Isaac VS Ishmael: Child of Promise VS Child of Flesh

10 Dec Isaac VS Ishmael: Child of Promise VS Child of Flesh

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Preacher Huijun - 8 January 2015

Restoring A Gospelised Culture

Christian living is not merely positional, i.e. God doesn’t give us the full gospel and Holy Spirit indwelling just to secure ourselves a place heaven. The grace and love of God is not a direct entrance ticket to heaven when we leave this world. Deeper than this, God’s grace and love are always with us even today, so that we can always meet God in all our situations, propelling us to increasingly abandon our old ways, thinking and nature and start living in the power of gospel at where we are and in all that we’re doing. Christian living is an ongoing self-gospelization process centering on the promise of God and unstoppable help of the Holy Spirit. As we resolve into living out Christ in all of our areas, the full gospel we root ourselves on will also create in us a heart of indebtedness to others, so much so that our hearts are also expanded by this full gospel, and evangelising to our family, closed friends, right to the people who’re different than us. Remnants have to start living in the gospel we’ve listened repeatedly. Before we seek to confirm Lord’s word, they’ll remain theoretical and vague. But as we confirm the Word until it becomes our values and heartbeat, we’ll start to think, decide and act in Christ, bringing a gospel culture around us. The Lord will surely fulfil His Great Commission through the gospel culture we have and through the mutual edification of His children.

Related Topics: Social & Worldview | More Messages from Preacher Huijun

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Isaac VS Ishmael:
Child of Promise VS Child of Flesh


One key message of the Bible is God does not desire His people to rely on themselves but trust Him faithfully, for He will surely deliver His promises and prove His love for us ultimately. Anything in our lives which is incompatible with this gospel will have to go. Although the process of giving up human pride, sins and desires is distressing, it is still wise to obey God, for obedience will be rewarded but disobedience comes with an agonizing price. Moreover, in our faith journey, God’s ever-present grace is with us. However, unbelief often darkens our eyes and prevents us from seeing God. Yet, even in times when we cannot see God’s help, continue to cry out to Him, for He will certainly hear and act.

 Verses to read:
<Gen 21:8-21>

1. Our “Ishmaels” must go!

1) We tend to prefer Ishmael, but it is not the best.

2) Isaac Vs Ishmael.

  • Ishmael: Human efforts, lack of faith [above the line]
  • Isaac: God’s power and faithfulness

<Gal 4> 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 
30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 
31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Rivalry between “Isaac” and “Ishmael” 

  • “Grace/faith vs works”
  • “God’s works vs human efforts”
  • “Spiritual” vs “flesh”

Isaac: Son of the free woman >>> What is true freedom? 

(1) Ability to do what we like [below line]

(2) Final outcome of perfect joy [below line]

  • Ishmael: Son of slave woman [above line]
  • Bound by humanism, not freed from sin’s curse [below line]

“Get rid of the slave woman and her son”:

  • Get rid of all human dependency and pride.
  • Do not add anything to the gospel of “salvation by faith alone in Christ”.

Instead, have the “heart of a son:

  • Assurance of forgiveness and justification.
  • Interpret and go through all things by God’s promises.
  • Spirit of loving God and men.
  • Heart of obedience.

*** Not every church-goer is true child of God.

*** When God’s time comes, the true and counterfeit believers will be distinguished.

2. Obey God despite our distress.

  • Obedience to God is always rewarded.
  • Sin has agonizing price.
  • Merciful God defers punishment.
  • In painfully sending away Ishmael, Abraham gained greater blessing in Isaac.
  • Our distress in giving up sins will lead to greater joy from God.

3. God (Grace) is always present, just that we cannot see.

1) Unbelief dims our eyes.

2) Once eyes are opened, will know what to do without being pushed.

3) Even if cannot see, keep calling out to Him >>>He hears and acts!

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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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