In this sermon, the speaker begins by discussing the story of Abram and how God called him out of his land to inherit a new land. The speaker emphasizes that Abram confessed to being a stranger and alien in this new land. The sermon then shifts to discussing the importance of obeying God's voice and the consequences of willful sinning. The speaker also highlights the message of the promise made to the fathers in the New Testament and the importance of faith in walking towards the promised land.

This is tape number 10 in a series. We urge you to listen to all the tapes in the series in numerical order so that the whole teaching can be received and understood. Listening to a part of this series or to the tapes out of sequence can lead to a misunderstanding of the nature, the intent, and the importance of this series. Father, right now in the name and the power and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, we're just so thankful that you are the radiance of God's glory. That Lord Jesus, you are the exact representation of his nature. And Lord Jesus, you have sat down at the right hand of glory after you made purification for sin. And Lord, it's you who have inherited a name far greater than any angel. Father, you have the name which is above every name. Because Lord Jesus, you are the head of the body, the church. And you are the firstborn from the dead. So that you yourself might have first place in all things. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all fullness to dwell in you and through you to reconcile all things to himself, whether things in heaven or on earth. And Lord Jesus, you're the head over all rule and all authority. Lord Jesus, we just pray that, Father, that we would see you as my brother's been sharing. Father, the futility and vanity of religion and of man is being exposed today, Father, as never before. And so, Lord, let us please determine in our heart to experience you. Let us just see you. Let us just hear you. Father, I pray for your peace and your grace, Lord, to settle among us. Lord, we renounce any anxieties, any fear. Lord, just any stress or strife. Father, we're just at peace and liberty in you. And so, Father, I just right now to this congregation, to this body of believers, Lord, I just speak grace. I speak your love. I speak your healing and your deliverance in the name and the power and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Well, praise God. You know, it's an interesting story about the children of Israel having been in bondage for over 400 years. And God, in a very supernatural way, called them out, didn't he? I want you to think about something before we look at the Word of God. And I want you to impress this on your mind. You remember Moses was visited by God in the burning bush? And God told Moses, he says, Moses, I have heard the cries of my people. I've seen their distress and I've seen their suffering. He says, so I'm going to send you to be a deliverer. Of course, you know the story. Moses goes. And when he gets there, things don't go according to his plans. They go according to God's plans. Because God said all along, I'm going to harden Pharaoh's heart. He had a purpose in doing that. Have you ever seen people in your path that seem like God had hardened their heart? But God always has a purpose, doesn't he? Well, in this case, God supernaturally, through a series of events, I mean, made it completely known. As a matter of fact, Pharaoh and the people of Egypt said, Hey, please, will y'all leave? I mean, they did everything but chase them out. But now get the picture here. Here they are, all of this has happened. It's undeniable that it's God. Even Pharaoh's magicians, they told Pharaoh, said this is God. We don't have any control over it. Can you imagine that? When the heathens start saying this is God? I mean, that's God, right? So here they are. Glory! We're being set free today. Comes the Passover. They share the meal. They pack up the next morning and they're ready to go. And they're so excited and they turn. And what are they facing as they leave Egypt? The wilderness. Have you ever thought of that? They get real excited about leaving, but all of a sudden, they're facing the wilderness. Some of them said just what you did. I said, gee, it wasn't supposed to be this hard. Gee, we had plenty to eat back in the world. Boy, it never was this way back there, you know, before I left Egypt. Have you ever said that? But you had to leave Egypt, didn't you? Why did they have to leave Egypt? Because God told Moses to begin with, I have a land flowing with milk and honey that I'm going to take them to. You want me to tell you what happened to you? Here's what happened to you. You were in the world, lost, dying, being destroyed right where you stood. Right? The Spirit of God revealed and manifested the Lord Jesus Christ to you. You chose, you responded, and you turned, and you began to leave Egypt also. But when you turned, you were staring straight into a wilderness. As a matter of fact, you know what's interesting? That the Spirit of God told Moses, tell Pharaoh now that you want to take these people out three days into the wilderness to worship me. Now, is that what he said about six times? That's what he said six times. Pharaoh, let the people go out three days into the wilderness that they may worship you. Isn't it interesting? They went three days into the wilderness and it says in the Word of God they didn't find any water. Can I tell you something? That speaks of your walk right now. You've left Egypt, but I want to tell you something. You've left. You're facing a wilderness now. You want me to tell you why? Because God is bringing you into a land flowing with milk and honey. You have a walk. You have a walk that began back here. It began supernaturally by the Spirit of God bringing you out of the bondage of the world and you've begun to walk. You've begun to walk being led by the Spirit of God and where are you headed? Where are you headed? Where? You're headed toward the land of milk and honey. You're headed toward the promised land. Well, I want to tell you something. Brethren, don't think it's some strange thing concerning these fiery trials. I want to share with you something that I think will help you in your walk. See, some of you haven't been to meetings. Some of you still have the concept it's still ingrained religious thinking that, well, here I am in the world I'm going to say my words I'm going to turn around I'm going to go join me at a good church and I'm going to here I am. That doesn't even make good sense, does it? Do you hear what I'm saying? What you're going through and let me just say I'm just going to lay this out on the table real fast Did you ever notice that it wasn't the generation that came out of Egypt that made it to the promised land? Did you notice that it was a new generation that made it over there? Can I tell you something about your walk? The old man that turned out of the world the old man that you are he won't make it to the promised land. Do you understand what I'm saying? He won't make it there. You want me to tell you why? He wouldn't be at home there once he got there. He's still going to be at home back here in the world in the flesh. But let me tell you something let me tell you something about the walk that we'll be sharing a little bit but I've got to say this before I get into what I'm going to share with you so you understand where I'm coming from once you turn and you're walking through the wilderness can I tell you that there's a bunch of trap doors to hell in that wilderness. Now that may come as a surprise and a shock to some of you but there's a lot that wilderness is loaded with trap doors to hell and the power of the darkness are there tempting you tempting you so that you know you know what they want you to do? You've begun your walk, right? They want you to come to some place and camp out. Boy, it's nice here we've got palm trees we've got plenty of water we're just going to stay here, God we're going to put up our corner tower and live right here. We don't want to God this has got to be the land flowing with milk and honey and they're left standing there and the glory crowd leaves and what are they left with? Death and destruction that's what they're left with see, it's mere religion that tells you that it's some creed or some code or some doctrine that we can walk in it is only faith that tells you that the only walk you can have is a walk with the Lord Jesus Christ that's it the only walk is with Him to walk any other way is total deception and it's total destruction you might as well just accept that right now so we're living in a day and age right now where we're still in the wilderness but you know what the glory cloud is moving and if you don't move with it you're gonna die right there in the wilderness you'll have fallen in to one of those trap doors that'll take you and don't this may offend you a little bit but please listen to what I'm about to share see it may if you don't go on with the glory cloud it says the sons of God are those who are led by the what? If you're not led by the Spirit of God then what are you? You're obviously not a son of God you reckon you're gonna arrive at the land of milk and honey if you're not led by the Spirit of God see I'm gonna say some things right up front you want me to tell you why I gotta say them I gotta say them because I love you you need to get used to them you need to see them I want you to turn with me to Acts 13 I want you to look at Acts 13 and you know what's unusual about this sermon that we're about to look at of Paul's this is the first recorded sermon by the Apostle Paul he has just been sent out by the body of believers at Antioch it says very plainly that he has been part of the prophets and the teachers there at Antioch they have sent him out and now as such God has commissioned him as an Apostle to the church so here he is look at verse 32 well let's back up to verse 27 let's back up there and kind of get a running start look at verse 27 for those who live in Jerusalem and they're rulers recognizing that the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath that sounds familiar in some places doesn't it fulfilled these by condemning him and though they found no ground for putting him to death they asked Pilate to execute him and when they had carried out all that was written concerning him they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb but God raised him from the dead and for many days he appeared to those who came with him from Galilee to Jerusalem the very ones who are now his witnesses to the people now let me ask you a question look at me just a second is he proclaiming the gospel is he proclaiming the gospel which still applies to you and I let's read the next verse and we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers question who are the fathers who are the fathers can I tell you who the fathers are Abraham Isaac and Jacob do you see that let's read on a little bit here Abraham we're preaching to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers that God has fulfilled this promise to our children now this is what the New American says but the Amplified translates that phrase by this he says that God has fulfilled this promise to us their children in that he raised Jesus as it is written in the second psalm now let me ask you a question isn't it strange that he's going to the second psalm as a proof of Jesus having been raised from the dead don't you think that's a little unusual that he'd go to the second psalm and then quote it by saying thou art my son today I have begotten thee what does begotten mean huh you tell me you talk to me begotten means to be given life doesn't it do you have any children you've begotten them haven't you you've given them life look at verse 32 this is a very important point we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers that God has fulfilled his promise to us in that he raised up Jesus now wait a minute look at me here's Paul I'm going to go over here for this here's Paul on the other side of the cross right Jesus has come Jesus has been crucified Paul is pointing back beyond the cross Paul is pointing back beyond the law Paul is pointing back to the fathers and he's saying I am proclaiming to you the promise made to the fathers do you hear what I'm saying it's important to see what it is saying because as we get along you're going to see why it's important Paul is saying I'm proclaiming to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers well that seems real strange doesn't it turn with me just a second let's look at Acts 24 I want to lay a little bit of a foundation for this a little bit more Acts 24 but look at verse 14 now I want you to think of the setting here ok see so often when we look at the word of God we sometimes don't notice the setting we don't notice the context and I think it's important Paul is before Felix Paul was on trial now I want to ask you a question what if they took you right now to the governor of the state and you were on trial for what you believe now I want to ask you a question do you think it would be important what you're about to say it could mean your it could mean your neck now Paul you know him he's one of those fellas he's he's he might not pass that way again so I don't think he's going to mess around do you ok let's look at it verse 14 he says many things but this is one thing he says right in the middle of this whole discussion he said but this I admit to you that according to the way which they the Pharisees call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers believing everything did he say everything that is in accordance with the what Paul believed the law didn't he and that is written in the prophets having a hope in God which these men cherish themselves that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked flip over to Acts 26 let's look at it again Paul he's moved from the governor he's moved to the king now is this again an important meeting what I want you to notice I want you to see how the spirit of God has taken out of the life of Paul these messages at these times and put them here for a purpose look at verse 6 he's making his defense before the king he says and now Acts 26 verse 6 and now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers look at me here he is again before the king pointing beyond the cross pointing beyond the law pointing back to the fathers and saying I am on trial today for the hope of the promise made to them but is he standing in the New Testament day obviously he is is he proclaiming the gospel he goes on he says the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve God night and day and for this what's that word for this hope oh king I am being accused by Jews why is it considered incredible among you people if God does what have you seen a couple of phrases in here over and over again the main phrase Paul in his gospel is proclaiming to you the hope of the promise made to the fathers did you hear that I want you to turn with me to Romans 8 you know Paul made an unusual remark he said we are saved by hope well I'd like to know what that means you know what matter of fact I'd kind of like to know what the hope of the promise is made to the fathers look at Romans 8 verse 24 you know now let me clear up something in today's connotation the way we use words today if I tell you well I hope this or that happens what am I really saying to you what is conveyed to you it may happen it may not it's conveyed as a maybe well I hope it'll happen it's conveyed as a maybe can I tell you something that's not the way hope is used scripturally ok look at it with me Romans 8 24 for in the in hope we have been saved but hope that is seen is not hope for why does one also hope for what he sees but if we hope for what we do not see with perseverance we wait eagerly for it can I tell you that that's the scriptural definition of hope waiting with perseverance waiting with a knowing and a strength within you we're going to look at it in just a second but let me ask you a question how does the spirit of God define faith the assurance of things what of hope for I think that's an interesting remark turn with me to Hebrews 6 I want you to keep your perspective now I want you to stay with me ok now Paul is talking about hey I'm proclaiming to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers he keeps pointing back even beyond the law to that promise well let's look at Hebrews 6 I want to pick up something else here look at verse let's look at verse 11 beginning there and we desire that how many of you is he talking to all of us he desires that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until where let me ask you a question did Jesus Christ make the remark that he who endures to the end shall be what can I tell you that if you don't endure you're not saved can I tell you something you know how today's theology translates this thing you know we got all of our we can't upset flesh now you know we gotta do something to make this we gotta fit this Bible into something that'll sound pleasing that we can swallow it that we can consume it that we can eat it and not have to deal with flesh see they tell us wait a minute no that scripture actually reads the saved shall endure to the end but can I tell you that's not how the verse reads the verse reads those who endure to the end shall be saved see we're back to our picture a while ago the Spirit of God has called you out of Egypt it's real it's real you've turned as you're led by the Spirit of God and you've begun this walk through the wilderness to arrive at the land of promise do you see what I'm saying he who endures to the end shall be saved look at this again with me so that you might realize the full assurance of hope until the end that you may not be sluggish can I tell you something about your walk if you don't have any hope and you're about to see what hope is if you don't have it you're going to be sluggish in your walk can I even just go a little further and say you're going to be downright lazy in your walk for verse 12 that you may not be sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the what well now wait a minute look at me here we go again what promises is he talking about he's still talking about the promises made to the fathers is this still in the new testament verse 13 look at this with me for when God made the promise to Abram since he couldn't swear by anyone greater he swore by himself praise God saying I will surely bless you can I ask you a question reckon there's a doubt in that I mean are you sure I mean think of it here now here's God almighty El Shaddai looking at you and saying I will bless you can you receive it can I tell you something you remember you remember in their walk you know they turned out of Egypt and here they go and they start trudging through the wilderness being led by the glory cloud being led by the spirit of God and they they go about a year and they finally get up there and they send in spies into the land and you remember they sent 12 spies 10 of them came back with a bad report and 2 of them came back with a praise report 10 of them came back and says we can't take the land there's too many giants there there's just too many stoned walls they're too big for us we can't go in can I tell you something God says you are well able to go up and take it I'm saying that to you can I tell you something the powers of darkness and the demons of hell have placed all sorts of giants in your path they're there from your walk in the world before you ever turned to God they're there because of the curse that was on you even in Adam they're there because of all of the garbage that came on you even through your ancestors the stoned walls the walled cities which seems to be so strong and so big God says you're well able to go up and take it now I'm saying that to you because if you don't understand that you'll be like the children of Israel and because of your unbelief you'll fail to go in you want me to tell you something if you don't go in it's destruction ok well now see some people say well now boy that just sounds tough boy that's just too heavy now no it can't be that way let's read on here verse 14 God is saying I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you he's saying this to Abram right this is being quoted from Genesis 22 it's in the New Testament and thus having patiently waited he did what he obtained the promise he didn't say all of the promises he said the promise verse 16 for men swear by one greater than themselves and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute in the same way God desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his purpose do you see that God has a purpose and it's an unchangeable purpose he interposed with an oath in order that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie we who is the we the we are the heirs of the promise so that we may have strong encouragement we we're going to find out something else about the heirs of the promise we who have fled for refuge and laying hold of the hope set before us can I tell you something look at me do you know what the word fled means it means you've run you've run from something can I tell you something you remember when the children of Israel left Egypt does it say that they fled they left in a hurry ok what is a refuge it's a shelter the shelter is a place where you get in a storm isn't it it says those may have strong encouragement those who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the what the hope who have fled for refuge and laying hold of the hope now see you've got to you've got to follow me to this point look at verse 19 this hope now we haven't defined hope have we we're still talking about it this hope we have as an anchor of the soul a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us having become a what kind of a priest can I tell you something you know what he's saying this hope is an anchor of the soul and it's one which enters within the veil where Jesus has entered in other words our hope is within the veil where Jesus has entered to become a high priest you want me to tell you something about your walk in the wilderness here we've left Egypt we've begun on our walk we get real excited about our walk then all of a sudden we get real excited about revelation we get real excited about more revelation we get excited about even more revelation and this and that and the other but can I tell you something this land that you're heading God says that he preordained that you would be conformed into the image of who in this walk you're being conformed into the image of Jesus okay you understand that that's pretty basic but can I tell you this that unless in the journey you're being conformed to the image of a high priest you are not being conformed into the image of Jesus do you understand what I'm saying if you're not being conformed into the image of one who loves and helps and intercedes and lays down his life for others you'll not finish the walk can I tell you something quit worrying about what you know start concerning yourself with manifesting the life of God manifest you set your heart on being conformed to his image and loving and laying your life down because if you don't I don't care what you know you're not going in because you're not conformed to his image amen let's go on over just a little bit look at Hebrews 10 see we just read there we have this hope which is an anchor of the soul one which has entered within the veil where Jesus has entered look at Hebrews 10 here real quick Hebrews 10 verse 19 since therefore brethren are we talking to believers we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he inaugurated for us through the veil that is what's the veil his flesh his body and since we have a great priest over the house of God let us draw near with a what kind of a heart you can't draw near any other way let us draw near with a sincere heart and full assurance of what full assurance of faith having our heart sprinkled clean washed from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure waters and let us hold fast the confession of our what hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful who promised God the Father promised I want to tell you something look at me just a in the lost the perspective of the walk by and large isn't really understood let me tell you why because if it was really understood we wouldn't be as torn up as we are we wouldn't be as worn out as frustrated as we are we wouldn't be as defeated as we are but you want me to tell you something about this there is tremendous encouragement and you are going to see something about the walk that God has said that you may not have seen before but I want you to look at verse 26 but if we go on sinning willfully after receiving a knowledge of the truth there is no longer a sacrifice for sin anyone who set aside look at verse 27 but a certain terrifying expectation of what of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses how much severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified and has insulted the spirit of grace verse 35 therefore do not throw away your confidence which has a great reward for you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what was promised I want to tell you something look at me as you make this turn out of Egypt and you begin to walk you're going to see something that God has promised in regards to your walk but see here's another pitfall you've got to be diligent you have got to endure do you want me to tell you what that's the reason why the fires come you're about to see that in the life of Isaac look on over to Hebrews 11 1 Hebrews 11 1 says now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen is that true now think of the perspective here because if you don't keep it in perspective you're going to think well gee how does this apply look at me just a second we're in a walk right we're going God has called us out of the world out of the bondages we've been in we've turned to walk through this wilderness heading toward a land of milk and honey which God has promised and in turning there in the New Testament Paul keeps saying I am preaching to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers see over and over again he keeps stressing that and I stress it because I want you to really see this and understand where we're coming from look at verse 8 by faith now let me ask you a question I want you to think of something when you look at faith did the word of God say that faith was the assurance of things hoped for did it say that are we safe are we safe to see in that word faith the assurance of things hoped for are we safe to do that I think we are faith carries with it let me clarify something faith carries with it many many different aspects but one important aspect is the assurance of things hoped for when there are things when there is an assurance of things hoped for it helps your walk ok it helps your walk in a way that you're going to see ok you're going to see here in just a minute by faith by the assurance of things hoped for Abraham when he was called he obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance is that true who promised him the inheritance and he went out not knowing where he was going and by faith he lived as a what he lived as an alien in the land of promise as in a foreign land dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob fellow heirs of the same promise for he was looking for what he was looking for the city which has foundations whose architect and builder is God is that true can I tell you look at verse look at verse 13 all of these died in faith Sarah and Abraham died in faith without receiving the promises without receiving the fulfillment of the promises but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance now stop just a second did we read over there a while ago that hope that seen is not hope he saw them from a distance he welcomed them hope is something that he didn't possess hope is something that he's waiting expectantly he's waiting with perseverance for who to deliver it he's waiting for God to perform what he's promised ok keep that in mind now look at this they having seen them verse 13 having seen them and welcomed them from a distance and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth for they who say such things make it clear that they're seeking a country of their own verse 16 but as it is they desire a better country that is a heavenly one therefore God's not ashamed to be called their God why for he has prepared a city for them I want you to look at something look at me we've heard about that promise made to Abraham but do you realize right here the spirit of God says that Abraham didn't see the promise as being a clump of land do you see that it says he confessed that he was a stranger and an alien in the land of promise the spirit of God here says that it makes it clear that he was looking for a heavenly city it makes it clear he was looking he wasn't looking for a pile of rocks and a four square lot somewhere keep your place right here turn over to Hebrews 12 well then the question is what's the city what is the city that the spirit of God just said that Abraham was looking for verse 22 but you have come to mount Zion Hebrews 12 verse 22 look at it with me but you have come to mount Zion and to the what you reckon this is the one he's looking for to the city of the living God to the what kind of Jerusalem did it just say he was looking for a heavenly city a heavenly land sure it is and to the myriads of angel and to what to the general assembly and Ecclesia Ecclesia the called out ones the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the what the spirits of righteous men made what back up over there to Hebrews 11 you know look at me while you're turning back over there you know we've always read that we've always looked at it and we thought well gee God promised Abraham a clump of land isn't it amazing it says very plainly Abraham confessed that he was a stranger and an alien he went home there why because it says very plainly he was looking for a city we just read what city he was looking for amen I want you to keep those thoughts in mind we're going somewhere so hang on with me here look at verse 11 in Hebrews 11 by faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive even beyond the proper time of life since she considered him faithful who had what who promised therefore also there was born of one man and him as good as dead as that as many descendants as the stars of heaven and innumerable as the sand which is on the seashore is that true look at verse 17 by faith Abraham when he was tested he offered up Isaac and he who had received the promises was offering up his only what kind of son oh his only begotten son verse 18 it was he to whom it was said in Isaac your descendants shall be called and he considered verse 19 look at it very important he considered that God is able to raise men even from the dead from which he also received him back as a type is that true ok I want you to go with me just a second to I want you to go to Romans 9 I want you to hold Romans 9 I want you to hold Romans 9 put a marker there and then turn back to Genesis ok Genesis we want to go back to Genesis 12 just hold on to Romans 9 it will save you trouble from flipping here ok you still with me you are about to see something right here you know in Genesis 12 let's look there first but hold Romans 9 please Genesis 12 and verses 1 2 3 there is a promise made to Abram it's a beautiful promise matter of fact part of the promise in Galatians Paul says that God preached the gospel beforehand saying in verse 3 look at Genesis 3 that in you all of the families of the earth shall be blessed well you know some have tried to take these scriptures like this you know what they have tried to say they have tried to teach a doctrine that says that ultimately everybody will be saved have you ever heard that there is a teaching called ultimate reconciliation literally and I am not sure what all of it teaches but that is one thing they teach can I tell you something that is not what this scripture is saying folks ok but the interesting thing is is God said this to Abram and Abram sets out for the land of Canaan and so he finally arrives in the land of Canaan in verse 7 I want you to get this picture it says and the Lord appeared to Abram now let me ask you a question look at the context can you imagine God appearing to you imagine in your prayer time you are there in the word and all of a sudden God appears to you you reckon he has something important to say that is going to get you attention isn't it once you get yourself off the floor you might be able to hear him God appears to him he says one sentence he shows up to say one thing to Abram to your seed to your descendants I will give this land is that what he said beginning and end of conversation now look at me because I want to track this thing because if you don't stay with me you will think well boy what did he say we just read in Hebrews what land is Abram looking for is he looking for a heavenly city is he looking for the new Jerusalem is he looking for the heavenly mount Zion is he looking for the assembly the general assembly in church of the firstborn is he looking for that dwelling place of the spirits made perfect he said Abram your seed your seed your descendant shall inherit this land now am I taking anything out of context the spirit of God just said very plainly that Abraham confessed that he was a stranger an alien he was looking for a heavenly city and now then here comes God telling him your descendant your seed shall inherit this land okay let's follow on chapter 15 of Genesis hold on to Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans Romans once you've begun the walk. Verse 2, you know, God has just appeared to him and said, Abram, to your descendants I'm going to give this land. Now, God's spoken to him again, Abram, your reward shall be very great. But Abram says, O Lord, what are you going to give me, seeing I'm childless? Do you see the context here? God, what are you going to give me? I don't have any children. You've promised this land to my seed, my descendants, but I don't have any. So, let's get religious and let's work this out in the flesh. Okay? Here we go. We're going to build our first religious structure. Therefore, God, since I don't have a descendant, since I don't have a son or a seed, let's let old Elizar Damascus, let him be my descendant. Verse 3, Abram said, since you haven't given an offspring to me, let's let one born in whose house? Let's let one born in my house be a descendant. You know, isn't that interesting? You know, I think so often when God spoke to David and said, David, don't build me a house, I'm going to build you one. Can I tell you something right now? Don't tell God you're going to build Him a house. You know what God will tell you? I'm going to build you one. You quit worrying about it. You quit fretting about it. I'm going to build a house. That's God's parts, not yours or mine. It goes on here, verse 4, And then, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, This man will not be your heir. Very important verse. But one who shall come forth from your, from your what? From your own body, he shall be your heir. Keep that thought in mind. Verse 5, And he took him outside, took Abram outside and said, Now look toward the heavens and count the stars if you're able to count them. And he said to him, So shall your descendants be. Very important verse. Verse 6, Then he, then Abram, believed in the Lord, and he reckoned it to him as righteousness. Did that happen? Let me ask you another question. Was one of the revelations that Paul had that became the foundation of his gospel, wasn't it justification by faith? Okay. But see, today, that has so been perverted. We're so distorted that we've made it, we've made faith. You words you say over here on some altar. Can I tell you something? If faith is the assurance of things hoped for, you're walking this thing out. One day at a time in faith. Every day you wake up, just like Milt says, Reporting for duty, Lord Jesus, and I'm ready to walk. I'm ready to go with you today. It's waking up every day. Now, I want to tell you something. Well, let's look at the word here again. Look at verse 6. I want you to see this. Then he believed in the Lord, and he reckoned it to him as righteousness. I want to ask you a question. Look at me. What is it Abraham believed? Okay. I want you to look at this. I want you to think of the spiritual context here. Here's Abraham. God appears to him, tells him, Your seed, your descendant shall be heir of this land. The Spirit of God has just told us in Hebrews that Abraham didn't consider it to be a clump of ground. That Abraham was looking for a new city, a heavenly city. Is that true? Then Abraham tries to work this thing out in the flesh and says, Well, let one be born in my house, my house, God, not yours, but let one be born in my house be the heir of this land. God says, No, but one who shall come forth from your body, he shall be heir. And that's what Abraham believed. Can I tell you that Abraham believed that God was able to bring forth a new man out of his heart and that new man would be an heir of the promised land? Do you hear that? That sounds familiar, doesn't it? Can I tell you something about your walk? Abraham believed that God was able to bring out of his body. Didn't we read in Hebrews that it said his body was as good as dead? Why was it near as good as dead? Can I tell you something? Same way your body is as good as dead. The corruption of this world, you were dead in trespasses and sins. And you know what happened? God spoke. God spoke because you know what? He manifested himself through you by the Spirit of God. And you know what? You turned, you yielded, you submitted. You chose to choose the calling of God. Do you hear me? You chose His calling of you. You turned and you turned out of the world. But can I tell you what Paul continually preached? I'm preaching to you the promise made to the fathers. He says, I have a hope like they have a hope that there shall be a resurrection of... a resurrection from the dead. Is that true? Hold your place right here just a second. Turn with me to Romans 9. Now, you were there. I want you to see this. See, now, some people, see, automatically they begin to say, wait a minute, see, he's talking about Jesus there. See, I've shared that. And they say, well, now, Isaac is the symbol and type of Jesus. But I want you to look at this. We're going to let the man who wrote most of the New Testament, who spoke the gospel, we're going to let him tell you who Isaac is. Look at Romans 9. Now, keep your place in Genesis. Don't lose your place there either. Romans 9, verse 6. But it is not as though the Word of God has failed. Can I tell you what? The Word of God hadn't failed. There's been a lot of people fail to receive it and believe it, but the Word of God hadn't failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel, neither are they all children because they are Abraham's seed. Do you see that? But through Isaac your descendants will be named. It is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the what? Who are regarded as, what's that word? The children of the promise. Now, I want you to think about this. Flip back over there to Genesis. When you do, turn back and look at me. Now, I want you to see this clearly. Because when we get into Romans 4, Romans 4 and Galatians 3, you may shout, I did, born according to the promise. Abraham, I'm going to bring forth a child, a new man out of your innermost being. He shall be heir of this what city? Heavenly city. It's the child born according to the promise. Who promised? So that's a child born of God. God said to you, just like He said to Abraham, the Gospel's been this. There is a heavenly land for you to inherit. There is a new Jerusalem. There is a heavenly Mount Zion. There is a place dwelling with the spirits of righteous men made perfect. But Abraham, your flesh will never inherit it. I've got to bring a new man out of your innermost being, and that new man, he shall inherit my land. The same thing that was said then is being said to you. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Only the new man, born according to the promise, born according to the Word of God. We've been born again by the what? By the Word of God, which is an incorruptible seed. Let's go on here a little further. I want you to turn with me. Genesis 22. I want you to get the thought here too. You remember when we were in Hebrews 6? It quoted a promise and an oath made by God to Abraham. That promise and oath are in Genesis 22. Now get the picture. Abraham has just believed that God is able to fulfill this promise he made about this new land through a child that will come forth out of his body. He believed it. That is a faith, that is a belief that God has accounted as righteousness. Can I tell you that unless you believe that God is able to bring a new man out of you to inherit this land, can I tell you something? You're not being saved. You want me to tell you why? You want me to tell you why? Because see, your heart's not set on becoming what God intends for you to become. God said He chose you in Him before the foundation of the world that you should be what? Holy and blameless before Him in what? In love. He chose you in Christ before the foundation of the world. That's been His plan all along. Hasn't it? You want me to tell you something? Abraham, if it's not your full desire to turn from the world and become conformed completely into the image that God intends you to be conformed, you're not going to walk the walk. If you have no direction, which way are you going? Do you hear me? Which way are you going if you don't have any direction? But the question is, see, people hear that call to holiness, and you know what they do? You know what they begin to do? They do like Abraham. Well, God, let's let one be born in my house that's going to inherit this land. God, we can work this thing out. But God says, no, I'll cause him to come forth out of your innermost being. I'll cause him to be born. Do you see what He said? Don't build in my house. God will build you a house. Are you following me there? Okay. We've turned. The spiritual child's been born. But now, how does he become the heir? You're about to see something that happens to the heir, okay? The child born according to the promise, born according to the Word of God, born according to the Spirit. Let's read about him. Look at Genesis 22, verse 2. He said to Abraham, Genesis 22, verse 2, He said, take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you. See, there's a lot of little side issues in here that are so rewarding to study. Like, why was it a burnt offering? Okay. Of course, we didn't read it, but I'm assuming, of course, that you know who Isaac is. Of course, Isaac is that son born according to the promise. He is this one who came forth out of the body of Abraham, and a type. He's a literal son, he's born, but he became a type for us. Verse 3, so Abram rose early in the morning, he saddled his donkey, took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and he split wood for the burnt offering. Who's the burnt offering? Isaac. And he arose and went to the place of which God had told him, and on what day? Oh, the third day. Abram raised his eyes, and he saw the place from a distance. Isn't it interesting? We keep seeing them from a distance. They keep welcoming them, having seen them from a distance. And Abram said to the young men, Stay here, and I and the lad will go yonder, and what will happen? He said, We will worship and do what? And return to you. There's something going on in Abraham's heart. So Abram took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, laid it on his back, right? And he took in his hand, what did he take? The knife and the fire. So the two of them walked on, how did they walk? Together. Where were they going? To a place of sacrifice. The father and the son were walking together. Do you see it? The father and the son were walking together. The son had the wood of the burnt offering on his back, and the father had taken the what? What did the father take? The knife and the fire. You've got to see this. You've got to let the Spirit of God show you some of these things, because if you don't see it, it will go right by you. Then Isaac spoke to his father, verse 7, and said, My father, and he said, Here I am, my son. He said, Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? And I think one of the most powerful verses in the Scripture, Abraham said, God will provide for himself. Do you see that? God will provide for himself the lamb of the burnt offering, my son. Who is the offering? I mean, in this context right here, who's the offering? Can I tell you one thing about your walk and my walk? You've begun your walk. You began the walk under the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ that said, You've got to take up your cross. How often? Daily. You've got to die to your flesh and your desires daily to fulfill this walk. You've got to take up the cross daily. And you know what we've thought in that? We've thought in that that we, we have to work real hard to put to death the deeds of the flesh. We have to, we have to strive and we have to wrestle. Boy, I've got to put this to death and I've got to put that to death and I've got to deal with this. Can I, can I tell you one thing real fast? A little secret. God will take care of it for you. You understand what I'm saying? God's provided himself a sacrifice and guess what? It's you and me. And it's good. It's glorious. Let's read on a little bit. Verse 8 says, God will provide for himself. Don't wrestle with it. Submit to God. Yield to Him. Verse 9. Boy, I'll tell you what. Can you see the two of them walking on together? Can I tell you something right now in my heart? Boy, I just see. See, there's a lot of you right here. You haven't been seeing God walking with you in the midst of your fires. Can I tell you what? Everything that's happened to you, God's ordained it. And He's walking there with you. He hasn't left you alone. Do you see the picture of that? Then he came to the place, verse 9, of which God had told him. And Abraham built the altar there and he arranged the wood and he bound his son Isaac. How many of you have ever been bound before? He laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and he took the knife to slay the son. Can I tell you something? Look at me. Can I tell you something about your walk? If you've begun your walk, God's ordained that you become a burnt offering. The child born according to the promise, born according to the Spirit of God, He's ordained that you become the offering and the sacrifice. He's ordained that the only way you'll become an heir of this land over here is that you die. That He puts you to death. And the Father, please hear me, the Father, He's the one who takes the knife. He's the one who takes the fire. He's the one who binds you. Now, let me put the balance on that. Don't misunderstand in that that God wants you to stay bound. But what I'm talking about here, and when I'm talking about the binding, I'm talking about the fires of life that we find ourselves in. Sometimes we'll find ourselves in a fire and all that we do, all we wrassle and all we do, it just seems like we can't get out of it. The more we try to get out of it, the worse it seems to get. That's the binding I'm talking about. I'm not talking about literally the powers of darkness necessarily. But I'm talking about the binding of certain situations that you can't seem to break free of. You pray and you pray and you seek God and you seek God and still you're bound right there under the wood. But can I tell you something? The Father's walking with you to that place of sacrifice. He's the one who's holding the knife. He's the one who brought the fire. And you know why? You know why? For your salvation. Can you accept that? When you look at the sacrifices, so often we see the death and the destruction. But can I tell you something? That in the sacrifices, God saw the salvation of each individual. In your death to self, when God brings the situations and the fires and the trials of the knife to put you to death, that you become an offering on that altar, it is a sign of God's salvation for you, not His destruction. It is the process of salvation. You've got to go through the fire. Do you hear me? But the Father is there with you. But, can I add a little but? In the midst of the fire, you know what you can do? You can save yourself. You can save yourself. That's what the enemy comes along with. You don't need to suffer this. Why? You can do it. You don't need to suffer this thing. Why? You just... Preacher, we're going to throw you out if you keep preaching the way you are. Well, preacher, the powers of darkness come and tell you, well, you know, you just kind of water it down and hang in here. Now, you don't want to get thrown out. Now, preacher, you've got bills you've got to pay. They'll come to you and they'll say, James, you've worked with us all these years. Now, we need you to do this, this and this. And you say, well, boy, that's illegal. I don't do things like that. That's immoral. I don't do things like that. Well, now, you know, you've been with us a long time. If you want to be kept in good standing, you know, you'll just do these things. And the enemy will come and say, well, you know, it's all right to compromise a little bit. See, it's all right to compromise a little bit. I mean, God understands, you know. You know, oh, God's just a good bosom buddy. But you know what God's doing? You're saving yourself. You're coming down off the cross. You've decided you don't want to go to the place of sacrifice. You've decided that you want to live and you want to save your life in the world. And Jesus said, you'll save your life in the world. And what will happen? He said, you will lose your life. Can I tell you something? When the Father binds you and you find the fire and the knife raised over you, don't save yourself. Okay? Submit to God. Boy, I love a word in Deuteronomy. It says, Fear the Lord your God in loving with all your heart and cling to Him. Cling to Him in the midst of the storm and the fire. See, that's what God wants you to do. When the trials come, you submit to God. You hear me? Let's go on a little further here. I want to read verse 11 because I want to get down to a mark we made here. Verse 11 says, The angel of the Lord called to him and said, Abram, Abram. He says, here I am. Don't stretch out your hand against a lad. He says, I know that you fear God. Abraham raised his eyes in verse 13 and he saw the ram in the thicket caught by the horns. He offered up the ram. Can I tell you something that's interesting? As a pastor and as a minister, I've dealt with a lot of people coming out of satanic and occult worship. Do you know what the ram signifies? Have you ever seen that in satanic worship? Who does it represent? It represents Satan. Why don't you reckon that just happened by accident? Can I tell you something? Do you see what God is working in your life when you're bound and the fire and the knife is raised over you? If you don't save yourself, if you submit to God and cling to Him and trust Him, you know what will happen? See? There's so much freedom coming. But now, if you want to save yourself, if you want to make it easy on yourself, you know what will happen? You'll go into destruction. Look at verse 14. And Abraham called the name of that place, The Lord Will Provide. Is that what it said? Verse 16, And by myself I've sworn, and we read this in Hebrews 6, declares the Lord, because you've done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, indeed I will greatly bless you, I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the sea shore and your seed. Who is this seed? You see what he's saying? Your seed, this spiritual child born according to the promise, he shall possess the gate of who? That kind of sounds like some glory involved in it. They'll possess the gate of their enemies and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you've obeyed my voice. Go with me please to Romans 4. You're about to see something about this. I think that'll tie it together for you here a little bit. Are you with me so far? When you get to Romans 4, I want you to look at me. I want to recap what we've been saying so you'll be together with me. I don't want you to get lost from it because you're about to see something about your walk. We begin with Abram, right? God calls him out. He begins going into a land that he's to inherit. He confesses he's a stranger and an alien in that land, correct? Why? Because in his heart he's looking for a city. A city whose builder and maker is God. He's told that his seed, his descendant, shall be heir of that land. He's then told that out of his own body shall come forth an heir of the land. He's also told, he knows, that God is the one bringing forth that new man out of his innermost being. Abraham believes this. Abraham believes that God is able to bring forth that new man out of his innermost being to be an heir of this land. He believes it. But even that child, as he comes to life, he becomes a mere sacrifice. He becomes a burnt offering. Are you with me? Look at Romans 4. Look at verse 1 of chapter 4. What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, is found? See, we're right here at the very end. Look up. Look in chapter 3 of Romans. Verse 28. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Justified by faith. Now let me ask you, what is justified? Doesn't he say in Romans 2 that it's not the hearers of the law who are just before God, but who? The doers of the law. It's a tremendous paradox, but it's not through adherence to the law that you're going to enter this heavenly city. But God said, this spiritual child born of My Spirit, born according to the promise, born according to the Word of God, He says, I'm going to do something different. I'm going to write My laws where? On his heart. And you know what will happen? You won't do things to get to heaven. You'll be so in love with God. Jesus said, if you love Me, you'll do what? Oh! Do you see what's happening? All of a sudden the motivation has changed. Even though the same thing is occurring, the requirements of the law are being fulfilled in you. Because why? Because you love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Is that true? Because you love Him. All of a sudden, you instinctively and naturally begin to fulfill the law. It's the Spirit of God through you. You can't keep Him in the flesh. Look at verse 16. Well, look at verse 14, excuse me. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified. Do you see that? Paul is still talking about the promise. For the law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation. Hold your place right there and look with me to Romans 7. I want to read one verse to you. Keep your place right there. We're going right back to Romans 4, but I want to read one verse to you in Romans 7. Look at it with me. Do you not know, brethren, for I am speaking to those who know the law, that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he want? Oh! Turn back over to Romans 4. Look at verse 15. For the law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation. Can I tell you something? Do you see what he's saying right there? The law is fulfilled in you as you set your mind on spiritual things as you are led by the Spirit rather than by the flesh. You see what I'm saying? It's a natural thing. For this reason, look at verse 16. For this reason, he's saying that where there is no law, where there is a fulfillment of law, there's no violation of it. He says, For this reason, it is by faith, it is by faith that it might be in accordance with grace in order that the promise may be what? What's the promise? Are you beginning to see it? You know what the promise is? James, John, Sue, Sally, whoever, your body is dead and trespasses in sin. It can't inherit my new land over here. So God says, I'm going to take care of that. I'm going to provide you as an offering on an altar. The altar of God's making and not yours. The promise is that, God, I believe that you're bringing out of me a new man, a new person who shall inherit this new land out here. That's the promise. That God will bring that man out of you. And the way it will happen, it will be by faith. The assurance of things hoped for, is that what we've been saying? It will be based in faith that it may be by grace, which is the divine power of God. Don't take any of this grace business about, well, it's God's unmerited favor. See? God's riches at Christ's expense. See, all that sounds nice, and it sounds real religious, but it has no basis in Scripture. We've been defining grace in terms of mercy long enough. It's time to look at grace and see that the Word of God calls it the power of God. Let's read on here. Look at verse 16. For this reason, for this reason, since where there is no law, neither is there violation, for this reason, it's by faith that it might be in accordance with grace in order that the promise may be what? To who? I want you to see this. Those who are the descendants. Those who were born according to the promise. Those who were born according to the Word. Those who are being led by the Spirit of God. Those who are walking up a mountain with a wood on their back with a father with a fire and a knife. Those are the descendants. God says, I'm making something certain to you. He goes on, and He says, and not only, let's drop down to verse 17. As it is written, a father of many nations have I made you, and in the sight of Him who He believed, even God, who gives life to the dead. Who's dead? We've all been dead. And calls into being that which does not exist. What doesn't exist in you? That holy and blameless person. It doesn't exist in you, but God is bringing it to pass. In hope against hope, He believed in order that He might become a father. A father of many nations. According to that which had been spoken, so shall your descendants be. And without becoming weak in faith, without becoming weak, what did we say faith was? The assurance of things hoped for. He contemplated His own body, now as good as dead, since He was about a hundred years old, yet with respect to the what? The promise of God. He didn't waver in unbelief, but He grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what He had promised. What's the next phrase? He was able to perform. Is that in your Bible? Who's going to perform it? Can I tell you something? That kind of takes the weight off you, doesn't it? Can I tell you something? You're just free in Jesus. You want me to tell you why you're free? You don't have to be religious. You don't have to be religious. You cling to Him, and you're led by the Spirit of God. And whatever God is leading you through, you submit to God. You cling to Him. And it's just like I was sharing with Frank here a while back. I said, some days, brother, it's kind of like being on a ship in a hurricane. You have to lash yourself to the mast and hang on. But buddy, you cling to Him. Come heaven or hell, you hang on to Him. And you submit to Him because you know what? God is bringing forth out of you a new man who shall inherit this new city over here. He's promised He'd do it. But we want to save ourselves, don't we? Don't save yourself. Are you seeing that? Boy, that's good. I like it. Verse 21, being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able to perform. He was able to perform. Therefore also it was reckoned to Him as... Some of you have been working hard to be righteous. Can I tell you? You can quit working on it. Submit to God. Submit to God. Cling to Him. Quit trying to be religious. One thing we missed, I wish we had about four more hours to go into this, but in Genesis 17, you know what God El Shaddai says to Abram? I love it. He says, Abram, walk with Me and you'll what? And be blameless. Can I tell you one thing? Can I tell you the one thing? There's only one thing that God's called you or I to do. Walk with Him. That's it. Don't be religious. Don't try to figure it out. Don't try to birth something out of yourself. Don't try to build a house for God. God said, I'll build you the house. I'm bringing forth this heir out of your own being. I'm bringing forth this new spiritual child out of you. So quit trying to birth one. Submit to Me and let Me do it. As long as you try to do it, you know what? God can't do it. And you know what your life will be? One long chain of futility. Futility, desperation, discouragement, failure. I want to tell you what I'm teaching you right now today. Let me make something perfectly clear. This is not some good teaching I sat down and figured out. I've lived this. I got to a place four years ago. We left. I left a church as a pastor. A good denominational church.