in West Africa called Togo.
Togo is located in the middle between Ghana and Benin.
A group of missionaries went to the northern part of Togo
to meet an unreached people group.
Now, how should I describe unreached people group?
Well, unreached people group is people who don't have much contact with outsiders.
Sometimes this is done by their choice because they want to remain
without outside influence.
Or this is because of just the geographic location of where they live.
Sometimes it's just impossible to get there.
So the missionaries were very excited.
They made the contact with this group of people
and they were hoping to bring the good news of Jesus to this group of people.
So the missionaries got to this place where these people
didn't really have much contact with the outsiders.
And they were very thankful that the elders and the chief of the clan
gave the missionaries permission to share the gospel with their tribe.
So the missionaries started to begin sharing the story of Jesus Christ
and the gospel promise with this group of people.
And as they were sharing the gospel, a family told the missionaries,
we know Jesus.
We heard about Jesus.
And we've been following the path of Jesus.
And the missionaries were just shocked.
They were amazed and they were so puzzled.
Where and how did this family heard the news of gospel?
They talk among themselves and they just couldn't figure out.
They thought they were the first people to share the gospel with this group.
And yet there was a family already heard about Jesus
and they were following the path of Jesus.
We will come back to this story a little later on.
Tonight, we're continuing our series in Genesis.
We're going to read from Genesis chapter 15.
And it is about God's covenant promise to Abram.
We will look at three aspects of this covenant.
First, what is this covenant about?
What is in this covenant?
Second, what is the significance of this covenant?
And third, why is this covenant important to us?
A covenant made to Abram thousands of years ago.
And why does this matter to us in 21st century?
Let us pray.
Lord, our God, we are grateful that you loved us first.
And you pursued us with your love.
We didn't love you first.
You loved us first.
And Lord, we are grateful that you sent your son Jesus to die in our place for our sins
according to your promise.
And Lord Jesus, we are grateful that our Father God is a promise keeper
and his words never return to him empty.
So as we read and study Genesis 15 tonight, Lord,
we pray that you will prepare our hearts to hear your words.
And Lord, we pray that your words will start transforming our lives for your glory
and for your kingdom.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
So please turn with me to Genesis chapter 15.
And it's on page 10 in your pew Bible.
Genesis chapter 15, page 10 in your pew Bible.
So what is this covenant about?
What is in this covenant?
So God makes covenant with Abraham, which contains threefold blessings.
The first is numerical blessing.
The second is a geographical blessing.
And the third is spiritual blessing.
Let's look at verses 1 through 6 together.
After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abraham in a vision.
Fear not, Abraham.
I am your shield.
Your reward shall be very great.
But Abraham said,
O Lord God, what will you give me?
For I continue childless,
and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus.
And Abraham said,
Behold, you have given me no offspring,
and a member of my household will be my heir.
And behold, the word of the Lord came to him,
This man shall not be your heir.
Your very own son shall be your heir.
And he brought him outside and said,
Look toward heaven and number the stars if you are able to number them.
Then he said to him,
So shall your offspring be.
And he believed the Lord,
and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Last Sunday evening,
Pastor Greg preached on the previous chapter
where Abraham went into a battle to rescue his nephew Lot,
and Abraham returned victorious.
And now, perhaps, he feared retaliation from the enemies.
So God tells him,
Do not fear.
I am your shield.
I am your protector.
And then he goes on to say,
Your reward shall be very great.
And then Abraham lets out his frustration.
What good is all this wealth and reward?
I don't have a child.
I have to pick somebody who was born in my house,
probably a servant,
as my heir.
So Abraham lets out his frustration to God.
Now, according to the ancient custom,
when a wealthy man doesn't have a child,
he will pick one of his servants as his heir
to inherit his wealth possessions.
But God told Abraham,
No, no, no.
Not this guy, Eliezer of Damascus,
but your own son will be your heir.
And then he goes on to tell Abraham,
Your descendants will be as many as stars in the sky.
Now, we have learned in chapter 13,
God told Abraham,
Your descendants will be as many as the dust of the earth.
Too many to count.
So this is the numerical blessing,
that your descendants will be as numerous as stars,
as numerous as the dust of the earth.
And the important verse here is,
And Abram believed the Lord,
and he counted it to him as righteousness.
So Abraham is now known as a man of faith
because he believed God.
He believed God's promise.
Let's continue with verses 7 through 11.
And he said to him,
I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans
to give you this land to possess.
But he said,
Oh Lord God,
how am I to know that I shall possess it?
He said to him,
Bring me a heifer,
three years old,
a female goat three years old,
a ram three years old,
a turtle dove,
and a young pigeon.
And he brought him all these,
cut them in half,
and laid each half over against the other.
But he did not cut the birds in half.
And when the birds of prey came down on the carcasses,
Abram drove them away.
Cutting animals in half was an ancient custom,
symbolizing that one who breaks the promise
will be like these animals cut in half.
So as we read chapter 11,
Abram chased away the birds of prey,
probably vultures.
Now the author of Genesis,
pointing out this,
was he just merely pointing out a natural phenomenon.
Of course,
you cut animals in half,
and it will attract probably vultures.
Is this why the author of Genesis
just pointing out a natural phenomenon?
A Bible commentator said,
these birds of prey
symbolize Israel's enemies,
the unclean,
the idol-worshipping nations
that surround Israel.
I also believe that spiritually,
this symbolizes the schemes of the devil,
trying to distract, deceive,
and sabotage good things.
We experience this in our spiritual walk.
This morning,
Pastor Matt mentioned
Satan tempted Eve
with the deception.
Satan told Eve,
eh,
you could eat the fruit.
You're not going to die.
You'll become like God.
Do not follow God's rule.
You don't have to listen to God's wisdom.
Listen to your own wisdom.
You'll be like God.
And don't we experience this?
Satan trying to deceive us,
distract us,
and also try to sabotage
what is really good for us.
So Abram chased these birds of prey away,
and we need to chase the schemes of the devil
away in Jesus' minded name.
Now this is a geographical blessing.
In chapter 12,
God told Abram that
I will make of you
a great nation.
In chapter 13,
God told Abram to look
all different directions.
He said,
look northward,
southward,
east,
and west.
For all the land
you see,
I'll give to you
and your offering,
your offspring
forever.
So a nation of Israel
is born
with this blessing.
So the second blessing
is a geographical blessing.
And let's continue to read
verses 12 to 16.
As the sun was going down,
a deep sleep fell on Abram.
And behold,
dreadful and great darkness
fell upon him.
Then the Lord said to Abram,
know for certain
that your offspring
will be sojourners
in a land
that is not theirs,
and will be servants there
and they will be afflicted
for 400 years.
But I will bring judgment
on the nation
that they serve
and afterward
they shall come out
with great possessions.
As for you,
you shall go to your fathers
in peace.
You shall be buried
in a good old age.
And they shall come back here
in the fourth generation
for the iniquity
of the Amorites
is not yet complete.
So in verse 8,
Abram asked God,
how am I to know
that my descendants
or I shall possess
this land?
So God reveals
to Abram
what's going to happen
to his descendants.
As the sun
was going down,
a deep sleep
fell on Abram
and behold,
a dreadful
and great darkness
fell upon him.
So,
when God
was explaining
to Abram
that your descendants
will suffer
in slavery
for 400 years,
I'm sure
that was very
dreadful
and terrible thing
for Abram
to hear
and feel.
And yet,
God tells Abram,
but that's not
where we'll end.
Your descendants
will come out
in fourth generation
with great possessions.
And he also
tells Abram,
but you
will die
in peace.
Let's continue
with verses
17 to 21.
When the sun
had gone down
and it was dark,
behold,
a smoking firepot
and a flaming torch
passed between
these pieces.
On that day,
the Lord
made a covenant
with Abram,
saying,
To your offspring
I give this land
from the river
of Egypt
to the great river,
the river
Euphrates,
the land
of Canaanites,
the Canaanites,
the Kadamonites,
the Hittites,
the Perizzites,
the Raphame,
Amorites,
the Canaanites,
the Girgashites,
and the Jebusites.
So God
walks through
these
carcasses
in a smoking
firepot
and a flaming
torch
as if he's
putting his
own signature
to this
geographic blessing
saying,
I will make you
a great nation.
your descendants
may suffer
for 400 years
under the bondage
in Egypt,
but when they
come out,
they will inherit
this land
and here
is my signature.
So he walks
through
these carcasses
and consumed
them
with the fire.
Now,
the third
blessing
in this covenant
is a spiritual
blessing.
and it is
found in
chapter 12.
In chapter 12,
God told Abraham,
in you
all the families
of the earth
shall be blessed.
In other
translations,
it says
all nations
will be blessed
through you.
All ethnic
groups
will be blessed
through you.
Now,
God did not
explain
this blessing
in detail
to Abraham.
but
what
God
promised
Abraham
is
basically
this.
I will
send my
own son,
Jesus,
as one of
your descendants
to save
the world.
And it
is shown
in the
genealogy
of Christ.
You can look
that up in
Matthew chapter
1
or in
Luke
chapter 3
and you
can trace
from the
birth of
Jesus
to Abraham.
So,
to recap
the threefold
blessings,
one,
it was a
numerical
blessing,
your descendants
will be as
many as
stars in
the sky,
and two,
I will
make you
a great
nation,
a nation
of Israel
is born,
and the
third,
all nations
will be
blessed
through you.
Now,
what is the
significance
of this
covenant?
Well,
continuing
from the
third,
the spiritual
blessing,
God
proclaimed
the gospel
to Abraham.
He's
telling
Abraham,
I'm not
only going
to bless
you with
numerous
offspring
and make
you a
great
nation,
but I
will also
redeem
this whole
world
by sending
my son
Jesus
as one
of your
descendants.
In
Galatians
chapter
3,
18-19,
it says,
and the
scripture
foreseeing
that God
would justify
the Gentiles
by faith,
preached the
gospel
beforehand
to Abraham,
saying,
in you
shall all
the nations
be blessed.
So then,
those who
are of
faith
are blessed
along
with Abraham,
the man
of faith.
if you
believe
like
Abraham
believed
God,
then you
become
blessed
along
with
Abraham,
the man
of faith.
Tim Keller
puts it
this way
in his
book,
Galatians
for you.
this is
why
apostle Paul
says in
Galatians,
those who
believe
are children
of Abraham.
What matters
is not
physical
descent
from Abraham,
like being
Jewish,
but spiritual
descent,
having the
same faith
as he did.
So what
does it
mean to
have faith
like Abraham?
First,
saving faith
is believing
the gospel
promise.
Second,
saving faith
is faith
in God's
provision,
not our
performance.
Another
significance
of this
covenant
is that
it serves
as a
foundation
for missions,
both local
and global.
When we
do mission
work,
it is
tempting
to feel
as if
we
accomplish
something
for God.
First of
all,
it is
God's
mission.
He
mobilizes
us to
accomplish
His
purpose.
All
ethnic
groups,
all
families
of the
earth,
all
nations
will be
blessed
through you.
And this
is God's
mission.
Now,
let's go
back to
the story
of this
family in
Togo.
So,
the
missionaries,
they were
amazed and
they were
puzzled by
this
family
who already
heard
about
Jesus.
So,
the story
unfolds
when the
father of
this family
became
sick,
they
seeked
out a
good,
reputable
hospital.
So,
they went
on a
several
hundred
mile
journey
to this
Christian
hospital.
And as
their father
was receiving
treatment,
the whole
family had
an opportunity
to receive
the gospel.
That's the way
they heard
about Jesus.
and ever
since then,
they've been
following the
path of
Jesus.
Now,
when we
hear a
story like
this,
our tendency
is to
praise,
wow,
you know,
that's a
great
organization.
Like,
who built
that Christian
hospital?
Or you
may say,
wow,
those Christian
doctors and
nurses and
staff,
they are doing
wonderful
things.
But what
we oftentimes
forget is,
who is really
behind all
this?
This is
God's
mission.
God already
proclaimed to
Abraham that
I'm going to
bless all
nations,
all ethnic
groups through
you.
And God's
promise is
just getting
fulfilled.
I was in
Bolivian Amazon
two months
ago,
serving on a
medical boat
for two
weeks.
When we
dock our
boat in
this village,
there was a
curious young
man who
came to
our boat.
He was
just so
curious.
He wanted
to know
why we're
here and
what we're
doing and
where we're
from.
I mean,
he didn't
have any
medical needs.
He was
just so
curious and
he wanted
to talk
to us.
Maybe he
thought I
was Jackie
Chan.
I don't
know.
But he
was just
so curious.
So,
one of our
translators
got to
know him
and started
to share
the gospel
with him.
And the
young man
told us,
I mean,
as a custom,
as a tradition,
he grew up
as a Catholic,
but he never
really understood
or heard
the gospel.
And he never
owned his
own Bible.
And he was
really desiring
to receive
a Spanish
Bible from
us.
So,
the translator
spent time
with him.
He opened
the scripture.
He shared
the gospel
with him.
And then,
at the end,
he gave
him his
own Bible.
Now,
does
Samaritan
purse deserve
any of the
credit?
The volunteers
deserve any
of the credit?
No.
This is
God
mobilizing
the volunteers,
the translators,
through Samaritan's
purse,
to fulfill
his promise.
All nations,
all ethnic groups,
all families
of the earth
will be blessed
through you.
Now,
in the beginning
of the service,
Pastor Greg
read Isaiah
chapter 55
verses 10 to 11.
Let's just
turn to that
real quick.
It's on
page
615.
Page
615
in your
pew Bible,
Isaiah
chapter 55
verses
10 and
11.
For as
the rain
and the
snow
come down
from heaven
and do
not return
there but
water the
earth,
making it
bring forth
and sprout,
giving seed
to the
sower
and bread
to the
eater,
so shall
my word
be that
goes out
from my
mouth,
it shall
not return
to me
empty,
but it
shall
accomplish
that which
I purpose
and shall
succeed
in the
thing
for which
I
sent it.
God's word
never returned
to him
empty.
God
never makes
empty promises.
Isn't that
amazing?
Before we
move on
to why
is this
covenant
so important
for us,
I'll tell
you a story.
On March
12th,
on an evening
service just
like this,
Pastor Nick
told us
right before
his sermon
that my
sermon is
going to
be about
40 to
45 minutes
long.
Now the
sermon in
evening service,
it usually,
you know,
it starts
around 5 to
7,
sometimes
at 7 o'clock.
Now that
evening,
I served
the communion.
So I
came up
here after
the sermon,
as I'm
standing next
to Pastor
Nick,
I looked
up and I
saw that
clock.
And it
was 7
or 5.
And I,
for a split
second,
I started
to get
really,
like this
excitement
was like
welding up
inside of
me.
I said,
wow,
God,
this is
miracle.
It's like
Joshua,
you know,
you stop
the sun
from setting
so Joshua
can win
the battle.
You stop
the time.
It's a
7 o'clock.
Then suddenly
I realized
somebody forgot
to turn
the clock
forward.
Thus
daylight
time saving
had begun.
So every
time I look
at the clock,
now I look
at it a
little bit
differently.
So,
okay,
let's
continue.
why is
this
covenant,
why is
this
covenant
so important
for us?
Well,
it is
God,
it is
God who
pursued
Abram
with his
love.
Abram
did not
pursue
God.
God
initiated
this whole
thing.
What about
us?
What about
you?
How did
you come
to know
Christ?
who
told you
the gospel?
A friend?
Your parents?
Online
sermon?
A Christian
book?
No matter
how you've
come to
know
the
Christ,
it was
not a
coincidence.
God
pursued
you
with his
love even
before you
were formed
in your
mother's
womb.
Just like
my experience
in Bolivia
or the
story
about this
Togo
family,
God
pursued
them
with his
love
because
that is
his
covenant
promise.
All
nations,
all ethnic
groups,
all families
of earth
will be
blessed
through you.
Whether
you're in
Bolivia,
whether you're
in United
States,
Europe,
Asia,
it doesn't
matter.
God
proclaimed
that
you will
be
blessed
because
of my
son
Jesus
and what
he did
on the
cross.
And that
is the
spiritual
blessing
and that
is
why
this
covenant
is so
important
for us.
Now,
if you
have never
been to a
church in
your life
and if
you're
sitting here
today,
this is
not an
accident.
God's
been
pursuing
you
with
his
love
your
whole
life.
Jesus
told us
a parable
of a
shepherd
searching
and searching
for that
one lost
sheep.
God's
been
pursuing
you
like
this
shepherd
with
his
redeeming
love.
In
1 John
chapter 4,
it reads,
God
first
loved
us.
God
loved
us
even
to the
death
of his
son,
Jesus.
And
what's
really
amazing
is that
Jesus
did not
just stop
there.
Jesus
did not
say to
God,
Father,
I obeyed
you.
Die for
these
people.
Now I'm
done with
these
sinners.
I did
my part.
Thank
you.
Jesus
didn't
say that.
Jesus
also
promised
us
with
threefold
blessings.
Jesus
knew
the time
has
come
for him
to
leave,
for him
to
die.
So he
tells his
disciples,
one,
I will
never
leave
you
like
orphans.
and
two,
I will
send
a helper,
Holy
Spirit,
to help
you,
to guide
you,
to comfort
you.
The Holy
Spirit will
intercede
for you.
Jesus
is saying
that I
am not
going to
be with
you
physically
anymore,
but the
Holy Spirit
will live
inside of
you.
And
third,
I will
go and
prepare a
place for
you,
then I
will
come
back
to
bring
you
back
home
with
me
to
God's
kingdom.
Please
reflect
with me.
You may
close your
eyes if
you wish.
God's
are you
hurting
tonight
because
someone
made a
promise
to you
but
did not
keep it?
Are you
struggling
with pain
and anger
or living
the consequences
of that
broken
promise?
Please
bring them
to the
Lord
and ask
Him
for
healing.
ask
Him
to
enable
you
to
forgive.
Just
like we
read
tonight
in
Isaiah
chapter
55,
God
never
breaks
His
promises.
Just
like
Abraham
believed
God,
won't
you
believe
Jesus
who
came
to
die
for
your
sins
just
like
God
promised?
And
let the
Holy
Spirit
live
inside
of
you
comforting,
healing,
helping,
and praying
for you
till
Jesus
comes
back
to
bring
you
home
to
God's
kingdom.
Let
us
pray.
Lord
our
God,
we
praise
you
and
honor
you
and
thank
you
for
this
precious
covenant
promise
that
you
made
with
Abraham
thousands
and
thousands
of
years
ago.
And
Lord,
your
word
never
returns
to
you
empty.
And
Lord,
because
of
your
promise
that
now
our
sins
are
forgiven,
we
have
eternal
life
with
Jesus,
and we
have the
Holy
Spirit
living
inside
of us
to
help
us
and
guide
us
and
comfort
us
and
heal
our
wounds.
And
because
the
Holy
Spirit
continually
intercede
for us,
Lord,
that we
are just
amazed
by your
love
and what
you have
done
for us,
Lord.
so
Lord,
help us
to continue
to remember
this promise
each day
and live
in joy
giving you
thanks
and honor
and all
the glory.
In
Jesus'
name we
pray.
Amen.
Would you
stand with
me as we
sing our
closing song
together?
Amen.
I hear
the Savior
say
Thy
strength
indeed
is
small
Child
of
weakness
watch
and pray
find
in me
thine
all
in all
Jesus
paid
it
all
to
him
I
owe
sin
had
left
a
crimson
stain
he
washed
it
white
as
snow
Lord
now
indeed
I
find
thy
power
and
mine
alone
can
change
the
leper
spots
and
melt
this
heart
of
stone
Jesus
paid
Jesus
paid
it
all
to
him
I
owe
sin
hath
left
a crimson
stain
he
washed
it
white
as
snow
for
nothing
good
have
I
whereby
thy
grace
to
find
I
wash
my
garments
white
in
the
blood
of
Calvary's
lamb
Jesus
paid
it
all
to
him
I
owe
sin
had
left
a crimson
stain
he
washed
it
white
as
snow
and
when
before
the
throne
I
stand
in
incomplete
Jesus
died
my
soul
to
save
my
lips
shall
still
repeat
Jesus
paid
it
all
to
him
I
owe
sin
had
left
a
crimson
stain
he
washed
it
white
as
snow
sin
had
left
a
crimson
stain
he
washed
it
white
as
snow
a
I think there's some cold drinks and snacks at the back.
Feel free to stay around for those.
And take note of, on the back of the bulletin, there is a list of...