10 Dec Isaac VS Ishmael: Child of Promise VS Child of Flesh
Preacher Huijun - 26 June 2014
Receive Added Grace By Responding To God-Given Grace
Salvation is God-driven, it is God who chose us before the creation of the world and personally revealed Himself to us so that we can hear and believe in the truth. However, sometimes, we tend to compromise with our flesh, thinking that since God is the one who saves us, there's nothing we need to do anymore because God will do all. While God's love to us is irrevocable, to enjoy this grace and anointing from God to the fullest, children of God need to participate in this relationship by reciprocating (obeying) to God, completing the whole course of our faith and enjoy added grace. Through the message today, may we see the Eli in us (although the truth was made known to him, he remained indifferent and did not take the word seriously) and trigger the desire in us to want to be like Samuel (believe and ready to obey) more and more in each day of our lives.
From Series: "All English Service"
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No Problem Too Big If You Obey14 November 2013 |
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Respond In Faith To God's Faithfulness28 November 2013 |
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Winning Formula Vs Recipe For Failure16 January 2014 |
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Let The Pure Gospel Transform Your Inclinations20 March 2014 |
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Match Your Spiritual State With The Truth27 March 2014 |
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Go Deeper Into A Gospel-Directed Life19 June 2014 |
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Receive Added Grace By Responding To God-Given Grace26 June 2014 |
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Understanding Christian Paradoxes3 July 2014 |
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Find Hope In Hopelessness14 August 2014 |
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Confirm Your Calling And Election: Grow In Christian Virtues13 November 2014 |
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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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