Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Abraham has an awesome experience with God
• This comes off the back of the previous two chapters when Abram and Sarai try to take matters into their own hands and cause problems
• God does not speak to Abraham for 13 years
• He speaks to the slave girl Hagar but not to Abraham
• God restores Abram
• Many have fallen as they have put their family before God
• One big reason for the delay was to magnify God

God's Delays

• Was God disciplining Abram for 13 years?
• The fault is not on God's side
• Abram learned to walk by faith and not by sight during this time
• Rom 4:19
• Are we too self-centered and rob God of His glory?
• As we wait upon God we need to learn patience and humility
• We pray for God to do the 'impossible' work that we cannot do
• Perseverance is producing character which produces hope
• God has a purpose in His delays
• We forget that much of the Bible is written with passages of time in between chapters

God's Self Revelation

• Almighty God - El Shaddai
• Abram fell on his face
• The Almighty God condescended to speak to a mortal man
• Abram had no Bible
• God spoke audibly to him
• We have the complete revelation
• "Walk before Me"
• Be concerned about your relationship with Me
• There was purpose in this walk, but also a pleasurable walk
• "Be blameless"
• Can a sinner walk in a holy way?
• "Be Holy, for I am Holy"
• No wonder Abram fell on his face
• Abram is called to honour and trust God every day
• We need a relationship with God
• Consider example of John Bunion and John Flavor
• We need to know God in a deeper way

The Covenant with Abraham

• In chapter 15 Abram believed in God and it was credited to him as righteousness
• It was a covenant of grace
• In chapter 17 the requirement of circumcision is given
• Still all the promises are given
• v12-14
• If you are not circumcised then you are not part of the covenant
• Rom 4:9
• Circumcision was an outward marker
• There is spiritual meaning in it
• Abraham was justified righteous before he was uncircumcised (4:10)
• Circumcision was a seal, an assurance (4:11)
• Believers baptism is a declaration that we are a Christian before the world
• Circumcision of the heart
• "I will"
• There are 7 "I will"
• Fruitful, a nation - v6,
• Establishing the covenant - v7
• Land and to be your God - v8
• Establish the covenant - v19
• Make Ishmael fruitful - v20
• Establish the covenant with Isaac - v21
• It is not to do with the covenant of law but of grace
• They were to keep the covenant
• It was allegiance, loyalty and love
• The spiritual application
• The foreskin was a symbol of the flesh
• Col 2:11 - There is a spiritual circumcision
• The working of the Holy Spirit who comes to a dead heart and gives it life
• Deut 10:15-16 - circumcise your heart, do not be "stiff necked"
• Rom 2:28-29 - circumcision inside, not on the outside
• Circumcision is painful, so is the second birth
• Phil 3:3 - circumcision is not required
• If we are to enter the church of God we must be born again
• Abram was given a new name
• Sarai was given a new name
• If we overcome we will be given a new name
• Every Christian bears a mark of God in their life

Closing Remarks

• Are you born again?
• Have you known circumcision of the heart?