Nadya Suleman, the “Octo-Mom.”

2. Nadya Suleman, the “Octo-Mom.”

3. Nadya Suleman, the “Octo-Mom.” • She gave birth to octuplets on January 26, 2009.

4. Nadya Suleman, the “Octo-Mom.” • She gave birth to octuplets on January 26, 2009. • Concerns have been raised about how she can raised those 8 with the 6 she already had.

5. Nadya Suleman, the “Octo-Mom.” • She gave birth to octuplets on January 26, 2009. • Concerns have been raised about how she can raised those 8 with the 6 she already had. • Controversy has also surrounded Dr. Michael Kamrava, the physician who implanted the embryos.

6. Nadya Suleman, the “Octo-Mom.” • She gave birth to octuplets on January 26, 2009. • Concerns have been raised about how she can raised those 8 with the 6 she already had. • Controversy has also surrounded Dr. Michael Kamrava, the physician who implanted the embryos. • He is being investigated by the Medical Board of California.

7. Nadya Suleman, the “Octo-Mom.” • She gave birth to octuplets on January 26, 2009. • Concerns have been raised about how she can raised those 8 with the 6 she already had. • Controversy has also surrounded Dr. Michael Kamrava, the physician who implanted the embryos. • He is being investigated by the Medical Board of California. • “How could a physician logically implant 8 embryos in 1 woman?”

8. Can you imagine the uproar if Dr. Kamrava implanted a single embryo in a 90 year-old woman?

9. In tonight’s text, God promises a 99 year-old man that his wife is going to conceive a child!!

10. In tonight’s text, God promises a 99 year-old man that his wife is going to conceive a child!! • Genesis 17:1-8.

11. In tonight’s text, God promises a 99 year-old man that his wife is going to conceive a child!! • Genesis 17:1-8. • This text says only a little about Abraham.

12. In tonight’s text, God promises a 99 year-old man that his wife is going to conceive a child!! • Genesis 17:1-8. • This text says only a little about Abraham. • This passage is all about God.

13. In tonight’s text, God promises a 99 year-old man that his wife is going to conceive a child!! • Genesis 17:1-8. • This text says only a little about Abraham. • This passage is all about God. • THE POWERFUL GOD. • THE PROSCRIPTIVE GOD. • THE PROMISING GOD.

14. The Powerful God vv 1, 5c

15. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty’” (v 1, ESV).

16. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty’” (v 1, ESV). • God reveals himself to Abraham as “God Almighty.”

17. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty’” (v 1, ESV). • God reveals himself to Abraham as “God Almighty.” • God has great & awesome power.

18. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty’” (v 1, ESV). • God reveals himself to Abraham as “God Almighty.” • God has great & awesome power. • With his great power, God created the world.

19. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty’” (v 1, ESV). • God reveals himself to Abraham as “God Almighty.” • God has great & awesome power. • With his great power, God created the world. “You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them” (Neh 9:6, ESV).

20. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty’” (v 1, ESV). • God reveals himself to Abraham as “God Almighty.” • God has great & awesome power. • With his great power, God created the world. • With his great power, God led the Israelites out of Egypt.

21. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty’” (v 1, ESV). • God reveals himself to Abraham as “God Almighty.” • God has great & awesome power. • With his great power, God created the world. • With his great power, God led the Israelites out of Egypt. “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (Deut 5:15, ESV).

22. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty’” (v 1, ESV). • God reveals himself to Abraham as “God Almighty.” • God has great & awesome power. • With his great power, God created the world. • With his great power, God led the Israelites out of Egypt. • God is so powerful that he is commonly referred to as the Almighty.

23. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty’” (v 1, ESV). • God reveals himself to Abraham as “God Almighty.” • God has great & awesome power. • With his great power, God created the world. • With his great power, God led the Israelites out of Egypt. • God is so powerful that he is commonly referred to as the Almighty. “The Lord our God the Almighty reigns” (Rv 19:6, ESV).

24. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty’” (v 1, ESV). • God reveals himself to Abraham as “God Almighty.” • God has great & awesome power. • With his great power, God created the world. • With his great power, God led the Israelites out of Egypt. • God is so powerful that he is commonly referred to as the Almighty. • In this passage, God is going to use his great power to enable Abraham & Sarah to have a son.

25. Moses records that God appeared to Abraham when he was 99 years-old.

26. Moses records that God appeared to Abraham when he was 99 years-old. Why would Moses even bother with Abraham’s age?

27. Moses records that God appeared to Abraham when he was 99 years-old. Why would Moses even bother with Abraham’s age? • This shows that God doesn’t always act according to our timeline.

28. Moses records that God appeared to Abraham when he was 99 years-old. Why would Moses even bother with Abraham’s age? • This shows that God doesn’t always act according to our timeline. It has been 24 years since God first made this promise!!

29. Moses records that God appeared to Abraham when he was 99 years-old. Why would Moses even bother with Abraham’s age? • This shows that God doesn’t always act according to our timeline. It has been 24 years since God first made this promise!! • This also shows that God is going to do something extraordinary in allowing Sarah to conceive.

30. Sarah is far beyond child-bearing years.

31. Sarah is far beyond child-bearing years. • Prior to the Flood, people did have children at ages well beyond what is now a normal lifespan.

32. Sarah is far beyond child-bearing years. • Prior to the Flood, people did have children at ages well beyond what is now a normal lifespan. • “When Jared had lived 162 years he fathered Enoch. Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died” (Gen 5:18-20, ESV).

33. Sarah is far beyond child-bearing years. • Prior to the Flood, people did have children at ages well beyond what is now a normal lifespan. • “When Jared had lived 162 years he fathered Enoch. Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died” (Gen 5:18-20, ESV). • While we don’t know how old Jared’s wife (wives?) was, it’s possible that she was quite, quite old.

34. Sarah is far beyond child-bearing years. • Prior to the Flood, people did have children at ages well beyond what is now a normal lifespan. • Yet, after the Flood, the lifespan decreases as do reproductive years.

35. Sarah is far beyond child-bearing years. • Prior to the Flood, people did have children at ages well beyond what is now a normal lifespan. • Yet, after the Flood, the lifespan decreases as do reproductive years. • We know that Sarah was well beyond her reproductive capability.

36. Sarah is far beyond child-bearing years. • Prior to the Flood, people did have children at ages well beyond what is now a normal lifespan. • Yet, after the Flood, the lifespan decreases as do reproductive years. • We know that Sarah was well beyond her reproductive capability. • Abraham laughed: “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, ‘Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?’” (Gn 17:17, ESV).

37. Sarah is far beyond child-bearing years. • Prior to the Flood, people did have children at ages well beyond what is now a normal lifespan. • Yet, after the Flood, the lifespan decreases as do reproductive years. • We know that Sarah was well beyond her reproductive capability. • Abraham laughed. • Sarah also laughed: “So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?’” (Gn 18:12, ESV).

38. Only a God as powerful as our God could cause a 90 year-old woman to conceive!

39. God also tells Abraham: “I have made you the father of a multitude of nations,” (v 5c, ESV).

40. God also tells Abraham: “I have made you the father of a multitude of nations,” (v 5c, ESV). • Notice the use of the perfect tense.

41. God also tells Abraham: “I have made you the father of a multitude of nations,” (v 5c, ESV). • Notice the use of the perfect tense. • God doesn’t say, “I am going to make you the father of a multitude of nations.”

42. God also tells Abraham: “I have made you the father of a multitude of nations,” (v 5c, ESV). • Notice the use of the perfect tense. • God doesn’t say, “I am going to make you the father of a multitude of nations.” • God says, “I have already made you the father of a multitude of nations.”

43. God also tells Abraham: “I have made you the father of a multitude of nations,” (v 5c, ESV). • Notice the use of the perfect tense. • God doesn’t say, “I am going to make you the father of a multitude of nations.” • God says, “I have already made you the father of a multitude of nations.” • God is so powerful that his plan was as good as accomplished.

44. We need to grasp God’s power.

45. God can use his great power to help or to destroy.

46. God can use his great power to help or to destroy. “God has power to help or to cast down” (2 Chr 25:8, ESV).

47. God can use his great power to help or to destroy. “God has power to help or to cast down” (2 Chr 25:8, ESV). • God has great power to help.

48. God can use his great power to help or to destroy. “God has power to help or to cast down” (2 Chr 25:8, ESV). • God has great power to help. • He will use that power when we pray.

49. God can use his great power to help or to destroy. “God has power to help or to cast down” (2 Chr 25:8, ESV). • God has great power to help. • He will use that power when we pray. • Jesus to the disciples: “Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Mt 21:22, ESV).

50. God can use his great power to help or to destroy. “God has power to help or to cast down” (2 Chr 25:8, ESV). • God has great power to help. • He will use that power when we pray. • Jesus to the disciples: “Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Mt 21:22, ESV). • When we face a crisis, do we pray & ask God to use his great power?