What's In A Name?

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“What’s in a Name?” - Pastor Joe Ricchuiti
Reference: Genesis 17:1-15 and Psalm 107:23

I. A new name vv. 1-8

II. A new sign vv. 9-14

III. A new son vv. 15-22

IV. A new obedience vv. 23-27

Recap of July 27, 2008:
1. “God’s opportunity does not come until man’s extremity is reached. This is a lesson we sorely need to take to heart, for it is of great practical importance. The Lord has a reason for all His delays. God not only does that which is right and best but He always acts at the right and best time.” (A. W. Pink)
2. God had to wait to fulfill His promises until Abram and Sarai had gotten to the end of themselves, “at their wit’s end” (Psalm 107:23-32), so to speak.
3. God introduced Himself to Abram with the name “God Almighty” (El Shaddai), which means “the God Who is sufficient.” He has the might to accomplish all He promises, so that He is sufficient for my crisis/challenge, my marriage, my family/children, my needs, my career, and my hopes and dreams.
4. God calls Abram to complete surrender. He is not interested in half-hearted obedience.
5. Abram’s obedience was immediate (vv. 23-27). It is not enough to say that we love God, to sing it or to pray it. We must show it in our actions. (Lawrence Richards)

Waiting Inpatiently

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Today's message is from Genesis 16:1 - 15
A recap of the notes is as follows:

July 20, 2008:

1. Dr. Allen Ross identifies in Abraham, in Genesis 1,6 a cycle of events which occur when we get impatient over God’s delays:
-there are moments of weakness, which lead to
-alternative plans (to God’s) not characterized by faith, which result in
-human efforts to assist God in fulfilling His promises, which causes
-complications in our lives

2. When we take matters into our own hands and do not wait for God:
-we fail to take proper leadership
-we hurt those we love
-we hurt those we use
-we cause lingering complications in our lives and the lives of others

Faith Conquers Fear, Part 2

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The sermon recap from July 13, 2008:

1. In tough situations of delay or discouragement we must remember Whose we are. God will protect us and provide for us. “God is our protection and provision, so we need not fear the enemy without or our feelings within.” (Warren Wiersbe)
2. God had to once again get Abram to look up (vs. 5 cp. with Genesis 13:4). We are too often focused on ourselves, our circumstances, or those around us; all the while God is trying to get us focused on Him and His blessings/promises.
3. The Hebrew word translated “believe” in vs. 6 is related to the word translated “amen.” To believe is to say amen to what God has said.
4. Paul uses Genesis 15:6 in Romans 4:1-5,20-24 and Galatians 3:6-9 to illustrate the great truth that justification (a standing of positive righteousness in God’s sight-God sees us with the righteousness of Jesus) on the basis of faith, not on the basis of works. We began the Christian life by faith and we continue to please God by faith, not by works.
5. “Faith gave Abraham his security. God would be Abraham’s protector; God would prosper his life; God would take fear from Abraham’s heart and give him courage.” (Life Application Bible)

Faith Conquers Fear

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Selecting today's sermon will open a file of the July 6th sermon already in progress.

Recap from July 6, 2008:

1. In Chapter 15 Abram is fearful. His fear may have been caused by: fear of reprisal by the Eastern Kings he had just raided; by second thoughts about having refused the spoils of the victory of Chapter 14; or by the delay of God giving him a child, on which the promises of God hinged.
2. As God does throughout the Scripture for His people, He encouraged Abram (other Scriptures where God encouraged the discouraged are John 9:35 and Acts 23:11).
3. God told Abram to focus on Him. He was his shield (protection, safety) and his reward (no earthly material gain could compare with what Abram had in God).
4. When we find ourselves fearful and discouraged we are, in effect, doubting God’s character and His provision for us. Abram was “… as safe as God Himself could keep Him” and “… as happy as God Himself could make him.” (Matthew Henry)