10 Dec Isaac VS Ishmael: Child of Promise VS Child of Flesh
Pastor Vincent - 5 February 2015
The Person Of Jesus, The Word Of God
"You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” [Jn 5:39-40] Often, we get so involved into doing the “Works” for God. We preach the gospel when it comes to the weekly scheduled time, we pray because we know that we should seek Lord, we serve in the ministry because we are put in that serving places… But often, after doing all that we’re doing, we have also become less wise, losing more grace, increasingly unable to grasp the sense of Holy Spirit in our lives. Jesus said - You study the scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. You cannot believe anyone’s writing when you do not have the soul of the writing, i.e. Christ. In another word, have we been so absorbed into the visible works and routines even in church-serving, busy schedule of our daily lives that we become less of Christ in doing them? Have we lost the person of Jesus in these? If Jesus is to live in your roles, positions, fields and family, what will he do? He has always been in obedience to the Father, yielding His sovereignty to the Father and following His will in saving the lost sheep - as we continue to know the Word, are we also becoming more like Jesus? Come to have a life with Jesus today. The part of your life which you keep for yourself is also the very place Satan stays to kill, steal and destroy the relationship you have in God. Yield your sovereignty to God instead by connecting, seeing and hearing from the unseen God in every ways and in every things that you do. You’ll be in awed of the infinite love and strength this Father-Son relationship gives you, just like the relationship between the Father God and Jesus. "And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me”. [Jn 5:37]
From Series: "All English Service"
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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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