Trusting God's Promises Amidst Life's Changes
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the theme of change and the constancy of God's promises through the story of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 16 and 17. Reflecting on the back-to-school season, we recalled how relationships and people change over time, but emphasized that God's nature and promises remain immutable. We delved into the story of Abraham and Sarah, who, despite receiving a promise from God, struggled with infertility and took matters into their own hands by involving Hagar, Sarah's servant. This decision led to complications and revealed their lack of faith in God's timing.
We discussed how time can dilute our faith, leading us to question God's promises and even His love for us. Abraham and Sarah's impatience resulted in the birth of Ishmael, but God's promise was always intended to be fulfilled through Sarah. This story serves as a reminder that God's promises do not change, even when we face long periods of waiting. We must root our faith in His unchanging nature and trust that His timing is perfect.
We also touched on the significance of circumcision as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, emphasizing that true righteousness comes from a circumcised heart, not merely external rituals. The story of Hagar and Ishmael also highlighted God's compassion and care for those who feel abandoned or hopeless, reminding us of the importance of being pro-life in the fullest sense, supporting and caring for those in difficult situations.
Finally, we were reminded that our faith should be evident in our actions. Immediate obedience to God's commands is a reflection of our trust in Him. Delayed obedience is disobedience, and we must strive to live out our faith through our actions, trusting that God will complete the good work He has begun in us.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Unchanging Nature: Despite the changes we experience in life, God's nature and promises remain constant. This immutability is a cornerstone of our faith, especially during difficult times when we might feel abandoned or question His love for us. Rooting our faith in His unchanging nature helps us navigate through life's uncertainties. [04:02]
2. The Danger of Impatience: Abraham and Sarah's decision to involve Hagar in their quest for a child illustrates the pitfalls of impatience. When we take matters into our own hands, we often complicate God's plans. Trusting in God's timing, even when it seems delayed, is crucial for our spiritual growth and fulfillment of His promises. [12:24]
3. True Righteousness: The story of circumcision as a sign of the covenant teaches us that true righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not merely external rituals. Our faith should lead to a genuine change in our lives, reflecting our relationship with God through our actions and obedience. [42:07]
4. God's Compassion for the Hopeless: God's appearance to Hagar, a single mother fleeing from her problems, underscores His compassion for those in desperate situations. As followers of Christ, we are called to support and care for those who feel abandoned or hopeless, embodying a pro-life stance that extends beyond anti-abortion sentiments. [24:14]
5. Immediate Obedience: Abraham's immediate obedience to God's command to circumcise all the males in his household demonstrates the importance of acting promptly on God's instructions. Delayed obedience is a form of disobedience, and our faith should be evident in our willingness to follow God's commands without hesitation. [50:45]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [01:36] - Back to School Reflections
3. [02:51] - Change in Relationships
4. [04:02] - God's Unchanging Nature
5. [05:22] - Abraham and Sarah's Struggle
6. [06:51] - Hagar and Ishmael
7. [08:17] - The Consequences of Impatience
8. [12:24] - Time Diluting Faith
9. [15:01] - Waiting on God's Promises
10. [17:25] - Results Don't Affirm God's Will
11. [20:08] - Saying No to Say Yes
12. [22:45] - The Angel of the Lord Appears
13. [24:14] - God's Compassion for Hagar
14. [28:18] - God Hears Our Affliction
15. [31:04] - Ishmael and the Arab People
16. [35:14] - Faith Strengthened in Silence
17. [40:01] - The Significance of Circumcision
18. [42:07] - True Righteousness
19. [50:45] - Immediate Obedience
20. [55:14] - Walking in Faith and Obedience
21. [56:29] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 16:1-16
2. Genesis 17:1-27
3. Romans 2:28-29
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Sarah's initial solution to her infertility, and what were the consequences of that decision? ([06:51])
2. How did God reaffirm His covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17, and what was the sign of this covenant? ([38:54])
3. What was the significance of the name changes from Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah? ([36:23])
4. How did Abraham demonstrate immediate obedience to God's command regarding circumcision? ([50:45])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Sarah and Abraham struggled to trust in God's timing, and how does this reflect our own struggles with impatience? ([12:24])
2. How does the story of Hagar and Ishmael illustrate God's compassion for those who feel abandoned or hopeless? ([24:14])
3. What does it mean to have a "circumcised heart" according to Romans 2:28-29, and how does this differ from merely following external rituals? ([42:07])
4. How does Abraham's immediate obedience to God's command challenge our own responses to God's instructions in our lives? ([50:45])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt impatient waiting for God's promises. How did you handle it, and what can you learn from Abraham and Sarah's story to improve your trust in God's timing? ([12:24])
2. In what ways can you show compassion and support to those who feel abandoned or hopeless, similar to how God cared for Hagar and Ishmael? ([24:14])
3. How can you ensure that your faith is rooted in a transformed heart rather than just external religious practices? What steps can you take this week to focus on internal spiritual growth? ([42:07])
4. Think of a specific area in your life where you have delayed obedience to God's command. What immediate steps can you take to align your actions with God's will? ([50:45])
5. How can you remind yourself of God's unchanging nature and promises during difficult times? Share a specific promise from the Bible that you can hold onto this week. ([04:02])
6. Discuss a situation where you might be tempted to take matters into your own hands rather than waiting on God's timing. How can you seek God's guidance and patience in this situation? ([06:51])
7. Identify one person in your life who is going through a difficult time. How can you be a source of encouragement and support to them, reflecting God's compassion and care? ([24:14])
Devotional
Day 1: The Immutability of God's Promises
God's promises and nature remain constant, even as our lives change. This truth is a cornerstone of our faith, especially during times of uncertainty and doubt. Reflecting on the story of Abraham and Sarah, we see how their impatience and attempts to control their situation led to complications. Despite their actions, God's promise to them did not change. This serves as a reminder that we must root our faith in God's unchanging nature and trust in His perfect timing. When we feel abandoned or question His love, we can find solace in the fact that His promises are steadfast and reliable. [04:02]
"God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" (Numbers 23:19, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt abandoned or doubted God's love. How can you remind yourself of His unchanging nature and promises during such times?
Day 2: The Pitfalls of Impatience
Abraham and Sarah's decision to involve Hagar in their quest for a child illustrates the dangers of impatience. When we take matters into our own hands, we often complicate God's plans and create unnecessary difficulties. Their story teaches us the importance of trusting in God's timing, even when it seems delayed. Our spiritual growth and the fulfillment of God's promises depend on our ability to wait patiently and faithfully. Impatience can lead us to make decisions that are not aligned with God's will, ultimately causing more harm than good. [12:24]
"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14, ESV)
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are struggling with impatience. How can you practice trusting in God's timing and surrendering your plans to Him?
Day 3: True Righteousness from a Transformed Heart
The story of circumcision as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham emphasizes that true righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not merely external rituals. Our faith should lead to genuine change in our lives, reflecting our relationship with God through our actions and obedience. External rituals and practices are meaningless if they do not stem from a heart that is truly committed to God. This calls us to examine our own lives and ensure that our faith is not just superficial but deeply rooted in a transformed heart. [42:07]
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your spiritual practices. Are they driven by a genuine relationship with God, or are they merely external rituals? How can you cultivate a heart that is truly transformed by His love?
Day 4: God's Compassion for the Hopeless
God's appearance to Hagar, a single mother fleeing from her problems, underscores His compassion for those in desperate situations. This story reminds us that God cares deeply for those who feel abandoned or hopeless. As followers of Christ, we are called to support and care for those in difficult circumstances, embodying a pro-life stance that extends beyond anti-abortion sentiments. Our actions should reflect God's compassion and love for all people, especially those who are marginalized and in need of help. [24:14]
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your community who is going through a difficult time. How can you extend God's compassion and support to them today?
Day 5: The Importance of Immediate Obedience
Abraham's immediate obedience to God's command to circumcise all the males in his household demonstrates the importance of acting promptly on God's instructions. Delayed obedience is a form of disobedience, and our faith should be evident in our willingness to follow God's commands without hesitation. Immediate obedience reflects our trust in God and our commitment to living out our faith through our actions. It challenges us to respond to God's guidance promptly and faithfully, trusting that He will complete the good work He has begun in us. [50:45]
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)
Reflection: Is there a specific command or prompting from God that you have been delaying to act on? What steps can you take today to obey Him immediately and wholeheartedly?
Quotes
1. "That's one of the promises of God that we have to hold fast to is that he does not change. He's immutable is the key word there but it can be so easy especially when we're hitting you know painful seasons of life or seasons of grief or you know sometimes we just feel like God's absent from us and it's like did he change you know did he have a crazy summer and come back and he wanted nothing to do with me like what happened to the Lord and if we don't root our faith well into the promises of God we could almost get believing some of these lies that are not rooted in the truth of scripture." [03:20] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "No amount of time is too long to wait on the promises of God. We have to root ourselves in knowing that God is never out of the equation. See, that's where Abram should have been looking at Sarai when she was, hey, you know that Egyptian kind of been rolling around the camp, not too bad to look at? What do you think about her? He should have just kind of laughed and, oh, Sarah, please. No, God's not out of the equation. We've been waiting 10 years. What's that unto the Lord?" [16:13] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we try to accomplish anything without God, it's going to be a miserable failure. Or even worse, it'll be a miserable success. I pray that you in your life personally, that we as Calvary, that we would not be successful in the things that God has not called us to. And they're not sinful, bad things. There can be really good ministries. We're just not called for that. That's not for us to carry. That's not for us to execute and carry out. But why do we want to be successful in the things that God has not called us to do?" [18:45] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Faith is not in a floor plan. It's in a person. Now, yes, we should commune together and it is good to worship and to be under teaching like that is needed. The Lord commands that. But don't make this an act of righteousness that he never said that it was. And how easily we can do that because what we're doing is trying to find our hope and our flesh circumcision because we don't allow this faith to transform and to change. Our hearts." [43:18] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "What we really believe will be shown in our actions. Don't tell me what you believe. I've yet to give a litmus test on theology. Because that's not what it's about. You know, it's not like virgin birth. Agree, disagree, strongly disagree. You know, that's not what faith is. It's understanding the promises of God and our relationship with Jesus as he is revealed. He is revealing the Father unto us and bringing us into a right relationship with him." [53:11] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The righteous man shall live by faith. There's no other component. Like if he asked us, what else could it be? No, we would never say faith. We'd give a long list of works, but it is by faith and our faith should change our life. There should be an obedience, a change in us, a transformation. Why? Because we believe Christ went to a cross for us. We believe that he was raised from the dead and he walked out of that tomb. We believe that he was ascended unto heaven and we believe that he is returning imminently at any time." [54:15] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "How easily does time dilute our faith? I mean, you got to think that they've been waiting 10 years for this promise. Some of you guys have been waiting years to see a promise of God come through in your life. You might have a prodigal child that is not walking with the Lord and it's been years and every day you wake up and you pray for them you think maybe today is the day of salvation and every night you go to bed and you're praying for them that maybe the next morning maybe tomorrow will be that day and you just wait and that passing of time it can dilute our faith if we don't ground and root ourselves well." [11:05] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Faith is strengthened when God is silent. Not only when God speaks. So the time that the Lord is speaking to you, yeah, that is needed to strengthen your faith. But at the same time, when the Lord seems silent unto us, that same faith needs to be strengthened in that season as well." [35:14] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "We have to root and ground ourselves in the word to understand his promises, to understand the call and the command upon our life. He sets the guardrails of what does it mean to be a child of God and how our life should look because of it. Our response, just like him and Abraham, he's like, I'm gonna do this, you do this. That's God. What about us? Will we walk in faith in it? Will we walk in obedience to him?" [55:14] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Delayed obedience is disobedience. And so if there's something in your life that God is calling to see your faith and obedience in, do not delay in it. Now, is it going to drastically change your life? Oh, I hope so. Your life's a wreck. My life's a wreck, right? Don't put it off. Don't wait for it. Five more days, 10 more years of brokenness isn't going to make your life any better. But the transforming power of the Spirit can." [52:04] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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