September 11, 2022
Enough Faith To Pass The Test
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
Hebrews 11:11 NIV
"And by faith, even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise"
Question: How much faith is “enough”?
Genesis 12:10-13 NIV
"Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister so that I will be treated well for your sake, and my life will be spared because of you."
There isn’t a perfect solution to an imperfect situation.
Genesis 12:14-15 NIV
"When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace."
Genesis 12:16 NIV
"He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels."
Genesis12:17-20 NIV
"But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife, Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. 'What have you done to me?' he said. 'Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!' Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had."
Genesis 12:17 NIV
"But the Lord inflicted serious diseases… because of Abram’s wife Sarai"
Genesis 15:1 NIV
"After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.'"
Genesis 16:1 NIV
"Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar;"
Genesis 16:2a NIV
"So she said to Abram, 'The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.'"
Genesis 16:2b-4 NIV
"Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan for ten years, Sarai, his wife, took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress."
Question: How much faith is “enough”?
When you are finding it hard to trust God, look for ways He is showing off His faithfulness.
Genesis 17:15-16 NIV
"God also said to Abraham, 'As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.'"
Genesis 18:6-8 NIV
"So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. 'Quick,' he said, 'get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.' Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.'"
Genesis 18:9-10 NIV
"'Where is your wife Sarah?' they asked him. 'There, in the tent,' he said. Then one of them said, 'I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah, your wife will have a son.'"
Genesis 18:11 NIV
"Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing."
Genesis 18:12 NIV
"So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, 'After I am worn out, and my Lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?'"
Genesis 18:13 NIV
"Then the Lord said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'"
Genesis 18:14 NIV
"Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son."
Genesis 18:15 NIV
"Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, 'I did not laugh.' But he said, 'Yes, you did laugh.'"
Question: How much faith is “enough”?
Answer: Enough to keep going forward, even with your doubt, hurt, and fear.