This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Evidence Of God's Plan For Your Life", Genesis 21:11-21

THE EVIDENCE OF GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU

Gen 21:11-21

LET GOD DIRECT YOUR PATH

V:11-12. The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12 But God said to him, "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspringb will be reckoned.

A. When God starts moving in your life, He will 

    begin making some changes.

   1. Your life in Jesus is stages of growth and development.

       a. The call: Abraham was called out of Ur when he was 75.

       b. The gifting of the call: He had a wife, many servants and

           resources.

       c. The promise of the call: Father of many nations

       d. Study of the Word: Lived under God’s direction for 25   

           years.

       e. Understanding the purpose of the call: Abraham and

           Sarah had to learn to trust God to see the fulfillment of the 

           promise.

       f. Separation from distraction: Distance from some family

          members and friends; Lot and Ishmael.

B. God’s directions will not always be pleasing to you.

   1. Abraham was directed by Sarah and then God to send Hagar,

       Sarah’s maiden and his first born son out of the camp.

   2. Ishmael would have been 17-19 years old when he and his

       mother was sent out of Abrahams camp.

   3. Abraham loved his son and did not want to see him go.

   4. The problems with Ishmael and his mother were two folded.

       a. They had become a constant aggravation to Sarah because

             of their constant and never ending mocking.

         b. Even though Ishmael was Abraham’s first born, he was

             not the promise son of God’s covenant with Abraham. 

MAKING DECISIONS UNDER GOD’S GUIDANCE

V:13-14.  I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring."

14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba.

A. Even though Ishmael was not part of the covenant God made

    With Abraham, he was part of the plan that put the promise

    of the nation of Israel Into motion.  

1.    It was the Ishmaelites  that brought Joseph, the great   

    grandson of Isaac from his brothers and took him into Egypt.

    Genesis 37

2.    Joseph was sold as a slave to the captain of Egyptian army.

3.     This was the start of the 400 years of slavery of Abraham

     descendants  promised by God in Genesis chapter 15.

B. We may not know the propose of God’s directions in our lives,

    But we can be sure that they are part of God’s master plan.

1.    God’s provisions for us is always enough.

2.    Hagar and Ishmael left Abraham with food and water that

lasted a few days until the next visit by God. 

PRAYER WORKS

V:15-17. When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy die." And as she sat there nearby, shec began to sob.

17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.

A. Disappointments and rejections are part of God’s plan for our

    lives.

1.  God uses the trouble in our lives to manifest Himself and

His glory.

2.  It is usually, not until we are in need before we have serious

Prayer with God.

a.    We do not hear of Hagar’s prayer until she is in trouble.

b.   Most of her life after the birth of Ishmael was proud and

Disrespectful.

c.    It was when Hagar was put into a life or death situation

that she began to pray.

B. In spite of our short comings, God hears our prayers.  

   1. God uses our ugliness to show how beautiful He is.

   2. We serve an on time God.

       a. God came to Hagar after the water and bread ran out

           and she began to pray.

      b. Sometimes God has to put us in to the desert of life before

          we will listen to Him.

c.     It was 15-17 years earlier, that God met Hagar in the desert with Ishmael and sent her back to Sarah.

3.  God is still God, even when we are wrong.

4.  God’s plan for our lives does not change because of our  

    disobedience. 

5.  God continues to direct us into situations that gives Him glory.

6.   He comforts us in our time of sorrow.

          

CONFIDENCE IN LIFE THROUGH TRUSTING IN GOD

V:18-21. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation."

 19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.

A. God, from time to time reminds us of His promises to us.

    1. Sometimes He chooses the time when we are discouraged

        to lift us up.

     2. Hagar was lost, but God showed up to show her what

         she missed when her mind was not focused on Him.

 B. We are blinded to the blessing of God when we are focused

     on our misery.

1.    Every believer will be put in situations where  learning

to trust God is the only way out.

2.    We should find confidence in the Word of God.

3.    God’s Word has the power to lift us up.

4.    In God’s Word is direction for our lives.

C. After hearing and believing in the Word of God,

    Hagar’s weeping stopped and she began to move under

    the directions of God.

1.  She found a wife for her son to began the fulfillment of

the promise of God.

2.  God puts each of us in situations that grows us into the

what He has purposed for our lives.

3.  Hagar was transformed from a disrespectful servant of

Sarah to a respectful mother of Ishmael by learning to

Trust the Word of God.

THANK GOD FOR HIS DIRECTIONS

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst. Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

For more lessons, follow me on facebook and

Visit my blogs; remmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com.

NIV

Bible Basics: What Does Worship Look Like

WHAT DOES WORSHIP LOOK LIKE

What is worship? Is it singing when others sing? Is it praying when other pray?

Is it waving and clapping your hand in church service? Are we just going through

the motions?

Worship is an outward expressing of an inward change toward God.

God is spirit and they that worship the Lord, must worship Him in spirit and in truth               John 4:24

    

John 4:24

[God is a Spirit] this is one of the first, the greatest, the most sublime, and necessary truths in the compass of nature! There is a God, the cause of all things-the fountain of all perfection-without parts or dimensions, for he is ETERNAL-filling the heavens and the earth-pervading, governing, and upholding all things: for he is an infinite SPIRIT! This God can be pleased only with that which resembles himself: therefore he must hate sin and sinfulness; and can delight in those only who are made partakers of his own divine nature. As all creatures were made by him, so all owe him obedience and reverence; but, to be acceptable to this infinite Spirit, the worship must be of a spiritual nature-must spring from the heart, through the influence of the Holy Spirit: and it must be in TRUTH, not only in sincerity, but performed according to that divine revelation which he has given men of himself. A man worships God in spirit, when, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, he brings all his affections, appetites, and desires to the throne of God; and he worships him in truth, when every purpose and passion of his heart, and when every act of his religious worship, is guided and regulated by the word of God. "

(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

    

Matt 15:8-9

 "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"

Worship starts in the heart. Worship is the Greek word sebomai (seb-om-ahee)

Which means to revere or adore.

Worship cannot be your own invention or what you feel like doing.

How to insure out worship is for real

    

1. GO to God and wait for the power of His grace.

2. Meditate on the greatness of Him before whom we are.

3. Mortify those lusts that are apt to withdraw our minds.

4. Before the duty there must be an actual preparation or a solemn discharge of all impediments, that we may not bring the world along with us.

5. Be severe to your purpose.

6. Bring with you to every holy service strong spiritual affections.

7. Remember the weight and consequence of the duties of religion.

8. Let every experimental wandering make you more humble and careful.

9. A constant heavenliness and holiness of heart.

10. Frequent and solemn meditation.

11. By use a man gets greater command over himself.

    

Matthew 15:7-9

God only to be worshipped and loved: --

 I  THE TRUE OBJECT OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, which is here called drawing    

     nigh unto God and honoring Him.

II. To DIRECT THE RIGHT MANNER OF PERFORMING RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

1. God is to be worshipped in the way of His own appointment.

2. God is to be worshipped with the whole man, with our bodies and    

    spirits which are His.

3. God is to be worshipped by the assistance of His spirit.

4. God is to be worshipped in the exercise of all suitable graces under the    

     influence of His spirit.

5. God is to be worshipped with an eye to His glory, as our ultimate end.

6. God is to be worshipped in the name of Christ as our only Mediator.

Reflections:

1. How must every one, more or less, stand reproved for defects in   

    worship.

2. How becoming, glorious and delightful must it be to offer up such    

     worship to God, as is agreeable to His will.

    3. What glorious provision has God made in the gospel to assist this noble    

         homage.

(Dr. Guyse.)

What does worship look like

1.     Worship looks like love. God is love

         

Matt 22:37-40

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'b  38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'c  40 All the Law and

 the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

"

2.     Worship looks like obedience

         

Rom 6:16-18

obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

    

2 John 6

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

NIV

3.     Worship looks like giving

    

2 Cor 9:7-8

 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

3. Worship looks like forgiveness

    

Matt 6:13-15

14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

    

Matt 18:21-23

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.f 

NIV

4. Worship looks like tolerance

    

Rom 2:3-4

3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

4. Worship looks like humbleness

Matt 18:3-4

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5.     Worship looks like kindness

         

  Rom 11:22

Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness.

6. Worship looks like one who displays the fruit of the spirit,

    

Gal 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 7. Worship looks like prayer.

         

1 Thess 5:17-18

Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus     

concerning you.

8. Worship looks like trust.

        

Isa 40:31

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

9. Worship looks like respect for family

     

1 Peter 3:7

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

NIV