September 08, 2024

FAITH WORTH FOLLOWING: THE FAITH THAT DOUBTS

September 08, 2024

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

We are continuing the new series from Genesis, with our focus today on Abraham (Abram, until chapter 17). We tend to assume that the Bible would showcase men and women who show an incredible faith in God, and seldom do anything wrong—but we know that is not the case. Genesis to Revelation is filled with people just like us, who have periods of strong faith, mountain top experiences, and ‘beauty for ashes.’ But they also have times of doubt, sin, or low valleys that nearly topple their faith—or, as with Abraham, times of following the advice of a wife that not only lands the man himself in trouble but creates disastrous results that continue for generations. Repentance is the key to those times of doubt.

 

Focal Passages: Genesis, Chapters 15-17.

The Promise of God:

  • Read Gen. 15:1-7. What were “these things” referred to in vs 1? What had Abraham just done (Gen. 14)? Have you ever had the experience of defeating an enemy or bully at school? What were you afraid might happen next? Do you think Abraham was any different? Why would he have been fearful that the kings would attack?
  • What did God say to him? Imagine God personally saying to you, “Do not be afraid. I am your shield…and reward”; how would you feel? Does Scripture tell us to not be afraid? What else? Why do we still fear? Are we lacking trust in God when we doubt?
  • Is Abraham’s response proper? We miss body-language, but how would he have said this? Does it sound as though he is having a “But You…” moment? Does God reply directly to Abraham’s complaint? What does God promise? Does he believe it?
  • How did God view his belief? Read vv. 7- 8. What was His promise to Abraham? How did Abraham respond? Did he seem to be doubting? Why did God repeat His plan in 15:18? What is a covenant? Were there conditions? Is that covenant still in effect?

The Faith That Doubts:                                                                                                                                       

Makes its own way:

  • Read Gen. 16:3-4. Ten years pass; is it any wonder that Sarai gets discouraged? What did she do? How often do you try to fix something when God takes too long?
  • What happened next? Why did Abraham agree to Sarai’s plan? What should he have done? Was the faith of each of them suffering from the years going by?

Leads to bitterness:

  • Read Gen. 16:5-6. Why did Sarai react in anger that her plan for a child had gone awry? What were the reasons Sarai dealt harshly with Hagar?
  • Hagar seems to have problems, also. Why did she show disdain to her mistress?

Questions the impossible:

  • Read Gen. 17:17-18. How long has it been since God originally told Abraham he would be a father? When Abraham was 99, God appeared again and gave him the covenant promise for the 3rd How does Abraham respond? Why did he want Ishmael to be chosen? Do you think he was still doubting God’s promise?
  • How old was Sarah when she had Isaac? If Muhammad was indeed (as it is thought) descended through Ishmael, what pain has that caused the world? Why was Abraham’s doubt so devastating?

Can ultimately turn you from God:

  • Read Gen. 18:10-15. God said He would return again. How long before He would be back? How did Sarah respond to God? What else did she do that was sinful?
  • What did her reaction show? Did they both show by their responses that they did not consider God able to pull this plan off?
  • While we may not laugh at God’s ability to do whatever He has promised, how do we give up when we feel the time frame has “expired” on our prayers?
  • What steps can we take to trust God even when the prayers seem unanswered?

ACTION POINTS:

  • Long for His promises: Stay in the Word, absorb His promises, trust Him always.
  • Don’t second guess God’s plans: If Satan throws a doubt at you, repent! Trust Him.
  • When He says jump, say “How high?”: Step out in faith no matter how hard the journey. What you think will stop you, will never be able to. Trust Him!

Close:   The mother of St. Augustine, the theologian of the fourth century, prayed for her son every day for seventeen years because she cared desperately that he be saved and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He did come to salvation and credited his mother’s prayers as being the catalyst that brought it about. She prayed even longer—perhaps, it is said, for thirty years—for her husband’s salvation. We as parents can find much encouragement in long-standing prayers that eventually are answered after years or decades. At the same time, we often pray—sometimes with others—for something to occur when it is causing us deep grief, and our prayers are fervent and, we hope, effectual. We have God’s promise that these prayers avail much (Jas. 5:16). When nothing happens, and the pain continues, we sometimes get discouraged, not doubting that God can do it, but that He will. We may even stop praying. Don’t doubt God. If you do, repent. He is the almighty One—the One who created the world and all that is in it. He holds it all together. Trust Him. He will bring the impossible to pass in His time. Wait patiently for the Lord!

 

By Sandy Day

September 08, 2024

/by