WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.540 of you, poor thing. 00:00:02.780 --> 00:00:05.200 Grab your Bibles, I want you to turn to Genesis chapter 16. 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:07.560 Genesis chapter 16. 00:00:07.719 --> 00:00:11.560 You know, God has a plan for my life. 00:00:12.620 --> 00:00:14.200 God has a plan for your life. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:20.359 And he'll show us how to live out that plan through his word. 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:26.879 And if you're a Christian today and you've surrendered your 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:29.600 heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ and committed to live 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:34.280 for him, when you did that, you were blessed to have the Holy 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:41.800 Spirit of God indwell within you to guide you through the maze of 00:00:41.800 --> 00:00:47.600 daily decisions and discouragements and temptations and 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:48.780 hindrances. 00:00:48.780 --> 00:01:02.039 But the reality is we don't always agree with God on what 00:01:02.039 --> 00:01:05.799 he's doing in our lives and how he's doing it. 00:01:07.460 --> 00:01:14.640 And when it does not suit us or when it does not feel right, we have a 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:15.920 tendency to try to fix it. 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:21.340 And sometimes that means we yield to temptation. 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:27.019 And when I mean yield, that's a real kind way of saying we mess up. 00:01:27.859 --> 00:01:29.280 We fall to it. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:37.219 We go our own way instead of God's way. 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:45.079 Even though his word is clear about the matter, even though his guidance 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:50.659 through our own time with him and our own relationship with him, and even the 00:01:50.659 --> 00:01:54.120 utterings of the Holy Spirit to our heart that are not audible but are louder 00:01:54.120 --> 00:02:06.040 than that, even with that sometimes the questioning of the timing of God causes us to go our own 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:06.439 way. 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:12.020 And, man, some folks do a good job of justifying it. 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:14.259 I mean, just ask them. 00:02:15.659 --> 00:02:17.240 They'll tell you how it's justified. 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:19.740 Or they'll blame somebody else. 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:22.200 Or they'll try to wash their hands of it. 00:02:22.199 --> 00:02:26.899 But in our passage today, it's dealing with such as that. 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:34.539 And it teaches us, I believe, a lot of lessons about what will happen when we try to fix God's 00:02:34.539 --> 00:02:41.199 plan by doing things our way instead of the way God has shown us to do it. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:43.879 God has told us to do it. 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:54.180 And God has even spoke to us individually, given us guidance of how his word is personalized into our lives 00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:56.180 and how we ought to follow it. 00:02:57.939 --> 00:03:06.859 If a man of faith like Abraham can mess up in that plan, so can we. 00:03:06.860 --> 00:03:13.780 Genesis chapter 16, beginning in verse 1, it says, 00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:18.479 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:23.259 She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 00:03:23.699 --> 00:03:25.780 And Sarai said to Abram, 00:03:26.379 --> 00:03:28.780 Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. 00:03:28.939 --> 00:03:30.139 Go into my servant. 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:34.199 It may be that I shall obtain children by her. 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:38.560 And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:42.400 So after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:45.620 Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, his servant, 00:03:46.300 --> 00:03:50.080 and gave her to Abram, her husband, as a wife. 00:03:51.140 --> 00:03:53.659 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. 00:03:54.039 --> 00:03:56.280 And when she saw that she had conceived, 00:03:56.860 --> 00:03:59.560 she looked with contempt on her mistress. 00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:02.860 And Sarai said to Abram, 00:04:03.420 --> 00:04:08.180 May the Lord, may the wrong done to me be on you. 00:04:08.379 --> 00:04:10.420 I gave my servant to your embrace, 00:04:10.539 --> 00:04:12.240 and when she saw that she had conceived, 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:13.800 she looked on me with contempt. 00:04:14.140 --> 00:04:16.699 May the Lord judge between you and me. 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:19.699 But Abram said to Sarai, 00:04:19.860 --> 00:04:22.000 Behold, your servant is in your power. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:24.040 Do to her as you please. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:27.000 Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.040 and she fled from her. 00:04:30.459 --> 00:04:32.780 Man, I wish I could clean this up for Sunday morning 00:04:32.780 --> 00:04:33.720 because it's kind of messy. 00:04:38.839 --> 00:04:44.000 But I am thankful that God tells the truth in His Word. 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:49.840 He just puts it out there and shows us 00:04:49.840 --> 00:04:52.040 so that we can learn from it. 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:56.699 I want you to notice this morning what happens 00:04:56.699 --> 00:05:00.759 when we fall to the temptation of overstepping God 00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:05.039 or fixing God's plan, at least attempting to. 00:05:06.039 --> 00:05:08.560 Because we sometimes miss God's plan. 00:05:08.659 --> 00:05:10.459 We overstep it or we try to fix it 00:05:10.459 --> 00:05:14.459 when we listen to people instead of God. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:22.139 This story starts long before this particular incident. 00:05:22.139 --> 00:05:26.879 Before Sarai offered her servant to Abram, 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:30.399 it started when Abram went to Egypt during a famine. 00:05:32.060 --> 00:05:33.300 Egypt had plenty. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:35.699 And when you're hungry, 00:05:36.139 --> 00:05:37.659 you want to go to a land of plenty, 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:39.919 and Egypt looked like it was a good spot. 00:05:40.099 --> 00:05:41.719 But you find that, 00:05:42.419 --> 00:05:45.339 as I spoke of when we talked about that passage, 00:05:45.339 --> 00:05:50.939 Egypt was never a good place to go in the Bible. 00:05:51.359 --> 00:05:52.479 It just wasn't a good place to go. 00:05:52.539 --> 00:05:53.779 It looked good all the time, 00:05:53.859 --> 00:05:56.179 but it was not a good place to go. 00:05:56.659 --> 00:05:57.399 It was dangerous. 00:05:58.539 --> 00:06:01.599 It was dangerous to Abraham, 00:06:01.799 --> 00:06:03.079 who was called Abram at the time. 00:06:03.239 --> 00:06:05.219 And to protect himself, 00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:08.199 Abram called Sarai his sister. 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:12.620 Now, she was his half-sister, 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:16.060 and until somebody asked for her hand, 00:06:17.659 --> 00:06:20.539 nobody would kill him to get his wife 00:06:20.539 --> 00:06:23.500 if she was just a sister. 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:25.000 Therefore, he was good. 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:27.019 But when Pharaoh, 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:30.719 when she caught the attention of Pharaoh, 00:06:31.899 --> 00:06:36.219 and he wanted to bring her into his home, 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:40.060 then that caused a problem. 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:46.240 And it just proved that he never should have lied 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:47.440 about the thing to start with. 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:49.400 Now, you say, well, I mean, 00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:51.000 he said it was a sister and half-sister, 00:06:51.840 --> 00:06:53.140 and that ain't half a lie. 00:06:53.320 --> 00:06:56.900 Well, half a lie is a whole deception, you know. 00:07:00.640 --> 00:07:02.900 And plagues came to Pharaoh 00:07:02.900 --> 00:07:04.900 and started ruining his life, 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:06.339 and when he finally realized 00:07:06.339 --> 00:07:08.839 that it had been due to his interest in Sarai, 00:07:09.239 --> 00:07:12.199 he told Abram to get her and get out 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:14.899 and take all that he had been given. 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:16.599 Take the sheep, 00:07:17.419 --> 00:07:18.459 take the goats, 00:07:19.299 --> 00:07:20.239 take the cattle, 00:07:21.159 --> 00:07:22.319 take the donkeys, 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:24.719 take the male servants, 00:07:25.419 --> 00:07:27.919 and take the female servants, 00:07:29.139 --> 00:07:30.519 and the camels. 00:07:30.599 --> 00:07:31.199 Take them all. 00:07:31.459 --> 00:07:32.939 It's what Genesis 12, 16 says. 00:07:32.939 --> 00:07:37.439 And one of those female servants 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:39.259 was named Hagar. 00:07:41.660 --> 00:07:43.079 And Sarai said, 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:46.360 since apparently I can't bear the child 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:48.439 that God has promised to us, 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:51.439 have one with her, 00:07:51.659 --> 00:07:52.560 and that'll solve it. 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:56.100 And that seemed like an acceptable solution 00:07:56.100 --> 00:07:58.180 to not having a child, 00:07:58.180 --> 00:08:00.500 therefore the world would have applauded 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:01.579 Sarai's willingness 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:03.379 to be open-minded 00:08:03.379 --> 00:08:05.579 about such a situation like that. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:06.540 I mean, 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:08.740 why not put feet on God's promises 00:08:08.740 --> 00:08:10.400 instead of merely waiting on them? 00:08:11.819 --> 00:08:12.960 I'll tell you why. 00:08:14.220 --> 00:08:15.639 Because that's not a fulfillment 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:16.579 of God's promise. 00:08:19.379 --> 00:08:21.399 That's manipulating our way 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:22.699 and trying to make it look good, 00:08:22.819 --> 00:08:25.259 and it never works like that. 00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:28.259 Sarai was wrong to suggest it. 00:08:28.459 --> 00:08:30.759 Abram was wrong to go along with it. 00:08:31.099 --> 00:08:32.740 Because when God speaks 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:34.460 through His Word 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:36.439 and personalized to your life 00:08:36.439 --> 00:08:38.179 by the Holy Spirit of God, 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:39.939 listen to God, 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:41.919 not to others. 00:08:44.580 --> 00:08:46.340 People mean well. 00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:49.139 And some of them 00:08:49.139 --> 00:08:50.920 are looking out 00:08:50.920 --> 00:08:52.180 for your best interest. 00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:56.460 But they only have 00:08:56.460 --> 00:08:58.139 their own personal insight, 00:08:58.360 --> 00:08:59.820 which might be good, 00:09:00.379 --> 00:09:02.120 but it's not great. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:05.480 And God's insight's not only great, 00:09:05.540 --> 00:09:06.259 but it's perfect. 00:09:07.920 --> 00:09:09.340 And so listen to God. 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:12.320 It's a bad day 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:13.259 when somebody tries 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:14.400 to fix God's plan 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:14.899 because they, 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:17.699 by listening to other people 00:09:17.699 --> 00:09:20.199 instead of God, 00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:21.819 that's when we try 00:09:21.819 --> 00:09:22.579 to fix God's plan. 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:23.360 I'll tell you what else 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:23.759 can happen 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:25.279 when we try to fix God's plan. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:26.919 We try to justify 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:29.120 what is blatant sin. 00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:33.100 Because this sinful plan 00:09:33.100 --> 00:09:35.840 was contrived by Sarai. 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:37.759 God had given them 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:39.379 a promise of a coming child, 00:09:39.379 --> 00:09:40.419 and she felt like 00:09:40.419 --> 00:09:41.240 it was her job 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:42.179 to make it happen. 00:09:42.579 --> 00:09:43.299 And when it seemed 00:09:43.299 --> 00:09:44.179 she had failed, 00:09:44.179 --> 00:09:45.479 she turned to other means, 00:09:45.719 --> 00:09:47.019 and her mistake was 00:09:47.019 --> 00:09:49.000 she tried to fix God's plan. 00:09:49.779 --> 00:09:51.259 If God makes a plan, 00:09:51.359 --> 00:09:52.059 He don't need you 00:09:52.059 --> 00:09:52.719 to fix it. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:54.059 God will see it through. 00:09:55.859 --> 00:09:56.559 And it is, 00:09:57.739 --> 00:09:58.759 if it's from God, 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:00.979 it does not depend on you 00:10:00.979 --> 00:10:03.039 to make it happen. 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:06.259 All you have to do 00:10:06.259 --> 00:10:08.439 is to obey the Lord. 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:11.820 do what He tells you to do. 00:10:11.820 --> 00:10:12.080 Do what He tells you to do 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:14.400 and trust Him. 00:10:15.780 --> 00:10:17.660 It will not be 00:10:17.660 --> 00:10:20.240 on your timetable. 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:23.460 I can't prove it's, 00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:26.120 it'll always surprise you, 00:10:26.980 --> 00:10:28.520 but I can tell you 00:10:28.520 --> 00:10:30.320 it'll probably always surprise you. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:31.920 God will move quicker 00:10:31.920 --> 00:10:32.860 than you think He will. 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:35.360 God will move slower 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:36.279 than you think He will. 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:38.960 It's not your timetable, 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:39.539 it's His. 00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:42.840 He developed chronology. 00:10:43.580 --> 00:10:44.379 He can handle it. 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:48.600 And when you try to fix it, 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:49.480 it'll cause problems. 00:10:49.560 --> 00:10:50.259 That's what happens. 00:10:50.800 --> 00:10:51.899 Hudson Taylor put it this way, 00:10:51.940 --> 00:10:52.180 he said, 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:54.060 God's work done in God's way 00:10:54.060 --> 00:10:56.419 will never lack God's supply. 00:10:56.419 --> 00:10:57.419 However, 00:10:59.579 --> 00:11:00.679 having said that, 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:03.279 I want you to understand 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:04.819 that what they did 00:11:04.819 --> 00:11:07.419 was completely normal 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:09.120 and acceptable 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:11.620 in their society. 00:11:12.959 --> 00:11:14.679 It was the custom 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:16.259 for a childless wife 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:18.259 to permit her husband 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:19.699 to take a servant 00:11:19.699 --> 00:11:21.019 as a second wife. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:22.919 And the offspring 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:24.480 from that relationship 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:26.179 was actually thought of 00:11:26.179 --> 00:11:27.120 as the child 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:28.439 of the first wife. 00:11:31.500 --> 00:11:32.399 But I want you 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:33.399 to hear me, folks. 00:11:35.439 --> 00:11:36.759 In 2023, 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:40.299 it is just as relevant 00:11:40.299 --> 00:11:41.479 as it was in that year, 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:42.239 I promise you. 00:11:42.299 --> 00:11:43.219 I want you to hear me. 00:11:43.939 --> 00:11:45.639 When society says it's right, 00:11:45.699 --> 00:11:47.099 it does not mean it's right. 00:11:50.299 --> 00:11:51.599 When society says 00:11:51.599 --> 00:11:52.179 that we can 00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:54.179 choose our gender 00:11:54.179 --> 00:11:55.639 and ignore 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:56.879 the chromosomal makeup 00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:58.459 that God gave us, 00:11:59.500 --> 00:12:01.039 that's not right. 00:12:02.099 --> 00:12:03.299 You can't do that. 00:12:05.439 --> 00:12:07.639 When society says 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:08.519 that you can murder 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:09.839 a child in the womb 00:12:09.839 --> 00:12:11.879 because it's your choice, 00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:13.179 that's not right. 00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:17.919 completely normal 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:18.939 to think that way 00:12:18.939 --> 00:12:19.739 in our society, 00:12:19.859 --> 00:12:21.000 but it's not right. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.500 When the moral codes 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:24.439 of sexual acts 00:12:24.439 --> 00:12:25.379 are not based upon 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:26.199 Scripture, 00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:27.199 but instead on the 00:12:27.199 --> 00:12:28.059 slippery slope 00:12:28.059 --> 00:12:28.859 of society, 00:12:29.779 --> 00:12:32.899 and that'll 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:35.299 consist of 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:37.779 unthinkable things 00:12:37.779 --> 00:12:38.819 that are accepted 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:40.100 and applauded 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:42.080 that does not 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:43.240 make it right, 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:47.620 if you're trying 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:48.360 to figure out 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:48.960 from the winds 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:49.520 of culture 00:12:49.520 --> 00:12:50.200 what's right 00:12:50.200 --> 00:12:51.080 and what's wrong, 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:52.260 just wait a minute. 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:53.240 It'll change. 00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:55.820 But God's Word 00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:56.900 never changes. 00:12:58.940 --> 00:12:59.720 And I want you 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:00.360 to hear me today. 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:01.480 When society says 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:02.660 that a Bible-believing 00:13:02.660 --> 00:13:04.280 and preaching church 00:13:04.280 --> 00:13:05.120 is one that's filled 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:06.060 with bigotry 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:06.979 and hatred, 00:13:07.179 --> 00:13:08.099 that does not 00:13:08.099 --> 00:13:08.939 mean it's true. 00:13:12.119 --> 00:13:13.159 Truth and love 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:14.099 is Scripture. 00:13:16.219 --> 00:13:17.439 But I'm telling you, 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:20.639 I feel a responsibility 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:22.119 when you get inundated 00:13:22.119 --> 00:13:23.179 daily 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:25.019 through our world 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:27.539 in confusing matters 00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:28.099 that are 00:13:28.099 --> 00:13:29.939 making our world 00:13:29.939 --> 00:13:30.919 into a chaotic, 00:13:31.439 --> 00:13:32.619 perverted place, 00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:33.639 you need to hear 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:34.459 the truth. 00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:36.040 and it needs 00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:36.780 to be clear. 00:13:38.060 --> 00:13:39.500 All of these matters 00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:41.320 are blatant sins 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:42.519 and God does not 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:42.980 ignore it 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:43.759 and we cannot 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:45.240 justify it. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:46.960 Sarai was just 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:48.560 listening to society. 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:49.920 That's what she did. 00:13:53.280 --> 00:13:53.800 However, 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:55.519 if Sarai's going 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:55.920 to get thrown 00:13:55.920 --> 00:13:56.540 under the bus, 00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:58.139 so is Abram. 00:13:58.740 --> 00:13:59.879 But they can't 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:00.440 because they didn't 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:01.379 actually have a bus. 00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:01.860 So, 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:05.960 she's trying 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:07.039 to please her husband 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:08.779 but you don't 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:09.700 sin against God 00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:10.860 to please anybody. 00:14:12.939 --> 00:14:14.399 And Abram knew better. 00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:15.240 He knew better. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:16.480 He had been living 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:16.939 in Canaan 00:14:16.939 --> 00:14:17.659 for 10 years. 00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:18.379 He knew God 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:19.019 would provide. 00:14:20.299 --> 00:14:20.899 But it's when 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:21.919 we second guess 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:22.320 God 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:23.259 that we get in trouble. 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:26.240 This is the time 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:26.720 that Abram 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:27.399 should have taken 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:28.899 to sit down 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:29.720 with his family 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:30.899 and to lead them 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:31.720 and to look 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:32.320 at his wife 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:32.620 and say, 00:14:32.680 --> 00:14:32.840 honey, 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:34.019 this is not 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:34.620 how we're going 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:34.920 to do it. 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.300 I believe God 00:14:36.300 --> 00:14:37.279 will provide 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:37.860 what he said 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:38.660 he will provide. 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:41.060 I mean, 00:14:43.060 --> 00:14:47.960 I'm going to trust 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:48.860 God in this matter. 00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:50.700 Now, 00:14:50.700 --> 00:14:51.440 he's an old man. 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:57.500 So, 00:14:57.540 --> 00:14:57.800 it's easy 00:14:57.800 --> 00:14:58.260 to see 00:14:58.260 --> 00:14:58.960 why he's 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:01.240 listening to voices 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:02.160 instead of to God 00:15:02.160 --> 00:15:02.400 but 00:15:02.400 --> 00:15:04.700 because he's 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:05.460 giving up hope 00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:07.840 but you never 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:08.380 have to give up 00:15:08.380 --> 00:15:09.100 hope on the Lord. 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.120 He's always faithful 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:11.440 and he's always 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:12.040 on time 00:15:12.040 --> 00:15:13.200 and it's never 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:13.580 going to be 00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:14.960 on your timetable. 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:15.460 It's always 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:15.820 going to be 00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:16.400 on his. 00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:19.360 Abram 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:19.640 should have 00:15:19.640 --> 00:15:20.120 just told his 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:20.600 family that. 00:15:20.660 --> 00:15:20.860 Should have 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.379 told his wife 00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:21.680 that. 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:23.779 Thank you, 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:23.980 ma'am, 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:24.340 for looking 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:24.759 out for me 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:25.139 but no, 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:27.220 I'd rather not 00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:29.159 but he didn't 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:32.620 and I want 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.060 you to understand 00:15:33.060 --> 00:15:33.500 that it was 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:34.180 Abram 00:15:34.180 --> 00:15:35.279 that God 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:36.120 had come to. 00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:37.360 It was Abram 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:37.800 that God 00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:38.800 had spoke to. 00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:40.019 Sarai 00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:40.580 had not 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:41.340 experienced 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:41.940 that covenant 00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:42.759 experience. 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:45.200 She wasn't 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:45.720 there when the 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.279 presence of the 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:46.720 Lord came 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.180 through in that 00:15:47.180 --> 00:15:47.560 fire. 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:51.679 God's 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.179 working in 00:15:52.179 --> 00:15:52.479 him. 00:15:53.579 --> 00:15:54.099 She was 00:15:54.099 --> 00:15:54.539 just going 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.019 along with 00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:55.539 the flow 00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:57.319 that if it's 00:15:57.319 --> 00:15:58.019 normal in 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.439 society, 00:15:58.559 --> 00:15:59.119 I guess it's 00:15:59.119 --> 00:15:59.759 okay and it's 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:00.279 not. 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:01.039 And when we 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:01.699 try to fix 00:16:01.699 --> 00:16:02.500 God's plan, 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.299 we will try 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:04.099 to justify 00:16:04.099 --> 00:16:05.679 blatant sin. 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:07.819 But not only 00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:08.019 that, 00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:08.459 when we try 00:16:08.459 --> 00:16:08.919 to fix 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:09.699 God's plan, 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:10.559 we'll cause 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:11.239 contention. 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:13.659 we will. 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:17.039 We get 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:17.639 petty when 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:18.060 we act 00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:18.299 in the 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:18.759 flesh. 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:20.320 I mean, 00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:20.680 we do. 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.320 We become 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:21.980 jealous. 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:23.580 We become 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:24.180 angry, 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:25.399 become 00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:26.060 paranoid, 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:28.240 selfish. 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:29.820 We just 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:30.399 get ugly. 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:32.519 And now 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:32.899 there's a 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:34.120 rivalry between 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:35.240 Hagar and 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:36.500 Sarai and 00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:37.200 no wonder 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:37.820 because now 00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:38.440 Hagar is 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:39.259 holding this 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:40.560 over Sarai's 00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:40.980 head. 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:42.899 And so 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:43.980 Sarai blames 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:44.600 Abram. 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:46.740 Now remember, 00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:47.259 she's the one 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:47.700 that came up 00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:48.320 with a plan. 00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:49.720 But she 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:50.519 blames Abram. 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:52.360 Ladies, 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:52.940 it's never 00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:53.560 our fault, 00:16:53.680 --> 00:16:53.940 okay? 00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.899 What does 00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:00.639 Abram do? 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:02.500 I mean, 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:02.980 he's like a 00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:03.759 lightweight boxer. 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:04.779 He's bobbing 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.220 and weaving 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:05.880 and trying to 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:06.460 stay out from, 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.160 you know, 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:07.700 y'all work 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:08.200 this out, 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:08.740 you know. 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:12.680 Sarai mistreats 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:12.880 her and 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:13.460 Hagar runs 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:13.740 away. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:14.019 Why? 00:17:14.120 --> 00:17:14.880 Because they 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:15.539 wanted to fix 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.299 God's plan. 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:18.660 God does 00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:19.059 not need 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:19.599 our help. 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:22.779 What's 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.120 you trusting 00:17:23.120 --> 00:17:23.640 God for 00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:24.059 today? 00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:29.779 what is it 00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:30.559 in your life 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:32.359 that you're 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:33.000 holding on to 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.419 that you need 00:17:33.419 --> 00:17:33.819 to let go 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:34.059 of? 00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:39.000 What is it 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.720 about God's 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:41.460 plan and 00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:41.879 about what 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:42.379 His word 00:17:42.379 --> 00:17:42.940 has shown 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:45.159 you and 00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:45.579 about how 00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:46.019 what He 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.720 has convicted 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.279 you of 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:49.079 or has 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:49.539 He given 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:50.119 you direction 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:50.720 of and 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.319 you 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:55.059 and you're 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:55.299 going to 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:55.819 pause 00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:58.180 and you're 00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.279 going to 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:58.559 wait and 00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:58.819 try to 00:17:58.819 --> 00:17:59.180 fix it 00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.559 first. 00:18:02.399 --> 00:18:02.859 That's 00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.079 what I'm 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:03.680 talking about. 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:04.940 Whatever 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:05.480 that is. 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:12.200 Let me 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.420 tell you 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:12.779 what God 00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.119 wants. 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:13.579 God does 00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:13.980 not want 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:14.539 our help 00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.240 in fulfilling 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.180 the plan 00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:16.579 that He's 00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:17.139 promised to 00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:17.359 us. 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:18.220 God wants 00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:18.859 our obedience. 00:18:23.179 --> 00:18:23.619 And 00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:24.099 sometimes 00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:24.819 He holds 00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:28.480 out a 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:28.659 little 00:18:28.659 --> 00:18:31.960 longer or 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:32.359 a lot 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:34.480 longer than 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.079 we wish He 00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:37.000 would to 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:37.439 grow our 00:18:37.439 --> 00:18:38.000 faith and 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.480 trust in 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:38.720 Him. 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.419 You say, 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:42.720 well, that 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:43.279 wouldn't be my 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:43.679 plan. 00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:44.480 He didn't 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.019 ask you. 00:18:46.579 --> 00:18:46.980 It's His 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:47.279 plan. 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.099 We follow 00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:49.579 His plan. 00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:51.519 What God 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.059 comes up 00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:52.439 with, God 00:18:52.439 --> 00:18:53.000 can handle. 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:54.579 He don't 00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:54.899 need your 00:18:54.899 --> 00:18:55.099 help. 00:18:55.159 --> 00:18:55.399 He just 00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:55.720 wants your 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.039 obedience. 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.259 It's not 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:57.639 too hard 00:18:57.639 --> 00:18:58.019 for Him. 00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:00.379 But when 00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:01.599 we sin in 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:01.980 an effort 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:02.659 to fix 00:19:02.659 --> 00:19:03.639 the plan 00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:04.279 of God, 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:06.639 we cause 00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:07.519 damage 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.859 bigger 00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:09.819 than it 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:10.500 first appears. 00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:10.619 Israel. 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.599 This is an 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.579 out-of-wedlock 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:15.480 birth that 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.299 started a 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:18.039 war-torn 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:19.019 relationship 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.779 between Israel 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:21.680 and the 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.660 Arab people 00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.640 that make 00:19:23.640 --> 00:19:24.359 up so much 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:24.940 of history. 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.619 Ishmael 00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:29.940 would be 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:30.579 born and 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:31.200 the twelve 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:31.819 tribes of 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:33.299 Ishmael 00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:34.019 would be 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:35.240 absorbed into 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.319 the Assyrians 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:37.380 and then the 00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:38.539 Babylonians. 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.779 And if you 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.240 know anything 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:40.879 about biblical 00:19:40.879 --> 00:19:41.519 history, you 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.099 know that they 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:43.559 always caused 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:45.259 havoc for the 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:46.259 people of 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:46.779 Israel. 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.059 In verse 12 00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:49.639 of this passage, 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.680 Ishmael, the 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:51.619 coming offspring 00:19:51.619 --> 00:19:52.619 is described as 00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:53.779 a wild donkey 00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.920 of a man, his 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:55.720 hand against 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.899 everyone and 00:19:56.899 --> 00:19:58.099 everyone's hand 00:19:58.099 --> 00:19:59.079 against him and 00:19:59.079 --> 00:19:59.839 he shall dwell 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:00.839 over and against 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:01.519 all his 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.099 kinsmen. 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:03.879 A donkey is 00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:05.659 resourceful unless 00:20:05.659 --> 00:20:07.539 he's wild and 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.480 against everybody. 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:10.720 God says, 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:12.159 that's what your 00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:12.759 son will be. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:15.799 And history 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.680 has proven it's 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.019 true. 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.500 Sin and its 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.460 ramifications are 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.019 kind of like the 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.839 side mirrors in a 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.099 car. 00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:25.720 Long time ago, 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:27.599 when they put 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.500 mirrors on cars, 00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:29.039 they had a little 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:29.639 message on the 00:20:29.639 --> 00:20:30.059 bottom of it. 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:30.519 Some of y'all 00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.119 remember it. 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.279 It said, 00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.399 objects are closer 00:20:33.399 --> 00:20:34.259 than they appear. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.159 It means stay in 00:20:36.159 --> 00:20:36.899 your lane is what 00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:37.559 it means, okay? 00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:38.519 They didn't have 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.940 blindside monitors 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.679 to go on off in 00:20:40.679 --> 00:20:41.019 your mirror. 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:41.960 You just had to 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.839 trust it and it 00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:43.399 was saying don't 00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:43.919 trust it. 00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:46.039 And I will tell you 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:47.240 the ramifications of 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:47.940 sin are always 00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.679 larger than they 00:20:48.679 --> 00:20:49.019 appear. 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.720 They are. 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.859 But thank God, 00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:54.700 when we try to fix 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.599 the plan of God, 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:58.740 God's not absent. 00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:02.859 He's not absent. 00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:05.559 This sense that God 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:06.599 was not responding 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:07.460 and was not going 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.640 to led to this 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.359 whole problem, 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.579 but God knew what 00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.059 he was doing. 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.859 He also didn't give 00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:14.480 up on them when 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.299 they messed up. 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:18.140 Hagar went away. 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:20.660 The abuse and the 00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:22.180 rivalry was too much 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:23.620 for her and she went 00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:24.400 away and I want you 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:25.019 to notice what 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.400 happens. 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:27.059 It's in verse 7 of 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.200 Genesis 16 it says 00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:29.639 this, the angel of 00:21:29.639 --> 00:21:30.879 the Lord found her 00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:33.159 by a spring of water 00:21:33.159 --> 00:21:33.879 in the wilderness, 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.700 the spring on the 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:37.899 way to Shur. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:40.299 And he said, 00:21:40.419 --> 00:21:42.039 Hagar, servant of 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.139 Sarai, where have 00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:44.159 you come from and 00:21:44.159 --> 00:21:45.059 where are you going? 00:21:45.399 --> 00:21:46.399 And she said, I am 00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:47.299 fleeing from my 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:48.319 mistress Sarai. 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.200 The angel of the 00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:50.940 Lord said to her, 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:51.740 return to your 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.679 mistress and submit 00:21:52.679 --> 00:21:53.119 to her. 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.139 The angel of the 00:21:54.139 --> 00:21:55.139 Lord also said to 00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:56.500 her, I will surely 00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.400 multiply your 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:58.400 offspring so that 00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.720 they cannot be 00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:01.220 numbered for multitude. 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.220 And the angel of the 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:02.720 Lord said to her, 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.259 behold you are 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.859 pregnant and shall 00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:06.099 bear a son and you 00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:07.000 shall call his name 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:09.079 Ishmael because the 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:10.319 Lord has listened to 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.019 your affliction. 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.759 He shall be a wild 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.880 donkey of a man, his 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.759 hand against everyone 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:15.480 and everyone's hand 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:16.140 against him and he 00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:17.359 shall dwell over against 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:18.279 all his kinsmen. 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.740 So she called the 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.480 name of the Lord who 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.019 spoke to her. 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:22.619 You are a God of 00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:24.740 seeing for she said 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:26.539 truly here I have 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:28.480 seen him who looks 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.319 after me. 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.120 Therefore the well 00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:33.720 was called Bir-la-hiro. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:36.440 It lies between 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:42.120 Kadesh and Baird. 00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:43.980 And Hagar bore 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:45.240 Abram a son and 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.359 Abram called the name 00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:48.220 of his son whom 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:49.480 Hagar bore Ishmael. 00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:51.799 Abram was 86 years old 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:52.940 when Hagar bore 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:54.559 Ishmael to Abram. 00:22:57.500 --> 00:23:00.359 We mess up and feel 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:03.480 the effects of it but I 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.399 want you to understand 00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:05.200 when we're feeling the 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:06.419 effects of it God does 00:23:06.419 --> 00:23:07.500 not abandon us. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.519 You say well it sure 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.319 does feel like it. 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.960 Well I want you to 00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:15.019 understand something that 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.899 I've told you before. 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:18.019 God's presence is not 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:19.319 based upon your feelings. 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.740 It's based upon his 00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:23.220 promises and he will 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.279 not leave you. 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:27.079 I want you to notice 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:27.779 something here this 00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:29.000 angelical question. 00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:31.019 Where have you come 00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:32.339 from and where are you 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:32.680 going? 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.779 Does God not know where 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.319 the girl's been? 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.980 I mean you know he knows 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:36.740 where the lady's been. 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:39.000 So why is he asking that 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.359 question? 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.920 Why would God ask any 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:41.480 question? 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.859 God never asks a 00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:46.420 question to get the 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:46.740 answer. 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:50.180 God asks a question so 00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:51.220 you can think about the 00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:51.559 answer. 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.620 So you can answer it for 00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.160 yourself. 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:57.000 He already knows the 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.259 answers. 00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:58.539 He asks it so that we can 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.359 grapple with those 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:01.019 questions in our hearts and 00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:02.799 then God tells her to go 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:04.380 home and get back after 00:24:04.380 --> 00:24:04.680 it. 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:06.819 And I want you to get 00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:07.500 this and I'll close. 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.559 When we make a mess of 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:10.839 our lives by not allowing 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:12.019 God's plan but instead 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.779 trying to fix God's plan and 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:15.200 we pout about it and we 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:16.799 go off by ourselves it 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.839 does us no good. 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:19.599 And God came to her and 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:21.180 said go home and get 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:21.940 after it. 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:24.139 Don't alter the plan of 00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:24.740 your life. 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:29.420 Follow the plan of God for 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:30.019 your life. 00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:32.680 Now listen for some this 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:34.119 morning that may be major. 00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:37.879 I mean God told Jonah to 00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:39.200 go west and he turned 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.079 around and went east. 00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:42.639 He did exactly the opposite 00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:43.579 of what God told him to do. 00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:44.220 That's major. 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:45.460 It could be what you 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.399 consider minor. 00:24:46.679 --> 00:24:47.679 It could be stuff that 00:24:47.679 --> 00:24:48.899 you're dealing with just 00:24:48.899 --> 00:24:50.319 disobediently quite honestly. 00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.379 You don't think it's a big 00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:51.659 deal. 00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.960 God thinks it's a big deal. 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:55.119 God went to the cross for 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:56.699 the sins in your life that 00:24:56.699 --> 00:24:57.679 you think are small. 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.899 He died for. 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:04.240 So it is a big deal to him. 00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.659 Maybe you're dealing with 00:25:10.659 --> 00:25:11.659 stuff disobediently or 00:25:11.659 --> 00:25:12.379 stuff that you're not 00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:13.800 dealing with when God's 00:25:13.800 --> 00:25:14.660 telling you to deal with 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:14.900 it. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.200 If so, I want you to do 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:20.740 what God told Hagar to do. 00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:24.020 Get up and come home. 00:25:25.520 --> 00:25:28.320 He told her you get up and 00:25:28.320 --> 00:25:30.400 go back and serve your 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:31.020 master. 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:32.440 God's plan for your life. 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.379 And I'm telling you today, 00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:37.920 if you know God's plan for 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:40.819 your life does not involve 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:42.160 what you're dealing with and 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.359 what you're in the midst of 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:48.579 it, get up and come home and 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:51.460 serve your master and trust him. 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:54.960 Don't try to fix God's plan. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:57.880 Don't try to alter God's plan. 00:25:58.440 --> 00:26:01.840 Don't try to change God's plan. 00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:04.120 Trust God's plan. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:06.180 Follow God's plan. 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:08.059 Honor God's plan. 00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:11.460 And God will bless your life. 00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:12.460 God's plan. 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:16.160 Because a life of obedience is a 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.860 blessed life. 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:21.019 It's not our job to fix God's plan. 00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:24.660 It's our job to fix our eyes on 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.420 God's plan. 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:29.120 To fix our minds on God's plan. 00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:32.720 To fix our hearts on God's plan. 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:35.000 And then to do it. 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.700 Whatever it is. 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:39.400 With every head bow and every eye 00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:40.100 close this morning. 00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:45.559 I'm not going to even try to 00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:46.480 guess this morning. 00:26:48.719 --> 00:26:49.859 Where this hits you. 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:53.339 Because for some you need to 00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:54.679 make a bold step of obedience. 00:26:54.939 --> 00:26:56.399 It's not about that there's 00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:57.480 things in your life that are 00:26:57.480 --> 00:27:01.079 just you know blatant sins 00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:01.740 against God. 00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:03.359 It's just that God's leading 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:05.480 you in an area and you're you 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.539 kind of struggle to follow 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.439 through with that and it's time 00:27:07.439 --> 00:27:08.299 to follow through with that. 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:08.659 You know. 00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:11.699 Man we live in a society of 00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:15.099 uncommitted people and the 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:16.059 reality is if you're not 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:16.919 committed to Christ you're 00:27:16.919 --> 00:27:18.179 committed to something and so 00:27:18.179 --> 00:27:20.179 we just need to be committed. 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:24.359 Maybe you're here this morning 00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:27.159 and that there is some blatant 00:27:27.159 --> 00:27:28.559 sin in your life and maybe it's 00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:29.779 blatant but nobody else knows 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.839 about it but you but I mean it's 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:32.519 real and it presses on you and 00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:34.219 you know it's not part of God's 00:27:34.219 --> 00:27:35.500 plan for your life and you've 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:37.019 done your own deal and went your 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:40.019 own way and you not wanted to 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:41.160 give up that little area of your 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.519 life. 00:27:41.639 --> 00:27:42.639 Well it's time to give it up. 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:45.980 It's time to get up and come home 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:48.339 and serve the master in that area 00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:48.960 of your life. 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:52.200 Maybe you're here this morning and 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:54.180 you've never surrendered your life 00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:55.519 to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:56.339 You never have. 00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:58.019 Never been a time when you can go 00:27:58.019 --> 00:28:00.400 back and say Lord I committed my 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:02.619 life to you and I trusted you and 00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:03.940 asked you to forgive me and to save 00:28:03.940 --> 00:28:04.180 me. 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:06.120 And if that's never happened to 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:07.240 you I want you to know that today 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:08.240 is the day of salvation. 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.640 We're going to stand in just a 00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:10.600 moment and we're going to sing and 00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:11.500 the most important thing you can 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.299 do is obey God. 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:14.080 You come down this aisle I'll be 00:28:14.080 --> 00:28:15.960 happy to help you know what it 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.880 means to have a personal 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:17.740 relationship with Christ. 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.180 Maybe you've done that but there's 00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:21.340 areas of your life that you need 00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:22.279 to get right with God. 00:28:22.360 --> 00:28:22.960 You deal with that. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:23.880 You can deal with it where you 00:28:23.880 --> 00:28:24.120 are. 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:25.320 You can deal with it at this altar. 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:26.960 You can have a pastor pray with 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.299 you. 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:29.860 However God tells you to do it. 00:28:31.340 --> 00:28:33.200 Maybe you're a guest with us and 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.500 you feel like God's drawing you to 00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.440 be a part of this fellowship. 00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:37.039 As a matter of fact you know 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.900 that's God's plan. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.720 You're just kind of putting it 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.519 off because you're not sure. 00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.920 Just follow God's plan. 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:42.100 Just do what he tells you to do. 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:46.000 Maybe you've made a private 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.980 decision for the Lord but you've 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.900 never made it public through 00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.240 baptism. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:50.059 We had the joy last week of 00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:50.700 baptizing. 00:28:52.100 --> 00:28:53.580 Have more candidates that we're 00:28:53.580 --> 00:28:55.059 counseling now. 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:58.120 Maybe when you look at your life 00:28:58.120 --> 00:29:00.759 the reality is that you've never 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:02.019 been baptized as a believer and 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:03.139 you need to obey God in that. 00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:06.480 I have no idea what God's doing 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.720 in your life today but I pray that 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.819 he is and I pray that you'll be 00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:09.079 obedient. 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:10.700 I'll never ask you to do anything 00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:12.139 more than what God tells you to do 00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:13.500 and I never want you to be 00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:14.779 satisfied with doing anything less. 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:17.359 Lord Jesus I love you and I thank 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.500 you for your love for us. 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.980 I thank you Lord for your love for 00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:21.720 every person in this place today. 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:25.139 And I ask dear God that you'll move 00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:26.500 and you'll work in their lives. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:28.740 That you'll speak to them 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.819 individually dear God. 00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:31.160 Let them know exactly what you'd 00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:33.840 have them to do and give them a 00:29:33.840 --> 00:29:36.400 boldness and a surrender as can 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.720 only come from you dear God. 00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:40.400 To just simply follow you Lord I 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:40.700 pray. 00:29:41.560 --> 00:29:43.040 In Jesus precious name. 00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:44.720 Amen.