"Set-Right With God"

8 August 2010

West Fort Hood Community Chapel

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

Fort Hood Texas

BIG IDEA: Believers should avoid relying on their own wits – and understanding – by Trusting and Believing God to keep his promises.

REFERENCES: Genesis 14:22-24 NIV (But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share”); Gen 12:1-3 NIV ( 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 22:17 NIV (But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai.); Galatians 3:6 NIV (Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."); Rom 4:3 (NIV); James 2:22 (NIV); Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 (NIV); Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 (NIV); Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see; Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.; Matthew 8:5-13 (The centurion’s faith);

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Genesis 15:1-6 (NIV)

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Genesis 15:1-6 (NIV)

III. READ THE TEXT: Genesis 15:6 NIV (Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness).

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to Trustfully Believe in God and get “Set-Right with God”.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “Set-Right with God”

VI. INTRODUCTION:

The Hebrews writer says in Hebrews 10:38 (NIV) … my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." In other words, my brothers and sisters - … the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul (says the Lord) shall have no pleasure in him

The lyrics in a Song written by Samuel T. Scott & Robert L. Sande dubbed, “Prayer is the Key” says Prayer is the key but FAITH unlocks the door.

Throughout history, men and women have done the impossible through faith.

Who can ever forget the “Story of the Centurion in Matthew 8:5-13” where Jesus merely spoke a Miraculous Word and the Roman Officer’s Servant was healed?

*The Good Book says in Hebrews 11:1 (KJV): “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen;

In the (NIV) it says: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Then verses 2-3 of Hebrews 11 reads: For by it (meaning FAITH) the elders obtained a good report.

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 1: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

a. True biblical faith is not an emotional kind of wishful thinking;

b. It is an inner conviction based on the Word of God (Rom. 10:17).

c. In Hebrews 11:1, the word substance means “assurance” and evidence means “proof.”

d. So, when the Holy Spirit gives us faith through the Word, the very presence of that faith in our hearts is all the assurance and evidence we need!

e. Dr. J. Oswald Sanders, the founder of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship said once: “Faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present and the invisible as seen.”

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 2: Through faith, we can see what others cannot see.

a. When there is true faith in the heart, God bears witness to that heart by His Spirit.

b. By faith, Noah saw coming judgment, Joseph saw the Exodus from Egypt, Moses saw God, and Abraham saw a future city.

c. Faith accomplishes things because there is power in the Word of God, as illustrated by the Creation in v. 3.

d. God spoke, and it was done!

e. God still speaks to us. When we Believe & Trust what He says, the power of the Word accomplishes things in our lives.

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 4: I have often wondered “how one might gain credit – from God - for living righteously when tons of mistakes have been made.