1 00:00:00,010 --> 00:00:00,240 Dallas: All right. 2 00:00:00,270 --> 00:00:00,860 Good morning, everyone. 3 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:01,670 How we doing today? 4 00:00:02,940 --> 00:00:03,790 All right. 5 00:00:03,890 --> 00:00:07,170 Well, those that know me and don't know me, my name is Dallas Kauai. 6 00:00:07,180 --> 00:00:10,479 I currently serve part time here in the campus ministry in North Orange County. 7 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:10,700 Come up. 8 00:00:11,559 --> 00:00:14,909 And I'm really honored and very privileged to be able to speak 9 00:00:14,910 --> 00:00:16,039 with you guys this morning. 10 00:00:16,039 --> 00:00:19,849 I'm really excited because we are going to continue our series in the journey 11 00:00:20,009 --> 00:00:22,300 of faith and the story of Abraham. 12 00:00:22,730 --> 00:00:24,320 Right now, he's still Abram. 13 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:27,439 So if I say Abram or Abraham, just know I'm talking about the same person. 14 00:00:27,469 --> 00:00:28,609 Let's just clarify that right now. 15 00:00:29,015 --> 00:00:31,945 But, uh, in a few chapters, in a few weeks, we'll get to Abraham, and so 16 00:00:31,945 --> 00:00:33,345 then all that will be cleared up. 17 00:00:33,685 --> 00:00:37,085 Um, but with that, uh, let's see, do I have my clicker on? 18 00:00:37,394 --> 00:00:38,315 Yes, I do. 19 00:00:39,535 --> 00:00:39,964 Let's see, does this thing work? 20 00:00:40,295 --> 00:00:41,984 Um, so I've been a disciple for about nine years. 21 00:00:42,004 --> 00:00:45,554 Actually, I just turned nine this past, um, Thursday. 22 00:00:45,704 --> 00:00:47,504 Um, so it's been nine years. 23 00:00:47,504 --> 00:00:50,834 I was, I got baptized when I was, uh, uh, fourteen years old. 24 00:00:50,835 --> 00:00:51,915 Sophomore in high school. 25 00:00:52,450 --> 00:00:56,400 Man, I had no idea what the world was waiting for me after that, but it's been a 26 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,450 great hard fought nine years and I'm still grateful for the decision I made today. 27 00:01:00,450 --> 00:01:03,799 So as you can see, there's my dad and my mom, the ones that baptized me, 28 00:01:03,799 --> 00:01:05,609 who are actually still here as well. 29 00:01:05,810 --> 00:01:11,050 Um, and I, here I am, here I am still serving, still giving, still 30 00:01:11,050 --> 00:01:12,670 dedicated to doing God's work. 31 00:01:12,670 --> 00:01:15,280 And so I'm grateful by the grace of God to be here. 32 00:01:15,490 --> 00:01:20,560 Um, but like I said, we are continuing our series called the journey of faith. 33 00:01:21,070 --> 00:01:24,550 And you know, obviously, this is week three, and honestly, I'm glad to 34 00:01:24,590 --> 00:01:27,460 be preaching today, because I don't know how Marcel could have gotten 35 00:01:27,460 --> 00:01:29,410 up here after USC's game last night. 36 00:01:33,090 --> 00:01:35,459 I had to, I'm sorry, I had to let the people know. 37 00:01:36,910 --> 00:01:40,430 You know, we're talking about going on a journey of faith when USC's giving Marcel 38 00:01:40,430 --> 00:01:42,240 a reason to lose his faith in this way. 39 00:01:42,530 --> 00:01:46,199 So, but hopefully we'll turn it around, it's one bad game, one bad 40 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:47,440 call at the end, you know, that game. 41 00:01:50,100 --> 00:01:53,720 But you know, we're reading about the story of Abraham and Abram, like I 42 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,719 said, and his ups and his downs and his faith and the victories and the 43 00:01:57,729 --> 00:02:01,479 failures that we really want to focus how God really worked through them. 44 00:02:01,509 --> 00:02:04,250 Obviously, Abraham is a great man of faith and he's the father 45 00:02:04,250 --> 00:02:07,770 of our faith, but ultimately it wouldn't be possible without God. 46 00:02:07,830 --> 00:02:08,280 Amen. 47 00:02:09,220 --> 00:02:13,100 And so while we're turning over the title of my lesson today actually is 48 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:14,959 going to be covenant and confidence. 49 00:02:15,700 --> 00:02:17,640 Alright, Covenant and Confidence. 50 00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:21,180 And today we're going to be in Genesis Chapter 15. 51 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,900 Alright, Genesis Chapter 15. 52 00:02:23,909 --> 00:02:26,279 And so, uh, while we're, while you guys are turning over there, if 53 00:02:26,279 --> 00:02:28,489 you want to check your Bibles, feel free, or you can look at the screen. 54 00:02:28,489 --> 00:02:28,790 It's great. 55 00:02:29,109 --> 00:02:30,289 Let's give you some context. 56 00:02:30,300 --> 00:02:35,030 So, last week, Daniel preached in Chapter 13, talking about Abraham and 57 00:02:35,030 --> 00:02:36,920 Lot going their separate ways, right? 58 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:41,519 Being able to, Abraham, uh, or Abram, sorry, this is why I clarified in the 59 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:42,800 beginning, this is a disclaimer, right? 60 00:02:43,185 --> 00:02:47,304 So Abram and Lot have to split up because their, um, their abundance and goods 61 00:02:47,304 --> 00:02:51,355 and resources has been overwhelming to the point where the capacity to spit it 62 00:02:51,355 --> 00:02:53,394 all in one place was becoming too much. 63 00:02:53,664 --> 00:02:54,744 So Abram defers. 64 00:02:54,744 --> 00:02:57,644 Lot says, Hey, you pick one, you pick a land, I'll take the other one. 65 00:02:57,744 --> 00:03:01,494 So Lot decides, Hey, I'm going to choose that landing near the land of Sodom 66 00:03:01,494 --> 00:03:03,454 where, you know, it looks a lot better. 67 00:03:03,454 --> 00:03:06,404 It looks closer, uh, to where there's a lot more city, a lot more business. 68 00:03:06,714 --> 00:03:07,535 I'm going to choose that one. 69 00:03:07,795 --> 00:03:10,174 But in following that in chapter 14, we get into this 70 00:03:10,174 --> 00:03:11,414 place where there's four kings. 71 00:03:11,790 --> 00:03:13,500 They end up going against some five kings. 72 00:03:13,500 --> 00:03:15,070 There's a lot of names that I will not name because I 73 00:03:15,070 --> 00:03:15,850 probably will butcher them all. 74 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,170 But, no, it's four kings versus five kings. 75 00:03:18,510 --> 00:03:22,180 And the land, the army with four kings attacks the land with five kings. 76 00:03:22,180 --> 00:03:25,260 And of course, the one with five kings is in the land of Sodom. 77 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:26,719 So, and who's there? 78 00:03:27,029 --> 00:03:27,699 Good old Lot. 79 00:03:28,270 --> 00:03:28,579 Alright? 80 00:03:28,620 --> 00:03:30,040 Causing troubles once again. 81 00:03:30,379 --> 00:03:33,500 But, he ends up getting captured by the forces and taken away. 82 00:03:33,710 --> 00:03:36,170 And now he's at a point where Abram catches word of this 83 00:03:36,170 --> 00:03:37,040 and he's like, Are you okay? 84 00:03:37,395 --> 00:03:38,425 Well, where are we gonna go? 85 00:03:38,525 --> 00:03:39,835 Well, we gotta get my nephew back. 86 00:03:39,845 --> 00:03:40,695 Come on, let's go get him. 87 00:03:40,715 --> 00:03:43,465 So, Abram, uh, um, creates an army. 88 00:03:43,605 --> 00:03:45,974 They go and take the land, uh, and take the goods and 89 00:03:45,975 --> 00:03:47,185 the resources that were taken. 90 00:03:47,355 --> 00:03:48,675 And they also bring back Lot. 91 00:03:48,835 --> 00:03:49,485 So, it's great. 92 00:03:49,515 --> 00:03:50,575 It's a great time, right? 93 00:03:51,055 --> 00:03:55,304 But after that, post victory, Abram gets some praises and some blessings 94 00:03:55,304 --> 00:03:57,965 from some kings, especially from a king called, uh, Melchizedek. 95 00:03:58,325 --> 00:04:01,835 Um, and he was offered to keep the goods, um, that he recovered in battle. 96 00:04:02,095 --> 00:04:05,400 Um, but in his commitment to God, He didn't accept any of it. 97 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,150 He, his words were saying that, and I'm probably paraphrasing this, 98 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:12,289 but basically saying that I'm not going to be made rich off of man or 99 00:04:12,289 --> 00:04:15,579 claim to have this on my own, but I will have God be the one to bless. 100 00:04:16,245 --> 00:04:18,115 So, he denies his great reward. 101 00:04:18,125 --> 00:04:19,865 So that's what we're picking up in chapter 15. 102 00:04:19,865 --> 00:04:21,075 So, all this has happened. 103 00:04:21,075 --> 00:04:21,805 There's a great war. 104 00:04:21,805 --> 00:04:25,565 He rescues Lot, comes back, denies the reward that he was, that he was, in 105 00:04:25,565 --> 00:04:27,665 a sense, that he had gotten himself. 106 00:04:27,925 --> 00:04:28,875 And now here we are. 107 00:04:29,025 --> 00:04:32,354 So, chapter 15, verse 1 says, After this the word of the 108 00:04:32,354 --> 00:04:34,475 Lord came to Abram in a vision. 109 00:04:34,865 --> 00:04:36,445 Do not be afraid, Abram. 110 00:04:36,805 --> 00:04:38,175 I am your shield. 111 00:04:38,415 --> 00:04:40,465 Your very great reward. 112 00:04:41,704 --> 00:04:44,385 You know, it's funny, because if you, look, you check in chapter 14, 113 00:04:44,385 --> 00:04:48,335 in the beginning of this verse, Does Abram ever initiate anything with 114 00:04:48,365 --> 00:04:50,515 God, like does he ever reach out to him, does he connect with him at all? 115 00:04:51,305 --> 00:04:51,625 No. 116 00:04:52,795 --> 00:04:54,954 You ever have that person in your life, whether that's a spouse or 117 00:04:54,955 --> 00:04:57,545 a family member or a friend, that you know like something's going 118 00:04:57,545 --> 00:04:59,784 on with them, but you don't, they don't have to say anything, right? 119 00:05:00,234 --> 00:05:03,225 They're like, you can see it on their face or their body language 120 00:05:03,334 --> 00:05:04,315 or the way they're texting. 121 00:05:04,315 --> 00:05:05,955 You're like, all right, something's going on with this person. 122 00:05:07,245 --> 00:05:12,035 And God, and God is the same way with us. 123 00:05:12,705 --> 00:05:13,755 He knows us. 124 00:05:14,395 --> 00:05:15,695 He knows our hearts. 125 00:05:15,895 --> 00:05:16,875 He knows our minds. 126 00:05:17,175 --> 00:05:20,715 And the fact that I said, like, Abram didn't have to say a word, but God knew. 127 00:05:21,005 --> 00:05:22,235 He says, do not be afraid. 128 00:05:22,265 --> 00:05:25,305 I mean, Abram had just gone to war against five kings. 129 00:05:26,375 --> 00:05:27,404 I'd be fearful, too. 130 00:05:27,404 --> 00:05:30,814 I'm like, man, okay, now I just set myself to be public enemy number one here. 131 00:05:31,314 --> 00:05:31,784 Right? 132 00:05:32,714 --> 00:05:34,045 He says, I am your shield. 133 00:05:34,045 --> 00:05:38,195 I mean, hey, I'm probably, Abram's probably thinking, man, I need protection. 134 00:05:38,735 --> 00:05:39,835 I need some type of cover. 135 00:05:40,194 --> 00:05:41,775 God says, let me allow that to be. 136 00:05:42,765 --> 00:05:44,395 Let me let myself to be that for you. 137 00:05:45,234 --> 00:05:46,645 And I am your great reward. 138 00:05:47,114 --> 00:05:50,375 Now, obviously doesn't say what was what the reward that Abraham had and 139 00:05:50,375 --> 00:05:53,534 the resources that he had brought back, but I'm sure it was a lot though, right? 140 00:05:53,534 --> 00:05:56,904 I mean five five kingdoms worth of rewards and blessing. 141 00:05:56,905 --> 00:05:59,954 That's like that's hard to turn down, but he denies all that. 142 00:05:59,954 --> 00:06:01,114 And so he's probably thinking back. 143 00:06:01,114 --> 00:06:03,445 I said, man, I probably should have taken it. 144 00:06:03,495 --> 00:06:06,245 Like I might be regretting this, right? 145 00:06:06,674 --> 00:06:10,284 But no, gotta say no, but I am your great reward. 146 00:06:10,955 --> 00:06:14,235 And so he has reasons, right, to believe all this and to think all this. 147 00:06:14,485 --> 00:06:22,535 But ultimately, God desires to fulfill his needs, not with 148 00:06:22,575 --> 00:06:25,395 things, but God himself, right? 149 00:06:25,495 --> 00:06:27,824 He says, I am your shield. 150 00:06:28,315 --> 00:06:30,605 I am your very great reward. 151 00:06:31,285 --> 00:06:34,165 Not that I'm going to provide for you in a shield or provide for your 152 00:06:34,195 --> 00:06:35,595 reward, which he knows God has in time. 153 00:06:35,595 --> 00:06:38,844 But think about the greater need, think about how much more sustainable it is. 154 00:06:39,335 --> 00:06:42,474 When God is the one that fulfills our needs. 155 00:06:43,155 --> 00:06:43,565 Amen? 156 00:06:43,604 --> 00:06:44,395 You guys with me on that? 157 00:06:45,435 --> 00:06:46,924 So let's see Abram's response though. 158 00:06:47,284 --> 00:06:52,325 He says, um, Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless? 159 00:06:53,074 --> 00:06:57,965 The one will, um, and the one who will inherit my estate is Eleazar of Damascus. 160 00:06:58,585 --> 00:07:00,955 And Abram said, you have given me no children. 161 00:07:01,655 --> 00:07:04,465 So a servant in my household will be my heir. 162 00:07:05,784 --> 00:07:08,775 You know, Abram's basically saying, God, what good is it that you're my reward? 163 00:07:09,850 --> 00:07:10,680 Who cares? 164 00:07:10,870 --> 00:07:12,850 Maybe that you're my shield. 165 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:14,530 He's doubting. 166 00:07:14,540 --> 00:07:18,500 He's questioning because he's like, Hey, the one thing that I've 167 00:07:18,500 --> 00:07:23,150 wanted, the one thing I've desired is for you to provide me a son. 168 00:07:24,490 --> 00:07:26,190 And so I'm glad that you're my should. 169 00:07:26,190 --> 00:07:31,150 I'm glad that you're my reward, but I've only ever wanted a son. 170 00:07:32,450 --> 00:07:33,930 When will you be faithful to me? 171 00:07:33,930 --> 00:07:35,600 When will you fulfill your promise? 172 00:07:36,975 --> 00:07:40,475 Now, before we get, you know, very judgmental of Abram's discontentment, 173 00:07:40,515 --> 00:07:43,025 let's, let's, let's be humble real quick and realize that we've 174 00:07:43,025 --> 00:07:44,365 also been in that same place, too. 175 00:07:44,425 --> 00:07:44,855 Amen? 176 00:07:45,845 --> 00:07:47,655 Now, I want to share a quick story. 177 00:07:48,315 --> 00:07:53,275 I was in, uh, sixth grade, and my, my dad sat me down, and he was 178 00:07:53,275 --> 00:07:56,425 like, Hey, if you get straight A's, 179 00:07:58,515 --> 00:07:59,475 we will get you an iPad. 180 00:07:59,475 --> 00:08:02,875 And I was like, come on, I'm a sixth grader. 181 00:08:02,875 --> 00:08:05,235 I'm like, with the iPad, man, I was fired up. 182 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:10,660 And so I was grinding first semester, didn't do that great, but the second 183 00:08:10,660 --> 00:08:12,300 semester, your boy got straight A's. 184 00:08:12,870 --> 00:08:13,300 Okay. 185 00:08:13,820 --> 00:08:18,460 Now, when I went back for my award, I was like, Hey dad, check out this report card. 186 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,050 And he was like, that's awesome. 187 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,460 We're going to need to postpone the iPad though. 188 00:08:25,500 --> 00:08:29,230 Just, I was like, like, bro, like, what do you mean? 189 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:30,350 Postpone the iPad? 190 00:08:30,370 --> 00:08:32,780 Like I did what you asked me to do. 191 00:08:33,304 --> 00:08:35,395 I fulfilled what I needed to do. 192 00:08:35,554 --> 00:08:36,945 Where is your end of the bargain? 193 00:08:36,995 --> 00:08:38,955 Respectfully, I love you, but yeah, like, you know. 194 00:08:41,184 --> 00:08:42,934 But like, in my head, I'm thinking that, right? 195 00:08:42,934 --> 00:08:45,085 Like, I did what I needed to do. 196 00:08:46,105 --> 00:08:47,364 Are you going to uphold your end? 197 00:08:47,365 --> 00:08:51,114 In the same way, Abram's like, God, I'm still faithful. 198 00:08:51,115 --> 00:08:51,935 I'm still here. 199 00:08:52,055 --> 00:08:53,155 I'm denying rewards. 200 00:08:53,155 --> 00:08:57,175 I'm, I'm, I've been called out of a land that you, that I called home to. 201 00:08:57,285 --> 00:09:03,310 Wherever you're calling me, When are you going to, uh, fulfill the promise? 202 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:06,590 When are you going to uphold the end of your bargain? 203 00:09:08,060 --> 00:09:11,820 You know, and sometimes what can happen with us is that we can get into the 204 00:09:11,820 --> 00:09:15,890 state of this being of, well, okay, then if God is not going to provide 205 00:09:15,890 --> 00:09:18,950 the promise that I'm going to go search for it somewhere else, right? 206 00:09:20,020 --> 00:09:27,620 Whether that's in substances, in alcohol, pornography, sex, addiction, social media. 207 00:09:29,075 --> 00:09:32,435 Unhealthy eating habits go into isolation. 208 00:09:33,985 --> 00:09:37,725 We go and desire these things that that give us this temporary gratification. 209 00:09:39,195 --> 00:09:40,665 It's instant gratification, right? 210 00:09:40,914 --> 00:09:44,144 And we constantly have to go back for that's why it's so important guys 211 00:09:44,364 --> 00:09:49,244 for us to have God be the fulfillment of our needs because it's good. 212 00:09:49,804 --> 00:09:50,864 It's very good. 213 00:09:51,144 --> 00:09:54,515 It's it's it's whole is completing and the same way. 214 00:09:55,704 --> 00:09:56,845 We have to understand. 215 00:09:57,325 --> 00:10:00,785 That God is the fulfillment of our greatest needs. 216 00:10:01,875 --> 00:10:04,585 Yes, He might give us certain things to be able to fulfill certain things, but 217 00:10:04,655 --> 00:10:11,025 think about how much more sustainable, how much more rewarding it is when God 218 00:10:11,045 --> 00:10:13,224 is the fulfillment of our greatest needs. 219 00:10:13,224 --> 00:10:13,634 Amen? 220 00:10:14,544 --> 00:10:17,675 You know, God wants to be your best friend 221 00:10:19,704 --> 00:10:20,864 when you feel like you're isolated. 222 00:10:20,874 --> 00:10:25,534 God wants to be your shield when you feel like you need protection. 223 00:10:26,415 --> 00:10:29,255 He wants to be your great reward when the things that you 224 00:10:29,255 --> 00:10:30,824 desire in this life fall short. 225 00:10:32,094 --> 00:10:35,854 God is the fulfillment of our greatest needs. 226 00:10:36,175 --> 00:10:37,224 Now let's pick him in verse 4. 227 00:10:37,934 --> 00:10:41,615 Let's see what, um, uh, God says to Abram's, you know, 228 00:10:41,724 --> 00:10:43,054 discontentment, in a sense. 229 00:10:43,714 --> 00:10:46,604 Then the word of the Lord came to him and says, This man will not be 230 00:10:46,604 --> 00:10:50,785 your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir. 231 00:10:51,285 --> 00:10:54,305 He took him outside and said, Look up at the sky and count the stars. 232 00:10:55,194 --> 00:10:56,545 If indeed you can count them. 233 00:10:56,545 --> 00:11:02,364 Then he said to them, so shall your offspring be Abraham believed the Lord 234 00:11:02,964 --> 00:11:05,155 and he credited to him as righteousness. 235 00:11:06,145 --> 00:11:09,415 You know, this is a third time that God reminds Abraham of the 236 00:11:09,415 --> 00:11:11,364 promise that he had, um, given him. 237 00:11:11,905 --> 00:11:15,204 You know, and sometimes, and a lot of times God needs to remind us of his 238 00:11:15,204 --> 00:11:18,984 promises 'cause we forget, or we have selective hearing or selective memory 239 00:11:18,984 --> 00:11:20,724 on when God did or when God hasn't. 240 00:11:20,754 --> 00:11:21,055 Right. 241 00:11:22,490 --> 00:11:25,690 But God responds this time with clarity and certainty. 242 00:11:25,690 --> 00:11:28,740 He says look up at the stars and obviously where we live 243 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:30,320 stars ain't shining too bright. 244 00:11:31,020 --> 00:11:35,630 But if you go to a place like Joshua Tree, it's a beautiful sight at night. 245 00:11:36,149 --> 00:11:39,209 There's no city lights, nothing blocking the sight, it's just the 246 00:11:39,219 --> 00:11:40,810 stars are too numerous to count. 247 00:11:40,810 --> 00:11:45,340 So I can imagine having the faith of Abram and just being like, wow, 248 00:11:45,380 --> 00:11:48,529 God, if you want me to count these stars and that's the amount of 249 00:11:48,529 --> 00:11:50,089 descendants man, that is amazing. 250 00:11:50,550 --> 00:11:51,630 It's so reassuring. 251 00:11:51,900 --> 00:11:52,560 It is so fulfilling. 252 00:11:52,560 --> 00:11:53,590 It is so inspiring. 253 00:11:54,690 --> 00:11:56,650 You know, and he clarifies even, he's like, it's not going to 254 00:11:56,660 --> 00:11:58,690 be this spiritual descendant. 255 00:11:58,940 --> 00:12:01,280 That's not, it's not something that's just going to come into your life and you're 256 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:03,089 going to mentor and that will be your son. 257 00:12:03,230 --> 00:12:03,669 No, no, no. 258 00:12:03,789 --> 00:12:07,270 It's going to be your own flesh and blood, right? 259 00:12:07,979 --> 00:12:11,540 It's like, just in case I wasn't clear enough, count the stars, 260 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:14,220 flesh and blood of your own. 261 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:17,320 But Abraham was inspired by that. 262 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:17,889 And what does he do? 263 00:12:17,890 --> 00:12:18,829 He says he believed. 264 00:12:19,030 --> 00:12:19,870 He's in the Lord. 265 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:21,530 He credit to him as righteousness. 266 00:12:22,140 --> 00:12:24,189 You know, this is one of the greatest statements in the Bible, 267 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:25,670 especially in the book of Romans. 268 00:12:25,990 --> 00:12:27,410 And you might be asking, well, what does it say in Romans? 269 00:12:27,449 --> 00:12:28,199 Well, I'm glad you asked. 270 00:12:28,410 --> 00:12:28,969 Let's go over there. 271 00:12:29,329 --> 00:12:32,770 Romans chapter four, verses one through three, it reads, this is 272 00:12:32,770 --> 00:12:33,959 Paul talking to the church in Rome. 273 00:12:33,969 --> 00:12:38,089 It says, when they, when then, what then shall we say that Abraham, 274 00:12:38,359 --> 00:12:41,880 our forefather, according to the flesh, discovered in this matter. 275 00:12:42,439 --> 00:12:45,449 If in fact Abraham was justified by works, he had something to 276 00:12:45,449 --> 00:12:47,420 boast about, but not before God. 277 00:12:47,420 --> 00:12:47,540 Amen. 278 00:12:48,300 --> 00:12:49,150 What does scripture say? 279 00:12:49,219 --> 00:12:53,150 Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. 280 00:12:53,540 --> 00:12:56,150 You know, Paul was saying that, hey, Abraham was a man of faith, 281 00:12:56,310 --> 00:12:57,709 and it's inspiring to have that. 282 00:12:58,130 --> 00:13:02,319 But he hadn't done anything in his works to prove his righteousness. 283 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:06,099 The covenant of circumcision that comes later on in about two chapters, 284 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:10,630 Is the first thing that Abraham does in a covenant as a wart to be 285 00:13:10,680 --> 00:13:12,160 one with God or to agree with God. 286 00:13:12,380 --> 00:13:15,590 Although he's been led by faith out of Ur, and now he's been leading a, uh, 287 00:13:15,739 --> 00:13:18,749 leading a life of trying to figure out where God is trying to take him, right? 288 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:23,970 But, up until then, he has had no warts or anything that he has done, truly, that 289 00:13:23,989 --> 00:13:27,890 has given him the desire of righteousness, or given him credited righteousness. 290 00:13:28,310 --> 00:13:29,360 Because think about it, there's two types of righteousness. 291 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,300 There's the righteousness that you prove by your own works. 292 00:13:31,700 --> 00:13:33,560 And now there's the righteousness that is proven by faith. 293 00:13:34,125 --> 00:13:37,515 And obviously the perfect righteousness that we desire is God's righteousness. 294 00:13:37,515 --> 00:13:37,905 Amen? 295 00:13:38,465 --> 00:13:39,725 And that's hard to achieve, right? 296 00:13:39,725 --> 00:13:40,615 We're not going to be perfect at it. 297 00:13:40,625 --> 00:13:41,565 We are imperfect people. 298 00:13:41,565 --> 00:13:42,245 Absolutely. 299 00:13:42,675 --> 00:13:46,395 That's why the righteousness of faith is so fulfilling to us. 300 00:13:46,804 --> 00:13:48,885 Because it's not about what we do. 301 00:13:49,145 --> 00:13:52,385 It's about putting our trust and our belief in God's promises. 302 00:13:53,105 --> 00:13:54,655 We're 18 here. 303 00:13:54,665 --> 00:13:59,985 It says, Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed, and so became 304 00:13:59,985 --> 00:14:00,735 the father of many nations. 305 00:14:01,375 --> 00:14:04,594 Just as it had been said to him, so shall your offspring be. 306 00:14:04,984 --> 00:14:07,545 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that 307 00:14:07,545 --> 00:14:09,025 his body was as good as dead. 308 00:14:09,405 --> 00:14:13,375 Since he was about a hundred years old, and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 309 00:14:13,875 --> 00:14:17,164 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of 310 00:14:17,165 --> 00:14:20,424 God, but he was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God. 311 00:14:20,624 --> 00:14:25,645 Being fully persuaded that God had the, had power to do what he had promised. 312 00:14:26,064 --> 00:14:28,704 This is why it was credited to him as righteousness. 313 00:14:28,704 --> 00:14:28,854 Thanks. 314 00:14:30,010 --> 00:14:31,440 Now I want to focus on two things here. 315 00:14:31,450 --> 00:14:31,970 I think it's worth. 316 00:14:31,990 --> 00:14:33,000 Yeah, I love it. 317 00:14:33,220 --> 00:14:38,390 So we got without weakening and yet he did not waver. 318 00:14:39,230 --> 00:14:41,560 I don't know if you guys have short term memory, but what we just read 319 00:14:41,770 --> 00:14:45,090 in Genesis chapter 15, that sounds like a little bit of wavering, right? 320 00:14:45,090 --> 00:14:46,500 A little bit of weakening. 321 00:14:47,159 --> 00:14:49,210 So you might be asking, okay, but why would Paul write that? 322 00:14:49,580 --> 00:14:51,190 Why would Paul say he didn't weaken? 323 00:14:51,190 --> 00:14:53,480 Why did he say that he did not waver? 324 00:14:54,290 --> 00:14:55,200 Well, that's the thing guys. 325 00:14:56,069 --> 00:14:59,600 It's not about the idea of being perfect at it. 326 00:15:00,569 --> 00:15:04,540 We need to be encouraged and inspired that God can work within perfect faith. 327 00:15:07,340 --> 00:15:08,430 Then let's think about it, right? 328 00:15:08,670 --> 00:15:09,940 Like we're not stupid here. 329 00:15:10,430 --> 00:15:11,479 We ask the same questions. 330 00:15:11,479 --> 00:15:12,979 We doubt, we weak, we waver. 331 00:15:13,130 --> 00:15:17,119 We give up hope sometimes, but God still chooses to work with us. 332 00:15:17,129 --> 00:15:19,299 God still chooses to partner with us. 333 00:15:19,759 --> 00:15:20,959 I mean, think of Moses. 334 00:15:21,469 --> 00:15:24,589 Initially, you know, he's called to lead Israel out of Egypt. 335 00:15:25,165 --> 00:15:27,295 He expresses, but he expressed his own is like, I'm not good enough. 336 00:15:27,295 --> 00:15:27,974 I'm inadequate. 337 00:15:28,005 --> 00:15:28,974 I'm not qualified. 338 00:15:28,985 --> 00:15:29,314 God. 339 00:15:31,535 --> 00:15:34,764 He's hesitant to lead God's people, but God still worked to 340 00:15:34,764 --> 00:15:35,964 deliver his people out of Egypt. 341 00:15:36,915 --> 00:15:40,444 Think about King David, despite being called a man after God's own 342 00:15:40,464 --> 00:15:44,155 heart and committing adultery and he faltered many times with Bathsheba, 343 00:15:45,005 --> 00:15:47,555 Jesus is part of his lineage. 344 00:15:48,755 --> 00:15:50,735 God still uses imperfect faith. 345 00:15:51,944 --> 00:15:53,834 God built the church on Peter. 346 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:59,140 The rock, a man who walked on water, but when he saw the wind, 347 00:15:59,140 --> 00:16:00,910 he feared and began to sink. 348 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,710 A man that denied Jesus three times. 349 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,179 God still uses imperfect faith. 350 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:14,639 It's not about being perfect, it's not about desiring to be as good 351 00:16:14,639 --> 00:16:17,140 as possible, as much as we want to be, because that's not who we 352 00:16:17,140 --> 00:16:18,120 are in our nature, unfortunately. 353 00:16:18,939 --> 00:16:21,250 We desire to want to be that because we are disciples. 354 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:21,780 Amen. 355 00:16:21,990 --> 00:16:26,299 But the idea is that God can still work with us even when we are 356 00:16:26,300 --> 00:16:27,460 choosing not to work with him. 357 00:16:28,390 --> 00:16:33,020 That God still wants to put hope and faith in us when we 358 00:16:33,020 --> 00:16:34,569 want to disqualify ourselves. 359 00:16:38,129 --> 00:16:41,139 So I know for me in my life, like I said, nine years. 360 00:16:41,140 --> 00:16:43,369 A lot can happen in nine years. 361 00:16:43,839 --> 00:16:47,199 Going from high school to college, and now college to post grad. 362 00:16:49,095 --> 00:16:50,305 A lot happens in 9 years. 363 00:16:51,355 --> 00:16:53,315 And I don't know where you're at in your walk with God. 364 00:16:53,345 --> 00:16:56,015 You could be 10 years, 20 years, 30 years. 365 00:16:57,964 --> 00:17:01,275 But, you know, it, it, we'd be, we'd be foolish to say that 366 00:17:01,484 --> 00:17:03,974 we've had moments where we wanted to, we've, we've, we've not had 367 00:17:03,974 --> 00:17:05,035 moments where we wanted to give up. 368 00:17:06,354 --> 00:17:09,223 We'd be foolish to say that we, we disqualified ourselves at times. 369 00:17:11,773 --> 00:17:15,013 We'd be foolish to say that we hadn't had moments where we 370 00:17:15,175 --> 00:17:16,624 desired to not even show up. 371 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:28,429 But hallelujah, amen, and thanks be to God that He doesn't give up on us. 372 00:17:30,330 --> 00:17:33,619 That He desires to work with our imperfect faith. 373 00:17:34,260 --> 00:17:35,929 And it's not by the works that we do. 374 00:17:36,620 --> 00:17:39,530 It's not about showing up to church and just, you know, doing everything 375 00:17:39,530 --> 00:17:42,459 you need to do here and serving and giving and being in Bible 376 00:17:42,459 --> 00:17:43,329 studies and sharing your faith. 377 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:44,399 Like, that's all great. 378 00:17:45,020 --> 00:17:47,980 But what God desires and what He credits for us because we can't be 379 00:17:47,980 --> 00:17:49,669 perfect in our works is our faith. 380 00:17:51,570 --> 00:17:55,930 So we need to understand and just drill into ourselves that God can 381 00:17:56,010 --> 00:17:59,030 and will work with imperfect faith. 382 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,800 Now, that doesn't give us the green light to go make stupid decisions, right? 383 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,139 It's like, well, hey, I'm imperfect, you know, it just happens how it be. 384 00:18:07,150 --> 00:18:08,489 It's like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. 385 00:18:10,379 --> 00:18:10,609 Right? 386 00:18:10,619 --> 00:18:12,279 It's thinking, thinking, exactly. 387 00:18:14,329 --> 00:18:19,410 But even though we are people who have our doubts and our fears, it an incomplete 388 00:18:19,420 --> 00:18:27,190 trust at times that doesn't disqualify from God's plan as long as we choose 389 00:18:28,020 --> 00:18:32,150 as you choose to engage and put your trust in God and his perfect promises. 390 00:18:34,169 --> 00:18:38,690 You know, so while Abraham had or Abram had his moments of human vulnerability 391 00:18:38,750 --> 00:18:43,920 as we all do, the narrative emphasized in the overall arcing story of Abraham 392 00:18:44,990 --> 00:18:47,250 that he desired to put his trust in God. 393 00:18:48,425 --> 00:18:51,165 And, and, and endure his faith in his prophecies. 394 00:18:51,415 --> 00:18:51,785 Amen. 395 00:18:52,425 --> 00:18:54,135 So let's go back to Genesis chapter 15. 396 00:18:54,845 --> 00:18:55,955 We're going to be in verse 7. 397 00:18:56,764 --> 00:19:00,315 So it says, He said to them, this is God, back to Abram. 398 00:19:00,315 --> 00:19:06,835 He says, I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur, out of the Chaldeans to give 399 00:19:06,844 --> 00:19:08,205 you this land to take possession of. 400 00:19:08,980 --> 00:19:13,210 But Abram said, Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it? 401 00:19:13,210 --> 00:19:15,090 It's like, bro, Abram, don't you get it, bro? 402 00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:17,680 Like, come on, like, but like I said, like, it's a short term view. 403 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:19,660 For us, like, we see the whole picture, but for Abram, in the 404 00:19:19,660 --> 00:19:20,860 moment, we are like him sometimes. 405 00:19:20,870 --> 00:19:22,749 Like, yeah, okay, but how for sure, God? 406 00:19:22,750 --> 00:19:24,789 Like, I want to trust you, but how for sure? 407 00:19:25,170 --> 00:19:27,420 And it's like, Abram, God's probably like, Abram, do you 408 00:19:27,420 --> 00:19:28,460 want me to spell it out for you? 409 00:19:28,460 --> 00:19:30,210 Like, come on, like, what do you, what do you need? 410 00:19:30,510 --> 00:19:32,870 But God, like I said, works in perfect faith. 411 00:19:33,470 --> 00:19:34,100 So therefore what? 412 00:19:34,110 --> 00:19:35,300 He does spell it out for him. 413 00:19:35,725 --> 00:19:39,935 He says, So the Lord said, Sir, bring me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each 414 00:19:39,935 --> 00:19:43,135 three years old, along with a dove and a young, and a young pigeon. 415 00:19:43,555 --> 00:19:46,815 Um, Abraham brought all these things to him, cut them in two, and arranged 416 00:19:46,815 --> 00:19:48,044 the halves opposite each other. 417 00:19:48,044 --> 00:19:50,855 The birds, however, did not, he did not cut in half. 418 00:19:51,525 --> 00:19:54,265 You know, when God tells Abraham to come and bring all these, these 419 00:19:54,265 --> 00:19:56,525 animals and sacrifice, he knows exactly what's about to happen. 420 00:19:56,785 --> 00:20:01,495 The cultural, uh, background of this is that, um, this, there was a contract 421 00:20:01,495 --> 00:20:03,144 or a covenant about to be made, okay? 422 00:20:03,545 --> 00:20:06,325 So in those days, the contracts were made by the sacrificial cutting of 423 00:20:06,325 --> 00:20:09,155 animals with the split carcasses of the animals lying on the ground. 424 00:20:09,455 --> 00:20:14,105 And the covenant was made when the parties in agreement would walk between 425 00:20:14,105 --> 00:20:16,675 them, through the animal parts together, repeating the terms of the covenant. 426 00:20:17,074 --> 00:20:18,385 And the symbolism was very plain. 427 00:20:18,744 --> 00:20:22,105 First, this was a covenant that was very serious, because it was sealed in blood. 428 00:20:22,775 --> 00:20:26,055 And it was also sealed, and secondly, if you break the covenant, let the 429 00:20:26,055 --> 00:20:31,564 same bloodshed be poured out from the animals out onto you as well. 430 00:20:31,970 --> 00:20:35,060 So it's a very serious covenant that God is setting with Abram right now. 431 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,940 And so Abram had his doubts and wanted assurance from God. 432 00:20:38,890 --> 00:20:41,170 God said to him clearly, He said, Let's sign a deal right now. 433 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:42,610 I have a dot in line. 434 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:44,020 Go get me these things. 435 00:20:44,189 --> 00:20:45,650 We're gonna sign it, seal the deal. 436 00:20:45,650 --> 00:20:51,580 So let's jump on over here, um, and continue on in verse, uh, verse 12. 437 00:20:51,580 --> 00:20:53,990 It says, As the sun was setting, Abraham fell into a deep sleep. 438 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,150 Thick and dreadful darkness came over him. 439 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:00,779 Then the Lord said to him, Know for certain that for four hundred years your 440 00:21:00,780 --> 00:21:04,740 descendants will be strangers in the country, not their own, and that they 441 00:21:04,740 --> 00:21:06,380 will be enslaved and mistreated there. 442 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:10,290 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they 443 00:21:10,290 --> 00:21:12,520 will come out with great possessions. 444 00:21:14,239 --> 00:21:16,830 It says, You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and 445 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:18,800 be buried at a good old age. 446 00:21:19,070 --> 00:21:21,780 In the fourth generation, your descendants will come back here, 447 00:21:22,130 --> 00:21:25,820 for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure. 448 00:21:27,740 --> 00:21:31,460 It says, And when the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking fire 449 00:21:31,460 --> 00:21:35,060 pot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. 450 00:21:35,809 --> 00:21:40,969 On that day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, To your descendants, 451 00:21:40,969 --> 00:21:45,380 I give this land from the Wadi to Egypt and to the great river of the Euphrates. 452 00:21:47,030 --> 00:21:51,020 You know, it's super, man, God is so cool, guys, you have 453 00:21:51,020 --> 00:21:52,560 no clue how cool this man is. 454 00:21:53,090 --> 00:21:54,980 Oh, man, it's so inspiring because. 455 00:21:56,030 --> 00:22:02,330 The significance of this section, like, goes beyond just reading the text. 456 00:22:02,330 --> 00:22:05,879 Like, there's just so much that God has already put in store and put in the 457 00:22:05,879 --> 00:22:09,500 plan, that when I, as I was studying this out, like, it just inspired me. 458 00:22:10,209 --> 00:22:15,440 Because the significance of the fire pot and the blazing torch was the 459 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,890 same way that God led the Israelites who were out of slavery in Egypt. 460 00:22:18,900 --> 00:22:21,080 For 400 years, like I said, 400 years, they would be in 461 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:23,049 a land, enslaved to Egypt. 462 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:28,120 But as, once they were freed and God led them out, God led them by a 463 00:22:28,120 --> 00:22:32,020 cloud in the day and a fire at night. 464 00:22:32,889 --> 00:22:38,110 And so the smoking fire pot is basically the cloud that was led during the day. 465 00:22:39,459 --> 00:22:42,110 And the blazing torch was the fire that led the Israelites at night. 466 00:22:42,919 --> 00:22:45,550 So God is like, basically like, he's like, I'm giving you some foresight 467 00:22:45,550 --> 00:22:46,980 here on what's going to happen. 468 00:22:47,220 --> 00:22:50,200 Like that's how, like you have to understand like God's plan is so perfect. 469 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:51,439 God's plan is so intentional. 470 00:22:51,770 --> 00:22:54,570 That there's things that he does that may not seem, that seems super 471 00:22:54,570 --> 00:22:58,720 random and seem coincidental or lucky or weird, but it's very intentional. 472 00:22:58,910 --> 00:22:59,970 It's very genuine. 473 00:23:00,360 --> 00:23:03,949 And so that God has already, has already gone before us here and is 474 00:23:03,949 --> 00:23:06,589 passing through with these two things to show us that what is to come. 475 00:23:08,150 --> 00:23:10,330 And I love, I love this idea. 476 00:23:10,330 --> 00:23:10,670 Why? 477 00:23:10,679 --> 00:23:17,290 Because think of the covenant that we have to sign or that Jesus signed for us. 478 00:23:19,235 --> 00:23:20,615 Think about it, and then look at verse 18. 479 00:23:21,025 --> 00:23:22,825 Um, or in, uh, sorry, verse 17. 480 00:23:23,495 --> 00:23:25,785 Does it say that Abram passed through the pieces? 481 00:23:27,635 --> 00:23:28,355 It was just God. 482 00:23:30,485 --> 00:23:32,915 The certainty of this covenant was locked in. 483 00:23:33,684 --> 00:23:34,704 And this, it would not fail. 484 00:23:34,704 --> 00:23:34,954 Why? 485 00:23:34,974 --> 00:23:36,384 Because God cannot fail. 486 00:23:37,455 --> 00:23:41,345 And then on, on top of that, God is the one that signs it for both of us. 487 00:23:42,335 --> 00:23:42,845 Because why? 488 00:23:42,905 --> 00:23:44,184 Because we weren't good enough. 489 00:23:44,184 --> 00:23:44,304 Why? 490 00:23:44,325 --> 00:23:46,305 We weren't righteous enough. 491 00:23:46,305 --> 00:23:49,385 We weren't worthy enough to be able to sign and set a deal that 492 00:23:49,385 --> 00:23:52,315 puts us in a place of, well, we're going to be faithful to you, God. 493 00:23:52,415 --> 00:23:54,255 We're going to be, we're going to be all in for you. 494 00:23:54,365 --> 00:23:59,424 When God has always been all in for us, because we weaken, we waver, right? 495 00:23:59,475 --> 00:24:00,274 Just like Abram. 496 00:24:00,464 --> 00:24:01,894 We're human in that way. 497 00:24:02,055 --> 00:24:03,124 We have imperfect faith. 498 00:24:03,124 --> 00:24:06,725 So why would we make a covenant with God to be faithful for him forever? 499 00:24:08,965 --> 00:24:11,515 When we can't even, we can't even stand on our own two feet sometimes. 500 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:17,419 God is the one that steps and passes through this covenant to show us that 501 00:24:17,550 --> 00:24:19,260 he is the one that will not fail. 502 00:24:20,199 --> 00:24:22,579 He puts his deity on the line for us. 503 00:24:23,799 --> 00:24:25,169 He puts his sovereignty on the line. 504 00:24:25,189 --> 00:24:25,379 Why? 505 00:24:25,379 --> 00:24:28,270 Because he understands that if, like I said, if we were the ones to 506 00:24:28,270 --> 00:24:29,289 do it, it would not be fulfilled. 507 00:24:29,289 --> 00:24:32,389 But with him, it is always possible with him. 508 00:24:32,389 --> 00:24:35,960 There's always hope in the same sense. 509 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:39,689 Because think of God the Father walking through the broken body of Jesus. 510 00:24:40,675 --> 00:24:42,735 to establish his covenant with us. 511 00:24:43,575 --> 00:24:44,745 God signed it for both of us. 512 00:24:44,745 --> 00:24:50,085 Like I said, we merely enter into this covenant by faith because we 513 00:24:50,085 --> 00:24:51,045 didn't make the covenant of God. 514 00:24:51,084 --> 00:24:52,455 God made it with us. 515 00:24:52,834 --> 00:24:56,725 Jesus went ahead of us and before us to make this covenant and sacrifice 516 00:24:56,725 --> 00:25:00,095 himself for us because we could not, we could not be the perfect sacrifice. 517 00:25:02,754 --> 00:25:05,024 God desires our redemption. 518 00:25:07,885 --> 00:25:09,945 That's been his plan all along. 519 00:25:10,765 --> 00:25:14,505 Since the moment that man fell in the garden of Eden, since we got kicked 520 00:25:14,505 --> 00:25:17,625 out of the garden because we had things that we had desired other than 521 00:25:17,625 --> 00:25:22,804 Him, God has been fighting for us to get us back into the garden, to be 522 00:25:22,804 --> 00:25:25,485 in peace, to be at harmony with Him. 523 00:25:26,745 --> 00:25:31,924 God has been orchestrating everything for us to be with Him. 524 00:25:33,584 --> 00:25:36,095 And think about it, we enter this new covenant today that we live 525 00:25:36,095 --> 00:25:38,555 in because of Jesus, because of Jesus sacrifice on the cross. 526 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:42,840 And the trust and the confidence that we have that God will and 527 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:48,299 still and always will love us and that his promises will never fail. 528 00:25:49,710 --> 00:25:50,570 I want to encourage you. 529 00:25:50,570 --> 00:25:52,039 This is your first time hearing about this. 530 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:54,090 You're like, what is this redemption that he's talking about? 531 00:25:54,300 --> 00:25:57,929 It's the idea of you being one with God and you being surrendered to 532 00:25:57,929 --> 00:26:04,270 living a life for God that Jesus is Lord and understanding that you 533 00:26:04,290 --> 00:26:05,679 couldn't pay the price for your sin. 534 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:06,779 So he did it for you. 535 00:26:06,845 --> 00:26:11,705 Yeah, whether you were aware of it or not, whether you like it or not, 536 00:26:11,735 --> 00:26:16,205 it happened, but it's not because it's like, Hey, I'm gonna show you 537 00:26:16,205 --> 00:26:17,465 how much greater I am than you. 538 00:26:17,555 --> 00:26:22,445 No, it's just 'cause how much he loves you, how much he desires to be with you. 539 00:26:23,675 --> 00:26:28,775 The creati, the creator, desires to be with his created, even though we decide 540 00:26:28,775 --> 00:26:34,655 sometimes that we don't want to be, but we need to have faith at some capacity. 541 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:39,090 To know and to trust that God desires our redemption. 542 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,710 God desires to see us all with Him. 543 00:26:43,370 --> 00:26:45,290 God desires us all to be with Him. 544 00:26:45,780 --> 00:26:46,550 But you know what? 545 00:26:47,129 --> 00:26:51,030 He loves you so much that He lets it be your choice. 546 00:26:52,239 --> 00:26:54,380 He puts it on you to decide. 547 00:26:57,340 --> 00:27:00,400 That's the kind of love that has no boundaries. 548 00:27:01,750 --> 00:27:05,100 That's the kind of love that we need to have with one another. 549 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:13,149 The kind of love that doesn't control, that doesn't speak out of, of a place 550 00:27:13,149 --> 00:27:17,300 that, you know, that fills our own desires, our own needs, but from a 551 00:27:17,300 --> 00:27:21,020 place that desires to see each and every one of us redeemed before God. 552 00:27:22,329 --> 00:27:23,060 That's why we're here. 553 00:27:23,060 --> 00:27:23,930 That's why we're gathered. 554 00:27:24,579 --> 00:27:25,330 I mean, think about it. 555 00:27:25,379 --> 00:27:27,610 Each and every one of us comes from different walks of life, 556 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:32,340 but God has redeemed so many of us in this room from things that 557 00:27:32,340 --> 00:27:33,550 we couldn't save ourselves from. 558 00:27:35,965 --> 00:27:38,975 And like I said, even when you didn't believe in him, even when 559 00:27:38,975 --> 00:27:43,825 you didn't believe in yourself, God desired your redemption. 560 00:27:45,805 --> 00:27:50,474 And so we must find the faith and the confidence to 561 00:27:50,474 --> 00:27:52,395 trust in the covenant of God. 562 00:27:53,655 --> 00:27:55,005 That's where we get our confidence from. 563 00:27:55,005 --> 00:27:58,015 Why do we, it's like some of us will be like, you know, asking like Dallas, 564 00:27:58,035 --> 00:28:01,055 why are you so confident that, you know, God will come through for you? 565 00:28:01,265 --> 00:28:03,355 Why are you so confident that God might be faithful to you? 566 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:06,800 Because of his promises. 567 00:28:07,580 --> 00:28:09,630 Because he put his deity on the line for me. 568 00:28:10,930 --> 00:28:18,590 He allowed himself to be the one to set the record straight that he is so in love 569 00:28:18,590 --> 00:28:24,640 with me and with us that he doesn't give up on us even when we give up on him. 570 00:28:26,900 --> 00:28:31,290 So I want to encourage us today, church that the confidence you feel 571 00:28:31,750 --> 00:28:33,630 shouldn't be coming from your own self. 572 00:28:34,730 --> 00:28:36,060 It shouldn't come from your works. 573 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,080 Like I said, showing up to church is great. 574 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:41,030 Being in Bible studies is great. 575 00:28:41,100 --> 00:28:43,170 Having devoted times with God in prayer is great. 576 00:28:43,249 --> 00:28:43,809 Absolutely. 577 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:49,180 But it's all for naught if we don't have faith in the one that is unfailing. 578 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:52,019 In God, who is unwavering. 579 00:28:52,789 --> 00:28:55,610 Who doesn't weaken or lower his love for us. 580 00:28:55,820 --> 00:28:56,240 Amen. 581 00:28:58,710 --> 00:29:02,820 So just to recap, God is the fulfillment of our greatest need. 582 00:29:02,820 --> 00:29:02,834 Amen. 583 00:29:03,785 --> 00:29:06,395 God can work with imperfect faith. 584 00:29:07,295 --> 00:29:10,465 And God desires our redemption. 585 00:29:13,385 --> 00:29:18,184 Let us have confidence in the covenant that God has gone before 586 00:29:18,185 --> 00:29:23,135 us to love us and to be redeemed and to have us be redeemed with him. 587 00:29:23,235 --> 00:29:23,615 Amen. 588 00:29:24,475 --> 00:29:27,205 Before we have a final song, I'm just going to go on and pray and then 589 00:29:27,205 --> 00:29:27,935 we'll have the worship team come up. 590 00:29:31,365 --> 00:29:33,414 Father God, thank you so much for today. 591 00:29:34,425 --> 00:29:38,805 Father, we are so grateful in the ways that you have redeemed us. 592 00:29:39,785 --> 00:29:43,314 God, we know and we, we continue to fight to know and to 593 00:29:43,315 --> 00:29:45,145 understand how much you love us. 594 00:29:45,735 --> 00:29:50,204 And though it may be an infinite scale, an infinite spectrum, God, that we see it on. 595 00:29:50,204 --> 00:29:52,614 And though we're finite beings, I pray that we can just continue 596 00:29:52,615 --> 00:29:54,855 to grasp how much you do love us. 597 00:29:55,255 --> 00:29:57,315 That you want to be the fulfillment of our needs. 598 00:29:57,835 --> 00:30:00,295 That you work with us, even in our imperfect faith. 599 00:30:00,935 --> 00:30:02,875 And God, that you desire to see us redeemed. 600 00:30:02,905 --> 00:30:05,285 And I know, God, that sometimes we, we can count ourselves 601 00:30:05,285 --> 00:30:06,455 out and want to disqualify us. 602 00:30:06,535 --> 00:30:10,555 But Father, I just pray and hope that we can be confident, 603 00:30:10,565 --> 00:30:12,235 not in ourselves, but in you. 604 00:30:12,775 --> 00:30:13,835 And in your promises. 605 00:30:14,555 --> 00:30:17,885 Father, we are so grateful to be here, and that you have chosen 606 00:30:17,925 --> 00:30:20,635 us to be redeemed with you. 607 00:30:21,335 --> 00:30:25,465 God, I pray that we can just take this into our weeks, God, as we just, we 608 00:30:25,475 --> 00:30:29,205 really focus on our lives and our actions and the way we think and the way we 609 00:30:29,205 --> 00:30:32,855 speak, God, and speak not from a place of our own confidence, but confidence 610 00:30:32,855 --> 00:30:37,215 in You, and to live out our faith, and to live out this journey of faith, God, 611 00:30:37,215 --> 00:30:39,695 because of Your great and unending love. 612 00:30:40,255 --> 00:30:40,985 We love You, God. 613 00:30:41,075 --> 00:30:42,865 Thank You for this day and this service. 614 00:30:42,955 --> 00:30:44,845 Please bless the rest of it and bless our days. 615 00:30:44,845 --> 00:30:45,875 We pray in Jesus name. 616 00:30:45,915 --> 00:30:46,235 Amen.