Sermon Title: STANDING IN GOD’S PROMISES
Scripture Text: GENESIS 15
Sermon Series: Abraham: Journey of Faith
Sermon Notes:
GENESIS 15:1-6 NIV
1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
2 But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.”
5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
“It’s not the doubts and fears that matter, it’s what we do with them.”
“Our vulnerabilities are never as great as God’s ability.”
I. GOD’S WORD IS OUR FOUNDATION
GENESIS 15:1-6 NIV
1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
The “Word of the Lord” is:
“[the] means by which God makes Himself known, declares His will, and brings about His purposes. The phrases such as word of God, and word of the Lord are applied to the commanding word of God that brought creation into existence (Gen 1; 2 Peter 3:5)…
…and also destroyed that same world through the waters of the Flood (2 Peter 3:6); to God’s announcement of an impending or future act of judgment (Ex 9:20-21; 1 Kings 2:27); to the word that declares God’s commitment and promises His blessing (Gen 15:1,4); and to a particular instruction from God (Josh 8:27).” — Nelson’s Illustration (Bible Dictionary)
JOHN 5:39 NLT
39 You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!
“When God reveals truth through His Word, that doesn’t lead me to an encounter with God, that is the encounter with God.” — Henry Blackaby
“God is far more interested in you having an encounter with him than he is interested in getting a job done.”
II. GOD IS OUR SHIELD IN TIMES OF FEAR
GENESIS 15:1 NIV
1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
GENESIS 14:8-9 NIV
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim
9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar--four kings against five.
11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
GENESIS 14:11-12 NIV
11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
GENESIS 14:14-16 NIV
14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.
16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
“God’s method of supplying our need is to give us fresh knowledge of Himself, for every need can be met by seeing Him.” — Donald Barnhouse
“A Christian is immortal until his work on earth is done.”
III. GOD’S PROMISES IN OUR FUTURE
GENESIS 15:2-3 NIV
2 But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
GENESIS 15:4-5 NIV
4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.”
GENESIS 15:4-5 NIV
5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
“A low view of God is the cause of a hundred lesser evils. … A high view of God is the solution to ten thousand temporal problems.” — A.W. Tozer
“Our biggest problem is that we don’t think God is bigger than our biggest problem.”
ISAIAH 55:8-9 NIV
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
PHILIPPIANS 4:13 NKJV
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
EPHESIANS 3:20 NIV
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
“Where God is, a spider’s web is like a wall. Where God is not, a wall is like a spider’s web.” — Frederick Nolan
“Our vulnerabilities are never as great as God’s ability.”