INTRODUCTION:
Introduction:
We are being conditioned out of neccesity to be sceptical people. We are always told that if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. I heard this week, and maybe you did as well about an 81 year old man who was con'd out of $40,000 by a Canadian con artist. I guess us Canadians are getting quite a reputation for the art of phone scams. I am sure that most of you here have either been approached by one of these crooks, or that you know someone who has. You know the routine. They call and promise you a car, or a large sum of money and all you have to do is send $1000 (or whatever the amount may be) in order to have that car shipped to your house or money wired to your account. The outcome is inevitable, the prize is a scam and you will lose a lot of money. What a tradegedy of our society that people would stoop so low to steal from those who make themselves vulnerable. But what I believe is even more serious than the fact that some will lose money to these phone operations is that there is a wide spread loss of trust and a disbelief in the genuiness of peoples kindness. We have a hard time beleiving someone would do something nice for us without wanting something in return. Haven't you noticed that this has happened. We aren't the only people to have lived like this. For we see that Abraham had the same problem. Even though he had heard through the coventant in chapter 12 that he would be a father of a great nation and that he would be given the land of Cannaan, chapter 15 leads Abraham back to doubting what God has already promised him. He looks more like a doubting Thomas rather than a father of a great nation. Have you ever fealt like this yourself. You feel that you are unworthy of God's love even though He says that He loves you. (John 3:16). Are you doubting verses like John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God -- (NIV)
It's easy to fall into doubt about these promises of God. Those moments where you wonder how God could love me after all the times I have messed up. This morning maybe you sit here and feel inadequate or you doubt the promises of God salvation and the eternal security that each person has when they accept Christ as their Saviour. I want to encourage you with Abraham's doubt. I want to show you how Abraham came through his doubt as we look at 4 assurances that Abrham could cling to in the midst
of his doubt.
ASSURANCE #1: ABRAHAM'S WORST DOUBTS WERE INTERNALIZED (V 1 AND CHAPTER 14)
The first assurance that Abraham could cling to was that his worst doubts were internalized. His worst enemy was himself. This should be a great assurance for each of us to know that most situations are worst played out in our minds. We have thoughts like, I have sinned worse than any other person in the world or I have been such a terrible Christian how could God still love me. When we live for Christ we must realize that we need to be striving after the things of God, but we must also not get caught in the trap of self-doubt and doubt God's promises of forgiveness.
i) Abraham seemed to have his life together It seems odd to me the way Genesis 15 begins to play out. After this... it begins. What was this referring to. It was referring to Abraham's great and miraculous victory over the eastern Kings. It would seem to me that Abraham had his life in order. Why would God say AFTER THIS... THE LORD SAID "DO NOT BE AFRAID, ABRAM I AM YOUR SHIELD". Why would Abraham be afraid. His doubt was based in internal assumptions. We need to realize that Abraham's problems were largely not with the physical world, but with his internal emotional misconceptions. If he would have stopped to look around him he could have seen evidenced God's hand upon his life. He however, choose to forget that God was in control.
Illustration:
In my first year of Bible School I had a friend who lived just across the hall from me. He had grown up in a Christian home and had gone to church all his life. He seemed to be doing well, he did his devotions, all the rest. But half way through the second semester my friend began to have doubts. He believed that God could not love him. He believed that he had sinned so severely that God could not forgive him. I remember we sat up for hours praying with him talking with him. He was counselled by proffessors and counselors on the facts that God loved him. He couldn't accept it. It was a long semester to which he dropped out. Why? Because of internal problems. On the outside he knew all the verses he had the good Chritian background, but internally he couldn't accpet the love and grace of God. You would quote verses likeTitus 3:4-5 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, (NIV) These verse meant nothing to him. Now I know this is an extreme case, but maybe you sit here and wonder if God could love you. You maybe wrestle with internal doubts take rest in the assurance that these doubts are created from internal misconceptions rather than God's Word. For when you accpet Christ as your Saviour you have many promises to claim from God's word and that is a great assurance
Assurance #2: Abraham had the Lord as his shield (v1)
The second assurance that Abraham had was that God was his shield. We sometimes forget but as Christians we enter into battle. This battle is against our enemy the devil. Ephesians 6:12 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (NIV)We need to remember that Satan's stradegy is to decieve. To contain the church and it's power that it has in and through Christ. We need to remember however that our enemy the Devil is a defeated enemy. He likes to put on a good show, but with God as our shield, we have won the victory.
ILLUSTRATION:
Here's an accurate picture of our already-defeated but still standing enemy Satan! Today in the Word, April 3, 1993 Writing in Moody Monthly, Carl Armerding recounted his experience of watching a wildcat in a zoo. "As I stood there," he said, "an attendant entered the cage through a door on the opposite side. He had nothing in his hands but a broom. Carefully closing the door, he proceeded to sweep the floor of the cage." He observed that the worker had no weapon to ward off an attack by the beast. In fact, when he got to the corner of the cage where the wildcat was lying, he poked the animal with the broom. The wildcat hissed at him and then lay down in another corner of the enclosure. Armerding remarked to the attendant, "You certainly are a brave man." "No, I ain't brave," he replied as he continued to sweep. "Well, then, that cat must be tame." "No," came the reply, "he ain't tame." "If you aren't brave and the wildcat isn't tame, then I can't understand why he doesn't attack you." Armerding said the man chuckled, then replied with an air of confidence, "Mister, he's old -- and he ain't got no teeth."
Our Daily Bread
We need to understand and claim the victory that we have in Christ. Not because of anything we have done, but we must remember that God goes before us and strengthens us agaisnt the attacks of this world. Maybe often when we don't realize it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (NIV)
i) God was Abraham's unconditional protection and refuge What a great assurance that we can cling to. God is our shield. When we face doubt we must realize that the power that created the universe is available to us through prayer. Next time you face doubt claim the assurance that God is your shield.
Hebrews 13:5 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you;never will I forsake you." (NIV)
ASSURANCE #3: ABRAHAM CAST HIS CARES ON GOD (VV2-21; 3&8)
The third assurance that Abrham could have in the midst of his doubt was that he could cast his cares upon God. Abrham in other words could be honest with God. He knew that he could tell God the way he really fealt as he communed with him. This is a scary reality isn't it? It's not easy to be honest with God
sometimesPsalm 77:7-9 7 "Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? 8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?" Selah (NIV) When we are honest with God we are not doing wrong. When we malign the name of God we are doing wrong. But there should be nothing wrong in going to God and casting our honest cares upon God.
ILLUSTRATION
I often wondered how my mom could do it but she could always tell when I was tired. As a parent now I realize that it is not the rocket science I once thought it was. But I remember as a kid trying to pretend I wasn't tired so that I could stay up later or wouldn't have to take an afternoon nap. Do you remember doing this. I remember trying to fight back yawns, I wouldn't rub my eyes I would try and trick her. But inevitably she would find me out. (I guess the red blood shot eyes must have given me away) Psalm 33:13-15 13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; 14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth -- 15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. (NIV) When we are honest with God it is not some great surprise to Him. He is not some aloof God sitting in heaven unaware of our feelings. He doesn't look down and wonder what I'm thinking from moment to moment. We need to understand that when we have doubts we need to take them with honesty to God. When we are angry with what is happening in our lives, it's ok to work these through with God.
DON'T THINK OF GOD AS AN IMPERSONAL UNCARING GOD. GOD CARES WHAT YOU ARE THINKING.
Illustration:
I remember working in High School and I worked for a man named Jake. He owned a grocery store, and he was a screwd businessman. He cared little for those that he stepped on in the latter of success. I remember getting very nervous at even the thought of having to talk to him. And I remember when I did talk to him it was about things I knew he wanted to hear. I wasn't going to tell him if I disagreed with one of his business decisions. Every decision he made was the best and most perfect decision. (at least as far as I was concerned) Now I realize that God doesn't make mistakes, but we shouldn't have those feelings of nervousness to the point where we are trying to tell God only what we think He wants to hear. We need to be honest with God and with the way we feel. God will help us through our doubt and troubles when we are honest with ourselves and with God. After telling God about his feelings of doubt and anger towards God this is what Scriptures say: Job 1:22 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. (NIV)
ASSURANCE #4: ABRHAM HAD GOD'S WORD/PROMISE (VV10-16)
Finally Abraham could take assurance in God's Word. When God gives you His Word you can depend on it.
i) God assured Abraham of the covenant Now I am sure that you are just as happy as I am that traditions in giving your word has changed. It was tradition when a covenant was made between two parties that you would take animals and you would cut them in half laying them across from each other and then each party of the covenant would walk through the two halves as to signify that if they break the covenant the same fate would happen to them. That is how God assured Abraham. As Abraham fell into a deep sleep and in verse 17 the smoking pot wht a blazing tourch (symbolizing God) walks in the midst of the slaughtered animals. This signified God's word. And when God says that He will do something then you can be guaranteed that it will happen. When God says that he will never leave us and forsake us keep that image of Abraham's covenant. When God says it is so, it is so. God has made many promises to us in God's word it is exciting to read through promises and understand that God keeps his promises. (depending on time : The Microwave society)
Conclusion:
We each come here today with different mindsets. For some you may be here understanding solidly your position in Christ. For you I hope you will keep these words in mind for times when doubt does begin to creep into your life. For others of you however you struggle with feelings of inadequacy before God, you feel unworthy of God's love and uncertain of God's promise. As you hear God's Word don't be discouraged thinking your the only one to have these doubts, rather take rest in these assurances that our worst problems are internalized, that Jesus Christ our Lord is our shield, that we can be honest with God as we cast our cares upon Him, and that we have God's promises in His Word promises like Hebrews 13:5 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (NIV) Philippians 1:6 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (NIV) Take your doubts straight to God.
