Transformative Encounters: Embracing God's Covenant and Identity

 

Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound encounter between God and Abram in Genesis 17, where God establishes a covenant that would forever alter the trajectory of human history. On an ordinary day, much like any other, God appeared to Abram, a man of 99 years, and set forth a promise that would not only impact him but generations to come. This narrative reminds us that God's transformative work often occurs on seemingly unremarkable days, much like the morning of September 11, 2001, which started as a typical day but ended up changing the world.

Abram had waited for God's promise of a son for at least 14 years, and it was during this time of waiting that God instructed him to "walk before me and be blameless." This command was not just for Abram but is a call for each of us to prepare spiritually for what God will do in our lives. God's directive to Abram was to ready himself for the fulfillment of a promise made decades earlier. Similarly, we must take our spiritual condition seriously and align ourselves with God's will to be ready for His work in our lives.

God's covenant with Abram included changing his name to Abraham, signifying his new role as the father of many nations. This change was not just nominal but represented a shift in identity and purpose, as God declared His intentions for Abraham's future and his descendants. The sign of this covenant was circumcision, a permanent and unnatural act that served as a reminder of the sacredness of God's people and their call to live for sacred purposes.

Circumcision also symbolized a spiritual reality that transcends time, culture, and gender. It pointed to a heart condition, a spiritual circumcision, where God cuts away our sinful nature and marks us as His own. This spiritual transformation is available to all who believe, just as Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.

The covenant also extended to Sarai, whose name was changed to Sarah, indicating her role as a mother of nations. Despite Abraham's initial laughter at the prospect of having a child at his advanced age, God reaffirmed His promise, emphasizing that Sarah would bear a son named Isaac, through whom the everlasting covenant would be established.

Abraham's obedience to God's command to circumcise every male in his household demonstrated his commitment to God's covenant. This act of obedience was a choice, a decision to be part of God's people and to embrace the promises and responsibilities that came with the covenant.

Key Takeaways:

- God's transformative work in our lives often begins on ordinary days, and it is our responsibility to walk blamelessly and prepare ourselves for His divine appointments. Just as Abraham was called to be blameless before God, we too must cultivate a life of integrity and readiness for God's purposes. [05:05]

- The change of Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's to Sarah signifies the transformative power of God's promises. Our identity in Christ is not based on our past or present circumstances but on God's declaration over our lives. We are called to embrace the new identity and purpose He gives us. [10:01]

- Circumcision as the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham represents a permanent and sacred commitment. In our spiritual journey, God calls us to make permanent commitments to Him, marking our lives with actions that reflect His holiness and purpose. [15:26]

- Spiritual circumcision of the heart is a universal sign of belonging to God, transcending physical rituals and pointing to an inward transformation by the Holy Spirit. This spiritual reality is the true mark of God's people, both in the past and today. [30:29]

- Obedience to God's commands is a choice that reflects our commitment to His covenant. Like Abraham, we must actively choose to follow God's directives, understanding that our decisions have both immediate and generational consequences. [18:43]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 17:1-14 - The covenant between God and Abram, including the command for circumcision and the change of names to Abraham and Sarah.
2. Romans 2:28-29 - Spiritual circumcision of the heart by the Spirit.

#### Observation Questions
1. What specific command did God give to Abram in Genesis 17:1, and what was its purpose? ([05:05])
2. How did God change Abram's and Sarai's names, and what did these new names signify? ([10:01])
3. What was the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, and why was it significant? ([15:26])
4. How did Abraham respond to God's command regarding circumcision, and what does this demonstrate about his faith? ([27:56])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to "walk before me and be blameless" as God commanded Abram, and how can this be applied to our spiritual lives today? ([07:21])
2. How does the change of names from Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah reflect the transformative power of God's promises in our lives? ([10:01])
3. In what ways does the concept of spiritual circumcision, as described in Romans 2:28-29, transcend physical rituals and point to an inward transformation? ([30:29])
4. How does Abraham's immediate obedience to God's command to circumcise every male in his household reflect his commitment to God's covenant, and what can we learn from this about our own obedience to God? ([27:56])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when an ordinary day turned into a significant moment in your life. How can you prepare yourself spiritually for God's divine appointments in your everyday life? ([03:49])
2. How can you cultivate a life of integrity and readiness for God's purposes, similar to how Abram was called to walk blamelessly before God? ([05:05])
3. In what ways can you embrace the new identity and purpose that God has given you, despite your past or present circumstances? ([10:01])
4. What permanent commitments can you make in your spiritual journey to reflect God's holiness and purpose, similar to the act of circumcision in Abraham's covenant? ([15:26])
5. How can you ensure that your heart is spiritually circumcised, marked by an inward transformation by the Holy Spirit? What steps can you take to align your heart with God's will? ([30:29])
6. Think of a specific area in your life where you need to demonstrate obedience to God's commands. What practical steps can you take this week to follow through on this commitment? ([27:56])
7. How can you actively choose to follow God's directives, understanding that your decisions have both immediate and generational consequences? Reflect on a decision you need to make and how it aligns with God's will. ([18:43])

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Ordinary Beginnings
The most transformative moments in life often arise without fanfare, on days that dawn like any other. It is in the mundane that the Divine chooses to initiate change, as seen in the life of Abraham. This patriarch's experience teaches that readiness for God's work does not require extraordinary circumstances but a heart that walks blamelessly before Him. It is a call to live with integrity and anticipation, knowing that any day could be the one when God decides to move mightily. As believers, cultivating a life of holiness and blamelessness is essential, preparing us for the divine appointments that God has planned. [05:05]

"Blameless you shall be before the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 18:13).

Reflection: How can you cultivate a daily walk with God that prepares you for unexpected divine encounters?

Day 2: Identity Transformed by Divine Promise
The renaming of Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah signifies a profound transformation that goes beyond mere semantics. It is about embracing a new identity and purpose that is rooted in God's promises. This change reflects the power of God to redefine our lives, not based on our past or present, but on His declaration and vision for our future. As followers of Christ, we are invited to accept the new identity and purpose He bestows upon us, stepping into the roles He has designed with confidence and faith. [10:01]

"And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6).

Reflection: What new identity or purpose might God be calling you to embrace, and how can you begin to live out this transformation today?

Day 3: Sacred Commitments Reflecting Divine Holiness
Circumcision was the physical sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, a mark of sacred commitment and separation unto God. This act was a precursor to the spiritual circumcision of the heart that God desires for all His people—a cutting away of the sinful nature and a marking of us as His own. In our spiritual journey, we are called to make permanent commitments that reflect God's holiness and purpose, living lives that are set apart for Him. [15:26]

"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe" (Deuteronomy 10:17).

Reflection: What permanent commitment can you make today that will serve as a marker of your dedication to living a life set apart for God?

Day 4: The Universal Mark of Spiritual Belonging
The physical act of circumcision pointed to a deeper spiritual truth that transcends time, culture, and gender. It is about the inward transformation that occurs when the Holy Spirit renews our hearts, cutting away what is unclean and marking us as belonging to God. This spiritual circumcision is the true sign of being part of God's people, a reality that was true for Abraham and remains true for believers today. [30:29]

"But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God" (Romans 2:29).

Reflection: In what ways can you allow the Holy Spirit to perform a 'spiritual circumcision' on your heart, cutting away sin and renewing your commitment to God?

Day 5: Obedience as a Choice of Covenant Commitment
Abraham's decision to obey God's command to circumcise every male in his household was a deliberate act of commitment to the covenant. It was a choice that reflected his willingness to be part of God's people and to embrace the promises and responsibilities that came with it. Similarly, our obedience to God's commands is a choice that signifies our commitment to His covenant. It is an active decision that has both immediate and generational impact. [18:43]

"And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise" (Galatians 3:29).

Reflection: What is one act of obedience God is calling you to make that reflects your commitment to His covenant, and how can you implement this decision today?

Quotes

1) "God is about to do something that is going to change the direction of human history but we're introduced to it this way it just so happened on this particular day." [03:49] (Download)

2) "God says get ready now walk before me and be blameless and so this was something that Abram had to do now and he said sow that so that I may confirm my Covenant between me and you." [07:21] (Download)

3) "God speaks of it in the past tense even though it hasn't happened yet so let's say verse 6. in verse 6 God continues to speak he says and I will make you exceedingly fruitful." [13:13] (Download)

4) "Circumcision is a visible reminder to the man for the rest of his life as well as his wife that the production of the next generation is important to God." [16:44] (Download)

5) "Circumcision is a sign even today a sign even today for each one of us whether we're male or female whether we're Jewish or not not just for people way back then but it is a sign even today of something spiritual that happens within each one of us when we get right with God." [17:30] (Download)

6) "Participating in God's covenant is a choice. A man that day in Abram's household who refused would be cut off from God and his people." [18:43] (Download)

7) "Just because Abraham's offspring might have received the sign of the Covenant it did not necessarily mean that they had received God's grace." [19:21] (Download)

8) "Abraham is our spiritual father how's that he showed us how to get right with God Abraham believed God and God credited Abraham's belief as righteousness." [29:54] (Download)

9) "If you've been saved then you have been spiritually circumcised apart in the flesh the spiritual flesh has been cut away and so if Abraham is our spiritual father." [31:06] (Download)

10) "When God says no it indicates something it indicates God knows what he's doing and you don't that's what that's what happens when God says no God knows what he's doing you don't submit to What God Says." [25:03] (Download)

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?