Abraham, Part 4 - 7.23.2023

Genesis 17:1-8: 15:9-11: Romans 10:5-11Covenants Change Everything-The terms of all Biblical covenants are spotted by identifying the clauses “if you, then I” The concept of covenantal agreement reaches more of our lives than we might imagine. It’s always surrounded with the basic principle, ‘if you do the good things, then you get the good things from me in return. If you do the bad things, then you get the bad things from me in return.”Keep the Vultures AwayAbrahamic covenant:•follow God without wavering; unconditionally-Follow God (Gen 12:1)•Serve god faithfully and live a blameless life-Serve God (Gen. 17:1)•Every male must be circumcised.-Be circumcised (Gen 17:10-11)•Descendants must keep the terms of the covenant-Descendants obey the covenant (Gen 17:7-9)•God will bless and curse those who bless and curse-God will Bless & Curse (Gen 12:2-3)•God will give protection and reward-Protection & Reward (Gen 15:1)•God will grant land (Nile to Euphrates) - Land Grant (Gen 15:18)•God will give descendants (too many to count) - Innumerable Descendants (Gen 15:5)•God will bless the nations through Abraham - Bless the Nations (Gen12:2-3)What covenant has God made with you? -My love of the promise can’t be greater than my love for the Promise Maker. Once I receive the promise, I can’t let the joy of my reception replace my desire for the one who gave me the promise. Am I moving forward toward what God has in store for me, or has my promise become an idol that is creating distance between me and God. It isn’t going the way I thought it would. It didn’t happen when I though it would happen. Now, I have the promise and that’s enough for me. I no longer need the promise maker.As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Romans 10:5-11Your covenant:•Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that his death & resurrection were on your behalf - Believe (Rom 10:10)•follow God without wavering - Follow God (James 1:6-8)•Serve god faithfully and live a blameless life - Faithful & Blameless (Matt 5:48, Rom 12:1-2, Heb 12:15)•God will bless and curse those who bless and curse - Bless & Curse (Matt 5:3-10)•God will give protection and reward - Protect & Reward (John 14:2-6, Matt 28:20)•God will provide for you - Provide (Matt 6:33, 11:28, Phil 4:19)•God will bless your family - Bless your Family (Eph 5:25-30 & 6:1-4)•God will bless the nations through you - Bless the Nations (Matt 28:19-20)