1 00:00:14,750 --> 00:00:16,830 The passage that we're looking at this evening, 2 00:00:16,970 --> 00:00:18,910 as with last week, is in Genesis and 3 00:00:18,910 --> 00:00:19,870 chapter 12. 4 00:00:21,470 --> 00:00:24,630 Abraham is a great man of God, to 5 00:00:24,630 --> 00:00:28,430 which the Muslim community look forward in terms 6 00:00:28,430 --> 00:00:31,409 of they honour Abraham, and he's mentioned in 7 00:00:31,409 --> 00:00:36,330 the Koran, and Islam traces its roots to 8 00:00:36,330 --> 00:00:36,870 Abraham. 9 00:00:37,030 --> 00:00:38,830 That's another reason why we should be looking 10 00:00:38,830 --> 00:00:39,770 at this character. 11 00:00:40,550 --> 00:00:42,930 And of course the Jewish faith looks to 12 00:00:42,930 --> 00:00:44,330 Abraham as its founder. 13 00:00:45,190 --> 00:00:46,930 And when we go into the New Testament, 14 00:00:47,190 --> 00:00:50,110 we find that Abraham is referred to as 15 00:00:50,110 --> 00:00:52,270 a man who gives an illustration of the 16 00:00:52,270 --> 00:00:55,110 sort of faith that pleases God, to the 17 00:00:55,110 --> 00:00:57,390 extent that he, along with just two other 18 00:00:57,390 --> 00:01:00,330 people in the Bible, is actually called the 19 00:01:00,330 --> 00:01:01,470 friend of God. 20 00:01:02,030 --> 00:01:04,030 And at one point in his life he 21 00:01:04,030 --> 00:01:06,030 had to move from the area where he'd 22 00:01:06,030 --> 00:01:09,550 grown up, a very thriving metropolis, and come 23 00:01:09,550 --> 00:01:12,650 along the fertile crescent and go to the 24 00:01:12,650 --> 00:01:14,770 land of promise, which we now know as 25 00:01:14,770 --> 00:01:15,390 Israel. 26 00:01:15,910 --> 00:01:18,690 A very momentous journey, a very brave journey. 27 00:01:19,070 --> 00:01:21,090 He wasn't quite sure just where he would 28 00:01:21,090 --> 00:01:22,430 go as he followed the will of the 29 00:01:22,430 --> 00:01:24,410 Lord, though God of course knew and was 30 00:01:24,410 --> 00:01:24,830 leading him. 31 00:01:24,850 --> 00:01:26,650 But it was a great challenge for Abraham. 32 00:01:27,110 --> 00:01:29,050 And as I tried to explain last week, 33 00:01:29,090 --> 00:01:31,030 when you become a Christian, you get a 34 00:01:31,030 --> 00:01:32,070 similar sort of challenge. 35 00:01:32,250 --> 00:01:36,070 Maybe not geographically to shift location, but certainly 36 00:01:36,070 --> 00:01:39,250 in terms of going through a change in 37 00:01:39,250 --> 00:01:43,230 personality, a change of direction, a change in 38 00:01:43,230 --> 00:01:44,030 outlook. 39 00:01:44,350 --> 00:01:46,470 Well, with that in mind, let's look again 40 00:01:46,470 --> 00:01:49,550 at chapter 12 from verse 1, spilling over 41 00:01:49,550 --> 00:01:50,670 into the next chapter. 42 00:01:51,110 --> 00:01:53,470 The Lord hath said to Abraham, Leave your 43 00:01:53,470 --> 00:01:56,270 country, your people, and your father's household, and 44 00:01:56,270 --> 00:01:57,890 go to the land I will show you. 45 00:01:58,070 --> 00:02:00,590 I will make you into a great nation, 46 00:02:01,090 --> 00:02:02,070 and I will bless you. 47 00:02:02,290 --> 00:02:03,870 I will make your name great, and you 48 00:02:03,870 --> 00:02:04,590 will be a blessing. 49 00:02:05,150 --> 00:02:07,150 I will bless those who bless you, and 50 00:02:07,150 --> 00:02:10,290 whoever curses you I will curse, and all 51 00:02:10,290 --> 00:02:12,170 the peoples on earth will be blessed through 52 00:02:12,170 --> 00:02:12,650 you. 53 00:02:13,050 --> 00:02:15,870 So Abraham left as the Lord had told 54 00:02:15,870 --> 00:02:17,610 him, and Lot went with him. 55 00:02:18,150 --> 00:02:20,610 Abraham was seventy-five years old when he 56 00:02:20,610 --> 00:02:21,830 set out from Haran. 57 00:02:22,290 --> 00:02:25,110 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, 58 00:02:25,610 --> 00:02:28,530 all the possessions they had accumulated, and the 59 00:02:28,530 --> 00:02:31,330 people they had acquired at Haran, and they 60 00:02:31,330 --> 00:02:33,930 set out for the land of Canaan, and 61 00:02:33,930 --> 00:02:34,870 they arrived there. 62 00:02:35,090 --> 00:02:37,550 Abraham travelled through the land as far as 63 00:02:37,550 --> 00:02:39,450 the sight of the great tree of Morah 64 00:02:39,450 --> 00:02:40,370 at Shechem. 65 00:02:40,750 --> 00:02:42,730 At that time the Canaanites were in the 66 00:02:42,730 --> 00:02:42,930 land. 67 00:02:43,130 --> 00:02:45,290 The Lord appeared to Abraham and said, To 68 00:02:45,290 --> 00:02:47,030 your offspring I will give this land. 69 00:02:47,430 --> 00:02:49,590 So he built an altar there to the 70 00:02:49,590 --> 00:02:52,090 Lord who had appeared to him. 71 00:02:52,090 --> 00:02:54,690 From there he went on towards the hills 72 00:02:54,690 --> 00:02:57,490 east of Bethel and pitched his tent with 73 00:02:57,490 --> 00:03:00,390 Bethel on the west and Ai on the 74 00:03:00,390 --> 00:03:00,670 east. 75 00:03:00,810 --> 00:03:02,810 There he built an altar to the Lord 76 00:03:02,810 --> 00:03:05,850 and called on the name of the Lord. 77 00:03:06,330 --> 00:03:09,590 Then Abraham set out and continued towards the 78 00:03:09,590 --> 00:03:10,230 Negev. 79 00:03:10,850 --> 00:03:12,530 Now there was a shift in circumstances. 80 00:03:13,350 --> 00:03:14,870 Now there was a famine in the land, 81 00:03:15,470 --> 00:03:17,150 and Abraham went down to Egypt to live 82 00:03:17,150 --> 00:03:17,350 there. 83 00:03:17,670 --> 00:03:19,910 For a while, because the famine was severe, 84 00:03:20,090 --> 00:03:22,190 as he was about to enter Egypt he 85 00:03:22,190 --> 00:03:25,350 said to his wife Sarai, I know what 86 00:03:25,350 --> 00:03:27,350 a beautiful woman you are. 87 00:03:27,930 --> 00:03:30,390 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 88 00:03:30,530 --> 00:03:31,570 This is his wife. 89 00:03:32,290 --> 00:03:34,650 Then they will kill me, but will let 90 00:03:34,650 --> 00:03:35,110 you live. 91 00:03:36,530 --> 00:03:39,470 Say, You are my sister, so that I 92 00:03:39,470 --> 00:03:41,910 will be treated well for your sake, and 93 00:03:41,910 --> 00:03:43,710 my life will be spared because of you. 94 00:03:44,510 --> 00:03:46,970 When Abraham came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw 95 00:03:46,970 --> 00:03:49,750 that she was a very beautiful woman, and 96 00:03:49,750 --> 00:03:52,010 when Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her 97 00:03:52,010 --> 00:03:54,030 to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his 98 00:03:54,030 --> 00:03:54,470 palace. 99 00:03:54,730 --> 00:03:56,850 He treated Abraham well for her sake, and 100 00:03:56,850 --> 00:03:59,870 Abraham acquired sheep and cattle, male and female 101 00:03:59,870 --> 00:04:02,990 donkeys, men's servants and maid's servants, and camels. 102 00:04:03,910 --> 00:04:06,630 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh 103 00:04:06,630 --> 00:04:09,570 and his household because of Abraham's wife Sarai. 104 00:04:10,350 --> 00:04:14,270 So Pharaoh summoned Abraham, What have you done 105 00:04:14,270 --> 00:04:14,630 to me? 106 00:04:14,710 --> 00:04:15,070 he said. 107 00:04:15,630 --> 00:04:17,310 Why didn't you tell me she was your 108 00:04:17,310 --> 00:04:17,570 wife? 109 00:04:17,730 --> 00:04:19,810 Why did you say she is my sister, 110 00:04:20,850 --> 00:04:22,030 so that I took her to be my 111 00:04:22,030 --> 00:04:22,330 wife? 112 00:04:22,750 --> 00:04:24,590 Now then, here is your wife. 113 00:04:25,170 --> 00:04:26,790 Take her and go. 114 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:31,520 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abraham to his 115 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,360 men, and they sent him on his way 116 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,740 with his wife and everything he had. 117 00:04:36,340 --> 00:04:38,220 So Abraham went up from Egypt to the 118 00:04:38,220 --> 00:04:40,220 Negev with his wife and everything he had, 119 00:04:40,300 --> 00:04:41,180 and Lot went with him. 120 00:04:42,060 --> 00:04:44,240 Abraham had become very wealthy in livestock and 121 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:45,180 in silver and gold. 122 00:04:45,660 --> 00:04:47,760 From the Negev he went from place to 123 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:49,760 place until he came to Bethel, to the 124 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,060 place between Bethel and Ai where his tent 125 00:04:52,060 --> 00:04:56,680 had been earlier, and where he had first 126 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:57,480 built an altar. 127 00:04:58,740 --> 00:05:02,240 There Abraham called on the name of the 128 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:02,560 Lord. 129 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:10,200 It's marvelous to concentrate upon our faith and 130 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:13,560 what God has done for us, but it 131 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:15,340 doesn't take much to realize as we look 132 00:05:15,340 --> 00:05:17,860 at the television and the newspapers that there 133 00:05:17,860 --> 00:05:21,160 is great problems in our world, and this 134 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:26,280 next prayerful song just brings some of the 135 00:05:26,280 --> 00:05:27,660 situations before the Lord. 136 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:29,300 We'll treat it as a prayer. 137 00:05:29,620 --> 00:05:31,320 If you would listen to it being played 138 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,520 through, and then we'll sing it to you, 139 00:05:34,060 --> 00:05:35,540 and there'll be a number of prayers and 140 00:05:35,540 --> 00:05:38,020 chances for us all to sing this. 141 00:06:33,550 --> 00:06:36,410 Our heavenly Father, how wonderful it is that 142 00:06:36,410 --> 00:06:39,870 you, the God of the universe, the creator 143 00:06:39,870 --> 00:06:42,870 of the universe, listen to our prayers. 144 00:06:42,990 --> 00:06:45,030 But it is true, and so we bring 145 00:06:45,030 --> 00:06:47,470 them to you this evening, and we pray 146 00:06:47,470 --> 00:06:49,530 for our loved ones in this fellowship. 147 00:06:50,370 --> 00:06:53,490 Father, we pray for Hilary especially today and 148 00:06:53,490 --> 00:06:56,250 this evening, this night that you'll be very 149 00:06:56,250 --> 00:06:57,090 close to her. 150 00:06:57,750 --> 00:06:59,790 We pray that she will know your presence, 151 00:07:00,310 --> 00:07:01,870 so very real at this time. 152 00:07:03,290 --> 00:07:05,230 And Lord, we bring also to you Eileen 153 00:07:05,230 --> 00:07:11,030 and Rachel Smith, Mary Wilkins, and we thank 154 00:07:11,030 --> 00:07:13,690 you for the healing begun in her, and 155 00:07:13,690 --> 00:07:14,630 for little Georgina. 156 00:07:15,350 --> 00:07:18,170 We pray for her and for Colin Anderson 157 00:07:18,170 --> 00:07:18,830 this evening. 158 00:07:19,650 --> 00:07:21,510 Lord, we thank you that you do hear 159 00:07:21,510 --> 00:07:22,890 and answer our prayers. 160 00:07:23,430 --> 00:07:25,650 We are so blessed to be your children. 161 00:07:26,550 --> 00:07:26,970 Amen. 162 00:07:53,420 --> 00:07:59,440 Answer me, O Lord, hear my prayer. 163 00:07:59,780 --> 00:08:03,600 O Lord, hear my prayer. 164 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:09,980 Come and listen to me. 165 00:08:14,490 --> 00:08:16,730 Father, we bring before you the trouble spots 166 00:08:16,730 --> 00:08:17,390 in our world. 167 00:08:18,310 --> 00:08:20,310 Lord, as we consider the horrors that we 168 00:08:20,310 --> 00:08:21,230 have seen in Rwanda. 169 00:08:21,990 --> 00:08:25,430 Lord, as we consider the children and the 170 00:08:25,430 --> 00:08:28,190 adults butchered and mutilated. 171 00:08:28,750 --> 00:08:31,690 Father, we bring before you that very, very 172 00:08:31,690 --> 00:08:34,750 terrible situation, and ask, Lord, that your peace 173 00:08:34,750 --> 00:08:35,350 might reign. 174 00:08:35,950 --> 00:08:38,390 Lord, we bring before you Bosnia, Lord, and 175 00:08:38,390 --> 00:08:41,710 Lord, we pray for that nation too, in 176 00:08:41,710 --> 00:08:42,530 Jesus' name. 177 00:08:42,870 --> 00:08:43,250 Amen. 178 00:08:45,780 --> 00:08:50,560 O Lord, hear my prayer. 179 00:08:50,700 --> 00:08:55,380 O Lord, hear my prayer. 180 00:08:55,960 --> 00:09:03,680 When I call, answer me. 181 00:09:03,680 --> 00:09:08,160 O Lord, hear my prayer. 182 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:12,980 O Lord, hear my prayer. 183 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:19,680 Come and listen to me. 184 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:25,860 Father, we also bring before you the needs 185 00:09:25,860 --> 00:09:26,620 of this church. 186 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,140 Lord, and your church in this nation. 187 00:09:29,700 --> 00:09:33,080 Lord, on this weekend of on fire, Lord, 188 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,440 may your spirit burn brightly, Lord, in the 189 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:36,380 hearts of Christians. 190 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,840 Lord, may again, Lord, we see something of 191 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,220 that flame of Christianity burning, Lord, in this 192 00:09:43,220 --> 00:09:46,020 country, where men bow the knee to you. 193 00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:48,260 Lord, we pray for all those who have 194 00:09:48,260 --> 00:09:51,560 responsibility in this area, and ask your blessing 195 00:09:51,560 --> 00:09:52,220 upon them. 196 00:09:52,660 --> 00:09:53,080 Amen. 197 00:09:58,300 --> 00:10:01,440 O Lord, hear my prayer. 198 00:10:01,660 --> 00:10:06,180 O Lord, hear my prayer. 199 00:10:07,500 --> 00:10:15,860 When I call, answer me. 200 00:10:16,420 --> 00:10:21,000 O Lord, hear my prayer. 201 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:26,180 O Lord, hear my prayer. 202 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:32,260 Come and listen to me. 203 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:47,400 I'd be glad if you'd have your Bibles 204 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:51,080 open at the passage to which I directed 205 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:52,320 your attention earlier. 206 00:10:55,860 --> 00:10:58,460 That was the twelfth chapter of the book 207 00:10:58,460 --> 00:10:59,040 of Genesis. 208 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:07,020 We've had some very sad events in this 209 00:11:07,020 --> 00:11:07,760 last week. 210 00:11:09,100 --> 00:11:15,780 One recalls the death of Jacqueline Onassis, or 211 00:11:15,780 --> 00:11:19,380 otherwise known as Kennedy, perhaps one of the 212 00:11:19,380 --> 00:11:27,500 more stunningly attractive and intelligent women of the 213 00:11:27,500 --> 00:11:30,280 latter part of our century. 214 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,860 And even more particularly, as far as we 215 00:11:34,860 --> 00:11:39,140 in the United Kingdom are concerned, we've witnessed 216 00:11:39,140 --> 00:11:43,620 the burial of and the memorial service of 217 00:11:43,620 --> 00:11:44,380 John Smith. 218 00:11:46,380 --> 00:11:48,880 The press didn't really know what to make 219 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:54,000 of the memorial service of the former leader 220 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:54,680 of the opposition. 221 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,560 This is what the Independent led off with 222 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:04,200 in its front page on Friday or Saturday. 223 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,160 In the church there was little ritual. 224 00:12:06,340 --> 00:12:09,760 God was praised, but mostly for helping a 225 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:12,060 good and brave man to fight for the 226 00:12:12,060 --> 00:12:13,140 happiness of others. 227 00:12:13,780 --> 00:12:17,340 The minister said that he did justice, he 228 00:12:17,340 --> 00:12:21,220 loved mercy, he walked humbly with his God. 229 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,240 This is not what we are used to 230 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:26,300 hearing of politicians. 231 00:12:28,180 --> 00:12:32,220 And equally unexpected, the minister of the church 232 00:12:32,220 --> 00:12:37,480 and the other speakers seemed to rejoice in 233 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:42,340 John Smith's achievement, rather than mourn for a 234 00:12:42,340 --> 00:12:46,360 life brutally cut off on what might have 235 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:49,300 been the threshold of triumph. 236 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:55,540 Now, his colleague, John Smith's colleague, Margaret Beckett, 237 00:12:55,600 --> 00:13:00,620 she said of Mr. Smith, he was the 238 00:13:00,620 --> 00:13:06,920 most self-possessed man, the man most at 239 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:11,580 peace with himself that I have ever met. 240 00:13:13,500 --> 00:13:17,960 And I wonder what it is that makes 241 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:22,760 a man to be at peace with himself. 242 00:13:25,620 --> 00:13:28,920 Let me give you a picture, two pictures. 243 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:35,660 One is of a room which is utterly 244 00:13:35,660 --> 00:13:36,400 untidy. 245 00:13:38,140 --> 00:13:40,740 It's just as though the IRA have been 246 00:13:40,740 --> 00:13:45,360 in and let off a small bomb and 247 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:51,700 there's utter confusion and the place is, well, 248 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:55,400 it's lacking in any order whatsoever. 249 00:13:56,680 --> 00:13:59,780 And then, and then let me show you 250 00:13:59,780 --> 00:14:02,540 another room in your imagination and everything as 251 00:14:02,540 --> 00:14:04,820 we would say in South Yorkshire is in 252 00:14:04,820 --> 00:14:06,480 apple pie order. 253 00:14:07,660 --> 00:14:10,540 To use another South Yorkshireism, it's not higgledy 254 00:14:10,540 --> 00:14:11,120 -piggledy. 255 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:18,500 Go into those rooms and answer this question, 256 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:24,600 which one is the nearest as a representation 257 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:25,400 of your life? 258 00:14:28,210 --> 00:14:28,950 Go back to Smith. 259 00:14:30,210 --> 00:14:32,930 Now, let's go before John Smith, let's go 260 00:14:32,930 --> 00:14:33,510 to Genesis. 261 00:14:34,070 --> 00:14:37,370 Can't get much more before than Genesis, can 262 00:14:37,370 --> 00:14:37,470 you? 263 00:14:38,550 --> 00:14:40,330 In the beginning God created the heavens and 264 00:14:40,330 --> 00:14:42,870 the earth and the earth was without form 265 00:14:42,870 --> 00:14:43,530 and void. 266 00:14:46,350 --> 00:14:47,490 Darkness was on the face of the deep. 267 00:14:47,530 --> 00:14:48,590 That's the authorised version. 268 00:14:50,030 --> 00:14:52,270 Let's just update the language a little bit. 269 00:14:52,670 --> 00:14:56,350 In the beginning was total disorder and then 270 00:14:56,350 --> 00:15:00,470 God spoke and order came into the created 271 00:15:00,470 --> 00:15:01,530 world. 272 00:15:03,730 --> 00:15:06,470 Let's now imagine that we're back at school. 273 00:15:07,430 --> 00:15:09,390 An illustration I often use. 274 00:15:10,450 --> 00:15:12,710 On a piece of paper we've got some 275 00:15:12,710 --> 00:15:15,490 iron filings and they're all over the place 276 00:15:15,490 --> 00:15:18,230 and then suddenly you get a magnet and 277 00:15:18,230 --> 00:15:20,310 you put the magnet underneath the piece of 278 00:15:20,310 --> 00:15:20,670 paper. 279 00:15:21,130 --> 00:15:24,530 You introduce what you call polarity onto the 280 00:15:24,530 --> 00:15:29,030 scene and immediately the iron filings form a 281 00:15:29,030 --> 00:15:29,510 pattern. 282 00:15:30,650 --> 00:15:37,730 They are controlled by hidden, unobserved forces. 283 00:15:39,910 --> 00:15:46,550 What makes a man so self-possessed that 284 00:15:46,550 --> 00:15:50,390 one of his closest colleagues says, he was 285 00:15:50,390 --> 00:15:53,990 a man more content and at peace with 286 00:15:53,990 --> 00:15:57,330 himself than any other man I have known. 287 00:15:59,750 --> 00:16:02,470 I want to suggest to you, because again 288 00:16:02,470 --> 00:16:06,310 the leaders, writers in the paper, made this 289 00:16:06,310 --> 00:16:08,190 sort of comment of Mr Smith. 290 00:16:09,190 --> 00:16:12,250 I want to suggest to you that the 291 00:16:12,250 --> 00:16:15,370 way in which order and purpose comes into 292 00:16:15,370 --> 00:16:17,930 your life can only be through a religious 293 00:16:17,930 --> 00:16:18,550 dimension. 294 00:16:19,770 --> 00:16:23,390 Because it was said of the late leader 295 00:16:23,390 --> 00:16:28,270 of the opposition, before politics he put his 296 00:16:28,270 --> 00:16:33,710 family and his religion and he would not 297 00:16:33,710 --> 00:16:39,010 forfeit those in the interests of the former. 298 00:16:40,610 --> 00:16:44,470 The thing that puts a sense of order 299 00:16:44,470 --> 00:16:48,550 into a man, into a woman's life, is 300 00:16:48,550 --> 00:16:50,950 when they recognise, if you like, the polarity 301 00:16:50,950 --> 00:16:54,970 which God introduces as they commit themselves to 302 00:16:54,970 --> 00:16:55,190 him. 303 00:16:56,670 --> 00:16:57,490 Now here's Abraham. 304 00:16:58,430 --> 00:16:59,430 I study Abraham. 305 00:16:59,730 --> 00:17:02,250 I tried to defend that last week and 306 00:17:02,250 --> 00:17:02,390 P. 307 00:17:02,410 --> 00:17:02,510 B. 308 00:17:02,610 --> 00:17:05,950 Curiam being here this evening has added further 309 00:17:05,950 --> 00:17:07,490 fuel to my argument. 310 00:17:07,950 --> 00:17:09,990 You study Abraham because, well, he was one 311 00:17:09,990 --> 00:17:13,950 of the most wonderful, remarkable historical personalities that 312 00:17:13,950 --> 00:17:15,050 there has ever been. 313 00:17:15,050 --> 00:17:17,310 As I say, he's central to Islam, he's 314 00:17:17,310 --> 00:17:20,250 central to Judaism, he's central to Christianity and 315 00:17:20,250 --> 00:17:23,109 when the New Testament says, here is a 316 00:17:23,109 --> 00:17:26,349 man who exercises faith, copy him, it gives 317 00:17:26,349 --> 00:17:29,890 you par excellence the example of Abraham. 318 00:17:32,930 --> 00:17:33,850 What did Abraham do? 319 00:17:35,210 --> 00:17:38,270 Well, New Testament language says that before you 320 00:17:38,270 --> 00:17:40,190 can become a disciple of Jesus you have 321 00:17:40,190 --> 00:17:41,730 to take up your cross and you have 322 00:17:41,730 --> 00:17:42,450 to follow Him. 323 00:17:43,050 --> 00:17:45,410 I told you Abraham was born in a 324 00:17:45,410 --> 00:17:46,990 place called Ur of the Chaldees. 325 00:17:47,070 --> 00:17:49,090 I described something of that and showed you 326 00:17:49,090 --> 00:17:50,850 that they weren't primitive cavemen, that Ur of 327 00:17:50,850 --> 00:17:53,190 the Chaldees was a thriving metropolis of at 328 00:17:53,190 --> 00:17:54,550 least one quarter of a million people. 329 00:17:55,910 --> 00:17:58,410 And that Abraham was worth a shekel or 330 00:17:58,410 --> 00:17:58,510 two. 331 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,800 And the thing that might well have caused 332 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:09,000 Abraham to think twice about the word that 333 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,020 came to him from God to leave Ur 334 00:18:11,020 --> 00:18:14,020 of the Chaldees and go to a place 335 00:18:14,020 --> 00:18:17,420 that God would direct him to was his 336 00:18:17,420 --> 00:18:17,760 family. 337 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:26,040 I mean his wife, his his father, his 338 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:26,740 parents. 339 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:28,680 I mean parents do have a pull on 340 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,160 you, I'm expecting to get a Sheffield by 341 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:32,800 the end of this evening, so you can 342 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:34,160 breathe a sigh of relief the address can't 343 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:35,560 be that long because I promised my mum 344 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:36,900 I'll be in by about 11.30 and 345 00:18:36,900 --> 00:18:38,100 it takes about four hours and so you 346 00:18:38,100 --> 00:18:39,640 do a bit of a mental arithmetic and 347 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:41,380 see that I've got a timetable to keep 348 00:18:41,380 --> 00:18:41,560 to. 349 00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:44,160 There is a pull. 350 00:18:45,060 --> 00:18:49,420 Jesus said that unless you're prepared to make 351 00:18:49,420 --> 00:18:55,020 those ties of family secondary and recognise his 352 00:18:55,020 --> 00:18:58,640 primary call then you're not really equipped to 353 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:00,500 be his disciple. 354 00:19:03,780 --> 00:19:06,780 You see the things that might hold on 355 00:19:06,780 --> 00:19:09,440 to Abraham, he eventually had to cut them 356 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,240 off and though he went from Ur to 357 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:14,430 Haran and when you turn left at Haran 358 00:19:14,430 --> 00:19:16,810 you then move into the desert, that's where 359 00:19:16,810 --> 00:19:19,070 he lost his dad and that's when he 360 00:19:19,070 --> 00:19:22,170 decided he would by God's grace go across 361 00:19:22,170 --> 00:19:25,830 the trackless desert like a Bedouin sometimes called 362 00:19:25,830 --> 00:19:28,990 the sailors of the sand and go to 363 00:19:28,990 --> 00:19:30,630 a land that he believed that God would 364 00:19:30,630 --> 00:19:33,250 give to him but he'd never been to 365 00:19:33,250 --> 00:19:33,710 it before. 366 00:19:35,010 --> 00:19:38,790 And into the life of Abraham increasingly became 367 00:19:39,490 --> 00:19:42,310 or came purpose, polarity. 368 00:19:43,630 --> 00:19:45,910 Do you remember last week we had a 369 00:19:45,910 --> 00:19:48,330 wonderful illustration of somebody who lost it as 370 00:19:48,330 --> 00:19:50,210 far as life's purpose was concerned and then 371 00:19:50,210 --> 00:19:50,650 gained it. 372 00:19:51,130 --> 00:19:53,350 Our friend Jean came down these stairs into 373 00:19:53,350 --> 00:19:54,950 this pulpit and then down the lower stairs 374 00:19:54,950 --> 00:19:57,750 onto the platform wearing something like the gear 375 00:19:57,750 --> 00:20:00,050 that she used to wear when she was 376 00:20:00,050 --> 00:20:05,910 basically a woman tramp on the streets and 377 00:20:05,910 --> 00:20:07,770 then after she told us a little bit 378 00:20:07,770 --> 00:20:10,670 about how she lived in a disorderly fashion 379 00:20:11,490 --> 00:20:15,030 she went back into my vestry, she changed 380 00:20:15,030 --> 00:20:17,870 and she told us about the Lord coming 381 00:20:17,870 --> 00:20:21,210 into her life and how he brought polarity, 382 00:20:21,910 --> 00:20:25,230 how he brought reason, how he brought order 383 00:20:25,230 --> 00:20:26,810 into it. 384 00:20:27,750 --> 00:20:31,890 I'm suggesting that she illustrated for us today 385 00:20:31,890 --> 00:20:34,610 what the Christian faith can do for her 386 00:20:34,610 --> 00:20:36,530 in a very dramatic fashion, for some of 387 00:20:36,530 --> 00:20:39,090 you in a less dramatic but nonetheless obvious 388 00:20:39,090 --> 00:20:43,370 and experienced fashion, and in the Old Testament 389 00:20:43,370 --> 00:20:46,210 this dusty book of Genesis you get an 390 00:20:46,210 --> 00:20:48,710 illustration of what it really means to bring 391 00:20:48,710 --> 00:20:49,850 order to your life. 392 00:20:50,130 --> 00:20:53,210 You remember I tried to teach you that 393 00:20:53,210 --> 00:20:58,670 Abraham, his life in effect in the beginning 394 00:20:58,670 --> 00:21:00,690 of it could be reduced to a discovery 395 00:21:00,690 --> 00:21:03,790 of three things to put order to it 396 00:21:03,790 --> 00:21:06,510 and those three things I put into the 397 00:21:06,510 --> 00:21:10,310 one word tap, each letter T-A-P 398 00:21:10,310 --> 00:21:15,310 reminding us that Abraham tapped into, exploited a 399 00:21:15,310 --> 00:21:16,950 source that he didn't know when he was 400 00:21:16,950 --> 00:21:19,070 in Ur of the Chaldees and it's well 401 00:21:19,070 --> 00:21:22,630 illustrated by three terms, a tent, an altar 402 00:21:22,630 --> 00:21:23,430 and a promise. 403 00:21:25,740 --> 00:21:26,880 You say, what are you talking about? 404 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:32,580 Well, you try going across a desert moving 405 00:21:32,580 --> 00:21:37,570 a semi-detached house around, you can only 406 00:21:37,570 --> 00:21:38,170 live in a tent. 407 00:21:39,990 --> 00:21:42,990 And not only did Abraham literally live in 408 00:21:42,990 --> 00:21:45,650 a tent, but the tent became symbolic of 409 00:21:45,650 --> 00:21:47,270 his attitude to life. 410 00:21:48,790 --> 00:21:54,010 Tents collapse, life does not last forever and 411 00:21:54,010 --> 00:21:56,170 the New Testament giving us a commentary on 412 00:21:56,170 --> 00:21:58,970 Abraham gives us the impression that here was 413 00:21:58,970 --> 00:22:00,950 a man who was very wise, he didn't 414 00:22:00,950 --> 00:22:03,030 just live for wealth, he didn't just live 415 00:22:03,030 --> 00:22:05,830 for influence, he didn't just live for politics, 416 00:22:07,250 --> 00:22:10,790 he lived recognizing that his was a journey 417 00:22:10,790 --> 00:22:15,950 through this world ultimately to a more wonderful 418 00:22:15,950 --> 00:22:19,490 experience of the grace of God. 419 00:22:20,690 --> 00:22:23,890 His was a tent life and what's more 420 00:22:23,890 --> 00:22:26,410 you read in this chapter that from time 421 00:22:26,410 --> 00:22:29,270 to time as Abraham moves into the Promised 422 00:22:29,270 --> 00:22:30,670 Land he builds an altar. 423 00:22:31,170 --> 00:22:32,770 What do you do in an altar? 424 00:22:33,130 --> 00:22:36,150 Well, there you offer a sacrifice and there 425 00:22:36,150 --> 00:22:39,950 having cleared the account of your sin by 426 00:22:39,950 --> 00:22:42,390 the shedding of the blood of an animal 427 00:22:42,390 --> 00:22:44,690 you can have contact with God. 428 00:22:45,850 --> 00:22:48,530 Now you don't need an altar these days 429 00:22:48,530 --> 00:22:51,090 because the Lamb has been slain for you, 430 00:22:51,610 --> 00:22:52,750 the Son of God. 431 00:22:53,050 --> 00:22:56,390 Jesus has taken upon Himself the consequences of 432 00:22:56,390 --> 00:22:58,650 your sin, so it is possible for you 433 00:22:58,650 --> 00:23:01,710 to have a sort of nomadic attitude to 434 00:23:01,710 --> 00:23:05,430 life realizing that you're moving eventually out of 435 00:23:05,430 --> 00:23:07,750 this world and during the time that you 436 00:23:07,750 --> 00:23:10,870 spend here being in contact with God through 437 00:23:10,870 --> 00:23:11,290 prayer. 438 00:23:13,450 --> 00:23:16,510 T-A-P. 439 00:23:17,650 --> 00:23:19,710 P standing for promise, for God has said 440 00:23:19,710 --> 00:23:21,450 to Abraham, I will make you into a 441 00:23:21,450 --> 00:23:23,490 great nation and I'll bless you, I'll make 442 00:23:23,490 --> 00:23:25,150 your name great, you will be a blessing, 443 00:23:25,430 --> 00:23:27,610 I'll bless those who bless you, whoever curses 444 00:23:27,610 --> 00:23:29,330 you I will curse and all the peoples 445 00:23:29,330 --> 00:23:31,450 on earth will be blessed through you and 446 00:23:31,450 --> 00:23:33,450 Abraham believed God. 447 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,240 Don't you see those fundamental principles in the 448 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,560 Old Testament, not only are they illustrated to 449 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:42,580 some degree, though I didn't know his life 450 00:23:42,580 --> 00:23:46,040 very much, on the part of John Smith, 451 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:50,880 they are to be latched onto by folk 452 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:51,860 like you and me. 453 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:54,220 If we claim that Jesus Christ is our 454 00:23:54,220 --> 00:23:57,540 Saviour, we recognize that we're not here forever 455 00:23:57,540 --> 00:23:59,500 as is a tent life. 456 00:24:00,700 --> 00:24:05,700 You can't transfer your monies from Barclays Bank 457 00:24:05,700 --> 00:24:08,740 or Halifax to heaven, they don't have any 458 00:24:08,740 --> 00:24:09,700 branches there. 459 00:24:10,540 --> 00:24:13,460 One day you'll die and leave it. 460 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:15,900 So you've got to have the tent attitude 461 00:24:15,900 --> 00:24:18,320 if you're to be a disciple of Jesus. 462 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,120 You've got to keep coming to Him in 463 00:24:21,120 --> 00:24:21,440 prayer. 464 00:24:22,300 --> 00:24:24,540 You've got to believe in His promise that 465 00:24:24,540 --> 00:24:26,980 if you confess your sin He is faithful 466 00:24:26,980 --> 00:24:29,160 and just and will forgive you your sin 467 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:31,660 and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. 468 00:24:31,980 --> 00:24:33,200 Alright, that's what Abraham did. 469 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:38,400 He shows us the life of faith to 470 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,140 some degree, but he blew it. 471 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:44,680 I mean by that he failed. 472 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:47,780 I don't mean he failed entirely. 473 00:24:49,140 --> 00:24:50,840 I mean that having made such a good 474 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:54,260 start he then failed in a very bad 475 00:24:54,260 --> 00:24:57,940 way and I am so glad that the 476 00:24:57,940 --> 00:25:03,600 Bible refers to the mistakes of the leaders 477 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:05,580 in the Old Testament and the New Testament. 478 00:25:07,540 --> 00:25:09,660 You see how appalling it would be if 479 00:25:09,660 --> 00:25:11,720 we were to teach you that once you 480 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:15,640 have become a Christian you'll be successful forever 481 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:16,040 after. 482 00:25:17,820 --> 00:25:19,920 I would like at this moment, because I've 483 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:21,280 got nothing else to say to you, anyone 484 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:23,240 who is a Christian who has never blown 485 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:25,820 it, quote unquote, who has never fallen short 486 00:25:25,820 --> 00:25:28,080 of what Jesus expected of him, of her, 487 00:25:28,340 --> 00:25:29,400 I'd like you just to leave right now. 488 00:25:30,140 --> 00:25:31,760 I do mean that quite sincerely. 489 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:39,400 It's either modesty that's preventing you from going 490 00:25:40,460 --> 00:25:42,540 or it's conviction that's gluing you to the 491 00:25:42,540 --> 00:25:42,760 seat. 492 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:45,060 I'm assuming it's the latter. 493 00:25:47,740 --> 00:25:52,860 Abraham, we are told in the second part 494 00:25:52,860 --> 00:25:55,540 of the chapter that we're looking at this 495 00:25:55,540 --> 00:25:58,860 evening that here was a man who failed 496 00:25:58,860 --> 00:26:03,900 and we are grateful for the integrity of 497 00:26:03,900 --> 00:26:04,500 the record. 498 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:07,460 I mean he comes to, he comes to 499 00:26:07,460 --> 00:26:09,560 the promised land and there's a famine. 500 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:10,560 Look at verse 10. 501 00:26:12,990 --> 00:26:15,330 Now remember that when he moved into Canaan 502 00:26:15,330 --> 00:26:18,450 he didn't really have any hold on the 503 00:26:18,450 --> 00:26:20,510 land at all, not physically even though God 504 00:26:20,510 --> 00:26:21,470 had promised it to him. 505 00:26:23,190 --> 00:26:25,250 He's got a wife, he's got a large 506 00:26:25,250 --> 00:26:29,530 retinue of servants, a massive household, and so 507 00:26:29,530 --> 00:26:31,910 he goes down to Egypt and he does 508 00:26:31,910 --> 00:26:32,730 something terrible. 509 00:26:34,330 --> 00:26:36,850 Aren't you glad that the Bible record is 510 00:26:36,850 --> 00:26:39,570 accurate, that it tells us the truth? 511 00:26:42,300 --> 00:26:43,580 You know we live in a world of 512 00:26:43,580 --> 00:26:44,320 image makers. 513 00:26:45,340 --> 00:26:48,820 You ever read a biography of Ronald Reagan, 514 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:52,100 don't believe it, if it was authorised by 515 00:26:52,100 --> 00:26:52,420 him. 516 00:26:53,660 --> 00:26:56,220 The same could perhaps go for Margaret Thatcher 517 00:26:56,220 --> 00:26:56,580 too. 518 00:26:57,700 --> 00:26:58,860 The same could go, I don't want to 519 00:26:58,860 --> 00:27:00,700 be cruel, to most public people. 520 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:03,620 We live in a cosmetic age, you know 521 00:27:03,620 --> 00:27:05,080 you have to touch things up a little 522 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:05,300 bit. 523 00:27:06,620 --> 00:27:08,240 I'm told it costs a penny or two 524 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:10,280 to keep one of the members of the 525 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:11,440 royal family looking beautiful. 526 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:14,200 Well we understand don't we? 527 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:16,000 I mean those of us who are over 528 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:18,520 30 they say that up to 30 life 529 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:20,640 is a question of development and after 30 530 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:21,920 it's a question of maintenance. 531 00:27:25,340 --> 00:27:27,500 Oliver Cromwell says paint me warts and all. 532 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:29,300 Well this is what the Bible does about 533 00:27:29,300 --> 00:27:31,780 Abraham, it paints the true story and it 534 00:27:31,780 --> 00:27:34,100 paints the true story about Peter and it 535 00:27:34,100 --> 00:27:36,060 paints the true story about Paul. 536 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:39,160 Peter who was petrified by a girl who 537 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:41,180 accused him of being a disciple of Jesus. 538 00:27:41,980 --> 00:27:44,760 Paul who fell out with Barnabas and as 539 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:47,140 a result there was a split in the 540 00:27:47,140 --> 00:27:47,860 early church. 541 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:49,820 It would have been so easy to have 542 00:27:49,820 --> 00:27:52,200 applied a little painter's brush, taken a little 543 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:55,680 bit of a biographer's license and edited these 544 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:57,640 things out but the Bible doesn't do that 545 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:00,800 and that's an indication of its inspiration that 546 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,120 it is a trustworthy book. 547 00:28:06,930 --> 00:28:09,710 Not only do we read here about the 548 00:28:09,710 --> 00:28:14,050 integrity of the record but let me suggest 549 00:28:14,050 --> 00:28:16,690 there is something else. 550 00:28:17,710 --> 00:28:25,110 We find recorded something of the instability of 551 00:28:25,110 --> 00:28:28,190 Abraham as well as the instability of my 552 00:28:28,190 --> 00:28:29,510 overhead projector slide. 553 00:28:32,770 --> 00:28:34,970 You know when he went down to Egypt 554 00:28:34,970 --> 00:28:36,410 he had a problem. 555 00:28:36,630 --> 00:28:38,270 This problem was twofold, one was bounty and 556 00:28:38,270 --> 00:28:38,950 the other was beauty. 557 00:28:40,510 --> 00:28:42,310 The bounty was well he hadn't got any 558 00:28:42,310 --> 00:28:43,530 food as we've indicated. 559 00:28:44,430 --> 00:28:48,990 So he goes down into Egypt because there's 560 00:28:48,990 --> 00:28:49,770 going to be food there. 561 00:28:49,890 --> 00:28:52,650 Joseph will go down to Egypt and eventually 562 00:28:52,650 --> 00:28:54,590 Jacob will follow him because well they've got 563 00:28:54,590 --> 00:28:55,830 exactly the same problem. 564 00:28:56,210 --> 00:28:58,510 Egypt is a luscious land at least where 565 00:28:58,510 --> 00:29:00,830 the Nile is and the food that Abraham 566 00:29:00,830 --> 00:29:05,410 required is available in Egypt but he doesn't 567 00:29:05,410 --> 00:29:08,850 ask God's permission to go. 568 00:29:09,970 --> 00:29:12,070 And one of the things about discipleship, one 569 00:29:12,070 --> 00:29:13,450 of the things that's going to keep you 570 00:29:13,450 --> 00:29:15,650 on the right path as far as following 571 00:29:15,650 --> 00:29:18,570 Jesus Christ is concerned, is asking His permission. 572 00:29:18,910 --> 00:29:20,650 Especially if you go to the equivalent of 573 00:29:20,650 --> 00:29:23,510 Egypt which here is a very tempting country 574 00:29:23,510 --> 00:29:25,870 and if you go into a tempting situation 575 00:29:25,870 --> 00:29:27,990 then you need to know that you have 576 00:29:27,990 --> 00:29:31,470 been directed down there by God Himself. 577 00:29:33,310 --> 00:29:35,150 It's the beauty of his wife really however 578 00:29:35,150 --> 00:29:37,470 that becomes a problem for Abraham not so. 579 00:29:38,130 --> 00:29:39,670 Now you might wonder how on earth can 580 00:29:39,670 --> 00:29:41,350 a woman who is 64 years of age, 581 00:29:41,430 --> 00:29:42,970 for that is what she was, how can 582 00:29:42,970 --> 00:29:44,650 she present such a problem? 583 00:29:44,830 --> 00:29:47,330 Well in those days, in Abraham's time, they 584 00:29:47,330 --> 00:29:49,650 lived for almost twice as long as, at 585 00:29:49,650 --> 00:29:51,810 least he did and his wife and some 586 00:29:51,810 --> 00:29:53,950 of his contemporaries, almost twice as long as 587 00:29:53,950 --> 00:29:54,490 you and I lived. 588 00:29:56,830 --> 00:29:58,690 Which means to say that if you adjust 589 00:29:58,690 --> 00:30:01,550 the years for a moment or two then 590 00:30:01,550 --> 00:30:03,230 she's an equivalent of just over 30. 591 00:30:04,010 --> 00:30:06,950 A very beautiful woman and she might be 592 00:30:06,950 --> 00:30:08,330 attractive to Pharaoh. 593 00:30:09,170 --> 00:30:11,710 I worked with a man in London, a 594 00:30:11,710 --> 00:30:13,250 dear man of God by the name of 595 00:30:13,250 --> 00:30:15,630 Macbeth Patterson and he would repeat his stories 596 00:30:15,630 --> 00:30:17,330 time and time again and we'd always laugh 597 00:30:17,330 --> 00:30:18,910 because they were always funny in the way 598 00:30:18,910 --> 00:30:22,030 that he told them and he would sometimes 599 00:30:22,030 --> 00:30:23,470 refer to a man who got a little 600 00:30:23,470 --> 00:30:25,690 bit of difficulty with his wife and one 601 00:30:25,690 --> 00:30:27,870 of his friends says, have you ever considered 602 00:30:27,870 --> 00:30:28,370 divorce? 603 00:30:29,450 --> 00:30:31,490 And the answer was divorce no, I don't 604 00:30:31,490 --> 00:30:32,310 believe in divorce. 605 00:30:32,590 --> 00:30:35,690 Murder yes but not divorce. 606 00:30:36,610 --> 00:30:40,790 Now in one sense that illustrates Pharaoh's attitude. 607 00:30:41,130 --> 00:30:43,350 He might see this beautiful woman, she is 608 00:30:43,350 --> 00:30:45,570 married to a man, he wouldn't contemplate the 609 00:30:45,570 --> 00:30:47,610 man divorcing her but he will murder the 610 00:30:47,610 --> 00:30:49,090 man in order to release the woman. 611 00:30:49,290 --> 00:30:51,410 Hey Sarah, if we get into that sort 612 00:30:51,410 --> 00:30:53,470 of problem, my life's in danger. 613 00:30:53,810 --> 00:30:55,110 Why don't you do me a favor, say 614 00:30:55,110 --> 00:30:56,130 you're my sister. 615 00:30:57,610 --> 00:30:59,330 Abraham never sunk more than that. 616 00:31:00,910 --> 00:31:03,550 And sometimes in our discipleship, brothers and sisters, 617 00:31:04,550 --> 00:31:08,330 we can sink very low in reneging on 618 00:31:08,330 --> 00:31:12,270 the quality of life, the quality of discipleship 619 00:31:12,270 --> 00:31:16,930 that the Lord wants us to demonstrate. 620 00:31:18,550 --> 00:31:19,950 Let's move on because I know some of 621 00:31:19,950 --> 00:31:23,050 our youngsters want to get to Little Hampton 622 00:31:23,050 --> 00:31:24,310 in a while. 623 00:31:26,370 --> 00:31:31,150 The instability of Abraham is nonetheless matched in 624 00:31:31,150 --> 00:31:33,890 this chapter by the consistency of God. 625 00:31:34,710 --> 00:31:36,770 You see, when you do blow it as 626 00:31:36,770 --> 00:31:40,070 a Christian, when you have committed your life 627 00:31:40,070 --> 00:31:41,710 to the Lord Jesus, if you don't always 628 00:31:41,710 --> 00:31:43,810 live at the level that He wants you 629 00:31:43,810 --> 00:31:46,470 to live at, the fact of the matter 630 00:31:46,470 --> 00:31:48,430 is that He keeps His Word. 631 00:31:48,750 --> 00:31:50,110 He is always faithful. 632 00:31:51,210 --> 00:31:53,530 The Bible says of God that it is 633 00:31:53,530 --> 00:31:55,350 impossible for Him to lie. 634 00:31:55,470 --> 00:31:57,750 Abraham, I will make you into a great 635 00:31:57,750 --> 00:31:58,150 nation. 636 00:31:58,390 --> 00:32:00,770 I'll bless you, I'll make your name great. 637 00:32:00,990 --> 00:32:03,970 And here is Abraham doing anything but reflecting 638 00:32:03,970 --> 00:32:06,990 the faithfulness of God as he carelessly goes 639 00:32:06,990 --> 00:32:09,150 down to Egypt and gets his wife to 640 00:32:09,150 --> 00:32:15,030 contract such a disagreeable arrangement, Abraham leaning heavily 641 00:32:15,030 --> 00:32:16,250 on her. 642 00:32:18,130 --> 00:32:19,750 Now wouldn't you think that God has every 643 00:32:19,750 --> 00:32:21,030 right to give Abraham up? 644 00:32:22,650 --> 00:32:24,850 Wouldn't God have every right to give you 645 00:32:24,850 --> 00:32:28,070 up for the things that you have done, 646 00:32:28,790 --> 00:32:31,930 post-conversion, which are wrong? 647 00:32:32,650 --> 00:32:34,550 And the answer is yes, He has every 648 00:32:34,550 --> 00:32:34,870 right. 649 00:32:36,030 --> 00:32:39,050 But He doesn't apply His rights, because you 650 00:32:39,050 --> 00:32:43,330 see God's rights are also involved, as you 651 00:32:43,330 --> 00:32:46,010 understand them, in God's promises. 652 00:32:47,190 --> 00:32:51,670 God says to Abraham, I will make you 653 00:32:51,670 --> 00:32:53,350 a great nation. 654 00:32:54,110 --> 00:32:57,530 He's not going to go back on His 655 00:32:57,530 --> 00:32:58,090 promise. 656 00:32:59,130 --> 00:33:01,150 Our Lord Jesus, when you've placed your trust 657 00:33:01,150 --> 00:33:05,370 in Him, He will keep you, even though 658 00:33:05,370 --> 00:33:06,090 you fall. 659 00:33:07,050 --> 00:33:10,390 He remains utterly consistent. 660 00:33:11,610 --> 00:33:14,350 And so you find with Abraham that he 661 00:33:14,350 --> 00:33:15,870 leaves Egypt. 662 00:33:16,930 --> 00:33:19,850 Pharaoh has discovered that he has in effect 663 00:33:19,850 --> 00:33:23,030 deceived him, and the children of darkness, our 664 00:33:23,030 --> 00:33:25,670 Lord Jesus says, sometimes are more wise than 665 00:33:25,670 --> 00:33:26,610 the children of light. 666 00:33:26,790 --> 00:33:29,110 In other words, non-Christians can be more 667 00:33:29,110 --> 00:33:30,170 sensible than Christians. 668 00:33:30,670 --> 00:33:32,730 And Pharaoh says to Abraham, why didn't you 669 00:33:32,730 --> 00:33:34,590 say she's your wife? 670 00:33:34,770 --> 00:33:37,110 Why did you say she's my sister, so 671 00:33:37,110 --> 00:33:38,770 I took her into my harem? 672 00:33:38,970 --> 00:33:40,570 Think of the damage that I could have 673 00:33:40,570 --> 00:33:43,250 done, and think of the way that God 674 00:33:43,250 --> 00:33:45,250 is punishing me. 675 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:53,170 But the fault, Abraham, was yours, the Pharaoh 676 00:33:53,170 --> 00:33:57,110 correcting the patriarch. 677 00:33:58,610 --> 00:34:03,310 Sometimes, my friend, I think that God deserves 678 00:34:03,310 --> 00:34:08,650 a greater quality of discipleship than we offer 679 00:34:08,650 --> 00:34:09,090 Him. 680 00:34:09,790 --> 00:34:13,710 Abraham, exposed by Pharaoh, is told, take your 681 00:34:13,710 --> 00:34:16,770 wife and all the goods and chattels that 682 00:34:16,770 --> 00:34:19,350 you've acquired in Egypt and go. 683 00:34:21,489 --> 00:34:26,429 And Abraham goes, verse 1 chapter 13, back 684 00:34:26,429 --> 00:34:29,690 from Egypt to the land of promise. 685 00:34:30,909 --> 00:34:34,750 Verse 3, to the place that he came 686 00:34:34,750 --> 00:34:38,110 to originally, to Bethel. 687 00:34:39,070 --> 00:34:42,610 And between Bethel and Ai, he pitched his 688 00:34:42,610 --> 00:34:47,889 tent, and then he called on the name 689 00:34:47,889 --> 00:34:54,670 of the Lord, Abraham repenting over the very 690 00:34:54,670 --> 00:35:01,770 disagreeable episode in his life when, without permission 691 00:35:01,770 --> 00:35:06,090 from God, he went into a tempting situation 692 00:35:06,090 --> 00:35:08,850 and fell badly. 693 00:35:10,150 --> 00:35:12,730 But as God in His grace received Abraham 694 00:35:12,730 --> 00:35:16,210 back and continued to work out His promises 695 00:35:16,210 --> 00:35:21,570 and continued to bring through Abraham His will, 696 00:35:22,710 --> 00:35:23,350 don't you see? 697 00:35:24,530 --> 00:35:26,190 He can do exactly the same for you. 698 00:35:27,170 --> 00:35:28,190 You've done wrong. 699 00:35:29,210 --> 00:35:31,070 You've fallen short of the God. 700 00:35:32,090 --> 00:35:35,850 The Lord turns you back to Himself. 701 00:35:36,930 --> 00:35:42,170 You can have the tap turned on again 702 00:35:42,170 --> 00:35:46,890 as you recognize that primarily He calls you 703 00:35:46,890 --> 00:35:53,770 to the tent life, an impermanent view of 704 00:35:53,770 --> 00:35:57,470 life in this world as He shows you 705 00:35:57,470 --> 00:36:01,150 once again the importance of being in touch 706 00:36:01,150 --> 00:36:04,570 with Him through prayer, and as He reaffirms 707 00:36:04,570 --> 00:36:09,410 His promise that He will do dealings with 708 00:36:09,410 --> 00:36:15,050 repentant people such as you might be. 709 00:36:16,090 --> 00:36:21,930 What impressed Mrs. Beckett about John Smith? 710 00:36:22,730 --> 00:36:28,130 A man at peace with himself, with an 711 00:36:28,130 --> 00:36:29,830 order to his life. 712 00:36:30,790 --> 00:36:34,630 You can have exactly the same or rediscover 713 00:36:34,630 --> 00:36:37,870 it as you ask the Lord Jesus to 714 00:36:37,870 --> 00:36:41,650 come into your life or refresh by the 715 00:36:41,650 --> 00:36:44,850 power of His Spirit to straighten you out 716 00:36:44,850 --> 00:36:46,070 again. 717 00:36:46,830 --> 00:36:47,690 Let's pray. 718 00:36:52,470 --> 00:36:54,850 Father, we thank you for your goodness and 719 00:36:54,850 --> 00:36:55,770 for your grace. 720 00:36:57,570 --> 00:37:01,610 You deal magnificently with people who do not 721 00:37:01,610 --> 00:37:07,150 deserve such reactions to their rebellion and sinfulness. 722 00:37:08,430 --> 00:37:10,550 We ask you now to receive us as 723 00:37:10,550 --> 00:37:13,450 we confess the blood of our Lord Jesus 724 00:37:13,450 --> 00:37:17,010 Christ and ask that that may be applied 725 00:37:17,010 --> 00:37:18,050 to our account. 726 00:37:19,230 --> 00:37:20,590 We pray that you'll fill us with your 727 00:37:20,590 --> 00:37:23,670 Holy Spirit and give us a sense of 728 00:37:23,670 --> 00:37:28,610 order and purpose as we make our way 729 00:37:28,610 --> 00:37:29,950 through life. 730 00:37:30,250 --> 00:37:33,050 Each day may we pitch the tent. 731 00:37:34,010 --> 00:37:39,070 Each day may we ensure the altar has 732 00:37:39,070 --> 00:37:39,730 been erected. 733 00:37:40,230 --> 00:37:45,330 Each day may we claim your promises and 734 00:37:45,330 --> 00:37:48,350 all convinced people said, Amen. 735 00:37:51,710 --> 00:37:54,930 Praise Him, praise Him, Jesus our blessed Redeemer, 736 00:37:55,150 --> 00:37:58,070 sing o'er His wonderful love proclaim. 737 00:37:58,150 --> 00:37:59,810 We'll sing the first and the last verses. 738 00:39:02,270 --> 00:39:09,970 Praise Him, praise Him, ever in joyful song. 739 00:39:17,410 --> 00:39:20,150 Praise Him, praise Him, Jesus our blessed Redeemer. 740 00:40:18,660 --> 00:40:24,100 Fear failing you, we ask that this next 741 00:40:24,100 --> 00:40:28,100 few days until we meet again in this 742 00:40:28,100 --> 00:40:31,760 sanctuary, you will give us a special dispensation 743 00:40:31,760 --> 00:40:35,440 of your Spirit, keep us from letting you 744 00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:35,860 down. 745 00:40:36,860 --> 00:40:40,160 If we go into what stands for Egypt 746 00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:43,860 in our life, may we go clothed by 747 00:40:43,860 --> 00:40:47,320 the Spirit, not forgetful to pray as Abraham 748 00:40:47,320 --> 00:40:47,820 was. 749 00:40:48,580 --> 00:40:51,460 We ask, O God, that you will give 750 00:40:51,460 --> 00:40:53,600 us success as Christian people. 751 00:40:54,380 --> 00:40:56,440 Those who are groping their way to faith, 752 00:40:56,520 --> 00:40:58,620 we ask that you will enable them to 753 00:40:58,620 --> 00:41:00,800 embrace the old rugged cross of our Lord 754 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:03,720 Jesus Christ and to find the forgiveness that 755 00:41:03,720 --> 00:41:04,180 He offers. 756 00:41:05,020 --> 00:41:06,480 And we pray of Him that we may 757 00:41:06,480 --> 00:41:08,380 see Him more clearly and love Him more 758 00:41:08,380 --> 00:41:11,720 dearly and follow Him more nearly all our 759 00:41:11,720 --> 00:41:12,160 lives. 760 00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:15,240 Now may the blessing of Almighty God, Father, 761 00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:18,360 Son, and Holy Spirit rest and remain with 762 00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:20,400 each one of us always. 763 00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:21,960 Amen. 764 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:23,660 Good night. 765 00:41:24,100 --> 00:41:24,740 God bless you.