WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.100 We are continuing our series in the book of Genesis tonight. 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:07.339 We're studying the life of Abraham. 00:00:08.300 --> 00:00:10.859 So turn with me to chapter 18 in the book of Genesis. 00:00:11.300 --> 00:00:14.640 We're going to look at chapter 18, a little bit of 18, and a little bit of 21. 00:00:15.400 --> 00:00:17.859 That's page 12 in the pew, if you want to turn there. 00:00:19.339 --> 00:00:22.080 Tonight, we're looking at the part of Abraham's life 00:00:22.080 --> 00:00:27.879 that is the promise and the birth of Abraham and Sarah's son, Isaac. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.399 Genesis chapter 18. 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:38.100 So let me read this for us, and then we'll pray, 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:41.880 and we'll ask God's help that we might understand and apply it. 00:00:42.700 --> 00:00:44.780 So starting in Genesis 18, verse 1. 00:00:47.260 --> 00:00:51.560 And the Lord appeared to him, that is Abraham, by the oaks of Mamre, 00:00:52.019 --> 00:00:54.539 as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:58.340 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, 00:00:58.340 --> 00:01:00.860 three men were standing in front of him. 00:01:01.940 --> 00:01:07.659 When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them 00:01:07.659 --> 00:01:09.340 and bowed himself to the earth and said, 00:01:09.420 --> 00:01:11.640 O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, 00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:13.820 do not pass by your servant. 00:01:13.960 --> 00:01:15.859 Let a little water be brought and wash your feet 00:01:15.859 --> 00:01:17.480 and rest yourselves under the tree. 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:21.000 While I bring a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves, 00:01:21.080 --> 00:01:22.740 and after that you may pass on, 00:01:23.060 --> 00:01:24.240 since you have come to your servant. 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:27.399 So they said, Do as you have said. 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:30.699 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:34.019 Quick, three say as a fine flour, knead it and make cakes. 00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:37.819 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf tender and good 00:01:37.819 --> 00:01:39.699 and gave it to a young man who prepared it quickly. 00:01:40.819 --> 00:01:43.140 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared 00:01:43.140 --> 00:01:44.179 and set it before them, 00:01:44.519 --> 00:01:46.859 and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 00:01:46.859 --> 00:01:52.120 They said to him, Where is Sarah, your wife? 00:01:53.099 --> 00:01:54.980 And he said, She is in the tent. 00:01:56.180 --> 00:02:00.939 The Lord said, I will surely return to you about this time next year, 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:04.099 and Sarah, your wife, shall have a son. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:08.699 And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:13.560 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:16.020 The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:18.300 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, 00:02:19.140 --> 00:02:23.680 After I am worn out and my Lord is old, shall I have pleasure? 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:29.800 The Lord said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh and say, 00:02:29.939 --> 00:02:33.620 Shall I indeed bear a child now that I am old? 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:36.000 Is anything too hard for the Lord? 00:02:36.640 --> 00:02:40.319 At the appointed time, I will return to you about this time next year, 00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:41.420 and Sarah shall have a son. 00:02:41.419 --> 00:02:46.239 But Sarah denied it, saying, I did not laugh, for she was afraid. 00:02:47.099 --> 00:02:49.259 He said, No, but you did laugh. 00:02:51.419 --> 00:02:54.239 Okay, turn to chapter 21 on page 17. 00:02:55.359 --> 00:02:56.739 We'll pick up in verse 1. 00:02:58.439 --> 00:02:59.839 Chapter 21, verse 1. 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:03.419 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, 00:03:04.119 --> 00:03:06.019 and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:09.919 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:11.839 at the time of which God had spoken to him. 00:03:12.459 --> 00:03:14.719 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:16.659 whom Sarah bore him Isaac, 00:03:17.539 --> 00:03:19.539 which means he laughs, by the way. 00:03:21.419 --> 00:03:24.859 And Sarah circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, 00:03:25.419 --> 00:03:26.500 as God had commanded him. 00:03:26.859 --> 00:03:29.779 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 00:03:29.779 --> 00:03:32.699 And Sarah said, God has made laughter for me. 00:03:33.139 --> 00:03:35.359 Everyone who hears will laugh over me. 00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:38.880 And she said, Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:42.340 Yet, I have borne him a son in his old age. 00:03:43.740 --> 00:03:44.700 All right, let's pray. 00:03:46.940 --> 00:03:50.320 Father, we ask this afternoon, this evening, 00:03:50.420 --> 00:03:52.760 that our minds and our hearts would understand 00:03:52.760 --> 00:03:54.780 and receive your word tonight. 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:58.560 Father, we ask that the truth of this passage would sink deep 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:02.680 and allow us to become who you've called us to be by your grace. 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:05.099 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:04:06.939 --> 00:04:08.819 All right, well, with the time that we have tonight, 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:12.240 I want us to just think about three things in this passage. 00:04:13.640 --> 00:04:15.500 Three things that I think are kind of the big idea. 00:04:15.819 --> 00:04:19.160 So what's the big idea of this story that we just read from Genesis? 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:22.860 Well, above and through it all, 00:04:22.980 --> 00:04:25.860 I think the main point, pretty straightforwardly, is this. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:29.620 That God keeps his promises. 00:04:29.620 --> 00:04:34.699 The Lord keeps his promises. 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:37.620 If you're still at Genesis chapter 21, look again at verse 1. 00:04:38.699 --> 00:04:40.199 Notice how the narrator writes it out. 00:04:40.780 --> 00:04:43.439 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said. 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:47.519 And the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:52.439 Not a single thing that God had promised fell to the ground. 00:04:53.220 --> 00:04:57.600 God keeps his promises, every single one of them. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:03.920 Now, that's very unlike, right, nearly every other experience that we have. 00:05:04.379 --> 00:05:04.840 Isn't it? 00:05:04.920 --> 00:05:05.820 When it comes to promises. 00:05:06.780 --> 00:05:07.460 I mean, think about it. 00:05:07.520 --> 00:05:12.300 There are no shortage of promises being made in our world today. 00:05:12.700 --> 00:05:12.939 Right? 00:05:13.540 --> 00:05:14.560 Think of all the promises. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:16.280 Politicians make promises. 00:05:17.460 --> 00:05:18.700 Our friends make promises. 00:05:18.900 --> 00:05:20.980 Husbands and wives make promises to one another. 00:05:20.980 --> 00:05:24.819 We even see ourselves making promises. 00:05:25.400 --> 00:05:25.560 Right? 00:05:27.220 --> 00:05:30.860 Think in your mind, what's the last promise that you made to someone? 00:05:31.819 --> 00:05:32.340 What was it? 00:05:33.400 --> 00:05:35.500 I promise I'll be home before dinner. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:38.680 Man, the number of times I've made that promise. 00:05:38.960 --> 00:05:40.259 And it has not come true. 00:05:41.259 --> 00:05:45.200 I promise I'll never do this, that, or the other thing again. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:48.779 And sometimes we keep our promises, right? 00:05:48.819 --> 00:05:51.680 We're able to sort of hold true and do it and follow through. 00:05:52.339 --> 00:05:54.699 But many times we don't. 00:05:57.659 --> 00:06:03.819 You know, we can look out at our world and we can look into our own hearts and we can see a long string of broken promises. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:05.480 Why? 00:06:05.579 --> 00:06:06.019 Why is that? 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:09.639 Why is it so hard for us to keep our promises? 00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:14.459 Well, on one level, there are a lot of forces in our world that are outside of our control, right? 00:06:14.699 --> 00:06:19.839 I promise to be home for dinner, and yet there's an accident on the road when I'm driving home. 00:06:20.099 --> 00:06:25.099 The traffic backs up, and I'm sitting in wall-to-wall traffic on Whitney Avenue for an hour. 00:06:26.379 --> 00:06:31.079 Or I'm just driving Whitney Avenue, which is really slow in general, because that's how Whitney Avenue works. 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:33.259 We have very little control. 00:06:33.959 --> 00:06:36.099 So many times we aren't able to keep our promises. 00:06:36.919 --> 00:06:37.159 Right? 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:46.760 But you and I know that that's often not nearly half of the reason why we struggle to keep promises. 00:06:47.480 --> 00:06:50.740 The problem often isn't outside of us, but inside of us. 00:06:51.320 --> 00:06:51.480 Right? 00:06:52.880 --> 00:06:53.900 We're fickle. 00:06:54.100 --> 00:06:55.060 We're lazy. 00:06:55.780 --> 00:06:56.740 We're selfish. 00:06:56.940 --> 00:07:00.120 And at the end of the day, keeping promises is costly. 00:07:00.980 --> 00:07:01.280 Right? 00:07:01.280 --> 00:07:01.340 Right? 00:07:01.339 --> 00:07:11.359 To keep a promise often means we have to sacrifice our own desires, our own plans, our own comfort. 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:15.620 And that is something that we human beings do very rarely, if at all. 00:07:15.620 --> 00:07:24.000 But against this very human backdrop of our promise breaking. 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:27.860 In our text tonight, we're presented with a divine reality. 00:07:29.139 --> 00:07:31.819 That God keeps his promises. 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:41.699 God told Abraham in chapter 7, just before our text tonight, that his seed, his offspring, his family line, 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:45.680 would continue through Sarah and no one else. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:49.199 That they would have a son. 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:55.139 And here in chapter 18 and 21, God fulfills his promise just as he said. 00:07:55.139 --> 00:08:02.099 Now, put yourself in Abraham and Sarah's shoes tonight. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:07.300 Not in chapter 21, where everything sort of reaches its happy fulfillment. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:09.360 Put yourself in their shoes in chapter 18. 00:08:11.459 --> 00:08:17.360 Put yourself in the tent on that hot Middle Eastern day. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:19.180 Because it's hot there. 00:08:20.099 --> 00:08:21.759 We think it's hot in New Haven. 00:08:22.039 --> 00:08:22.539 It's not hot. 00:08:25.139 --> 00:08:34.299 Now, if you're Sarah, if you're Abraham, how long at that point in the story had you been waiting for God to make good on his promises? 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:36.659 Months? 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:38.080 Years? 00:08:40.819 --> 00:08:51.580 And you have to realize that at first, the promise of God to Abraham and Sarah probably made Abraham and Sarah's experience even more bitter. 00:08:52.580 --> 00:08:53.319 Here's why. 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:57.700 Because they were unable to have children of their own. 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:00.379 We sort of know this at the start of the story. 00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:11.680 Which is a painful experience for any couple, especially in the ancient world, when so much of your identity and family stability and financial well-being depended on your ability as a family to have children. 00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:15.820 Who else was going to keep the herds and till the fields? 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:17.180 It was your kids. 00:09:17.179 --> 00:09:21.059 Who else was going to bear your name into the next generation? 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:22.219 It was your children. 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:28.839 So here's a couple who's already hurting because they can't have children. 00:09:29.339 --> 00:09:36.459 And then God comes in chapters 12 and 15 and 17 and makes a promise and says, no, you're going to have a child. 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:40.480 And at first, that promise probably brings them a lot of comfort and hope. 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:43.780 When Abraham gets that promise in chapter 17, you remember what he does? 00:09:43.820 --> 00:09:44.340 He laughs. 00:09:45.280 --> 00:09:50.000 And Matt said last week, it was probably a laughter of joy because God was saying, I'm going to do it. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:55.620 But then what happens when the fulfillment of that promise doesn't come? 00:09:57.340 --> 00:09:58.379 And doesn't come. 00:10:00.059 --> 00:10:01.039 And doesn't come. 00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:10.139 I can imagine that the promise may have made things even harder at times for Sarah and Abraham. 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:15.799 The book of Proverbs says, hope deferred makes the heart sick. 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:20.740 Not only were they struggling with infertility, but now they were struggling with the fact that God had made a promise. 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:23.439 And it seemed like he wasn't going to follow through. 00:10:27.699 --> 00:10:32.479 Now, the reality is, friends, that God doesn't promise all of us today that we will have children. 00:10:32.659 --> 00:10:34.939 God doesn't promise all of us that we will ever get married. 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:37.699 God doesn't promise us health and wealth and well-being. 00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:41.359 But God still makes promises to us, church. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:47.899 God promises to justify us in Christ, to make us right with the heavenly father. 00:10:48.019 --> 00:10:51.259 God promises to sanctify us in this life, to make us more and more holy. 00:10:51.940 --> 00:10:54.779 God promises one day to glorify us in the new heavens and new earth. 00:10:55.419 --> 00:10:57.519 God promises to put an end to evil and injustice. 00:10:57.759 --> 00:10:58.519 But you know what? 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:02.159 The waiting is hard. 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:08.860 And in the waiting, our faith starts to flounder, doesn't it? 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:15.379 And sometimes, the promise can even make things a little more bitter. 00:11:18.620 --> 00:11:19.300 Think about it. 00:11:19.300 --> 00:11:22.659 Have you ever had a prayer that goes unanswered? 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:26.220 And you keep praying it, and it still goes unanswered. 00:11:26.300 --> 00:11:29.320 And you keep praying it, and it still goes unanswered. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:34.740 You can think in those moments, does God hear? 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:37.300 Is God just unable to act? 00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:46.679 But friends, this text here in Genesis is here for us, showing us that God is not forgotten, 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:53.159 and God does hear, and God is still in complete control of our lives. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:02.059 Paul Miller, in his book, A Praying Life, which is a great book on prayer, by the way. 00:12:02.179 --> 00:12:03.379 Probably one of the best I've read. 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:07.340 He writes this as we think about waiting on God's promises. 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:08.980 He writes this. 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:13.919 He says, if God is sovereign, then he is in control of all the details of my life. 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:20.360 If God is loving, then he's going to be shaping the details of my life for my good. 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:27.759 If God is all-wise, then he's not going to do everything I want, because I don't know what I need. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:34.179 If God is patient, then he's going to take time to do all this. 00:12:34.419 --> 00:12:41.340 When we put all these together, God's sovereignty, love, wisdom, patience, we have a divine story. 00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:51.660 And friends, all of us who are in Christ are living, all of us, in the midst of that divine story, 00:12:52.160 --> 00:12:59.240 with a God who is sovereign and loving and all-wise and patient, 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:06.060 in control of all the details of your life, working all of them for good, 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:09.739 but not doing everything you want, because you don't always know what you need, 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:13.399 and not always doing it in the time frame that you think you need. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:18.599 And yet, he is still keeping all of his promises. 00:13:22.619 --> 00:13:28.079 Before we move on to the next point, I think the application briefly here is maybe twofold. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:35.879 First, are you a student of God's promises in God's word? 00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:42.300 Abraham received special revelation about the birth of his son Isaac. 00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:45.060 That was a very particular moment in redemptive history. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:50.400 The Lord literally, mysteriously shows up with two other messengers that day. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:54.400 Isn't it interesting how the narrative keeps going back and forth between three messengers, 00:13:54.680 --> 00:13:55.980 the Lord, three messengers, the Lord. 00:13:55.980 --> 00:14:00.600 It was a very mysterious moment in the Old Testament when God shows up, 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:03.480 literally shows up to Abraham under a veil. 00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:08.399 God shows up, speaks to Abraham, and tells him, 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:09.080 you're going to have a son. 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:12.320 But here's the crazy thing, church. 00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:17.360 You and I, we've got something even better than that. 00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:23.240 We have something even better than God showing up and telling us something. 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:28.379 Because you and I don't have to wait around in the heat of the day, 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:32.799 hoping that God shows up in some special way. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:38.919 Because for us, living at this time in redemptive history, 00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:45.860 God has inspired and preserved all of his promises for us in his word. 00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:49.100 You and I can do something Abraham could never do. 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:52.960 We can pick up a Bible, we can open the New Testament, 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:58.560 and we can read how God has fulfilled all of his redemptive promises in Jesus Christ. 00:14:58.779 --> 00:15:01.899 And then we can discover as we read there all of the promises 00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:04.700 that are true for us and will be true for us in Christ. 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:11.680 And friend, are you a student of those promises? 00:15:13.540 --> 00:15:16.540 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German pastor and theologian 00:15:16.540 --> 00:15:18.860 who died in a concentration camp during World War II, 00:15:19.180 --> 00:15:23.960 when he was teaching other pastors at a sort of covert seminary in Germany, 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:25.940 he used to always tell his students, 00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:31.060 he said that you need to read the Bible, brothers, sisters. 00:15:31.059 --> 00:15:35.339 You need to read the Bible as if it is God addressing you. 00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:39.079 He's talking to you through the Bible. 00:15:40.599 --> 00:15:44.279 Yes, God was speaking to the church long ago. 00:15:44.479 --> 00:15:46.159 That's when it was inspired and written down. 00:15:46.219 --> 00:15:49.359 But these words are there preserved to speak to us as well. 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:53.419 So we can read the Old Testament in light of the New Testament. 00:15:54.439 --> 00:15:57.779 And we can read the New Testament and apply it to ourselves in the light of Christ. 00:15:57.779 --> 00:16:02.860 So friends, if God keeps his promises, let's be students of God's promises 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:06.000 and let's treasure them up and let's hold them fast. 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:13.379 And second, I think the lesson is do we cling to the promises? 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:20.620 Sarah laughs when she hears the Lord reaffirm this promise that they would have a son. 00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:27.179 And this laugh probably is not the sort of joyful chuckle of Abraham confident in his Lord. 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:28.259 Yeah? 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:31.659 Can you agree with me on that reading of this text? 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:34.899 But you know what? 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:36.779 We can sympathize with Sarah, can't we? 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.500 Think about it. 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:44.019 God promises to display his glory through the church. 00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:50.220 God promises to draw and bring men and women from every nation, tribe, and tongue to himself. 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:54.000 And sometimes, and those are just two promises of like a thousand in the New Testament. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:59.200 And sometimes we think about those promises and we can laugh. 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:04.140 That weary, doubtful, disappointed laugh. 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:05.799 Really, God? 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:09.039 I've been a part of the church for a long time. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:13.680 And I don't see a lot of glory going on in the church. 00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:17.579 This is really where you're going to display your manifold wisdom to the world? 00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:22.339 Really, God? 00:17:22.399 --> 00:17:28.579 You're going to draw men and women to yourself through the proclamation of something as foolish 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:32.419 as a man dying on a cross 2,000 years ago? 00:17:34.939 --> 00:17:41.779 You don't know how far my neighbors are from believing in you in general, let alone believing in that. 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:47.740 And we start to laugh. 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:53.740 But when we start to laugh that kind of laugh, what do we need to do? 00:17:55.279 --> 00:18:00.920 We need to remember, quite simply, who God is. 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:06.920 We need to remember that it is God who's making these promises. 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:08.079 Not me. 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:10.139 Not you. 00:18:10.139 --> 00:18:10.160 Not you. 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.480 Not a president. 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:18.879 The God of the universe is making these promises. 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:24.059 Romans 4, 20 through 21, actually reflecting on this sort of season of Abraham's life. 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:26.420 Paul's Pistole to the Romans, chapter 4, says, 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:32.539 No distrust made Abraham waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith. 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:32.859 How? 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:39.039 As he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:47.379 Abraham's faith, his trust, grew strong as he gave glory to God. 00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:53.300 That is, as he remembered and exalted in who God is. 00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:57.640 The almighty maker of heaven and earth, as the old creed says. 00:18:58.580 --> 00:19:00.400 The infinitely holy one. 00:19:00.760 --> 00:19:02.780 The God of steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:19:02.820 --> 00:19:05.460 The God of perfect justice and righteousness. 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:07.779 This is the God who's making these promises. 00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:10.799 The one beside whom there is no other. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:15.839 And as we know from the New Testament, this is the God who sent his own son, 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:21.980 who freely took on flesh to redeem us from sin and seal us for eternal life by his spirit, 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:26.879 who conquered death in the resurrection, who ascended to the right hand of majesty, 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:31.259 who's poured out his spirit, who even now, through the proclamation of the gospel, 00:19:31.659 --> 00:19:36.899 is in power and in authority calling men and women, calling all nations to himself 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:43.720 to find life and rest and peace, and who has established his church on every single continent 00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:48.259 and continues to call men and women and convert men and women everywhere, every day. 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:53.060 That's the God who's making these promises. 00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:59.600 Do you realize how insane it is that this couple we're learning about tonight, 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:06.259 Abraham and Sarah, a nobody, nothing couple in the ancient Near East, 00:20:06.959 --> 00:20:15.219 out of this promise that he makes to them, the entire world has now been filled. 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:18.359 Isn't that amazing? 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.379 God keeps his promises. 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.379 That's the first big point. 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:28.819 Second, we see in this text that God keeps his promises by sheer grace. 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:36.039 God keeps his promises by complete and utterly sheer, totally free grace. 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.819 How do we see that in this text? 00:20:39.679 --> 00:20:43.079 What did Abraham and Sarah contribute to the fulfillment of this promise? 00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:47.959 Did they meet God halfway? 00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:51.419 Did they do their part so God would do his part? 00:20:53.219 --> 00:20:55.119 Does God help those who help themselves? 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:59.240 That's not how it works. 00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:00.619 I mean, come on. 00:21:00.699 --> 00:21:06.119 Abraham and Sarah could do nothing but trust God to fulfill the promise of bearing a son, right? 00:21:06.459 --> 00:21:10.159 After all, they were both way too old to bear children. 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:14.299 The narrator reminds us of that in verse 11 of chapter 18, if you want to look there. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:16.119 He sort of states the obvious. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:20.039 Now, Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:22.480 The way of woman had ceased to be with Sarah. 00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:24.240 Three times, he sort of drives the point home. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.720 They're old. 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.700 They're advanced in years. 00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:30.779 And Sarah is not going to have a child, naturally. 00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:33.660 In case you missed it, it ain't gonna happen. 00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:37.120 Sarah herself says it out loud. 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:38.279 She laughs to herself, saying, 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:41.700 After I'm worn out and my Lord is old, shall I have pleasure? 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:43.259 That is the pleasure of bearing a child. 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:46.379 Chapter 21, verse 5. 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:47.119 Remember what it said? 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:51.740 Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:58.819 I mean, look, you don't have to be an OBGYN to know that really, really old people can't have children anymore, right? 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.200 Is that obvious? 00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:00.960 It's obvious. 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:03.480 What was God doing here? 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:14.339 God was showing us something utterly crucial and incredibly central to the biblical story. 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:22.459 God is showing us here in Abraham and Sarah that his saving promises are completely his doing. 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:26.079 And that nothing is too hard for the Lord. 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:32.699 And our human works and our human strength are not what advances God's purposes in the world. 00:22:34.179 --> 00:22:35.279 It's God's grace. 00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:41.559 Before God saved us, if you're a believer here tonight, 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:46.399 before God saved us, you and I were dead in sin. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.899 That's what the Bible says. 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:52.139 Just like Abraham and Sarah were as good as dead when it came to bearing children, 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:54.419 you and I were spiritually dead in our sin. 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:57.399 We couldn't lift a finger to rescue ourselves. 00:22:58.839 --> 00:23:01.899 But God, being rich in mercy, 00:23:02.639 --> 00:23:05.419 because of the great love with which he loved us, 00:23:05.419 --> 00:23:07.980 even when we were dead in sin, 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:10.900 made us alive together with Christ. 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:15.660 By grace, God's unmerited favor and promise, 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.559 you have been saved. 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:18.900 Does that sound familiar? 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:20.240 I hope it does. 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.420 That's Ephesians 2. 00:23:21.620 --> 00:23:23.920 We took like a whole year and studied Ephesians in the evening service. 00:23:24.360 --> 00:23:25.960 Wasn't that what we were seeing in Ephesians? 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:30.079 That God making good in his promise doesn't depend on you. 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:33.639 Your job is to trust that he'll get the job done 00:23:33.639 --> 00:23:38.359 and obey out of gratitude for his unbelievable generosity toward us in Christ. 00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:42.439 Now, why does God do it this way? 00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:45.619 Why do God's redemptive promises move forward, 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:48.319 not on the basis of our work or our ability, 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:51.879 but on the basis of his ability and his grace? 00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:54.699 Well, there's a lot we can say about that. 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.960 But think about two things. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:01.940 First, isn't that really good news? 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:06.720 Just to be honest, isn't it really good news 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:09.539 that God's promises advance in our life, 00:24:09.840 --> 00:24:13.240 not because we rise to the challenge, 00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:16.240 not because of our strength and our intellect 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:18.900 and our moral record or our desserts. 00:24:22.600 --> 00:24:25.519 And if God's promises don't depend on those things, 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:29.680 if God can give a baby to a couple like Abraham and Sarah, 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:31.279 is anything too hard for the Lord? 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:36.519 Is anything too hard for the Lord, 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:39.759 no matter who you are or what your background is? 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:43.879 That God can forgive your sins, 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:47.339 even your pride and self-righteousness, 00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:48.779 to think that you don't need a Savior, 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:51.180 that God can forgive even those sins 00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.539 and make you his child. 00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:58.240 That God can release you over time from that addiction, 00:24:58.440 --> 00:25:01.359 that besetting sin that always seems to plague you. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:05.420 That God can give you gifts 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:07.740 and a calling to serve others 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:10.619 and that you can know the joy of building up the church. 00:25:14.879 --> 00:25:17.619 Friends, doesn't that take the burden off your shoulders? 00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:22.459 And doesn't it make you joyful? 00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:23.919 Just to be honest. 00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:28.799 God keeps his promises and he keeps them all the way, 00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:32.419 even when I couldn't lift a finger to help. 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:37.119 There's another reason why God does it this way. 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:40.500 Because when God's saving promises reach us, 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.500 apart from our works, 00:25:41.719 --> 00:25:43.419 when we see that they're all of grace, 00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:46.000 then it's God who gets the glory. 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:48.720 Imagine visiting Abraham and Sarah 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.680 after the birth of Isaac. 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:51.180 There you are in chapter 21. 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:54.800 You got the email saying that they had had a baby. 00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:56.000 Whoa, that's crazy. 00:25:56.140 --> 00:25:58.519 And then the take them a meal email came to them around 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.279 and you signed up 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.240 because you want to take them a meal. 00:26:00.800 --> 00:26:02.259 So you show up with whatever, 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.940 pasta primavera or whatever, 00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:05.980 and you got them a little card 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:07.200 and you got them a little baby gift. 00:26:07.300 --> 00:26:09.900 You got them one of those like stupid rubber giraffes 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:11.060 that costs like 40 bucks. 00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.460 Congratulations. 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:16.220 What do you say to Abraham 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:18.440 as he sits there 100 years old with a newborn? 00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:21.819 What do you say to Sarah, 90 years old, 00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:23.019 as she holds her baby? 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:27.019 Friends, in that moment, you can't help 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:31.099 but acknowledge and admit 00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:34.039 that this is the Lord's doing 00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:35.940 and it's wonderful in our eyes. 00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:38.279 You glorify God. 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:41.019 He gets all the credit 00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:44.299 because there's no fertility treatment in the world 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.720 that's going to pull that one off, 00:26:45.899 --> 00:26:47.119 especially in the time of Abraham. 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:51.500 It wasn't Abraham's virility. 00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:54.980 It wasn't Sarah's fertility that produced this child. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.740 It was God 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:58.420 and he gets all the glory 00:26:58.420 --> 00:27:02.399 and it's the same with all of God's promises. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:05.920 God does it by grace 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:08.040 so that he gets the glory 00:27:08.040 --> 00:27:11.080 and when he gets the glory, 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:14.720 we get to stop staring at ourselves for once 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:16.640 and we get to start adoring him. 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:21.320 Lost in wonder, thanks and praise, 00:27:21.580 --> 00:27:22.660 as the old hymn puts it. 00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:27.900 Aren't you tired of looking at yourself, church? 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:29.900 Isn't it so wearisome 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:32.220 to keep worrying about yourself? 00:27:33.060 --> 00:27:33.600 And God says, 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:36.600 let me glorify myself before you 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:38.320 by redeeming you through grace 00:27:38.320 --> 00:27:41.080 so you can get healed of your self-centeredness 00:27:41.080 --> 00:27:43.300 and lose yourself in something beautiful, 00:27:43.800 --> 00:27:44.940 namely me. 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:48.920 And I'm a fountain that's never going to run dry 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:52.259 and you'll be satisfied in me forever. 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:56.160 And when you finally get outside of yourself, 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:57.500 you can start loving other people 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:59.540 and know the joy 00:27:59.540 --> 00:28:00.940 and the freedom 00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:02.240 of living 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:04.000 for the glory of God 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:06.060 instead of for the glory of yourself. 00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.980 Third point. 00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.600 Then we'll go to the table. 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:15.140 We've seen that God keeps his promises. 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:17.480 God keeps his promises by grace. 00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:19.220 And last, what this text shows us 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:20.720 is that God's promises 00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:23.660 are there to turn our sorrow into joy. 00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:26.580 This past week, 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:28.720 I was reading in Psalm 30 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:30.400 and verse 5 just sort of jumped out at me 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:32.120 as I was thinking about our Genesis text. 00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:34.160 Psalm 30 verse 5 says, 00:28:34.320 --> 00:28:36.120 weeping may tarry for the night, 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:38.640 but joy comes with the morning. 00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:41.920 And is that not what we see here 00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:42.960 in the story of Abraham and Sarah? 00:28:43.800 --> 00:28:45.779 That through the birth of a son, 00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:48.180 God turned the sorrow 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:49.500 of Abraham and Sarah 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.620 into laughter. 00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:53.919 That the bitter laugh 00:28:53.919 --> 00:28:54.639 of disappointment 00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:56.379 and of a heart grown sick 00:28:56.379 --> 00:28:58.299 becomes the joyful laughter 00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:59.799 of a heart shot through 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.979 with grace. 00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:04.939 But friends, 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.519 you have to see this story 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:08.579 in light of the whole story 00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:09.019 of redemption. 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:11.159 You've got to see this story 00:29:11.159 --> 00:29:12.719 in light of the whole story 00:29:12.719 --> 00:29:13.199 of the Bible. 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:16.559 Yes, through the birth of a son, 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:20.379 God turns Abraham and Sarah's sorrow 00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:21.019 into joy. 00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:23.000 But through the birth of a son, 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:25.759 God turns not just the sorrow 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.740 of Abraham and Sarah 00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:27.319 into laughter, 00:29:27.419 --> 00:29:28.019 but ultimately, 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.539 he was turning the sorrow 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.679 of the whole world 00:29:30.679 --> 00:29:31.679 into laughter. 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.779 Because you see, 00:29:34.899 --> 00:29:35.639 in Isaac, 00:29:36.639 --> 00:29:39.099 in this boy born 00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:40.940 to Abraham and Sarah, 00:29:41.879 --> 00:29:44.879 God's covenant promise 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.780 was advancing. 00:29:47.340 --> 00:29:48.140 God's promise 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:49.980 to lift the curse 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.600 of the fall 00:29:50.600 --> 00:29:51.260 that we had brought 00:29:51.260 --> 00:29:52.000 upon ourselves. 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.380 God's promise 00:29:53.380 --> 00:29:55.080 to restore the blessing 00:29:55.080 --> 00:29:56.360 of Eden 00:29:56.360 --> 00:29:57.980 and a fellowship with him. 00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.820 God's promise 00:29:59.820 --> 00:30:00.780 that that blessing 00:30:00.780 --> 00:30:02.120 would go to all nations. 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:04.980 That's what God 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.720 was telling Abraham 00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.480 in Genesis 12 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:07.320 when he called him 00:30:07.320 --> 00:30:08.280 and he made a covenant 00:30:08.280 --> 00:30:08.760 with him. 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:10.200 And here in Isaac, 00:30:10.360 --> 00:30:12.060 that redemptive purpose 00:30:12.060 --> 00:30:13.680 of God advances. 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:15.880 And God gets 00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:17.280 one step closer 00:30:17.280 --> 00:30:18.120 to blessing 00:30:18.120 --> 00:30:19.260 the nations 00:30:19.260 --> 00:30:20.940 with his forgiveness 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.720 and righteousness 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.420 and grace 00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:23.220 and presence. 00:30:27.060 --> 00:30:27.800 But you know, 00:30:27.840 --> 00:30:28.460 here in the birth of Isaac, 00:30:28.540 --> 00:30:29.360 we even get a glimpse 00:30:29.360 --> 00:30:31.840 of how God's going to turn 00:30:31.840 --> 00:30:33.240 our sorrow into laughter. 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.480 Because don't we know 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.020 that when the fullness 00:30:37.020 --> 00:30:37.940 of time had come, 00:30:39.060 --> 00:30:40.320 God was going to do it again. 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:42.939 And he was going to do it 00:30:42.939 --> 00:30:44.159 through a promised son 00:30:44.159 --> 00:30:46.159 to an unlikely couple. 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.939 But this time, 00:30:48.399 --> 00:30:48.960 the couple, 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:50.799 and the mother especially, 00:30:50.939 --> 00:30:52.079 wasn't going to be too old, 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.819 but the mother 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:54.720 was going to be too young. 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:56.480 A virgin, 00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:58.619 just engaged to be married. 00:30:59.159 --> 00:31:00.259 Someone who shouldn't 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:01.899 be having babies. 00:31:02.439 --> 00:31:03.460 And yet Jesus comes, 00:31:04.179 --> 00:31:05.919 born of a virgin Mary, 00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:08.460 coming down 00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:09.580 to take our sorrow 00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.759 and sin 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.720 in his life 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.400 and in his death 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:13.700 and giving us joy 00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:14.820 in his resurrection. 00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:18.200 So that now, 00:31:18.600 --> 00:31:19.039 today, 00:31:19.580 --> 00:31:21.380 that joyful laughter 00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:22.380 of Sarah 00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:23.300 and Abraham 00:31:23.300 --> 00:31:23.920 in chapter 21 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.920 becomes the joyful laughter 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:27.360 of the church 00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:28.140 worldwide. 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.680 God has done it. 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:32.600 He's kept his promise. 00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.300 Our sins are forgiven. 00:31:34.299 --> 00:31:36.159 And new life has begun. 00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.480 And the Bible tells us 00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:39.899 that one day, 00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.220 Jesus, 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.659 because he's conquered 00:31:41.659 --> 00:31:42.460 sin and death, 00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:44.559 all sorrow 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.419 and all pain 00:31:45.419 --> 00:31:46.379 and all tears 00:31:46.379 --> 00:31:47.680 are going to flee away 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:49.359 when he comes to reign. 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:52.839 And every bitter disappointment 00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:54.259 that we have faced 00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:55.180 will be met 00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:56.559 and answered 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:58.279 with the joy of heaven. 00:31:58.279 --> 00:32:02.339 and the church 00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:02.920 will laugh 00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:04.339 with Sarah's laughter 00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:05.700 and God will be 00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.279 all in all. 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:10.399 God keeps his promises. 00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:13.579 As we go to the table, 00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.539 remember that, church. 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.460 Not a single word 00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:18.299 will fail 00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:19.960 and in Christ, 00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:21.339 all sorrow 00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:23.099 will turn to laughter. 00:32:25.139 --> 00:32:25.799 Let's pray. 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:30.279 Lord Jesus, 00:32:30.379 --> 00:32:31.279 how we need your spirit 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:32.740 to come 00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:34.940 and to grant us faith. 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:38.599 Lord, we praise you 00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:39.460 and we thank you 00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.440 that you are a promise 00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:42.220 keeping God 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:44.039 and that in Christ 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:45.139 all of your promises 00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:46.000 are yes 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.259 and amen. 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.159 It is true. 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:49.879 Lord, help us 00:32:49.879 --> 00:32:50.500 by your spirit 00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.519 to cling to Christ 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:53.400 in hope 00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:54.599 and in joy 00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:55.619 and in faith 00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:56.079 we pray. 00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.019 Amen. 00:32:59.220 --> 00:32:59.720 Well, friends, 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.299 we are going to celebrate 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:01.200 the Lord's Supper together 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:03.000 and Matt, 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:03.619 would you come up 00:33:03.619 --> 00:33:04.759 and help me serve? 00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:05.079 Thanks. 00:33:07.139 --> 00:33:08.200 We talked about God 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:09.980 keeping his promises 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:11.480 and what this table 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:12.339 is meant to do 00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:13.200 is meant to be 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:14.420 a reminder of just that. 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:15.700 It is meant to be 00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:16.279 something that we can 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:17.259 take up in our hands 00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.039 and we can actually 00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:19.319 put into our bodies 00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:21.439 as the most tangible, 00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:24.439 real, concrete reminder 00:33:24.439 --> 00:33:27.619 that God has done it. 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:29.179 He's kept his promises 00:33:29.179 --> 00:33:29.779 for us. 00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:32.960 If you're new to Trinity, 00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:33.519 if you're visiting, 00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:33.980 what we're going to do 00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:34.700 is we're going to take bread 00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:35.339 that's been broken 00:33:35.339 --> 00:33:36.259 and we're going to pass it out 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:36.599 and then we're going 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.139 to eat it together 00:33:37.139 --> 00:33:38.439 and we're going to take a cup 00:33:38.439 --> 00:33:39.960 and we're going to pass it out 00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:40.839 and we're going to drink it together 00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:42.299 and this bread 00:33:42.299 --> 00:33:43.079 and this cup 00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:43.899 represent, 00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.819 they symbolize 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.679 Christ's body 00:33:45.679 --> 00:33:46.919 that's been broken for us 00:33:46.919 --> 00:33:48.500 and they represent 00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:50.059 the blood of Christ. 00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:50.859 This cup represents 00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:51.539 the blood of Christ 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.779 that's been shed for us. 00:33:54.140 --> 00:33:55.279 So if you're here tonight 00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:57.180 and if it's true of you 00:33:57.180 --> 00:33:58.500 that you've turned from sin 00:33:58.500 --> 00:34:00.500 and placed your trust in Christ, 00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:02.119 if you're a Christian, 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:04.539 then take this bread 00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.680 and take this cup 00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:07.880 and hear the Lord Jesus himself 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:08.280 saying, 00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:10.119 I've done this for you. 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:12.119 If you're here tonight 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:13.000 and you're not a believer, 00:34:13.719 --> 00:34:14.440 if you're still sort of 00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:15.340 searching spiritually, 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.119 then instead of taking 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:16.659 the bread and cup, 00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:17.760 just pass them by. 00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:18.860 This is a sort of act 00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:19.920 for those who are 00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:21.840 united to Christ by faith. 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.900 Instead of taking the bread 00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:23.680 and taking the cup, 00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:24.440 which are symbols 00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:25.420 of what Christ has done, 00:34:25.520 --> 00:34:27.080 instead hear the voice of Christ 00:34:27.080 --> 00:34:27.380 saying, 00:34:27.580 --> 00:34:28.060 come to me 00:34:28.060 --> 00:34:29.200 and I'll give you rest. 00:34:31.600 --> 00:34:34.080 Turn from your own path 00:34:34.080 --> 00:34:36.600 and rest in Christ. 00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:38.120 Instead of taking the bread and cup, 00:34:38.200 --> 00:34:38.820 take Christ. 00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.360 Let me read from 00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:43.300 the New Testament. 00:34:45.680 --> 00:34:46.460 Paul writes this 00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:47.240 in 1 Corinthians 00:34:47.240 --> 00:34:49.099 as he's reminding 00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:49.880 the church in Corinth 00:34:49.880 --> 00:34:50.780 about the Lord's Supper. 00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:51.159 He says, 00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:52.220 I receive from the Lord 00:34:52.220 --> 00:34:53.720 what I also delivered to you, 00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:54.720 that the Lord Jesus 00:34:54.720 --> 00:34:55.840 on the night when he was betrayed 00:34:55.840 --> 00:34:56.440 took bread, 00:34:56.780 --> 00:34:57.539 when he had given thanks 00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:58.599 he broke it and said, 00:34:58.940 --> 00:34:59.780 this is my body 00:34:59.780 --> 00:35:00.480 which is for you. 00:35:01.220 --> 00:35:02.480 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:03.820 So Matt, 00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:04.480 would you pray for us 00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.740 as we prepare to take the bread? 00:35:06.220 --> 00:35:06.559 Thanks. 00:35:09.400 --> 00:35:10.280 Let's pray together. 00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:14.980 Lord Jesus, 00:35:15.180 --> 00:35:17.360 as we contemplate 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:18.420 this table 00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:19.220 and as we look 00:35:19.220 --> 00:35:20.900 at these crackers 00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:21.540 that represent 00:35:21.540 --> 00:35:22.260 your body 00:35:22.260 --> 00:35:23.280 broken for us, 00:35:23.340 --> 00:35:23.780 we think 00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:24.800 what a great love 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:26.900 you have shown us. 00:35:27.060 --> 00:35:28.460 What a great sacrifice, 00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.440 what a cost 00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:31.100 it took 00:35:31.100 --> 00:35:32.519 for you 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.460 to redeem us 00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:34.160 from our sin 00:35:34.160 --> 00:35:35.380 and to rescue us. 00:35:36.160 --> 00:35:36.519 Lord, 00:35:36.600 --> 00:35:37.740 what a costly keeping 00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:39.559 of your promises 00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:41.719 to be the redeemer 00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:42.319 of a people 00:35:42.319 --> 00:35:43.659 for your very own glory. 00:35:45.779 --> 00:35:46.259 Lord, 00:35:46.319 --> 00:35:47.399 as we take this tonight, 00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:49.259 may we be sobered, 00:35:49.259 --> 00:35:51.539 sobered by the costliness 00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.519 of our sin, 00:35:52.879 --> 00:35:53.199 Lord, 00:35:53.259 --> 00:35:54.359 that it took death, 00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.099 your death, 00:35:55.239 --> 00:35:58.000 to rescue us 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:59.039 from how bad 00:35:59.039 --> 00:35:59.979 our sin is. 00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:01.119 But Lord, 00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:02.139 may we also take it 00:36:02.139 --> 00:36:02.679 with joy, 00:36:03.739 --> 00:36:04.879 knowing that you have 00:36:04.879 --> 00:36:06.359 kept your promises 00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:07.960 and you have 00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:09.200 rescued us 00:36:09.200 --> 00:36:10.019 who put our faith 00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:10.440 in you. 00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:12.539 And so we take it 00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:13.039 knowing, 00:36:14.160 --> 00:36:14.220 Lord, 00:36:14.280 --> 00:36:15.079 that we are yours. 00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:17.140 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:17.599 Amen.