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Part 7-My God is Greater

Genesis 17-18; 21

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Faith’s “Messy” Journey

As we consider Abraham and his journey of faith we see a man with a “messy” journey. He begins well by trusting God and leaving his homeland, but his faith journey also included some pretty big “bumps”. He lies about his wife (twice) because he didn’t trust God to protect him. He fathers a child with Hagar his handmade because he doesn’t trust God to provide for him. Abraham’s faith, much like our own, was messy and immature, yet this morning we will see Abraham’s faith matured as he discovers firsthand that his God is greater.

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BIG IDEA:

My God is Greater

Than Any Circumstances

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hGod Has Given You a GREATER NAME

א�ב�רםAbram

+ המו�ן

sound, crowd =

הםא�ב�ר Abraham “Father of

multitudes”Genesis 17:4-6

יש�ר� Sarai

הש�ר Sarah

slight change in word, but it means princess

or queen

Genesis 17:15-17

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hGod Has Given You a GREATER NAME

• Like Abraham and Sarah, we have been given greater names:– Christian-Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16– Brethren-1 Cor. 15:1, 58 (27 times just in 1

Corinthians)– elect-Col. 3:12– children of God-1 John 3:1-2– holy/saints-1 Corinthians 1:2 (used in 17 NT

books)

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hGod Has Given You AGREATER IDENTITY

GENESIS 17:9-14• Romans 4:11-Circumcision was an outward

sign of Abraham’s already changed heart• Acts 19:1-7-Baptism is an outward sign of an

already changed heart

Our new identity is tied up with our union with Christ• Colossians 2:6-15-Our new identity is “In

Him”

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hGod Has Given You a GREATER REALITY

• God’s Promises are SURE even when we are UNSURE– Genesis 17:17-22-1 John 5:11-13

• God’s Promises are FAITHFUL even when we are FAITHLESS– Genesis 18:1-15-2 Timothy 2:11-13

• God’s Promises are HOPE even when we are HOPELESS – Genesis 21:1-7-2 Thess. 4:13-18

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hHave You Lost Sight of God’s Greatness?

So often we are overwhelmed by the tyranny of the urgent and overcome by the circumstances of this life. Our gaze becomes fixated on the temporary and we lose sight of the eternal and sure; we lose sight of the greatness of our God. Have you lost sight of the greatness of your God?

I urge you this morning to refocus and fix your eyes on the greatness of your Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord.

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BIG IDEA:

My God is Greater

Than Any Circumstances