Sermon Tone Analysis

Relationships are hard

Relationships are much harder then we realize they are.

My dad always told me to do something right the first time, so you wouldn’t have to do it a second time.

Which is true when talking about building something, or working on a project.

But a relationship isn’t like a hot rod you are working on in the garage, or a shed you build in the backyard.

Relationships require frequent maintenance.

You may have done it right the first time, but you have to continue doing it right.

Our husbands and wives know what I’m talking about.

We have to repeat things in marriage.

Husbands, you need to frequently tell your wife you love her.

If you wife comes to you and says, “You never say you love me.”

You don’t get to say, “What more do you want?

Didn’t I say that on our wedding day?

Gosh, you’re so needy.”

Husbands, wives, confess your love to one another, and confess it frequently.

Parents, a kind encouraging word to your child can go a long way.

Don’t wait till you’re on your death bed to tell your kids you’re proud of them.

Frequently talk to your kids and tell them what they do that you like.

Part of training your children, discipling your children and raising them up to know the Lord, is not just disciplining them when they do something wrong, but applauding them when they do something right.

Christians, we need to frequently encourage one another.

Next time you read through the New Testament, note how many times we are called to love one another, and to encourage one another.

Why do we need to hear these things so often?

Because we forget.

We forget big truths.

We forget things that we should know.

Husbands you may think that your love for your wife is a big truth, but if we don’t talk about our love for our wives, I guarantee you she’ll forget that you do.

Parents, you may think your kids know you are proud of them since you haven’t had to spank them for a week, but I guarantee you they forget your pleasure in them if you don’t talk about it.

And Christians, you may think that your fellow church members know you like them, because you seek them out during the welcome and greeting time, but you’d be surprised, how many people feel neglected.

We need to frequently be reminded of big truths.

Which brings us to today’s text, God reminds Abraham of some important things.

Because even in our relationship with God, we forget great truths.

That’s why so much stuff that we talk about isn’t new, it shouldn’t be new.

But it’s stuff that we forget.

God frequently reminded people of His authority, of His expectations and what He will do, because we forget.

And we too need to be reminded of these things.

Over the years, I’ve had people come to me and say why do I continue to preach repentance and talk of sin.

Because we forget.

Sin creeps into our life, and we succumb to it.

We forget how awful it is.

We need to continue to repent.

If the talk of sin and calling people to repent offends you, think of Abraham.

As we look at our text he’s 99 years old.

A man who has been blessed by God.

A special man.

Yet, he’s not immune to forgetting things and needing to be reminded by God.

If Abraham, who’s a special guy, needs to be reminded of God’s authority, and the call to be blameless ...

If this man who is certainly, more blessed than you, needs these reminders, then let’s humbly approach God’s word and be reminded as well.

So let’s open our Bibles to .

Let’s look at verses 1-8, we will finish the passage next week.

Read

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face.

And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.

5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

(ESV) — 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face.

And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.

5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

God reminds Abraham of the parties in the Covenant

We learn in verse 1 of our text that Abraham is 99 years old.

Our little boy is growing up.

When we first met him he was 75.

The last time we saw him he was 86, and he had just become the father of Ishmael.

It’s been 13 years, since we’ve heard anything.

Abraham is a special guy though.

He has had many encounters with God.

These are things that should not be easily forgotten.

And yet when it comes to Abraham, he seems to forget.

He has had many encounters with God.

These are not small things.

Isaiah, found himself before God and he trembled.

And yet, Abraham forgets these life altering occasions.

He needs to be reminded of what God has promised him.

Verse 1, God appears to Abraham, and the first thing He reminds Abraham of is the parties of the covenant, who is who in this deal.

The first person in this party is God.

Look how He describes Himself in verse 1, “I am God Almighty.”

In the Bible names mean something.

In just a little while, Abram will receive a new name, the one we know him by, Abraham, and that name means something.

Just as the names of people mean something, the names of God mean something.

Here, He is called God Almighty, or El Shaddai.

El - means God.

Shaddai - focuses on the power of God.

There is none like Him.

He is Almighty.

Why is this important?

Because as God makes this covenant between Himself and Abraham, it’s not two equal parties coming together to make a deal.

There is God Almighty, El Shaddai, the one who is all powerful.

And He sets the terms.

He is the deal maker.

This is how it’s going to be.

Then the other party is Abraham.

God says He is God Almighty, then He says to Abraham “walk before me, and be blameless”.

Yes, that is a command, but it’s also a description.

It’s a description of man.

God says, walk before me.

To walk is to live ones life.