Abram Believed. Why should I care? S1e76 Gen 15:2
Abram BELIEVED the Lord. Mental activity
Already seen Ab. Was a good example of FAITH with boots on and swordsdrawn regarding LOT rescue
Put his money where his mouth was
Proved what was going on in his heart and head by his actions
Today we are going to go back into his heart: He believes the Lord
Dare I say: most important current concept that started in OT
What does the Lord say?
Don’t be afraid
I am your shield
Your reward shall be great—you get the ultimate reward which is me
Reward of ongoing relationship
15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
BUT ABRAM QUESTIONS God******
God can take it. There are serious, inquiries of God, accusations
I continue childless you have given me no offspring
My heir is Eliezer of Damascus, a member of my household
But not an offspring in any way
Not mentioned elsewhere—most trusted member of household
Wonder. Why this is not Lot?
GOD Gives a VISION, and then a BRINGING
How does God Bring Abram OUTSIDE in a vision
We are in deep waters here
# the stars; if you are able. SO SHALL YOUR /ooffspring be
HE (Abram) BELIEVED the Lord, *********
and He counted it to him as rightesousness
Abram BELIEVES, TRUSTS, votes with his mental confidence
Abram account is credited as if righteous
Belief entrusting in Jesus results in being “seen as Jesus”, with the benefitsand access that is Jesus has
Principles of God’s economy: by BELIEF, one gains BENEFITS that you did not specifically EARN.
401K account at work: You do something: put dollars in a 401k
Magically: unearned $ magically appear in that account 1$B
Benefit you did not specifically earn are credited to your account
God does wildly, unimaginablebeneficial Spiritual Math on your behalf
New Testament
Quotes this passage twice in Romans, once in Gal and James
This is now an EXPECTATION of all who walk with God*****
Gen 15 is definitive, example THIS IS A MUST DO*****
What Abram does Authoritative for you Podcast listener
YOU MUST DO WHAT Abram does in this passage
Give God a little rattling. He can take it
Believe the Lord.
Believe the facts: history, OT interactions, incarnation, Word
Believe the indwelling: Believe the NOW
Believe and trust in your crisis
His was over childlessness and heritage
Yours is: __________________
What is the hardest thing that you have to talk to God about trusting Him in?
What is the hardest situation that you have to BELIEVE GOD through? –infertility; significance? aging?; consequences? Forgiveness? Relationship? Sickness?Trials? Testing? Temptations
What is the most difficult part of being a human?
Lord, I don’t see the end point of this difficult situation, but I TRUST YOU through it. Though I am crushed of circumstance, I chose to Trust
Mental and spiritual Certainty in uncertain situation
Conviction extreme condition
Trust when ground is trembling.
Rely when there is a bad guy or a black eye from a bad guy
It is there in the impossible, inconvenient, incredible
That your small believe deposit gives birth to RIGHTEOUSNESS
HERE IS HOW UNRIGHTEOUS PEOPLE BECOME RIGHT BEFORE GOD.
EVERY INTENT ONLY EVER EVIL
You are OK before a Holy GOD;
Your account has enough, not because of what you put in, but because of what Godputs in. Your small bits allows being viewed as acceptable, as perfect, as right with God, even though youre not.
Rightesousness based NOT ON your ACHIEVMENT, but belief offering an ACCESSto the achievments of Christ.
Call today trust Him. Believe in Him. JUST LIKE ABRAM did. MUST DO.