Abram to Abraham: The Covenant of Circumcision

Abram to Abraham: The Covenant of Circumcision

Preacher Huijun - 9 January 2016

Practically Enter Into New Progress

It is another new year. We just bid farewell to 2015 and now we are at 2016, a new year. Have you ever felt that, despite wanting to start anew all over again in this new year, certain things just continue to follow us and weigh us down in life? In Isaiah 43, God said, "forgot the former things, do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing!.. do you not perceive it?" Why is it that we're always unable to have a breakthrough in the old failures, old problems and old mindset; and why is it that we are unable to see the new things that God claims He's doing? The answer could be very simple. We could be still putting the new wine into the old wineskins. We could still be holding onto our fixated mindset about people and things, the condemnation we have programmed into ourselves that guarantees failure and inferiority , the beliefs that magnify our weakness more than the omnipotence of Christ the Savior. We could be so used to holding onto them, to the point of making them absolute and truth in our lives. As a result, we do not see the new things that God's doing, because we are so "trapped and locked" in our own fixated assumptions. Yet, God is doing a new thing even when we're holding onto our "old" because His promise stands forever, and His mercies and grace are new every morning! Since God gives us new grace, rather than drowning ourselves in the voices of the Evil that we will still be the same, start taking practical actions by putting our lives into new wineskins today! God is giving us new grace, new mercy, new heart, new doors, new challenges, new tests this year. Believe, and start praying deeper in His promise so that we begin doing, confirming and living in the promise of God in the daily fields He sends us today!

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Abram to Abraham:
The Covenant of Circumcision


In the midst of worldly busyness and distractions, it is not easy to keep remembering and trusting God’s promises. Thus, God often uses His word and our life events to remind us and help us confirm His promises. The best part of God’s covenant is a special relationship with Him, where He assures us, saying, “I will be your God.” While it is wonderful to have God on our side, such covenantal relationship with God also implies certain obligations we have toward Him. This change of identity should also change our perspective such that we live in a way which is fitting with His grace of salvation. 

 Verses to read:
<
Genesis 17:1-23>

1. Change of name (identity)

  • v5: Abram (“exalted father”) >>> Abraham: (“father of many”)
  • v15: Sarai >>> Sarah
  • Name affects a person
  • Name shapes perspective and behaviour
  • Changed names so can remember and dispel unbelief
  • After name change: God’s perspective >>> our fixed perspective
  • Forget old name, register new name, and live in a fitting way

2. God’s covenant also involves man’s obedience

1) “Walk before me faithfully and be blameless” <v1>

  • Walk before God, not man, nor self
  • Man sins due to very low view of God
  • Remember that God is Almighty <v1> >>> Trust and fear Him

2) Sign of covenant: Circumcision

  • Outward sign of inward faith
  • Reminder of obligations to God
  • Similar to New Testament baptism
  • Put away old self
  • Be set apart
  • Circumcision of the heart more important:
    <Deut 10:16> “Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.”
  • Irreversible: Permanent bond between God and His people

3) Obey promptly

  • <Genesis 17:26> Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day.

4) Do not let doubts hinder obedience

  • Don’t trust our doubts more than we trust God!

5) God demands total commitment

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Preacher Hui Jun
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Huijun serves as Secretary of The Blessed RUN Ministries. She is also the Preacher at The Life Church and Missions (Singapore). She graduated from Singapore Bible College and currently lives in Singapore with her husband, Chengji.

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