Theological Status: COMPROMISED (Worldly/Sloppy)
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Pergamum
❓ What do these grades mean?
🔍 Biblical Discernment: The 7 Church Parallels
The Cold Orthodox Parallel
Ephesus
Teaching that upholds doctrinal precision yet parallels the loss of the "first love"—the vital, motivating power of the Gospel (Rev 2:4).
The Compromised Parallel
Pergamum
Teaching that parallels churches tolerating the "doctrine of Balaam" through cultural accommodation (Rev 2:14), characterized by weak boundaries, sloppy theology, and worldly compromise.
Why strictly "Mark & Avoid"?
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This ministry's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This ministry's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
🧐 Overview
Theological Verdict & Summary
Sermon Summary: A call to hold fast to God's promises and pursue dreams with faith, using the example of Abraham's persistence.
Pastoral Analysis: The sermon offers a compelling narrative of faith and persistence, utilizing the story of Abraham effectively. However, it critically fails to anchor these duties in the Gospel of grace. By presenting spiritual endurance and dream-pursuit as results of human willpower and grit, the sermon inadvertently promotes moralism, leaving the congregation without the supernatural enablement of the Holy Spirit.
Biblical Parallel (Archetype): Pergamum — The sermon exhibits homiletical compromise by substituting the Gospel of grace with moralistic exhortation. While it lacks the active heresy or decisionism characteristic of more severe errors, it represents a weakened state where human effort is elevated to the primary engine of spiritual progress. This reflects the compromise of Pergamum, where the truth of grace is diluted by worldly accommodation.
Big Idea: Believers are called to hold fast to God's promises and pursue their dreams with ever-increasing faith, trusting that God rewards persistence and faithfulness despite human imperfection. 00:35:15 ▶️ 📄
📖 How they Handle Scripture & Jesus
- Primary Text: Hebrews 11:8-10
- Usage Classification: Thematic
- Text-to-Talk Ratio: Moderate
- Pulpit Decorum: ✅ PASS - No coarse language or pejoratives detected.
✝️ Christological Focus: Moralistic/Imitative
"The sermon focuses on imitating Abraham's faith and persistence, rather than pointing to Christ's finished work as the source of that faith."
Scripture Saturation: Verses Read: 6 | Referenced: 2 | Alluded: 0
📖 View 4 Passages Read Aloud
-
Hebrews 11:1
00:37:47 ▶️ 📄
"Now faith is the manifestation of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
-
Hebrews 11:3
00:38:03 ▶️ 📄
"By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are."
-
2 Corinthians 5:7
00:38:16 ▶️ 📄
"We walk by faith and not by sight."
-
Hebrews 11:8-10
00:39:37 ▶️ 📄
"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God."
Key References: Hebrews 11, James 2
🎙️ Sermon Content & Delivery
Word Count: 2,628 words
📌 View 8 Key Topics Addressed
-
Faith and Obedience
00:37:39 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor defines faith as the manifestation of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen, citing Hebrews 11:1 and 2 Corinthians 5:7 to establish that believers walk by faith, not by sight. -
Abraham's Imperfection and Faith
00:41:41 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor emphasizes that Abraham was not perfect but was a man of faith, citing his fear in Egypt and his willingness to sacrifice Isaac as examples of his trust in God despite his flaws. -
Perseverance and Intercession
00:43:15 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor highlights Abraham's bold intercession for Lot and his willingness to sacrifice Isaac as proof of his trust and a model for believers to hold fast to God's promises. -
Holding onto God's Dreams
00:45:14 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor challenges the congregation to examine their own lives, asking if they are holding on to the dreams God has spoken into their hearts despite delays or difficulties. -
Bold Intercession
00:48:23 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor identifies Abraham's prayers for Lot as an example of bold intercession for others in trouble. -
Holding onto Dreams
00:48:56 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor discusses Abraham and Sarah holding onto the promise of a son despite delay, urging the congregation to embrace God's promises. -
God's Reward for Persistence
00:51:03 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor asserts that God rewards those who do not give up, press on, and seek Him with all their heart. -
Self-Doubt vs. Righteousness
00:52:13 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor addresses feelings of inadequacy, contrasting them with the truth that God looks at the heart and considers believers righteous.
🖼️ View 5 Illustrations & Stories
-
Sermon Illustration
00:35:35 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor uses an analogy of a movie about a young Irish man racing to stake land in Oklahoma, driving a stake into the ground to claim it, to illustrate the concept of driving the stake of faith into God's promises. -
Sermon Illustration
00:41:48 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor recounts the biblical story of Abraham lying to Pharaoh in Egypt, claiming Sarah was his sister to save his own life, illustrating that Abraham was not perfect but was a man of faith. -
Sermon Illustration
00:43:39 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor references the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac on the altar, demonstrating his ultimate trust and surrender to God. -
Sermon Illustration
00:48:56 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor uses the biblical example of Abraham and Sarah holding onto the dream of having a child despite their old age and the delay, noting that Sarah initially chuckled at the promise. -
Sermon Illustration
00:52:28 ▶️ 📄
> The pastor references David, noting that despite his sins, God called him a man after His own heart because of the heart God gave him.
🚀 View 3 Calls to Action
-
Pastoral Charge
00:37:19 ▶️ 📄
> Actively claim and possess God's promises through faith and obedience. -
Pastoral Charge
00:45:14 ▶️ 📄
> Reflect on personal spiritual dreams, make decisions that demonstrate holding onto them, and live by faith rather than sight. -
Pastoral Charge
00:53:10 ▶️ 📄
> Close eyes and ask God to reveal past, present, and future dreams He has given.
🧭 Biblical Alignment Dashboard
Overall Verdict: Compromised / Weak
| Category | Status | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Gospel Framework | ❌ FAIL | The sermon fails to articulate the Gospel Framework, omitting the core message of salvation by grace through faith. Instead, it centers on human effort and moralistic exhortation, thereby obscuring the sufficiency of Christ's work. |
| Soteriology | ❌ FAIL | The sermon presents salvation and spiritual progress as dependent on human effort and persistence, contradicting the doctrine of salvation by grace alone. |
| Bibliology | ✅ PASS | The sermon correctly references biblical narratives (Abraham, David) and scripture, though the application is flawed. |
| Hermeneutic | ⚠️ WEAK | The hermeneutic is moralistic, extracting behavioral commands from the text without grounding them in the redemptive work of Christ. |
| Theology Proper | ✅ PASS | The sermon acknowledges God's sovereignty and faithfulness, though it fails to apply this to the mechanism of salvation. |
| Sacramentology | ✅ PASS | No sacramental errors detected. |
| Confessional Depth | ❌ SHALLOW | The sermon lacks depth in explaining the theological basis for faith, reducing it to a human act of will rather than a divine gift. |
⚙️ The Core Gospel Framework ⚠️ Incomplete / Compromised
What is the Gospel Framework? This section audits whether the sermon proclaims the essential foundation of the Gospel: Christ's substitutionary sacrifice, humanity's spiritual need, and salvation by sovereign grace alone.
How this is evaluated:
How this is evaluated:
- Essential Gospel Pillars: The framework is verified intact when the sermon substantively preaches Christ's atonement, declares human inability (articulated through either Total Depravity or the Law's condemnation), and guards salvation by grace alone against works-righteousness.
- Historic Confessional Depth: Deeper theological distinctives (such as the Active Obedience of Christ) enrich theological depth when expounded, but their absence in a focused topical or expository message is not an error and does not compromise the Gospel Framework.
🏛️ Essential Gospel Pillars
❌ The Cross & Atonement (Penal Substitution): Not observed in the sermon.
❌ Human Inability & Need: Not observed (neither human inability nor divine judgment was contextually proclaimed).
❌ Sola Gratia (Salvation by Grace Alone): Compromised
Soteriological errors detected regarding salvation by grace alone.
📜 Historic Confessional Depth
⚪ Active Obedience of Christ: Not explicitly expounded in this sermon.
Assessed under Confessional Depth diagnostic (SHALLOW). Its absence does not compromise the Gospel Framework.
⚠️ Theological Concerns
🟠 Major Assumed Gospel (Thematic/Moralistic)
Root Cause: Moralism
The Belief/Behavior: The sermon presents spiritual endurance and dream-pursuit as results of human willpower and grit, rather than the supernatural enablement of the Holy Spirit.
Why It's Dangerous: This creates unanchored moralism, leading to spiritual exhaustion and despair when human effort inevitably fails.
Biblical Correction: Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
✅ Commendations
Illustration | Use of Abraham's Story
The pastor effectively uses the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac to illustrate the depth of faith and trust in God's promises.
Application | Call to Persistence
The sermon provides a clear and actionable call for the congregation to hold fast to their spiritual dreams and not give up due to delays.
📜 Full Sermon Transcript (Audit)
Use the 📄 icons next to quotes above to automatically jump to their location in this raw transcript.
[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood I'm as good as new, oh hallelujah I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood I'll be good again, oh hallelujah
[00:00:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Alleluia, I'm clean Sin was stained on me And shame was running deep But love was spilled on Calvary Alleluia, I'm clean God, how can it be I'm ransomed and redeemed
[00:00:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
I'm standing in Your victory Oh hallelujah I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood I'm as good as new Oh hallelujah I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood All because of You Oh hallelujah I'm clean It's not what I have done But what You've done
[00:01:24] I'm dancing in Your victory Oh Hallelujah I've been washed in the water Washed in the blood As good as You Oh Hallelujah I've been washed in the water Washed in the blood As good as You Oh Hallelujah I've been washed in the water Washed in the blood As good as You Oh Hallelujah I've been washed in the water Washed in the blood As good as You Oh Hallelujah I've been washed in the water
[00:01:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
And He took away my fame And He added to the cross You got me running on the grave Oh, Hallelujah, here I come And He took away my fame And He added to the cross
[00:02:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Good morning, multiply late morning.
[00:02:38] Welcome to our online service.
[00:02:44] Please join us in a time of praise and worship.
[00:02:54] Let's pray.
[00:03:58] In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:04:07] Amen.
[00:04:54] Let's pray.
[00:06:06] Let's pray.
[00:06:48] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let's pray.
[00:08:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:08:33] Amen.
[00:08:38] The valley through the storm You are working I will worship all the more Cause You are working
[00:09:11] and the Holy Spirit of God.
[00:10:15] You'll turn it around You'll turn it around Don't know when, don't know how
[00:11:17] All of my life and I think how good you have been and my soul seems great in your faithfulness.
[00:11:31] When I get your love on my mind I get grateful all over again and my soul
[00:11:52] You'll turn it around You'll turn it around Don't know it, don't know how
[00:12:18] Don't know where, don't know how, you always do
[00:12:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Hey, Multiply family, Pastor Doug here, Senior Pastor of the Multiply family of churches.
[00:12:54] One family, many churches.
[00:12:57] God is really doing something special among us, growing us to 10 churches across three continents, Concord, Lake Norman, Espanol,
[00:13:08] India, Raleigh, Rowan, Wilmington, Wren, Livingston, and Vinhook.
[00:13:13] We're a family, and family gathers together.
[00:13:18] That's why I want to personally invite you to Multiply Family Council, a two-day gathering where we come together
[00:13:26] To celebrate what God is doing, align around a shared vision and elevate both ministry and leadership across our entire Multiply family.
[00:13:39] This is for every volunteer, leader, servant, as well as those interested in stepping into leadership.
[00:13:46] Leaders and teams from every church, every ministry, and every department.
[00:13:52] This is a family table and there's a seat for you.
[00:13:56] We'll gather right here in Concord, North Carolina at Multiplied Church March 13th and 14th for two days of celebration, inspiration, and training so you can return stronger, refreshed, and even more equipped to lead where God has placed you.
[00:14:14] We're also honored to welcome Pastor Dan
[00:14:18] A seasoned leader and coach with a deep heart for the local church and for developing people to live out God's calling at their highest level.
[00:14:29] So if you're serving, growing, leading, or feeling stirred to step into more, this is for you.
[00:14:37] I can't wait to gather as one family.
[00:14:40] We'll see you at Multiply Family Council.
[00:14:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Amen church well good morning and welcome to our online service as you heard pastor Doug say in that video we want to invite you to our multiply family council pretty much what this is is all the churches a part of the multiply global family are going to be gathering together
[00:15:03] and One Accord with one voice and getting to worship Jesus together.
[00:15:08] This event is not just for pastors or any volunteers.
[00:15:11] This event is for you.
[00:15:13] This event is for everybody that is a part of the Multiply Church family.
[00:15:18] So March 13th and 14th, you don't want to miss it.
[00:15:21] There's gonna be a QR code on your screen.
[00:15:23] You can go ahead and scan that to go ahead and register.
[00:15:26] just so you know Friday night there's gonna be a powerful service you don't want to miss and then come back Saturday morning for another early morning service and then directly following that service we're gonna have some practical breakouts you're gonna hear some powerful speakers to be able to pour into you some practical ministry training but also just just ministry to be able to enrich your life so you don't want to miss multiply family council
[00:15:53] Well, good morning again.
[00:15:55] Listen, it's not our normal setting today.
[00:15:59] You might be cozied up, have a blanket around you.
[00:16:02] I know it's probably cold where you're at right now, but we just wanted to say welcome.
[00:16:07] If this is your first time with us joining online this morning, we just want you to go ahead and scan that QR code.
[00:16:15] What that is, it's gonna take you to what we call a U-card.
[00:16:18] And so we wanna get to know a little bit about you.
[00:16:22] And then next week when we meet back in the building, you can bring that card to us.
[00:16:28] And we want to give that card to our leaders so we can give you a free gift.
[00:16:33] Well, it's time to give this morning.
[00:16:35] So if you are giving, you can scan the QR code behind me.
[00:16:40] You can go ahead and text the word Multiply Lake Norman to the number 779.
[00:16:46] Or you can go to our website at multiplylkn.church.org.
[00:16:50] Let me pray for us this morning as we go into the rest of our service.
[00:16:55] Lord, we love you.
[00:16:56] Lord, we bless your name.
[00:16:57] Lord, we honor you today.
[00:17:00] Lord God, we know that all things work together for your good.
[00:17:04] Lord God, and for the good of those that love you.
[00:17:07] Lord, I pray for the rest of this service that would be impactful, powerful.
[00:17:10] Lord God, the word would come forth, Lord God, and we would be impacted.
[00:17:13] and Change.
[00:17:13] Lord God, by your word.
[00:17:15] Lord, we love you.
[00:17:15] Bless this tithe.
[00:17:17] Bless the offering.
[00:17:18] Lord, take it further than we could ever go, Lord, and of ourselves.
[00:17:20] We know you could do more with it than we could ever do.
[00:17:23] Lord, we love you and we bless your name.
[00:17:25] Amen.
[00:17:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Let's sing your name for all my life And still find more to love each time Jesus be the name ever on my lips It's sweeter every time that I call on it
[00:18:18] There's just something about your name There's just something about your name There's just something about your name That makes me cry holy There is no other name Jesus, you're worthy
[00:19:18] There's just something about your name There's just something about your name That makes me cry holy There is no other name There is no other name
[00:19:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
There's just something about your life
[00:20:57] Resurrection in the light, Jesus, Jesus Your name can save, Your name can heal, Your name can make the storm be still You never fail, You never will, Jesus, Jesus the bread
[00:21:30] Jesus, Jesus
[00:22:08] Jesus be the name, Jesus be the name that gives all the glory
[00:22:37] Jesus be the name Jesus be the name That gets all the glory
[00:23:19] Jesus be the name Jesus be the name Jesus be the name that gets all the glory Jesus be the name Jesus be the name Jesus be the name
[00:24:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Jesus be the name that gets all the glory.
[00:24:33] Jesus be the name.
[00:24:37] Jesus be the name.
[00:24:41] Jesus be the name.
[00:25:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
We are calling down in worship to sing the song of ages to the Lamb.
[00:25:48] And all who've gone before you, and all who will believe, will sing the song of ages to the Lamb.
[00:28:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Your name is the highest, Your name is the greatest, Your name stands above the falls, Of wrongs and dominions of lies,
[00:30:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Holy forever Your name is the highest Your name is the greatest Your name stands above them all All thrones and dominions of God In positions Your name
[00:30:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Stands above them all Christ Holy All creation Christ Holy You are lifted high Holy Only forever
[00:31:05] Here your people sing Holy to the King of kings Holy you will always be
[00:31:34] Your name is the highest, your name is the greatest, your name is the greatest
[00:32:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Holy forever Holy Holy Father we're so thankful that as we gather together in your name God as we come together in worship as we come together in praise and thanksgiving as we come together Lord to feast from the table of your word God that you are very present with us
[00:33:29] Your very present Lord wherever we are God for Lord as we call upon you you answer us and as we look unto you Lord Jesus and seek you we find you when we search for you with all of our heart and this morning God we're searching for you with all of our heart God it is our longing it is our desire to know you in the fullness of spirit and in truth God
[00:33:51] So Father we pray Lord that God that the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon our ears that we hear in our eyes that we see and our hearts to be receptive of the word of truth that God it would bring change it would bring life and it would bring life abundantly in Jesus name we pray amen
[00:34:15] So if you're at home and you're sitting there and there's maybe some snow outside or maybe it's just rain and ice, I don't know what it is that you're having to partake of at this moment, but whatever it is,
[00:34:31] In our hearts it is warm, in our hearts it is the warmth and the love of God that literally surrounds us and is doing an amazing work in us and through us.
[00:34:42] And we're looking forward to next week being back in the house and hopefully you'll be here with us.
[00:34:49] Now if you're looking online and you have not been here,
[00:34:52] To multiply Lake Norman, let me invite you to come and be with us here at Lake Norman in the church next Sunday at 1030.
[00:35:02] We'll look for you here.
[00:35:04] We're in the series called Elevate Series, Increasing Your Faith Capacity.
[00:35:11] Increasing Your Faith Capacity.
[00:35:15] This week we want to look at Abraham.
[00:35:19] We've been looking at those that are listed in the book of Hebrews in the Hall of Faith.
[00:35:24] And this week we're going to look at Abraham.
[00:35:27] I've decided to entitle this Obedience, Promise, and Inheritance.
[00:35:35] It was in 1992 that a movie came out.
[00:35:39] It was about a young man.
[00:35:40] He was Irish.
[00:35:44] ...of staking the land that was available.
[00:36:13] Where land and acreage had been blocked out and staked out, you had to find yourself racing to get there to get the flag or to drive down your stake so that you could claim that plot of land as your plot of land.
[00:36:30] In this movie, Tom Cruise, I think, was the one that was in this movie as the young man who'd come from Ireland.
[00:36:38] And he's on a horse and he's having to go against other people who are after the same plot of land that he is after.
[00:36:47] So it was a race on the horse.
[00:36:49] It was a race through a deep stream.
[00:36:52] It was fighting going on to get to the place to be able to grab a hold of the stake and to claim that land and to grab that flag and say, this land is my land.
[00:37:04] To be able to drive that stake into the ground.
[00:37:08] But you see, by the end of it, when he had won the battle and the land had become his, the whole battle was worth the victory.
[00:37:19] We are called by faith to drive the stake of faith, the stake of obedience, the stake of belief into the promises of God, into God's word, and know that which he has promised is ours.
[00:37:39] The inheritance that God speaks of in His Word belongs to you by faith.
[00:37:47] In the book of Hebrews, the 11th chapter, verse number 1, Now faith is the manifestation of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
[00:37:58] For by it the ancients received their commendation.
[00:38:03] By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are.
[00:38:16] 2 Corinthians 5, verse 7 says, We walk by faith and not by sight.
[00:38:25] We walk by faith and not by sight.
[00:38:30] In other words, our walk is a walk of the unseen, not a walk of the things that already are.
[00:38:40] By faith, we see that Abraham was a man who obeyed.
[00:38:46] When he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive an inheritance.
[00:38:54] And he went out, not knowing where he was going exactly.
[00:38:59] But by faith and by being led by God, he went to live in the land of promise that God had promised to give him.
[00:39:08] a land which was a foreign land a land where he would live in tents eventually with his son Isaac and eventually with his grandson Jacob heirs with him of the same promise for he was looking forward to the city that had foundations whose designer and builder is God Hebrews chapter 11 verse 8 through 10
[00:39:37] He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.
[00:39:51] Let me point that out to you this morning that Abraham did not stagger at the promise of God.
[00:40:01] In other words, when God spoke to Abraham and God called Abraham and God led Abraham out and God made a promise to Abraham, it wasn't something that he resisted or something that he held back in doing.
[00:40:16] It wasn't something that he argued about or anything like that.
[00:40:21] He didn't stagger at it at all.
[00:40:24] It was an unbelief that gripped his heart that caused him to step back from what God had promised him but rather because he was strong in faith and out of giving God glory he moved forward to possess the promise that God had given to him.
[00:40:43] Abraham's journey from the time he left home was a step of faith.
[00:40:49] It required obedience to God who had called him.
[00:40:53] He didn't know exactly where he was going.
[00:40:55] He didn't have a GPS that had a line that said turn here or turn there or go here or go there or do this or do that.
[00:41:03] He found himself having to be led by God in a direction that God was taking him.
[00:41:11] It was the embrace of the promise of God
[00:41:15] that caused him to be able to continue to take the steps of faith that would lead him to the place of the inheritance.
[00:41:25] It was the embrace of the promise of God.
[00:41:27] It was the timing of God and rejoicing in his inheritance before he ever received it, while he received it, and after he received it.
[00:41:41] The thing that I love about Abraham and the story of Abraham was it wasn't about perfection.
[00:41:48] If you study
[00:41:50] All about Abraham, you'll find out that it wasn't about perfection at all because he went to the land and then all of a sudden through hardship he decides to leave the land and he goes into Egypt.
[00:42:00] And when he goes into Egypt, what does Abraham do?
[00:42:03] He gets scared.
[00:42:05] He gets fearful.
[00:42:06] So what does he do?
[00:42:07] He tells his wife, he says, we're going to tell Pharaoh that you're my sister because if he knows that you're my wife, he'll probably kill me so that he can have you basically.
[00:42:18] So Pharaoh is under the understanding that this is Abraham's sister so he literally takes her into his own possession and all bad things begin to happen and the Pharaoh says what have you done here what have you said to me and they and Abraham has to admit we lied to you because we didn't want you to kill me to take my wife and and and and so he says look what's happened here he says get out of here
[00:42:46] Get out of here.
[00:42:48] Go.
[00:42:48] Get out of here.
[00:42:49] You see, Abraham was not a man of perfection, but the truth of the matter is, by heart, he was a man of faith.
[00:42:58] He was a man of faith.
[00:43:02] Abraham, although he was not about perfection, he had a heart before God that God saw as a righteous heart.
[00:43:15] I want to emphasize this morning the perseverance that Abraham moved in despite his mistakes.
[00:43:24] His bold intercession for others that he lived in.
[00:43:28] He interceded on behalf of Lot in the midst of Lot's turmoil, in the midst of Lot's tragedy.
[00:43:36] Who was there for him but Uncle Abraham?
[00:43:39] His ultimate willingness to sacrifice
[00:43:43] Who could take the son of promise?
[00:43:46] Who could take an only son and take him up into the mountain and lay him upon an altar and get ready to take his life because God had required him to do so.
[00:43:57] And because he trusted God, because he believed in God, because he believed even if he took his life, God would raise him back up.
[00:44:06] Abraham was ready and willing when the angel of the Lord stopped him.
[00:44:12] His willingness to sacrifice was proof of his trust.
[00:44:19] It encourages believers to hold fast to God's promise even when manifestations take time, even when everything looks like it's falling apart.
[00:44:32] It literally encourages us as believers to hold fast to God's promises
[00:44:40] as we wait for manifestation.
[00:44:46] Abraham, as an imperfect father of faith, because he's known as the father of faith, models for us what it means to stay in faith, what it means to have ever increasing faith, what it means to make crucial decisions
[00:45:10] while holding on to the dreams that God has given you.
[00:45:14] This morning I ask you to think about the dreams that God has spoken into your heart and the dreams that God has spoken into your life.
[00:45:22] And let me ask you, are you holding on to those dreams?
[00:45:26] Are you making the crucial decisions that you need to make that show that you're holding on to those dreams?
[00:45:34] Are you living in that ever-increasing faith?
[00:45:37] Is the motto of how you're living saying, I live by faith and not by sight?
[00:45:44] There are certain aspects of Abraham's faith that we learn from this morning.
[00:45:51] He's imperfect but righteous.
[00:45:55] Although Abraham made errors, his core heart was right with God.
[00:46:01] Shows us that God does not require perfection to work in our lives, to bless our lives, to bring to fullness what God has planned for us.
[00:46:15] Number two, faith as a place.
[00:46:19] Staying in faith means holding on to God's promise and God's assignment.
[00:46:27] Sometimes in the midst of God's promise and in the midst of God's assignment we find ourselves dealing with turmoils.
[00:46:35] We find ourselves going through things and we find ourselves experiencing things and we look around us and we feel like things are falling apart and before you know it we let go of the promise, we let go of the assignment and begin to look elsewhere for something else because this doesn't feel like it's working right.
[00:46:58] Faith as a place means holding on to God's promise.
[00:47:02] It means holding on to God's assignment, refusing to move even when circumstances are difficult.
[00:47:13] Another aspect of Abraham's faith is that action proves faith.
[00:47:22] It was James said that
[00:47:28] We must show our faith by our works.
[00:47:36] Faith without works is dead.
[00:47:39] Faith requires action.
[00:47:44] The action of offering up Isaac demonstrated Abraham's faith, showing his willingness to surrender everything in God
[00:47:56] because he trusts Him.
[00:47:58] Even the most precious promise that Abraham had, he was willing to give up and sacrifice as a demonstration of his faith and his trust in God.
[00:48:12] He lived at the very height of surrender, the very height of humility, the very height of being totally dependent upon God.
[00:48:23] The fourth thing we see is a bold intercession in Abraham's faith.
[00:48:29] Abraham's prayers for Lot, where he stood before God on Lot's behalf, exemplified how believers can boldly intercede for others in trouble, can intercede for one another, can intercede for family members, can intercede for those that are locked down and caught up and need deliverance.
[00:48:50] Bold intercession is seen as an aspect of faith.
[00:48:56] Holding on to dreams was one of the aspects that we see in Abraham and Sarah because they held on to their dream for a son despite the delay.
[00:49:08] I think if I had had no children at 90 years of age and 99 years of age, I probably would have thought
[00:49:17] Never going to have a child.
[00:49:20] It's over now.
[00:49:23] I probably would have thought, don't want a child at this age.
[00:49:28] But the fact of the matter is this.
[00:49:31] Abraham had a certain aspect of holding onto a dream that had been spoken to him by God.
[00:49:42] What dream have you been spoken to by God that you've already let go of?
[00:49:48] What dream do you think it's too far gone down the road that it's never going to manifest?
[00:49:56] Can I tell you that if God said it, you should believe it because that settles it.
[00:50:03] If God said it, you should believe it because that settles it.
[00:50:09] It will come to pass if we continue to let God work, if we continue to trust.
[00:50:16] You might chuckle at that dream.
[00:50:18] Sarah chuckled at that dream.
[00:50:22] But the fact of the matter is, the angel said, why is she laughing?
[00:50:27] Is anything, is there anything that is impossible with our God?
[00:50:33] Absolutely all things are possible with God.
[00:50:40] Abraham and Sarah holding on to this dream for a son, even though there was delay, teaches you and I this morning to tightly embrace God's promises and not let go.
[00:50:55] Lastly, God rewards persistence.
[00:51:03] God rewards never giving up.
[00:51:07] God rewards pressing on.
[00:51:11] God rewards those who diligently seek Him and who seek Him with all their heart, with all their mind, with all their strength, with everything within them because those are the ones who find Him.
[00:51:27] Those are the ones who stay in faith.
[00:51:30] Those are the ones who literally find themselves possessing the fullness of the promise
[00:51:37] and absolutely seeing recompense for enduring faith.
[00:51:43] We find ourselves being found the ones who are rewarded for a faith that stands and trusts God at all times.
[00:51:54] This morning I ask you, where are you with the dreams that God has given you?
[00:51:59] And where are you with what God has spoken to you?
[00:52:02] Where are you in the challenge that God is walking with you in your faith this morning?
[00:52:07] As your faith grows and as the capacity enlarges and it becomes greater,
[00:52:13] Do you find yourself feeling like I'm not good enough?
[00:52:16] Do you find yourself looking more at your imperfections and not realizing that the heart that God has given you is the heart of righteousness and that God is a God who looks at the heart?
[00:52:28] In fact, if you remember, it was David himself that God said, is a man after my own heart.
[00:52:34] What heart did David have even though he had sinned?
[00:52:37] He had a heart that was after the heart of God.
[00:52:42] Do you find yourself standing?
[00:52:45] When you've done all to stand, stand because your faith is in place.
[00:52:50] Do you find yourself a person of action, boldly interceding, holding on to your dream, and realizing this this morning?
[00:53:00] God will reward your persistence.
[00:53:06] God will reward your persistence.
[00:53:10] Let me ask you to take the time to just close your eyes right where you are.
[00:53:16] Ask God to bring to mind the dreams that He has placed in you.
[00:53:22] Ask God to bring to mind the dreams that He has given you.
[00:53:27] The dreams that He has given you in the past that have already manifest.
[00:53:32] The dreams that He has given you for the present that are in the works.
[00:53:36] The dreams that He has given you that look to have a future manifestation.
[00:53:44] Ask God to show them to you right now, right where you are.
[00:53:49] God, I pray.
[00:53:51] That you, Lord, would bring forth to the forefront of mind, to the forefront of heart, to the forefront of spirit, I ask that you would bring, Lord Jesus, in freshness.
[00:54:06] I ask, God, that you would let the wind of the Spirit blow on their faith.
[00:54:11] Let the wind of the Spirit, God, blow on their belief, God, that they, Lord Jesus, would find themselves with the strength and the boldness and the courage, Lord, with the trust, God, that, Lord Jesus, the dream is not dead.
[00:54:31] The dream is still to be manifest.
[00:54:34] and that you are faithful to do what you said you would do.
[00:54:40] In Jesus' name, amen.
[00:54:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Amen, church.
[00:54:47] Well, that was a powerful message and a reminder to us that just because we don't see things in our immediate, that doesn't mean God isn't working.
[00:54:59] So before we go, I wanna just charge you with a couple of things.
[00:55:04] I want you to hold on to God's promises and never let them go.
[00:55:09] I want you to walk by faith and not by sight.
[00:55:13] You know Pastor Bill just said it, this walk of faith is a walk of the unseen.
[00:55:19] I want you to pray boldly and I want you to live righteously and don't ever forget what the Lord has spoken to you.
[00:55:30] Well, as we conclude, I just have a couple of announcements for you.
[00:55:34] They should be up on your screen right where you're at.
[00:55:36] We have a Galentine's event our women's ministry is hosting on February 12th at 6.30.
[00:55:43] Ladies, you do not want to miss it.
[00:55:45] It's going to be right here at Multiply Lake Norman, February 12th at 6.30.
[00:55:50] If you have any questions, you can see Angie Perez, and she'll be able to answer those for you.
[00:55:55] Also, next week we are back in the building.
[00:55:59] You want to be here.
[00:56:00] You want to be in the room.
[00:56:01] You miss a lot of things when you're not in the room.
[00:56:04] So next week, we are having group launch.
[00:56:08] February 1st, Sunday, group launch.
[00:56:10] You can come after service.
[00:56:12] We're going to be in the lobby.
[00:56:13] We're going to have our groups leaders there.
[00:56:15] You can go table to table, get to know a little bit about what groups we're offering this group's semester.
[00:56:21] Well, hey, as you go into this next week, continue to love Jesus and change the world.
[00:56:27] And we'll see you next week.
[00:56:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Because I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood I'm as good as new, oh hallelujah I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood Because I've been, oh hallelujah
I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood I'm as good as new, oh hallelujah I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood I'll be good again, oh hallelujah
[00:00:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Alleluia, I'm clean Sin was stained on me And shame was running deep But love was spilled on Calvary Alleluia, I'm clean God, how can it be I'm ransomed and redeemed
[00:00:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
I'm standing in Your victory Oh hallelujah I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood I'm as good as new Oh hallelujah I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood All because of You Oh hallelujah I'm clean It's not what I have done But what You've done
[00:01:24] I'm dancing in Your victory Oh Hallelujah I've been washed in the water Washed in the blood As good as You Oh Hallelujah I've been washed in the water Washed in the blood As good as You Oh Hallelujah I've been washed in the water Washed in the blood As good as You Oh Hallelujah I've been washed in the water Washed in the blood As good as You Oh Hallelujah I've been washed in the water
[00:01:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
And He took away my fame And He added to the cross You got me running on the grave Oh, Hallelujah, here I come And He took away my fame And He added to the cross
[00:02:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Good morning, multiply late morning.
[00:02:38] Welcome to our online service.
[00:02:44] Please join us in a time of praise and worship.
[00:02:54] Let's pray.
[00:03:58] In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:04:07] Amen.
[00:04:54] Let's pray.
[00:06:06] Let's pray.
[00:06:48] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let's pray.
[00:08:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:08:33] Amen.
[00:08:38] The valley through the storm You are working I will worship all the more Cause You are working
[00:09:11] and the Holy Spirit of God.
[00:10:15] You'll turn it around You'll turn it around Don't know when, don't know how
[00:11:17] All of my life and I think how good you have been and my soul seems great in your faithfulness.
[00:11:31] When I get your love on my mind I get grateful all over again and my soul
[00:11:52] You'll turn it around You'll turn it around Don't know it, don't know how
[00:12:18] Don't know where, don't know how, you always do
[00:12:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Hey, Multiply family, Pastor Doug here, Senior Pastor of the Multiply family of churches.
[00:12:54] One family, many churches.
[00:12:57] God is really doing something special among us, growing us to 10 churches across three continents, Concord, Lake Norman, Espanol,
[00:13:08] India, Raleigh, Rowan, Wilmington, Wren, Livingston, and Vinhook.
[00:13:13] We're a family, and family gathers together.
[00:13:18] That's why I want to personally invite you to Multiply Family Council, a two-day gathering where we come together
[00:13:26] To celebrate what God is doing, align around a shared vision and elevate both ministry and leadership across our entire Multiply family.
[00:13:39] This is for every volunteer, leader, servant, as well as those interested in stepping into leadership.
[00:13:46] Leaders and teams from every church, every ministry, and every department.
[00:13:52] This is a family table and there's a seat for you.
[00:13:56] We'll gather right here in Concord, North Carolina at Multiplied Church March 13th and 14th for two days of celebration, inspiration, and training so you can return stronger, refreshed, and even more equipped to lead where God has placed you.
[00:14:14] We're also honored to welcome Pastor Dan
[00:14:18] A seasoned leader and coach with a deep heart for the local church and for developing people to live out God's calling at their highest level.
[00:14:29] So if you're serving, growing, leading, or feeling stirred to step into more, this is for you.
[00:14:37] I can't wait to gather as one family.
[00:14:40] We'll see you at Multiply Family Council.
[00:14:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Amen church well good morning and welcome to our online service as you heard pastor Doug say in that video we want to invite you to our multiply family council pretty much what this is is all the churches a part of the multiply global family are going to be gathering together
[00:15:03] and One Accord with one voice and getting to worship Jesus together.
[00:15:08] This event is not just for pastors or any volunteers.
[00:15:11] This event is for you.
[00:15:13] This event is for everybody that is a part of the Multiply Church family.
[00:15:18] So March 13th and 14th, you don't want to miss it.
[00:15:21] There's gonna be a QR code on your screen.
[00:15:23] You can go ahead and scan that to go ahead and register.
[00:15:26] just so you know Friday night there's gonna be a powerful service you don't want to miss and then come back Saturday morning for another early morning service and then directly following that service we're gonna have some practical breakouts you're gonna hear some powerful speakers to be able to pour into you some practical ministry training but also just just ministry to be able to enrich your life so you don't want to miss multiply family council
[00:15:53] Well, good morning again.
[00:15:55] Listen, it's not our normal setting today.
[00:15:59] You might be cozied up, have a blanket around you.
[00:16:02] I know it's probably cold where you're at right now, but we just wanted to say welcome.
[00:16:07] If this is your first time with us joining online this morning, we just want you to go ahead and scan that QR code.
[00:16:15] What that is, it's gonna take you to what we call a U-card.
[00:16:18] And so we wanna get to know a little bit about you.
[00:16:22] And then next week when we meet back in the building, you can bring that card to us.
[00:16:28] And we want to give that card to our leaders so we can give you a free gift.
[00:16:33] Well, it's time to give this morning.
[00:16:35] So if you are giving, you can scan the QR code behind me.
[00:16:40] You can go ahead and text the word Multiply Lake Norman to the number 779.
[00:16:46] Or you can go to our website at multiplylkn.church.org.
[00:16:50] Let me pray for us this morning as we go into the rest of our service.
[00:16:55] Lord, we love you.
[00:16:56] Lord, we bless your name.
[00:16:57] Lord, we honor you today.
[00:17:00] Lord God, we know that all things work together for your good.
[00:17:04] Lord God, and for the good of those that love you.
[00:17:07] Lord, I pray for the rest of this service that would be impactful, powerful.
[00:17:10] Lord God, the word would come forth, Lord God, and we would be impacted.
[00:17:13] and Change.
[00:17:13] Lord God, by your word.
[00:17:15] Lord, we love you.
[00:17:15] Bless this tithe.
[00:17:17] Bless the offering.
[00:17:18] Lord, take it further than we could ever go, Lord, and of ourselves.
[00:17:20] We know you could do more with it than we could ever do.
[00:17:23] Lord, we love you and we bless your name.
[00:17:25] Amen.
[00:17:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Let's sing your name for all my life And still find more to love each time Jesus be the name ever on my lips It's sweeter every time that I call on it
[00:18:18] There's just something about your name There's just something about your name There's just something about your name That makes me cry holy There is no other name Jesus, you're worthy
[00:19:18] There's just something about your name There's just something about your name That makes me cry holy There is no other name There is no other name
[00:19:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
There's just something about your life
[00:20:57] Resurrection in the light, Jesus, Jesus Your name can save, Your name can heal, Your name can make the storm be still You never fail, You never will, Jesus, Jesus the bread
[00:21:30] Jesus, Jesus
[00:22:08] Jesus be the name, Jesus be the name that gives all the glory
[00:22:37] Jesus be the name Jesus be the name That gets all the glory
[00:23:19] Jesus be the name Jesus be the name Jesus be the name that gets all the glory Jesus be the name Jesus be the name Jesus be the name
[00:24:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Jesus be the name that gets all the glory.
[00:24:33] Jesus be the name.
[00:24:37] Jesus be the name.
[00:24:41] Jesus be the name.
[00:25:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
We are calling down in worship to sing the song of ages to the Lamb.
[00:25:48] And all who've gone before you, and all who will believe, will sing the song of ages to the Lamb.
[00:28:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Your name is the highest, Your name is the greatest, Your name stands above the falls, Of wrongs and dominions of lies,
[00:30:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Holy forever Your name is the highest Your name is the greatest Your name stands above them all All thrones and dominions of God In positions Your name
[00:30:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Stands above them all Christ Holy All creation Christ Holy You are lifted high Holy Only forever
[00:31:05] Here your people sing Holy to the King of kings Holy you will always be
[00:31:34] Your name is the highest, your name is the greatest, your name is the greatest
[00:32:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Holy forever Holy Holy Father we're so thankful that as we gather together in your name God as we come together in worship as we come together in praise and thanksgiving as we come together Lord to feast from the table of your word God that you are very present with us
[00:33:29] Your very present Lord wherever we are God for Lord as we call upon you you answer us and as we look unto you Lord Jesus and seek you we find you when we search for you with all of our heart and this morning God we're searching for you with all of our heart God it is our longing it is our desire to know you in the fullness of spirit and in truth God
[00:33:51] So Father we pray Lord that God that the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon our ears that we hear in our eyes that we see and our hearts to be receptive of the word of truth that God it would bring change it would bring life and it would bring life abundantly in Jesus name we pray amen
[00:34:15] So if you're at home and you're sitting there and there's maybe some snow outside or maybe it's just rain and ice, I don't know what it is that you're having to partake of at this moment, but whatever it is,
[00:34:31] In our hearts it is warm, in our hearts it is the warmth and the love of God that literally surrounds us and is doing an amazing work in us and through us.
[00:34:42] And we're looking forward to next week being back in the house and hopefully you'll be here with us.
[00:34:49] Now if you're looking online and you have not been here,
[00:34:52] To multiply Lake Norman, let me invite you to come and be with us here at Lake Norman in the church next Sunday at 1030.
[00:35:02] We'll look for you here.
[00:35:04] We're in the series called Elevate Series, Increasing Your Faith Capacity.
[00:35:11] Increasing Your Faith Capacity.
[00:35:15] This week we want to look at Abraham.
[00:35:19] We've been looking at those that are listed in the book of Hebrews in the Hall of Faith.
[00:35:24] And this week we're going to look at Abraham.
[00:35:27] I've decided to entitle this Obedience, Promise, and Inheritance.
[00:35:35] It was in 1992 that a movie came out.
[00:35:39] It was about a young man.
[00:35:40] He was Irish.
[00:35:44] ...of staking the land that was available.
[00:36:13] Where land and acreage had been blocked out and staked out, you had to find yourself racing to get there to get the flag or to drive down your stake so that you could claim that plot of land as your plot of land.
[00:36:30] In this movie, Tom Cruise, I think, was the one that was in this movie as the young man who'd come from Ireland.
[00:36:38] And he's on a horse and he's having to go against other people who are after the same plot of land that he is after.
[00:36:47] So it was a race on the horse.
[00:36:49] It was a race through a deep stream.
[00:36:52] It was fighting going on to get to the place to be able to grab a hold of the stake and to claim that land and to grab that flag and say, this land is my land.
[00:37:04] To be able to drive that stake into the ground.
[00:37:08] But you see, by the end of it, when he had won the battle and the land had become his, the whole battle was worth the victory.
[00:37:19] We are called by faith to drive the stake of faith, the stake of obedience, the stake of belief into the promises of God, into God's word, and know that which he has promised is ours.
[00:37:39] The inheritance that God speaks of in His Word belongs to you by faith.
[00:37:47] In the book of Hebrews, the 11th chapter, verse number 1, Now faith is the manifestation of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
[00:37:58] For by it the ancients received their commendation.
[00:38:03] By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are.
[00:38:16] 2 Corinthians 5, verse 7 says, We walk by faith and not by sight.
[00:38:25] We walk by faith and not by sight.
[00:38:30] In other words, our walk is a walk of the unseen, not a walk of the things that already are.
[00:38:40] By faith, we see that Abraham was a man who obeyed.
[00:38:46] When he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive an inheritance.
[00:38:54] And he went out, not knowing where he was going exactly.
[00:38:59] But by faith and by being led by God, he went to live in the land of promise that God had promised to give him.
[00:39:08] a land which was a foreign land a land where he would live in tents eventually with his son Isaac and eventually with his grandson Jacob heirs with him of the same promise for he was looking forward to the city that had foundations whose designer and builder is God Hebrews chapter 11 verse 8 through 10
[00:39:37] He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.
[00:39:51] Let me point that out to you this morning that Abraham did not stagger at the promise of God.
[00:40:01] In other words, when God spoke to Abraham and God called Abraham and God led Abraham out and God made a promise to Abraham, it wasn't something that he resisted or something that he held back in doing.
[00:40:16] It wasn't something that he argued about or anything like that.
[00:40:21] He didn't stagger at it at all.
[00:40:24] It was an unbelief that gripped his heart that caused him to step back from what God had promised him but rather because he was strong in faith and out of giving God glory he moved forward to possess the promise that God had given to him.
[00:40:43] Abraham's journey from the time he left home was a step of faith.
[00:40:49] It required obedience to God who had called him.
[00:40:53] He didn't know exactly where he was going.
[00:40:55] He didn't have a GPS that had a line that said turn here or turn there or go here or go there or do this or do that.
[00:41:03] He found himself having to be led by God in a direction that God was taking him.
[00:41:11] It was the embrace of the promise of God
[00:41:15] that caused him to be able to continue to take the steps of faith that would lead him to the place of the inheritance.
[00:41:25] It was the embrace of the promise of God.
[00:41:27] It was the timing of God and rejoicing in his inheritance before he ever received it, while he received it, and after he received it.
[00:41:41] The thing that I love about Abraham and the story of Abraham was it wasn't about perfection.
[00:41:48] If you study
[00:41:50] All about Abraham, you'll find out that it wasn't about perfection at all because he went to the land and then all of a sudden through hardship he decides to leave the land and he goes into Egypt.
[00:42:00] And when he goes into Egypt, what does Abraham do?
[00:42:03] He gets scared.
[00:42:05] He gets fearful.
[00:42:06] So what does he do?
[00:42:07] He tells his wife, he says, we're going to tell Pharaoh that you're my sister because if he knows that you're my wife, he'll probably kill me so that he can have you basically.
[00:42:18] So Pharaoh is under the understanding that this is Abraham's sister so he literally takes her into his own possession and all bad things begin to happen and the Pharaoh says what have you done here what have you said to me and they and Abraham has to admit we lied to you because we didn't want you to kill me to take my wife and and and and so he says look what's happened here he says get out of here
[00:42:46] Get out of here.
[00:42:48] Go.
[00:42:48] Get out of here.
[00:42:49] You see, Abraham was not a man of perfection, but the truth of the matter is, by heart, he was a man of faith.
[00:42:58] He was a man of faith.
[00:43:02] Abraham, although he was not about perfection, he had a heart before God that God saw as a righteous heart.
[00:43:15] I want to emphasize this morning the perseverance that Abraham moved in despite his mistakes.
[00:43:24] His bold intercession for others that he lived in.
[00:43:28] He interceded on behalf of Lot in the midst of Lot's turmoil, in the midst of Lot's tragedy.
[00:43:36] Who was there for him but Uncle Abraham?
[00:43:39] His ultimate willingness to sacrifice
[00:43:43] Who could take the son of promise?
[00:43:46] Who could take an only son and take him up into the mountain and lay him upon an altar and get ready to take his life because God had required him to do so.
[00:43:57] And because he trusted God, because he believed in God, because he believed even if he took his life, God would raise him back up.
[00:44:06] Abraham was ready and willing when the angel of the Lord stopped him.
[00:44:12] His willingness to sacrifice was proof of his trust.
[00:44:19] It encourages believers to hold fast to God's promise even when manifestations take time, even when everything looks like it's falling apart.
[00:44:32] It literally encourages us as believers to hold fast to God's promises
[00:44:40] as we wait for manifestation.
[00:44:46] Abraham, as an imperfect father of faith, because he's known as the father of faith, models for us what it means to stay in faith, what it means to have ever increasing faith, what it means to make crucial decisions
[00:45:10] while holding on to the dreams that God has given you.
[00:45:14] This morning I ask you to think about the dreams that God has spoken into your heart and the dreams that God has spoken into your life.
[00:45:22] And let me ask you, are you holding on to those dreams?
[00:45:26] Are you making the crucial decisions that you need to make that show that you're holding on to those dreams?
[00:45:34] Are you living in that ever-increasing faith?
[00:45:37] Is the motto of how you're living saying, I live by faith and not by sight?
[00:45:44] There are certain aspects of Abraham's faith that we learn from this morning.
[00:45:51] He's imperfect but righteous.
[00:45:55] Although Abraham made errors, his core heart was right with God.
[00:46:01] Shows us that God does not require perfection to work in our lives, to bless our lives, to bring to fullness what God has planned for us.
[00:46:15] Number two, faith as a place.
[00:46:19] Staying in faith means holding on to God's promise and God's assignment.
[00:46:27] Sometimes in the midst of God's promise and in the midst of God's assignment we find ourselves dealing with turmoils.
[00:46:35] We find ourselves going through things and we find ourselves experiencing things and we look around us and we feel like things are falling apart and before you know it we let go of the promise, we let go of the assignment and begin to look elsewhere for something else because this doesn't feel like it's working right.
[00:46:58] Faith as a place means holding on to God's promise.
[00:47:02] It means holding on to God's assignment, refusing to move even when circumstances are difficult.
[00:47:13] Another aspect of Abraham's faith is that action proves faith.
[00:47:22] It was James said that
[00:47:28] We must show our faith by our works.
[00:47:36] Faith without works is dead.
[00:47:39] Faith requires action.
[00:47:44] The action of offering up Isaac demonstrated Abraham's faith, showing his willingness to surrender everything in God
[00:47:56] because he trusts Him.
[00:47:58] Even the most precious promise that Abraham had, he was willing to give up and sacrifice as a demonstration of his faith and his trust in God.
[00:48:12] He lived at the very height of surrender, the very height of humility, the very height of being totally dependent upon God.
[00:48:23] The fourth thing we see is a bold intercession in Abraham's faith.
[00:48:29] Abraham's prayers for Lot, where he stood before God on Lot's behalf, exemplified how believers can boldly intercede for others in trouble, can intercede for one another, can intercede for family members, can intercede for those that are locked down and caught up and need deliverance.
[00:48:50] Bold intercession is seen as an aspect of faith.
[00:48:56] Holding on to dreams was one of the aspects that we see in Abraham and Sarah because they held on to their dream for a son despite the delay.
[00:49:08] I think if I had had no children at 90 years of age and 99 years of age, I probably would have thought
[00:49:17] Never going to have a child.
[00:49:20] It's over now.
[00:49:23] I probably would have thought, don't want a child at this age.
[00:49:28] But the fact of the matter is this.
[00:49:31] Abraham had a certain aspect of holding onto a dream that had been spoken to him by God.
[00:49:42] What dream have you been spoken to by God that you've already let go of?
[00:49:48] What dream do you think it's too far gone down the road that it's never going to manifest?
[00:49:56] Can I tell you that if God said it, you should believe it because that settles it.
[00:50:03] If God said it, you should believe it because that settles it.
[00:50:09] It will come to pass if we continue to let God work, if we continue to trust.
[00:50:16] You might chuckle at that dream.
[00:50:18] Sarah chuckled at that dream.
[00:50:22] But the fact of the matter is, the angel said, why is she laughing?
[00:50:27] Is anything, is there anything that is impossible with our God?
[00:50:33] Absolutely all things are possible with God.
[00:50:40] Abraham and Sarah holding on to this dream for a son, even though there was delay, teaches you and I this morning to tightly embrace God's promises and not let go.
[00:50:55] Lastly, God rewards persistence.
[00:51:03] God rewards never giving up.
[00:51:07] God rewards pressing on.
[00:51:11] God rewards those who diligently seek Him and who seek Him with all their heart, with all their mind, with all their strength, with everything within them because those are the ones who find Him.
[00:51:27] Those are the ones who stay in faith.
[00:51:30] Those are the ones who literally find themselves possessing the fullness of the promise
[00:51:37] and absolutely seeing recompense for enduring faith.
[00:51:43] We find ourselves being found the ones who are rewarded for a faith that stands and trusts God at all times.
[00:51:54] This morning I ask you, where are you with the dreams that God has given you?
[00:51:59] And where are you with what God has spoken to you?
[00:52:02] Where are you in the challenge that God is walking with you in your faith this morning?
[00:52:07] As your faith grows and as the capacity enlarges and it becomes greater,
[00:52:13] Do you find yourself feeling like I'm not good enough?
[00:52:16] Do you find yourself looking more at your imperfections and not realizing that the heart that God has given you is the heart of righteousness and that God is a God who looks at the heart?
[00:52:28] In fact, if you remember, it was David himself that God said, is a man after my own heart.
[00:52:34] What heart did David have even though he had sinned?
[00:52:37] He had a heart that was after the heart of God.
[00:52:42] Do you find yourself standing?
[00:52:45] When you've done all to stand, stand because your faith is in place.
[00:52:50] Do you find yourself a person of action, boldly interceding, holding on to your dream, and realizing this this morning?
[00:53:00] God will reward your persistence.
[00:53:06] God will reward your persistence.
[00:53:10] Let me ask you to take the time to just close your eyes right where you are.
[00:53:16] Ask God to bring to mind the dreams that He has placed in you.
[00:53:22] Ask God to bring to mind the dreams that He has given you.
[00:53:27] The dreams that He has given you in the past that have already manifest.
[00:53:32] The dreams that He has given you for the present that are in the works.
[00:53:36] The dreams that He has given you that look to have a future manifestation.
[00:53:44] Ask God to show them to you right now, right where you are.
[00:53:49] God, I pray.
[00:53:51] That you, Lord, would bring forth to the forefront of mind, to the forefront of heart, to the forefront of spirit, I ask that you would bring, Lord Jesus, in freshness.
[00:54:06] I ask, God, that you would let the wind of the Spirit blow on their faith.
[00:54:11] Let the wind of the Spirit, God, blow on their belief, God, that they, Lord Jesus, would find themselves with the strength and the boldness and the courage, Lord, with the trust, God, that, Lord Jesus, the dream is not dead.
[00:54:31] The dream is still to be manifest.
[00:54:34] and that you are faithful to do what you said you would do.
[00:54:40] In Jesus' name, amen.
[00:54:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Amen, church.
[00:54:47] Well, that was a powerful message and a reminder to us that just because we don't see things in our immediate, that doesn't mean God isn't working.
[00:54:59] So before we go, I wanna just charge you with a couple of things.
[00:55:04] I want you to hold on to God's promises and never let them go.
[00:55:09] I want you to walk by faith and not by sight.
[00:55:13] You know Pastor Bill just said it, this walk of faith is a walk of the unseen.
[00:55:19] I want you to pray boldly and I want you to live righteously and don't ever forget what the Lord has spoken to you.
[00:55:30] Well, as we conclude, I just have a couple of announcements for you.
[00:55:34] They should be up on your screen right where you're at.
[00:55:36] We have a Galentine's event our women's ministry is hosting on February 12th at 6.30.
[00:55:43] Ladies, you do not want to miss it.
[00:55:45] It's going to be right here at Multiply Lake Norman, February 12th at 6.30.
[00:55:50] If you have any questions, you can see Angie Perez, and she'll be able to answer those for you.
[00:55:55] Also, next week we are back in the building.
[00:55:59] You want to be here.
[00:56:00] You want to be in the room.
[00:56:01] You miss a lot of things when you're not in the room.
[00:56:04] So next week, we are having group launch.
[00:56:08] February 1st, Sunday, group launch.
[00:56:10] You can come after service.
[00:56:12] We're going to be in the lobby.
[00:56:13] We're going to have our groups leaders there.
[00:56:15] You can go table to table, get to know a little bit about what groups we're offering this group's semester.
[00:56:21] Well, hey, as you go into this next week, continue to love Jesus and change the world.
[00:56:27] And we'll see you next week.
[00:56:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Because I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood I'm as good as new, oh hallelujah I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood Because I've been, oh hallelujah
