WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:27.000
 Genesis chapter 17

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.159
 Last week we were looking at the previous chapter and that messy story of Abram, Sarai and Hagar.

00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:46.480
 And in the midst of all of that mess, God was revealed as the God who sees.

00:00:47.219 --> 00:00:48.960
 The God who sees everything.

00:00:50.620 --> 00:00:53.140
 Nothing escapes his notice.

00:00:54.140 --> 00:00:57.539
 And not in some distant and detached kind of way,

00:00:57.539 --> 00:01:01.119
 but in a very near and intimate sense.

00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:02.799
 He sees our suffering.

00:01:03.519 --> 00:01:04.620
 He sees our hearts.

00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:06.959
 And he sees our fears.

00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:12.760
 And today we're going to hear God reveal himself as God Almighty.

00:01:12.939 --> 00:01:14.480
 In Hebrew it's pronounced El Shaddai.

00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:15.980
 You might have heard that name before.

00:01:16.620 --> 00:01:19.640
 And not surprisingly, God reveals himself by this name

00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:26.700
 to those people who seem to be doubting God's power to do what he had promised.

00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:31.159
 So let's read that story together in Genesis chapter 17.

00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:36.579
 When Abram was 99 years old,

00:01:37.479 --> 00:01:39.179
 the Lord appeared to him and said,

00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:43.479
 I am God Almighty.

00:01:44.780 --> 00:01:48.900
 Walk before me faithfully and be blameless.

00:01:49.900 --> 00:01:52.679
 Then I will make my covenant between me and you

00:01:52.679 --> 00:01:54.620
 and will greatly increase your numbers.

00:01:56.140 --> 00:02:00.379
 Abram fell face down and God said to him,

00:02:00.379 --> 00:02:03.239
 As for me, this is my covenant with you.

00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:05.199
 You will be the father of many nations.

00:02:06.060 --> 00:02:08.460
 No longer will you be called Abram.

00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:10.479
 Your name will be Abraham.

00:02:11.139 --> 00:02:13.359
 For I have made you a father of many nations.

00:02:14.280 --> 00:02:15.939
 I will make you very fruitful.

00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:19.740
 I will make nations of you and kings will come from you.

00:02:20.180 --> 00:02:23.439
 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant

00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:26.859
 between me and you and your descendants after you

00:02:26.859 --> 00:02:29.560
 for generations to come to be your God

00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:32.120
 and the God of your descendants after you.

00:02:32.939 --> 00:02:36.080
 The whole land of Canaan where you now reside as a foreigner,

00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:39.240
 I will give as an everlasting possession to you

00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:41.199
 and your descendants after you

00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:43.020
 and I will be their God.

00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:46.099
 Then God said to Abram,

00:02:46.340 --> 00:02:49.379
 As for you, you must keep my covenant,

00:02:49.659 --> 00:02:51.439
 you and your descendants after you

00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:52.740
 for the generations to come.

00:02:52.740 --> 00:02:55.400
 This is my covenant with you

00:02:55.400 --> 00:02:57.000
 and your descendants after you,

00:02:57.300 --> 00:02:58.520
 the covenant you are to keep.

00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:01.800
 Every male among you shall be circumcised.

00:03:02.620 --> 00:03:04.860
 You are to undergo circumcision

00:03:04.860 --> 00:03:07.379
 and it will be the sign of the covenant

00:03:07.379 --> 00:03:09.140
 between me and you.

00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:11.379
 For the generations to come,

00:03:11.480 --> 00:03:13.500
 every male among you who is eight days old

00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:15.080
 must be circumcised,

00:03:15.140 --> 00:03:17.100
 including those born in your household

00:03:17.100 --> 00:03:19.140
 or bought with money from a foreigner,

00:03:19.139 --> 00:03:21.319
 those who are not your offspring.

00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:23.459
 Whether born in your household

00:03:23.459 --> 00:03:24.639
 or bought with your money,

00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:26.059
 they must be circumcised.

00:03:26.819 --> 00:03:28.599
 My covenant in your flesh

00:03:28.599 --> 00:03:30.339
 is to be an everlasting covenant.

00:03:31.279 --> 00:03:32.739
 Any uncircumcised male

00:03:32.739 --> 00:03:34.619
 who has not been circumcised in the flesh

00:03:34.619 --> 00:03:36.919
 will be cut off from his people.

00:03:37.279 --> 00:03:38.739
 He has broken my covenant.

00:03:40.699 --> 00:03:42.379
 God also said to Abram,

00:03:42.699 --> 00:03:44.519
 As for Sarah, your wife,

00:03:44.799 --> 00:03:46.519
 you are no longer to call her Sarah.

00:03:46.519 --> 00:03:48.019
 Her name will be Sarah.

00:03:48.020 --> 00:03:50.000
 I will bless her

00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:51.880
 and will surely give you a son by her.

00:03:52.260 --> 00:03:53.120
 I will bless her

00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:55.000
 so that she will be the mother of nations.

00:03:55.500 --> 00:03:57.280
 Kings of peoples will come from her.

00:03:59.140 --> 00:04:01.960
 Abram fell face down.

00:04:02.640 --> 00:04:04.780
 He laughed and said to himself,

00:04:05.200 --> 00:04:06.960
 Will a son be born to a man

00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:08.140
 a hundred years old?

00:04:08.760 --> 00:04:10.580
 Will Sarah bear a child

00:04:10.580 --> 00:04:11.840
 at the age of 90?

00:04:13.020 --> 00:04:14.640
 And Abram said to God,

00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:16.519
 If only Ishmael

00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:18.180
 might live under your blessing.

00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:21.180
 Then God said,

00:04:22.019 --> 00:04:22.500
 Yes,

00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:25.240
 but your wife Sarah

00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:27.099
 will bear you a son

00:04:27.099 --> 00:04:29.579
 and you will call him Isaac.

00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:32.339
 I will establish my covenant with him

00:04:32.339 --> 00:04:33.680
 as an everlasting covenant

00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:35.319
 for his descendants after him.

00:04:35.819 --> 00:04:37.199
 And as for Ishmael,

00:04:37.339 --> 00:04:38.519
 I have heard you.

00:04:38.699 --> 00:04:40.180
 I will surely bless him.

00:04:40.379 --> 00:04:41.659
 I will make him fruitful

00:04:41.660 --> 00:04:43.400
 and will greatly increase his numbers.

00:04:43.400 --> 00:04:45.920
 He will be the father of twelve rulers

00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:48.439
 and I will make him into a great nation.

00:04:49.640 --> 00:04:51.080
 But my covenant

00:04:51.080 --> 00:04:54.140
 I will establish with Isaac

00:04:54.140 --> 00:04:56.720
 whom Sarah will bear to you

00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:58.360
 by this time next year.

00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:01.860
 When he had finished speaking with Abraham,

00:05:02.400 --> 00:05:04.140
 God went up from him.

00:05:05.320 --> 00:05:06.400
 On that very day,

00:05:06.580 --> 00:05:08.540
 Abraham took his son Ishmael

00:05:08.540 --> 00:05:11.100
 and all those born in his household

00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:12.319
 are bought with his money,

00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:14.400
 every male in his household

00:05:14.400 --> 00:05:16.300
 and circumcised them.

00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:18.180
 As God told him,

00:05:19.300 --> 00:05:21.220
 Abram was 99 years old

00:05:21.220 --> 00:05:22.620
 when he was circumcised

00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:25.259
 and his son Ishmael was 13.

00:05:26.100 --> 00:05:27.580
 Abram and his son Ishmael

00:05:27.580 --> 00:05:29.640
 were both circumcised on that very day

00:05:29.640 --> 00:05:33.100
 and every male in Abraham's household,

00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:35.879
 including those born in his household

00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:37.199
 or bought from a foreigner,

00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:40.819
 was circumcised with him.

00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:44.339
 So Father, we pray now

00:05:44.339 --> 00:05:45.819
 as we think on your word

00:05:45.819 --> 00:05:47.540
 that you would grant us

00:05:47.540 --> 00:05:50.379
 that spirit of wisdom and revelation

00:05:50.379 --> 00:05:54.019
 so that we might know you better.

00:05:54.819 --> 00:05:57.360
 And we ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus.

00:05:58.620 --> 00:05:58.959
 Amen.

00:05:58.959 --> 00:05:59.139
 Amen.

00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:04.540
 There's something irresistible, isn't there,

00:06:04.540 --> 00:06:07.819
 about laughing at someone else's expense.

00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:09.980
 I'm sure you've all seen those videos

00:06:09.980 --> 00:06:10.680
 on television

00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:12.720
 of somebody falling off something

00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:14.460
 or walking into something

00:06:14.460 --> 00:06:16.620
 and not being able to stop yourself

00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:17.720
 from laughing at them.

00:06:18.220 --> 00:06:19.520
 Or if you're a little bit younger,

00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:22.040
 maybe you've watched endless YouTube videos

00:06:22.040 --> 00:06:23.800
 of people attempting to do something

00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:26.800
 only for it to go disastrously wrong.

00:06:27.820 --> 00:06:29.460
 Well, these chapters of Genesis

00:06:29.460 --> 00:06:31.540
 read like a compilation of Abram's

00:06:31.540 --> 00:06:36.819
 Abram's dumb ideas.

00:06:37.379 --> 00:06:39.879
 It's like some version of a Dumb and Dumber movie

00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:42.600
 tracking Abram and Sarah's travels

00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:44.760
 throughout the ancient Middle East.

00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:48.140
 Or some black and white Laurel and Hardy movie

00:06:48.140 --> 00:06:50.480
 where Sarah turns to Abram

00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:52.400
 only to scratch her head and say,

00:06:52.960 --> 00:06:54.439
 well, that's another fine mess

00:06:54.439 --> 00:06:55.780
 you've gotten me into.

00:06:55.779 --> 00:06:58.899
 These stories would be laughable

00:06:58.899 --> 00:07:02.039
 if they weren't so serious.

00:07:03.239 --> 00:07:05.019
 God has promised Abram

00:07:05.019 --> 00:07:07.419
 that he would make him into a great nation

00:07:07.419 --> 00:07:09.159
 and that through Abraham

00:07:09.159 --> 00:07:11.239
 blessing would come

00:07:11.239 --> 00:07:14.639
 to all the nations of the earth.

00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:19.019
 But with every one of Abram's dumb ideas,

00:07:19.459 --> 00:07:22.839
 he seems to put God's promise in danger.

00:07:22.839 --> 00:07:25.819
 You might remember there was that

00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:30.000
 Sarah is my sister fiasco back in chapter 12.

00:07:30.919 --> 00:07:32.779
 Abram and Sarah travel to Egypt

00:07:32.779 --> 00:07:35.019
 because there's a famine in the land.

00:07:36.060 --> 00:07:37.599
 But as they join the queue

00:07:37.599 --> 00:07:39.459
 at the Egyptian passport patrol,

00:07:40.219 --> 00:07:42.219
 Abram suddenly gets into a panic.

00:07:43.019 --> 00:07:45.219
 He knows that Sarah is a beautiful woman.

00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:47.239
 He knows that she's going to be noticed

00:07:47.239 --> 00:07:48.779
 by all of the men that they meet.

00:07:49.239 --> 00:07:51.799
 And he has a pretty low view of Egyptians.

00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:54.439
 He thinks that they're going to kill him

00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:57.120
 to take Sarah as their wife.

00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:00.139
 So he comes up with a great idea, doesn't he?

00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:02.180
 Let's pretend we're not married.

00:08:02.960 --> 00:08:05.120
 Let's just say that you're my sister.

00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:08.160
 Well, things may not work very well for Sarah,

00:08:08.580 --> 00:08:11.639
 but at least Abram's life will be spared.

00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:14.879
 Well, she's most certainly noticed by the Egyptians.

00:08:15.100 --> 00:08:16.780
 In fact, the Pharaoh himself

00:08:16.780 --> 00:08:18.620
 hears about this beautiful foreigner.

00:08:18.620 --> 00:08:22.199
 He starts to treat Abraham well for Sarah's sake.

00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:25.540
 And Abram suddenly begins to accumulate wealth,

00:08:25.899 --> 00:08:29.600
 all under the pretense that Sarah is his sister.

00:08:30.780 --> 00:08:34.399
 Until God intervenes.

00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:39.039
 The Lord sends serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household,

00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:41.620
 and Pharaoh seems to know that this is something

00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:43.000
 to do with Abram and Sarah.

00:08:44.419 --> 00:08:46.679
 The Sarah is my sister story

00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:49.559
 was a dumb idea from the beginning.

00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:52.579
 As time goes on,

00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:55.059
 Abram seems to be giving up on God's promise.

00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:57.720
 He assumes in chapter 15

00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:59.659
 that it's his servant Eliezer

00:08:59.659 --> 00:09:02.019
 who's going to be his heir.

00:09:03.079 --> 00:09:04.399
 Maybe up until now,

00:09:04.579 --> 00:09:06.199
 Abram had relied on the fact

00:09:06.199 --> 00:09:08.519
 that there was always his nephew Lot.

00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:10.620
 Maybe it was through him

00:09:10.620 --> 00:09:12.419
 that this blessing would come.

00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:14.860
 After all, they have no children themselves,

00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:17.139
 and well, Lot is family.

00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:19.159
 But at this stage,

00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:21.919
 Abram and Lot have parted ways.

00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:24.199
 Abram looks around him.

00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:25.559
 He has no children.

00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:27.299
 His nephew has left.

00:09:27.299 --> 00:09:30.179
 It's looking as though his servant Eliezer

00:09:30.179 --> 00:09:32.059
 is all that remains.

00:09:33.979 --> 00:09:34.919
 In chapter 15,

00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:38.639
 Abram speaks to God as the sovereign Lord.

00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:41.919
 Yet he doesn't live

00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:45.479
 as though this is the sovereign Lord.

00:09:46.459 --> 00:09:47.500
 Like many of us,

00:09:47.559 --> 00:09:48.620
 there's a big gap

00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:50.859
 between what Abram knows

00:09:50.859 --> 00:09:53.439
 and how Abram lives.

00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:56.779
 We can address God, can't we,

00:09:56.779 --> 00:10:00.000
 as our loving, heavenly Father.

00:10:01.839 --> 00:10:03.539
 And yet doubt that God's actions

00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:05.199
 are for our good.

00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:07.860
 We can address God

00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:10.459
 as the all-wise God,

00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:12.319
 and yet ignore

00:10:12.319 --> 00:10:14.779
 the teaching of his words.

00:10:15.839 --> 00:10:18.139
 Addressing God as sovereign Lord

00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:20.079
 doesn't mean that Abram lives

00:10:20.079 --> 00:10:22.480
 as though God is the sovereign Lord.

00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:25.659
 But the sovereign Lord

00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:27.360
 gently assures Abram,

00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:30.920
 this man will not be your heir,

00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:33.139
 but a son

00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:36.320
 who is of your own flesh and blood

00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:38.560
 will be your heir.

00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:41.120
 In spite of Abram's doubts,

00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:42.639
 God points him back

00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:44.620
 to his promise.

00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:47.139
 Then last week,

00:10:47.179 --> 00:10:47.940
 we heard the story

00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:49.340
 about their servant's son,

00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:50.240
 Ishmael.

00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:51.860
 Time has gone on

00:10:51.860 --> 00:10:53.419
 and God appears to be doing nothing,

00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:54.980
 so Sarai takes things

00:10:54.980 --> 00:10:56.279
 into her own hands

00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:58.419
 and arranges Hagar

00:10:58.419 --> 00:10:59.919
 to be her surrogate.

00:11:01.060 --> 00:11:02.299
 Well, it's at this point

00:11:02.299 --> 00:11:03.299
 that the story goes

00:11:03.299 --> 00:11:04.879
 from dumb to dumber.

00:11:06.139 --> 00:11:06.960
 Abram and Sarai

00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:08.899
 have done all that they can do

00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:10.960
 to see God's promise fulfilled.

00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:13.379
 They've sought to protect

00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:15.040
 Abram's life in Egypt.

00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:16.500
 They've assumed

00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:17.580
 that the promise

00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:19.019
 would come through someone else

00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:20.879
 like Lot or Eliezer.

00:11:21.940 --> 00:11:23.420
 They've tried to produce

00:11:23.420 --> 00:11:25.340
 a child of their own making.

00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:27.620
 They have done everything

00:11:27.620 --> 00:11:28.759
 that they could

00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:33.920
 but rest in God's promise.

00:11:36.060 --> 00:11:36.360
 You see,

00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.800
 Abram's dumb ideas

00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:39.359
 are all rooted

00:11:39.359 --> 00:11:40.659
 in his view

00:11:40.659 --> 00:11:41.939
 of God.

00:11:42.779 --> 00:11:43.620
 Not so much

00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:44.839
 what he sees

00:11:44.839 --> 00:11:45.519
 of God

00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:47.139
 but what he

00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:48.419
 fails to see

00:11:48.419 --> 00:11:49.740
 of God.

00:11:50.959 --> 00:11:52.459
 And there is nothing

00:11:52.459 --> 00:11:54.039
 as important

00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:54.839
 in life

00:11:54.839 --> 00:11:56.859
 as having a right

00:11:56.859 --> 00:11:57.779
 view

00:11:57.779 --> 00:11:59.359
 of God.

00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:02.039
 In his book

00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:02.899
 Knowing God,

00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:03.839
 Jim Packer opens

00:12:03.839 --> 00:12:04.779
 with these words,

00:12:04.779 --> 00:12:07.939
 disregard the study

00:12:07.939 --> 00:12:08.639
 of God

00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:10.399
 and you

00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:11.600
 sentence yourself

00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:12.519
 to stumble

00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:13.679
 and blunder

00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:14.819
 through life

00:12:14.819 --> 00:12:15.600
 blindfold

00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.539
 as it were

00:12:16.539 --> 00:12:18.559
 with no sense

00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:19.299
 of direction

00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:22.019
 and no understanding

00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:24.240
 of what surrounds you.

00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:26.220
 This way

00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:26.659
 you can

00:12:26.659 --> 00:12:28.019
 waste your life

00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:29.720
 and lose

00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:31.139
 your soul.

00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:33.379
 Well,

00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:34.340
 Abram certainly

00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:35.500
 looks like someone

00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:36.439
 stumbling

00:12:36.439 --> 00:12:37.299
 and blundering

00:12:37.299 --> 00:12:38.000
 through life

00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.539
 blindfolds.

00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:40.819
 And if Jim Packer

00:12:40.819 --> 00:12:41.439
 is correct,

00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:42.759
 when God appears

00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:43.620
 to Abram here

00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:45.259
 in Genesis 17,

00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:47.120
 Abram's greatest

00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:47.980
 need

00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:49.679
 is to know

00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:50.840
 God

00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:52.139
 better.

00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:54.159
 It's not

00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:55.080
 family counselling

00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:56.299
 though I think

00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:57.200
 we can all agree

00:12:57.200 --> 00:12:57.819
 that that wouldn't

00:12:57.819 --> 00:12:58.200
 have done them

00:12:58.200 --> 00:12:58.740
 any harm.

00:12:58.740 --> 00:13:01.299
 It's not advice

00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:02.279
 on how to conceive.

00:13:02.940 --> 00:13:03.899
 Like any desperate

00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:04.299
 couple,

00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:04.980
 I'm sure they would

00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:05.879
 have tried anything

00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:06.560
 that anyone

00:13:06.560 --> 00:13:07.740
 suggested to them.

00:13:09.180 --> 00:13:10.100
 Abram's greatest

00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:11.100
 need is to

00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:11.620
 know

00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:12.600
 God

00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:13.480
 better.

00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:15.320
 So when God

00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:16.480
 appears to Abram,

00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:17.399
 he begins by

00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:17.960
 revealing

00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:18.860
 something

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:20.379
 about himself.

00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:22.960
 Abram's greatest

00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:23.779
 need

00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:24.879
 is to

00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:25.399
 know

00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:26.320
 the God

00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.100
 who has

00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:27.700
 made

00:13:27.700 --> 00:13:29.220
 the promise.

00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:31.780
 The first

00:13:31.780 --> 00:13:32.560
 words God

00:13:32.560 --> 00:13:33.200
 speaks to

00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:33.760
 Abram

00:13:33.760 --> 00:13:34.680
 are these,

00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:35.860
 I

00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:36.879
 am

00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:38.040
 God

00:13:38.040 --> 00:13:39.540
 almighty.

00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:41.580
 I

00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:42.480
 am

00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.540
 God

00:13:43.540 --> 00:13:44.940
 almighty.

00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:47.820
 Thirteen

00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:48.420
 years have

00:13:48.420 --> 00:13:49.120
 passed since

00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:49.820
 Ishmael was

00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:50.220
 born.

00:13:50.660 --> 00:13:51.420
 Abram is now

00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:52.660
 ninety-nine

00:13:52.660 --> 00:13:53.760
 years old.

00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:54.379
 And here's

00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:54.679
 what the

00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:55.319
 New Testament

00:13:55.319 --> 00:13:56.080
 has to say

00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:56.720
 about Abram

00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:57.259
 and Sarah

00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:58.539
 in Hebrews

00:13:58.539 --> 00:13:59.019
 eleven.

00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:01.519
 By faith

00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.720
 even Sarah

00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:03.779
 who was

00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:04.519
 past

00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:05.360
 childbearing

00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.019
 age

00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:07.580
 was enabled

00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:08.039
 to bear

00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:08.519
 children

00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:09.139
 because she

00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:09.960
 considered him

00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:10.639
 faithful

00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.720
 who had

00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.080
 made the

00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:12.600
 promise.

00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:14.159
 And so

00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:14.620
 from this

00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:15.439
 one man

00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:16.039
 and he

00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:16.379
 as good

00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:16.980
 as dead

00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:17.299
 came

00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:17.939
 descendants

00:14:17.939 --> 00:14:18.659
 as numerous

00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.539
 as the

00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:20.240
 stars in the

00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:20.720
 sky

00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:21.560
 and as

00:14:21.560 --> 00:14:22.100
 countless

00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:22.560
 as the

00:14:22.560 --> 00:14:23.040
 sand on

00:14:23.040 --> 00:14:23.180
 the

00:14:23.180 --> 00:14:23.720
 seashore.

00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:26.019
 Now it

00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:26.360
 seems to

00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:26.639
 me that

00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:27.040
 the writer

00:14:27.040 --> 00:14:27.560
 is far

00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:28.399
 kinder to

00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:28.820
 Sarah

00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:29.620
 than he

00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:29.980
 is to

00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:30.379
 Abraham.

00:14:31.040 --> 00:14:31.540
 Maybe he's

00:14:31.540 --> 00:14:32.000
 just being

00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:32.580
 polite.

00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:33.840
 Sarah is

00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:34.460
 past

00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:35.600
 childbearing

00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:36.600
 age.

00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:38.399
 She is

00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:38.879
 past

00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.259
 grandparenting

00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:41.080
 age.

00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:41.860
 She is an

00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:42.840
 old woman.

00:14:43.340 --> 00:14:43.759
 The thought

00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.100
 of her

00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:44.860
 conceiving

00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:45.660
 was well

00:14:45.660 --> 00:14:47.200
 inconceivable.

00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:49.040
 And Abram

00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.559
 were told

00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.079
 that he

00:14:51.079 --> 00:14:51.919
 was as

00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:52.980
 good as

00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:54.219
 dead.

00:14:55.339 --> 00:14:55.819
 No

00:14:55.819 --> 00:14:56.480
 fertility

00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:57.179
 clinic in

00:14:57.179 --> 00:14:57.719
 the world

00:14:57.719 --> 00:14:58.319
 would even

00:14:58.319 --> 00:14:58.799
 look at

00:14:58.799 --> 00:14:59.000
 them.

00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:00.360
 There was

00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:01.179
 absolutely

00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:02.000
 nothing

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.259
 to work

00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:03.599
 with.

00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.500
 But isn't

00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:07.199
 that the

00:15:07.199 --> 00:15:08.659
 very point?

00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:10.399
 This was

00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:10.959
 never

00:15:10.959 --> 00:15:12.360
 something that

00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:13.439
 Abram and

00:15:13.439 --> 00:15:14.299
 Sarah would

00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:14.679
 do.

00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:15.939
 It was

00:15:15.939 --> 00:15:17.019
 always something

00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:17.879
 that God

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.480
 was going

00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:19.019
 to do.

00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:20.179
 for them.

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.339
 It was

00:15:21.339 --> 00:15:22.219
 something that

00:15:22.219 --> 00:15:23.120
 God

00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:24.259
 Almighty

00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:25.419
 would do

00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.059
 for them.

00:15:27.539 --> 00:15:28.179
 This is

00:15:28.179 --> 00:15:28.839
 what Abram

00:15:28.839 --> 00:15:29.299
 and Sarah

00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:29.919
 needed to

00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:30.279
 know.

00:15:31.319 --> 00:15:31.899
 That the

00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:32.480
 God who

00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.039
 made the

00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:33.779
 promise

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:35.939
 is God

00:15:35.939 --> 00:15:37.620
 Almighty.

00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:39.899
 In actual

00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:40.539
 fact all

00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:40.899
 through the

00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:41.240
 book of

00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.079
 Genesis this

00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:42.819
 name El

00:15:42.819 --> 00:15:44.199
 Shaddai is

00:15:44.199 --> 00:15:45.000
 tied up with

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.980
 this promise

00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:47.340
 to make

00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:48.080
 the descendants

00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:49.159
 of Abram

00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:50.180
 into a

00:15:50.180 --> 00:15:50.920
 great nation.

00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:52.680
 God

00:15:52.680 --> 00:15:53.680
 Almighty

00:15:53.680 --> 00:15:55.620
 would do

00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:56.899
 this.

00:15:58.800 --> 00:15:59.259
 You see

00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:00.279
 God Almighty

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:02.060
 is self

00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:03.120
 sufficient.

00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:04.700
 And not just

00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:05.240
 in the sense

00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:05.720
 that we might

00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:06.680
 use that term

00:16:06.680 --> 00:16:07.259
 today.

00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:08.200
 Self

00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:08.759
 sufficiency

00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:09.280
 has become a

00:16:09.280 --> 00:16:10.000
 very popular

00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.520
 lifestyle,

00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:11.020
 hasn't it?

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:11.800
 Growing your

00:16:11.800 --> 00:16:12.360
 own food,

00:16:12.560 --> 00:16:13.220
 generating your

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:13.800
 own energy,

00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:14.340
 making your

00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:15.060
 own clothes.

00:16:15.920 --> 00:16:16.280
 But the

00:16:16.280 --> 00:16:16.900
 truth is that

00:16:16.900 --> 00:16:17.640
 none of those

00:16:17.640 --> 00:16:18.160
 things are

00:16:18.160 --> 00:16:19.240
 actually self

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:19.820
 sufficient.

00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:21.120
 They're all

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.040
 dependent upon

00:16:22.040 --> 00:16:22.920
 other things.

00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:24.660
 You still can't

00:16:24.660 --> 00:16:25.300
 cut your hair

00:16:25.300 --> 00:16:25.980
 without scissors.

00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.200
 You can't grow

00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:27.860
 food without

00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:28.400
 seeds.

00:16:28.640 --> 00:16:29.180
 You can't make

00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:29.920
 clothes without

00:16:29.920 --> 00:16:30.440
 needles and

00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:30.900
 threads.

00:16:31.140 --> 00:16:31.620
 You can't

00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:32.460
 generate energy

00:16:32.460 --> 00:16:33.200
 without wind

00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:33.840
 and sun.

00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.200
 Not even to

00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:35.800
 mention that we

00:16:35.800 --> 00:16:36.500
 wouldn't exist

00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:37.179
 without mothers

00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:37.840
 and fathers.

00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.519
 Our best

00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:40.320
 attempts at

00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:41.399
 self-sufficiency

00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:42.639
 are only a

00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:43.620
 pale reflection

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:45.159
 of God's.

00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:46.240
 In fact,

00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:47.039
 there's no real

00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:48.120
 comparison at

00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:48.559
 all.

00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:50.220
 Because God

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.440
 needs no

00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:53.080
 thing and

00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:54.500
 no one.

00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:55.960
 He is the

00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:57.179
 only one

00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:58.259
 who is

00:16:58.259 --> 00:16:58.820
 truly

00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.980
 self

00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:01.240
 sufficient.

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:03.899
 Now,

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.640
 such a God

00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.380
 stands in

00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:06.380
 complete contrast

00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:06.980
 to the

00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:07.920
 pagan gods

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.660
 of the

00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:09.460
 ancient world.

00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:10.900
 They were

00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:11.440
 needy.

00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:12.400
 They were

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.500
 high maintenance

00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.120
 gods.

00:17:14.660 --> 00:17:15.120
 They were

00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:15.960
 dependent upon

00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:16.580
 humans to

00:17:16.580 --> 00:17:16.920
 give them

00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:17.480
 all they

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:17.820
 needed.

00:17:18.580 --> 00:17:19.080
 And they

00:17:19.080 --> 00:17:19.420
 could get

00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.260
 pretty angry

00:17:20.260 --> 00:17:21.340
 if their

00:17:21.340 --> 00:17:21.780
 worshippers

00:17:21.780 --> 00:17:22.300
 didn't give

00:17:22.300 --> 00:17:22.640
 them what

00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:23.160
 they wanted.

00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:24.900
 You might

00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.380
 remember in

00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:26.200
 Acts 17,

00:17:26.340 --> 00:17:26.760
 the apostle

00:17:26.760 --> 00:17:28.060
 Paul confronts

00:17:28.060 --> 00:17:28.800
 the people

00:17:28.800 --> 00:17:29.400
 of Athens

00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:30.140
 with a God

00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:30.560
 who is

00:17:30.560 --> 00:17:31.400
 altogether

00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:32.800
 different from

00:17:32.800 --> 00:17:33.720
 these high

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.160
 maintenance

00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:34.740
 gods.

00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:36.859
 here's what

00:17:36.859 --> 00:17:37.440
 he says,

00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:39.079
 the God

00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:39.680
 who made

00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:40.279
 the world

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.099
 and everything

00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:41.819
 in it

00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:43.019
 is the

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.539
 Lord of

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.039
 heaven and

00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:44.400
 earth

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.819
 and does

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.660
 not live

00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:47.140
 in temples

00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:47.519
 built by

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.279
 human hands

00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:49.400
 as if

00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:51.220
 he needed

00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:52.420
 anything.

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:53.960
 Rather,

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:54.980
 he himself

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:55.839
 gives all

00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:56.680
 men life

00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:57.559
 and breath

00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.640
 and everything

00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.240
 else.

00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:00.819
 God

00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:02.420
 is the

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:02.660
 God

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:02.980
 of the

00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:03.400
 Bible

00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:04.500
 is God

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.599
 almighty.

00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:07.799
 He needs

00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:09.039
 nothing.

00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:11.339
 He needs

00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:12.720
 no one.

00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:14.380
 Rather,

00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.839
 he is the

00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:16.319
 giver

00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:18.380
 of everything.

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.559
 That's what

00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:21.579
 Abram needs

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.420
 to know.

00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:24.079
 This God

00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:24.880
 is El

00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:25.900
 Shaddai,

00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:26.680
 God

00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:27.420
 almighty,

00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:28.019
 the self

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.559
 sufficient

00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:28.980
 one.

00:18:29.639 --> 00:18:30.339
 He doesn't

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:31.259
 need Abram

00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:31.759
 to do

00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:32.680
 anything.

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.200
 He doesn't

00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:34.599
 need a

00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:35.000
 servant.

00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:36.180
 He doesn't

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:36.539
 need a

00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:36.940
 nephew.

00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:37.879
 He doesn't

00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:38.139
 need an

00:18:38.139 --> 00:18:38.599
 illegitimate

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.200
 child.

00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.200
 He is

00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:40.799
 God

00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:41.539
 almighty,

00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:42.259
 self

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:42.900
 sufficient,

00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:43.779
 needing

00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:45.240
 nothing and

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:45.680
 needing

00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:47.180
 no one.

00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:49.180
 self

00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:50.180
 sufficient.

00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:50.360
 But he's

00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:50.720
 not only

00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.160
 self

00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:51.700
 sufficient,

00:18:52.580 --> 00:18:53.440
 he is

00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.200
 all

00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:54.720
 sufficient.

00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:56.759
 Maybe

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.019
 you've

00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.500
 worked with

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.799
 someone who

00:18:58.799 --> 00:18:59.500
 is self

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.100
 reliant.

00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:01.400
 They don't

00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:02.360
 need anyone

00:19:02.360 --> 00:19:03.620
 or anything.

00:19:04.620 --> 00:19:05.060
 They're at

00:19:05.060 --> 00:19:05.680
 their happiest

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.180
 when they're

00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:06.779
 working away

00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.080
 on their

00:19:07.080 --> 00:19:07.400
 own.

00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:08.620
 They don't

00:19:08.620 --> 00:19:09.080
 need anyone

00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:09.480
 else to

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:09.900
 contribute.

00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:10.880
 They don't

00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:11.240
 welcome

00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:11.900
 advice.

00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:12.560
 They don't

00:19:12.560 --> 00:19:13.299
 need help.

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:14.879
 But their

00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:15.319
 self

00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:16.019
 reliance

00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:16.659
 isn't a

00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.159
 good thing

00:19:17.159 --> 00:19:17.779
 at all

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.759
 because they

00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:19.099
 would do

00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.919
 so much

00:19:19.919 --> 00:19:21.240
 better with

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:21.899
 the input

00:19:21.899 --> 00:19:22.700
 of others.

00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.180
 Well God

00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:25.779
 is not

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.379
 like that

00:19:26.379 --> 00:19:26.819
 self

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.379
 reliant

00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:28.180
 co-worker

00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:29.839
 who achieves

00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.720
 substandard

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.899
 results because

00:19:31.899 --> 00:19:32.720
 he resents

00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.099
 the help

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:33.700
 of others.

00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:36.200
 Because God

00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:37.279
 almighty is

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:37.759
 not only

00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.259
 self

00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:38.799
 sufficient,

00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:40.839
 he is

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:41.919
 all

00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:42.440
 sufficient.

00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:44.440
 He has

00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.139
 everything

00:19:45.139 --> 00:19:46.399
 he needs

00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:47.579
 within

00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:48.259
 himself

00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:50.139
 to do

00:19:50.139 --> 00:19:50.659
 whatever

00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:51.579
 he

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.200
 pleases.

00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:54.559
 You see

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.159
 even

00:19:55.159 --> 00:19:55.980
 Abram's

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:56.359
 dumb

00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:57.299
 ideas

00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.319
 have not

00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.240
 derailed

00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.059
 God's

00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.599
 promise.

00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:02.940
 Sarai's

00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.599
 scheming

00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:04.579
 is not

00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.079
 going to

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.680
 frustrate

00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.879
 his purpose.

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.579
 The king

00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:09.359
 of Sodom

00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:10.039
 nor the

00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:10.319
 pharaoh

00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:10.980
 of Egypt

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:11.680
 will be

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.359
 allowed to

00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:12.940
 hinder his

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.600
 plans.

00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.779
 Because the

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.259
 God who

00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:16.720
 has made

00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.019
 these

00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:17.600
 promises

00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:18.340
 is none

00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:19.539
 other than

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.220
 God

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.620
 almighty.

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.940
 You and

00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.720
 I sometimes

00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.600
 make promises

00:20:26.600 --> 00:20:27.019
 that we

00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.120
 fully intend

00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:28.680
 to fulfil

00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:30.220
 but something

00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:30.680
 gets in

00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.160
 our way.

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.500
 We make

00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.820
 plans but

00:20:33.820 --> 00:20:34.059
 at the

00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:34.840
 last minute

00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:35.640
 through

00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:36.279
 circumstances

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:36.820
 we can't

00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:37.440
 control

00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.640
 will our

00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.320
 plans fail

00:20:39.320 --> 00:20:40.360
 to materialise.

00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:42.519
 it wasn't

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:42.740
 that we

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.079
 didn't

00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.759
 want to

00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.199
 do it

00:20:44.199 --> 00:20:45.740
 it wasn't

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:45.959
 that we

00:20:45.959 --> 00:20:46.379
 lacked the

00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:47.179
 ability to

00:20:47.179 --> 00:20:47.639
 do it

00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:49.299
 but something

00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:50.579
 prevented us

00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.079
 from doing

00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:51.479
 it.

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:53.859
 Well no

00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.459
 thing

00:20:54.459 --> 00:20:55.859
 and no

00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:56.659
 one

00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:57.939
 gets in

00:20:57.939 --> 00:20:58.579
 the way

00:20:58.579 --> 00:20:59.959
 of God

00:20:59.959 --> 00:21:01.139
 almighty

00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:02.740
 doing all

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.459
 that he

00:21:03.459 --> 00:21:03.899
 promises.

00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:05.900
 is this

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.280
 is what

00:21:06.280 --> 00:21:06.920
 Abram

00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:07.500
 needs.

00:21:08.820 --> 00:21:09.180
 He doesn't

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:09.460
 need to

00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:10.160
 understand

00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:11.820
 how God

00:21:11.820 --> 00:21:12.140
 is going

00:21:12.140 --> 00:21:12.440
 to do

00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:12.660
 what he

00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.140
 promised.

00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:15.060
 He only

00:21:15.060 --> 00:21:15.580
 needs to

00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.019
 know that

00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.560
 the one

00:21:16.560 --> 00:21:16.960
 who has

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.540
 made the

00:21:17.540 --> 00:21:18.140
 promise

00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:19.680
 is El

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.820
 Shaddai

00:21:20.820 --> 00:21:22.019
 the self

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.540
 sufficient

00:21:22.540 --> 00:21:23.060
 one

00:21:23.060 --> 00:21:24.100
 the all

00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:24.620
 sufficient

00:21:24.620 --> 00:21:25.259
 one

00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.380
 God

00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:27.940
 almighty.

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:32.059
 but knowing

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:32.880
 more about

00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:33.460
 God

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:35.440
 caused

00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:36.039
 Abram

00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:36.460
 to a

00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:36.700
 deeper

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.220
 commitment

00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:38.960
 to God.

00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:40.779
 Look at

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.120
 the rest

00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:41.539
 of verse

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:41.900
 one.

00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:43.620
 I am

00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:44.440
 God

00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:45.340
 almighty

00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:48.120
 walk

00:21:48.120 --> 00:21:49.180
 before

00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:49.779
 me

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:51.299
 and be

00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.519
 blameless.

00:21:53.860 --> 00:21:54.220
 You see

00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:54.960
 knowing more

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.900
 about God

00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:56.279
 caused

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:56.779
 Abram

00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.220
 to a

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:57.480
 deeper

00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:57.960
 commitment

00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:59.299
 to God.

00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:00.700
 God

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.299
 almighty

00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:01.759
 will

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.380
 fulfill

00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:03.140
 all of

00:22:03.140 --> 00:22:03.279
 his

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.740
 promises

00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:03.980
 to

00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:04.440
 Abram.

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:05.660
 Abram

00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:05.980
 doesn't

00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.279
 need to

00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:06.660
 concern

00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:07.079
 himself

00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:07.299
 with

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:07.519
 that

00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:07.720
 at

00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.160
 all.

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.140
 Rather

00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:10.620
 Abram

00:22:10.620 --> 00:22:11.039
 needs to

00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.539
 concern

00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.240
 himself

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.660
 with

00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.200
 walking

00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:15.180
 faithfully

00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:16.180
 with

00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:16.759
 God

00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:18.140
 almighty.

00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.019
 Abram's

00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:21.579
 knowledge

00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:22.220
 about

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:22.839
 God

00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:24.720
 must

00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.180
 change

00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:25.620
 how he

00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.079
 lives

00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:27.480
 before

00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:28.379
 God.

00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:30.079
 We could

00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:30.500
 say that

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:30.899
 it's an

00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:32.179
 if-then

00:22:32.179 --> 00:22:33.759
 kind of

00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.099
 thing.

00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:35.699
 We see

00:22:35.699 --> 00:22:36.079
 those kind

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:36.599
 of statements

00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:36.980
 in the

00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:37.579
 New Testament.

00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:39.139
 Jesus

00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:39.579
 says,

00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:40.119
 if you

00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:41.059
 love me,

00:22:41.639 --> 00:22:42.000
 keep

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.740
 my

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.679
 commandments.

00:22:44.679 --> 00:22:45.779
 He isn't

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.319
 making his

00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:46.919
 love for

00:22:46.919 --> 00:22:47.619
 his disciples

00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:48.500
 conditional

00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.500
 upon their

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:49.939
 obedience.

00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.139
 Instead,

00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:51.699
 he's saying

00:22:51.699 --> 00:22:52.399
 that if

00:22:52.399 --> 00:22:53.079
 they love

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:53.359
 him,

00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:54.279
 then they

00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:55.039
 will do

00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.500
 what he

00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.219
 commands.

00:22:56.719 --> 00:22:57.879
 If-then.

00:22:58.439 --> 00:22:58.899
 The way

00:22:58.899 --> 00:22:59.219
 that they

00:22:59.219 --> 00:23:01.019
 live flows

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.599
 from their

00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:02.219
 relationship

00:23:02.219 --> 00:23:03.240
 to Jesus.

00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:05.099
 The Apostle

00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:05.619
 Paul will

00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.000
 use the

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.699
 same kinds

00:23:06.699 --> 00:23:07.379
 of arguments.

00:23:08.439 --> 00:23:08.899
 Since

00:23:08.899 --> 00:23:09.339
 then you

00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:09.759
 have been

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.779
 raised with

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.279
 Christ,

00:23:11.659 --> 00:23:12.099
 set your

00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:12.619
 hearts on

00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.519
 things above

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:15.179
 if-then.

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:16.639
 Our

00:23:16.639 --> 00:23:17.240
 relationship

00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:18.259
 with Jesus

00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:19.139
 changes

00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:20.200
 our

00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:20.960
 lives

00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.120
 and our

00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:22.940
 affections.

00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:24.600
 Now that's

00:23:24.600 --> 00:23:24.900
 what's

00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:25.440
 happening in

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:25.840
 the second

00:23:25.840 --> 00:23:26.300
 part of

00:23:26.300 --> 00:23:26.900
 verse 1.

00:23:27.360 --> 00:23:27.940
 I am

00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:28.380
 God

00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:29.100
 Almighty.

00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:30.020
 Walk

00:23:30.020 --> 00:23:30.940
 before me

00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:31.620
 faithfully

00:23:31.620 --> 00:23:32.360
 and be

00:23:32.360 --> 00:23:33.320
 blameless.

00:23:33.780 --> 00:23:34.360
 Abram's

00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:34.759
 knowledge

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.800
 of God

00:23:35.800 --> 00:23:36.940
 must change

00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.360
 how he

00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:37.759
 lives

00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.840
 before

00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:39.320
 God.

00:23:41.020 --> 00:23:41.840
 And the

00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:42.259
 same is

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:42.740
 true of

00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.460
 each one

00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.840
 of us.

00:23:46.840 --> 00:23:47.620
 Now a

00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:48.220
 strange thing

00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:48.820
 happens in

00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:49.359
 these chapters

00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:49.939
 doesn't it?

00:23:50.439 --> 00:23:51.299
 God changes

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:52.059
 the names

00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:52.859
 of Abram

00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:53.639
 and Sarai.

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.659
 In verse

00:23:54.659 --> 00:23:55.819
 5 Abram

00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:56.460
 will be

00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.859
 Abraham

00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:59.159
 father of

00:23:59.159 --> 00:23:59.500
 many.

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:00.460
 And verse

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:01.720
 15 Sarai

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.220
 will be

00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:02.839
 Sarah

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:04.079
 princess

00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:05.759
 because from

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.919
 her will

00:24:06.919 --> 00:24:07.659
 come

00:24:07.659 --> 00:24:08.619
 kings.

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:09.960
 It all

00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:10.179
 sounds

00:24:10.179 --> 00:24:10.700
 wonderful

00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.019
 doesn't

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.259
 it?

00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:12.700
 But tell

00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.259
 me this

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:15.039
 who has

00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.819
 the right

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:17.139
 to change

00:24:17.139 --> 00:24:18.339
 anyone's

00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.179
 name.

00:24:20.179 --> 00:24:20.539
 Who has

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:20.879
 the right

00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.139
 to do

00:24:21.139 --> 00:24:21.500
 that?

00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.539
 Well

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.019
 God

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:25.159
 Almighty

00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:25.720
 does

00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:27.259
 because

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:27.819
 God

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.519
 Almighty

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.539
 defines

00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.720
 our

00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.759
 identity

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.259
 as he

00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:32.779
 did with

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.599
 Abram

00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.240
 and

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:34.740
 Sarai.

00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.779
 We live

00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.039
 in a

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.740
 time where

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.359
 self

00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:39.299
 is the

00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:39.740
 God

00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.220
 of the

00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:40.720
 age.

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.519
 Gender

00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:42.899
 is no

00:24:42.899 --> 00:24:43.119
 longer

00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:43.799
 defined by

00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:44.359
 biology.

00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:45.339
 no one

00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:45.679
 can tell

00:24:45.679 --> 00:24:46.019
 a woman

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:46.399
 what to

00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:46.519
 do

00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:46.679
 with

00:24:46.679 --> 00:24:46.839
 her

00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:47.259
 body.

00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.240
 Consent

00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.599
 is the

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:48.879
 only

00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:49.419
 sexual

00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:50.059
 boundary.

00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:51.459
 And when

00:24:51.459 --> 00:24:51.699
 we're

00:24:51.699 --> 00:24:52.240
 surrounded

00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:52.740
 by that

00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.240
 kind of

00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:53.699
 culture

00:24:53.699 --> 00:24:54.299
 all of

00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:54.719
 the time

00:24:54.719 --> 00:24:54.939
 that

00:24:54.939 --> 00:24:55.459
 bows

00:24:55.459 --> 00:24:56.019
 the

00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.399
 knee

00:24:56.399 --> 00:24:56.740
 to

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.039
 the

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.419
 God

00:24:57.419 --> 00:24:57.679
 of

00:24:57.679 --> 00:24:58.179
 self,

00:24:59.379 --> 00:25:00.099
 we can

00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:00.859
 too easily

00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:01.539
 forget

00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:03.019
 that it

00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.759
 is God

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.519
 Almighty

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:06.179
 who defines

00:25:06.179 --> 00:25:07.139
 our

00:25:07.139 --> 00:25:07.740
 identity.

00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:09.959
 That our

00:25:09.959 --> 00:25:10.639
 lives are

00:25:10.639 --> 00:25:11.219
 not our

00:25:11.219 --> 00:25:11.799
 own to

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.039
 do

00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:12.339
 with

00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.019
 as we

00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:14.119
 please.

00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:15.819
 That we

00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.180
 are to

00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:16.619
 walk

00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:17.659
 before

00:25:17.659 --> 00:25:18.039
 God

00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:18.879
 faithfully

00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:20.500
 and be

00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.039
 blameless.

00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:22.799
 You see

00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.319
 God

00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:24.059
 Almighty

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.799
 defines

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.099
 our

00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:25.720
 identity

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.980
 because

00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:28.240
 we

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.359
 belong

00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:30.279
 to

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.619
 him.

00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:32.399
 And

00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:32.759
 everything

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.599
 we have

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.819
 belongs

00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:35.659
 to

00:25:35.659 --> 00:25:36.000
 him.

00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:38.399
 Now I

00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:38.579
 don't know

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:38.799
 if you've

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.299
 ever shared

00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:39.819
 a house

00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.359
 with somebody

00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:40.539
 else.

00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:40.919
 Maybe at

00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:41.480
 college you

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:41.839
 shared a

00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.240
 house with

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:42.460
 other

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:42.980
 students.

00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:44.460
 Well it

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:44.880
 was my

00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.640
 experience

00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:46.079
 during

00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:46.519
 college

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.019
 years

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.860
 that there

00:25:47.860 --> 00:25:48.339
 was only

00:25:48.339 --> 00:25:49.160
 one way

00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:49.620
 that you

00:25:49.620 --> 00:25:49.880
 could have

00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:50.380
 any hope

00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:50.839
 of putting

00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.579
 something in

00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.220
 the fridge

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:53.380
 and it

00:25:53.380 --> 00:25:53.960
 still being

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.299
 there when

00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:54.559
 you went

00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.079
 back later.

00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.460
 You wrote

00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:56.940
 your name

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:57.319
 on it.

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.579
 You not only

00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:58.940
 wrote your

00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.500
 name on it,

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.000
 you wrote

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.500
 your name

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.400
 all over

00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:01.640
 it.

00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.740
 You wrote

00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.180
 your name

00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:04.059
 all over

00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:04.400
 it in

00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.380
 big bold

00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:05.940
 capital

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.759
 letters so

00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.360
 nobody

00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:08.339
 could miss

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:08.599
 it.

00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:11.539
 this is

00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:13.059
 Martin's

00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:14.679
 and you

00:26:14.679 --> 00:26:14.899
 can be

00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:15.219
 sure that

00:26:15.219 --> 00:26:15.659
 it still

00:26:15.659 --> 00:26:15.879
 would be

00:26:15.879 --> 00:26:16.199
 gone from

00:26:16.199 --> 00:26:16.679
 the fridge

00:26:16.679 --> 00:26:17.500
 when you

00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:17.839
 went to

00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.379
 find it.

00:26:19.659 --> 00:26:20.019
 Well in

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.379
 the rest

00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:20.740
 of this

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.399
 story that

00:26:21.399 --> 00:26:21.839
 filled the

00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:22.319
 most of

00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:22.740
 our reading

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.240
 actually

00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:24.799
 it's as

00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.559
 though God

00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.399
 takes a

00:26:26.399 --> 00:26:27.419
 big black

00:26:27.419 --> 00:26:28.519
 marker

00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:30.460
 and writes

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.099
 his name

00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:31.779
 in big

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.379
 bold

00:26:32.379 --> 00:26:33.119
 letters

00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:35.200
 all over

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:35.919
 Abraham

00:26:35.919 --> 00:26:37.379
 and everything

00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:38.259
 that Abraham

00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:39.259
 owns.

00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:40.519
 It's the

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:40.859
 sign of

00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.440
 circumcision.

00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:42.000
 I'd love to

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.359
 have counted

00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:42.740
 how many

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.180
 times the

00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:43.359
 word

00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:43.980
 circumcision

00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:45.119
 or circumcised

00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:46.059
 was said

00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:46.419
 in that

00:26:46.419 --> 00:26:46.819
 chapter.

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.159
 But that's

00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:48.599
 what God

00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:49.019
 is doing

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.519
 with each

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.139
 cut of

00:26:50.139 --> 00:26:50.779
 the flesh

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.399
 God

00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:51.940
 Almighty

00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:52.680
 is saying

00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:54.660
 this is

00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.700
 mine.

00:26:56.860 --> 00:26:57.480
 He

00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:58.779
 belongs

00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:00.920
 to me.

00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:02.680
 And the

00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.240
 fact that

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:03.640
 Abraham

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:04.279
 belonged

00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:05.160
 to God

00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:06.860
 changed

00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:07.100
 how

00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:07.640
 Abraham

00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.140
 was to

00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:08.500
 live.

00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:10.779
 Didn't

00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.279
 the Apostle

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.880
 Paul write

00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:12.140
 to the

00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:12.620
 church in

00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:12.960
 Corinth

00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:15.220
 you are

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:16.380
 not your

00:27:16.380 --> 00:27:16.759
 own

00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:18.700
 you were

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.440
 bought

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.460
 at a

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:20.860
 price.

00:27:20.859 --> 00:27:22.779
 and that

00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.479
 price was

00:27:23.479 --> 00:27:24.259
 the death

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:25.059
 of God's

00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:25.459
 own

00:27:25.459 --> 00:27:26.259
 son.

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.279
 We were

00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:29.000
 covenant

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.619
 breakers

00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:30.299
 deserving to

00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:30.799
 be cut

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.339
 off from

00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:31.759
 God

00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.439
 and his

00:27:32.439 --> 00:27:32.879
 people

00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:33.479
 and that

00:27:33.479 --> 00:27:33.799
 was what

00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.519
 circumcision

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.339
 signified

00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:37.019
 but Jesus

00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.839
 was cut

00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.439
 off in

00:27:38.439 --> 00:27:38.819
 our

00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.679
 place.

00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:41.339
 We are

00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:41.759
 not our

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.099
 own

00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:43.199
 we were

00:27:43.199 --> 00:27:43.719
 bought

00:27:43.719 --> 00:27:44.279
 at a

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.659
 price

00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:45.039
 therefore

00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.899
 Paul says

00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:46.399
 honour

00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:47.119
 God

00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:47.779
 with

00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.359
 your

00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:49.419
 bodies.

00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.379
 They are

00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:51.819
 not yours

00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:52.139
 to do

00:27:52.139 --> 00:27:52.339
 with

00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:52.639
 as you

00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:53.259
 please.

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.539
 If you

00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.240
 belong to

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.719
 Jesus

00:27:57.719 --> 00:27:59.379
 they belong

00:27:59.379 --> 00:28:00.079
 to him

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:01.259
 and it's

00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:01.779
 he who

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.299
 defines

00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:02.519
 your

00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:03.039
 identity

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.500
 and has

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:03.859
 a right

00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:04.379
 to say

00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:05.240
 how you

00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:05.699
 live

00:28:05.699 --> 00:28:06.379
 and how

00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:06.839
 you use

00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.000
 your

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.459
 bodies.

00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.099
 In fact

00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:09.479
 how you

00:28:09.479 --> 00:28:09.759
 use

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.740
 everything

00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.979
 that belongs

00:28:11.979 --> 00:28:12.559
 to you.

00:28:14.119 --> 00:28:14.679
 So as

00:28:14.679 --> 00:28:15.240
 those who

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.639
 have been

00:28:15.639 --> 00:28:16.119
 bought

00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:16.519
 at a

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.000
 price

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:18.699
 by the

00:28:18.699 --> 00:28:18.959
 death

00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.120
 of

00:28:19.120 --> 00:28:19.519
 Jesus

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.600
 as

00:28:20.600 --> 00:28:20.900
 those

00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.460
 belonging

00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:22.160
 to him

00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:24.640
 let us

00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:25.240
 live as

00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.960
 people who

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:27.039
 trust God's

00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.920
 promises in

00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.640
 Jesus.

00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:31.079
 Let's

00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:31.779
 trust the

00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.319
 God who

00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:32.819
 is both

00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:34.079
 self-sufficient

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.660
 and all

00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.160
 sufficient.

00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:39.140
 Let's not

00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:39.779
 only address

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.420
 him by this

00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:40.819
 name when

00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:41.559
 we pray

00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:43.840
 El Shaddai

00:28:43.840 --> 00:28:45.220
 God

00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:45.720
 Almighty

00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:48.000
 but let

00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:48.579
 us learn

00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.200
 to live

00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:49.700
 as though

00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.400
 the God

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:50.960
 we pray

00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.339
 to

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:52.920
 really

00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:53.759
 is

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.880
 what he

00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:55.360
 says he

00:28:55.360 --> 00:28:55.880
 is

00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:57.360
 God

00:28:57.360 --> 00:28:59.259
 Almighty.

00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:00.720
 Let's

00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.000
 pray

00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.900
 together.

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.380
 Father

00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:08.240
 we confess

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:08.700
 that too

00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:09.299
 often we

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:09.700
 go through

00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.460
 life like

00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:11.299
 Abram

00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:12.500
 and Sarah

00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:14.419
 feeling to

00:29:14.419 --> 00:29:15.019
 rest in

00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:15.619
 the promises

00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:16.440
 of God

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.740
 and doing

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.720
 everything we

00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.740
 possibly can

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.119
 to

00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:21.460
 fulfil

00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:23.159
 your

00:29:23.159 --> 00:29:23.579
 promises

00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:24.240
 to us.

00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:26.480
 Oh

00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:26.879
 Father may

00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:27.539
 we learn

00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:29.299
 that such

00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:29.799
 a path

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.299
 takes us

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:30.619
 to the

00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:31.079
 end of

00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:31.559
 ourselves

00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:33.019
 and forces

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.519
 us back

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:33.919
 to you

00:29:33.919 --> 00:29:34.240
 and may

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.619
 we learn

00:29:34.619 --> 00:29:34.879
 to be

00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:35.399
 people who

00:29:35.399 --> 00:29:35.940
 trust

00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:36.419
 you.

00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:38.279
 May we

00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:38.819
 grasp

00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:39.379
 that you

00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:40.099
 really are

00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:40.619
 God

00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:41.180
 Almighty

00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:42.000
 that nothing

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:43.200
 is outside

00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:43.519
 of your

00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.019
 control.

00:29:45.060 --> 00:29:45.600
 That not

00:29:45.600 --> 00:29:46.960
 one thing

00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.060
 or no

00:29:48.060 --> 00:29:48.799
 one can

00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.460
 frustrate

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.640
 your purposes

00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:51.660
 for your

00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.019
 people.

00:29:53.340 --> 00:29:53.660
 And Father

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.000
 may we

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.440
 learn to

00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.200
 rest in

00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:55.400
 that

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:55.860
 knowledge.

00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:57.580
 And

00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:57.960
 Father we

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:58.320
 pray that

00:29:58.320 --> 00:29:58.500
 we are

00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.200
 people that

00:29:59.200 --> 00:29:59.640
 as our

00:29:59.640 --> 00:30:00.200
 knowledge of

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.299
 you

00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:00.779
 increases

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:03.060
 that so

00:30:03.060 --> 00:30:03.519
 our commitment

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.160
 before you

00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:04.560
 increases

00:30:04.560 --> 00:30:04.920
 that we

00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.900
 walk before

00:30:05.900 --> 00:30:06.320
 you

00:30:06.320 --> 00:30:07.740
 faithfully

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:09.100
 in light

00:30:09.100 --> 00:30:09.420
 of the

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:09.980
 knowledge of

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.259
 what we

00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:10.759
 know of

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:10.980
 you.

00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:12.900
 Father may

00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:13.500
 we grasp

00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:14.180
 that everything

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:14.920
 we have

00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:15.880
 belongs to

00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:16.180
 you.

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.240
 That we

00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:17.940
 were bought

00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.799
 at a price

00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.220
 by the

00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:19.680
 death of

00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:20.080
 your son

00:30:20.080 --> 00:30:20.400
 the Lord

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:20.740
 Jesus.

00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:22.799
 That just

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.140
 as you

00:30:23.140 --> 00:30:23.519
 had the

00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.080
 right to

00:30:24.080 --> 00:30:25.180
 rename

00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:26.200
 Abram and

00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:26.460
 Sarah

00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:27.680
 to define

00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.060
 who they

00:30:28.060 --> 00:30:28.500
 were so

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:28.940
 you have

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.420
 the right

00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:30.160
 to define

00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:30.980
 who we

00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:32.080
 are and

00:30:32.080 --> 00:30:32.440
 how we

00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:32.980
 should live

00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.660
 and what

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.039
 we should

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.420
 do.

00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:36.400
 And may

00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:36.920
 we learn

00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:37.800
 not to

00:30:37.800 --> 00:30:38.340
 resist

00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:39.860
 such a

00:30:39.860 --> 00:30:40.180
 thing

00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:42.019
 but to

00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.580
 grasp that

00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:42.980
 there is

00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.660
 real freedom

00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.300
 in knowing

00:30:44.300 --> 00:30:45.740
 who you've

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.320
 made us

00:30:46.320 --> 00:30:47.580
 to be.

00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:49.380
 May we

00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:49.800
 learn to

00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:50.900
 rest in

00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:51.539
 that knowledge

00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:53.220
 and walk

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.779
 faithfully

00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.500
 before you

00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:56.200
 and we

00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:56.660
 ask this

00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:56.980
 in the

00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:58.000
 name of

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.539
 our Lord

00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:58.920
 Jesus.

00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:00.420
 Amen.

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.319
 Well the guys

00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:03.680
 are going to

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.099
 return and

00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:04.380
 we're going to

00:31:04.380 --> 00:31:04.480
 say