GOD’S BIG PROMISES
When was the last time God prompted you to do something that got you right out of your spiritual comfort zone?
What is God’s big plan in the Bible?
” The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
1) God Calls us to be a blessing
EDEN ABRAHAM MOSES
GOD’S PEOPLE: ADAM AND EVE Abram’s family ABRAM’S DESCENDANTS
GOD’S PLACE: EDEN Canaan CANAAN
(BUT IN EGYPT)
GOD’S RULE: GOD’S PRESENCE God’s promise to Abram LAW OF MOSES
SOLOMON DANIEL GOSPELS/JESUS
GOD’S PEOPLE: Abram’s family FAITHFUL REMNANT JESUS – TRUE ISRAEL
GOD’S PLACE: Canaan/Jerusalem RESTORED LAND JESUS – TRUE TEMPLE
(BUT IN BABYLON!)
GOD’S RULE: LAW OF MOSES NEW COVENANT JESUS – GOD’S WORD
(PROMISED)
ACTS – END OF TIME ETERNITY
GOD’S PEOPLE: THE CHURCH (US!) GOD’S PEOPLE GATHERED ROUND THRONE
GOD’S PLACE: CHURCH / CHRISTIANS CITY OF GOD – NEW JERUSALEM – NO TEMPLE
GOD’S RULE: GOD’S WORD THE THRONE
i) The theological answer: ” live your life in such a way that people see that Jesus is your King. “
ii) The practical answer:
2) God blesses courageous attempts to be a blessing
Barren wife à Promised a great nation
Left country à Promised he’ll possess a land
He’s nobody à He’ll possess a great name
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)
Two ways to define faith:
i) STATIC FAITH is
ii) COURAGEOUS FAITH is
” faith …if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)
Courage is doing the right thing despite your fears
| What will you do? | ||
“As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”” (Genesis 12:11-13)
PROMISES ABRAM DIDN’T TRUST…
i) “Go to the land I will show you” (v1)
ii) “I will bless you” (v2)
iii) “Whoever curses you I will curse”
iv) “I will make you into a great nation”
3)God loves us even when we fail
Jesus “…bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1Peter 2:24)
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I want to know more:
- To Read: The Message of Genesis, Atkinson, Bible Speaks Today commentary
- To Read: Just Walk Across the Room, Bill Hybels