The Day Abraham Believed, Part 3

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Genesis\ 15\ answers\ the\ question\ for\ us\ about\ how\ a\ man\ can\ be\ made\ right\ with\ God\.\ It\ is\ the\ foremost\ chapter\ in\ the\ Old\ Testament,\ quoted\ over\ and\ over\ again\ in\ the\ New\ Testament\ as\ to\ what\ it\ means\ to\ have\ faith\ in\ God\ and\ to\ believe\ in\ God\.\ We\ have\ spent\ the\ last\ couple\ of\ weeks\ here\.\ So\ if\ you\ have\ your\ Bible,\ turn\ back\ with\ me\ to\ Genesis\ 15\ and\ let's\ review\ just\ for\ a\ brief\ moment\ and\ then\ continue\ our\ study\ in\ Genesis\ chapter\ 15\.\ We\ began\ with\ looking\ at\ a\ vision\ that\ Abraham\ received,\ a\ vision\ of\ God's\ protection\.

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That's\ in\ verse\ number\ one\.\ After\ these\ things\ the\ word\ of\ the\ Lord\ came\ to\ Abram\ in\ a\ vision\ saying,\ Do\ not\ fear,\ Abram\.\ I\ am\ a\ shield\ to\ you\.\ Your\ reward\ shall\ be\ very\ great\.\ Not\ only\ am\ I\ your\ shield,\ Abraham,\ I\ am\ your\ very\ great\ reward\.\ And\ so\ in\ that\ vision\ Abraham\ would\ have\ a\ realization\ of\ God's\ protection\ and\ that\ would\ result\ in\ his\ satisfaction\.\ Abraham\ would\ become\ a\ satisfied\ man\.\ He\ would\ know\ what\ it\ means\ that\ God\ was\ his\ reward\.\ And\ we\ have\ to\ understand\ that\ today\.\ If\ we're\ going\ to\ believe\ in\ God\ then\ we\ need\ to\ understand\ that\ God\ is\ our\ reward\.

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And\ that\ everything\ we\ long\ for\ is\ wrapped\ up\ in\ who\ God\ is\.\ On\ the\ day\ Abraham\ believed\ God\ there\ was\ a\ vision\ of\ God's\ protection\ that\ would\ result\ in\ Abraham's\ satisfaction,\ that\ he\ would\ believe\ in\ that\ God\ and\ give\ his\ life\ to\ that\ God\.\ We\ move\ from\ there\ to\ see\ number\ two,\ a\ revelation\ of\ God's\ provision\.

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And\ it\ says\ in\ verse\ number\ two,\ And\ Abraham\ said,\ O\ Lord\ God,\ what\ wilt\ thou\ give\ me,\ since\ I\ am\ childless,\ and\ the\ heir\ of\ my\ house\ is\ Eliezer\ of\ Damascus\?

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And\ Abraham\ said,\ Since\ thou\ hast\ given\ no\ offspring\ to\ me,\ one\ born\ in\ my\ house\ is\ my\ heir\.\ Lord,\ what\ are\ you\ going\ to\ do\?\ He\ had\ understood\ that\ the\ Word\ of\ the\ Lord\ had\ come\ to\ him\ and\ he\ felt\ confident\ in\ going\ back\ to\ God\ and\ saying,\ God,\ how\ is\ all\ this\ heir\ thing\ going\ to\ happen\?\ There's\ a\ servant\ in\ my\ household,\ Eliezer,\ is\ that\ the\ one\ you're\ going\ to\ use\?\ He\ wanted\ to\ know\ how\ God\ was\ going\ to\ bring\ about\ his\ promise\.\ And\ so\ Abraham\ would\ come\ to\ him\ and\ Abraham\ would\ reply\ to\ God's\ vision\ and\ Abraham\ would\ respond\ by\ asking\ a\ question,\ God,\ what\ is\ it\ you\ are\ going\ to\ do\?

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How\ is\ it\ going\ to\ work\ itself\ out\?\ And\ then\ we\ receive\ God's\ reassurance\.\ In\ verse\ number\ four,\ Then\ behold,\ the\ Word\ of\ the\ Lord\ came\ to\ him,\ saying,\ This\ man\ will\ not\ be\ your\ heir,\ but\ one\ who\ shall\ come\ forth\ from\ your\ own\ body\.\ He\ shall\ be\ your\ heir\.\ And\ he\ took\ him\ outside\ and\ said,\ Now\ look\ toward\ the\ heavens,\ and\ count\ the\ stars,\ if\ you\ are\ able\ to\ count\ them\.\ And\ he\ said\ to\ him,\ So\ shall\ your\ descendants\ be\.\ God\ would\ reassure\ Abraham\.\ The\ Word\ of\ the\ Lord\ would\ come\ to\ him\.\ It's\ a\ reminder\ that\ God's\ Word\ is\ that\ reassuring\ fact\ in\ our\ lives\.

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When\ we\ are\ doubting\ anything,\ when\ we\ have\ questions,\ we\ need\ to\ go\ to\ the\ Word\ of\ the\ Lord\ and\ seek\ what\ God\ has\ to\ say\ to\ us\.\ And\ the\ Word\ of\ the\ Lord\ would\ come\ to\ Abraham\ and\ would\ reveal\ to\ him\ about\ the\ promised\ seed\.\ Abraham,\ this\ is\ where\ it's\ going\ to\ be\.\ It's\ going\ to\ come\ from\ your\ own\ body,\ your\ own\ body\.\ And\ come\ with\ me,\ Abraham,\ look\ at\ the\ stars\.

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I\ want\ you\ to\ look\ up\.\ I\ want\ you\ to\ count\ the\ stars\.\ You\ can't\ count\ them,\ Abraham,\ because\ your\ descendants\ will\ not\ be\ able\ to\ be\ counted\ either\.\ There\ will\ be\ so\ many\ of\ them\.\ So\ God\ would\ come\ and\ reassure\ Abraham\.\ And\ the\ Bible\ says\ in\ verse\ number\ 6,\ Abraham\ believed\ God\.

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He\ believed\ Him\.\ He\ gave\ his\ whole\ life\ to\ Him\.\ He\ leaned\ his\ whole\ body\ upon\ God\.\ He\ believed\ the\ promise\ of\ God\.\ He\ believed\ the\ Word\ of\ God\.\ No\ matter\ what\ others\ might\ say,\ no\ matter\ the\ fact\ that\ he\ was\ 85\ years\ of\ age\ and\ it\ was\ physically\ impossible\ for\ him\ to\ be\ able\ to\ produce\ a\ seed,\ he\ would\ trust\ in\ God\.\ He\ would\ believe\ in\ God\.\ Even\ though\ it\ was\ beyond\ human\ comprehension\.\ Even\ though\ he\ didn't\ understand\ the\ ramifications\ of\ it\.\ And\ even\ though\ he\ didn't\ completely\ grasp\ it,\ he\ would\ believe\ in\ what\ God\ said\.

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He\ would\ believe\ in\ the\ divine\ veracity\.\ Divine\ truth\.\ God's\ truth\.\ He\ would\ believe\ that\.\ He\ would\ say\ amen\ to\ that\.\ He\ would\ believe\ God\.\ God\ would\ reassure\ him\.\ And\ he\ would\ believe\ what\ God\ said\ without\ question\.\ Then\ comes\ God's\ reckoning\.\ This\ is\ where\ we\ left\ off\ last\ week\.\ God's\ reckoning\.\ Verse\ 6\ says,\ that\ he\ believed\ in\ the\ Lord\ and\ he\ that\ is\ God\ reckoned\ it\ to\ him\ as\ righteousness\.\ Folks\ this\ is\ so\ powerful\.\ Abraham\ believed\ in\ the\ Word\ of\ God\.\ He\ believed\ in\ God\ in\ who\ he\ was\.\ His\ character\.

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His\ person\.\ And\ that\ God\ was\ able\ to\ fulfill\ his\ promise\.\ Although\ he\ didn't\ quite\ understand\ it,\ he\ believed\ it\.\ And\ trusted\ in\ it\.\ And\ God\ counted\ it\ to\ him\.\ Reckoned\ it\ to\ him\ as\ righteousness\.\ The\ word\ to\ count\ is\ a\ financial\ term\.\ It's\ translated\ in\ the\ Greek\ Septuagint\.\ It's\ used\ 11\ times\ in\ Romans\ chapter\ 4\ to\ explain\ how\ man\ obtains\ the\ righteousness\ of\ God\.\ When\ you\ have\ a\ debit\ and\ God\ credits\ to\ your\ account\ his\ righteousness,\ your\ sin\ is\ erased\.\ Your\ debt\ is\ paid\ in\ full\.\ It's\ an\ amazing\ thing\.

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Here\ was\ Abraham\ who\ was\ a\ sinner\.\ Here\ was\ a\ man\ who\ was\ not\ righteous\ for\ the\ Bible\ says\ there\ is\ none\ righteous,\ no\ not\ one\.

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For\ all\ have\ sinned\ and\ come\ short\ of\ the\ glory\ of\ God\.\ Every\ man\ is\ born\ in\ sin\.\ Every\ man\ has\ a\ sin\ nature\.\ And\ the\ question\ comes\ back,\ how\ can\ a\ holy\ God\ declare\ an\ unholy\ man\ a\ righteous\ man\?\ Simply\ by\ the\ fact\ that\ this\ man\ Abraham\ believed\ in\ what\ God\ said\.\ He\ trusted\ in\ what\ God\ said\.\ You\ say,\ is\ that\ it\?\ Is\ that\ how\ a\ holy\ God\ makes\ an\ unholy\ individual\ holy\?\ Turn\ with\ me\ to\ Isaiah\ 53\ for\ a\ moment\.

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Isaiah\ chapter\ 53\.\ It\ explains\ to\ us\ how\ Christ\ credits\ our\ account\.\ The\ Bible\ says\ for\ the\ wages\ of\ sin\ is\ death\.

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The\ wages\ of\ sin\ is\ death\.\ There\ is\ a\ debt\ that\ needs\ to\ be\ paid\.\ And\ look\ what\ it\ says\ in\ Isaiah\ 53\ verse\ number\ 4\.\ Surely\ our\ griefs\ he\ himself\ bore,\ that\ is\ Christ,\ and\ our\ sorrows\ he\ carried,\ yet\ we\ ourselves\ esteemed\ him\ stricken,\ smitten\ of\ God\ and\ afflicted\.\ But\ he\ was\ pierced\ through\ for\ our\ transgressions\.\ He\ was\ crushed\ for\ our\ iniquities\.\ The\ chastening\ for\ our\ well\-being\ fell\ upon\ him\.\ And\ by\ his\ scourging\ we\ are\ healed\.\ All\ of\ us\ like\ sheep\ have\ gone\ astray\.\ Each\ of\ us\ has\ turned\ to\ his\ own\ way\.

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But\ the\ Lord\ has\ caused\ the\ iniquity\ of\ us\ all\ to\ fall\ on\ him\.\ This\ is\ the\ answer\ to\ how\ God\ could\ credit\ to\ Abraham's\ account\ righteousness\.\ This\ is\ how\ Abraham\ became\ a\ free\ man\.\ This\ is\ how\ Abraham\ became\ a\ saved\ man\.\ He\ believed\ in\ the\ Word\ of\ God\.\ He\ believed\ in\ what\ God\ would\ tell\ him\ about\ who\ he\ was\ and\ about\ what\ he\ was\ going\ to\ do\.\ Christ\ would\ pay\ for\ his\ sins\.\ You\ see,\ Abraham\ had\ to\ believe\ in\ what\ God\ was\ going\ to\ do\ as\ we\ believe\ in\ what\ God\ has\ already\ done\.\ Abraham\ had\ to\ believe\ that\ in\ that\ seed\ there\ would\ be\ a\ deliverer\ who\ would\ bless\ the\ nations\ of\ the\ world\.

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And\ although\ he\ didn't\ quite\ grasp\ it,\ he\ didn't\ understand\ all\ of\ it\.\ And\ as\ you\ go\ through\ the\ book\ of\ Genesis,\ he\ will\ understand\ more\ and\ more\ as\ God\ reveals\ more\ to\ him\.\ He\ believed\ in\ that\ seed,\ that\ Messiah,\ that\ deliverer\ who\ would\ come\ and\ bless\ the\ entire\ world\ through\ him\.\ He\ believed\ it\.\ You\ see,\ Christ\ had\ already\ paid\ for\ Abraham's\ debt\ before\ he\ ever\ died\.\ And\ Abraham\ would\ believe\ in\ that\ coming\ Messiah\.\ You\ say,\ well,\ how\ can\ that\ be\?\ Just\ like\ we\ look\ back\ 2,000\ years\ and\ believe\ what\ Christ\ did\ on\ the\ cross,\ Abraham\ would\ look\ forward\ to\ what\ would\ happen\ as\ a\ result\ of\ the\ deliverer,\ the\ seed,\ the\ Messiah\ who\ would\ come\.

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Simply\ 2\ Corinthians\ 5,\ 21,\ he\ who\ knew\ no\ sin\ became\ sin\ for\ us\ that\ we\ might\ be\ made\ the\ righteousness\ of\ God\ in\ him\.\ How\ does\ that\ happen\?\ The\ perfect,\ spotless\ Lamb\ of\ God\ who,\ as\ Isaiah\ 53\ says,\ took\ our\ place\ on\ the\ cross\.\ That\ perfect\ sacrifice\ satisfied\ God's\ requirement\ for\ sin's\ payment\.\ And\ when\ you\ believe\ that,\ when\ you\ give\ your\ life\ to\ Christ\ and\ say,\ yes,\ Lord,\ I\ believe\ that\ what\ you\ did\ on\ the\ cross\ 2,000\ years\ ago\ takes\ care\ of\ all\ my\ sin\ and\ erases\ that\ sin\ from\ me,\ when\ you\ believe\ that\ and\ give\ your\ life\ to\ Christ,\ God\ credits\ your\ account\.

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God\ counts\ it\ to\ you\ as\ righteousness\.\ Abraham\ couldn't\ do\ it\ by\ keeping\ the\ law\.\ The\ law\ had\ not\ been\ given\ yet,\ right\?\ So\ Abraham\ could\ not\ obtain\ the\ righteousness\ of\ God\ because\ he\ met\ up\ to\ a\ certain\ standard\.\ No,\ Abraham\ believed\ in\ what\ God\ said\.\ He\ said,\ wait\ a\ minute,\ if\ he\ believed,\ wasn't\ that\ something\ that\ Abraham\ did\?\ If\ Abraham\ had\ to\ believe,\ then\ that\ means\ that\ Abraham\ did\ something\ in\ order\ to\ obtain\ that\ righteousness\.\ That's\ a\ good\ question\.\ Let\ me\ read\ to\ you\ Philippians\ 1,\ verse\ number\ 29\.

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For\ to\ you,\ it\ has\ been\ granted\ for\ Christ's\ sake\ to\ believe\ in\ him\.\ This\ is\ very\ important\ because\ a\ man\ does\ not\ believe\ in\ the\ promises\ of\ God\ unless\ God\ grants\ him\ the\ gift\ to\ believe\.\ So\ important\.\ Why\?\ Because\ salvation\ is\ a\ total\ work\ of\ God\.\ 2\ Peter\ 1,\ 1\ says\ that\ the\ faith\ that\ we\ have\ is\ a\ gift\ from\ God\.\ Ephesians\ 2,\ 8,\ 9\ says\ the\ exact\ same\ thing,\ right\?\ Faith\ is\ a\ gift\.\ Belief\ is\ a\ gift\.\ 2\ Timothy\ 2,\ 25\ says\ that\ repentance\ is\ a\ gift\.\ Everything\ in\ the\ salvation\ experience\ is\ a\ gift\ granted\ by\ God\.

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Abraham\ was\ granted\ the\ gift\ to\ believe\ by\ God,\ Philippians\ 1,\ 25\.\ It\ had\ been\ granted\ to\ believe\.\ That\ is\ so\ good\.\ That\ should\ cause\ us\ to\ rejoice\.\ That\ should\ cause\ us\ to\ sit\ down\ and\ say,\ Lord,\ God,\ thank\ you\ for\ granting\ me\ the\ opportunity\ to\ believe\ in\ your\ Word,\ to\ take\ it\ at\ face\ value,\ to\ not\ question\ it,\ but\ to\ believe\ and\ to\ trust\ it\ with\ all\ of\ my\ heart,\ soul,\ and\ mind\ and\ spirits\.\ And\ that's\ what\ Abraham\ did\.\ And\ God\ reckoned\ it\ to\ him\ as\ righteousness\.\ That's\ God's\ reckoning\.\ And\ then\ look\ with\ me\ at\ God's\ reinforcement\.

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Back\ to\ Genesis\ chapter\ 15\.\ It\ says\ in\ verse\ number\ 8,\ and\ he\ said\ to\ him,\ I\ am\ the\ Lord\ who\ brought\ you\ out\ of\ Ur\ of\ the\ Chaldeans\ to\ give\ you\ this\ land\ to\ possess\ it\.\ Let\ me\ reinforce\ something\ to\ you,\ Abraham\.

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I\ am\ the\ God\ who\ brought\ you\ where\?\ Out\ of\ Ur\ of\ the\ Chaldeans\.\ Remember,\ when\ he\ was\ at\ Ur\ of\ the\ Chaldeans,\ he\ had\ to\ cross\ the\ great\ river\ of\ the\ Euphrates\.\ That's\ where\ we\ get\ the\ name\ Hebrew,\ to\ cross\ the\ river\.\ When\ he\ was\ at\ Ur\ of\ the\ Chaldeans,\ it\ was\ God\ who\ brought\ him\ out\.\ Now\ you\ understand\ what\ it\ means\ for\ God\ to\ grant\ you\ the\ opportunity\ to\ believe\.\ God\ goes\ back\ and\ reinforces\ in\ Abraham's\ mind,\ Abraham,\ it\ was\ I\ who\ brought\ you\ out\ of\ Ur\ of\ the\ Chaldeans\.\ I\ was\ the\ one\ who\ brought\ you\ out\ of\ your\ pagan\ environment\.

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I\ get\ all\ the\ glory\.\ It's\ all\ about\ me,\ Abraham\.\ And\ earlier,\ as\ we\ read\ in\ Genesis\ chapter\ 14,\ that\ God\ granted\ Abraham\ the\ victory,\ as\ Melchizedek\ would\ tell\ him\ against\ his\ enemies\.\ It\ was\ God\ who\ grants\ him\ everything\.\ And\ so\ God\ would\ reinforce\ in\ Abraham's\ mind\ the\ fact\ that\ he's\ the\ all\-powerful\ one\.\ And\ because\ he's\ the\ all\-powerful\ one,\ he\ can\ fulfill\ his\ promises\.\ Because\ of\ what\ I\ did\ in\ the\ past,\ Abraham,\ because\ of\ where\ I\ brought\ you\ from,\ this\ is\ what\ I'm\ going\ to\ give\ you\ into\ the\ future,\ because\ I\ am\ the\ all\-powerful\ God\ who\ not\ only\ grants\ you\ the\ opportunity\ to\ believe\ in\ me,\ but\ grants\ you\ a\ future\ with\ me\.

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And\ so\ he\ would\ reinforce\ in\ Abraham's\ mind\ the\ truth\ of\ who\ he\ is\.\ But\ on\ the\ day\ Abraham\ believed\ God,\ not\ only\ was\ there\ a\ vision\ of\ God's\ protection\ and\ a\ revelation\ of\ God's\ provision,\ one\ would\ lead\ to\ a\ satisfaction,\ the\ other\ to\ a\ salvation,\ but\ there\ was\ a\ confirmation\ of\ God's\ promise,\ a\ confirmation\ of\ God's\ promise,\ and\ this\ would\ lead\ to\ Abraham's\ security,\ Abraham's\ security\.\ Read\ on\ with\ me\ in\ verse\ number\ nine,\ excuse\ me,\ verse\ number\ eight,\ and\ look\ at\ Abraham's\ concern\.

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It\ says,\ then\ he\ said,\ O\ Lord\ God,\ how\ may\ I\ know\ that\ I\ shall\ possess\ it\?\ You're\ going\ to\ give\ me\ a\ land\?\ How\ will\ I\ know\ I'm\ going\ to\ possess\ it\?\ This\ is\ so\ good,\ because\ you\ see,\ Abraham's\ got\ this\ conversation\ thing\ going\ on\ with\ God\.\ And\ you\ know,\ when\ you\ believe\ God,\ when\ you\ know\ God,\ when\ you're\ a\ child\ of\ God,\ you\ know,\ it\ is\ so\ good\ to\ be\ able\ to\ sit\ down\ and\ talk\ to\ God\ about\ your\ problems\ and\ all\ your\ concerns,\ right\?\ I\ mean,\ where\ does\ the\ unbeliever\ go\?\ You\ know,\ the\ therapist,\ the\ psychotherapist,\ the\ psychoanalysis,\ or\ did\ he\ get\ psychoanalysis\?

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Where\ does\ he\ go\ with\ his\ concerns\?\ Who\ does\ he\ talk\ to\?\ And\ Abraham's\ talking\ to\ God\.\ You\ know,\ how\ is\ all\ this\ going\ to\ work\ itself\ out\?\ I\ don't\ understand\ it\ here\.\ And\ this\ is\ very\ good,\ because\ you\ see,\ Abraham\ is\ not\ doubting\ God\.\ He\ is\ just\ asking\ how\ it's\ going\ to\ be\ accomplished\.\ He\ wants\ to\ know\ more\.\ He\ longs\ to\ know\ more,\ not\ for\ information's\ sake,\ but\ for\ confirmation's\ sake\.\ Did\ you\ get\ that\?\ God\ speaks\ to\ you\ through\ His\ Word,\ and\ God\ wants\ to\ speak\ to\ you\.\ And\ so\ Abraham,\ having\ received\ what\ God\ has\ already\ said,\ has\ a\ concern\ about\ the\ land\.

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Why\ is\ that\?\ Because\ the\ land\ is\ already\ occupied\ with\ at\ least\ ten\ other\ nations\.\ And\ we'll\ learn\ about\ that\ as\ we\ get\ down\ to\ verse\ number\ 21\.\ The\ Gergesites,\ the\ Jebusites,\ the\ Amorites,\ they're\ all\ there\.\ And\ so\ if\ this\ is\ going\ to\ be\ my\ land,\ and\ my\ descendants\ are\ going\ to\ have\ this\ land,\ Lord,\ what\ about\ all\ those\ people\ who\ are\ already\ here\?\ What\ are\ we\ going\ to\ do\ with\ them\?\ Who's\ going\ to\ take\ care\ of\ them\?\ Do\ I\ got\ to\ fight\ all\ of\ them\ off,\ too\?\ He\ didn't\ know\.\ He\ just\ wanted\ to\ ask\ God\ a\ question\.

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When\ was\ the\ last\ time\ you\ asked\ God\ a\ question\?\ When\ was\ the\ last\ time\ you\ went\ to\ God\ with\ one\ of\ your\ concerns\?\ You\ said,\ Well,\ Pastor,\ you\ know,\ I\ went\ to\ God\ with\ one\ of\ my\ concerns\.\ He\ didn't\ show\ me\ what\ to\ do\.\ He\ didn't\ answer\ my\ concern\.\ Well,\ if\ you\ say\ that,\ then\ you\ need\ last\ week's\ lesson\.\ You\ missed\ last\ week's\ sermon\.\ You\ need\ to\ get\ last\ week's\ sermon,\ because\ it\ explains\ to\ you\ why\ God\ delays\ sometimes\.\ But\ the\ bottom\ line\ is,\ if\ you've\ got\ a\ concern,\ and\ you\ go\ to\ God,\ God\ will\ answer,\ because\ that's\ the\ way\ God\ is\.

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So\ Abraham's\ concern\ leads\ to\ God's\ command,\ right\?\ So\ God\ comes\ back\ and\ gives\ His\ command\ to\ Abraham\.\ Look\ what\ it\ says\ in\ verse\ number\ 9,\ So\ he\ said\ to\ him,\ Bring\ me\ three\-year\-old\ heifer,\ and\ a\ three\-year\-old\ female\ goat,\ and\ a\ three\-year\-old\ ram,\ and\ a\ turtle\ dove,\ and\ a\ young\ pigeon\.\ Then\ he\ brought\ all\ these\ to\ him,\ and\ cut\ them\ in\ two,\ and\ laid\ each\ half\ opposite\ the\ other\.\ But\ he\ did\ not\ cut\ the\ birds,\ and\ the\ birds\ of\ prey\ came\ down\ upon\ the\ carcasses,\ and\ Abraham\ drove\ them\ away\.\ God\ said,\ Abraham,\ this\ is\ what\ I\ want\ you\ to\ do\.

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Get\ the\ birds,\ get\ the\ animals,\ and\ cut\ them\.\ Do\ what\ you\ need\ to\ do,\ Abraham\.\ Now,\ Abraham\ knew\ what\ was\ going\ on\ here\.\ He\ knew\ that\ there\ was\ going\ to\ be\ a\ covenant\.\ He\ understood\ that\.\ So\ God\ says,\ Abraham,\ this\ is\ what\ you\ need\ to\ do\.

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And\ Abraham\ said,\ Okay,\ I'll\ do\ that\.\ He\ did\ it\.\ His\ heart\ is\ racing\.\ God's\ going\ to\ reveal\ to\ him\ something\.\ And\ isn't\ it\ interesting\ that\ the\ birds\ come\ down\ and\ try\ to\ eat\ the\ carcasses\?\ It\ kind\ of\ reminds\ me\ of\ the\ fact\ that\ whenever\ God\ tells\ us\ to\ do\ something,\ then\ we\ do\ it\.\ There's\ always\ things\ that\ kind\ of\ come\ around\ that\ kind\ of\ keep\ us\ from\ doing\ what\ God\ has\ asked\ us\ to\ do\.\ Is\ that\ not\ true\?\ There's\ always\ these\ hindrances\ that\ come\ our\ way\.\ And\ Abraham\ was\ devoted\.\ He\ would\ chase\ the\ birds\ away\.

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And\ then\ look\ after\ Abraham's,\ or\ God's\ command\ to\ God's\ clarification\.\ Look\ what\ it\ says\.\ It\ says\ in\ verse\ number\ 12,\ Now,\ when\ the\ sun\ was\ going\ down,\ a\ deep\ sleep\ fell\ upon\ Abraham\.\ And,\ behold,\ terror\ and\ great\ darkness\ fell\ upon\ him\.\ Now,\ think\ about\ this\.\ Here's\ a\ man\ who\ had\ just\ received\ from\ God\ great\ encouragement\.\ Here's\ a\ man\ who\ believed\ God\.\ It\ was\ counted\ to\ him\ as\ righteousness\.\ And\ all\ of\ a\ sudden\ a\ deep\ sleep\ falls\ over\ him\ and\ his\ mind\ is\ filled\ with\ horrifying,\ terrifying\ things\.

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Darkness\ engulfs\ him\.\ What's\ going\ on\ here\?\ Read\ on\.\ God\ said\ to\ Abraham,\ Know\ for\ certain\.\ You\ need\ to\ put\ a\ on\ those\ words\.\ Know\ for\ certain\ that\ your\ descendants\ will\ be\ strangers\ in\ a\ land\ that\ is\ not\ theirs,\ where\ they\ will\ be\ enslaved\ and\ oppressed\ for\ hundred\ years\.\ Wow\.\ Abraham\ was\ about\ to\ get\ the\ Word\ of\ wisdom\ from\ God\ about\ his\ descendants,\ his\ land,\ and\ even\ his\ own\ life\.\ But\ God\ would\ clarify\ everything\ to\ Abraham\ as\ he\ fell\ asleep,\ and\ darkness\ would\ engulf\ him\.\ It\ says\ in\ verse\ number\ 14,\ But\ I\ will\ also\ judge\ the\ nation\ whom\ they\ will\ serve,\ and\ afterward\ they\ will\ come\ out\ with\ many\ possessions\.

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There's\ a\ good\ side\ to\ this,\ Abraham,\ and\ this\ is\ it\.\ And\ as\ for\ you,\ you\ shall\ go\ to\ your\ fathers\ in\ peace\.\ You\ shall\ be\ buried\ at\ a\ good\ old\ age\.\ Abraham's\ going\ to\ live\ a\ long\ time,\ but\ what\ God\ is\ saying\ to\ him\ is\ that,\ Abraham,\ you're\ not\ going\ to\ see\ the\ fulfillment\ of\ the\ land\.\ You\ still\ going\ to\ trust\ me,\ Abraham\?\ You\ still\ going\ to\ trust\ me\?\ You're\ going\ to\ live\ only\ to\ be\ 175\ years\ of\ age\.\ That's\ how\u2014that's\ when\ he\ died\.\ 175\.\ He\ lived\ 90\ more\ years\ beyond\ this\ point\.\ But\ the\ promise\ he\ never\ really\ ever\ saw\.

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But\ God\ says,\ You\ still\ going\ to\ believe\ in\ me\?\ You\ still\ going\ to\ trust\ me,\ Abraham\?\ Oh,\ you'll\ be\ satisfied\ in\ life,\ and\ you'll\ live\ to\ a\ ripe\ old\ age,\ but\ you\ won't\ see\ the\ fulfillment\ of\ the\ promise\.\ Then\ he\ says,\ That\ is,\ the\ Amorites\ who\ are\ here\ still\ need\ to\ be\ dealt\ with,\ and\ I\ will\ deal\ with\ them,\ but\ not\ yet\.\ That's\ God's\ grace\ and\ God's\ mercy\.\ And\ God\ goes\ from\ His\ command\ to\ His\ clarification\ to\ His\ covenant\.\ Another\ word\ for\ covenant\ is\ promise\.\ This\ is\ God's\ promise\.\ Verse\ number\ 17,\ No\ matter\ who's\ there,\ Abram,\ this\ is\ your\ land\.

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Note,\ God\ made\ a\ covenant\ with\ Abram\.\ Notice,\ Abram\ didn't\ walk\ between\ the\ rows\ of\ dead\ animals\.\ Why\?\ Because\ Abram\ made\ no\ promise\ to\ God\.\ God\ made\ the\ promise\ to\ Abram\.\ This\ is\ an\ unconditional\ covenant\.\ This\ is\ a\ covenant\ that\ God\ made\ with\ Abram\.\ And\ so\ he\ would\ walk\ through\ it,\ representative\ by\ the\ smoking\ oven\ and\ the\ flaming\ torch\.\ We\ know\ that\ the\ Lord\ God\ is\ the\ light\ to\ the\ world\.\ The\ smoking\ oven\ was\ that\ pot\ that\ was\ used\ to\ refine\ gold\ so\ that\ it\ would\ become\ pure\.\ And\ God\ is\ representative\ by\ the\ smoking\ oven\ and\ the\ fiery\ furnace,\ or\ the\ flaming\ torch\.

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And\ God,\ as\ he\ passed\ through,\ would\ speak\ to\ Abraham\ and\ make\ his\ oath,\ his\ promise,\ his\ covenant\ to\ Abraham,\ This\ is\ your\ land\.\ This\ is\ my\ promise\ to\ you\.\ It\ is\ unconditional\.\ So\ important,\ because\ Abram\ didn't\ walk\ through\ it\.\ He\ had\ no\ part\ in\ the\ covenant\.\ He\ had\ no\ part\ in\ the\ conditions\ of\ the\ covenant\.\ It\ was\ all\ based\ on\ who\ God\ is\ and\ his\ character\ and\ what\ he\ would\ do\ for\ Abraham\ and\ his\ descendants\.\ And\ if\ you've\ been\ with\ us\ in\ our\ study\ of\ the\ book\ of\ Revelation\ on\ Wednesday\ night,\ you\ know\ that\ there's\ still\ a\ land\ for\ the\ nation\ of\ Israel\.

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And\ that\ land\ will\ be\ theirs\.\ And\ God\ will\ rule\ from\ the\ city\ of\ the\ new\ Jerusalem\.\ And\ they\ will\ be\ his\ people\ and\ he\ will\ be\ their\ God\.\ It's\ a\ covenant\ that\ God\ made\ with\ Abraham\.\ Folks,\ listen\.

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God\ has\ made\ an\ unconditional\ covenant\ that\ says,\ if\ you\ believe\ in\ me,\ if\ you\ give\ your\ life\ to\ me,\ I\ promise\ to\ do\ this\ for\ you\.\ I\ promise\ to\ credit\ to\ your\ account\ my\ righteousness\.\ I\ promise\ to\ make\ you\ holy\.\ I\ promise\ to\ infuse\ in\ you\ the\ divine\ life\.\ I\ promise\ to\ give\ to\ you\ that\ which\ is\ me,\ my\ life\.\ I\ promise\.\ And\ I\ promise\ that\.\ And\ that\ promise\ is\ based\ solely\ upon\ me\ and\ what\ I\ do\.\ It\ does\ not\ have\ anything\ to\ do\ with\ what\ you\ will\ do\.\ And\ therefore,\ my\ covenant\ stands\ as\ an\ eternal\ covenant\.

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You\ will\ receive\ an\ eternal\ inheritance\.\ You\ will\ receive\ eternal\ life\.\ You\ will\ never\ perish\.\ And\ no\ man\ will\ ever\ be\ able\ to\ pluck\ you\ out\ of\ my\ hand\.\ You're\ mine\ forever\.\ That's\ God's\ promise\ to\ you\ and\ to\ me\.\ Every\ need\ a\ man\ has,\ every\ need\ a\ woman\ has\ is\ met\ in\ the\ God\ alone,\ the\ King\ of\ the\ universe\.\ Have\ you\ met\ him\?\ Do\ you\ know\ him\?\ Have\ you\ believed\ in\ God\?\ That's\ my\ prayer\ for\ you,\ that\ you\ will\ not\ leave\ this\ place,\ this\ auditorium\ today,\ without\ making\ sure\ that\ you\ know\ for\ certain\ that\ God\ who\ saves,\ satisfies,\ and\ secures\ the\ life\ of\ his\ people\.

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Let's\ pray\.

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