Lesson 9: Faith's Realization

A. INTRODUCTION: GENESIS 21:1-8

1. How long ago had God promised Abraham a son? Twenty-five years. "Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed out of Haran" (12:4).

2. How old was Abraham when Isaac was born? One hundred years old. "Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born unto him" (21:5).

3. What substitute did Abraham try in unbelief?

a. His steward. "Seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer" (15:2).

b. Ishmael. "Go in unto my maid (Hagar) it may be that I may obtain children by her" (16:2).

4. Did Sarah believe she would have a son? Sarah laughed (18:12).

B. PRINCIPLES TO TAKE AWAY

1. God is faithful to keep His promise. "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it" (I Thess. 5:24).

2. God has never promised something He didn’t plan to give to us. Three times the Word of God is mentioned in v.1 and v.2. "The Lord visited Sarah as He had said" (21:1).

3. We get into trouble when we focus more on problems than on the promises of God. "Sarah laughed . . . after I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" (18:12).

4. Trials keep us from being overly optimistic, so trust the promise of God. "Sarah conceived . . . at the set time of which God had spoken" (21:2).

5. Trials do not develop one’s faith; our faith grows by the Word of God. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Trials reveal the faith that is already there. "My brethren rejoice when you have various kinds of trials, because you can know that the trials of your faith will make you patient and patience will make you mature" (James 1:2-4 ELT).

6. We can first have doubts but later grow in biblical faith. Sarah laughed in unbelief when she first heard about having a son. But after Isaac was born, Sarah said, "God hath made me to laugh" (21:6). The Hebrew yi echak liy is laughter of rejoicing, not derision. She encouraged others to laugh in faith with her.

7. The credibility of our faith is not measured by our ability to trust or to believe; it is measured by the person of God. Sarah is included in the "Hall of Faith" because of her faith in this birth. "Because she (Sarah) judged Him faithful who had promised" (Heb. 11:11).

8. The need to wait for God’s timing is emphasized to teach us to wait on God. "For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak . . . though it tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come"(Habakkuk 2:3).

9. God stretches our faith to believe something we cannot see with our eyes. "The just shall live by faith" (Rom. 1:17). "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matt. 14:31).

10. Laughter can be dangerous when it reflects skepticism. "Sarah laughed" (18:12). "They laughed him to scorn" (Mark 5:40).

11. Laughter can be positive and healthy. "A time to weep, a time to laugh" (Eccl. 3:4). "Till He (God) fill thy mouth with laughing" (Job 8:21). "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion . . . then was our mouth filled with laughter . . . the Lord hath done great things" (Ps. 126:1-2).

12. You need to know your three most important emotions.

a. What makes you weep? Know what loss means.

b. What makes you laugh? Know your passion for the present.

c. What makes you dream? Know your future.

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If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at etowns@elmertowns.com and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.

To get Dr. Towns’ Home Page for books, www.elmertowns.com.