Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz20040104.htm

SAMPLING GOD'S "FEAR NOTS"
Part I: God's Solution For Fears Of Harm For Holy Living
(Genesis 14:12-15:21)

Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

(1) As you will recall, last Sunday the Lord had arranged for us (as follows) to see Him emphasize our need for a holy walk in keeping with His Word, a walk of separation from evil: (a) The snow storm of December 7th had postponed that day's Sunday morning sermon until last Sunday and (b) the snow storm of December 14th had postponed that day's Sunday evening message until last Sunday so that both messages were given then, December 28th and (c) both of them happened to deal with our need to separate from evil to heed Scripture!

(2) Well, last week's Sunday morning message ended a series in Genesis 1-2, so, as I had considered doing another series of messages based on lessons written years ago but which had not been put in web site form, I picked up the first of that second series on "Sampling God's Fear Nots'" to review its first lesson.

Well, that first lesson of the second series addresses the fears of troubles we might face were we to obey God and separate from ungodliness in relationships! (After writing up these notes, I prepared tonight's Sunday evening message out of 2 Kings 4:38-44, and found it focuses on God's good and ample livelihood supply for holy living!)

(3) This theme on holy living is timely for today not only because of its consistency with last Sunday's messages which the Lord arranged for us to view last week, but because I have had recent discussions with members in our body about this very issue:

(a) One believer months ago asked me for encouraging input from Scripture on handling the need this believer had of handling difficulties in relationships due to taking stands in righteousness!

(b) Then, a week ago, another spoke to me about my Christmas Eve statement that this past year, 2003, had actually been "fun" for me as a Pastor. He noted that due to various Biblical stands we have taken, there had been years of "less-than-fun" experiences!

So, knowing that IF we to OBEY God's Word that we can RISK PROBLEMS with those who choose NOT to heed it, and out of CONCERN about COMPLICATIONS that might rise from others in choosing to live rightly, HOW do we HANDLE the THREAT to relationships that may arise for LIVING in OBEDIENCE to God's Word to be separate from evil?

(We turn to the sermon "Need" section . . . )

Need: "Though God leads me to refrain from having close ties with godless people, I FEAR doing so may leave me with taxing reactions from them! How am I supposed to respond to THAT?"
  1. When God called Abram to leave Ur, God led him on a path of HOLINESS in PREPARATION of DISCIPLING the WORLD!
    1. God told Abram as he was still in Ur to separate from his land and relatives and travel to a foreign country, Acts 7:2-3.
    2. In doing so, Abram was to separate from his evil world so God could make of him a righteous nation to direct the world back to Himself:
      1. God's revelation to Abram in Ur followed God's punishment of the world's nations for rejecting His call after the Flood to spread out upon the earth; rather, man had tried to stay united and go his own godless way without God, Genesis 9:1 with 11:1-9.
      2. Accordingly, by telling Abram to leave his home and relatives for a foreign land, God wanted Abram to live separate from the ungodliness of the world system that was around him, Gen. 12:1.
      3. Yet, God did not want Abram to be isolated -- He planned to bless the world through him, Gen. 12:2-3; God wanted a nation that was separate from sin to use to lead man back to Himself, 12:2-3.
  2. Yet, Abram's PATH of SEPARATION from UNGODLINESS led him into such FRICTION with the UNGODLY that ABRAM experienced RELATIONSHIP CONFLICT and MATERIAL LOSS:
    1. Five groups from the East invaded Canaan and captured Abram's nephew, Lot (who had come to Canaan with him); as Abram lived in Canaan where God had led him, he was obliged to rescue Lot by defeating these five kings in battle, Genesis 14:11-16 with 12:1-4.
    2. Then, after alienating himself from these groups, Abram's holiness led to a threat of a reprisal from the king of neighboring Sodom:
      1. In rescuing what the kings had taken, Abram salvaged what had been robbed from Sodom, so its king asked Abram to keep his goods but return his captured people, Genesis 14:17, 21.
      2. Yet, accepting this proposal might have left Abram vulnerable to be subject to this evil king, Bible Know. Com., O.T., p. 54.
      3. Thus, Abram's walk with God led him to refuse any ties with the king of Sodom at the loss of acquired booty: Abram returned Sodom's people and goods minus what food his men had eaten and the share of others who helped him win the battle, 14:22-24.
      4. Thus, in heeding God's call for holy living, Abram paid a price in relationships and in lost goods captured in the battle!
  3. God responded to Abram's needs rising from holy living, telling him to "Fear not" as He would fill any lack for holy living, 15:1-21:
    1. The opening prepositional phrase of Genesis 15:1 rendered, "After these things . . ." reveals Genesis 15:1 looks back to Genesis 14.
    2. As such, since Abram's Genesis 14 separation from the ungodly king of Sodom had risen out of his holy walk, God told him not to fear the fallout of this separation: God would SHIELD him from retaliation from those who might block him from doing God's will, 14:22-15:1a.
    3. Also, God would not let Abram's Genesis 14:2-24 return of Sodom's goods harm him: God would be his GREAT REWARD, 15:1b with 14:22-24; J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible , vol. 1, p. 66.
    4. Then, expanding on this latter idea, God gave a timetable to fulfill His promise to be Abram's EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD:
      1. Abram saw he had no means to see God's promise come true regarding producing a nation, for he had no son, 15:2 with 12:2.
      2. Thus, Abram expressed his dismay to God at his discouraging lack of a son who could be his heir, Genesis 15:3.
      3. God edified Abram by explaining he would have a son in due time (Genesis 15:4-7), but that there was a timetable for fulfilling His Covenant: the promise would take a long time to be fulfilled, for God in grace was giving the Canaanites much time to repent before Abram's seed dispossessed them, Genesis 15:15-16.
Application: If we FEAR harmful retaliation from the ungodly around us or even material loss for heeding God's leading for us to SEPARATE from evil and its associations, (1) may we TRUST in God through faith in Christ to be justified, Genesis 15:5-6 with John 3:16. (2) Then, following Abram's lead, may we (a) trust in GOD to PROTECT us from what retaliation that might arise in response to our holiness that might block God's will for us due to our STANDS, and (b) trust GOD to be our GREAT REWARD to provide all the material goods we might lose for holy living and (c) make us a blessing to others! (d) God will also provide all the ENCOURAGING Scriptural INSIGHT we need to explain our PATH so we can be BLESSED in facing the FUTURE!

Lesson: When God led Abram to SEPARATE from UNGODLY parties, a step that led to RELATIONSHIP CONFLICT and MATERIAL LOSS, God supplied all the (1) protection, (2) reimbursement and (3) insight he needed to HANDLE these THREATS that arose for a holy walk with God.

Conclusion: (To illustrate the sermon lesson . . . )

 God has recently illustrated He is our Shield and Great Reward:

(1) While visiting an inmate, JC in a State Correctional Center last month, I became concerned about his need to stick to Scripture for his final guide as opposed to the writings of men, cf. 2 Timothy 4:1-4.

Yet, I didn't want to discourage him as it was hard enough for him to be encouraged in his trials behind bars, so I silently prayed for wisdom. God led me to tell JC that I found only a daily diet of Bible helped me in my trials; I told Him I would pray he could obtain a Bible reading guide so he could find a rewarding, daily diet of Scripture.

At the time, I was not aware that Chris Slate had bought a copy of Oswald Chamber's daily Bible reading guide, My Utmost For His Highest to give to one of our missionaries on Christmas. Neither did I know Kathy Brunetti of our Hospitality Committee had redirected the book to this inmate as the missionaries already had their gifts. At the time I did not know Kathy was mailing that book to JC, and that it would be given to him in a day or so when gifts like that may often take weeks to get clearance to the inmate in our era of raised security.

In fact, when JC was given the book, in view of our recent conversation, he thought I had sent it!

Hence, God supported my concern for holiness in the inmate's walk, and rewarded Chris, Kathy, the inmate, his family and me with a series of events to reveal His shepherding of us all in the matter!

(2) Then, on New Year's day, in a phone call with relatives, I was asked to pray for my side of the family since now everyone on my side is either concerned about the truth being taught and applied in their church or is actively searching for a Church to give them the truth or a greater depth of the truth instead of artificial alternatives!

This phone conversation made me realize how very important it was that we at Nepaug retain our stands for the Bible's truth. Yes, at times it may cost us in relationships, but I came away from that phone call realizing any cost we pay for a holy stand and walk in relation to Scripture is worth it! After all, this matter affects the spiritual welfare of my own kin, let alone that of yours!



GOD will be our SHIELD and GREAT REWARD as we, like Abraham, WALK in SEPARATION from SIN and ERROR!