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God’s Promises Help Overcome Fear Genesis 15

God’s Promises Help Overcome Fear Genesis 15. Life is a journey of victories and setbacks. We experience growth and blessing in our walk with the Lord, but then something happens that cause doubts to creep in.

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God’s Promises Help Overcome Fear Genesis 15

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  1. God’s Promises Help Overcome FearGenesis 15 Life is a journey of victories and setbacks. We experience growth and blessing in our walk with the Lord, but then something happens that cause doubts to creep in. Confident, decisive, courageous actions turn to fearful, weak, and uncertain reactions. Abram faced similar fears.

  2. Why would Abram have become fearful? Background: Abram’s confrontation with his nephew Lot (Ch.13) Dispute between Abram’s servants and Lot’s servants over the grazing land Genesis 13:8 (NIV) - Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers.

  3. Abram was a man of godly character. • Abram offers Lot first choice of the land • Abram didn’t balk at Lot’s selfishness • Abram demonstrates self-denial, self-control, and self-sacrifice Trouble for Lot (Ch.14) War between kings in the region. Lot and his family taken captive. Abram sets out to rescue Lot.  No grudges; no bitterness against Lot

  4. Abram demonstrated what grace and mercy look like. We as New Testament Christians are called to demonstrate the same grace to others Luke 6:35–36 (NIV) - But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

  5. Galatians 6:10 (NIV) - Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Abram meets two kings on his return from battle: • Melchizedek – king of Salem and priest of God Most High • Offers a tithe of all his plunder • Bera – king of Sodom • Reject his offer to keep all the spoils

  6. Genesis 14:22–23 (NIV) - “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ His decision was a testimony so that there would be no doubt who Abram worshipped “the Lord, God Most High – Creator of heaven and earth.”

  7. Genesis 15:1 [NKJV] - “After these things…” Time can often be our worst enemy when it comes to faith. We bask in the spiritual victory over hardships but as time goes on, we tend to forget about God’s power that helped us through the challenge. As time goes on we let doubt creep in.

  8. Abram – reflecting back on those earlier events: • Risk of retaliation from the defeated kings • Risk of lack of food for his flocks and herds • Risk of no descendants as he gets older Abram begins to doubt and allows fear and anxiety to take over. God reassures Abram and affirms his promises to him.

  9. 1. Do not fear, Abram – I am your shield Genesis 15:1 (NIV) - After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield…” Abram’s fear of retaliation by the neighbouring pagan kings…  God’s promise: “I am your shield” Proverbs 30:5 (NIV) - “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. We find our security in our God He is our “shield” – the one who protects us.

  10. 2. Do not fear, Abram – I am your reward Genesis 15:1 (NIV) - “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am … your very great reward.” “reward”  a mercenary’s payment or a soldier’s plunder. Abram’s fear that the land may not be able to sustain his flocks and herds…  God’s promise: “I am your reward” We serve a God who provides. One of his names is Jehovah JirehGod will provide.

  11. 3. Do not fear, Abram – You will have a son Abram had not seen any of God’s promises become a reality yet. Abram cries out to God: Genesis 15:2,3 (NIV) - “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?...You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

  12. God responds to Abram’s fear and doubt: Genesis 15:4,5 (NIV) - Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

  13. God responded to Abram with reassurance Abram would have a son – his own son that would be his heir. God quiets Abram’s insecurity and dissipates his fears. Genesis 15:6 (NIV) - Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. God honoured Abram’s faith!

  14. Abram’s faith saved him. Apostle Paul cites Abram as the example that personal salvation comes only through faith. Romans 4:20–22 (NIV) -Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

  15. Romans 4:23–5:1 (NIV) - The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

  16. When it comes to overcoming fear and trusting in God’s promises, one of the hardest things to do is WAIT. Abram demonstrates impatience: Genesis 15:7–8 (NIV) – [God says] “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” God reaffirms his covenant with Abram. For Abram to trust that God would keep his promises he had to learn to WAIT.

  17. There are over 50 references where the Bible teaches us to wait on the Lord. Psalm 27:14 (NIV) - Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) - But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

  18. 2 Corinthians 1:19–22 (NLT) - For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” …as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” ... It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

  19. Are you facing fears? Give them to the Lord – trust in his promises and learn to wait on him. Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV) - Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

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