10 Dec Isaac VS Ishmael: Child of Promise VS Child of Flesh
Preacher Huijun - 15 October 2015
Not Letter, But Love
What kind of heart do you carry with yourself as you read the Word of God? The heart you carry determines the reactions that will unfold in your life, after reading the Word. Some people bring an accused heart into reading the Word, knowing that the Word has said it all, yet she is helpless in achieving it. What she should do she does not, what she should not do she does all the times. Instead of getting comfort from the Word that spells love to the heart, the accused heart causes her to unable receive grace, assurance and support from God. God wants us to restore the heart of sonship as we read the Word. He desires us to enjoy being a child of God, and thus enjoy full freedom and reconciliation with God as we seek to find Him (and His directions) through His Word. The Word is not emphasizing the set of laws to uphold but more importantly, the love of God that covers all multitude of sins. Therefore, as we read it with a heart of Child, the love that outflows from God's Word will renew and deepen our love for God increasingly, until we desire to be holy and blameless, just like Christ. Dear brethren, don't be discouraged by our failures. Instead, fight the residual lukewarmness and doubts towards God's love by knowing the love of God the way it should be, not the way we want it to be. The letter of God spells love in all its core. Taste the love.
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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