This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.” This is Part 13. We have been looking at the life of Abraham. Let’s go back to his story today. The Bible says:
(Gen 21:1-7 ERV)
The Lord came back to visit Sarah as he said he would, and he kept his promise to her. At exactly the time God said it would happen, Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. Abraham named his son Isaac. Abraham did what God commanded and circumcised Isaac when he was eight days old. Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born. Sarah said, “God has made me happy, and everyone who hears about this will be happy with me. No one thought that I, Sarah, would be able to have Abraham’s child. But I have given Abraham a son, even though he is old.”
In the 21st chapter we find the birth of the promised son, Isaac. Our text says that God did for Sarah what He promised to do. It is also worth mentioning that this was also a fulfillment of the promise to Abraham.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. There is a space between the Promise and the Performance.
a) God gave Abram a call and a promise chapter 12. The baby was born in chapter 21. Although God spoke it, it took 9 chapters and 25 years to come to pass. Think about that for a moment. Let that sink in. 25 years is a long time. It is always great when God gives you a promise in the morning and makes it manifest in the afternoon. Even if it does not come the same day, most of us can wait a few days; maybe even a week. But what happens when your promise takes a lot longer than you expected? Will you give up? Will you stop believing? Will you throw in your faith towel? Or will you keep believing?
b) During the 25 years between the promise and the performance God reiterated the promise to Abraham and reassured him over and over again that it would come to pass. God had to keep telling him that he was a Father of Many Nations, even though he did not have any children yet. The point is that everything God planned is already done, but it will not manifest in the earth until the fullness of God’s timing.
c) Things may get worse before they get better, but you must keep believing. Sarah’s womb was apparently dead. She was past child bearing age. Abraham’s reproductive organs were no longer working. He was almost 100 years old. They had been walking with God for over 20 years. The average person would have given up. But that is why we call Abraham the Father of Faith. Without a Bible to read, a Pastor to counsel with, a choir to sing him happy, or a fellow believer to keep him encouraged; Abraham believed God! All he had was God and a promise. Sure, he had his ups and downs; but he kept believing that God would do what He said He would do. He might have been delayed, but he was not denied. 25 years later, at 100 years of age, God did what He promised to do! Let this testimony fuel your faith this morning!
2. You must HOLD ON until you SEE what God SAID!
a) In the space between the promise and the performance the enemy will attempt to cause problems. In the space between the confession and the completion the enemy will attempt to cause confusion. But you must remain in-faith, and focused long enough to see the manifestation of what God said in your life!
b) Things in the earth may not always look like what God is speaking to you from heaven, but you must choose to live by the unseen over the seen (2 Cor 4:18). That is the life of faith.
c) The day you get to the point where the unseen (what God said) is more real to you than the seen (what you see everyday in the earth), is the day you will begin to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7, 2 COr 4:18).
d) Never give up on a promise from God. No matter how long it takes and no matter how bad the situation seemingly gets, continue to stand on God’s promise and continue to believe that He will bring it to pass. I will close with the words of Moses this morning, “God is not man, one given to lies, and not a son of man changing his mind. Does He speak and not do what He says? Does He promise and not come through?” (Numbers 23:19 MSG).
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. I believe You. I believe every Promise You have ever spoken over me shall come to pass! For You, in heaven, it is already done. For me, in the earth, it is only a matter of time. So I choose to live by what You reveal in the unseen and not by what I see down here, in this world. I live in synch with heaven, even if it means I seem out-of-synch with the people down here. I walk by faith and not by sight and I hold on, no matter how long it takes, so I can see IN MY HANDS what You have revealed to me IN MY HEART! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
