Let's take our Bibles and turn
with me to the book of Hebrews chapter 11. Hebrews chapter 11. This evening I'd like for us
to look at verses 11 and 12. Hebrews 11. 11 and 12. Through faith also Sarah herself
received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a
child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful
who had promised. Therefore spring there even of
one, and him as good as dead. so many as the stars of the sky
in multitude, and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable. Let's pray together. Our Father, as we call upon you
this evening, how we thank you for the blessed privilege to
pray. Lord, I ask you, would you bless the services tonight?
Lord, meet with us, we pray in power. Cause us to hear. Help us to worship. Comfort our
hearts by your Spirit. For Christ's sake, we pray. Amen. The mercies that I'd like to
deal with this evening are based upon the account found in Genesis
chapter 18. I want you to turn there with
me if you would. Genesis 18. I'd like to read
verses 9 to 15. This is the account, the actual account of
what actually happened. Abraham was their desert outside
of Sodom. And the Scripture says that it
was the Lord and two angels came and met with Abraham. And there was a conversation
that took place, and this we pick up in verse 9, Genesis 18,
Verse 9, and the scripture says, And they said unto him, Where
is Sarah thy wife? And he said, that is Abraham,
Behold, in the tent. And he, that is the Lord, said,
I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of
life, and lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard
it. in the tent door which was behind
him. The Lord was speaking. Sarah
was standing in the tent right behind the Lord. She was eavesdropping,
listening to what was being said. Abraham and Sarah were old and
well stricken in age, and it ceased to be with Sarah after
the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within
herself, saying, After I am waxed old, shall I have pleasure, my
Lord, being old also? And the Lord said unto Abraham,
Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child
which am old? Is anything too hard for the
Lord? At the time appointed, I will return unto thee according
to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.' Then Sarah
denied, saying, I laugh not, for she was afraid. And he said,
Nay, but thou didst laugh." Now turn over to Genesis 21, and
let's read the first five verses here. And here's what happened. Genesis 21.1, And the Lord visited
Sarah, as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had
spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare
Abraham a son in his old age, at the time set of which God
had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of
his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, being eight days old,
as God had commanded him. And Abraham was a hundred years
old when his son Isaac was born unto him. Now I want you to turn
back to Hebrews 11. And I want us now to read what
Almighty God says actually happened, what we read in Genesis 18 and
21 was what actually happened. And now we're going to read what
God said actually happened. Hebrews 11, let's read it once
again, through faith. Also Sarah herself received strength
to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past
age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang
there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the
stars of the sky in multitude, as the sand which is by the seashore
innumerable." Now, we just read two passages of scripture. Almighty God who cannot lie,
set forth actually as things are. Now in the account in the
Old Testament, that account, that historical account, made
absolutely no mention of Sarah's faith. The scripture sets forth
But the Lord came. She was eavesdropping. He said
that she was going to have a child herself. She laughed in herself. She laughed at God's Word. She doubted God. Shall I have a child? Past as the manner of women is,
she laughed and doubted God. And the Lord asked Abraham, why
did Sarah laugh? Doubt what I say? Then she lied.
Then she lied. I didn't laugh. He said, yes
you did. Yes you did. Now in the New Testament,
the Scripture sets forth what Almighty God says actually happened. But here is our Lord setting
forth as things actually are as God sees His people in Christ. No mention is made of Sarah's
unbelief. No mention is made of her laughing.
No mentions made of her doubting God, no mentions made of her
lying. Only the marvelous display of
God's grace to grant His people faith to believe Him. I read that passage of Scripture,
and I think concerning this frail creature right here, one that
sees nothing in myself, The struggles, heartaches, trials, unbelief. And I read the scripture, Romans
8.1, it says, There is therefore now no condemnation to them that
be in Christ Jesus. The being found in the person
of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in myself, How many times have
we looked at that Scripture? Paul says, I see in me, that
is in my flesh, that there was no good thing. There's not a little good in
me, not a little good in you either. I'll tell you the way
things are. There's only one good, and that's
God. But robed in the precious righteousness
of our Lord, the Scripture says concerning Sarah, she conceived
seed, Poor child. And you know why? Here's the
amazing thing. Because she judged Him faithful
who had promised. Or she laughed. She doubted. She
lied in herself. But in Christ, who had put away
her guilt and paid her debt, Christ who bore the guilt of
not only this woman right here, but her husband and everyone
chosen in him from before the foundation of the world. Laying
down his life for his sheep. Paid their debt. No record justified. What did she do? Almighty God
says that she judged him faithful. Who had promised. Is that the way that you see
this frail creature? If I be in Christ, yes it is. Yes it is. At this point, I want us to remember,
not only Sarah, but every believer walks by faith. Not according
to their own will, not according to their own ability, but walks
according to having received faith in the glorious, regenerating
power of God's Spirit. Faith to believe God. The Scripture says, through faith,
and let me just add something here that will help you. Whenever we are going through
this chapter, especially this chapter, And he's talking about
faith, by faith, by faith, Abraham, Isaac, by faith, the object of
their faith. by Christ who is the object of
their faith. You think upon, listen to what's
being said and realize it's faith in Him by the object of Sarah's
faith. Through faith also, like her
husband Abraham, Sarah herself received strength to conceive
seed. By believing God, this is what
the Scripture says, Actually happens. By faith. By the object of her faith. Sarah
received strength to become pregnant. She was barren. She could have
no children. God was going to give her and
Abraham a son. It was Abraham 100 years old
when this boy was born. And the Scripture says, by faith,
by the object of Sarah's faith. Sarah believed God. Human reason
would say, you know what, that's just not possible. A lot of times I'll be talking. I know I'll do the same thing.
I'm not picking on anybody. But we'll be talking about something,
a problem, a situation. And we'll say, you know, I know
the Lord is able. And I'm thinking to myself, please
don't say but next. I know we're going to say it,
but just don't say it. I know the Lord is able, but... I'm telling you, the Scripture
sets forth that by faith, That which was humanly impossible. That which sin, unbelief would
reveal to us, tell us. God can't possibly do that. Or
He won't do it. How do you know He's not going
to do it? I think of the Scripture. Gary and I were traveling down
yesterday. We were talking. We talked about this Scripture.
Where the Lord said, Ask anything in My name, and I'll do it."
And I think, I don't even know what to ask. We both had disagreeing
thought. The best thing to ask is, Lord,
whatever Your will is, that's what I pray for. Lord, if it
be Your will, Lord, would You have mercy. Lord, would You have
mercy. Lord, You're able. That leper
came to the Lord. Here he was. He was sick. He was very sick. And he came
to the Lord Jesus and he said, Lord, if you will, you make me
clean. The Lord said, I will be thou
clean. You have not because you ask
not. Ask. Ask anything. Isaac was going
to be born. Almighty God had purpose, and
Sarah's frailty was not going to thwart God's purpose. Thy
people shall be willing in the day of thy power. That which
Almighty God has purposed, Almighty God is going to accomplish. I
know that. And the Lord gave this woman
that which alone pleases Him. God Almighty was pleased with
Sarah in Christ. Only in Christ. Outside of Christ,
God is not pleased with anyone outside of Christ. Only in Him. This is My beloved Son in whom
I am well pleased. You hear Him. God Almighty had chosen to show
mercy to this woman. God Almighty was going to send
this woman a son. He was going to send her, Isaac. And the only way that God was
going to be pleased was if this woman trusted His Son. Without faith in Christ, it's
impossible to please God. So He gave her faith. He gave
her that which pleases Him for her to believe His Son, to honor
His Son. Cast herself upon His Son. She
believed God just like Abraham. She believed God. The Scripture
says, she judged Him faithful who had promised. God gave her
a promise. Talking to Abraham. He told Abraham,
your wife is going to have a boy. And the Scripture says, she judged
Him faithful who had promised. I know what she hears in her
flesh. But I'll tell you this, in Christ,
by faith, the scripture says she believed God, she judged
Him faithful. Almighty God is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek Him. And He made this barren woman
fruitful. She received from the Lord power,
ability, force to conceive seed and was delivered of a child
when she was past age. Now, I know this, and we're quite
aware. I know that Sarah's faith, my
faith, your faith, you that believe Him, is not now. It's not perfect faith. I know that. There was but one. that had perfect faith. There
was one that had the Spirit without measure. One. I do know that
our Lord spoke to His disciples at times and said, O ye of little
faith, wherein did you doubt? For bless God, they had faith.
They believed God. There was a Syrophoenician woman
She came to the Lord, came and said, Lord, my daughter is sick. The Lord said, it's not meat,
it's not fat, that I should give the children's bread to dogs.
She said, truth, Lord, that even the dogs get the crumbs that
fall from the Master's table. And He said, woman, great is
your faith. Be it unto you. Because you've asked. Great faith. One other one that he mentioned.
Great faith. Centurion. Centurion had a servant
who was sick. The Lord said, I'll come heal
him. He said, Lord, I'm a man of authority. At least in type like you are. I say to this one, go. He goes.
This one comes. He comes. Lord, if you speak
the Word, it will be done. Can you imagine that? This man believed. And the Lord
said, I've not seen so great faith. No, not at all in Israel.
This man went home the next day. Saw his servants coming. He said,
when was he healed? He said, about 1 o'clock yesterday. He remembered. But that's when
the Lord told him. Servants, fine. Great faith. Little faith. But faith. Faith. Faith that the Scripture
sets forth is subject to growth. 2 Thessalonians 1, 3, We are bound
to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meat, because
that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one
of you all toward each other aboundeth. Faith grows. Faith grows. It's cultivated. Cultivated by
God Almighty. But boy, I tell you, the way
that it's cultivated, that's hard on our flesh. Our faith
is tried, and it's proven, and it's increased. as God's people
must walk in the life that God's given them. They progress. They grow in grace through His
Word. They're made to behold, by experience,
the faithfulness of God. That's how grace grows. And it
is trying to our flesh. It's hard. We're going to be
put in situations where you're just going to have to believe
God. You're going to have to believe God. You have nothing
else that you can do. I was always used to, I remember
a statement that was made to me years ago. I was just always
used to being able to pretty much pick up the telephone, you
know, make a phone call. See if I can get this and help
me out here. I can do this. And then found myself one day. in a situation where I couldn't
make a phone call anymore. And that's what this person told
me. They said, first time you've
not been able to think you can handle it, isn't it? And I said,
yeah. We're going to have to believe God. We're going to have
to wait. Abraham's wife, Sarah, received
strength to conceive seed by the grace of God Believing that
Almighty God was going to do just exactly what God had said
He was going to do. Nothing is impossible with God. Aren't you glad for that? Aren't
you glad that we're not helpless? Paul says we're not as those
that have no hope. I know that the trials of this
life are tough. I know they are. I know they
are. I know just enough. I've not experienced much. But
I know just enough to know that this life is hard, trials. Many of you truly suffered, greatly
suffered. Had to believe God. But doesn't
the reading of the account of this woman that was tried by
Almighty God, and God gave her faith to believe, and the Scripture
says she believed God, she judged Him faithful, who had promised,
and that was God's account of her. I think to myself, Lord,
help mine unbelief. Lord, help me. This object of God's mercy. A
woman frail in herself, doubted God in herself, but the Scripture
says, God Almighty honored what God had started. Faithful is
He that calleth you who will also do it. He that hath begun
a good work in you shall perform it unto the name of Jesus Christ.
God Almighty is going to keep His people. He's going to try
them because He loves them and He's going to bring them. There's
children. You dads and moms, you love your
kids. There's times you've got to discipline
them. It's good for them. It's good for them. Don't ever
be afraid to discipline them. Best thing in the world you could
ever do for them. This is what God does with His kids. His children. Whom the Lord loveth, chasteneth. Brings them to himself. I remember
chastening my children after it was all over. I never got
any bigger hugs than after I'd had a spankle. That was some
of the best hugs I ever got. They knew I loved them. I loved
them. I told them. I didn't do this because I hate
you. I did it because I loved you. Almighty God, the Promiser. The Promiser is faithful. Martin
Luther said this, if we would trust God, we must crucify the
question, how? How is God going to do that?
I don't know. But I can tell you this, Almighty
God is able. Do your children appear too far
gone for God to save? Remember the thief on the cross.
In that dying hour, here was a man getting ready to leave
this world and enter eternity. By the grace of God, God showed
mercy. How is God going to do this?
This woman, she's too old to have a child. Abraham too old. God Almighty was judged faithful
who had promised. We've got God's Word. God is
going to save His people. His Word is not going to return
void. I know there's times I'm the world's worst. There's times
that I'll look around and I'll doubt and I'll think, you know...
I pray, Lord, have mercy. Lord,
would You remember this congregation? Lord, we've been here, according
to Your mercy and grace, 55 plus years. Lord, would you have mercy on
Katie? I know there's times that men
will look around and they'll say, well, this doesn't seem to be
working, so I'll tell you what we're going to do. We'll have
to try some new methods. We're going to try something
by the grace of God. We're not going to do anything
other than preach the gospel of God's grace. God's faithful. God's faithful. If the Lord is
going to save a person, He's going to save them under the
preaching of the gospel, and we're not going to do anything
else. Sarah believed God. Almighty God has promised He
will do it. The Scripture says in verse 12,
Therefore, and it was because, the Scripture says, because she
judged Him faithful, who had promised, Therefore, sprang there even of one, and
him as good as dead, that is, Abraham, so many as the stars
of the sky in multitude, as the sand which is by the seashore
innumerable. Lord, can it be that you have... I know, I know, I know that there
were Jews, physical Jews that came forth. Sunday morning, the
Lord is talking to a group of people and He told them, He said,
I know your sons of Abraham according to the flesh. I know that. God
Almighty promised a spiritual Israel. Look up at the stars,
Abraham. Can you count them? How about the sands at the seashore? How many do you think there are?
Innumerable. Almighty God promised. Lord, can there be? Can that possibly be? Lord, I
was watching something on the History Channel the other day,
and it started kind of breaking this universe down. And it started
showing just what we could see right here. And I mean, there
were so many stars, you know. And then it started breaking
this down. And it got us into the Milky Way galaxy. And then
it started breaking. And the Milky Way galaxy got
to where, you know, it got to where the Milky Way galaxy wasn't
but about this big. And then we were somewhere in
that thing. And it just showed stars and
stars, I thought. I was thinking about that when
I read this right here. Can that be that the Scripture
set forth that Almighty God promised this woman, right here, a son? And this son, the Scripture... I want you to turn to Matthew
1.1. Let me show you something that happened. And the Scripture
says that this woman believed God. It says, because she judged
him faithful, that had promised. God did something. He sent this
woman, a son. Abraham and Sarah, a son. His
name was Isaac. And here's what God Almighty
was going to do. Matthew 1, 1 and 2. The book
of the generation of Jesus Christ. The son of David, the son of
Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac. And it went all the way on down.
And it comes right on down. Verse 25. Scripture says, Verse
23, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, shall bring forth.
It's out of the lineage. Right on down. Bring forth a
son that shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted
as God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from
sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took
him, his wife, and knew or not that she had brought forth her
firstborn son, and called his name Jesus. Almighty God had
purposed that this boy, Isaac, was going to be born to a man
and his wife that no flesh, Neal, should glory in his presence.
Oh, I know how the world will say, I know how that came about. They exercised their free wills. They just had a free will. No, this man and his wife were
past the age of being able to have kids. Humanly speaking, it was impossible. This woman was barren. She could
have no children. God said, you're going to have
a child. She laughed. God said she judged him faithful.
That he promised. Scripture says Isaac was born.
And the Scripture goes right down. And through the lineage,
exactly how God Almighty said the Lord Jesus Christ was going
to come into this world. He did. God gave this woman faith. And she believed God. And God
honored what God started by faith. Sarah. May the Lord bless these
words to our hearts. For Christ's sake.