10 Dec Isaac VS Ishmael: Child of Promise VS Child of Flesh
Pastor Vincent - 24 October 2013
Pray To Receive Transcending Power
Do you like to pray? Are you always bringing your problems and heart's most concerned to God, wanting to receive answers from Him? Do you often find that the spirit remains unchanged even after praying, and you find it pointless to continue praying? Actually, we often pray with the wrong focus and according to how we feel. Man is created by God and only when we meditate on the Words that gives life that we will experience transformation in the spirit. Prayer has to start from the truth, and only when you look into the words can you receive answers in life. And a person who enjoys prayer (communion with God) is truly one who does not pray out of habits but rather, she wakes up each day realizing that she needs to pray for she needs God. This is humility - her spirit is teachable, she hears the loving voice of God and she learns to trust God and follow His guidance. Word and prayer go hand in hand, know the word and in your prayers, confirm the word until it becomes your second nature - when the word is in your sub-consciousness, you are in a state of continued prayer. Man is created by God and only when we meditate on the Words that gives life that we will experience transformation in the spirit. Prayer has to start from the truth, and only when you look into the words can you receive answers in life. And a person who enjoys prayer (communion with God) is truly one who does not pray out of habits but rather, she wakes up each day realizing that she needs to pray for she needs God. This is humility - her spirit is teachable, she hears the loving voice of God and she learns to trust God and follow His guidance. May the Lord give us breakthrough in our prayer life.
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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