's going to be troubles in this world. God gave Abram 00:05:58.819 --> 00:06:05.460 instructions to prepare animals in a certain way, and he did that. And then he sits down and he waits. 00:06:05.459 --> 00:06:17.479 He's not sure what's going to happen. But he waits. Have you ever waited on the Lord? 00:06:20.479 --> 00:06:28.479 Not sure of what was going to happen, about the circumstances in your life, but yet you have to 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:37.640 pause and wait upon the Lord. A lot of things can happen as you wait on the Lord. Notice what 00:06:37.640 --> 00:06:42.220 happens to him in verse 10 and 11. It says, and he brought them all these, cut them in half, laid each 00:06:42.220 --> 00:06:47.920 over, each half over against the other, but he did not cut the birds in half. Listen to this. And when the 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:55.840 birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away as the sun was going down. 00:06:55.839 --> 00:07:03.459 There'll be troubles in this world. Two troubles that I want to tell you about today. One of them 00:07:03.459 --> 00:07:13.139 is what I call, based upon this passage, worship vultures. As we wait, as he waits to worship, 00:07:14.219 --> 00:07:20.899 he has to spend his time waiting to see what God's going to do by shooing away the birds that are trying 00:07:20.899 --> 00:07:32.479 to destroy the very setting of his worship. Those evil old birds. Birds are often seen as a sign of 00:07:32.479 --> 00:07:39.739 evil in scripture or evil spirits in, in scripture. We see that in the parable of the sower when 00:07:39.739 --> 00:07:45.359 the sower goes out and scatters the seed, but it says that those that fell on the hard places, 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:52.120 the birds would come and snatch that. Now that seed being the gospel message. And so anytime the 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:56.400 gospel message is presented, the evil one tries his best to snatch that away. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:04.240 And then there's that other passage in Revelation chapter 18, when it talks about a wicked Babylon 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:14.060 falling. And it says, and Babylon represents evil in a city. And it says, there are a cage for every 00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:26.819 unclean and hated bird. Speaking of the demonic influence in that city. When, when Jesus gave the 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:31.000 parable of the mustard seed, he talked about the mustard seed being the tiniest seed, but yet it grows 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:37.740 into a bush that becomes into a tree. And so, so large that, that even birds go and nest there. 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:49.279 Now, that seed of course is, is the gospel. And he's talking about the kingdom of God there. And so that, 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:56.620 that bush, that tree represents the family of God, the church of Jesus Christ. And some have 00:08:56.620 --> 00:09:02.980 interpreted those birds to mean that, that the church will grow. And along the way, there'll be some 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:11.320 birds that come on in that church. There'll be some demonic influence that comes in that. There'll be 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:20.039 some rascals in that church. There'll be some birds. Thank God that's not talking about us. Amen. 00:09:22.180 --> 00:09:27.820 I really believe that passage is explaining the fact that the bush grows so large that it's big enough 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:37.020 to house birds. But either way, birds are often a sign of evil influence that happens, kind of like the 00:09:37.020 --> 00:09:44.840 birds of the classic Hitchcock movie of sorts, to come down and cause chaos. So I want you to think 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:52.500 about it for just a moment. What are the birds of prey that fly on us when we're trying to worship? 00:09:52.500 --> 00:10:01.379 What are they? Let me give you one worship vulture. The pursuits of the world. 00:10:05.940 --> 00:10:11.120 Consistent worship is often messed up by the beauty of the things of the world. 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:18.620 And we become guilty of worshiping the created instead of the creator. And instead of worship, 00:10:18.620 --> 00:10:25.399 we put things, not necessarily bad things, but we put things, wrong things in the way of worship. 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:33.779 We prioritize Sunday wrongly. Sunday worship is our regular. As long as there's not another offer 00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:42.120 that comes up, it's any better. If we get another option, we'll change our priority. When in reality, 00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:48.320 scripture points out and shows us that it ought to be a priority, that we ought to give God his time. 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:55.000 And good things and events and such are not bad, but they can serve in a bad way when they take us 00:10:55.000 --> 00:11:04.580 away from the place of worship. You have to shoo them away. Now, what I always say is this, 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:14.159 miss for the extraordinary, but don't just miss for the ordinary. Because our schedules are so peppered 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:22.839 with so many ordinary things. I promise you, the birds of prey will try their best to so get us busy 00:11:22.839 --> 00:11:33.980 that we no longer prioritize worship in our lives. Don't let it be a distraction. Shoo them away. 00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:44.500 The second worship vulture here is the distractions of the soul. For what swoops down upon us often to keep us 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:50.580 from having a real worship experience, I'll tell you what it is most likely. It's the favorite sins that we're 00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:58.379 nesting on. It's the favorite sins that we have in our life. We want to keep a firm grasp on this world as well as be 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:02.679 right with God at the same time. And we can't do that because we get too stretched. 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:10.240 We get a bad case of the can't help it's when we're trying to be like the world, but not much like the world, 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:15.500 just a little bit. And yet trying to be in the proper place as well at the same time. 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:24.399 We can sympathize with Paul. In Romans 7, Paul says this. I love this passage. Give me hope. 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:32.519 For I don't understand my own actions, for I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:39.679 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep doing. 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:45.200 Now, if I do what I do not want, it's no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:50.799 You know, you have good intentions. You want to do right, but the reality is too many times 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:58.759 we don't do right. Have you ever been there? Question is, are you there now? I mean, does that 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:07.720 characterize your life? Because I'll tell you, it will distract your soul from worship. Now, admittedly, 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:17.420 that's not Abram's problem as he waited. But admittedly, it's common for us. It's common 00:13:17.420 --> 00:13:24.300 to be distracted by our sin. So I encourage you to confess the mess. Confess it. 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:32.399 Shoe the distractions away from your life. Change course where course needs to be changed because 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:38.459 that worship vulture distracts too many from real worship. Third thing is this, the hectic pace. 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:47.019 I admire Abram for preparing a place for worship and then waiting on the Lord, waiting on the Lord. 00:13:48.079 --> 00:13:52.459 It takes an effort to do that. It took him an effort to do that. And he had to spend his time 00:13:52.459 --> 00:13:58.559 while he was waiting on the Lord, shooing away the vultures. A vulture that you'll have to shoo away 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:03.619 in your life is the hectic pace of your life. I mean, the good things that you do every day to 00:14:03.619 --> 00:14:09.039 put food on the table and clothes on your back and good things for your family. Good things that we 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:15.119 ought to be doing, but sometimes that means too much to us. That we sacrifice too much in order to have 00:14:15.119 --> 00:14:23.000 those things. When Jesus told us in Matthew 6 verse 33, seek first the kingdom of God and his 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:27.739 righteousness and all these things will be added to you. You know what he's talking about in that 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:33.379 context? He's talking about food. He's talking about clothing. He'll provide those things. Don't 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:40.620 let the hectic pace of legitimate causes come in the way of worship. And I'll just mention the three 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:47.720 worship vultures that I've mentioned today. You need to shoo away some worldly pursuits. The going and 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:52.799 the seeing and the going and the doing that takes you away from worship, distracts you in your life. 00:14:52.799 --> 00:15:00.079 You need to get rid of the soul distractions, the pet sins that you're coddling, you hold on to, 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:07.240 that draws you away from the Lord. You need to watch the hectic pace. Don't be busy building bigger 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:14.259 barns so big that you forget you may not have the opportunity of another day. Shoo those vultures away. 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:19.500 Worship vultures is a trouble in this world. Tell you another trouble in this world. 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:27.240 Genesis 15 verse 12 says this, as the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram and behold, 00:15:27.419 --> 00:15:36.480 dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. I'll tell you another trouble in this world is dark nights. 00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:47.639 Dark nights. Some wonderful things were about to happen in Abram's life. This experience that he is 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:53.600 about to have is absolutely amazing. But before it comes, he has a dark night. 00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.639 Have you ever had a dark night? 00:15:59.939 --> 00:16:03.699 Dark nights are marked by two things. One is bad dreams. 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:10.580 Bad dreams. When Jesus said, seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:13.660 He also said this in Matthew 6. 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:21.980 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:27.860 Therefore don't be anxious about tomorrow for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 00:16:28.520 --> 00:16:31.460 Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:36.700 The reality is we toss and we turn about the worries in the night. 00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:41.280 The expectations of Abram had not been fulfilled. 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:43.639 Years had passed. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:46.320 Years had passed. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:49.259 And he didn't have a great nation. 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:52.840 Years had passed. 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.379 His name was not great. 00:16:56.160 --> 00:16:58.920 He didn't have the land that God had promised him. 00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:01.799 He didn't have the offspring that God had promised him. 00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:04.859 He's doing what God told him to do. 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:08.420 And he's shooing off the vultures while he waits on God. 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:11.240 And his enemies are breathing down his necks. 00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:13.920 He gets so wore out that he falls to sleep. 00:17:14.399 --> 00:17:17.920 And in that sleep, it is deep, but it is dreadful. 00:17:20.899 --> 00:17:22.059 What about your worries? 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.799 It could make for some dark nights. 00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:29.039 It is a certainty of life. 00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:31.559 You'll have some, but that's not all. 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:35.319 Notice something else about the dark nights. 00:17:36.419 --> 00:17:40.259 It says in verse 12, there'll be dreadful and great darkness. 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:45.879 So not only are there bad dreams, but there's also encroaching darkness. 00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:50.099 Because the bad dreams are us. 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:54.159 It's the things that we ponder and that we worry and that we deal with. 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.720 But it's not just us. 00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:58.920 We can come up with enough crazy stuff on our own. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:04.180 It's amazing to me when I wake up at 3 o'clock in the morning and I've got something on my mind. 00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:04.940 It is huge. 00:18:05.600 --> 00:18:06.380 It is huge. 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:08.080 I mean, the world's going to collapse. 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.400 And I'm going to fall under it. 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:12.560 It's all going to go nuts. 00:18:12.820 --> 00:18:15.220 And when I wake up in the morning, my life will be ruined. 00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:22.900 And if I can't go back to sleep and I wake up at 6 o'clock, that ain't no big deal. 00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:25.059 I'll take care of that. 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:33.039 But somewhere in the dread of the night, the encroaching darkness just does a number. 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:39.839 And I want you to know that the devil and his demons love the darkness. 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:43.059 They love discouragement. 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:45.779 They love depression. 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:48.299 They love dread. 00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:50.639 And they feed off of it. 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.399 They feed off of it. 00:18:53.399 --> 00:18:54.299 Now listen, get this. 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.759 That's a certainty in life. 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:58.420 It is common. 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:02.940 Now we may not know that because we don't talk about it. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:04.839 We don't talk about it. 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.160 We put on our Sunday best. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.400 We put a smile on our face. 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.839 We go about our way. 00:19:09.379 --> 00:19:15.680 And in reality, the demons of darkness too often haunt us. 00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:17.099 And we don't want to talk about that. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:19.400 People don't like to talk about it. 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:22.859 And if you do talk about it, not many listen. 00:19:22.859 --> 00:19:26.959 Lou Holtz said one time, don't tell people about your problems. 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:30.179 90% of them don't care and 10% of them are glad you got them. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:32.939 So you got to keep it in perspective. 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:37.659 And that makes us feel that much more alone. 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:42.619 But I'm just telling you, you're going to have dark nights. 00:19:42.719 --> 00:19:43.319 It's going to happen. 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:45.099 Elijah wanted to die. 00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:47.039 Look at how God used Elijah. 00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:48.859 Elijah wanted to die. 00:19:49.719 --> 00:19:52.179 David, King David, the mightiest King Israel ever had. 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:54.519 David had nightmares in caves. 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.680 The Apostle Paul. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:00.620 We get most of the New Testament from the Apostle Paul and the work that he did. 00:20:01.140 --> 00:20:03.620 Paul said he was afflicted in every way. 00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:07.900 And then Peter, the man who couldn't keep his foot out of his mouth, 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:11.779 but when the Holy Spirit came upon him, had a boldness and a power. 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:16.580 And thousands were saved in one sermon just from sharing the gospel. 00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:19.699 And he says this in 1 Peter chapter 4. 00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:25.899 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:29.599 as though something strange will happen to you. 00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:40.039 Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good. 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:42.519 I'll tell you, you're going to have troubles. 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:45.139 You're going to have troubles with worship vultures. 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:48.680 Things that distract you and get in the way of worship. 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:52.839 You're going to have troubles in dark nights. 00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:55.539 They're both a certainty. 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:59.480 But that ain't what I come to talk about. 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.940 Because there's a second certainty. 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:10.879 And the second certainty, besides the troubles of this world, is the presence of God. 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:13.500 The presence of God. 00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:17.319 You are not alone. 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:26.980 I am thankful that at funerals I can tell families that Jesus will not leave them comfortless. 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:29.419 He will not leave them alone. 00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:31.579 That he'll come to them. 00:21:31.659 --> 00:21:33.319 He says that in John 14, 18. 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:41.379 And it is a truth that I can share with them and tell them that when the food and the family and the funeral is gone, 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:44.439 that God will still be there and he will not leave you alone. 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.480 And I'm thankful for that. 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.079 I can tell that. 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:49.319 But I will tell you, when Jesus said that, it was not at a funeral. 00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:53.319 Jesus was not speaking at a funeral. 00:21:53.419 --> 00:22:00.379 He was speaking to men who were about to walk out into a wicked world trying to do the right things of God 00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:02.740 and not be applauded for what they do. 00:22:03.579 --> 00:22:08.299 And Jesus said, even though I will no longer be physically present with you, 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:11.259 when you go in my name, I'm going to be there. 00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:15.059 I'm no longer going to physically be with you, but I'm still there. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:18.559 And so it is with Abram. 00:22:19.199 --> 00:22:21.879 And thank God, even better than that, so it is with us. 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:25.460 God comes in the night. 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:29.500 And we can be assured of that in three ways. 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:31.779 One is he promises. 00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:36.860 Verse 13 through 16, basically of this passage says, 00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:40.200 Abram, all that I told you that I'll do, I will do. 00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:43.920 God's going to do what he says he'll do. 00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:45.160 He'll show up. 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:46.340 He'll show out. 00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:50.619 And he does it in Abram's life on a dark and dreadful night. 00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:54.480 He tells Abram to know for certain. 00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:59.019 Now, I will admit, and I'll show you in coming weeks, 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:02.299 that Abram had more hiccups in his life along the way. 00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:06.819 But he will be known as a man who trusted God. 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:09.740 He's known as a great example of faith. 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:13.059 I mean, he's Father Abraham, you know. 00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:18.519 God promises, thank God, and he keeps his promises. 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:21.980 Not only does he promise, he lies. 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:26.940 I touched on this a few weeks ago, so I'll be quick, 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:28.880 but God shows up in a dark night 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:32.539 and makes his presence known through a smoking fire pot 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:34.200 and a flaming torch. 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:36.480 That'll get you attention. 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:40.799 And this speaks to the fact that God is light, 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:42.620 and in him there is no darkness. 00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:45.539 Because in the midst of that darkness, 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:47.240 with the birds of prey coming, 00:23:47.340 --> 00:23:48.319 in the midst of that, 00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:51.120 God let his presence be known 00:23:51.120 --> 00:23:53.940 through a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch. 00:23:54.180 --> 00:23:55.740 He brightened the night. 00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:59.799 He speaks his guidance. 00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:04.740 He led the Hebrews in a desert 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:07.019 with a pillar of fire. 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:10.159 That speaks of his holiness. 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:14.899 The holy presence of God is often seen by light. 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:16.440 You'll see it in the tabernacle. 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:19.039 You'll see it on Mount Sinai. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:20.960 You'll see it on the Mount of Transfiguration. 00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:25.500 You'll see it when God's confronting and saving Paul. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:28.720 In Revelation 1, it'll really get your attention 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:30.360 when it talks about the white hair, 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:33.120 the fiery eyes, the feet of bronze, 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.759 the voice like a raging river, 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:36.640 the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:39.799 who, thank God, is walking among the churches 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:42.880 that may have struggles along the way. 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:48.920 He is with them in the midst of their struggles 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:52.319 because the light of God speaks to a holy 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:54.920 and guiding presence. 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:58.220 He promises and he lights. 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:02.620 And this is not good grammar, 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:04.079 but I don't know how else to put it. 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.440 He alone. 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:11.240 He alone. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:20.360 Abram didn't walk among those animals. 00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:26.959 In a normal agreement like this, 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:29.240 both individuals would walk through that. 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:35.679 But God's promises and his presence 00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:37.039 is not based upon us. 00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:38.979 It's based upon him. 00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:43.099 And the thought behind this, 00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:47.299 this whole cutting animals in half 00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:49.039 and laying them out 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:51.419 and walking between them. 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:53.139 The whole concept of that is, 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.899 I'm making a covenant with you 00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:57.059 and if I don't keep this commitment, 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.559 make me like these animals. 00:25:59.379 --> 00:26:00.839 That's the thought behind it. 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:04.439 God's saying, 00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:09.980 I alone will keep my promise regardless. 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:15.000 It's based on him. 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:18.559 It's not based on us. 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:21.500 It's based on him. 00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:24.759 Hebrews describes this 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:27.019 in Hebrews chapter 6, 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:28.740 beginning in verse 13, 00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:29.519 it says this, 00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:32.179 for when God made a promise to Abraham, 00:26:32.419 --> 00:26:33.639 since he had no greater 00:26:33.639 --> 00:26:34.839 by whom to swear, 00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.619 he swore by himself. 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.359 Saying, 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.700 surely I will bless you 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.799 and multiply you 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.559 and thus Abraham, 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.619 having patiently waited, 00:26:42.919 --> 00:26:44.339 obtained the promise. 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:46.480 For people swear by something 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.779 greater than themselves 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.819 and in their disputes, 00:26:48.899 --> 00:26:50.740 an oath is final for confirmation. 00:26:50.919 --> 00:26:51.799 So when God desired 00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:52.679 to show more convincing 00:26:52.679 --> 00:26:53.720 to the heirs of promise, 00:26:54.199 --> 00:26:55.339 the unchanging character 00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:56.379 of his purpose, 00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:58.279 he guaranteed it with an oath 00:26:58.279 --> 00:27:00.480 so that two unchangeable things 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.679 in which it is impossible 00:27:01.679 --> 00:27:02.759 for God to lie, 00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:05.019 we who have fled for refuge 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:06.539 might have strong encouragement 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.399 to hold fast 00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:08.799 to the hope set before us. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.299 We have this 00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:12.799 as a sure and steadfast 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:15.339 anchor of the soul, 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.419 a hope that enters 00:27:17.419 --> 00:27:19.119 into the inner place 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:20.220 behind the curtain 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:21.240 where Jesus has gone 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:22.240 as a forerunner 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.599 on our behalf. 00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:27.759 Abram was promised by God 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:29.039 and his testimony is 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:30.319 that Abram trusted 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.599 the promises of God. 00:27:32.379 --> 00:27:33.579 He trusted him 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:35.720 and you can too 00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:38.839 because God's promises 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:39.480 are eternal. 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:42.440 They don't expire. 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:45.200 They're not on a timetable. 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:48.019 They're not on my timetable. 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:50.579 They're not on your timetable. 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:53.139 They're on God's timetable. 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:55.379 He will be 00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:57.259 where he says he'll be. 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.599 He will do 00:27:58.599 --> 00:28:00.059 what he says he'll do 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.899 and he'll do it 00:28:00.899 --> 00:28:02.519 because of who he is. 00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:04.599 It's based on him alone. 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:06.139 He walked through it alone. 00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:08.559 What he does for us, 00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:09.940 he does by his grace 00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:12.000 and he will not let us down. 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.680 Yes, Ben Franklin, 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.720 death and taxes 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:15.799 may be certain in life 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:17.059 but so are the troubles 00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.759 in this world 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.720 but thank God. 00:28:20.860 --> 00:28:21.980 Even though we have 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:23.180 misplaced priorities 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.440 that rob our worship, 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.220 even though we have 00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:26.720 sinful distractions 00:28:27.320 --> 00:28:28.620 that we struggle 00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:29.620 to walk away from 00:28:29.620 --> 00:28:30.220 and even though 00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:32.420 we experience dark nights 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.160 and sometimes 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:35.039 those that lack faith, 00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:36.800 thank God. 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:37.800 As certain as 00:28:37.800 --> 00:28:38.840 all those things are, 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.940 we're even more certain 00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:42.340 of the promise of God, 00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:44.700 the holy guiding light 00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.340 of God 00:28:45.340 --> 00:28:46.380 that goes down 00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:47.480 the path for us. 00:28:48.820 --> 00:28:50.060 And the reality is 00:28:50.060 --> 00:28:50.560 that God 00:28:50.560 --> 00:28:51.560 and God alone 00:28:51.560 --> 00:28:53.060 will get it done. 00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:57.059 I don't know 00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:58.220 what your troubles are 00:28:58.220 --> 00:29:00.759 but I know 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.579 you got some. 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.079 We ain't gonna talk 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:06.940 about all that today 00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:10.679 because we don't need to. 00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:13.899 We're on common ground there 00:29:13.899 --> 00:29:16.339 and I'll tell you 00:29:16.339 --> 00:29:16.759 in the midst 00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.440 of your troubles, 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.339 a certainty 00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:20.339 that you can rest in 00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:22.679 is God's right there 00:29:22.679 --> 00:29:23.159 with you. 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:24.859 He's present. 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.659 And he'll be everything 00:29:27.659 --> 00:29:28.419 that you need 00:29:28.419 --> 00:29:29.119 for him to be 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:30.899 exactly the way 00:29:30.899 --> 00:29:31.839 he wants to be 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:33.339 in the time 00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:34.279 that he wants to be. 00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:37.359 With every head bowed 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:38.419 and every eye closed, 00:29:40.179 --> 00:29:41.959 do you need to trust him today? 00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:47.299 Maybe when you watch 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:48.220 these three young ladies 00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:49.459 be baptized a little while ago, 00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:50.000 you realize 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:50.599 there's never been 00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:51.559 a time in your life 00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.160 when you've asked 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.720 the Lord Jesus 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.799 to come into your life 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:55.140 and to change you. 00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:58.099 You've never truly 00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:59.079 surrendered your life 00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:00.019 to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:00.619 Might be a member 00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:01.140 of a church, 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:01.940 might have attended 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:02.660 many times 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.700 but the reality is 00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.720 when you look at your life, 00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:06.819 there's an uncertainty there 00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:08.880 about a security 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:09.680 and a relationship 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:11.640 with the Lord Jesus 00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:12.779 that only comes 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:15.460 when we answer 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.319 his initiation. 00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:19.119 If you're feeling 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:19.779 a pull at all, 00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.819 it's not from you today. 00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:22.739 It's the sweet 00:30:22.739 --> 00:30:23.719 Holy Spirit of God 00:30:23.719 --> 00:30:25.939 giving you the opportunity 00:30:25.939 --> 00:30:26.919 to respond in obedience 00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:27.679 to follow him. 00:30:28.459 --> 00:30:29.019 And if you're here 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:29.479 this morning 00:30:29.479 --> 00:30:30.299 and you've never 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:31.839 accepted the Lord Jesus Christ 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.779 as your Lord and Savior, 00:30:33.199 --> 00:30:33.979 I want you to know 00:30:33.979 --> 00:30:35.119 that you can just simply 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:36.739 confess your sins to him. 00:30:39.459 --> 00:30:40.379 Tell him you're sorry 00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.419 that you're a wrong sinner. 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:44.680 Don't you want to live 00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.519 your life from him 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:46.460 from this day forward? 00:30:47.080 --> 00:30:48.300 Only by his strength, 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.880 only by his presence, 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.800 only by his power. 00:30:52.340 --> 00:30:53.500 God, I give you my life. 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:57.000 If you've never done that, 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:57.560 I encourage you 00:30:57.560 --> 00:30:58.039 to do that today. 00:30:58.100 --> 00:30:58.900 I'd love to guide you 00:30:58.900 --> 00:30:59.500 in that process. 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:01.560 Maybe you're here 00:31:01.560 --> 00:31:02.259 and you have done that 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:02.800 but you've never 00:31:02.800 --> 00:31:03.420 acknowledged that 00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:03.940 through baptism 00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:04.779 like these young ladies 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.380 did this day. 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.759 And I want you to know 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.460 that's the first step 00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:08.900 of obedience 00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:10.019 and it becomes a hindrance 00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:10.560 in our lives 00:31:10.560 --> 00:31:11.360 when we don't do it. 00:31:12.820 --> 00:31:13.780 So I encourage you 00:31:13.780 --> 00:31:14.240 to be obedient 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:14.940 and follow him. 00:31:16.300 --> 00:31:16.980 Maybe you're here 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.840 and God's guiding you 00:31:17.840 --> 00:31:18.360 to this church. 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:18.980 You know that. 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:20.500 God's doing a wonderful 00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:21.220 work in this church 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:22.140 and I thank God for that. 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.240 It's a blessing 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:23.900 each and every day 00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.480 in my life. 00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:28.080 He's drawing people 00:31:28.080 --> 00:31:28.759 unto himself 00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:30.400 and if part of that process 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.800 is for God to lead you 00:31:31.800 --> 00:31:32.740 to be a part of us, 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:33.700 you come. 00:31:33.800 --> 00:31:34.620 I'd love to guide you 00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:35.300 in that process. 00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:39.159 But even more so 00:31:39.159 --> 00:31:39.919 there's 00:31:39.919 --> 00:31:42.099 those here today 00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:42.779 with the troubles 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.519 of this world 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:46.159 and the worship distractions 00:31:46.159 --> 00:31:47.379 and the dark nights 00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:48.039 that have become 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:49.059 such a hindrance in you. 00:31:49.139 --> 00:31:49.819 You're not everything 00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:50.359 you ought to be 00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:51.240 for the Lord Jesus. 00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:54.159 And it's not that 00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:54.720 he don't give you 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:55.159 the strength 00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:55.759 and the ability 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.319 to do that. 00:31:56.379 --> 00:31:56.919 It's because 00:31:56.919 --> 00:31:58.779 you've decided 00:31:58.779 --> 00:32:00.039 you've went your own way 00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:00.720 in some areas 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.359 of your life. 00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:03.419 And today needs to be 00:32:03.419 --> 00:32:04.579 a day of surrender again. 00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:05.359 Lord, I give you 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:05.919 who I am. 00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:07.159 You know me better 00:32:07.159 --> 00:32:07.960 than anybody does. 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:08.720 Know me better 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.399 than I know myself. 00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:10.159 But God, I give you 00:32:10.159 --> 00:32:10.720 who I am. 00:32:11.599 --> 00:32:12.740 I ask you to cleanse me 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.500 and let me help me 00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:14.619 to walk with you 00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.519 from this day forward 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:17.359 in a way that honors you 00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:19.759 in a way that's steadfast 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.119 for you. 00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:22.259 I don't know what God's 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:22.759 telling you today 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.599 but I know you'll never 00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:24.220 be satisfied 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.099 until you answer him. 00:32:25.899 --> 00:32:26.899 And I'll never ask you 00:32:26.899 --> 00:32:27.339 to do more than 00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:28.220 what God tells you to do 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:29.019 and I never want you 00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:30.119 to be satisfied with less. 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.919 Just follow God. 00:32:32.899 --> 00:32:33.919 Lord Jesus, I love you 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:34.480 and I thank you 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.019 for the time 00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:36.000 that you've given us today 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.940 and I ask dear God 00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.480 right now 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.820 that you'll lead us 00:32:38.820 --> 00:32:39.660 and that we'll follow 00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.759 as you lead, dear God, 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.220 in every part 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:43.259 of this invitation. 00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:46.240 And it's only in Christ's name 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:46.900 that we pray 00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:48.320 and all God's people said, 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:49.240 Amen.