WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:04.200 All right, well, would you turn with me to Genesis chapter 21 tonight? 00:00:04.339 --> 00:00:08.500 We're going to continue in our series looking at the life of Abraham this summer. 00:00:08.580 --> 00:00:12.140 That's page 15 in the Pew Bible, if you're having trouble finding it. 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:13.620 Genesis chapter 21. 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:21.120 Tonight we're going to look at Genesis 21 verses 8 through verse 21. 00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:28.420 Genesis 21 verses 8 through 21. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.700 Great, let me go ahead and read this for us. 00:00:35.299 --> 00:00:36.980 Then we'll pray and then we'll dive in. 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:39.640 Verse 8. 00:00:40.380 --> 00:00:42.500 And the child, that's referring to Isaac. 00:00:43.519 --> 00:00:45.460 And the child grew and was weaned. 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:49.320 And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 00:00:50.379 --> 00:00:55.359 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar, the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. 00:00:55.359 --> 00:01:01.280 So she said to Abraham, cast out this slave woman with her son. 00:01:01.840 --> 00:01:05.000 For the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac. 00:01:06.260 --> 00:01:09.280 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. 00:01:10.299 --> 00:01:15.739 But God said to Abraham, be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave 00:01:15.739 --> 00:01:15.980 woman. 00:01:15.980 --> 00:01:19.160 Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you. 00:01:19.219 --> 00:01:21.939 For through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 00:01:23.219 --> 00:01:26.760 And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also because he is your offspring. 00:01:28.800 --> 00:01:32.900 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, 00:01:33.240 --> 00:01:35.320 putting it on her shoulder, along with the child. 00:01:35.400 --> 00:01:36.180 Then he sent her away. 00:01:36.880 --> 00:01:39.500 And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. 00:01:39.500 --> 00:01:44.859 When the water and the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:49.560 And she went and sat down opposite him a good way off about the distance of a bow shot. 00:01:49.640 --> 00:01:52.299 For she said, let me not look on the death of the child. 00:01:53.299 --> 00:01:57.039 And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 00:01:58.140 --> 00:01:59.859 And God heard the voice of the boy. 00:02:00.460 --> 00:02:05.079 And the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, what troubles you, Hagar? 00:02:05.899 --> 00:02:09.840 Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 00:02:10.259 --> 00:02:14.780 Up, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation. 00:02:16.060 --> 00:02:18.639 And God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. 00:02:19.639 --> 00:02:22.699 And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:25.740 God was with the boy and he grew up. 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:29.020 He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 00:02:29.780 --> 00:02:31.439 He lived in the wilderness of Paran. 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:34.280 And his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt. 00:02:35.880 --> 00:02:36.240 Good. 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:36.880 Let's pray together. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:38.820 Father, we are grateful for your word. 00:02:38.940 --> 00:02:44.080 God, we thank you for this saga of Abraham that we've been studying this summer. 00:02:44.260 --> 00:02:47.840 And all that it's been teaching us about your character and your ways in the life of faith. 00:02:48.380 --> 00:02:54.580 Lord Jesus, we pray that you would continue by your spirit to teach us as your church how to live and to walk in the steps of Abraham. 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:56.500 Our forefather in the faith. 00:02:57.540 --> 00:02:58.720 We pray this in your name, Lord. 00:02:59.260 --> 00:02:59.540 Amen. 00:02:59.540 --> 00:02:59.680 Amen. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:02:59.760 Amen. 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:06.879 Well, as we mentioned, the thing that we're considering this summer in the life of Abraham is a theme of trusting God. 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:08.780 What does it mean to trust God? 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:17.620 And I think one of the main things we've been seeing over and over again this summer is that trusting God is really more about God than about us. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:22.640 Trusting God is a lot about seeing that God himself is trustworthy. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:26.939 In other words, the life of faith is really about seeing the God who is faithful. 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:31.399 And tonight, we really see that same theme advanced. 00:03:31.559 --> 00:03:37.739 God's own trustworthiness, God's own faithfulness is displayed in this text. 00:03:38.179 --> 00:03:42.839 And I think there are two things happening in this story from Abraham's life that I want to look at tonight. 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:48.840 First, we see that God is preserving here his saving promise. 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:50.520 God's preserving his saving promise. 00:03:50.640 --> 00:03:54.379 And second, we see that God is providing for the outcast. 00:03:54.900 --> 00:03:58.640 So God's preserving his promise and he's providing for the outcast. 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:03.379 So let's look at both of those things in turn as we kind of dive into this section of Scripture together. 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:05.920 So first, let's look at God preserving his promise. 00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:08.120 Look at verse 8. 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:17.420 In verse 8, we learn that Abraham makes a great feast when Isaac, his son, probably two or three years old at this point, is weaned. 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:21.439 So he's no longer utterly and completely and totally dependent on his mom. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:24.519 He's sort of hitting that first sort of stage of growth and development. 00:04:25.100 --> 00:04:26.240 And they throw a big party. 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:34.120 Now, Isaac, you'll remember, was the only son of Sarah and Abraham, born to them in their old age. 00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:37.060 So this must have been a really special day for them. 00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:39.600 And here was Isaac making it out of infancy. 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:43.079 He was, you know, a lot of children died in infancy in those days. 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:44.579 So they threw a great feast. 00:04:44.740 --> 00:04:46.120 It must have been a really special day for them. 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:53.540 But then in verse 9, if you look at verse 9, Sarah sees Ishmael laughing. 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:57.000 Okay, now Ishmael. 00:04:57.060 --> 00:05:03.459 Ishmael, remember, is the son that Abraham had with Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian servant. 00:05:03.819 --> 00:05:05.399 And that happened back in chapter 16. 00:05:05.399 --> 00:05:08.000 And you think, well, that's kind of a weird thing. 00:05:08.259 --> 00:05:09.879 Well, actually, it was Sarah's idea. 00:05:10.099 --> 00:05:11.799 And Abraham went along with it. 00:05:12.179 --> 00:05:21.120 So you'll remember, since Sarah and Abraham weren't getting pregnant, Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham kind of as a surrogate so that they might try to have a male child in that way. 00:05:21.579 --> 00:05:25.099 So that they could, you know, Sarah was saying, well, maybe we could have a child through my servant. 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:32.240 And Ishmael now, fast forward back to chapter 21, is about 16 or 17 years old. 00:05:32.820 --> 00:05:36.840 He's actually a child, yes, but he's a teenager. 00:05:36.939 --> 00:05:38.840 He's almost on the brink of adulthood. 00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:47.979 And at this great feast for Isaac, his younger half-brother, Sarah sees him, sees Ishmael laughing. 00:05:49.060 --> 00:06:02.539 And if you look in your Bible, if you have an ESV anyway, if you have the ESV translation, the footnote tells us that the sense of that word laughing is most likely that Ishmael was laughing in mockery. 00:06:02.540 --> 00:06:08.520 He was sort of making fun of Isaac and sort of ridiculing the whole situation. 00:06:10.220 --> 00:06:14.800 Now, we're not given any details here in this chapter as to what Ishmael was actually ridiculing. 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:26.780 But I think it's probably safe to say, I think it's a pretty good hypothesis that Ishmael was probably making fun of Isaac's role as Abraham's promised son. 00:06:27.939 --> 00:06:29.040 Think about it this way. 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:38.860 For the past 16 or 17 years, as we said, for most of Ishmael's life, he has been the only son of Abraham. 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:43.540 And in the ancient world, the oldest son was the heir. 00:06:44.340 --> 00:06:49.220 The oldest son was the one who was going to inherit his father's wealth and his father's position and status. 00:06:50.340 --> 00:06:59.020 Ishmael had even been circumcised in chapter 17 when God commanded Abraham to be circumcised along with his whole family as a sign of God's gracious covenant with them. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:08.740 And now, on the scene arrives Isaac, a little baby born to elderly Sarah. 00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:13.620 And Ishmael had been the king of the castle for the past 16 years. 00:07:16.579 --> 00:07:21.160 And so, all the hoopla over Isaac gets nothing from Ishmael but laughter and mockery. 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:27.500 Surely, this little baby isn't going to take my place in the household, right? 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:30.639 As the oldest son, as the heir. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:31.860 No way. 00:07:34.719 --> 00:07:36.219 And Sarah sees him mocking. 00:07:37.039 --> 00:07:39.560 And in verse 10, if you look at verse 10, she tells Abraham, 00:07:40.620 --> 00:07:42.319 Cast out this slave woman with her son. 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:46.419 For the son of the slave woman shall not be heir with my son, Isaac. 00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:51.339 Ishmael crossed mama bear, right? 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:53.899 And she turns. 00:07:53.899 --> 00:08:00.739 Now, okay, as we read those words, perhaps our first reaction to Sarah is that she's being a little vindictive, a little overprotective. 00:08:00.939 --> 00:08:01.199 Okay. 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:07.139 Yes, there's probably a little unrighteous anger and jealousy here on Sarah's part. 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:12.859 But she actually also sees what's at stake here. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:15.459 Look again. 00:08:16.819 --> 00:08:17.799 The word heir. 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:21.819 Who will be Abraham's heir? 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:25.579 Will it be Ishmael or will it be Isaac? 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:30.720 And even Abraham himself is emotionally torn over that question. 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:31.620 Look at verse 11. 00:08:32.500 --> 00:08:37.240 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son, on account of his son Ishmael there. 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:40.080 Ishmael's Abraham's son. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:42.720 This is his boy for the past 16 to 17 years. 00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:47.100 You know, this was the one he took to the office with him on like, bring your son to work day. 00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:49.860 You know, this was the one he had groomed and built into. 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:51.379 This is the one he even circumcised. 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:52.740 He's part of the family. 00:08:54.840 --> 00:09:01.180 Abraham's own heart was perhaps a little unclear about how to figure things out between Ishmael and between Isaac. 00:09:03.659 --> 00:09:05.500 And yet God comes to Abraham. 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:07.379 Verse 12. 00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:25.340 You see, God had been very clear from the very beginning of his dealings with Abraham. 00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:35.060 That the covenant, the agreement, the pact, the unbreakable promise that God had made with Abraham to make him a great nation. 00:09:35.560 --> 00:09:38.780 And to give him a land where that great people could dwell. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:42.019 And to bless all nations through him. 00:09:42.019 --> 00:09:50.199 That that promise, that saving promise ultimately for the world was going to advance through Isaac. 00:09:52.259 --> 00:10:01.059 It was going to advance through the son that God had miraculously given to him and Sarah in their old age when they were past the years of childbearing. 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:07.299 It was going to come through the son who could only come through God's own promise and God's own doing. 00:10:07.299 --> 00:10:11.879 We see that in chapter 17. 00:10:12.699 --> 00:10:15.299 If you turn back a page, if you want to look there, starting in verse 15. 00:10:17.419 --> 00:10:26.419 In this sort of critical moment in Abraham's life, starting in verse 15, God reaffirms his promise that yes, Sarah, even in her old age, will bear a son. 00:10:26.779 --> 00:10:28.899 And that son will be the heir of the covenant. 00:10:29.439 --> 00:10:31.679 He'll be the one through whom the promises go forward. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:33.819 And even then, Abraham struggles with it. 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:34.599 He believes God. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:35.079 He trusts him. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:35.899 And yet he's struggling. 00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:38.980 He's struggling with it on behalf of Ishmael in 17, 18. 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:39.500 Look at that. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:42.860 Abraham said to God, oh, then Ishmael might live before you. 00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:47.799 In other words, God, why not just use my son Ishmael to carry forward your saving promises? 00:10:49.100 --> 00:10:50.139 But God says no. 00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:54.699 But Sarah, your wife, shall bear you a son and you shall call his name Isaac. 00:10:55.279 --> 00:11:00.840 I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:09.480 Or again, as God reaffirms back here in chapter 21 in our text for tonight, through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:14.879 And so God tells Abraham to do what Sarah says. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:22.840 Make sure, Abraham, that the priority of Isaac, even though he's not the oldest in your household, he's going to be the heir. 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:25.600 He's going to be the one through whom my promise goes. 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:28.659 I want you to make sure you preserve that and protect that. 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:34.439 So God tells Abraham to do what Sarah says, to send Ishmael and Hagar away. 00:11:35.319 --> 00:11:37.699 And you know, as we said, Sarah's motivations probably were not pure. 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:40.899 There was probably some selfishness or maybe even some pettiness in her demand. 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:42.519 But God saw that it was for the best. 00:11:44.339 --> 00:11:47.639 God saw that it was for the best that Ishmael not remain in Abraham's household 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:52.939 because it would have made it too difficult for Isaac to be seen as the proper heir of the promise. 00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:57.500 Okay, now what does this have to do with us today? 00:11:57.500 --> 00:12:01.279 Why was God willing to do such a thing? 00:12:01.340 --> 00:12:03.159 This seems kind of strange, right? 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:10.159 Well, if we jump ahead to the New Testament, it helps to shed some light here on what's kind of going on 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:12.019 and why this is so important. 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:18.720 You know, it's not only important that Isaac's status be preserved 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:21.559 because through him the Messiah was going to come. 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:25.200 You know, God had an eternal plan to bring Jesus 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:28.140 and it was going to happen through this long and winding road 00:12:28.140 --> 00:12:30.900 of the family that he created and the family that he chose. 00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:33.220 So it was important at this stage in redemptive history 00:12:33.220 --> 00:12:36.680 that Abraham get clear about where that seed was going to come. 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:37.740 It was going to come through Isaac. 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:41.540 But in addition to that, 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:46.320 the New Testament shows us that there's also an important spiritual lesson going on here. 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:54.180 There's an important spiritual lesson to be seen in the difference between Isaac and Ishmael. 00:12:55.540 --> 00:13:02.300 In Romans chapter 9, the Apostle Paul looks back to this story in Genesis chapter 21. 00:13:02.299 --> 00:13:07.099 And this is what he says, sort of unpacking this for us. 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:07.459 He says, 00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:13.500 Not all people are children of Abraham just because they're his offspring. 00:13:14.359 --> 00:13:17.219 But through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 00:13:17.339 --> 00:13:19.500 Paul's quoting there this section from Genesis. 00:13:20.459 --> 00:13:22.359 And this means, Paul goes on to explain, 00:13:23.079 --> 00:13:27.279 that it's not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:31.799 but the children of the promise who are counted as offspring. 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:34.819 Okay, let me try to bring this home for us today. 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:36.500 Here's the question for us today. 00:13:37.319 --> 00:13:39.659 How do you and I get into the family of God? 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:44.139 How do you and I become God's children 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:47.839 and receive God's blessing of knowing him as our father? 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:53.679 Is it because we're born into a so-called Christian family? 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:58.179 Is it because we're born into a society, 00:13:58.299 --> 00:14:01.519 into a nation that's maybe made up of a large number of Christians? 00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:04.459 Is that what makes us children of God? 00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:06.379 Is that how we get into God's family? 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:08.659 Through our physical descent? 00:14:09.459 --> 00:14:10.479 Through the place we're born? 00:14:13.179 --> 00:14:15.399 That's basically what I thought when I was growing up. 00:14:15.479 --> 00:14:19.479 I remember the first time my family really started going to church in earnest. 00:14:19.839 --> 00:14:22.240 And it was a church where they would do an altar call every Sunday. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:23.860 Now, if you've only come to Trinity, 00:14:23.940 --> 00:14:26.500 you have no idea what an altar call is because we never do them. 00:14:26.560 --> 00:14:27.500 But this is what it looks like. 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:28.860 It looks like at the end of a sermon, 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:30.039 the pastor will say, 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:33.519 okay, let's have every head bowed and every eyes closed. 00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:35.680 And we would all bow our heads and close our eyes. 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:38.659 And then the pastor would ask some really important questions 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:40.680 while we were sort of meditating there in that moment. 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:44.440 Okay, if you think you're a Christian, raise your hand. 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:46.879 Okay, so there I am, young person. 00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:48.980 And I thought, well, yeah, I'm a Christian. 00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:50.019 What else am I? 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:50.779 I'm not Jewish. 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.939 So, of course, I'm a Christian. 00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:54.139 What else would I be? 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:55.600 My parents say that they're Christian, 00:14:55.699 --> 00:14:56.759 so I must be one too. 00:14:57.459 --> 00:14:58.339 Up goes my hand. 00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:03.100 But friends, that's not how we become children of God. 00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:05.379 It's not because our parents are believers. 00:15:07.079 --> 00:15:09.899 It's not through natural means at all, actually. 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:16.919 You see, when Abraham and Sarah couldn't have a child, 00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:21.039 what they did was they produced a child through natural means, right? 00:15:21.439 --> 00:15:26.039 They found a young woman, still of childbearing age, Hagar, Sarah's servant, 00:15:26.579 --> 00:15:29.919 and Abraham produced a son through very natural human effort. 00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:31.000 He made it happen. 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:37.980 But Ishmael, the son born by human effort, by human means, 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:41.120 wasn't going to be the one who carried forward God's saving plan. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:47.639 It was going to be the son that God brought about through his promise and through his work, 00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:49.620 the one named Isaac. 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:53.620 And you see, it's a bit of a parable for today. 00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:57.259 The only way into God's family, 00:15:57.399 --> 00:16:00.019 the only way to become an heir of God's kingdom 00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:02.960 isn't through our human effort, isn't through our own work, 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:05.620 it's through God's work, and it's through God's promise, 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:06.919 and it's through God's means, 00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:09.179 and it's by trusting what he's done. 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.759 Not Ishmael, not works, 00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:14.279 not the family you come from, 00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:15.799 not the country you were born in, 00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:18.960 but Isaac, faith in God's promise. 00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:22.799 And as we know from the New Testament, 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:26.200 the promise ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, 00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:30.000 who came and lived a perfectly righteous life in our place, 00:16:30.820 --> 00:16:33.799 who came and died a sin-bearing death for us 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:35.519 as our substitute in our place, 00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:38.179 so that everyone who trusts in him, 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:40.460 regardless of your family background, 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:42.340 or your nationality, or where you come from, 00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:43.539 could be counted righteous 00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:46.139 and be made part of Abraham's spiritual family, 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:49.100 who could be brought into the family of God through faith. 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:51.139 Through the promise, 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:52.720 through the work of the Spirit. 00:16:55.700 --> 00:16:57.560 So here in Genesis 21, 00:16:57.740 --> 00:16:58.679 the text we're looking at tonight, 00:16:59.179 --> 00:17:02.100 God is making sure that that reality 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:04.559 is preserved crystal clear. 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:07.319 God is saying at this important moment 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.299 in redemptive history, 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:09.640 I am going to make a point 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:11.440 that will be remembered forever, 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:13.000 that getting into my family 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:15.180 is by faith and not work, 00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.700 and it's by promise, 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:18.000 not by human effort, 00:17:18.080 --> 00:17:19.500 and not by natural means. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.759 So how about you, friends? 00:17:25.560 --> 00:17:26.660 As you think about it tonight, 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:29.480 on what basis are you thinking 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:31.940 God ought to accept you into his family? 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:35.720 If you were to be really honest with yourself tonight, 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:37.980 if I were to say every head bowed 00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:39.259 and every eyes closed, 00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:41.880 why should God accept you into his family? 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:42.660 What would you say? 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.460 What would be your answer to that? 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:49.720 Friends, there's only one right answer to that. 00:17:51.300 --> 00:17:52.680 And the right answer is 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:54.760 because I've put my trust 00:17:54.760 --> 00:17:57.440 in God's promise fulfilled in Jesus. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:00.799 It's not your family. 00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:03.120 It's not how long you've been coming to church. 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.080 I mean, think about it. 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:06.740 Ishmael had been the oldest son for 16 years. 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:08.680 He'd put in a lot of time in the family 00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:09.460 as the oldest son, 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:11.400 but that didn't make him the heir 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.580 in God's economy. 00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:15.580 You might have been attending church 00:18:15.580 --> 00:18:16.539 for twice that long. 00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:19.180 You know, Isaac or Ishmael was 16. 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.140 Maybe you've been coming to church 00:18:20.140 --> 00:18:21.120 for over 30 years. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:25.079 But no amount of church attendance 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:28.219 or ministry service or good work 00:18:28.219 --> 00:18:30.239 is going to make you a son or daughter of God. 00:18:30.919 --> 00:18:32.079 It doesn't work that way 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:34.299 because all of your service, 00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.039 all of your things, 00:18:35.179 --> 00:18:37.279 it could never make you good enough 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:39.839 to enter into God's family. 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:42.579 There's only one thing 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:44.259 that will bring you in 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:46.199 and that's trusting 00:18:46.199 --> 00:18:47.979 in what God has done for you 00:18:47.979 --> 00:18:49.419 personally in Jesus. 00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:51.779 trusting that he took your sin 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:53.480 and trusting that he's given you 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:54.259 his righteousness 00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:57.360 so that you can be forgiven 00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:59.180 and so that you can be adopted 00:18:59.180 --> 00:19:00.140 as a child of God 00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:01.640 apart from your performance, 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.340 apart from your pedigree, 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:05.060 apart from your past 00:19:05.060 --> 00:19:07.840 so that you can come in by grace 00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:09.080 because of what he's done. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.960 I don't know about you, 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:16.840 but that's really, really good news. 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.400 That God doesn't look at you 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.019 and say, 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.880 okay, you want to be a part of my family? 00:19:21.080 --> 00:19:21.780 What's your family? 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:23.240 Where do you come from? 00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:24.640 What side of the tracks are you from? 00:19:26.340 --> 00:19:27.240 Show me your resume 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:28.620 if you want to get this job. 00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.019 No. 00:19:29.560 --> 00:19:29.900 He says, 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:31.220 here's how you come into my family. 00:19:31.600 --> 00:19:32.960 See my one and only son 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:33.720 and what he's done for you. 00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:34.500 Take hold of him 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.700 and you'll be mine forever 00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.600 and you're in. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.540 That's it. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:39.060 Regardless of where you're from, 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:40.700 regardless of what you've done. 00:19:43.340 --> 00:19:44.240 That's good news. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.200 And it's good news 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:47.980 that even way back in Genesis 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:49.259 at the very start 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:50.579 of God's redemptive plan, 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.859 he made it clear 00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:54.460 that his promise 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:55.960 was going to come through. 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:56.700 His salvation 00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:58.980 was going to come through promise 00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.980 and it was going to come through grace 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:02.259 and it was going to come through 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.140 his works 00:20:03.140 --> 00:20:04.740 and not ours. 00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.779 So that's what's going on 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.460 in the first part 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.279 of our text tonight. 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:11.500 But you know, 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.160 we still have to ask, 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:12.500 don't we, 00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:14.019 as we sort of finish part one, 00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:16.299 what about Ishmael after all? 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:16.660 I mean, 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.480 what happens to him? 00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:18.900 If this, 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:19.559 you know, 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:20.519 text is first about 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:22.180 God's preserving 00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:23.259 his saving promise, 00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:24.079 well, 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:25.480 what else are we supposed 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.019 to make of it? 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:26.400 Well, 00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:27.180 the second great thing 00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:28.019 we see in this text 00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:29.700 is that we also see here 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:31.279 that God provides 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.099 for the outcast. 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:34.720 Now, 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.940 in order to really feel 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:36.519 the weight 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.500 of what's happening here 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:39.640 and the rest of Genesis chapter 21, 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.579 really from verses, 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:41.180 you know, 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.220 14 and following, 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.420 you've got to realize, 00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:44.440 you've got to feel the weight 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:46.359 that God really owes 00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:48.119 nothing to Ishmael 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:49.960 and God owes nothing 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:50.460 to Hagar 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.500 and in reality, 00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:52.480 God owes nothing 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.140 to Abraham. 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.259 Ishmael, 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:55.839 after all, 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:56.660 was born 00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:58.279 out of a foolish 00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:59.779 and sinful plot 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:00.819 of Sarah 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.700 and Abraham 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.960 to try to do things 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.559 their own way. 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:07.759 and yet, 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.819 though God really does 00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.720 owe them nothing, 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:11.980 still, 00:21:12.179 --> 00:21:12.919 what do we see? 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:15.559 How does God respond 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.480 to Abraham and Sarah's 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.200 foolish plan 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.679 and to this son 00:21:18.679 --> 00:21:19.480 that they've produced? 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:21.019 Does he utterly reject 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.539 Ishmael 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:22.500 and cast him off 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:22.879 and say, 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:24.700 he was a screw-up, 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.119 I don't want him 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:26.000 in my family? 00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:27.339 No. 00:21:28.659 --> 00:21:29.599 Look at verse 13. 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.039 God still speaking 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:31.980 to Abraham says, 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:32.939 yes, 00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:33.500 through Isaac 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.240 shall your offspring 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:34.639 be named. 00:21:34.719 --> 00:21:35.419 That's how my sort 00:21:35.419 --> 00:21:36.539 of covenant-saving promises 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.000 are going to come 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.359 to the world, 00:21:37.439 --> 00:21:39.359 but I will make a nation 00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:40.199 of the son 00:21:40.199 --> 00:21:41.139 of the slave woman also 00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:42.199 because he's your offspring. 00:21:42.579 --> 00:21:43.379 I'm still going to 00:21:43.379 --> 00:21:44.139 show him favor. 00:21:45.219 --> 00:21:46.559 God assures Abraham 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.980 that he, 00:21:48.179 --> 00:21:48.339 God, 00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:49.000 will continue 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:49.639 to be merciful 00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:50.240 to Ishmael 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.259 and not abandon him. 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:53.759 And what happens 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.140 in the rest 00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:54.900 of our text tonight? 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:56.319 Abraham gives Hagar 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:56.900 and Ishmael 00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.660 some food and water, 00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:58.879 sends them out 00:21:58.879 --> 00:21:59.440 into the wilderness, 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.200 and when Hagar 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.579 thinks all is lost, 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:04.240 she sort of puts 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:04.940 her teenage son 00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:05.640 under a bush 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:06.259 to die, 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.059 goes a sort of 00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:09.160 bow shot away, 00:22:09.879 --> 00:22:11.140 cries out to God 00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:12.319 thinking that all 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.019 is lost, 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:15.220 what happens? 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.279 God shows up again. 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:19.299 God shows up again 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:19.819 for Hagar. 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.640 It's the second time 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.100 this has happened 00:22:21.100 --> 00:22:21.660 in her life. 00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:24.080 God shows up 00:22:24.080 --> 00:22:25.640 and he hears. 00:22:27.040 --> 00:22:27.560 And God, 00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:28.259 very interestingly, 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.200 God hears 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.920 not just Hagar's cry, 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:32.480 look again at verse 17, 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:33.640 and God heard 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:35.300 the voice of the boy. 00:22:37.600 --> 00:22:38.500 God hears 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.680 not just Hagar, 00:22:40.040 --> 00:22:41.140 but Ishmael too. 00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:43.400 God hears 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.740 the despairing cry 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.360 of the one 00:22:45.360 --> 00:22:46.040 who laughed 00:22:46.040 --> 00:22:47.040 in mockery 00:22:47.040 --> 00:22:48.780 at God's promised heir. 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:50.639 the one 00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:51.819 who laughed 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:53.119 and ridiculed 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:53.720 the heir 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.420 of the promise. 00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:55.440 God still 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:55.940 in mercy 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.639 comes to him 00:22:56.639 --> 00:22:57.799 and hears him. 00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:00.960 Now, 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.940 there's some artistry 00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:03.480 going on here 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.700 in the Hebrew text 00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.180 of Genesis 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:06.539 because the name Isaac 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:08.259 literally means laughter, 00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:10.559 and the name Ishmael 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.720 means God hears. 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.440 In the Old Testament world, 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.259 names often sort of 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.319 carried lots and lots 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:15.799 of meanings. 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.779 Isaac means laughter, 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.220 Ishmael means God hears. 00:23:20.420 --> 00:23:20.559 So, 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.240 you see what the text 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.619 is saying? 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.519 It's saying Ishmael, 00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:24.819 the one who laughed 00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.559 in mockery 00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:27.079 at the one 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:28.119 whose name means laughter 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:28.900 while God still 00:23:28.900 --> 00:23:29.779 in mercy hears 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.660 the one whose name 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.579 means God hears. 00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.539 God hears 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.400 the cry for help. 00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:36.680 And then he opens 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.640 Hagar's eyes 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.640 to see a well 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:39.259 of water nearby, 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:40.819 and he rescues 00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:41.319 both of them, 00:23:41.379 --> 00:23:41.779 both Hagar 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.359 and her son. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.399 And, 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.319 as God promised, 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.980 he makes Ishmael 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.759 into a great nation. 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.359 If you follow 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.220 the story of Genesis 00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:50.940 a little further, 00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:52.220 you see that 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:54.579 the author of Genesis 00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:56.200 lists Ishmael's descendants 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:57.819 and a great company 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.220 of people 00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:59.059 come from Ishmael. 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.019 You see, 00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.579 when Ishmael 00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:04.759 was thrown out 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:06.480 because of his contempt 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.019 for Isaac, 00:24:07.139 --> 00:24:07.660 when Ishmael 00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.819 was made an outcast 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:10.539 because he mocked 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.539 God's plan, 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:14.379 God still met him 00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:14.980 in the wilderness. 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.440 He met him in mercy 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.440 and showed him favor. 00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:22.440 Now, friends, 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.200 if that isn't a picture 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:23.980 of the good news 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.839 of the story of the Bible, 00:24:24.899 --> 00:24:25.639 I don't know what is. 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:28.579 Because when we were cast out 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.759 because of our contempt 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.220 at God, 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:32.339 God comes out 00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:33.220 into our wilderness, 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.599 and God opens 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.220 our eyes 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.000 to living water, 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.779 and God keeps 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.299 his promises 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:40.279 to us as people. 00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:43.839 Zephaniah 3.19. 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.779 Zephaniah is an 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:46.059 Old Testament prophet 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.879 who prophesied, 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:48.000 who came with God's message 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.660 to God's people 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.639 much later in the history 00:24:49.639 --> 00:24:50.079 of Israel, 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.839 but in chapter 3.19, 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:52.759 God says this 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:53.779 through the prophet Zephaniah. 00:24:53.879 --> 00:24:54.240 He says, 00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:55.700 I will save the lame, 00:24:55.899 --> 00:24:57.119 and I will gather 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:58.099 the outcast, 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.619 and I will change 00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:00.379 their shame 00:25:00.379 --> 00:25:01.279 into praise 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:02.539 and renown 00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.440 in all the earth. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.000 Friends, 00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.799 that's the God 00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.279 of the Bible. 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.839 That is the one true God, 00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:09.480 the God who has revealed 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.360 himself fully 00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:11.420 in Jesus Christ. 00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:13.220 This is a God 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:14.079 who doesn't ignore 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.519 our sin, 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.559 he doesn't excuse 00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:16.140 our sin, 00:25:16.620 --> 00:25:17.960 but through his own son 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.559 and through the cross, 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:19.759 he forgives our sin 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.740 and rescues us. 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.640 Now, maybe tonight 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:25.259 you kind of feel 00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:26.099 like an outcast. 00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:28.720 Maybe through 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.740 your own actions, 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:32.160 something you've done, 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:32.680 or maybe through 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:33.500 the actions of another, 00:25:33.620 --> 00:25:34.299 something that someone's 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.099 done against you. 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:37.019 Maybe you feel like 00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.779 you don't belong. 00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:39.740 Maybe you feel like 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.599 you don't deserve 00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:41.319 to belong. 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.579 Maybe you feel like 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:45.259 Ishmael languishing 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:45.940 under a tree 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.480 in the wilderness. 00:25:46.879 --> 00:25:47.579 Maybe you feel like 00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.000 Hagar, 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:49.539 far away, 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.720 crying out to God, 00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:52.139 we're lost. 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.240 But brothers, 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:57.639 sisters, 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.539 know tonight 00:25:58.539 --> 00:26:00.920 that God hears. 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:03.639 God hears 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:05.140 your cry 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:07.800 and know 00:26:07.800 --> 00:26:08.160 that God 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.780 has already 00:26:08.780 --> 00:26:09.420 come out 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:11.640 into the wilderness. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.880 God has gone out 00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:15.200 into the far country. 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:18.620 Jesus Christ 00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:19.800 came and said, 00:26:20.040 --> 00:26:21.000 I've come to seek 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.140 and to save 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:23.200 the lost. 00:26:23.320 --> 00:26:23.920 He's come 00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:25.620 all the way out 00:26:25.620 --> 00:26:27.259 into our wilderness 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:30.480 to bring the outcasts home. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:33.220 So the question is, 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.880 will you come home? 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.640 Will you receive Him? 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.319 The one who promises 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:40.339 to never leave you 00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:41.079 or forsake you. 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.640 The one who promises 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:43.420 to be with you 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:44.099 even to the end 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.599 of the age. 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:45.220 The one who said, 00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:45.799 come to me 00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.599 and I'll give you 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:48.339 living water to drink. 00:26:48.380 --> 00:26:48.960 Not a well 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:49.319 in the middle 00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:49.860 of the wilderness, 00:26:50.360 --> 00:26:51.779 but a spring 00:26:51.779 --> 00:26:52.960 that will cause water 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.680 even within you 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:54.339 to flow up. 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.360 The one who said, 00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:55.819 come to me 00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.319 and I'll give you 00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:57.720 the right to be called 00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:59.259 a son, 00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.140 a daughter of God. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:04.519 And so then 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.120 as we wrap up, 00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:05.740 you see that the two 00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.480 halves of this chapter 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.400 actually fit together. 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:09.799 God preserves His promise 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:12.900 so that He will 00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:14.120 ultimately provide 00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:14.579 and protect 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:16.000 and care for the outcast. 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:18.740 Friends, 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.519 God is faithful 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:21.279 and God is trustworthy 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:23.539 and we can trust Him 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.660 and we can live 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:25.700 a life of faith in Him. 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.019 He's a God 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.740 who preserves 00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.759 and protects 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.980 and keeps His promise 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.440 and He's come 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:32.099 for the outcast. 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.559 Let's pray. 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:35.460 Father, 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.160 we are grateful 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:37.200 that You are 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:38.059 a merciful God 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:39.279 and You keep 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:39.900 Your promises. 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:41.980 Lord, 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.319 You're a God 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:42.819 of grace. 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.160 Father, 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:45.839 I pray for 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:47.620 my friends 00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:48.079 who are with me 00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:48.640 here tonight. 00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:49.319 Lord, 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.480 that if there are 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.059 any here 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:52.460 who have not 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:54.440 turned to You, 00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:55.120 Lord Jesus, 00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:57.579 and received You 00:27:57.579 --> 00:27:59.899 as the living Son 00:27:59.899 --> 00:28:00.399 of God 00:28:00.399 --> 00:28:01.619 who was crucified 00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:03.399 and raised again 00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:04.879 for them 00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:05.759 and for their sins. 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:05.919 Lord, 00:28:05.979 --> 00:28:06.579 I pray 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:08.059 that tonight 00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:09.579 they would step 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.359 over the line 00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:11.599 of faith 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.519 and put their trust 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:12.879 in You, 00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:14.379 surrender their lives 00:28:14.379 --> 00:28:14.859 to You, 00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:17.539 and know 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:18.839 that it's not 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.519 their pedigree 00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:19.919 and it's not 00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:20.659 their performance, 00:28:21.439 --> 00:28:22.599 but it's You, 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.119 Lord Jesus, 00:28:23.179 --> 00:28:23.959 that makes them 00:28:23.959 --> 00:28:24.619 an accepted 00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.419 and a loved 00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:26.539 child of God. 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:28.419 Lord, 00:28:28.459 --> 00:28:28.959 for those of us 00:28:28.959 --> 00:28:29.519 here tonight 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:32.279 who understand 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:32.859 this and have 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.579 grasped this 00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:34.039 by the grace 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:34.579 of Your Spirit, 00:28:34.699 --> 00:28:35.679 help us to live 00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:38.179 out this great 00:28:38.179 --> 00:28:38.699 reality 00:28:38.699 --> 00:28:40.539 that You've loved 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.000 us and You've 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:41.799 accepted us 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:43.019 apart from our works 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:44.500 in Christ our Savior. 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.359 We pray this 00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:47.079 in His name, 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:47.420 Father. 00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:48.319 Amen.