WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 I want to turn to Genesis chapter 17. 00:00:03.300 --> 00:00:08.380 Genesis chapter 17, Abram and Sarai had jumped the gun. 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:11.300 God had made them a promise. 00:00:12.040 --> 00:00:13.820 Didn't look like it was going to happen. 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:20.059 And so after 10 years, they worked out how it was to be. 00:00:21.179 --> 00:00:24.460 And they didn't want to wait anymore on the Lord. 00:00:24.980 --> 00:00:26.260 And that was a mistake. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:29.679 They worked out their other arrangements. 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:36.119 And it turned out to be a bad deal that I believe when we look at not only history, 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:41.880 but we look at modern day circumstances in the Middle East, we're still paying for it 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:49.100 due to the Middle East rivalries of today that go back to Ishmael and his people. 00:00:51.219 --> 00:00:56.700 And after he was born, there was 13 years of silence. 00:00:56.700 --> 00:01:05.900 God giving him promises of what he would do. 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:10.200 Him trying to carry them out himself. 00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:17.659 Realizing through the contentiousness that came from it that it must not be right. 00:01:17.659 --> 00:01:24.560 And then 13 years of waiting. 00:01:25.259 --> 00:01:25.920 And then this. 00:01:26.500 --> 00:01:28.859 Genesis chapter 17 beginning in verse 1. 00:01:28.859 --> 00:01:35.959 When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:37.079 I am God Almighty. 00:01:38.739 --> 00:01:46.780 Walk before me and be blameless that I may make my covenant between me and you and may multiply you greatly. 00:01:46.780 --> 00:01:50.960 Then Abram fell on his face and God said to him, 00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:54.840 Behold, my covenant is with you and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 00:01:55.900 --> 00:01:59.540 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:02.719 for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:08.960 I'll make you exceedingly fruitful and I'll make you into nations and kings shall come from you. 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:14.980 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations 00:02:14.980 --> 00:02:20.000 for an everlasting covenant to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 00:02:20.620 --> 00:02:24.960 And I'll give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, 00:02:25.640 --> 00:02:30.319 all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession and I'll be their God. 00:02:31.600 --> 00:02:32.719 And God said to Abram, 00:02:32.780 --> 00:02:36.960 As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:42.480 This is my covenant, which you shall keep between me and you and your offspring after you. 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:45.460 Every male among you shall be circumcised. 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:52.100 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:56.620 He who is eight years old among you shall be circumcised. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:03:03.379 Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 00:03:03.379 --> 00:03:09.439 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised. 00:03:09.900 --> 00:03:16.280 So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:25.039 Ray Steadman's wonderful preacher and pastor from Florida that's went home to be with the Lord. 00:03:26.599 --> 00:03:30.379 He said one time, probably after a guy read a passage like this, 00:03:30.439 --> 00:03:34.039 that a fellow came in his office and said he wanted Ray to circumcise him. 00:03:35.719 --> 00:03:38.080 He said, when I picked myself up off the floor, 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:43.340 I explained that Christians do not have to go through that to fulfill the covenant. 00:03:43.540 --> 00:03:46.100 They don't have to fulfill that covenant. 00:03:46.740 --> 00:03:48.540 He said the man was relieved. 00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:52.960 It's not meant for us, 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:55.939 but it sure does mean a lot. 00:03:57.860 --> 00:04:04.380 So I want to take a few moments this morning to see what it says and what it's done and what it means to us. 00:04:04.379 --> 00:04:11.859 And I want you to notice the first thing that God tells them to do was walk before me blameless 00:04:11.859 --> 00:04:15.900 because a life with the Lord is a long walk. 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:21.240 Sprints are easy. 00:04:21.939 --> 00:04:23.980 They're not as easy as they used to be, 00:04:24.540 --> 00:04:28.860 but they are easier than marathons because they don't last long. 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:32.719 As a matter of fact, a sprint these days in my life would be really short, 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:35.000 maybe just to get across the road in front of a speeding car. 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:40.200 Marathons are better because it don't last forever 00:04:40.200 --> 00:04:43.420 and it does take a long time to recuperate from it. 00:04:43.520 --> 00:04:47.620 But God just asked us to walk. 00:04:49.640 --> 00:04:53.020 Now some of you who are biblically keen will immediately pick up on, 00:04:53.260 --> 00:04:54.000 wait a minute, preacher. 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:57.500 Isaiah says that we shall mount up with wings like eagles. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:04:58.860 We shall run and not be weary. 00:04:58.940 --> 00:05:00.320 We shall walk and not faint. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:06.079 But the part we often miss about that majestic passage is the beginning 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:10.839 when it says those that wait on the Lord. 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:15.339 Those that go at his time. 00:05:16.819 --> 00:05:20.120 Those that just walk before the Lord. 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:24.980 Because when we try to run too fast and learn too quick, 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:30.040 we'll run right past the opportunity of a deep and rich relationship with the Lord. 00:05:30.840 --> 00:05:33.240 Speed can kill depth. 00:05:35.579 --> 00:05:37.160 You just don't take it in. 00:05:38.840 --> 00:05:44.060 And instead, God calls us to walk and to pay attention to what's happening. 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:45.019 Take it in. 00:05:46.340 --> 00:05:47.360 Do it right. 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:47.579 Do it right. 00:05:47.579 --> 00:05:53.359 I've had people tell me, I read the Bible through this year. 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:58.339 And for some I've thought, you read it too fast. 00:05:59.620 --> 00:06:01.339 You need to let some of it stick. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:02.699 You know? 00:06:04.599 --> 00:06:08.299 Because it's not the consumption of some spiritual buffet that we're looking for. 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:11.420 Instead, it's a steady diet of God's Word. 00:06:11.540 --> 00:06:14.480 Taking a long walk before Him and learning. 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:18.560 And walking before the Almighty, the El Shaddai. 00:06:20.900 --> 00:06:25.519 Now, when you do that long walk, I want to prepare you for it. 00:06:25.580 --> 00:06:29.480 Because there will be, along the way, lots of commotion. 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:33.879 Life is full of commotion today. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:35.780 There are a lot of options. 00:06:36.080 --> 00:06:42.640 And where we live, where we live a lot, want to align with God. 00:06:43.900 --> 00:06:47.060 And they just don't want to live for Him. 00:06:49.520 --> 00:06:52.980 Affiliated in some sorts, but just not living for Him. 00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:57.960 Some type of religious experience is popular. 00:06:59.580 --> 00:07:03.700 But a long, steady walk with the Lord is rare. 00:07:05.140 --> 00:07:08.420 And that's why so many are a mile wide and an inch deep. 00:07:08.460 --> 00:07:10.819 And when stuff happens, it overwhelms their lives. 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:12.960 They're not prepared for it. 00:07:14.660 --> 00:07:16.080 Let me be clear today. 00:07:16.200 --> 00:07:17.460 Stuff will happen. 00:07:17.459 --> 00:07:22.779 If somebody told you when you gave your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:25.339 that you wouldn't deal with stuff anymore. 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:27.759 Life would be easy. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:29.479 They lied to you. 00:07:30.339 --> 00:07:31.240 It's not true. 00:07:32.279 --> 00:07:33.799 Thank God you don't have to do it alone. 00:07:35.859 --> 00:07:40.319 Not only does God bring around you a bunch of good godly people 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:43.419 who rely upon the Lord themselves to help usher you 00:07:43.419 --> 00:07:46.259 through the difficult days of your life called church. 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:48.719 I mean, that's what we're here for. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:52.819 But at the same time, you've got the sweet Holy Spirit of God living within you. 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:56.480 And He'll give you a peace unlike anything this world can give you. 00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:59.860 And He'll never leave you alone. 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:02.819 But stuff's going to happen. 00:08:04.099 --> 00:08:05.019 It did for Abram. 00:08:06.339 --> 00:08:08.079 He had conflicts with Lot. 00:08:09.599 --> 00:08:11.620 He had infertility with Sarai. 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:16.740 And some of those situations he handled correctly and some of them he did not. 00:08:16.840 --> 00:08:19.340 And thank God, God gives us the opportunity for renewal. 00:08:21.980 --> 00:08:24.420 Because there's a lot of commotion along the way. 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:27.439 There's also a lot of, lots of silence. 00:08:29.899 --> 00:08:31.100 And man, we don't like that. 00:08:31.100 --> 00:08:39.540 God's not always going to answer as clearly as we want Him to. 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:43.720 He's not going to always answer when we want Him to. 00:08:44.460 --> 00:08:46.659 And the reality is He seldom does. 00:08:47.920 --> 00:08:52.460 The walk of faith is about learning to trust Him 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:57.279 instead of trying to get Him to comply with our wishes. 00:08:57.279 --> 00:08:59.759 And don't misunderstand me. 00:08:59.819 --> 00:09:04.179 He answers and He works and He moves and He prepares us. 00:09:04.339 --> 00:09:08.179 He guides us and He instructs us through His Word. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:12.480 He does not scream into our lives very often. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:16.079 I have seldom heard a voice within me. 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:19.720 And when God speaks to me, it's not audible. 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:20.860 It's louder than that. 00:09:24.699 --> 00:09:25.620 But I've heard it. 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:30.399 And I can share those times with you. 00:09:32.579 --> 00:09:38.120 But what I don't share so often is that fact that I do not get a clear answer a lot of the time. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:40.720 And I just continue to walk by faith. 00:09:42.059 --> 00:09:44.319 Because sometimes there's silence. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:51.139 Abraham was plagued by years of silence. 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:58.120 And after 13 years since he last heard from Him, those were silent years. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:58.860 No voice. 00:09:59.179 --> 00:09:59.980 No vision. 00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:03.159 No visit from God. 00:10:04.980 --> 00:10:06.720 It's a long walk, folks. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:13.980 But there's also lots of opportunity along the way. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:15.720 Lots of opportunity. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:19.240 Because it's really not what happens to you. 00:10:19.300 --> 00:10:21.200 It's what happens to what happens to you. 00:10:22.160 --> 00:10:24.220 What do you do with what happens to you? 00:10:25.180 --> 00:10:28.840 He was about 79 years old and he had a great victory through the Lord. 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:33.879 And at 85, Sarah had him choose another way to have a child. 00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:35.519 And he ran ahead of God's plan. 00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:37.000 And he got tired of waiting. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:40.460 Six years is a long time to wait. 00:10:42.300 --> 00:10:44.700 Now at 99, he hears again. 00:10:44.800 --> 00:10:46.300 And I want you to notice his reaction. 00:10:46.680 --> 00:10:50.899 When he hears again, he just falls on his face before the Almighty. 00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:55.559 This term Almighty is used in the book of Job as well. 00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:57.220 Another man that had to wait. 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:00.720 However, both men had opportunity. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:04.120 And when God spoke, he said walk. 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:08.340 He also said walk blamelessly. 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:11.000 Which means walk unimpaired. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:12.980 Walk sound. 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:14.639 Walk whole. 00:11:15.779 --> 00:11:16.879 Walk with integrity. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:22.879 And the two come together to walk before me and to be blameless. 00:11:25.820 --> 00:11:28.500 That comes by making a choice in our lives. 00:11:29.299 --> 00:11:30.980 It comes by opportunity. 00:11:32.820 --> 00:11:34.720 And it may not sound very glamorous. 00:11:36.659 --> 00:11:41.879 Just walk steadily before the Lord in the midst of commotion and silence. 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:44.200 And yes, opportunity. 00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:48.420 But I promise you, it's worth every minute of it. 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:53.100 A life with the Lord is a long walk. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:56.259 It's also a marked life. 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:05.160 God wanted such a commitment to be shown by having every male circumcised. 00:12:05.280 --> 00:12:06.340 And on the eighth day, 00:12:07.680 --> 00:12:12.280 they would circumcise their male children. 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:15.579 When he put down this decree, 00:12:16.319 --> 00:12:17.279 all committed males, 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:20.120 no matter what their age, 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:22.240 needed to have this done as well. 00:12:22.339 --> 00:12:25.279 And notice that God did not say wear a particular garment. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:32.959 God did not say shave or grow out your hair. 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:37.399 He didn't say take on a tattoo or cut off a finger. 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.419 He didn't say do that. 00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:42.279 He gave them a very personal sign. 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:49.279 It was a dedication of a child that left a mark, 00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:54.519 a very personal mark that showed him that his father had been faithful. 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:58.860 And many did not understand that. 00:12:59.939 --> 00:13:01.620 And when we get to the New Testament, 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.860 it was made out to be a means of salvation. 00:13:05.779 --> 00:13:08.519 Instead of a source of humility, 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:12.259 it became a sign of pride. 00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:14.259 And Paul said, 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:14.659 whoa, 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:15.120 whoa, 00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:15.460 whoa, 00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:15.500 whoa, 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:16.299 it's a symbol. 00:13:19.299 --> 00:13:24.960 He spent a lot of time explaining as the church was divided over what to do with this. 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:26.259 He spent a lot of time, 00:13:26.299 --> 00:13:27.159 the apostle Paul did, 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:28.819 explaining that it was a symbol. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:30.980 It was kind of like a wedding band of sorts. 00:13:31.059 --> 00:13:31.819 It was a symbol. 00:13:31.820 --> 00:13:39.200 And if I'm not faithful to my wife, 00:13:39.260 --> 00:13:40.540 this is just a piece of metal. 00:13:42.040 --> 00:13:42.900 It's a symbol. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:50.820 Paul made it clear that we are to live marked lives. 00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:54.900 Our lives are to be different. 00:13:56.460 --> 00:14:00.920 Our lives are to be marked in our heart. 00:14:03.400 --> 00:14:05.160 In Romans chapter two, 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:05.720 verse 29, 00:14:05.920 --> 00:14:06.520 Paul says, 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:09.500 circumcision is a matter of the heart. 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:16.760 And so why did God ask for a physical mark from Abram? 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.320 Because the foreskin, 00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:24.120 and that loose cap of flesh symbolized the fallen flesh of humanity. 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:27.500 Colossians two, 00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:28.320 verse 11 says, 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:29.340 in him also, 00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:31.260 you were circumcised with a circumcision, 00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:32.100 not made, 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:36.900 made without hands by putting off the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. 00:14:37.260 --> 00:14:42.620 God started it as a physical symbol showing the putting off of the flesh. 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:47.620 But it's a spiritual mark on the heart. 00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:53.520 Our lives are to be marked by the spirit. 00:14:53.519 --> 00:15:00.620 How did Simon become Peter the rock? 00:15:02.319 --> 00:15:03.319 How did Saul, 00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:04.259 the Christian killer, 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:05.019 become Paul, 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:05.600 the preacher? 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:08.740 Because 2 Corinthians 5, 00:15:08.819 --> 00:15:09.460 17 says, 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:09.699 therefore, 00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:10.659 if anyone is in Christ, 00:15:10.699 --> 00:15:11.639 he's a new creation. 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.840 The old has passed away. 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:14.220 Behold, 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:15.559 the new has come. 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:17.139 Friend, 00:15:17.199 --> 00:15:18.379 if you're a child of God, 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:21.899 you are to be marked by the spirit of God in your life. 00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:24.939 You are made new in the Lord. 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:27.439 And it must reflect our lives. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:29.639 We also are marked, 00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:31.659 our lives are marked by faithfulness. 00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:35.059 God said in verse 9, 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:36.279 as for you, 00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:38.700 you keep your covenant. 00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:42.660 Keep their means to watch it, 00:15:43.140 --> 00:15:44.900 to preserve it, 00:15:45.800 --> 00:15:47.820 to have charge of it. 00:15:49.180 --> 00:15:49.680 In other words, 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:50.500 take it seriously. 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:51.560 Be faithful. 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:54.220 I mean, 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:56.379 it's easy to serve him on the mountaintop, 00:15:56.480 --> 00:16:00.020 and it's easy to smile your way through, 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:01.600 and shallow yourself out, 00:16:01.640 --> 00:16:02.640 and just fake it. 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:05.639 Richard Foster, 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.699 in celebration of discipline, 00:16:06.819 --> 00:16:07.000 says, 00:16:07.439 --> 00:16:09.980 superficiality is the curse of our age. 00:16:15.199 --> 00:16:15.639 No, 00:16:16.439 --> 00:16:18.740 God's not calling Abram, 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:23.019 and God's not calling us to be superficial about our faith. 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:23.939 Not at all. 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:27.639 A life with the Lord's a long walk 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:30.000 of a marked life. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:36.419 It's also a blessing. 00:16:41.699 --> 00:16:45.460 I don't want you to miss the blessing of this life 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.539 that he speaks of. 00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:50.620 Let's look at a portion of it just again for just a minute. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:53.100 In Genesis chapter 17, 00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:54.279 verses 6 through 8, 00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:54.899 it says this. 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:57.159 This is God talking. 00:16:58.659 --> 00:17:01.919 I will make you exceedingly fruitful. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:05.660 And I will make you into nations, 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:07.119 and kings shall come from you. 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:11.200 And I will establish my covenant between you and your offspring. 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:15.900 And I will give to you and to your offspring 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:18.460 after you the land of your sojournings. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:21.619 And I will be their God. 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:25.400 Five I wills in three verses. 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:29.200 God is the one that does it. 00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:35.200 And once we dedicate ourselves to the long walk of a marked life, 00:17:35.340 --> 00:17:37.800 God is the one that does the blessing. 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:40.700 And I will tell you, 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:42.079 it is a blessing to you. 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:49.059 When you commit to the long walk of a marked life before the Lord, 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.220 it's a blessing to you. 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:52.359 He went from being called Abram, 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:56.579 a name that meant exalted father, 00:17:56.779 --> 00:18:03.539 and probably was in honor of the moon god in the pagan country in which he came from. 00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:10.220 But God changed his name to Abraham from Abram. 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:15.980 And Abraham means the father of multitude. 00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:21.059 And in the Hebrew, 00:18:21.620 --> 00:18:24.759 the difference in those two words 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:32.920 are just one little letter that looks like an apostrophe. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:41.120 And you pronounce it with just a breath. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:45.559 Instead of Abram, 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:49.519 it was Abraham. 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:54.099 It was the breath of God 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:57.680 coming upon his life, 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.519 marking him, 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:03.640 and changing him. 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:07.759 Not only will God keep his promises, 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:09.440 but we're going to see through Abraham 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:10.680 how a person changes 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:12.559 when they're willing to wait on the Lord. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:15.519 You learn the ways of God 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:17.500 and to discern his movement 00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:19.059 and discern his voice. 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:22.059 You learn how to be calm in the midst of the storm. 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:24.799 You don't worry so much about what other people think, 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:27.500 but you worry about what God thinks. 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:31.119 And that makes you a blessing of God. 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:42.439 Sarah's name was changed too. 00:19:42.439 --> 00:19:44.539 Sarah means contentious. 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.079 Sarah means that she's changed. 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:48.319 And if you look at her testimony, 00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:51.079 you'll understand that she fulfilled her testimony. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:56.000 But her name was changed to mean princess. 00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:59.879 Sarah is never referred to in the New Testament. 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.159 She was changed. 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:04.100 She's referenced numerous times in the New Testament 00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:06.380 as Sarah because of her faith 00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:08.019 and because of her obedience 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:10.080 and because of her godliness. 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:14.060 Again, in Genesis 17 and verse 15, 00:20:14.120 --> 00:20:14.620 it says this, 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:16.479 And God said to Abraham, 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.919 As for Sarai your wife, 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:22.519 you shall not call her name Sarai, 00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:24.539 but Sarah shall be her name. 00:20:25.219 --> 00:20:26.199 I'll bless her, 00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:27.199 and moreover, 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:30.379 I'll give you a son by her. 00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:32.159 I'll bless her, 00:20:32.159 --> 00:20:36.259 and she shall become nations. 00:20:36.419 --> 00:20:37.859 Kings of people shall come from her. 00:20:37.959 --> 00:20:39.239 Then Abraham fell on his face 00:20:39.239 --> 00:20:40.639 and laughed and said to himself, 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:43.060 Shall a child be born to a man 00:20:43.060 --> 00:20:44.500 who is a hundred years old? 00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:47.100 And shall Sarah, 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:48.580 who is ninety years old, 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:49.400 bear a child? 00:20:51.080 --> 00:20:52.880 And Abraham said to God, 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:55.160 Oh, that Ishmael might live before you. 00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:56.320 And God said, 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:57.860 No, but Sarah your wife 00:20:57.860 --> 00:20:58.820 shall bear you a son, 00:20:58.860 --> 00:21:00.740 and you shall call his name Isaac. 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:03.360 I will establish my covenant with him 00:21:03.360 --> 00:21:04.440 as an everlasting covenant 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.840 for his offspring after him. 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:07.220 As for Ishmael, 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.980 I've heard you. 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.900 Behold, I have blessed him 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:11.080 and will make him fruitful 00:21:11.080 --> 00:21:12.200 and multiply him greatly. 00:21:12.540 --> 00:21:14.519 He shall be father twelve princes, 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:17.300 and I will make him into a great nation. 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:21.400 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, 00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:23.900 whom Sarah shall bear to you 00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:25.640 at this time next year. 00:21:27.540 --> 00:21:30.360 God blessed her and her offspring 00:21:30.360 --> 00:21:32.000 and used them to further 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:33.680 the legacy of Abraham, 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:36.060 who is marked by his faithfulness 00:21:36.060 --> 00:21:38.700 because he was willing to walk long. 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:42.780 Because he was willing to endure the silence, 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:47.080 because he was committed to the Lord. 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:51.480 And friend, today is an opportunity 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:53.660 for commitment to the Lord. 00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:56.560 In Romans chapter 2, 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:58.040 the apostle Paul refers to 00:21:58.040 --> 00:21:59.840 a circumcision of the heart. 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.440 In other words, 00:22:00.860 --> 00:22:02.960 you can do all the outward things 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.840 that you want to, 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:05.640 but what really matters, however, 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:08.100 is that our minds are on Christ. 00:22:08.300 --> 00:22:10.160 Our hearts have been marked 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:12.700 by our commitment to Christ, 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:15.259 and that our souls have been saved by Christ. 00:22:17.520 --> 00:22:19.040 And if you look at your life, 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:23.400 you need to see if that's the case. 00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:28.000 And if you've acknowledged that, 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:31.259 praise the Lord, 00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:32.200 but if you haven't, 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:33.600 and it's been a private decision 00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.880 that you've made to the Lord, 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:37.220 then you need to publicly acknowledge that 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:37.880 through baptism. 00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:41.240 You need to privately walk 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.860 that long walk through devotion. 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:46.899 You need to live your life faithfully 00:22:46.899 --> 00:22:48.139 through your walk. 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:54.079 And to participate often in the Lord's Supper. 00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:58.559 Because Christ instructed us how to do it, 00:22:58.879 --> 00:23:00.500 and then instructed us to do it. 00:23:06.399 --> 00:23:08.000 However, before you ever do, 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:12.400 the Apostle Paul made it very clear 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:13.420 in 1 Corinthians 11, 00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:15.160 you need to be right with the Lord. 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:19.220 It's not a rite of passage. 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.900 It's not a ceremony. 00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:26.220 It's a step of obedience. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:29.920 That is to be followed by those 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:32.200 who are obedient followers of Christ. 00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:35.640 And so I ask you today, 00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:39.960 has there ever been a time in your life 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.900 where you know for certain 00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.840 that you have eternal life 00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:42.920 and you'll go to heaven when you die? 00:23:44.020 --> 00:23:45.560 Have you ever surrendered your life 00:23:45.560 --> 00:23:46.680 to the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:47.620 ask Him to save you, 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:48.240 and to cleanse you, 00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:49.320 and to change you? 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:52.759 Because I'm so thankful today 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:54.240 that if that's never happened to you, 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:57.340 I can offer that to you. 00:23:57.540 --> 00:23:59.160 Not anything from what I've done, 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.900 but because of what Christ has done for you. 00:24:02.300 --> 00:24:03.680 Today is the day of salvation, 00:24:04.060 --> 00:24:05.140 and He'll save you today. 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:08.160 And we're going to stand in just a moment, 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:08.900 and we're going to sing, 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:10.220 and I'm going to ask you during that time 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.520 to reflect upon your life, 00:24:12.080 --> 00:24:15.380 upon what needs to change in your life. 00:24:15.780 --> 00:24:17.060 And if you're here this morning 00:24:17.060 --> 00:24:18.560 and you've never given your heart and life 00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:19.420 to the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.680 that's something that needs to change. 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:24.600 And if you feel any pulling to that at all, 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.540 it's not from you. 00:24:27.020 --> 00:24:29.140 Scripture says we're dead in our transgressions. 00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:31.440 The reality is that the Holy Spirit of God 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:34.100 puts His hand upon us 00:24:34.100 --> 00:24:35.640 and begins to move and work in our lives, 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:37.200 and we just need to respond to that. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:41.160 Now, there's more this morning that are here, 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.380 and you know you're a Christian. 00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:44.920 You've nailed that down. 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:48.660 But the reality is there's parts of your life 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:50.980 that may not be pleasing to the Lord. 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:55.700 You can't honestly say, 00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:57.579 I'm right with the Lord. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:02.519 And I want to encourage you to get right with the Lord. 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:04.079 I'll always encourage that, by the way. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:07.599 I especially encourage it on a morning like this morning 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:10.480 because what an opportunity for a fresh renewal 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.980 and a time to do that. 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:14.740 And I always want to give you the opportunity to do that 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:17.099 before we ever partake in the Lord's Supper. 00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:19.740 Get it right. 00:25:20.159 --> 00:25:21.459 Whether it's where you are, 00:25:22.199 --> 00:25:24.119 you privately lift that up before the Lord, 00:25:24.199 --> 00:25:26.159 or whether it's at this altar before the Lord, 00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:28.279 or whether it's with a pastor praying for you, 00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:30.939 either way, get it right with the Lord. 00:25:33.139 --> 00:25:34.859 If you've made a private decision for the Lord 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:36.419 but never made that public today, 00:25:37.159 --> 00:25:38.240 will you tell somebody about it? 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:40.819 Let's follow through with baptism in coming days. 00:25:42.699 --> 00:25:44.740 Maybe God's drawing you into this fellowship. 00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:48.439 The important thing is, 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:50.719 is your heart right with the Lord? 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:57.159 He's very blunt, and it gets my attention. 00:25:57.419 --> 00:25:58.799 In 1 Corinthians 11, 00:25:59.019 --> 00:26:00.119 when the Apostle Paul said, 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.719 some of you are weak and ill 00:26:01.719 --> 00:26:05.199 and have even died from partaking of this flippantly. 00:26:07.899 --> 00:26:10.139 What's more important than eating bread and drinking juice 00:26:10.139 --> 00:26:11.639 is to know that your heart's right with the Lord. 00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:15.440 And so confess as needed 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:18.580 and get it right with God. 00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:22.780 With every head bowed and every eye closed this morning, 00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:24.060 I want to ask you, 00:26:24.540 --> 00:26:26.340 what is it that God would have you to do? 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:30.280 Be careful to follow Him 00:26:30.280 --> 00:26:33.200 and do exactly what He says. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:39.799 I'm going to pray, 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:40.559 and we're going to stand, 00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.440 and we're going to sing. 00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:44.799 God's speaking to your heart and life. 00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:46.880 You respond to Him in obedience. 00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:49.240 Lord Jesus, I love you, 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:51.440 and I thank you for the love that you have for us 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:53.580 and the clear direction that you give us through Abraham. 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:56.200 I ask, dear God, 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:58.880 that you'll help us to honor you with our lives today. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:02.700 God, you'll make our hearts right before you. 00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:06.820 Help us to confess, agree with you 00:27:06.820 --> 00:27:09.000 on the matters that may be a hindrance in our lives 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:10.620 and to get it right. 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:14.640 Help us to walk in obedience, Father, 00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.920 in the times of commotion, 00:27:18.060 --> 00:27:19.480 in the times of silence, 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:21.740 and in the times of opportunity. 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.640 In Jesus' name, amen.