Genesis 12:1-5 & Hebrew 11:8

Introduction: Throughout God’s Word we see that the promises of God are aquired by man through faith and obedience. Such as Noah, who believed the promises of God and prepared an ark and was saved. We also see those that did not believe and were disobedient and perished. (He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, he that believeth not shall be damned.”).

I. The Bibical account of God’s dealing with Abraham and Sarah is one of the most powerful and revealing records of God’s love and plan for man.
A. God’s expectations of man’s response to His promises.

B. In God’s call to Abraham–God made explicit promises to him and his seed (Gen. 12:1).

C. He told Abraham that it would be a walk of faith (Abraham went out NOT KNOWING where he went).

D. When Abraham obeyed–God immediately began to make promises to him.

II. The promises of God to Abraham are seen in three basic groups:

A. That he would be the father of many nations (Gen. 17:5).

B. That he and his descendants would have a promise land to dwell in (Gen. 17:8).

C. That through his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen 15:4).

III. The plan of God involves His promises and man’s response to those promises. To be in the will of God one must respond to the promises of God.

IV. The Priniciple of Promise.

A. God desires to have a relationship with man.

B. Every man has a free will.

C. God presents promises to man–and man either responds or rejects those promises.

V. Some of God’s promises are conditional and some are unconditional.

A. Unconditional promise: “I will…..”

B. Conditional promise: “If you will…I will…”

VI. THIS IS WHAT FAITH IS ALL ABOUT–A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!

VII. The act of faith to the promises of God is seen in three areas:

A. God’s Word is true. This is the basis of faith toward God. (Ps. 119:89, Matt. 24:35).

B. Since some promises are not immediately available, a person must faithfully wait on their fulfillment (an area where many fail). “They that WAIT upon the Lord…”

C. The third area is our response to receive the promised blessing (James 2:14-26). Scriptural faith includes obedience; we show faith by doing what God tells us to do in His Word.

VIII. The Purpose of waiting on God.

A. Some promises are for us at this moment, such as salvation, healing, guidance. Some promises, however, are for later, such as the Rapture and heaven. Even promises for us today sometimes do not happen immediately. God may delay an answer to test and strengthen our faith.

B. The time of waiting for the promised victory may be the most difficult test of all.

C. I Peter 5:10.

IX. Abraham’s Faith.

A. Obeying the call.

B. Trusting in the call. C. Isaac–the great test of faith. (Genesis 22:12, Hebrews
11:19).

X. Faith does not cause any person to boast, for it is based not on what we can do but rather what God can do.

XI. Sarah’s Faith (she is listed in Hebrews 11).

A. Claiming the promise.

1. Claim: “to possess what is promised, to receive what God is desiring to give.”

B. Hebrews 11:11–“judged him faithful who had promised.”

XII. God’s promises to the church.

A. Peter walking on the water–by invitation.

B. To receive the Holy Ghost–by invitation.

XIII. For Revival.

A. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19 ).

B. Proverbs 27:18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored. James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he
receive the early and latter rain.

XIV. For Redemption.
A. Hebrews 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

B. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

XV. The conditional promises of God will avail us nothing without our response.

A. John 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

XVI. A church that can respond in faith to God can have all that heaven has promised!

A. Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

CALVARY APOSTOLIC TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDY
Pastor: James L. Groce