Weekly Message : God’s covenant with Abram (Gen.15) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Weekly message: God’s covenant with Abram (Gen.15)   

  By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce    1/18/2023

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts& Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

         

 God’s covenant with Abram narrative unveils in Genesis chapter 15. The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Gen.15:1). “Look up at the heavens and count the stars if indeed you can count them…so shall your offspring be.” (Gen.15:5) The Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all these to him…

As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. (Gen.15: 9-12) Then Lord said to him, “ Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years, but I will punish the nation they serve as slaves and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” (Gen.15:13-16)

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing touch appeared and passed between the pieces. On the day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land…(Gen.15:17-18)

God’s covenant with Abraham, it requires Abram  fully trust in God Himself, and place his confident in God Himself alone, not in His blessings, wealth, nor in flesh, self, family and relative; Not in godly men or women, nor in a church denomination or political party.  Abram’s transformation into Abraham, it took few steps of mistaken by human’s national intervention who acted implosively without waiting upon the Lord God. After thirteen years of silence, and waiting, God’s promises to Abraham and Sarah were come to reality.  Once God becomes real, other people become shadows. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever disturb or upset the one who is built on God.  

When God unveils a vision to you and darkness come over you or follows, wait, be still, stand firm, keep watching and listen, God will direct, intervene, and prevail according to His will and in His time. Never try to help God fulfill His word. God will make you in accordance with the vision He has given if you will wait His time.

My friends, Have you place your confident in the flesh? Have you got beyond all confidence in yourself and in men, and women of God instead of God Himself? Is your confidence place in God, Lord Jesus Christ, not in His blessings and wealth? Jesus instructed about how to receive eternal life? He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark12:30). We are the seeds of Abraham through the New Covenant of Jesus, Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me (1 Corinthians11:25). The night Jesus was delivered up; Jesus took bread and gave thanks. He said to disciples,“ Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you do this in remembrance of Me.” (Mark14:22; Luke 22:19) For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He come.” (1 Corinthians 11:26). God’s New Covenant to us through Jesus is eternal life, God Himself. Therefore, place your confidence in God Himself alone, stay upon God, and wait upon the Lord. 

 

 Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

            Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest. NY: Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc, 1935.