April 5, 2022

Romans 4:17-21; NASB
17 (as it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, that is, God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that do not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

Belief. Belief is a funny word. What do you believe in? What do the American people believe in?

According to our constitution and other important documents, these are some of the core beliefs set forth for all Americans:

1. LIFE: an individual’s rights to life should be considered inviolable (except in extreme circumstances)
2. LIBERTY: an unalterable aspect of the human condition (includes personal, political, and economic freedom)
3. PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS: it is the right of American citizens to attempt to pursue/attain happiness in their own way as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others.
4. COMMON GOOD: public/common good requires that individual citizens have the commitment and motivation to promote the welfare of the community and work together with others for its benefit.
5. JUSTICE: people should be treated fairly in the distribution of the benefits of society, and the correction of wrongs and injuries.
6. EQUALITY: all citizens have political, legal, social, and economic equality.

I know, I know. Thanks for the history/American Government lesson pastor. I get it. But as I read through that list, how are we doing as Americans? We can say we believe in these things, but are these beliefs being lived out? Are these beliefs being held in regard by all Americans as, “this is the only way this is going to work and none of us can stray from it”?

Shift with me, because I’m not here to write about the state of American society. That is an important topic. But I also believe the only way society can change is through the humility of the people to submit themselves to God and invite Him to lead. I know, how naive of me.

Abraham wasn’t a perfect person. He deceived Abimelech about the true nature of his relationship with his wife Sarah. While waiting for God to fulfill his promise of a son, he followed his wife’s counsel and slept with her maidservant. Like you and I, he had his failures (but how great is it that when the writers talk about Abraham, they don’t focus on his failures but rather on his faith….God’s grace is an amazing thing!).

I love the picture we see of Abraham here: he believed God. He believed God’s promise. He believed in God’s power to fulfill that promise. He believed on his own he was woefully unable to fulfill the promise. He needed God to intervene. And he trusted God to intervene, because God said He would.

There are some critical statements about belief we should pay attention to:
“He believed God who gives life to the dead and calls things into being that do not exist.” Wow! The belief Abraham has says a lot! God gives life to the dead and calls things into being that don’t exist! In other words, Abraham believed that God is a God of the impossible, the unthinkable, and the unimaginable! There is nothing that God cannot do.

“He did not waver in unbelief but was fully assured that what God had promised, He was able to perform.” Faithful. Trustworthy. Promise keeper. These are the thoughts and beliefs of Abraham. 

And Abraham didn’t just believe these things in his mind. He didn’t just think, “It would be really cool if God did all He said He would do.” He believed it. And in believing it, he lived it out.

Did you know it took twenty years for God to fulfill this promise of a son/heir. 20 years. 20 long, agonizing, waiting, when is it going to happen, years. 240 months. 1042 weeks. 7300 days. 175,000 hours. 10,512,000 minutes. That is a long time to wait.

And Abraham waited. And believed. And waited. And believed. And each passing minute/moment/day Abraham didn’t weaken in his faith, but he grew stronger in it. 
I think the key thing about Abraham is that while he waited for God to fulfill His promise, he walked in his faith. He lived his faith. He waited, but he didn’t sit there doing nothing. He kept moving forward and he trusted God.

Recently I asked people to share some of their troubles and struggles in life. The list was overwhelming (and heartbreaking). Over and over I read words like this: doubts of self worth/value, anxiety, depression, worry, regrets, discontentment, and an aching heart.

These are some pretty big and heavy things. Sometimes they can completely immobilize a person and render them overwhelmed, sinking them deeper and deeper into despair.

Can I share something with you? 
God gives life to the dead and calls things into being that do not exist. 
Yeah, well that’s all and good, but what does that have to do with you and the things you struggle with.
God gives life to the dead and calls things into being that do not exist. 
I know. I hear that and read that, but how does it help me?
God gives life to the dead and calls things into being that do not exist. 

How many times are you going to keep writing that sentence pastor?!? Well, until we get it. Until we understand it. Until, like Abraham, we believe it.

It might take days, months, weeks, or years to overcome our burdens and struggles. Maybe, like the apostle Paul, it will be a thorn in our side, daily reminding us that God’s grace is enough for us. 

Time and time again God’s Word reminds us to cast our cares and burdens on Him. Our challenge today, like Abraham, is do we believe that? Do we believe that God gives life to the dead and calls things into being that do not exist?

Believe on God. Not just “in” God, but “on” God. He is bigger than all you are dealing with. He is the God of the impossible. Whether it is through prayer, reading God’s Word, friendships, working with a counselor, or even medication…God has an innumerable amount of ways that He works in our lives. Trust Him to lead you.

My hope and prayer….this helps you to believe in God. Believe He is real. Believe He is with you right now. Believe He is bigger and stronger than the burdens and struggles in your life. Believe that He will never leave you or forsake you. Believe He loves you. Believe that He has overcome the world. Believe that He is holding you, right now, in the palm of His hands.

Maybe belief isn’t such a funny word after all. Maybe it is a word that, every time I read or hear it, I am reminded of the God I believe in…the God who routinely does the impossible.
 
-Pastor Brian