1 00:00:00,490 --> 00:00:01,550 Dallas: Good morning, everyone. 2 00:00:01,570 --> 00:00:02,600 Uh, my name is Dallas. 3 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:05,279 Like I said, I lead the campus ministry up here in the north, and 4 00:00:05,330 --> 00:00:10,690 we get to continue in our sermon series today on the journey of faith. 5 00:00:11,170 --> 00:00:13,089 And we're gonna be continuing the story of Abraham. 6 00:00:13,139 --> 00:00:16,169 Um, I remember the last time I preached, I was talking about Abram. 7 00:00:16,170 --> 00:00:20,169 Now it's Abraham, so shouldn't be any discrepancy there about who's who. 8 00:00:20,170 --> 00:00:21,020 It's just Abraham now. 9 00:00:21,314 --> 00:00:26,835 And also, I will create another disclaimer that now we have Ishmael and Isaac. 10 00:00:26,835 --> 00:00:30,395 And so, if I, if I, if the two I's confuse me, please give me grace. 11 00:00:30,494 --> 00:00:32,095 I, I, I would appreciate that so much. 12 00:00:32,543 --> 00:00:37,375 But, uh, Dan talked about last week about the lot, about lot and the compromises 13 00:00:37,384 --> 00:00:41,265 that he had to, uh, go through and endure during his time, um, during 14 00:00:41,265 --> 00:00:43,655 the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. 15 00:00:43,845 --> 00:00:45,555 And obviously, I'm up here this Sunday. 16 00:00:45,625 --> 00:00:48,085 So, me and Dan back to back, that says something. 17 00:00:48,095 --> 00:00:50,054 And that means that USC lost twice. 18 00:00:50,055 --> 00:00:51,245 So, uh, In the last week. 19 00:00:51,985 --> 00:00:57,324 Therefore, Marcel is grieving right now, so we need to give him some love, alright? 20 00:00:58,065 --> 00:01:01,524 Now, now my dad is USC alumni, so I do grieve a part of it, 21 00:01:01,535 --> 00:01:03,464 but I feel for Marcel as well. 22 00:01:03,824 --> 00:01:06,785 But before we get into it, I'm gonna pray, and we'll get started, amen? 23 00:01:07,445 --> 00:01:09,144 Alright, God, thank you so much for today. 24 00:01:09,375 --> 00:01:12,535 Uh, thank you for bringing us, uh, just together this morning, God. 25 00:01:12,555 --> 00:01:14,335 We would not be here without you. 26 00:01:14,695 --> 00:01:18,414 God, we are so grateful that we get to worship in a place that is free. 27 00:01:18,414 --> 00:01:18,434 Amen. 28 00:01:18,685 --> 00:01:21,025 Um, and that we live in freedom, God, because of your 29 00:01:21,035 --> 00:01:22,735 son Jesus sacrifice for us. 30 00:01:23,135 --> 00:01:26,965 God, I pray that this lesson today is just more of you speaking than I am, God. 31 00:01:26,965 --> 00:01:29,474 I pray that my words do not carry a part heavier than yours. 32 00:01:29,475 --> 00:01:32,234 I pray that you and your spirit just guide us in our hearts 33 00:01:32,283 --> 00:01:33,704 and lead us closer to you. 34 00:01:33,705 --> 00:01:34,745 God, we love you. 35 00:01:34,994 --> 00:01:35,554 for this time. 36 00:01:35,675 --> 00:01:36,744 In Jesus name, amen. 37 00:01:37,445 --> 00:01:38,225 Alright, guys. 38 00:01:38,305 --> 00:01:39,495 So, Journey of Faith. 39 00:01:39,495 --> 00:01:40,634 We're coming to the end here. 40 00:01:40,634 --> 00:01:43,055 So, you guys, you guys have done a great job so far. 41 00:01:43,235 --> 00:01:46,025 The title of the lesson today is Promises Kept. 42 00:01:46,025 --> 00:01:49,775 We'll We're gonna be in Genesis chapter 21 today. 43 00:01:49,975 --> 00:01:52,935 So, with that, let's go over and turn in there. 44 00:01:52,945 --> 00:01:56,114 Genesis chapter 21, verses 1 through 7. 45 00:01:56,114 --> 00:02:00,274 It says, Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah, as he had said. 46 00:02:00,364 --> 00:02:02,614 And the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 47 00:02:03,074 --> 00:02:06,934 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at 48 00:02:06,935 --> 00:02:09,764 the very time God had promised him. 49 00:02:10,535 --> 00:02:13,565 Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. 50 00:02:14,195 --> 00:02:18,584 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him as God commanded. 51 00:02:18,935 --> 00:02:22,935 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 52 00:02:23,524 --> 00:02:26,905 Sarah said, God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears 53 00:02:26,905 --> 00:02:28,715 about this will laugh with me. 54 00:02:29,114 --> 00:02:33,535 And she added, Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nourish children? 55 00:02:33,825 --> 00:02:36,785 Yet I have born him a son in his old age. 56 00:02:38,445 --> 00:02:39,894 So it's so encouraging, right? 57 00:02:40,084 --> 00:02:40,685 I mean, think about it. 58 00:02:40,704 --> 00:02:44,024 From where we started in Genesis chapter 12 to where we are now 59 00:02:44,024 --> 00:02:48,004 in 21, 25 years have taken place until this promise came through. 60 00:02:49,364 --> 00:02:51,304 I don't know what you've waited for 25 years, but that's, 61 00:02:51,364 --> 00:02:52,435 it's been a while for me. 62 00:02:53,464 --> 00:02:55,114 I, I've only been in life for 23 years. 63 00:02:55,114 --> 00:02:57,495 I'm, that's, uh, I'm nowhere near that. 64 00:02:57,505 --> 00:03:01,855 But, but it's encouraging to see that God keeps His promises. 65 00:03:01,855 --> 00:03:02,295 Amen? 66 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:07,820 The fact that Abraham is a hundred years old, Sarah is ninety years old. 67 00:03:07,910 --> 00:03:08,450 And why? 68 00:03:08,490 --> 00:03:10,050 Because God is the God of promise. 69 00:03:10,050 --> 00:03:14,280 I mean, think about what God had to go through with these two, specifically. 70 00:03:14,610 --> 00:03:19,779 You had them leaving Canaan, the land that God had promised Abraham, due to a famine. 71 00:03:19,860 --> 00:03:22,019 Them kind of not being really faithful or really trusting God. 72 00:03:22,030 --> 00:03:25,700 Sure, like, the logistical move is to move out of the land of famine. 73 00:03:25,810 --> 00:03:28,829 But why not have faith in God that God could do something through the famine? 74 00:03:29,230 --> 00:03:32,179 But then there was Abraham lying about Sarah being his 75 00:03:32,220 --> 00:03:34,429 sister, um, to Pharaoh in Egypt. 76 00:03:34,609 --> 00:03:38,359 Then we have, um, Abraham marrying and having a child with Hagar. 77 00:03:38,649 --> 00:03:40,739 Um, expressing his doubt. 78 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,879 It says in the scripture that he actually laughed when God 79 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:45,070 said that he would have a son. 80 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,910 And then even lying again about Sarah being his sister 81 00:03:49,019 --> 00:03:50,450 to Bimelech in chapter 20. 82 00:03:50,779 --> 00:03:55,350 So, you see all these moments, and yet, who is consistent through it all? 83 00:03:56,299 --> 00:03:59,270 It is God because God is a God of promises. 84 00:04:00,799 --> 00:04:04,079 And the fact that he makes the promise is what makes it 85 00:04:04,430 --> 00:04:07,090 solidified and sustainable, right? 86 00:04:07,150 --> 00:04:08,570 It's not contingent on us. 87 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,139 It's the fact that if he's the one that reaches out and says 88 00:04:11,140 --> 00:04:13,459 this promise that he will keep it. 89 00:04:13,959 --> 00:04:17,690 There's no denying that you can look at any any any store in the Bible guys. 90 00:04:17,690 --> 00:04:18,360 We have promised. 91 00:04:18,390 --> 00:04:18,640 Yes. 92 00:04:18,649 --> 00:04:20,040 He has kept it to his word. 93 00:04:20,485 --> 00:04:24,845 You know, God's continued faithfulness to Abraham, despite these failures, reveals 94 00:04:24,845 --> 00:04:29,274 that God's promises are not dependent on human perfection, but of grace. 95 00:04:29,275 --> 00:04:32,495 I mean, think, let's go back to verse 1 here. 96 00:04:33,034 --> 00:04:34,034 If I can go back here. 97 00:04:34,034 --> 00:04:35,124 It says what? 98 00:04:35,255 --> 00:04:36,624 Now the Lord was what? 99 00:04:36,975 --> 00:04:39,185 Gracious to Sarah. 100 00:04:39,695 --> 00:04:40,015 Right? 101 00:04:40,025 --> 00:04:43,395 She didn't, like Amelia said, there's certain decisions that she made or that 102 00:04:43,395 --> 00:04:45,655 Abraham made that were very unfaithful. 103 00:04:46,095 --> 00:04:49,365 That wasn't keeping to the promise that God had given them. 104 00:04:50,110 --> 00:04:50,530 But what? 105 00:04:50,540 --> 00:04:53,070 God is gracious to her. 106 00:04:53,750 --> 00:04:56,670 He's still blessed and still fulfills the promise despite her 107 00:04:56,670 --> 00:04:57,780 not, quote unquote, deserving. 108 00:04:57,790 --> 00:04:59,100 Because that's what grace is, right? 109 00:04:59,460 --> 00:05:03,000 Grace is giving, it's being given a gift when you do not deserve it. 110 00:05:04,370 --> 00:05:08,089 And God knew, and God knew, and we know as we read that Abraham and 111 00:05:08,099 --> 00:05:09,389 Sarah did not deserve this gift. 112 00:05:10,710 --> 00:05:11,360 But get what? 113 00:05:11,430 --> 00:05:12,650 God is gracious. 114 00:05:12,840 --> 00:05:13,260 Amen? 115 00:05:13,430 --> 00:05:14,849 So I want you to hold on to that thought, though. 116 00:05:14,870 --> 00:05:17,409 Hold on to the thought that God is gracious and that God 117 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:19,319 honestly does uphold His promises. 118 00:05:19,319 --> 00:05:19,669 Amen? 119 00:05:20,239 --> 00:05:21,440 Alright, but let's continue, though. 120 00:05:22,029 --> 00:05:22,989 So let's go on to verse 8. 121 00:05:22,989 --> 00:05:25,080 It says, The child grew and was weaned. 122 00:05:25,460 --> 00:05:28,830 And on the day Isaac was weaned, Abraham had held a great feast. 123 00:05:28,849 --> 00:05:33,080 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar and the Egyptian had born to him, 124 00:05:33,159 --> 00:05:34,710 uh, born to Abraham, was mocking. 125 00:05:35,130 --> 00:05:36,729 In other translations, it says scoffing. 126 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,650 And she said to Abraham, get rid of that slave woman and her son, 127 00:05:40,970 --> 00:05:44,220 for that woman's son will never share the inheritance with my son. 128 00:05:44,770 --> 00:05:49,130 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 129 00:05:49,890 --> 00:05:51,229 Alright, so we got conflict now. 130 00:05:51,750 --> 00:05:53,799 We got a good ol sibling rivalry. 131 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:55,180 How many of you guys have siblings? 132 00:05:55,229 --> 00:05:55,860 Raise your hand, please. 133 00:05:56,860 --> 00:05:58,920 Keep your hand up if you're the oldest sibling. 134 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:01,630 Alright, I have a question for you. 135 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:04,320 When the younger sibling came along, how did you feel? 136 00:06:05,785 --> 00:06:06,985 Uh, I don't know about that one. 137 00:06:09,365 --> 00:06:10,295 For a while, right? 138 00:06:10,895 --> 00:06:14,515 And then after a while, you're like, oh, the attention is not going to me. 139 00:06:14,924 --> 00:06:16,895 The amount of love is not going to me. 140 00:06:17,435 --> 00:06:19,454 My food is no longer going to me. 141 00:06:19,664 --> 00:06:20,174 Right? 142 00:06:20,685 --> 00:06:22,855 Now, if you're the youngest sibling, raise your hand. 143 00:06:24,565 --> 00:06:27,275 Did you ever feel any animosity from your older siblings? 144 00:06:27,655 --> 00:06:30,095 Any type of like tension you're like, they're like bullying you a 145 00:06:30,095 --> 00:06:32,005 little bit or pestering you, right? 146 00:06:32,195 --> 00:06:35,215 So we've got a good old sibling rivalry going on here, right? 147 00:06:35,355 --> 00:06:39,375 We've got the son of the flesh which is ishmael and we got the son of the 148 00:06:39,375 --> 00:06:42,925 promise which is isaac Now when it says isaac was weaned it was basically saying 149 00:06:42,925 --> 00:06:46,534 that he's going from breastfeeding into not eating solid food So that's 150 00:06:46,534 --> 00:06:47,945 around about two to three years old. 151 00:06:47,955 --> 00:06:54,464 Okay, so at this point ishmael is like 16 or 17 years old and isaac Is two or three 152 00:06:54,465 --> 00:06:56,235 years old at this time So, that's it. 153 00:06:56,235 --> 00:06:57,345 One is a huge age gap. 154 00:06:58,005 --> 00:07:00,675 But either way, there's tension now, gonna be coming in the house. 155 00:07:01,305 --> 00:07:05,425 And now for, and now once we get to this point, it's like, Sarah sees it, and 156 00:07:05,425 --> 00:07:07,194 now is like, I don't want any of that. 157 00:07:07,265 --> 00:07:09,525 I want Ishmael and Hagar out. 158 00:07:10,245 --> 00:07:10,705 And what does it say? 159 00:07:10,715 --> 00:07:12,134 It distressed Abraham. 160 00:07:12,264 --> 00:07:14,774 And I always thought, like, you know, like, I'm pretty sure, if you 161 00:07:14,775 --> 00:07:17,395 were in this situation, you'd be distressed, but here are my reasons why 162 00:07:17,625 --> 00:07:18,925 I think Abraham would be distressed. 163 00:07:19,155 --> 00:07:21,705 One, in the text, it does say because it concerns his son. 164 00:07:22,255 --> 00:07:22,535 Right? 165 00:07:22,575 --> 00:07:26,335 He loved his son, regardless of whether it was from Sarah Wilson Haggard. 166 00:07:26,435 --> 00:07:30,065 It's his son and for 16 to 17 years. 167 00:07:30,065 --> 00:07:31,515 He's taking care of his son. 168 00:07:32,375 --> 00:07:36,155 So man, like now to be told by your wife that you should get rid of your 169 00:07:36,155 --> 00:07:39,074 son is like wow, that would distress me. 170 00:07:40,465 --> 00:07:44,235 What about the fact that maybe this could have been a backup plan to Isaac? 171 00:07:45,555 --> 00:07:47,105 What if something happened to Isaac? 172 00:07:47,890 --> 00:07:51,190 Now, I know that God promised him, but like I said, we can be, we can doubt, 173 00:07:51,220 --> 00:07:54,890 we can question, we can be unfaithful to God, even though He's made it clear 174 00:07:55,610 --> 00:07:56,550 that He's going to keep His promise. 175 00:07:56,580 --> 00:07:58,550 But, we're skeptical. 176 00:07:59,200 --> 00:07:59,670 We're humans. 177 00:07:59,679 --> 00:08:00,400 We doubt. 178 00:08:00,540 --> 00:08:01,400 We question things. 179 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:05,579 And so, maybe he thought Ishmael could be the backup plan to Isaac, 180 00:08:05,609 --> 00:08:06,599 just in case something happens. 181 00:08:07,579 --> 00:08:09,349 And this is my last reason to not take this personally. 182 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,190 I think it's just funny, but I think also it could be kind of true, maybe. 183 00:08:12,890 --> 00:08:16,229 Is that he's recollecting the last time what happened that he listened 184 00:08:16,270 --> 00:08:17,940 to Sarah about what to do with Hagar. 185 00:08:19,010 --> 00:08:22,419 Go back to chapter 16 when, uh, Sarah's complaining that, I have 186 00:08:22,419 --> 00:08:26,489 borne you no children, so you should go, um, marry Hagar, our 187 00:08:26,489 --> 00:08:27,939 slave, and then have a kid with her. 188 00:08:28,099 --> 00:08:31,909 And then when Abraham's like, Abraham's like, okay cool, does it, comes back, and 189 00:08:31,909 --> 00:08:35,490 then Sarah's like, you are the cause of my mourning and my pain and my suffering. 190 00:08:35,558 --> 00:08:39,705 So he's probably like, bro, like, This whole operation was your idea. 191 00:08:40,465 --> 00:08:41,345 What did you what do you like? 192 00:08:41,365 --> 00:08:45,865 I'm like, don't get mad at me for what you asked me to do, but 193 00:08:45,865 --> 00:08:47,905 I'm sure and I'm husband's and this is some piece of advice. 194 00:08:47,905 --> 00:08:51,004 I'm not married, but I gave you some advice and I don't think 195 00:08:51,004 --> 00:08:53,714 it's wise to bring up your wife's faults in the past, right? 196 00:08:53,725 --> 00:08:55,044 Can we can we can we agree on that? 197 00:08:55,634 --> 00:08:56,655 Yeah, okay. 198 00:08:58,160 --> 00:08:59,560 But ultimately, right? 199 00:08:59,560 --> 00:09:01,180 But I mean, there's tension in that. 200 00:09:01,180 --> 00:09:03,180 Like, I don't think he's gonna, he's like, okay, if I listen to 201 00:09:03,180 --> 00:09:04,890 her and something happens, she's gonna get mad at me now too. 202 00:09:04,890 --> 00:09:06,779 Like, I'm not like saying, I'm not saying that's what the text is, but 203 00:09:06,989 --> 00:09:10,120 I'm just trying to insert myself and see, maybe that could be the case. 204 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:15,499 But we have to, we have to remember that God is a God of purpose. 205 00:09:15,500 --> 00:09:20,989 That these conversations that he has, he's asking what he's, I mean, what 206 00:09:20,989 --> 00:09:24,550 he's, what he's going to ask Abraham to do is something very, very, very hard. 207 00:09:25,110 --> 00:09:26,080 So let's continue reading here. 208 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,740 It says, But God said to them, Do not be distressed. 209 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:30,120 I love that first, those first words. 210 00:09:30,130 --> 00:09:30,820 But God. 211 00:09:31,990 --> 00:09:35,459 Because whenever we feel like something is going wrong, the moment it says, 212 00:09:35,470 --> 00:09:37,130 But God, it means God is stepping in. 213 00:09:37,150 --> 00:09:38,469 It means something great is about to happen. 214 00:09:39,250 --> 00:09:42,959 But God said to them, Do not be so distressed about the 215 00:09:42,959 --> 00:09:44,370 boy and your slave woman. 216 00:09:44,740 --> 00:09:46,730 Listen to whatever Sarah tells you. 217 00:09:47,590 --> 00:09:48,260 Because it, 218 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,160 Because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. 219 00:09:53,839 --> 00:09:58,979 I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring. 220 00:09:59,979 --> 00:10:04,589 Early next morning, Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Agar. 221 00:10:05,069 --> 00:10:09,329 He set them on her shoulders and set her off with the boy. 222 00:10:09,739 --> 00:10:12,699 She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba. 223 00:10:14,810 --> 00:10:15,960 You know, that's hard. 224 00:10:16,570 --> 00:10:16,960 Let's be honest. 225 00:10:18,180 --> 00:10:21,530 It's hard, what God is asking Abraham to do, right? 226 00:10:21,530 --> 00:10:21,684 It's hard. 227 00:10:22,635 --> 00:10:25,175 Asking him to send his son off into the desert. 228 00:10:25,985 --> 00:10:27,975 Along with Hagar as well. 229 00:10:29,135 --> 00:10:30,735 And he honestly leaves him with nothing. 230 00:10:30,735 --> 00:10:32,545 I mean, think about it. 231 00:10:32,545 --> 00:10:34,175 Abraham's a very wealthy man. 232 00:10:35,305 --> 00:10:38,514 A lot of resources that he's accumulated over his time in his last 25 years. 233 00:10:39,425 --> 00:10:43,265 And all he gives him is a water skin and some supplies and some food. 234 00:10:45,055 --> 00:10:50,505 But I think he knows because that if God is a God of purpose, then he 235 00:10:50,505 --> 00:10:51,754 knows that God will provide for him. 236 00:10:52,455 --> 00:10:54,205 And he has to trust in that, and it's hard. 237 00:10:55,035 --> 00:10:56,575 Because think about it like this. 238 00:10:57,205 --> 00:11:01,675 God is not aimless or random in his timing, right? 239 00:11:02,865 --> 00:11:08,005 He's very intentional, very genuine, very purposeful, if anything. 240 00:11:09,384 --> 00:11:12,865 You know, more often than we like to admit, sometimes we feel like our 241 00:11:12,865 --> 00:11:16,405 purpose is greater than God's purpose. 242 00:11:17,455 --> 00:11:20,135 Or more important than God's purpose. 243 00:11:22,050 --> 00:11:23,800 We want to lean on our own understanding. 244 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,320 We want to lean on our own wisdom, at times. 245 00:11:26,780 --> 00:11:28,220 And think that our purpose is greater. 246 00:11:29,190 --> 00:11:33,690 You know, in Proverbs, uh, chapter 3, 6, it says, Trust in the Lord 247 00:11:33,690 --> 00:11:37,319 with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. 248 00:11:38,259 --> 00:11:43,080 In all your ways, submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. 249 00:11:45,020 --> 00:11:48,409 You know, things start to get real dicey, the moment that we start 250 00:11:48,410 --> 00:11:49,380 to lean on our own understanding. 251 00:11:49,580 --> 00:11:49,910 Right? 252 00:11:49,990 --> 00:11:54,060 I mean, Abraham and his family had a lot of problems when they started to 253 00:11:54,060 --> 00:11:55,730 be on their own understanding, right? 254 00:11:55,730 --> 00:11:57,040 We have that list, right? 255 00:11:57,110 --> 00:12:02,079 That leaving Canaan, about Abraham fearing that either Abimelech or, 256 00:12:02,150 --> 00:12:07,090 uh, the pharaoh in Egypt would kill him because he had a beautiful wife. 257 00:12:07,529 --> 00:12:10,710 So he lies and tells him that, he lies and tells him that, oh, this is my sister. 258 00:12:12,050 --> 00:12:15,720 Or when Abraham had a kid with, uh, when Sarah tells Abraham to 259 00:12:15,730 --> 00:12:17,720 have a, uh, a kid with Hagar. 260 00:12:18,549 --> 00:12:18,879 Like. 261 00:12:20,305 --> 00:12:23,064 And the wisdom of her to think, Okay, well, you know, I can't have a 262 00:12:23,064 --> 00:12:24,045 kiss, so maybe it's something else. 263 00:12:24,105 --> 00:12:25,955 Maybe it's outside of God's promise that I have to do. 264 00:12:26,935 --> 00:12:27,675 My own understanding. 265 00:12:27,675 --> 00:12:30,005 I think in my own way, this might work. 266 00:12:30,755 --> 00:12:31,005 Right? 267 00:12:31,005 --> 00:12:35,554 So things start to get real dicey, very dangerous in our walks with God the moment 268 00:12:35,554 --> 00:12:38,064 that we put our understanding above His. 269 00:12:39,454 --> 00:12:42,395 You know, the question that we have to really ask is, and to be really honest 270 00:12:42,395 --> 00:12:46,779 with ourselves is, What areas of your life has your purpose superseded God's purpose? 271 00:12:49,969 --> 00:12:51,829 Like, let's really be honest, and I, and I'm not talking about 272 00:12:51,910 --> 00:12:55,000 just, like, sometimes, I think I've been relating it to Daniel's 273 00:12:55,050 --> 00:12:56,640 lesson last week about compromise. 274 00:12:57,449 --> 00:13:00,910 You know, this idea that, oh, well, you know, I'll make some small decisions 275 00:13:00,919 --> 00:13:04,459 here in my faith that, you know, that may not have a giant impact right now. 276 00:13:05,199 --> 00:13:05,809 But what did Daniel say? 277 00:13:05,810 --> 00:13:08,449 He said, those small compromises along the way, what? 278 00:13:08,449 --> 00:13:09,030 They lead up. 279 00:13:09,459 --> 00:13:12,160 The snowball effect, to the point where eventually those small 280 00:13:12,199 --> 00:13:13,219 decisions become big decisions. 281 00:13:14,265 --> 00:13:15,814 And you're like, well, I've made all these small decisions. 282 00:13:15,814 --> 00:13:18,064 So therefore I can make these big decisions on my own. 283 00:13:18,064 --> 00:13:20,204 I don't need to have God's purpose in the picture. 284 00:13:21,305 --> 00:13:22,364 And it's dangerous to be in that way. 285 00:13:22,364 --> 00:13:22,584 Why? 286 00:13:22,584 --> 00:13:25,654 Because it's assuming that we know God's will, uh, we know God's 287 00:13:25,654 --> 00:13:30,524 will limits our understanding and fosters pride and discourages 288 00:13:30,545 --> 00:13:32,334 genuine faith and dependence on him. 289 00:13:32,984 --> 00:13:36,035 You know, we begin to have assumptions like this, that our 290 00:13:36,035 --> 00:13:39,525 desires are God's desires, right? 291 00:13:39,834 --> 00:13:40,765 I want this job. 292 00:13:40,774 --> 00:13:41,785 I want this career. 293 00:13:42,255 --> 00:13:43,334 I want this certain outcome. 294 00:13:43,444 --> 00:13:44,495 And you know what's especially dangerous? 295 00:13:44,495 --> 00:13:46,354 When, especially when it's not quote unquote sinful. 296 00:13:47,655 --> 00:13:50,194 But it's not a decision between being holy and being sinful. 297 00:13:50,194 --> 00:13:52,584 It's just, well, I want this, God, and it's not bad. 298 00:13:53,145 --> 00:13:55,974 So therefore, if it's my desire, it should be your desire. 299 00:13:57,555 --> 00:13:59,505 That is, that is an dangerous place to be. 300 00:14:00,754 --> 00:14:02,175 When we decide to have an outcome like that. 301 00:14:02,175 --> 00:14:04,755 The second thing is, you know, we have ease and comfort in life. 302 00:14:04,755 --> 00:14:05,564 And that's God's will. 303 00:14:05,844 --> 00:14:08,724 That if life is easy and life is comfortable and we're peaceful and 304 00:14:08,724 --> 00:14:11,750 everything like that, And it's, for a long time, oh yeah, this is God's will. 305 00:14:11,780 --> 00:14:12,910 I'm acting in God's will. 306 00:14:13,450 --> 00:14:14,380 But what does that lead to? 307 00:14:14,410 --> 00:14:16,210 It leads to us avoiding challenges. 308 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:18,140 Avoiding discomfort. 309 00:14:18,950 --> 00:14:20,650 Avoiding stepping out on faith. 310 00:14:22,140 --> 00:14:25,199 And I think even the last one, I think, is no immediate clarity. 311 00:14:25,740 --> 00:14:28,499 We're asking God, we're praying to God sometimes, we're hoping 312 00:14:28,500 --> 00:14:30,670 that God will give us clarity in a certain situation on how to move 313 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:31,970 forward with certain things, right? 314 00:14:32,610 --> 00:14:34,780 But then if we don't see it, then we're like, okay, I won't step out then. 315 00:14:34,845 --> 00:14:38,585 I'm just gonna, I'm gonna hang back here and just wait, or I'm gonna go and do 316 00:14:38,585 --> 00:14:41,055 my own thing until God says otherwise. 317 00:14:41,055 --> 00:14:44,705 And you know what's dangerous about that is that this is us. 318 00:14:45,385 --> 00:14:48,145 All these three things could be us, and I think even for more, for more 319 00:14:48,325 --> 00:14:50,345 vulnerability on my part, it's me. 320 00:14:51,535 --> 00:14:53,635 I really, I resonate with all these three things. 321 00:14:54,605 --> 00:14:56,955 That there are times when, like I said, it's not a battle between 322 00:14:56,955 --> 00:14:59,005 sometimes being sinful and being holy. 323 00:14:59,490 --> 00:15:01,499 But sometimes it's just like, I have certain plans in my life 324 00:15:01,500 --> 00:15:02,500 that I would like to see happen. 325 00:15:02,510 --> 00:15:06,770 And I think, well God, this, this is what I want, and it's not quote unquote sinful, 326 00:15:06,770 --> 00:15:08,639 so why not, why not just bless me with it? 327 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:12,490 Or that, why not give me some ease and comfort in my life? 328 00:15:12,490 --> 00:15:13,490 I thought that was part of your will. 329 00:15:13,490 --> 00:15:17,369 But never does God ever guarantee us that life is gonna be comfortable 330 00:15:17,650 --> 00:15:18,850 or peaceful all the time. 331 00:15:19,260 --> 00:15:20,790 That we will have challenges, right? 332 00:15:20,790 --> 00:15:23,960 It says in James, that we're gonna have to endure certain things. 333 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:28,049 And I think even in the last one in there, it's such a big, big struggle for me. 334 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,960 Is the fact that I like to know the plan. 335 00:15:31,590 --> 00:15:32,750 I like to have a blueprint. 336 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:36,490 What's going on, what's going to happen at this time and the next. 337 00:15:37,260 --> 00:15:39,380 But if I don't see it, I will not step out. 338 00:15:39,970 --> 00:15:41,410 It's hard for me to trust. 339 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:46,129 It's hard for me to really be able to have faith that is unshakable in that way. 340 00:15:46,149 --> 00:15:49,620 And to trust that God is the one that is purposeful in whatever he does. 341 00:15:51,100 --> 00:15:52,470 So we have to be honest with ourselves. 342 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:54,940 What assumptions are we making in our lives? 343 00:15:56,330 --> 00:15:58,520 You know, and I think one of the things that I have to remember, 344 00:15:59,020 --> 00:16:03,659 is instead of assuming, we are called to seek God continually. 345 00:16:04,330 --> 00:16:04,610 Why? 346 00:16:04,610 --> 00:16:11,129 Because we begin to trust in His timing, remain open to His leading, and even 347 00:16:11,129 --> 00:16:14,340 when it challenges our assumptions, we put our full faith in Him. 348 00:16:15,170 --> 00:16:19,370 You know, and it says in Isaiah 55, 9, it says, For my thoughts are 349 00:16:19,370 --> 00:16:23,610 not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 350 00:16:24,465 --> 00:16:29,215 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, 351 00:16:29,795 --> 00:16:31,635 and my thoughts than your thoughts. 352 00:16:34,335 --> 00:16:35,655 This scripture humbles me, man. 353 00:16:36,375 --> 00:16:40,325 Like I said, the moment that we start to kind of compare with God and try 354 00:16:40,325 --> 00:16:43,455 to feel like we're on the same level with God, it's not the case at all. 355 00:16:44,505 --> 00:16:45,635 Our ways are not His ways. 356 00:16:46,235 --> 00:16:47,215 Our thoughts are not His thoughts. 357 00:16:47,955 --> 00:16:49,325 And His ways are so much higher. 358 00:16:49,325 --> 00:16:49,555 Why? 359 00:16:49,555 --> 00:16:51,915 Because He is a God perfect. 360 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:58,480 We are finite beings serving an infinite God. 361 00:17:00,020 --> 00:17:03,579 God is all powerful, all knowing, all present. 362 00:17:03,580 --> 00:17:08,300 And here we are, trying to contemplate sometimes and compare ourselves and 363 00:17:08,300 --> 00:17:13,680 try to, uh, debate and negotiate with God to meet with us in this way. 364 00:17:14,210 --> 00:17:17,589 When we should be the ones bowing down and surrendering all that we have to 365 00:17:17,589 --> 00:17:19,939 Him because He sees all, knows all. 366 00:17:21,385 --> 00:17:26,085 If we can't do that, do we really trust in the God that we serve? 367 00:17:28,165 --> 00:17:31,995 We have to be faithful, we have to trust that God is the God of purpose. 368 00:17:32,185 --> 00:17:38,374 You know, God's purpose is grounded in His love, in His wisdom, His sovereignty. 369 00:17:38,984 --> 00:17:42,045 You know, in guiding all things towards the fulfillment of 370 00:17:42,135 --> 00:17:44,155 His good and perfect will. 371 00:17:44,995 --> 00:17:45,945 Well, let's continue reading then. 372 00:17:46,890 --> 00:17:51,270 Back to the story, in verse 15 it says, When the water and the skin was gone, 373 00:17:51,780 --> 00:17:53,570 she put the boy under one of the bushes. 374 00:17:54,130 --> 00:17:56,769 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she 375 00:17:56,769 --> 00:17:58,720 thought, I cannot watch the boy die. 376 00:17:59,490 --> 00:18:01,910 And as she sat there, she began to sob. 377 00:18:02,979 --> 00:18:06,460 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and 378 00:18:06,460 --> 00:18:08,740 said to her, What is the matter, Hagar? 379 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:10,920 Do not be afraid. 380 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:14,750 God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 381 00:18:15,470 --> 00:18:20,580 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation. 382 00:18:23,860 --> 00:18:27,250 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. 383 00:18:27,979 --> 00:18:31,530 So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 384 00:18:32,220 --> 00:18:33,770 God was with the boy as he grew up. 385 00:18:33,770 --> 00:18:36,270 He lived in the desert and became an archer. 386 00:18:38,650 --> 00:18:40,360 Whew, man, sorry. 387 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:41,910 It's some heavy stuff. 388 00:18:42,370 --> 00:18:46,049 Like I said, I'm not a parent, but I'm sure this is every 389 00:18:46,049 --> 00:18:46,700 parent's worst nightmare. 390 00:18:49,030 --> 00:18:50,989 Knowing that you can't provide for your kids. 391 00:18:51,889 --> 00:18:53,149 That you can't save them. 392 00:18:53,620 --> 00:18:54,269 Sometimes. 393 00:18:55,580 --> 00:18:56,989 I can't, I, I, I'm not a parent. 394 00:18:56,999 --> 00:18:58,590 I, I, I can only imagine. 395 00:18:58,899 --> 00:19:00,870 To the parents in the room, I'm sure that's one of your biggest fears. 396 00:19:00,870 --> 00:19:03,350 You want to be able to provide for your kids. 397 00:19:04,159 --> 00:19:06,419 But being in a situation like this where you're helpless. 398 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:09,649 But, praise be to God. 399 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,149 That He intercedes. 400 00:19:12,149 --> 00:19:13,280 And provides what we cannot provide. 401 00:19:15,635 --> 00:19:17,555 You know, like I said, they're in the desert, they're out of water. 402 00:19:17,775 --> 00:19:20,125 You put two and two together, that's never, that's never gonna come up. 403 00:19:20,475 --> 00:19:20,815 Right? 404 00:19:21,895 --> 00:19:22,345 But why? 405 00:19:22,385 --> 00:19:26,004 But, we have to, but we are so grateful that God is a God of provision. 406 00:19:27,285 --> 00:19:29,085 And you're gonna be asking, that's a big word, doc, what does that mean? 407 00:19:29,105 --> 00:19:30,415 Well, let's break it down real quick. 408 00:19:30,904 --> 00:19:35,625 It's the action of providing or supplying something for a use. 409 00:19:36,995 --> 00:19:38,215 God is a God that provides. 410 00:19:38,225 --> 00:19:39,125 He's a God of provision. 411 00:19:39,135 --> 00:19:39,505 Why? 412 00:19:39,505 --> 00:19:42,685 Because, though God is a provider, a provider. 413 00:19:43,024 --> 00:19:47,865 His provision and what He provides is always tied to His purpose. 414 00:19:48,915 --> 00:19:50,955 And we, I mean, like I said, we just talked about how His purpose may 415 00:19:50,955 --> 00:19:52,774 not always be what we want it to be. 416 00:19:53,554 --> 00:19:55,534 I mean, let's think, let's, let's think about this real quick. 417 00:19:56,195 --> 00:19:57,895 I want us, I want us all to read this together. 418 00:19:58,524 --> 00:19:59,514 One, two, three. 419 00:19:59,794 --> 00:20:05,445 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, for 420 00:20:05,485 --> 00:20:07,875 whom have been called according, what? 421 00:20:07,875 --> 00:20:10,614 To whose purpose? 422 00:20:10,615 --> 00:20:11,564 To His purpose. 423 00:20:12,350 --> 00:20:13,120 His purpose. 424 00:20:13,669 --> 00:20:14,250 You know what's funny? 425 00:20:14,250 --> 00:20:18,439 I think some of the times we can, we can stop right after the, uh, works 426 00:20:18,439 --> 00:20:19,510 for the good of those who love him. 427 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:20,199 We stopped there. 428 00:20:21,210 --> 00:20:21,600 Right? 429 00:20:22,429 --> 00:20:24,030 God, you're supposed to work for me. 430 00:20:24,070 --> 00:20:25,009 I love you. 431 00:20:26,389 --> 00:20:27,609 I'm serving you. 432 00:20:27,709 --> 00:20:29,409 I'm sacrificing for you. 433 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:35,360 But then I think sometimes we get confused as that we put according to 434 00:20:35,370 --> 00:20:38,950 our purpose instead of his purpose. 435 00:20:40,470 --> 00:20:42,739 It's not saying that God won't provide for you. 436 00:20:43,750 --> 00:20:45,450 It's just not according to your purpose. 437 00:20:46,679 --> 00:20:48,590 It's just not according to how you want it to be. 438 00:20:50,020 --> 00:20:53,020 This isn't the, this isn't the drive thru guys on a drive thru. 439 00:20:53,020 --> 00:20:54,490 He's not going to say, well, I don't want pickles. 440 00:20:54,500 --> 00:20:55,440 No onions, extra ketchup. 441 00:20:55,470 --> 00:20:56,879 Like, no, that's not how it is. 442 00:20:58,669 --> 00:21:00,610 It's according to how he sees his purpose. 443 00:21:00,610 --> 00:21:04,609 I mean, let's see. 444 00:21:04,610 --> 00:21:05,500 I'm gonna think about analogy here. 445 00:21:07,145 --> 00:21:09,915 There's been a lot of construction around the Fullerton area lately, 446 00:21:09,915 --> 00:21:13,085 whether that's through apartments or buildings or even on the campus as well. 447 00:21:13,405 --> 00:21:15,264 So it's been kind of cool to see Sonality kind of come to life. 448 00:21:16,125 --> 00:21:18,964 But think about we're all trying to build something here, build a town, right? 449 00:21:20,205 --> 00:21:22,524 We're trying to build a building that requires certain elements 450 00:21:22,524 --> 00:21:23,894 and certain materials, right? 451 00:21:24,904 --> 00:21:30,975 It wouldn't make sense for me to go out and grab, I don't know, a pool 452 00:21:30,975 --> 00:21:33,054 noodle to help build up this building. 453 00:21:34,175 --> 00:21:35,054 Not a lot. 454 00:21:37,014 --> 00:21:42,524 In the same way, if my purpose and my goal is to help build a building up, I'm 455 00:21:42,524 --> 00:21:46,685 gonna get things and provide things for my builders and my team to be able to be 456 00:21:46,685 --> 00:21:49,694 useful to build up the building, right? 457 00:21:50,245 --> 00:21:52,334 But if I bring anything else, either it's, it's, it's, it's 458 00:21:52,334 --> 00:21:53,985 been useful, it's a distraction. 459 00:21:55,264 --> 00:21:58,794 In the same way, God is trying to help us build up our faith and build 460 00:21:58,794 --> 00:22:00,425 up our life and our trust in Him. 461 00:22:01,314 --> 00:22:06,365 And when He provides things for us that are according to His purpose, It's things 462 00:22:06,365 --> 00:22:07,995 that are helping us build towards that. 463 00:22:08,065 --> 00:22:10,024 He's not going to give us things that don't matter. 464 00:22:10,025 --> 00:22:15,784 What's hard is that sometimes when we have our purpose in mind, we're going to ask, 465 00:22:15,794 --> 00:22:18,905 God gives us something that's essential in His purpose, and we receive it, and we're 466 00:22:18,905 --> 00:22:20,264 like, what am I supposed to do with this? 467 00:22:21,024 --> 00:22:21,354 Right? 468 00:22:21,714 --> 00:22:24,084 He gives us a hammer, He gives us some wood, some metal, and we're like, 469 00:22:24,954 --> 00:22:26,865 Yeah, I know we're trying to build a building, God, but I don't know. 470 00:22:26,865 --> 00:22:28,955 I don't think, I don't think I need this right now. 471 00:22:30,450 --> 00:22:34,570 Like our purpose and His purpose are never going to be in alignment sometimes. 472 00:22:34,620 --> 00:22:37,350 But we have to always lean into His purpose because we have to 473 00:22:37,350 --> 00:22:40,560 trust that what He provides is leading towards His purpose. 474 00:22:40,830 --> 00:22:46,109 Which is good, which is fulfilling, it's complete, it's purposeful. 475 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:46,890 Right? 476 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:48,999 Let's relate this back to the story real quick. 477 00:22:49,609 --> 00:22:51,239 Look, we have the promises. 478 00:22:51,804 --> 00:22:55,554 In Genesis chapter 16, the first time that God spoke to Hagar when 479 00:22:55,554 --> 00:22:58,034 she, when she was cast out, when she ran away because of just all the 480 00:22:58,155 --> 00:23:02,044 persecution and the hate that she got from, um, being pregnant with Ishmael. 481 00:23:02,445 --> 00:23:07,014 And then even, then God speaks the promise to then Abraham in chapter 17. 482 00:23:07,284 --> 00:23:10,385 And then God reminds him of the promise in chapter 21. 483 00:23:11,054 --> 00:23:13,125 And then the purpose to fulfill is that he's, he's, 484 00:23:13,385 --> 00:23:15,014 he, he, uh, he affirms Abraham. 485 00:23:15,024 --> 00:23:18,044 He says, Hey, send out Hagar and Ishmael to the desert. 486 00:23:18,084 --> 00:23:19,679 It's okay, I'm going to take care of them. 487 00:23:20,279 --> 00:23:23,769 His purpose, like I said, to Abraham might have been wrestling with 488 00:23:23,769 --> 00:23:25,029 the fact that, man, that's hard. 489 00:23:25,330 --> 00:23:26,469 I don't want to give up my son. 490 00:23:26,969 --> 00:23:30,090 But his purpose was that, no, because I had to raise them up to be two 491 00:23:30,100 --> 00:23:33,539 great nations as I promised, and that can't happen in the same place. 492 00:23:34,149 --> 00:23:36,789 Ishmael's descendants become the Arabic people. 493 00:23:36,889 --> 00:23:37,719 I don't know if you knew that. 494 00:23:40,199 --> 00:23:44,230 And the fact that his provision to provide that, even though his purpose 495 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:47,870 to Abraham and even to us did not make sense at the time, in that moment. 496 00:23:48,165 --> 00:23:51,815 Why am I casting out my son and my, someone, a son that I love? 497 00:23:52,475 --> 00:23:52,695 Why? 498 00:23:52,695 --> 00:23:54,325 Because God is going to take care of him. 499 00:23:55,185 --> 00:23:57,095 There's nothing that Abraham probably could have given them that 500 00:23:57,165 --> 00:23:59,665 honestly might have helped that much if God was not in the picture. 501 00:24:00,925 --> 00:24:05,125 And the fact that he provides a well of water, whether that was created 502 00:24:05,165 --> 00:24:09,065 spontaneously by a miracle or was just revealed to Hagar, I'll leave that 503 00:24:09,105 --> 00:24:12,355 up to your interpretation, but the fact is that he provided nonetheless. 504 00:24:13,245 --> 00:24:13,635 And then what? 505 00:24:13,915 --> 00:24:15,015 In verse 20 says what? 506 00:24:15,125 --> 00:24:17,375 God was with the boy as he grew up. 507 00:24:19,435 --> 00:24:20,455 And what do we see? 508 00:24:20,535 --> 00:24:23,535 We not only see in the beginning of this chapter, God fulfilling 509 00:24:23,535 --> 00:24:26,795 a promise to Isaac, but he fulfills his promise to Ishmael. 510 00:24:27,954 --> 00:24:29,795 That God does not forget promises. 511 00:24:31,794 --> 00:24:34,444 I don't know where you're at in your walk with him, but I feel, if you feel 512 00:24:34,445 --> 00:24:37,445 like me, I feel like there's a promise that God, that God has said that he would 513 00:24:37,455 --> 00:24:41,055 give me in his word, and he's told me, and I feel like he's forgotten about it. 514 00:24:42,665 --> 00:24:45,175 I think if I was Haggard in this situation, I would have felt like, God, 515 00:24:45,195 --> 00:24:49,344 the promise that you told me years ago, I I feel like you've forgotten about me. 516 00:24:49,375 --> 00:24:50,324 This is what's happening right now. 517 00:24:51,874 --> 00:24:53,465 But God does not forget promises. 518 00:24:56,235 --> 00:24:58,174 Are you grateful that God doesn't forget promises? 519 00:24:58,175 --> 00:24:58,975 I mean, think about it. 520 00:24:58,975 --> 00:25:01,815 Like we can make promises to each other that we don't keep. 521 00:25:01,845 --> 00:25:02,365 Hey, brother. 522 00:25:02,425 --> 00:25:03,024 I'll call you. 523 00:25:03,024 --> 00:25:03,965 I'll pray for you. 524 00:25:04,204 --> 00:25:05,155 I promise. 525 00:25:06,305 --> 00:25:07,634 I'll give you a ride. 526 00:25:08,665 --> 00:25:10,294 I'll pay you back for that meal. 527 00:25:18,945 --> 00:25:19,715 We forget our promises. 528 00:25:21,090 --> 00:25:22,430 But God does not forget promises. 529 00:25:23,350 --> 00:25:25,169 We are just, I'm so grateful, guys. 530 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:25,850 You have no idea. 531 00:25:25,850 --> 00:25:28,950 Like, there are thousands of promises in the Bible. 532 00:25:30,620 --> 00:25:32,470 And it's not that what one is that we make to him. 533 00:25:32,470 --> 00:25:33,850 It's the ones that he makes to us. 534 00:25:34,619 --> 00:25:36,420 And in that, what have we talked about? 535 00:25:36,610 --> 00:25:37,780 He doesn't forget them. 536 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:39,129 He always fulfills them. 537 00:25:39,130 --> 00:25:39,520 But what? 538 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:40,310 According to what? 539 00:25:40,650 --> 00:25:41,790 His purpose. 540 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:42,330 Yes. 541 00:25:42,430 --> 00:25:42,750 Come on. 542 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:43,520 I love that you guys get it. 543 00:25:43,590 --> 00:25:44,000 That's good. 544 00:25:45,210 --> 00:25:46,610 So let's kind of wrap this up a little bit. 545 00:25:48,180 --> 00:25:49,660 It's a cycle that we see. 546 00:25:51,450 --> 00:25:55,700 God's promise reflects His purpose. 547 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:02,360 And His purpose guides us to seeing His provision. 548 00:26:03,739 --> 00:26:11,320 And the provision fulfills and affirms His promises and His purpose in our lives. 549 00:26:12,759 --> 00:26:15,639 Guys, like I said, there's over a thousand promises in the Bible. 550 00:26:16,899 --> 00:26:19,879 And each one of them is a cycle like this. 551 00:26:22,090 --> 00:26:23,490 But you know sometimes where we can get stuck? 552 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:24,179 It's here. 553 00:26:26,910 --> 00:26:27,650 We get stuck there. 554 00:26:27,660 --> 00:26:34,100 If we can't surrender our purpose to God, we will never see this the 555 00:26:34,100 --> 00:26:36,989 way that God intends us to see it. 556 00:26:38,769 --> 00:26:42,750 His purpose is always in line with His provision. 557 00:26:43,889 --> 00:26:49,419 His purpose is always to fulfill the will that He has given us, and 558 00:26:49,419 --> 00:26:50,884 fulfill the promise that He gives us. 559 00:26:51,875 --> 00:26:53,315 And it's so amazing to see that. 560 00:26:53,335 --> 00:26:56,815 I think as we, as we read this, I think when God makes a promise that 561 00:26:56,825 --> 00:27:02,165 he's affirming his commitment to his purpose and his people, us must 562 00:27:02,165 --> 00:27:06,714 recognize that God's provision in our lives, it reinforces our trust in him. 563 00:27:07,475 --> 00:27:10,254 Like I said, this whole story of faith, man, it's such a beautiful thing as 564 00:27:10,465 --> 00:27:14,075 we've gotten to really kind of walk through this life, this journey of 565 00:27:14,085 --> 00:27:16,305 faith truly is that we see that. 566 00:27:16,629 --> 00:27:20,590 Time and time again, God looks and desires to reaffirm us and 567 00:27:20,590 --> 00:27:22,360 to give us reasons to trust him. 568 00:27:22,699 --> 00:27:25,409 But you know, what's crazy is that he leaves it up to us. 569 00:27:27,469 --> 00:27:30,149 He's like, I'm not just saying this and then you're gonna 570 00:27:30,179 --> 00:27:31,529 be like, yes sir, no sir. 571 00:27:31,540 --> 00:27:34,740 Or it's like a, we're like robots and we're programmed to obey him. 572 00:27:35,399 --> 00:27:36,169 It's not how it works. 573 00:27:37,209 --> 00:27:41,030 We can be rebellious, we can be defiant, stubborn, 574 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:48,660 but the moment that we decide to surrender, And to be humble before God 575 00:27:49,670 --> 00:27:53,230 and let His purpose supersede our purpose. 576 00:27:53,620 --> 00:27:56,970 Then we see the provision, what He provides. 577 00:27:57,010 --> 00:28:00,230 So like I said, in the ways that He provides for us, we need to understand it. 578 00:28:01,609 --> 00:28:03,390 If our purpose is not aligned with His. 579 00:28:03,839 --> 00:28:05,659 If His purpose isn't superseding ours. 580 00:28:06,789 --> 00:28:08,079 So can we get real practical real quick? 581 00:28:08,079 --> 00:28:08,869 Is that cool with you guys? 582 00:28:10,709 --> 00:28:13,459 Find one promise of God that is hard for you to trust. 583 00:28:14,810 --> 00:28:16,140 Or that you feel like you have your doubts in. 584 00:28:17,330 --> 00:28:20,170 In a certain season of your life that you feel like, Man, I feel 585 00:28:20,170 --> 00:28:23,250 like God made this promise and I'm having a hard time seeing it. 586 00:28:24,360 --> 00:28:27,730 But that we have to meditate on how this promise reflects God's purpose. 587 00:28:29,049 --> 00:28:32,159 Fight to see that your purpose doesn't supersede God's. 588 00:28:32,290 --> 00:28:32,630 Why? 589 00:28:32,630 --> 00:28:37,030 Because then you can be able to pray and watch for God's provision. 590 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:40,915 And that His promise, moving forward, We hope to see that is 591 00:28:40,925 --> 00:28:42,605 provided in our visa to move forward. 592 00:28:42,605 --> 00:28:43,995 Like I said, you know, it's crazy. 593 00:28:44,545 --> 00:28:45,675 It may not happen this week. 594 00:28:47,555 --> 00:28:49,065 It may not happen next week. 595 00:28:50,444 --> 00:28:52,864 For Abraham, it didn't happen for 25 years. 596 00:28:57,055 --> 00:28:58,034 We are so fickle. 597 00:28:58,985 --> 00:29:00,385 You're so impatient sometimes, 598 00:29:02,995 --> 00:29:07,945 but we have to trust that God's purpose is for our good. 599 00:29:09,545 --> 00:29:11,829 And the way He provides may not be the way that we expect. 600 00:29:11,939 --> 00:29:13,889 I'm not saying that you shouldn't initially have to see it or want to see 601 00:29:13,889 --> 00:29:19,460 it, but it is because it's according to His good and filling purpose. 602 00:29:19,710 --> 00:29:20,120 Amen? 603 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:20,567 Amen. 604 00:29:20,567 --> 00:29:26,310 Understanding the inner connectedness helps believers cultivate a deeper 605 00:29:26,310 --> 00:29:29,840 faith than a reliance on God's people, knowing that He is always 606 00:29:29,850 --> 00:29:32,340 working for their good and His glory. 607 00:29:33,290 --> 00:29:41,330 Imagine what our lives, our relationships, God's church would look like if 608 00:29:41,330 --> 00:29:46,879 we fully trusted And his promises and his purpose and his provision. 609 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:53,250 Brothers and sisters, let our journeys of faith be full of confidence and trust 610 00:29:53,279 --> 00:30:00,185 that in God, who is a God of promises, God of purpose and provision, We will 611 00:30:00,545 --> 00:30:03,825 see promises fulfilled and promises kept. 612 00:30:04,075 --> 00:30:04,435 Amen. 613 00:30:05,535 --> 00:30:07,805 Let's pray before we have the worship team come up for a final song. 614 00:30:08,235 --> 00:30:10,515 And, uh, we'll dismiss for the rest of Sunday. 615 00:30:11,555 --> 00:30:14,535 Uh, God, thank you so much for today and just the time to come before you. 616 00:30:14,535 --> 00:30:18,495 God, we are so grateful and honored to be able to know that you are 617 00:30:18,495 --> 00:30:22,145 the God of promises, the God of purpose, and the God of provision. 618 00:30:22,985 --> 00:30:25,674 God, we are so grateful for the ways that you've been gracious to us. 619 00:30:26,445 --> 00:30:29,185 Even in our doubts, in our questioning, in our unfaithfulness to you. 620 00:30:29,185 --> 00:30:33,865 But God, we know that through you and only you can we see the good 621 00:30:33,865 --> 00:30:35,115 that we want to see in this world. 622 00:30:35,115 --> 00:30:38,685 Sometimes we know that through your purpose is only because the only one 623 00:30:38,685 --> 00:30:42,775 that supersedes against the evil and the darkness that is over our world. 624 00:30:42,775 --> 00:30:47,355 God, we pray that we seek and desire to trust in your promises and to see 625 00:30:47,355 --> 00:30:50,915 that your purpose supersedes ours and to see that you provide for us in 626 00:30:50,915 --> 00:30:52,175 the ways according to your purpose. 627 00:30:52,175 --> 00:30:55,149 And I pray that we have a journey of faith that is one that is not 628 00:30:55,310 --> 00:30:58,440 It's to tell and to bring you glory, not for ourselves, but for you. 629 00:30:58,930 --> 00:30:59,650 We love you guys. 630 00:30:59,660 --> 00:31:00,530 Thank you for this time. 631 00:31:00,610 --> 00:31:01,300 We pray in Jesus name. 632 00:31:01,380 --> 00:31:01,710 Amen.