ABRAHAMSTAGGEREDNOT

ROMANS 4:19-24

ABRAHAM STAGGERED NOT

STAGGER

to be uncertain, be at odds with oneself, doubt, waver (BDAG)to be at variance with one’s self, hesitate, doubt (THAYER)

ABRAHAM STAGGERED NOT

DO WE STAGGER??

THINKING OURSELVES INADEQUATE??

OVERWHELMED BY THE ENORMITY OF THE PROPOSITION BEFORE US

OVERCOME BY THE GREATNESS OF THE PROMISE

ABRAHAM STAGGERED NOT

DO WE IDENTIFY MORE WITH:

PETER - LOOKING AT THE WAVES AND STARTING TO SINK (MATT 14:30)

THE EPILEPTIC'S FATHER - WANTING TO HAVE FAITH, BUT HUNG UP ON PAST FAILURES (MK 9:24)

BARNABAS - REACTING TO PRESSURE ACTING IN A MANNER INCONSISTENT WITH OUR PROFESSION (GAL 2:13)

ABRAHAM STRUGGLED

ARE YOU WAVERING?

IS THERE SIN IN YOUR LIFE?

ARE YOU BOTHERED BY PAST SINS?

ABRAHAM STRUGGLED

ARE YOU WAVERING?

ABRAHAM STRUGGLED WITH MATTERS OF FAITH

11 It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are

a beautiful woman; 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will

kill me, but they will let you live. 13 “Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of

you.”

Genesis 12:11–13 (NASB95)

ABRAHAM SINNED SERIOUSLY

2 Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3

But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man

because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.”

Genesis 20:2–3 (NASB95)

ABRAHAM SINNED SERIOUSLY

2 Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Since

You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.”

Genesis 15:2–3 (NASB95)

ABRAHAM WAS IMPATIENT

2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to

my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

Genesis 16:2 (NASB95)

ABRAHAM WAS WILLING TO COMPROMISE

18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!”

Genesis 17:18 (NASB95)

ABRAHAM WAS WILLING TO COMPROMISE

12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me,

but they will let you live.

Genesis 12:12 (NASB95)

WHAT CAUSES US TO STRUGGLE? FEAR?

11 Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they

will kill me because of my wife.

Genesis 20:11 (NASB95)

WHAT CAUSES US TO STRUGGLE? FEAR?

2 Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of

my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Since You have given no

offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.”

Genesis 15:2–3 (NASB95)

WHAT CAUSES US TO STRUGGLE? ANXIETY?

2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to

the voice of Sarai.

Genesis 16:2 (NASB95)

WHAT CAUSES US TO STRUGGLE? PLEASING MEN?

18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!”

Genesis 17:18 (NASB95)

11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son.

Genesis 21:11 (NASB95)

WHAT CAUSES US TO STRUGGLE? EMOTIONALISM?

5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had

conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the Lord judge between you and me.”

Genesis 16:5 (NASB95)

WHAT CAUSES US TO STRUGGLE? CONSEQUENCES?

12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 13 And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child,

when I am so old?’ 14 “Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you,

at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

Genesis 18:12–14 (NASB95)

WHAT CAUSES US TO STRUGGLE? DOUBTERS?

ABRAHAM REACHED A TURNING POINT

“BEING FULLY PERSUADED” (ROM 4:21)ABRAHAM OVERCAME AND WAS “STRONG IN THE FAITH”

ABRAHAM TRUSTED IN THE LORD

“AGAINST HOPE BELIEVED IN HOPE”

“HE CONSIDERED NOT...”

“GIVING GLORY TO GOD”

ABRAHAM STAGGERED NOT

“IT WAS NOT WRITTEN FOR HIS SAKE ALONE

“IT SHALL BE IMPUTED, IF WE BELIEVE”