WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.320 Good morning. We this morning continue in the book of Genesis. 00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:08.480 We've made our way to chapter 18 this morning. 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:18.480 ! What you've seen from chapter 12 until now is you've seen God show up in the life of Abraham many times. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:20.879 And we'll look at some of those this morning. 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:24.060 But we have to remember to take this as a package. 00:00:24.060 --> 00:00:27.740 This whole 12 through 18 and even following, 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:31.059 we see in the life of Abraham a life of faith. 00:00:31.419 --> 00:00:37.640 And we see God interjecting promises to Abraham and to his people. 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:42.219 And so this morning as we open chapter 18, 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:45.259 if you were able, I would ask in honor of God's word, 00:00:45.340 --> 00:00:54.159 would you stand as we read this passage in chapter 18 going down through verse 15 this morning? 00:00:57.740 --> 00:00:58.520 Verse 1. 00:00:59.060 --> 00:01:03.219 And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks at Mamre. 00:01:03.219 --> 00:01:07.420 And he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:13.459 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. 00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:20.079 When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:25.640 Oh, Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:38.480 Let a little water be brought and wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree while I bring a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves. 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:41.079 And after that, you may pass on. 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:43.620 Since you have come to your servant. 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:46.400 So they said, do as you have said. 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:50.840 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, 00:01:51.180 --> 00:01:56.700 Quick, three seeds of fine flour, knead it and make cakes. 00:01:57.360 --> 00:02:06.620 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf tender and good and gave it to the young men who prepared it quickly. 00:02:07.320 --> 00:02:13.560 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared and set it before them. 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:16.699 And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:20.360 They said to him, where is Sarah, your wife? 00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:22.699 And he said, she is in the tent. 00:02:23.580 --> 00:02:29.039 The Lord said, I will surely return to you about this time next year. 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:31.480 And Sarah, your wife, shall have a son. 00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:35.840 And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 00:02:36.900 --> 00:02:39.920 Now, Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:43.079 The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 00:02:43.659 --> 00:02:49.319 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, after I'm worn out and my Lord is old, shall I have pleasure? 00:02:50.299 --> 00:02:57.119 The Lord said to Abraham, why did Sarah laugh and say, shall I indeed bear a child now that I'm old? 00:02:57.759 --> 00:02:59.500 Is anything too hard for the Lord? 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:05.060 At the appointed time, I will return to you about this time next year. 00:03:05.099 --> 00:03:06.899 And Sarah shall have a son. 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:10.219 But Sarah denied it, saying, I did not laugh. 00:03:10.780 --> 00:03:11.879 For she was afraid. 00:03:12.580 --> 00:03:14.780 He said, no, but you did laugh. 00:03:15.200 --> 00:03:15.800 Let's pray. 00:03:17.200 --> 00:03:19.980 Father, this morning we ask that you would empower your word. 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:23.900 God, we desire to be changed people because of your word. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:29.780 So God, would you allow our minds to understand what you have for us this morning in your word. 00:03:29.860 --> 00:03:30.659 And I pray in your name. 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:31.120 Amen. 00:03:32.020 --> 00:03:33.000 And y'all can have a seat. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:33.080 Amen. 00:03:33.080 --> 00:03:33.080 00:03:36.900 --> 00:03:43.140 So this morning, we're going to look at two responses to the promises of God. 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:47.240 Two responses to the promises of God. 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:53.420 And we see a different response in the life of Abraham than we do in the life of Sarah. 00:03:54.099 --> 00:03:55.480 That's what we'll see this morning. 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:59.399 As we look at verse 1, we see this. 00:03:59.619 --> 00:04:01.119 The Lord appeared to him. 00:04:01.219 --> 00:04:03.539 And so it begs the question, who is him? 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:06.780 Well, we know as we read through it, it's Abraham. 00:04:06.939 --> 00:04:09.000 But this links us to the previous passage. 00:04:09.859 --> 00:04:12.719 So we have to look at the truths in both of these. 00:04:12.819 --> 00:04:19.599 As a matter of fact, we have to go back all the way to the end of chapter 11, the first of chapter 12, 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:26.379 when Abraham came on the scene as we are working our way through the gospel. 00:04:26.520 --> 00:04:35.720 What I want you to see is that God has spoken to Abraham several times through these almost 25 years. 00:04:35.720 --> 00:04:39.580 So this morning, he is 99 years old. 00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:45.240 But in chapter 12, if we look at chapter 12, he was 75 years old. 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:50.079 So doing the math, roughly 25 years, God has spoken to him many times. 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:56.920 And I want to look back at those times just briefly. 00:04:57.060 --> 00:04:59.319 We want to look at what God said. 00:04:59.939 --> 00:05:04.079 Because what we find is that every time God comes and speaks to Abraham, 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:08.400 he always rehearses his promise. 00:05:09.019 --> 00:05:11.460 He tells him again his promise. 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:17.159 We see those promises spoken by the Lord multiple times to Abraham. 00:05:17.539 --> 00:05:20.699 And we want to look at Abraham's response to those promises. 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:22.279 So what are the promises? 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:26.680 Well, in chapter 12, verse 1, the Lord said to Abraham, 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:31.039 doesn't it make you wonder how is it that Abraham could hear? 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:34.319 And what form did God take when he spoke to him? 00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:36.139 You know, the scriptures don't tell us. 00:05:36.179 --> 00:05:40.279 So it's not for us to try to interpret what that form might have been. 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:46.319 But we do see that the Lord spoke to Abraham and he said, go. 00:05:47.919 --> 00:05:48.439 Go. 00:05:48.719 --> 00:05:51.599 And we will look at where he told him to go. 00:05:52.039 --> 00:05:57.719 We've probably already heard that through the scriptures here in the life of his father. 00:05:58.219 --> 00:06:03.579 But here it says, I want you to see three blessings that God says, 00:06:03.659 --> 00:06:07.199 or three promises that God gives to Abraham in this short passage. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:12.240 Here it says, he says this, I will make you of you a great nation. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:14.959 I will build a nation through you. 00:06:15.659 --> 00:06:17.920 He also says, I will bless you. 00:06:18.860 --> 00:06:20.879 Now, these are promises from God to Abraham. 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:26.899 He also says, in you, all the families of the earth will be blessed. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:28.279 In you, Abraham. 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:31.539 And what was the response of Abraham here? 00:06:32.859 --> 00:06:34.539 Well, we can look at verse four. 00:06:35.659 --> 00:06:37.679 And it's immediate obedience. 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:39.739 Immediate obedience. 00:06:40.500 --> 00:06:41.339 God says, go. 00:06:41.419 --> 00:06:42.099 And what did he do? 00:06:42.219 --> 00:06:43.939 In verse four, it says, so Abraham went. 00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:47.919 Think about this in the life of Abraham. 00:06:48.239 --> 00:06:50.039 And we'll get into a little more of this. 00:06:50.040 --> 00:06:52.780 Did he know where he was going? 00:06:52.900 --> 00:06:54.040 Did he know what he'd find? 00:06:54.140 --> 00:06:56.780 Did he know the type of people he'd run into? 00:06:56.939 --> 00:06:58.180 Did he know if he'd be safe? 00:06:58.260 --> 00:06:59.379 Did he know if he'd have food? 00:06:59.580 --> 00:07:01.040 A lot of question marks. 00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:05.260 But he did not let those questions stop him from obedience. 00:07:06.200 --> 00:07:08.660 We look at verse seven of chapter 12. 00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:14.480 And it says, the Lord appeared to Abraham and said this, I will give you this land. 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:15.600 What land? 00:07:15.840 --> 00:07:16.860 It's the promised land. 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:17.900 It's the land of Canaan. 00:07:17.899 --> 00:07:23.879 And God promised that he would give the land to Abraham and his descendants. 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:32.179 If we look at chapter 13, verse 14, we see again, the Lord said to Abraham, 00:07:33.019 --> 00:07:38.199 for all the land that you see, I will give it to you and to your offspring forever. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:46.060 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth so that if one can count the dust of the earth, 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:48.399 your offspring can also be counted. 00:07:48.699 --> 00:07:49.399 You hear the promise? 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:53.300 I will make of you a great nation. 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:56.540 This land will be yours forever. 00:07:57.800 --> 00:08:01.920 Chapter 15, he says this, the Lord came to Abraham in a vision. 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:04.860 Different in this case. 00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:10.540 And he said, fear not, Abraham, I am your shield. 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:11.360 Wow. 00:08:11.840 --> 00:08:12.720 What a promise. 00:08:13.840 --> 00:08:15.280 I am your shield. 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:17.180 You do not need to fear. 00:08:20.100 --> 00:08:23.819 Yeah, I hesitate here because isn't this pertinent for you and I? 00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:25.759 Do we live that way? 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:32.120 Is Abraham able to live that way, this life without fear? 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:36.879 What an amazing promise that he's given Abraham here. 00:08:37.220 --> 00:08:40.939 He goes on to say this, but he said, 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:48.759 when there's a discussion here about him not having any offspring. 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:50.340 So God, I hear your promise. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:54.180 And yet, right now, I don't have a son. 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:55.480 I don't have a male heir. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:58.320 I don't have a way to see this thing come into pass. 00:08:58.680 --> 00:08:59.340 He's honest. 00:09:00.540 --> 00:09:02.940 And he said, what about Eliezer? 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:06.660 This is a Damascan that's a part of my household. 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:09.480 Right now, he's the one that would receive the, 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:12.960 he would be next in line, if you will. 00:09:13.160 --> 00:09:17.320 And he takes him outside and he says, look toward the heaven. 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:18.580 Just look up. 00:09:20.340 --> 00:09:23.320 He says, can you number the stars? 00:09:26.040 --> 00:09:28.540 If you're able to number, if you're able, 00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:30.500 can you number them if you're able to number them? 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:33.139 Then he said, so shall your offspring be. 00:09:34.780 --> 00:09:36.780 And look, listen to the response of Abraham. 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:39.300 He believed the Lord. 00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:40.600 He believed him. 00:09:41.680 --> 00:09:42.940 And he counted it to him. 00:09:43.019 --> 00:09:45.700 That is, God counted it to him as righteousness. 00:09:45.700 --> 00:09:52.940 We see multiple times throughout these chapters as we're reading in the life of Abraham. 00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:57.160 His response is a response of belief, of faith. 00:09:57.159 --> 00:10:05.179 Again, God said in chapter 15, to your offspring, I will give this land. 00:10:05.179 --> 00:10:09.139 And we see it in verse 13 where he spoke to him and said that. 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:16.219 Chapter 17, the Lord appeared to Abraham. 00:10:16.459 --> 00:10:18.659 So you see, he spoke to him. 00:10:19.199 --> 00:10:20.679 He met him in a dream. 00:10:20.739 --> 00:10:22.099 And now he appeared to him. 00:10:22.599 --> 00:10:24.319 We don't know what form that took. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:28.020 But chapter 17 says, the Lord appeared to Abraham. 00:10:28.420 --> 00:10:29.420 And what did he say? 00:10:29.540 --> 00:10:35.520 Verse 8, I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojourning, 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:38.500 the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession. 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:42.000 And I will be not only your God, but their God. 00:10:43.280 --> 00:10:44.340 You hear the promises? 00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:47.980 I will do this. 00:10:49.060 --> 00:10:50.980 I will do this. 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:53.520 And what do you see in the life of Abraham? 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:57.580 You see a man that's responding with belief. 00:10:59.780 --> 00:11:09.020 And we see again, or we see this promise in the middle part of chapter 17, verse 15. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:13.200 God said to Abraham, I will give you a son by Sarah. 00:11:13.800 --> 00:11:15.960 Here is a very specific promise. 00:11:16.660 --> 00:11:20.360 I will give you a son by Sarah. 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:25.320 Abraham, in verse 17, fell on his face and laughed. 00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:28.740 Sarah is not the only one that laughed here. 00:11:28.820 --> 00:11:29.820 Abraham laughed too. 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:30.600 Because why? 00:11:30.680 --> 00:11:32.159 In his human mind, he said, wait a minute. 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:35.259 God, I know you hadn't forgotten. 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:39.279 And surely you know that I'm almost 100 years old. 00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:42.379 And Sarah is almost 90 years old. 00:11:42.379 --> 00:11:46.340 And how in the world is she going to have a baby? 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:47.799 How is she going to get pregnant? 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:55.399 And so he at least is willing to ask a question that he doesn't understand. 00:11:55.860 --> 00:11:57.939 Does it mean that he doesn't have faith? 00:11:58.039 --> 00:11:59.559 That it means that he doesn't trust? 00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:01.299 It just means that he's honest. 00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:02.240 He's sharing his heart. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:04.340 But I want you to see this in verse 22. 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:07.659 When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:08.919 And what did Abraham do? 00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:12.799 So God said, I'm going to give you a covenant in reference to this, 00:12:13.060 --> 00:12:16.060 a covenant of circumcision that Jonathan preached on last week. 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:18.340 And what was the response of Abraham? 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:22.220 He laughed when he thought about the possibility, 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:25.259 the impossibility of having a son through Sarah. 00:12:26.180 --> 00:12:27.899 And God said, I'm going to give you a covenant. 00:12:28.680 --> 00:12:29.399 God left. 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:29.860 And what did he do? 00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:32.200 He immediately did exactly what God said. 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:33.600 He immediately went. 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:36.740 Look at verse 23, if you're looking here. 00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:41.240 He circumcised the flesh of the foreskin that very day. 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:49.159 His quick response of obedience was because of his faith and his belief in God. 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:51.539 And now chapter 18. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:57.519 The Lord appeared to him, this time in a different form. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:00.740 It's just so interesting as we look through the scriptures 00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:08.659 to see how God reveals himself, how God shows himself to people along the way in the Old Testament years. 00:13:09.180 --> 00:13:11.419 And so we look here as he set at the door. 00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:15.860 So I want to try to get us into the picture of what's happening here. 00:13:16.060 --> 00:13:21.240 Can you picture Abraham's in a foreign land and through a process, 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:23.779 Lot went one way and Abraham went another way. 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:27.699 And he's among a people group that has this area that he went to. 00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:30.379 And there's this area where there's trees on high hills. 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:31.939 And it's shady. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:33.659 And it's a hot country. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.139 Extremely hot country. 00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:38.500 And so it was traditional that during the hottest part of the day, 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:40.399 they would not be in the fields working. 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:43.240 They would come in for lunch and rest and shade. 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:48.100 And so here he is sitting in the door of his tent. 00:13:48.819 --> 00:13:50.539 And he looks up. 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:51.299 And what does he see? 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:56.279 I want to make this point about this word appeared. 00:13:56.279 --> 00:14:02.759 You know, you would have thought that he would have seen these guys walking all along the way 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:05.039 and walking up the hill and coming to the trees. 00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:06.459 The word of God doesn't share that. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:08.740 The word of God shares that they appeared. 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:10.839 I don't want to make too much of it. 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.899 But they appeared in what form? 00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:16.000 There's three men, I want to put in quotation marks, 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:20.019 three men that were standing in front of him. 00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:22.419 And what was the response of Abraham? 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:24.600 Did you all catch it? 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:27.759 Twice it says he ran. 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:31.120 And also he acted quickly. 00:14:32.319 --> 00:14:34.240 We see in these first eight verses. 00:14:34.459 --> 00:14:36.139 But if you'll look at this, 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:41.019 he ran from the tent to meet them. 00:14:41.199 --> 00:14:42.980 And what was his response to these men? 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:46.000 He bowed himself down to the earth. 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:49.139 These must not have been ordinary men. 00:14:50.299 --> 00:14:52.480 Matter of fact, as we work through this passage, 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:54.679 we'll see these weren't ordinary men at all. 00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:58.799 You know, there's a lot of beliefs about who these three might have been. 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:01.579 There's some that believe they're just three men. 00:15:01.719 --> 00:15:05.099 Three men and he's showing common hospitality to them. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:09.219 But there's others that say, no, no, these three men, 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:17.279 they are just, this is, the reason there's three is this just is three manifestations of God before Abraham. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:21.159 Others would say that one of them is God and two of them are angels. 00:15:21.699 --> 00:15:24.620 You know, there's varying opinions about this. 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:27.819 And I can't say one way or the other which one is real. 00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:34.199 I would lean toward it's Jehovah God and two angels with him because of chapter 19. 00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:36.759 It talks about two angels going down to Sodom. 00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:47.200 But whatever the case is, we see his response as a response that indicates that he saw them as holy men. 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:55.620 And he sees them as not just ordinary men because he bows down and he calls himself your servant. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:57.980 I don't think that's just a kindness. 00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:59.480 I think that's literal. 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:03.240 He sees himself as a servant of the one in front of him. 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:14.039 You know, it makes me wonder if there is a recognition of his holiness because he's encountered God multiple times previously. 00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:16.000 And here he is encountering him again. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:20.600 And how did Abraham respond to the presence of these three? 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:28.080 Well, the word here indicates that he bowed himself and he ran to them. 00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:29.639 He didn't walk to them. 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:31.139 He didn't idly walk up to them. 00:16:31.420 --> 00:16:33.779 He ran to them out of respect. 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:37.340 And probably as I see it, he didn't want them to go. 00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:39.580 He's like, man, I don't want this to end. 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:44.600 I want to enjoy the presence of one that is holy of Jehovah God, I believe. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.399 And what did he say? 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:49.120 He said, would you please, would you please just stay? 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:51.639 Let me show you courtesy. 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:54.700 Let me bring water that I might wash your feet. 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:56.899 You know, there was dusty roads in those lands. 00:16:57.899 --> 00:17:04.539 It was common courtesy when someone would enter your house or your place that you would wash their feet, clean their feet. 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:07.700 And so common courtesy would be that. 00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:15.519 But in addition, he went to his wife and said, quick, can you please grab this flour and make some cakes out of this flour? 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:17.180 He runs to the herd. 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:24.720 He grabs the choicest animal that he could and he brings it back and he has a guy prepare the animal. 00:17:25.140 --> 00:17:27.360 And he brings out curds and milk. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:27.980 You know what I see? 00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:32.779 I see him giving the best of the best that he has for these three. 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:38.799 He's doing as quickly as he can, showing hospitality, but also showing honor. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:42.000 He sees who they are. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:45.919 He desires to honor them in any way he can. 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:50.579 He desires to serve these men in any way he can. 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:53.339 He desires to be a servant of God. 00:17:53.339 --> 00:18:00.779 I wonder what Sarah was thinking. 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:09.679 So if we can picture this, Abraham is in the opening of the tent. 00:18:09.879 --> 00:18:18.419 Sarah, we learn in verse 6 that Sarah was in the tent. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:22.240 He went into the tent to ask her to help. 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.599 She's in the tent. 00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:24.640 He's at the door of the tent. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.160 He runs out to these men. 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:28.640 He comes back quickly and says, I need your help. 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.819 Can you please prepare this? 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:31.000 He runs to the herd. 00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:31.259 He comes. 00:18:31.620 --> 00:18:33.539 Sarah, all along, is like, who are these guys? 00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:34.859 Why are you rushing around like this? 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.380 What's up? 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:41.519 And she's doing what he asked him to do as one who desires to honor her husband. 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.059 She prepares it. 00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:46.919 And then as he takes all this out to them, she stays in the tent. 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:53.279 But her ear is listening to the conversation out there. 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:55.099 And what is the conversation? 00:18:55.259 --> 00:19:03.559 It's conversation between the three, specifically between Jehovah God, I believe, and Abraham. 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:08.980 And what is the question that he asked? 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:13.339 Isn't it interesting that Jehovah asked a question about Sarah? 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:19.980 Sarah, if these were ordinary men, how would they know that his wife is Sarah? 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:26.220 So he asked, where is Sarah, your wife? 00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:29.259 And he responded, she's in the tent. 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:32.819 What a strange question, right? 00:19:32.819 --> 00:19:42.480 The Lord said, he said it in such a way that Sarah would have probably picked up her name as she's in the tent. 00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:46.119 And she would have tuned her ear a little better to listen. 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:46.639 Wait a minute. 00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:47.299 What are they talking about? 00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:47.919 I heard my name. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:48.939 What's going on out there? 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:53.099 And says, I will surely return to you about this time next year. 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:55.639 And Sarah, your wife, will have a son. 00:19:56.740 --> 00:20:00.480 Now, listen, did Jehovah need to tell Abraham that? 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:07.680 If we go back just a few verses in chapter 17, verse 19, 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:09.920 Sarah, your wife, shall bear you a son. 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:11.660 He's already told Adam, I mean Abraham. 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.579 He's already told Abraham. 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:17.099 Why does he need to show up again to tell Abraham the very same thing? 00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:19.640 Personally, I don't think it's for Abraham. 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:26.279 Personally, I think they came by for Sarah's sake. 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:32.180 And I'll make that point as we look at the response of Sarah to these promises. 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:38.740 Do you believe that Sarah would have heard about these encounters that Abraham was having? 00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:42.700 Do you think that Abraham would go, you won't believe it. 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:45.519 You won't believe what just happened, chapter 12. 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:47.720 He just appeared to me. 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:48.940 He spoke to me. 00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:50.079 God spoke to me. 00:20:50.379 --> 00:20:53.879 And he told me these amazing, crazy, crazy things. 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.359 Do you know what he's telling me? 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:57.240 He's telling me he's going to make a nation out of us. 00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:59.879 He's saying the descendants are going to be numerous. 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:04.079 He's saying this whole land one day is going to be ours. 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:07.339 Yeah, I don't know why he's doing that. 00:21:07.419 --> 00:21:08.399 I don't have any idea. 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.759 But look what he's doing. 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:15.599 Do you think that Sarah would have known about these promises, 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.699 that he would have shared them? 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.679 Of course he would have. 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:19.420 It's his bride. 00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:25.160 Do you think that Sarah would have recognized that all the men in camp got circumcised? 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:29.380 Believe me, they aren't going anywhere fast, okay? 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:32.340 And she would have known about that. 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.240 She would have seen it. 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:34.360 And she would have asked questions. 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.160 What's going on? 00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.680 Why are y'all doing this? 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.779 Here's why we're doing it. 00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:39.440 Because God met with me and he said, 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.560 you're going to have a son. 00:21:43.060 --> 00:21:46.640 Now, understand this is a 25-year window. 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:51.060 And we've already looked at previously that Sarah is challenged. 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.200 She's struggling. 00:21:53.860 --> 00:21:54.779 She's barren. 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:59.779 And she's in the tent listening to this thing. 00:21:59.899 --> 00:22:03.019 And she hears this promise from God. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:04.599 And what does she do? 00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:13.660 She, the text tells us she's, the way of women has ceased with Sarah. 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:14.099 What does that mean? 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.740 The way of women has ceased. 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:17.639 In other words, childbearing years are gone. 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:21.039 She's past childbearing age. 00:22:21.139 --> 00:22:24.599 There's no possibility that her body can bear child. 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:28.200 It goes on to say something very interesting. 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:35.839 Is that, talking about that likely from a physical standpoint in their marriage, 00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:37.759 they're past that time frame too. 00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:44.099 Because we see in this passage that, how did she respond to this promise? 00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:48.139 How did she respond to the hearing of what this one was saying out there? 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:48.720 Here's what she did. 00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:49.680 She laughed. 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.359 Sarah laughed. 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:56.799 So can you imagine, she's been under this weight for all these years. 00:22:56.899 --> 00:22:57.259 What weight? 00:22:59.099 --> 00:23:01.519 Well, let me share a little bit about Sarah right quick. 00:23:01.639 --> 00:23:03.319 What we can glean from the scriptures. 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:06.199 You know, Sarah was beautiful, right? 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.599 Beautiful to look at. 00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:09.259 So she got a lot of things going for her. 00:23:09.899 --> 00:23:12.839 She's married to a man of God. 00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:14.819 She's got a lot of things going for her. 00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:16.700 But she's barren. 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.480 She's barren. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:21.960 What is it like for a woman to be barren? 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:24.619 Now, we might know about in our day and time, 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:27.319 what was it like for a woman in those days to be barren? 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:33.460 You know, she's never tasted of motherhood ever. 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:43.179 She's 99 years old and she's watched other people and servants and people that are in their relatives and such. 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.179 They've given birth. 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:46.919 She's never tasted what it's like to be a mom. 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:52.340 She's not able to produce an heir for her husband. 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:56.440 There's no male heir for a husband. 00:23:56.600 --> 00:23:58.440 The name is going to disappear. 00:23:59.060 --> 00:24:02.300 The name of Abraham because she wasn't able to produce it. 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:08.320 Now, she used her own crafty creativity to try to say, hey, let me help God. 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:10.120 I know God said that to you. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:12.220 We just need to help him out. 00:24:12.300 --> 00:24:15.180 Here, take my servant and let her produce one. 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:16.160 Well, what happened with that? 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:18.240 Then she's ridiculed. 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:22.220 She's got her servant come, look, I produce. 00:24:22.580 --> 00:24:26.060 And it's almost as if she's closer to Abraham now than you are. 00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:37.460 So the pain that she likely feels, you know, even though the passage is not in Isaiah 54 is a passage that says, 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:41.140 Sing, O barren one who did not bear. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:46.200 Though it's not talking about Sarah, it is talking about barrenness. 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:48.759 And what does barrenness look like? 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:52.720 Well, just a few choice words I'll take out of here. 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:58.299 To you who has not been in labor, the desolate one. 00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:00.200 This feeling desolate. 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:03.100 Fear not, you will not be ashamed. 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:04.419 There's a shame. 00:25:04.419 --> 00:25:05.179 There's a shame. 00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:08.459 When others look and you haven't been able to bear a child. 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:09.779 The reproach. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:12.919 The grieved in spirit. 00:25:13.879 --> 00:25:17.619 It's a beautiful picture in Isaiah 54 of what it looks like to be barren. 00:25:17.679 --> 00:25:18.679 It's not beautiful to be barren. 00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.299 Don't get me wrong. 00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:24.740 But it reveals this emotion you can't run from. 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:33.899 And surely there's this pain, this ever-present pain for her to the point where she's probably gotten cynical. 00:25:36.159 --> 00:25:37.259 I know he said that. 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.200 I know he said it. 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:39.700 But there ain't no way in the world. 00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:41.460 Does he not understand how old I am? 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.559 Does he not understand? 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:44.599 Listen, we're not even physical anymore. 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:47.059 And my body couldn't do it if I had to do it. 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:51.539 But she laughs, but she doesn't laugh out loud. 00:25:52.899 --> 00:25:54.000 Do you catch that? 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.940 She laughed to herself. 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.879 Have you ever done that? 00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.579 Did you hear that? 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:00.000 I just laughed at myself. 00:26:01.379 --> 00:26:03.740 The issue is you laugh to yourself. 00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:04.839 Nobody else hears it. 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:11.279 She laughed to herself saying in her mind, after I'm worn out. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:13.419 In other words, my body is absolutely worn out. 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:16.220 And my Lord is old. 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.920 Shall I have pleasure? 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:23.339 The Lord said to Abraham, notice the Lord didn't speak yet to Sarah. 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:26.779 So the Lord shared the promise. 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:28.240 Sarah's in the tent listening. 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.240 She hears that. 00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:33.220 She chuckles to herself and says, that guy, who is that guy out there? 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:34.819 Who does he think he is? 00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:36.259 How does he even know I'm his wife? 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:38.180 And what's he claiming all these things for? 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.860 Who is this guy? 00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:48.240 And then the Lord said to Abraham, why did Sarah laugh and say, shall I indeed bear a child now that I'm old? 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.199 Do you think Sarah heard that? 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.619 Oh, yeah. 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:52.699 And she's like, what? 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:53.919 What? 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.039 What? 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:55.960 She's looking around. 00:26:56.800 --> 00:26:58.360 How did he know I just laughed at this? 00:26:58.360 --> 00:26:59.440 How did he know what I was thinking? 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:00.920 You know what? 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:05.920 That moment, Sarah realized something about this one. 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:11.360 This one, one of the three that was out there, she recognized something. 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.800 This is not an ordinary guy. 00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:19.420 There's no way that an ordinary guy can, number one, know I'm his wife, and number two, heard me laugh. 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.840 Nobody could hear me laugh. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:24.700 Nobody can understand what I just thought in my head. 00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:27.519 And what I just thought in my head, you just spoke right back to me. 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.940 And this must be God. 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:30.639 This must be God. 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:41.000 And God says this, is anything too hard for the Lord? 00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:45.379 Mind you, he's speaking to Abraham. 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:54.039 At the appointed time, I will return to you about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son. 00:27:57.519 --> 00:28:00.859 How do you think Sarah responded to that statement? 00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:04.799 Why did he make the statement again? 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:08.579 Do you understand what's going on here? 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:13.680 He tells Abraham, I will surely return next year. 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:15.119 About this time, your wife will have a son. 00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:16.220 He says it again. 00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:18.019 At the appointed time, I will return. 00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:20.579 About this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son. 00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:21.579 He's repeating himself. 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:22.000 Why? 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.240 You know why? 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:24.019 Here's what I think. 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:27.319 I think we see here a tenderness. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:29.599 From God. 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:30.920 That is amazing. 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:40.660 I think he cares for Sarah so much. 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:44.099 That he would appear for her sake. 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:49.980 I don't think he came back to tell Abraham again what he had promised him. 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:54.559 I think he came by for Sarah's sake. 00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:55.879 Why? 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:55.920 Why? 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:59.640 Because Sarah is struggling to believe. 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:02.240 She wants to believe. 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:04.040 She wants to have faith. 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:06.500 But she just can't embrace it. 00:29:06.560 --> 00:29:06.900 Why? 00:29:08.300 --> 00:29:09.660 Let me ask this question. 00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:13.000 When your life is full of emotions. 00:29:14.560 --> 00:29:17.019 When you can't see away. 00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:22.200 When there's no explanation and it looks absolutely impossible. 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:27.680 Do you find in your life that you're believing all the promises of God? 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:31.320 Or do you identify with Sarah? 00:29:31.320 --> 00:29:31.440 Sarah? 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:41.320 Sarah in her mind with her equation says that it's not possible so I can't believe. 00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:44.240 And you know what God says? 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.919 God says this. 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:46.740 Is anything too hard for the Lord? 00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:49.659 Do you understand who I am? 00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:55.640 Do you understand that I'm the sovereign maker of all things? 00:29:56.200 --> 00:30:00.480 Do you understand that I'm the one who gives birth? 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:05.519 Do you understand that I'm the one that does things that are supernatural? 00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:07.680 Things that are beyond nature? 00:30:08.040 --> 00:30:09.720 Things that you can't understand? 00:30:10.100 --> 00:30:11.660 Things that you've never seen? 00:30:12.040 --> 00:30:13.560 Things that you've never imagined? 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.500 I am able. 00:30:16.899 --> 00:30:19.159 You know what's beautiful about this? 00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:23.899 Is the passage we read earlier in Hebrews 11. 00:30:24.379 --> 00:30:30.139 I want you to hear what is said about Sarah in the hall of faith. 00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:39.139 We can clearly see that at 99, I mean excuse me, at let's see, 100, 90, almost 90 years old. 00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:40.519 She did not believe. 00:30:40.639 --> 00:30:41.759 She did not have faith. 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:45.700 But Hebrews 11 declares that something changed in her life. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.279 You know what changed? 00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:53.859 I think that event, this is my personal, I'm reading in the white spaces between the words in Scripture. 00:30:54.039 --> 00:31:02.740 I'm inferring, I believe by the tenderness of God in this interaction that took place by the Oaks at Mamre, 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:11.339 it's gentleness in the way he treated her, Sarah, that she that day believed. 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:21.379 It says, by faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age. 00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:23.000 Listen to this. 00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:26.019 She considered him faithful who promised. 00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:28.079 When did that happen? 00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:30.559 Because what I just read, 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:34.539 Are you out of your mind? 00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:35.599 I'm old. 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.659 I'm paraphrasing. 00:31:39.419 --> 00:31:40.679 But it says something close to that. 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:43.279 But Hebrews 11 says, 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:48.180 She considered him faithful who had promised. 00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:48.180 00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:49.840 And you're fast. 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:49.840 00:31:49.839 --> 00:32:19.819 Thank you. 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:27.339 Are you touched by the tenor of God? 00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:37.480 You know, it's my guess that all of us struggle with this. 00:32:40.459 --> 00:32:43.959 Raise your hand if you believe in all the promises of God. 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.439 Raise your hand. 00:32:45.659 --> 00:32:48.199 You believe in everyone with no struggles. 00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:52.959 You know what? 00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:55.599 I find myself to be a whole lot like Sarah. 00:32:58.419 --> 00:32:59.939 And I wonder if you do too. 00:32:59.940 --> 00:33:07.799 Let me just remind you of some New Testament promises that God has given to you and me. 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:12.640 And let me just ask you if you step into all of those. 00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:18.539 Let me ask you if you respond to the promises of God that I'm going to share with you right now. 00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:20.600 If you always respond with faith. 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:23.439 Or do you find yourself doubting? 00:33:23.779 --> 00:33:27.219 Do you find yourself laughing saying there's no way? 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:29.519 Surely he wouldn't say that. 00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:31.159 Surely he hadn't promised that. 00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:33.339 How do you respond to his promise? 00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:36.899 Listen, God says that I will give you eternal life. 00:33:36.959 --> 00:33:37.459 Do you believe it? 00:33:37.460 --> 00:33:43.019 Christian, do you believe that that's absolutely true? 00:33:43.380 --> 00:33:48.720 That he's going to give you by what Christ has done in your behalf. 00:33:48.840 --> 00:33:55.000 That is, he's died on the cross paying the penalty of our sin in our place in order that we're going to have eternal life. 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:55.660 Do you believe that? 00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:58.120 Do you ever doubt your salvation? 00:33:58.119 --> 00:34:02.599 No longer do I doubt my salvation. 00:34:03.719 --> 00:34:06.199 Praise be to God that I'm absolutely convinced. 00:34:06.339 --> 00:34:09.019 I see something in me that wasn't in me before. 00:34:09.759 --> 00:34:12.259 I see a changed guy. 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:14.239 I see changed desires in me. 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:17.299 I know for sure that I'm going to be in heaven. 00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:19.980 I know for sure that I'm going to inherit eternal life. 00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:21.639 Do I respond to that in faith? 00:34:21.719 --> 00:34:22.420 Yes, I do. 00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:23.799 And I'm hoping all of us do. 00:34:24.219 --> 00:34:26.659 Because that's the declaration of John 4. 00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:29.880 It's eternal life. 00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:30.639 How about this? 00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:33.259 Do you believe that for you there's a future? 00:34:35.279 --> 00:34:37.599 Do you believe that he will return? 00:34:37.759 --> 00:34:39.460 Do you believe that he's going to take you home? 00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:41.039 Do you believe he's going to take you to glory? 00:34:42.440 --> 00:34:43.319 Do you believe for sure? 00:34:44.319 --> 00:34:46.119 Do you believe Jesus is coming back again? 00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:46.599 Do you believe? 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:47.880 Absolutely. 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.940 I 100% believe. 00:34:49.319 --> 00:34:50.159 You know, it's been a while. 00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:54.579 A couple of generations ago, probably a bunch of generations ago, 00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:55.699 I said, oh, he's coming this week. 00:34:55.739 --> 00:34:56.559 He's coming next month. 00:34:56.599 --> 00:34:57.359 He's coming next year. 00:34:57.360 --> 00:34:58.340 He's coming in my lifetime. 00:34:59.340 --> 00:35:00.340 He ain't come yet. 00:35:01.240 --> 00:35:02.599 Why do you believe he's coming? 00:35:04.200 --> 00:35:07.099 What gives you so much confidence to think he's coming again? 00:35:07.820 --> 00:35:08.960 The word of God declares it. 00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:11.559 The word of God declares it. 00:35:11.620 --> 00:35:13.400 There's a promise been made by God. 00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:14.019 Do you believe it? 00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:14.960 I believe it. 00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:16.340 Absolutely believe it. 00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:17.860 Let me ask you this one. 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:21.300 He says he'll never leave you or forsake you in Hebrews. 00:35:21.820 --> 00:35:22.720 Do you believe it? 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:27.959 If you've ever been in a tight pinch and you wonder where in the world is God? 00:35:28.779 --> 00:35:30.759 God, where are you when I need you, man? 00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:34.079 Don't you see what condition I'm in? 00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:35.639 Don't you see my circumstances? 00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:37.179 Don't you understand? 00:35:37.419 --> 00:35:40.559 I don't have a dime and I've got these people climbing down my back. 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:42.019 I've got to pay this and pay that. 00:35:42.259 --> 00:35:43.159 Where are you? 00:35:46.019 --> 00:35:47.299 Have you ever struggled with that? 00:35:50.199 --> 00:35:51.799 I'll never leave you or forsake you. 00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:56.519 Have you ever been in a place where you're all alone and you don't sense the presence of God anywhere, anywhere? 00:35:57.179 --> 00:35:57.759 Have you ever been there? 00:35:58.739 --> 00:35:59.519 Most of us have. 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:03.699 Do we believe the promise of God, I'll never leave you or forsake you? 00:36:04.019 --> 00:36:04.659 I believe it. 00:36:04.659 --> 00:36:07.460 I believe it because that's what he's declared. 00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:09.859 He said, he's promised I'll never leave you or forsake you. 00:36:10.319 --> 00:36:11.039 How about this one? 00:36:12.319 --> 00:36:14.879 There remains a rest for your soul. 00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:18.079 I will give you rest for your soul. 00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:18.839 Do you believe it? 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:23.519 Do you believe there's coming a day when you're going to have absolute full rest? 00:36:26.399 --> 00:36:27.239 I believe it. 00:36:27.239 --> 00:36:32.059 If we read the end of Revelation, you can't read that and not believe that. 00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:36.599 It's talking about the most amazing new heavens and new earth. 00:36:36.699 --> 00:36:37.779 We'll see him face to face. 00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:38.460 No more tears. 00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:39.199 No more crying. 00:36:39.739 --> 00:36:40.139 Amazing. 00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:41.900 Do I believe that's real? 00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:42.799 He promised it. 00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:43.619 I believe it. 00:36:44.099 --> 00:36:49.400 Now, let me talk to you about one that's the most difficult, I think, or at least one of the ones that's the most challenging. 00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:52.500 I'm going to talk about it in Matthew 6. 00:36:52.500 --> 00:37:03.059 I'm going to read a passage, and I think this is probably one of the places that the rubber meets the road the most for us when we talk about the promises of God. 00:37:03.219 --> 00:37:07.340 That in reality, we want to believe, but we struggle to believe. 00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:10.360 And this hits us on a regular basis. 00:37:10.840 --> 00:37:11.420 Listen to it. 00:37:11.780 --> 00:37:14.860 Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life. 00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:15.639 All right. 00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:16.659 Let me ask the question again. 00:37:17.199 --> 00:37:19.019 Do you all believe the promises of God? 00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:24.800 Do you believe the promise you're about to hear in this passage? 00:37:26.179 --> 00:37:29.440 He says, in response to the promise, don't be anxious. 00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:30.940 You know what? 00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:33.259 In essence, why are you worried about anything? 00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:37.820 Why do you entertain anxiety in your life? 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:39.679 Why do you worry at all? 00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:45.039 Because what I'm about to tell you is the promise that you can take to the bank. 00:37:45.480 --> 00:37:48.860 But I'm telling you, for most of us, we struggle with this. 00:37:50.019 --> 00:37:55.079 Do not be anxious about your life, what you'll eat or what you'll drink or about your body, what you'll put on. 00:37:55.159 --> 00:37:57.539 Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:58.460 Look at the birds. 00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:01.800 Let me ask the question. 00:38:02.199 --> 00:38:08.259 How many times have you all seen the birds plant and then care for their garden? 00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:11.400 And then when it's ready, go and reap a harvest? 00:38:12.420 --> 00:38:13.780 He's making the point here. 00:38:14.199 --> 00:38:15.519 The birds, I feed them. 00:38:15.519 --> 00:38:20.860 They neither sow nor reap nor gather in barns. 00:38:21.079 --> 00:38:22.920 And yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:25.300 Are you not more valuable than them? 00:38:26.619 --> 00:38:30.840 And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to your lifespan? 00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:33.500 What benefit is there, right? 00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:36.820 And why are you anxious about clothing? 00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:38.880 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. 00:38:39.019 --> 00:38:40.219 They neither toil nor spin. 00:38:40.639 --> 00:38:43.719 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of them. 00:38:43.980 --> 00:38:49.119 But if God so clothed the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown in the oven, 00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:51.219 will he not much more clothe you? 00:38:51.280 --> 00:38:51.860 You hear what he's saying? 00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:55.539 They get clothed and they don't even last long. 00:38:55.639 --> 00:38:59.219 God is gracious enough to clothe the flowers with this incredible beauty. 00:38:59.219 --> 00:39:02.619 And yet you go around trying to make this happen on your own. 00:39:02.699 --> 00:39:06.199 You worry yourself to death because you don't believe in my promises. 00:39:06.439 --> 00:39:08.179 You don't believe what I've told you. 00:39:09.399 --> 00:39:13.019 He goes on to say, therefore, don't be anxious, saying, what are we going to eat? 00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:13.859 What are we going to drink? 00:39:13.899 --> 00:39:14.739 What are we going to wear? 00:39:15.639 --> 00:39:18.339 For nonbelievers, seek after those things. 00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:21.559 And your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 00:39:23.459 --> 00:39:25.480 Do you grasp the beauty of this? 00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:26.039 He's sovereign. 00:39:26.199 --> 00:39:26.480 He knows. 00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:27.679 He's omniscient. 00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:28.399 He knows everything. 00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:31.019 He's omnipotent. 00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:32.939 He can do all things. 00:39:33.899 --> 00:39:36.659 He goes on to say, here's what I want you to focus on. 00:39:36.799 --> 00:39:39.259 Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. 00:39:39.699 --> 00:39:40.359 Here's the promise. 00:39:40.539 --> 00:39:41.899 All these things will be added to you. 00:39:43.239 --> 00:39:45.480 All these things will be added to you. 00:39:45.719 --> 00:39:46.359 Why do you worry? 00:39:46.419 --> 00:39:46.980 Now let me ask this. 00:39:47.259 --> 00:39:48.359 Any of y'all ever worried? 00:39:49.959 --> 00:39:51.419 I don't see a single hand. 00:39:51.480 --> 00:39:52.559 That means nobody ever worried. 00:39:52.599 --> 00:39:53.259 We got one. 00:39:53.439 --> 00:39:54.139 I got two. 00:39:54.239 --> 00:39:54.759 I got three. 00:39:54.759 --> 00:39:55.899 I got a couple more up here. 00:39:55.980 --> 00:39:56.879 So we're up to five. 00:39:56.880 --> 00:40:05.260 Let me just say that don't you see that we likewise struggle to walk by faith? 00:40:05.260 --> 00:40:09.260 This hits all of us. 00:40:09.600 --> 00:40:10.720 Paul says it this way. 00:40:12.580 --> 00:40:15.640 Jumping to his perspective. 00:40:15.639 --> 00:40:22.960 He said, don't be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, 00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:25.699 let your requests be made known to God. 00:40:25.699 --> 00:40:27.779 And the fill in the blank. 00:40:28.939 --> 00:40:32.279 Peace of God that passes all understanding shall do what? 00:40:32.579 --> 00:40:35.259 It'll guard your heart, your desires. 00:40:35.599 --> 00:40:37.839 It'll guard your mind, your thoughts. 00:40:40.119 --> 00:40:43.000 The peace of God will be yours. 00:40:43.059 --> 00:40:43.359 You know what? 00:40:43.399 --> 00:40:45.019 God has promised to give you peace. 00:40:45.019 --> 00:40:50.759 Do you feel like daily on an ongoing basis you have continual peace? 00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:57.420 Do you find that things stir your emotions very deeply because you can't figure out how to handle them? 00:40:58.840 --> 00:41:01.920 Do you find yourself worried about multiple things? 00:41:04.300 --> 00:41:05.039 You know what? 00:41:05.099 --> 00:41:06.599 You and I are just like Sarah, aren't we? 00:41:06.599 --> 00:41:13.960 We've heard the promises of God and yet how hard is it to get to the place where we walk by faith? 00:41:15.779 --> 00:41:21.059 How hard is it to get to the place where we walk by faith? 00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:26.519 You know, that's the response of one who trusts in and believes in God. 00:41:28.599 --> 00:41:35.039 You know, I don't want to pass by the truth that God's saying here. 00:41:35.039 --> 00:41:38.559 And I want you to see Christ in this passage. 00:41:39.019 --> 00:41:40.239 Have y'all seen it? 00:41:42.559 --> 00:41:50.579 Y'all do realize that the very child that God is promising is the line to the Messiah. 00:41:54.159 --> 00:41:56.400 Do you know what the Messiah represents? 00:41:56.699 --> 00:42:00.659 The Messiah, all the messianic prophecies are all pointing to Christ. 00:42:00.779 --> 00:42:03.340 Christ is the fulfillment of the law. 00:42:03.340 --> 00:42:07.039 If Christ doesn't come, then there is no redemption. 00:42:08.160 --> 00:42:09.680 There is no salvation. 00:42:11.200 --> 00:42:12.720 There is no new life. 00:42:13.019 --> 00:42:14.680 There is no person that's born again. 00:42:16.220 --> 00:42:18.620 Unless Christ is born. 00:42:19.760 --> 00:42:21.440 Unless the Messiah comes. 00:42:21.940 --> 00:42:26.660 And this was already spoken, is already promised by God. 00:42:26.800 --> 00:42:29.220 God is accomplishing His promises. 00:42:29.219 --> 00:42:33.659 All of His promises are pointing to the fulfillment in the Messiah that is Jesus. 00:42:33.659 --> 00:42:38.039 Is anything too hard for the Lord? 00:42:38.039 --> 00:42:41.840 Sarah, is anything too hard for me? 00:42:42.699 --> 00:42:44.980 I told you there was going to be a son of the promise. 00:42:45.940 --> 00:42:51.019 And that son of the promise from that son, the whole world is going to be touched. 00:42:51.019 --> 00:42:57.420 There is a King coming that's in your body right now, Sarah. 00:42:58.940 --> 00:43:00.699 I'm going to cause you to get pregnant. 00:43:01.119 --> 00:43:02.440 You're going to have a son. 00:43:02.699 --> 00:43:06.840 And that son is going to ultimately give birth down the line to the Messiah. 00:43:06.840 --> 00:43:10.440 I will accomplish my plan. 00:43:10.840 --> 00:43:13.300 And my plan goes through you. 00:43:14.740 --> 00:43:16.220 How powerful is that? 00:43:23.220 --> 00:43:31.980 Sarah, I'm able, I'm able, I'm able to send Christ through you to crush the head of the serpent 00:43:31.980 --> 00:43:37.119 like I promised way back early in Genesis at the beginning of all this. 00:43:43.699 --> 00:43:44.900 Let me ask this church. 00:43:45.820 --> 00:43:49.420 What is it going to take for us to get to the point where we walk by faith? 00:43:51.860 --> 00:43:56.719 What will it take for us to get to the point where we absolutely trust God in every way? 00:43:56.719 --> 00:44:02.480 You know, that's what he graciously is doing for all of us. 00:44:02.559 --> 00:44:11.980 He is tenderly, gently leading us into a deeper, more trust-filled life as Christians. 00:44:13.199 --> 00:44:14.379 God is patient. 00:44:15.379 --> 00:44:19.579 And you know, God's the one that sends some of these storms our way so he can get our attention 00:44:19.579 --> 00:44:23.079 to teach us what it means to trust in him. 00:44:23.079 --> 00:44:28.980 It's my hope that all of us will grow into maturity. 00:44:29.360 --> 00:44:32.940 And that when we see the promises of God, we say, amen, praise be to you. 00:44:33.239 --> 00:44:36.480 And when we walk through the fire, we say, amen, praise be to you. 00:44:37.219 --> 00:44:40.159 And we say, I rejoice in you, God, my Savior. 00:44:40.599 --> 00:44:43.199 Though right now I might die, I still rejoice in you. 00:44:43.239 --> 00:44:47.460 Because I know this is you're absolutely in sovereign control of all things. 00:44:47.519 --> 00:44:48.779 I believe it with all my heart. 00:44:49.119 --> 00:44:52.139 God, you said you love me more than I can possibly imagine. 00:44:52.139 --> 00:44:55.759 And God, you're able to do all things according to your will. 00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:57.420 Nothing can get in the way. 00:44:57.679 --> 00:45:00.059 God, I trust all of those things and I trust you. 00:45:00.219 --> 00:45:00.559 Let's pray. 00:45:04.920 --> 00:45:09.359 Oh, God, would you do a work in us where we would believe you? 00:45:10.199 --> 00:45:12.839 God, I confess it so many times. 00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:20.259 I've not understood of how you could possibly change things or fix things or work things or help me. 00:45:20.260 --> 00:45:23.720 God, so many times I've doubted you. 00:45:23.820 --> 00:45:25.400 So many times I've doubted your promise. 00:45:25.540 --> 00:45:27.380 So many times I've walked in unbelief. 00:45:27.820 --> 00:45:29.980 So many times I've walked in fear. 00:45:29.980 --> 00:45:41.199 So many times I've stepped into anxiety and trying to fix things in my own strength and my own wisdom. 00:45:41.360 --> 00:45:44.219 God, forgive me for that. 00:45:44.300 --> 00:45:45.300 And not just me, Father. 00:45:45.360 --> 00:45:50.760 I'm sure for all of us those times have happened, at least for most of us. 00:45:50.760 --> 00:45:56.860 And God, I pray that you would do a work in us that we would no longer doubt you, that we would believe you. 00:45:57.100 --> 00:46:04.480 And we would come to the place like Sarah that she believed that you were able to do even supernatural things in her life. 00:46:05.520 --> 00:46:06.580 She was convinced of it. 00:46:08.220 --> 00:46:10.320 God, she embraced faith. 00:46:10.320 --> 00:46:15.260 And I ask that you would help us to embrace faith. 00:46:15.340 --> 00:46:17.740 And in like doing, we would be children of Abraham. 00:46:19.380 --> 00:46:22.200 Like Abraham, that we would embrace faith. 00:46:22.300 --> 00:46:23.360 God, we need you to do it. 00:46:23.400 --> 00:46:23.980 We can't do it. 00:46:23.980 --> 00:46:24.740 We pray in your name. 00:46:24.960 --> 00:46:25.180 Amen. 00:46:25.180 --> 00:46:25.280 Amen. 00:46:25.280 --> 00:46:25.340 Amen. 00:46:25.340 --> 00:46:25.340 00:46:25.340 --> 00:46:25.340