"Who Can Be Against Us?" (part 3) 7/18/10
IN ROMANS 8 PAUL ASKS THIS QUESTION IN V.31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
The key passage for this series is …Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
WOW…If God has predestined us and called us and justified us and glorified us…HEY!…Who can be against us?
Part #1) Predestined.
***Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility in the matter of salvation.
The key is, Predestination is based upon God’s foreknowledge.
That’s how Rom. 8:29 begins…
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined …”
How does God elect or choose individuals to salvation?
It’s by His foreknowledge. (seleh) Foreknowledge of what??(selah)
Foreknowledge of who will believe in Christ!
(one more time) Illustration of wide road…narrow path door “whosoever will…” “Predestined to be conformed to the image...”
So, lets look at these 4 things again. Rom 8:30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
PART 1…BESIDES TEACHING ON PREDESTINATION, WE LOOKED
AT SEVERAL OTHER VERSES IN ROMANS ABOUT THE WILL OF GOD FOR OUR LIFE & THE HOLY SPIRIT’S INVOLVEMENT IN HELPING US TO PRAY. CD
Last week… #2 He has called us….3 aspects of His calling.
#1) is the character of our calling.
Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…
The Character of our calling is to be like Jesus. To be Holy.
He has called you with a Holy Calling, to live Holy for Him.
#2) is our specific call to ministry.
The 5 fold ministries are offices that God calls individuals to.
Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
PLUS…Within the specific call of ministry…God also gives a specific geographical calling…
#3) is our Call to be in the Family of God.
Romans 8:29 (goes on)…that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
You have been called to be His sons and daughters.
God is our Father and Jesus is our Elder Brother.
I shared a lot more in part 2…get a CD if you missed last week.
Now #3) Romans 8:30 …Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; (2X)
THERE’S TON’S OF SCRIPTURE ON JUSTIFICATION COUPLED WITH FAITH AND IT’S NOT JUST BECAUSE THE JEWISH CHRISTIANS STRUGGLED WITH FINDING THEIR IDENTITY IN KEEPING THE LAW.
WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH FINDING OUR ID. IN THE THINGS WE DO.
SPEAKING ON THE SUBJECT OF “JUSTIFICATION” GIVES ME AN EXCUSE TO DO ANOTHER TEACHING ON FAITH. (anyone faith lift?)
A simple definition of justified…(JUST AS IF I’D… NEVER SINNED)
“Justification” is really at the heart of most of Paul’s writings. Especially in Romans and Galatians.
Paul would line up Grace and Faith against Works and the law over & over to drive home the point that we’re justified by Grace.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Rom 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ….for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Gal 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”
Gal 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
THE KEY INGREDIENT IN THIS MIX BESIDES “GRACE” AND “JUSTIFIED”….IS FAITH.
EVEN THOUGH IT’S DONE, PAST TENSE, HE HAS JUSTIFIED US, THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY TO LAY HOLD OF JUSTIFICATION, FAITH!
SO IN ROMANS 4 PAUL BRINGS THE FOCUS OF HIS TEACHING ON JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, TO A MAN CALLED ABRAHAM… “THE FATHER OF FAITH.”
IT’S A FREE GIFT SO, NO ONE CAN BOAST ABOUT GETTING IT.
YOU CAN’T EARN IT, YOU CAN’T BE GOOD ENOUGH. IT’S GRACE… BUT WE MUST SIMPLY RECEIVE IT BY FAITH.
SO NOW, PAUL SHOWS US A LIVING EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS FAITH WORKS BY POINTING TO THE FATHER OF FAITH, ABRAHAM.
ROMANS 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
Notice, Paul uses the word righteousness as a synonym for justification. Define righteousness…take the “eous” out.
Footnotes sfl bible “Many human attitudes, such as love, joy, patience, courage, and mercy, can be somewhat worked up by our own effort. But faith occurs when we cease trying to do something by our own efforts, and trust someone else to do it for us. Faith is the one attitude that is exactly the opposite of trusting ourselves.” (REPEAT)
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF FAITH AS AN ATTITUDE? (SELAH)
WHEN THE WORD IS USED BY ITSELF, WE THINK OF AN “ATTITUDE” AS MORE OF A NEGATIVE THING.
“MAN THAT KID REALLY COPPED A BIG OLD ATTITUDE.”
BUT, UNLIKE LIKE OTHER ATTITUDES THAT WE CAN KIND OF WORK UP IN OUR SELVES….FAITH IS THE ONE ATTITUDE THAT IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF TRUSTING IN OURSELVES. (2X)
SFL CONCLUDE… “Apparently this is why God decided that faith would be the attitude of heart by which we could obtain salvation, that it might be according to grace, that is, that it might be an entirely free gift of God, not dependent on any merit of our own.”
WHY FAITH?…WHY BELIEVING?
BECAUSE SALVATION IS NOT BY THE LAW, BUT BY GRACE…
WE’RE JUSTIFIED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
WELL, LETS LOOK AGAIN AT THE FATHER OF FAITH, ABRAHAM.
AND BEGIN WITH HIS ORIGINAL NAME. ….ABRAM.
IN GENESES 12, ABRAM IS 75 YEARS OLD AND GOD SAID THAT HE WOULD BE A GREAT NATION…BUT HE HAS NO CHILDREN.
HEY, JUST LIKE ALL OF THE PROMISES THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US PERTAINING TO OUR TRUE IDENTITY, IT TAKES FAITH TO WALK IT OUT.
SO GENESES 15…AFTER YEARS WENT BY WITH STILL NO CHILD, ABRAM THOUGHT THAT MAYBE ELIEZER OF DAMASCUS WOULD BE HIS HEIR….BUT GOD TELLS THEM IN V.4 “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Abram was justified by faith.
HERE’S THE FATHER OF FAITH…COPING AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH.
THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF TRUSTING IN HIMSELF….
IN THE NATURAL, THERE WAS NO WAY…
IN THE NATURAL….THERE WAS NOTHING TO TRUST IN.
IT SEEMS MANY TIMES, WE HAVE TO GET TO THAT POINT IN OUR LIVES, WHEN WE HAVE NO WHERE ELSE TO TURN…AND THEN WE’LL FINALLY COP AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH. (SELAH)
AND WHEN ABRAM COPPED AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH…
GOD PUT TO HIS ACCOUNT…RIGHTEOUSNESS.
HE WAS JUSTIFIED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
AS FAR AS OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS BASED ON OUR PERFORMANCE IS CONCERNED…IT’S FILTHY RAGS, ITS DUNG.
WHEN IT COMES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, WE WERE ALL BANKRUPT.
OUR ACCOUNT WAS WORSE THAN ZERO…
WE ALL HAD A HUGE DEBT OF SIN….A DEBT WE COULDN’T PAY.
BUT WHEN WE BELIEVED ON THE LORD JESUS.
WHEN WE TOOK AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH…AND SIMPLY BELIEVED.
GOD, MOVED OVER INTO OUR ACCOUNT…..
“HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
IN CHAPTER 16, STILL NO KIDS…SO, SARAH THOUGHT THEY NEEDED TO HELP GOD OUR A LITTLE BIT, AND CONVINCED ABRAM TO SLEEP WITH HER MAID HAGAR…AND THE RESULT OF THAT UNION WAS…ISHMAEL.
AND WE READ ABOUT ISHMAEL’S DESCENDENTS EVERY NIGHT IN THE NEWS…OVER THE LAST FEW THOUSAND YEARS, MILLIONS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THESE SWORN ENEMIES OF THE JEWS.
I WONDER HOW MANY ISHMAEL’S WE’VE BROUGHT INTO OUR OWN LIFE, BECAUSE WE GAVE UP ON THE PROMISE AND THOUGHT WE WOULD HELP GOD OUT A LITTLE BIT?
That’s what happens! WHEN WE LOSE THAT “ATTITUDE OF FAITH”
WE START TO LOOK AT OURSELVES FOR THE ANSWER.
LETS READ ON 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. “I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
24 YEARS HAS GONE BY SINCE GOD FIRST TOLD HIM HE WOULD BE A GREAT NATION…(GEN. 12:2)….AND STILL NO CHILDREN.
HEY, WE START WHINING AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS…(24 YRS.)
BUT NOW, AT THIS STAGE WHEN ABRAM WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY TEMPTED TO GIVE UP…GOD COMES TO HIM AGAIN AND DOES SOMETHING STRANGE, HE CHANGES HIS NAME. (SELAH)
THE NAME ABRAM MEANS “HIGH FATHER” OR “PATRIARCH.”
BUT THE NAME ABRAHAM MEANS “FATHER OF MULTITUDES.”
OR… “FATHER OF MANY NATIONS.”
GOD WAS SEEING TO IT THAT EVERY TIME ABRAHAM HEARD OR SPOKE HIS OWN NAME, HE WOULD BE REMINDED OF GOD’S PROMISE.
“Hey…Father of many nations, what’s going on?”
“Hello, my name is Father of many nations.”
THE FACT IS WE ARE JUSTIFIED (past tense)…
BUT, WALKING IN THE VICTORY OF OUR TRUE I.D. IS A PROCESS
LIKE ISRAEL GOING TO THE PROMISED LAND…
MANY TIMES WHEN WE GET CLOSE TO LAYING HOLD OF IT…
WE SEE THE GIANTS, AND THE GREAT WALLED CITIES…
IMPOSSIBLE ODDS, INSURMOUNTABLE BARRIER’S.
AND WE’RE TEMPTED FIND OUR OWN WAY OUT…
AND WE CREATE SOME ISHMEAL TO DEAL WITH…OR…
WE WANDER AROUND THE WILDERNESS NEVER ENTERING IN.
NOT BECAUSE OF THE GIANTS OR THE GREAT OBSTACLES…
BUT BECAUSE WE LOSE OUR ATTITUDE….AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH.
LISTEN, TO BE TRANSFORMED FROM WHO YOU WERE, TO WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE….REQUIRES A RENEWED MIND.
(last week)…A MIND THAT IS FIXED ON THE WORD OF GOD.
SO MUCH SO…THAT IT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.
AND IT WILL PROBABLY SOUND LIKE YOU’VE COPPED AN ATTITUDE THAT FLY’S CONTRARY TO RATIONAL THINKING.
WELL? HOW RATIONAL IS IT FOR A 99 YEAR OLD MAN WITH A 90 YEAR OLD WIFE AND NO CHILDREN TO WALK AROUND SAYING…
“I’M THE FATHER OF MANY NATIONS.” (REPEAT)
REPEAT AFTER ME…
I’M PREDESTINED TO BE CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE.
I’M CALLED…I’M JUSTIFIED…I’M GLORIFIED.
BEFORE WE CLOSE WITH A SONG OF FAITH…
MAYBE YOU’RE HERE TODAY AND YOU’RE NOT IN THE PROMISE LAND…IN FACT, YOU’RE NOT EVEN IN THE WILDERNESS….
YOU HAVEN’T CROSSED THE RED SEA…
YOU’RE STILL IN EGYPT, A SLAVE, AND IN BONDAGE TO SIN.
THE DELIVERER IS HERE…NOT MOSES…BUT JESUS!
TAKE A STEP OF FAITH….TO RECEIVE THE FREE GIFT.
IF YOU WILL SIMPLY BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED FOR THAT DEBT OF SIN THAT HAS BANKRUPT YOUR SOUL TO HELL, then YOU WILL BE RECONCILED, AND JUSTIFIED, MADE RIGHT WITH GOD.
AND HE WILL PUT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT “RIGHTEOUSNESS.” SALVATION
ARE YOU IN SOME DRY WILDERNESS TIME IN YOUR LIFE?
THIS MESSAGE IS FOR YOU…
DON’T SHRINK BACK IN FEAR AND UNBELIEF…
COP AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH.
PAUL WENT ON…ROMANS 4:18 “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”
THERE’S SO MUCH THERE, BUT A KEY TO KEEPING AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH IS FOUND AT THE END OF VERSE 20.
“…but was strong in faith, giving glory to God…”
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE WILDERNESS…IS GIVE GLORY TO GOD.
WITH YOUR EYE ON THE PROMISE…DON’T EVEN CONSIDER THE GIANTS OR THE OBSTACLES, BUT WITH AN ATTITUDE….
PRAISE HIM FOR THE VICTORY…GIVE HIM THE GLORY!…
He has justified you…past tense…lets praise Him
The key passage for this series is …Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
WOW…If God has predestined us and called us and justified us and glorified us…HEY!…Who can be against us?
Part #1) Predestined.
***Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility in the matter of salvation.
The key is, Predestination is based upon God’s foreknowledge.
That’s how Rom. 8:29 begins…
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined …”
How does God elect or choose individuals to salvation?
It’s by His foreknowledge. (seleh) Foreknowledge of what??(selah)
Foreknowledge of who will believe in Christ!
(one more time) Illustration of wide road…narrow path door “whosoever will…” “Predestined to be conformed to the image...”
So, lets look at these 4 things again. Rom 8:30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
PART 1…BESIDES TEACHING ON PREDESTINATION, WE LOOKED
AT SEVERAL OTHER VERSES IN ROMANS ABOUT THE WILL OF GOD FOR OUR LIFE & THE HOLY SPIRIT’S INVOLVEMENT IN HELPING US TO PRAY. CD
Last week… #2 He has called us….3 aspects of His calling.
#1) is the character of our calling.
Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…
The Character of our calling is to be like Jesus. To be Holy.
He has called you with a Holy Calling, to live Holy for Him.
#2) is our specific call to ministry.
The 5 fold ministries are offices that God calls individuals to.
Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
PLUS…Within the specific call of ministry…God also gives a specific geographical calling…
#3) is our Call to be in the Family of God.
Romans 8:29 (goes on)…that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
You have been called to be His sons and daughters.
God is our Father and Jesus is our Elder Brother.
I shared a lot more in part 2…get a CD if you missed last week.
Now #3) Romans 8:30 …Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; (2X)
THERE’S TON’S OF SCRIPTURE ON JUSTIFICATION COUPLED WITH FAITH AND IT’S NOT JUST BECAUSE THE JEWISH CHRISTIANS STRUGGLED WITH FINDING THEIR IDENTITY IN KEEPING THE LAW.
WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH FINDING OUR ID. IN THE THINGS WE DO.
SPEAKING ON THE SUBJECT OF “JUSTIFICATION” GIVES ME AN EXCUSE TO DO ANOTHER TEACHING ON FAITH. (anyone faith lift?)
A simple definition of justified…(JUST AS IF I’D… NEVER SINNED)
“Justification” is really at the heart of most of Paul’s writings. Especially in Romans and Galatians.
Paul would line up Grace and Faith against Works and the law over & over to drive home the point that we’re justified by Grace.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Rom 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ….for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Gal 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”
Gal 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
THE KEY INGREDIENT IN THIS MIX BESIDES “GRACE” AND “JUSTIFIED”….IS FAITH.
EVEN THOUGH IT’S DONE, PAST TENSE, HE HAS JUSTIFIED US, THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY TO LAY HOLD OF JUSTIFICATION, FAITH!
SO IN ROMANS 4 PAUL BRINGS THE FOCUS OF HIS TEACHING ON JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, TO A MAN CALLED ABRAHAM… “THE FATHER OF FAITH.”
IT’S A FREE GIFT SO, NO ONE CAN BOAST ABOUT GETTING IT.
YOU CAN’T EARN IT, YOU CAN’T BE GOOD ENOUGH. IT’S GRACE… BUT WE MUST SIMPLY RECEIVE IT BY FAITH.
SO NOW, PAUL SHOWS US A LIVING EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS FAITH WORKS BY POINTING TO THE FATHER OF FAITH, ABRAHAM.
ROMANS 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
Notice, Paul uses the word righteousness as a synonym for justification. Define righteousness…take the “eous” out.
Footnotes sfl bible “Many human attitudes, such as love, joy, patience, courage, and mercy, can be somewhat worked up by our own effort. But faith occurs when we cease trying to do something by our own efforts, and trust someone else to do it for us. Faith is the one attitude that is exactly the opposite of trusting ourselves.” (REPEAT)
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF FAITH AS AN ATTITUDE? (SELAH)
WHEN THE WORD IS USED BY ITSELF, WE THINK OF AN “ATTITUDE” AS MORE OF A NEGATIVE THING.
“MAN THAT KID REALLY COPPED A BIG OLD ATTITUDE.”
BUT, UNLIKE LIKE OTHER ATTITUDES THAT WE CAN KIND OF WORK UP IN OUR SELVES….FAITH IS THE ONE ATTITUDE THAT IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF TRUSTING IN OURSELVES. (2X)
SFL CONCLUDE… “Apparently this is why God decided that faith would be the attitude of heart by which we could obtain salvation, that it might be according to grace, that is, that it might be an entirely free gift of God, not dependent on any merit of our own.”
WHY FAITH?…WHY BELIEVING?
BECAUSE SALVATION IS NOT BY THE LAW, BUT BY GRACE…
WE’RE JUSTIFIED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
WELL, LETS LOOK AGAIN AT THE FATHER OF FAITH, ABRAHAM.
AND BEGIN WITH HIS ORIGINAL NAME. ….ABRAM.
IN GENESES 12, ABRAM IS 75 YEARS OLD AND GOD SAID THAT HE WOULD BE A GREAT NATION…BUT HE HAS NO CHILDREN.
HEY, JUST LIKE ALL OF THE PROMISES THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US PERTAINING TO OUR TRUE IDENTITY, IT TAKES FAITH TO WALK IT OUT.
SO GENESES 15…AFTER YEARS WENT BY WITH STILL NO CHILD, ABRAM THOUGHT THAT MAYBE ELIEZER OF DAMASCUS WOULD BE HIS HEIR….BUT GOD TELLS THEM IN V.4 “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Abram was justified by faith.
HERE’S THE FATHER OF FAITH…COPING AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH.
THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF TRUSTING IN HIMSELF….
IN THE NATURAL, THERE WAS NO WAY…
IN THE NATURAL….THERE WAS NOTHING TO TRUST IN.
IT SEEMS MANY TIMES, WE HAVE TO GET TO THAT POINT IN OUR LIVES, WHEN WE HAVE NO WHERE ELSE TO TURN…AND THEN WE’LL FINALLY COP AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH. (SELAH)
AND WHEN ABRAM COPPED AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH…
GOD PUT TO HIS ACCOUNT…RIGHTEOUSNESS.
HE WAS JUSTIFIED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
AS FAR AS OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS BASED ON OUR PERFORMANCE IS CONCERNED…IT’S FILTHY RAGS, ITS DUNG.
WHEN IT COMES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, WE WERE ALL BANKRUPT.
OUR ACCOUNT WAS WORSE THAN ZERO…
WE ALL HAD A HUGE DEBT OF SIN….A DEBT WE COULDN’T PAY.
BUT WHEN WE BELIEVED ON THE LORD JESUS.
WHEN WE TOOK AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH…AND SIMPLY BELIEVED.
GOD, MOVED OVER INTO OUR ACCOUNT…..
“HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
IN CHAPTER 16, STILL NO KIDS…SO, SARAH THOUGHT THEY NEEDED TO HELP GOD OUR A LITTLE BIT, AND CONVINCED ABRAM TO SLEEP WITH HER MAID HAGAR…AND THE RESULT OF THAT UNION WAS…ISHMAEL.
AND WE READ ABOUT ISHMAEL’S DESCENDENTS EVERY NIGHT IN THE NEWS…OVER THE LAST FEW THOUSAND YEARS, MILLIONS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THESE SWORN ENEMIES OF THE JEWS.
I WONDER HOW MANY ISHMAEL’S WE’VE BROUGHT INTO OUR OWN LIFE, BECAUSE WE GAVE UP ON THE PROMISE AND THOUGHT WE WOULD HELP GOD OUT A LITTLE BIT?
That’s what happens! WHEN WE LOSE THAT “ATTITUDE OF FAITH”
WE START TO LOOK AT OURSELVES FOR THE ANSWER.
LETS READ ON 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. “I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
24 YEARS HAS GONE BY SINCE GOD FIRST TOLD HIM HE WOULD BE A GREAT NATION…(GEN. 12:2)….AND STILL NO CHILDREN.
HEY, WE START WHINING AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS…(24 YRS.)
BUT NOW, AT THIS STAGE WHEN ABRAM WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY TEMPTED TO GIVE UP…GOD COMES TO HIM AGAIN AND DOES SOMETHING STRANGE, HE CHANGES HIS NAME. (SELAH)
THE NAME ABRAM MEANS “HIGH FATHER” OR “PATRIARCH.”
BUT THE NAME ABRAHAM MEANS “FATHER OF MULTITUDES.”
OR… “FATHER OF MANY NATIONS.”
GOD WAS SEEING TO IT THAT EVERY TIME ABRAHAM HEARD OR SPOKE HIS OWN NAME, HE WOULD BE REMINDED OF GOD’S PROMISE.
“Hey…Father of many nations, what’s going on?”
“Hello, my name is Father of many nations.”
THE FACT IS WE ARE JUSTIFIED (past tense)…
BUT, WALKING IN THE VICTORY OF OUR TRUE I.D. IS A PROCESS
LIKE ISRAEL GOING TO THE PROMISED LAND…
MANY TIMES WHEN WE GET CLOSE TO LAYING HOLD OF IT…
WE SEE THE GIANTS, AND THE GREAT WALLED CITIES…
IMPOSSIBLE ODDS, INSURMOUNTABLE BARRIER’S.
AND WE’RE TEMPTED FIND OUR OWN WAY OUT…
AND WE CREATE SOME ISHMEAL TO DEAL WITH…OR…
WE WANDER AROUND THE WILDERNESS NEVER ENTERING IN.
NOT BECAUSE OF THE GIANTS OR THE GREAT OBSTACLES…
BUT BECAUSE WE LOSE OUR ATTITUDE….AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH.
LISTEN, TO BE TRANSFORMED FROM WHO YOU WERE, TO WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE….REQUIRES A RENEWED MIND.
(last week)…A MIND THAT IS FIXED ON THE WORD OF GOD.
SO MUCH SO…THAT IT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.
AND IT WILL PROBABLY SOUND LIKE YOU’VE COPPED AN ATTITUDE THAT FLY’S CONTRARY TO RATIONAL THINKING.
WELL? HOW RATIONAL IS IT FOR A 99 YEAR OLD MAN WITH A 90 YEAR OLD WIFE AND NO CHILDREN TO WALK AROUND SAYING…
“I’M THE FATHER OF MANY NATIONS.” (REPEAT)
REPEAT AFTER ME…
I’M PREDESTINED TO BE CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE.
I’M CALLED…I’M JUSTIFIED…I’M GLORIFIED.
BEFORE WE CLOSE WITH A SONG OF FAITH…
MAYBE YOU’RE HERE TODAY AND YOU’RE NOT IN THE PROMISE LAND…IN FACT, YOU’RE NOT EVEN IN THE WILDERNESS….
YOU HAVEN’T CROSSED THE RED SEA…
YOU’RE STILL IN EGYPT, A SLAVE, AND IN BONDAGE TO SIN.
THE DELIVERER IS HERE…NOT MOSES…BUT JESUS!
TAKE A STEP OF FAITH….TO RECEIVE THE FREE GIFT.
IF YOU WILL SIMPLY BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED FOR THAT DEBT OF SIN THAT HAS BANKRUPT YOUR SOUL TO HELL, then YOU WILL BE RECONCILED, AND JUSTIFIED, MADE RIGHT WITH GOD.
AND HE WILL PUT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT “RIGHTEOUSNESS.” SALVATION
ARE YOU IN SOME DRY WILDERNESS TIME IN YOUR LIFE?
THIS MESSAGE IS FOR YOU…
DON’T SHRINK BACK IN FEAR AND UNBELIEF…
COP AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH.
PAUL WENT ON…ROMANS 4:18 “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”
THERE’S SO MUCH THERE, BUT A KEY TO KEEPING AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH IS FOUND AT THE END OF VERSE 20.
“…but was strong in faith, giving glory to God…”
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE WILDERNESS…IS GIVE GLORY TO GOD.
WITH YOUR EYE ON THE PROMISE…DON’T EVEN CONSIDER THE GIANTS OR THE OBSTACLES, BUT WITH AN ATTITUDE….
PRAISE HIM FOR THE VICTORY…GIVE HIM THE GLORY!…
He has justified you…past tense…lets praise Him