Sunday Ministry Recap (Feb. 18)

Scripture Focus:

Genesis 15 & 16 - Covenant with Abram Confirmed; Hagar and Ishmael


Key Thoughts Shared by Various Brothers:

"I am thy shield, and thy exceedingly great reward." In God, Abram had everything he needed, which enabled him in chapter 14 to turn down what the king of Sodom offered.

"And he believed in the Lord, and He counted it to him for righteousness." It's as though the marker board were covered from top to bottom with a list of our sins ... but God takes an eraser and wipes them all clean, then writes the word "righteousness" there instead. The doctrine of justification by faith alone is under attack today, even among some evangelicals who are edging toward a Roman Catholic view of justification.

Normally in a covenant ceremony, the two parties to the covenant would walk between the two pieces of the sacrificial animal together. In the covenant ceremony with Abram, God (symbolized by the smoking furnace and burning lamp) walks through alone ... He has likewise done all the work in the covenant of salvation with us ... how grateful we should be for His unilateral action on our behalf ... the covenant rests on His work, not ours!

Abram (as well as other Bible men of faith, such as Joseph and Moses) experienced a delay in the fulfillment of God's promise ... let's be faithful even during the delays. There is always a danger of short-circuiting the plan of God by our own creative, unbelieving alternatives.

"And Sarai said...." Wives, be aware of the power of your words to influence your husbands for good or ill. Ultimately, Abram was held responsible by God ... and by Sarai, even though it was her idea! Men, our wives desire us to be men strong in faith ... if they speak hastily in unbelief or emotion, they want us to be steadfast enough to lovingly disregard their words (while seeking to understand their hearts) and continue to lead the family in paths of faith and obedience.

"And the angel of the Lord found her...." Our God is a seeking God, a God who comes looking for us ... we cannot run from Him, nor find ourselves in any situation where He does not see us.


Next week: Guest Speaker, Mark Travers