Trusting God's Promises in a Post-Christian Era

 

Summary

In this time of transition, as we stand on the brink of a new millennium, we find ourselves in what many call the "Post-Christian Era." This is a period where the relevance of Christianity is often questioned, and the church is sometimes seen as outdated. Yet, there remains a vibrant community of believers who hold fast to promises made two thousand years ago. This situation mirrors the time of Mary and Zacharias, who, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, celebrated God's faithfulness to promises made two millennia before their time. They rejoiced in the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, a promise of mercy and blessing that transcends time.

The Old Testament, often viewed skeptically in modern times, is not merely a collection of myths but a historical record of God's interactions with humanity, particularly through the life of Abraham. Despite skepticism, archaeological discoveries in the 20th century have affirmed the historical reliability of these ancient texts. The story of Abraham is not a myth but a testament to God's real and active presence in history. God called Abraham out of paganism, made a covenant with him, and promised him land, descendants, and that through him, all nations would be blessed.

Abraham's journey was marked by faith and testing. He was promised land, yet only owned a burial site. He was promised descendants as numerous as the stars, yet he and Sarah were childless for many years. Even when they tried to fulfill God's promise through human means, God had a greater plan, ultimately fulfilled through Isaac. Abraham's faith was tested to the utmost when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, a foreshadowing of God's own sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, on Calvary.

The fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham took time, but they were realized in the birth of Jesus, the ultimate blessing to all nations. Mary and Zacharias recognized this fulfillment, celebrating God's faithfulness. As we reflect on these truths, we are reminded that God's promises are sure, even if their fulfillment is not immediate. We are called to trust in His timing and remain faithful, knowing that He remembers His covenant and works all things for His glory.

Key Takeaways:

1. Faith in God's Timing: Just as Mary and Zacharias celebrated God's faithfulness to promises made long ago, we too must trust in God's timing. His promises may not be fulfilled immediately, but they are sure and steadfast. Our faith is strengthened as we wait on Him, knowing that He remembers and fulfills His word. [03:39]

2. The Historical Reliability of Scripture: Despite modern skepticism, archaeological discoveries affirm the historical reliability of the Old Testament. The story of Abraham is not a myth but a testament to God's real and active presence in history. This encourages us to trust the Scriptures as a true record of God's dealings with humanity. [08:18]

3. Blessed to Be a Blessing: Abraham was blessed not just for his own benefit but to be a blessing to others. This principle extends to us today; when God blesses us, it is so we can bless those around us. Our lives should reflect God's goodness, impacting others positively. [12:36]

4. The Testing of Faith: Abraham's faith was tested when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac. This test foreshadowed God's own sacrifice of Jesus. Our faith may also be tested, but these trials refine us and deepen our trust in God's promises. [21:11]

5. The Fulfillment of God's Promises: The promises made to Abraham were ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, the blessing to all nations. This reminds us that God's plans are far-reaching and encompass all of history. We are part of this grand narrative, called to live in light of His fulfilled promises. [23:01]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:36] - The Post-Christian Era
- [01:25] - Trusting Ancient Promises
- [02:10] - The Magnificat and Zacharias' Song
- [03:39] - The Irony of Time
- [05:23] - The Old Testament as God's Autobiography
- [06:45] - Skepticism and Historical Reliability
- [08:18] - Archaeological Discoveries
- [09:03] - The Story of Abraham
- [11:03] - The Call of Abraham
- [12:36] - Blessed to Be a Blessing
- [13:21] - The Covenant with Abraham
- [15:22] - The Promise of Land
- [17:22] - The Promise of Descendants
- [21:11] - The Test of Sacrifice
- [23:01] - Fulfillment in Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 12:1-3
2. Luke 1:46-55 (The Magnificat)
3. Luke 1:67-79 (Zacharias' Song)

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Observation Questions:

1. What promises did God make to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, and how do these promises relate to the sermon’s discussion on the covenant with Abraham? [11:03]

2. In the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), how does Mary express her understanding of God's promises to Abraham? What specific phrases indicate her recognition of these promises? [02:10]

3. How does Zacharias' song (Luke 1:67-79) reflect the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham, and what does it reveal about God's faithfulness? [02:58]

4. According to the sermon, what role do archaeological discoveries play in affirming the historical reliability of the Old Testament? [08:18]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon suggest that the promises made to Abraham are relevant to believers today, especially in the context of a "Post-Christian Era"? [01:25]

2. What does the sermon imply about the significance of waiting on God's timing, as seen in the lives of Abraham, Mary, and Zacharias? How does this challenge modern perspectives on faith and patience? [03:39]

3. In what ways does the sermon connect the testing of Abraham's faith with the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus? How does this parallel deepen the understanding of God's promises? [21:11]

4. How does the sermon describe the purpose of God's blessings to Abraham, and how does this principle extend to believers today? [12:36]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you had to wait for a promise or a goal to be fulfilled. How did you handle the waiting period, and what can you learn from Abraham's example of faith in God's timing? [03:39]

2. The sermon discusses the skepticism surrounding the historical reliability of the Old Testament. How do you personally approach doubts or questions about the Bible's authenticity, and what steps can you take to strengthen your trust in Scripture? [08:18]

3. Consider the idea of being "blessed to be a blessing." Identify a recent blessing in your life. How can you use this blessing to positively impact someone else this week? [12:36]

4. Abraham's faith was tested when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac. Have you ever experienced a test of faith that challenged your trust in God's promises? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [21:11]

5. The sermon highlights the fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus. How does this understanding of fulfillment influence your daily walk with God, especially when facing uncertainties? [23:01]

6. Mary and Zacharias celebrated God's faithfulness to His promises. How can you incorporate a similar attitude of celebration and gratitude into your spiritual practices? [02:10]

7. In what ways can you actively participate in God's grand narrative of blessing all nations, as seen in the promises to Abraham? Identify one specific action you can take this month to contribute to this mission. [23:01]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting in God's Perfect Timing
In a world where instant gratification is often the norm, trusting in God's timing can be challenging. Mary and Zacharias serve as powerful examples of faith, celebrating God's faithfulness to promises made long before their time. Their stories remind us that God's promises are steadfast, even if their fulfillment is not immediate. As believers, we are called to trust in His timing, knowing that He remembers and fulfills His word. This trust is not passive but an active waiting, where our faith is strengthened as we rely on His perfect plan. [03:39]

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one promise from God that you are waiting to see fulfilled? How can you actively trust in His timing today?


Day 2: The Reliability of God's Word
Despite modern skepticism, the historical reliability of the Old Testament is affirmed through archaeological discoveries. The story of Abraham is not a myth but a testament to God's real and active presence in history. This encourages us to trust the Scriptures as a true record of God's dealings with humanity. As we delve into the Bible, we find a rich tapestry of God's faithfulness woven throughout history, inviting us to deepen our trust in His word and His promises. [08:18]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate more of God's Word into your daily routine to strengthen your trust in its reliability?


Day 3: Being a Blessing to Others
Abraham was blessed not just for his own benefit but to be a blessing to others. This principle extends to us today; when God blesses us, it is so we can bless those around us. Our lives should reflect God's goodness, impacting others positively. As we recognize the blessings in our lives, we are called to share them, becoming conduits of God's love and grace to those we encounter. [12:36]

"And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing." (Genesis 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one way you can be a blessing to someone in your community this week. What steps will you take to make it happen?


Day 4: The Refining Fire of Faith
Abraham's faith was tested when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, a test that foreshadowed God's own sacrifice of Jesus. Our faith may also be tested, but these trials refine us and deepen our trust in God's promises. Through these challenges, we learn to rely on God's strength and wisdom, emerging with a faith that is more resilient and mature. [21:11]

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent trial you faced. How did it challenge your faith, and what did you learn about God's faithfulness through it?


Day 5: Living in the Fulfillment of God's Promises
The promises made to Abraham were ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, the blessing to all nations. This reminds us that God's plans are far-reaching and encompass all of history. We are part of this grand narrative, called to live in light of His fulfilled promises. As we embrace our role in God's story, we are encouraged to live with purpose and hope, knowing that we are part of something much greater than ourselves. [23:01]

"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." (2 Corinthians 1:20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you live more intentionally in light of God's fulfilled promises in your life? What changes can you make to align your daily actions with His grand narrative?

Quotes


Now the historians of our day have described our time as "The Post-Christian Era," a time where the teaching of Christianity has been deemed increasingly irrelevant, a time when the church is seen as a museum, outdated, outmoded. It's been reduced in certain places of Europe to the role of the mausoleum, indeed the grave site for those who have declared the death of God. And yet there remains in this world today a pulsating group of believing Christian people who still live at this point in time, trusting in promises that were made two thousand years ago. [00:00:48]

And yet, Mary and Zacharias ironically were in virtually the same situation because they were looking back two millennia. They were looking back for two thousand years and blessing God for remembering a promise that He had made to somebody else two thousand years before they lived. And so in a very real sense, Mary and Zacharias represent a similar situation to what we are facing today, and both of these people, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, celebrated that God remembered something. God remembered His promise. He remembered a promise that was a promise to give mercy, and of course that promise was the promise that He had made two thousand years earlier to the patriarch Abraham. [00:04:11]

But something has happened. Many things have happened, indeed, in the twentieth century to bring a dramatic change to that spirit of skepticism. The late William Foxwell Albright, before he died, made a sharp rebuke of biblical scholars for ignoring the hard evidence of archeological research and allowing philosophical speculation to bring an undue spirit of cynicism and skepticism to the Old Testament texts. And at the heart of this is the story of Abraham. [00:07:55]

In 1929, there was a discovery in Rash Shamra that proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that writing had been developed as early as the second millennium B.C. in the Middle East; because the skeptics of the nineteenth century said there wasn't even any writing in the world at this time, and that the record of Abraham must have come significantly later because writing hadn't even been developed in this part of the world. [00:08:46]

So what we're going to say here at the beginning is that when we look at the story of Abraham, we ought not look at the story of Abraham as an exercise in mythology, but rather as an announcement that comes to us in the sacred Scriptures of something that takes place in real history, in real space, in real time where a real God calls a real individual out of a land of paganism, speaks to him, consecrates Him and makes a promise to him that changes the entire course of history. [00:10:25]

And the way in which this segment of the life of Abraham is captioned is by the words, "Blessed to be a blessing." And I thought that was a marvelous method of succinctly and tersely capturing the very essence of what is going on here in terms of the historical significance of this man Abraham. God does not simply bless him as an individual for his own benefit, but Abraham is blessed so that he might be a vehicle of blessing to manifest multitudes of people who come after him. [00:12:13]

But if we look now at the elements of this promise, we see first of all, that what is going on here is the making of a covenant -- a covenant that is announced here, in chapter twelve, and ratified in an amazing way in chapter fifteen of Genesis that I commend you to study carefully because there, in chapter fifteen of Genesis, God answers the questions of Abraham when Abraham said, "How will I know that these promises that you're making to me will come to pass?" [00:13:15]

And thirdly is the promise that through Abraham and his seed a blessing will come upon the nations -- that through this action the whole world will receive a magnificent blessing. So herein are the three aspects of this covenant promise that God makes to Abraham. Now what really happens if we look through the rest of the period, and we look through the rest of the history of these promises? [00:17:46]

And now as he rejoices in the birth of Isaac, God comes to him and puts him to the supreme test in Genesis twenty-two when He says to Abraham, "Now take your son, your only son, the son whom thou lovest, Isaac, and go to Mount Moriah and there give him to Me. Sacrifice him to Me; kill him." And the supreme test came upon Abraham when he made that dreadful journey to Mount Moriah, which tradition says, is located on the exact spot that later in history is called Mount Calvary, where God took His son, His only Son, the Son whom He loved, Jesus, and went through with the sacrifice and took His life as a substitute for us and for Isaac because Abraham passed the test and Isaac was spared so that Isaac could have a son, and that Isaac's son could have a son, and so through this descendancy the promises of the covenant would come to pass, and through this heritage, through this line, as the apostle Paul said, through the seed of Abraham, all the nations of the world are now given the benefits of exposure of the work of Christ, Abraham's greatest Son. [00:21:11]

But this was not without testing. And the point is it didn't take place immediately. That blessing that was promised to Abraham had to take two thousand years before it was realized, until this little girl heard the announcement of Gabriel, and she is saying, "He remembered." He remembered the mercy. He remembered the promise that He gave to Abraham. And as the Spirit announced to Zacharias that his son would be the forerunner, the herald of the coming Messiah, under the same Holy Spirit, Zachariah said, "He remembered the promise." [00:23:01]

And the whole history of redemption is the working out of that event four thousand years ago. [00:24:01]

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Transcript
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