Under Authority

*The Main Idea: God’s worldwide reclamation project also includes Abram’s restoration.

*The Central Point: Walk back into God walking with you.

*The Big Question: What do you do when you’ve “blown it” with God?

You turn around and walk right back into:

1.) God’s Place (vv. 1-4) – (Application: He’s not hard to find – just go to where he lives.)

2.) God’s Preparation (vv. 5-13) – (Application: He prepares a table for you in the presence of your enemies.)

3.) God’s Presence (vv. 14-18) – (Application: He’ll come to you if you’ll follow the directions he gives you.)

*The Main Idea: God proves himself to be our blessing.

*The Central Point: Stealthy he goes, keeping his promise to bless and to curse.

*The Big Question: How do you know that God will keep his promises?

Because God is faithful to the faithless, blessing Abram even when:

1.) He Embraces Foolish Notions (vv. 10-13) – (Application: Don’t do dumb things… but when you do, come back to God.)

2.) He Provokes Fearful News (vv. 14-16) – (Application: When you think the sky is falling… remember, he can restore the years the locusts ate.)

3.) He Needs His Fearful Forbearance (vv. 17-20) – (Application: God’s plan makes him patient… but don’t interpret it as license or injustice.)

*The Main Idea: God will attack the prevailing darkness with his reclaiming light!

*The Central Point: God Calls and That’s All!

*The Big Question: What do you do when you hear God’s call?

You listen and go…

1.) Go From… (vv. 1-3) – (Application: Drive a wedge between your comforts and his blessing…)

2.) Go To… (vv. 4-5) – (Application: Take his promises to heart and bring others along…)

3.) Go Into… (vv. 6-7) – (Application: Move into your fear and God will bless your faith…)

4.) Go On… (vv. 8-9) – (Application: Keep going ‘til you have the full blessing…)

*The Main Idea: God will attack the prevailing darkness with his reclaiming light!

*The Central Point: God Calls and That’s All!

*The Big Question: What do you do when you hear God’s call?

You listen and go…

1.) Go From… (vv. 1-3) – (Application: Drive a wedge between your comforts and his blessing…)

2.) Go To… (vv. 4-5) – (Application: Take his promises to heart and bring others along…)

3.) Go Into… (vv. 6-7) – (Application: Move into your fear and God will bless your faith…)

4.) Go On… (vv. 8-9) – (Application: Keep going ‘til you have the full blessing…)

*The Main Idea: Fine-tuning God’s focus on winning back a people for himself

*The Central Point: God’s Priority One: Reclaiming His People

*The Big Question: How does God clarify for us his focus on reclaiming a people?

He clarifies for us his focus on reclaiming a people by:

1.) Narrowing the Field (vv. 10-26) – (Application: God’s at work even when it looks like he isn’t…)

2.) Setting Up the Play (vv. 27-30) – (Application: Trust him! He’s the God of the seemingly impossible…)

3.) Breaking the Huddle (vv. 31-32) – (Application: Underneath mysterious providences, rest in the everlasting arms…)

*The Main Idea: Why we all need Jesus!

*The Central Point: When sin grows up, God comes down, and messes us up.

*The Big Question: How does God deal with rebellious men?

He judges rebellious men with due process as he:

1.) Allows Our Plans (vv. 1-4) – (Application: We freely give God good reason to execute justice…)

2.) Evaluates Our Actions (vv. 5-7) – (Application: Be careful little eyes…)

3.) Frustrates Our Hearts (vv. 8-9) – (Application: Consider God’s discipline…)

*The Main Idea: Good, Bad, Indifferent… No matter: We all need Jesus!

*The Central Point: Under the Curse, but God’s at Work!

*The Big Question: What’s so special about these three people groups?

Nothing, except they each have their own ways of sinning…

1.) The “Indifferent” (vv. 1-5) – (Application: God-haters all, even if not immediately felt…)

2.) The “Bad” (vv. 6-20) – (Application: God-haters in touch with their hearts…)

3.) The “Good” (vv. 21-32) – (Application: God-haters who think they don’t…)

*The Main Idea: You Shouldn’t Trust a Merely Human Covenant Head

*The Central Point: Redemption Is So Desperately Needed

*The Big Question: Should Noah be trusted to be our Covenant Head?

Yes, but really… NO! After looking at the geography of his soul and legacy we see…

1.) Hope Mountain (vv. 18-19) – (Application: Hope is on the horizon…)

2.) Disappointment Valley (vv. 20-25) – (Application: I dare not trust the sweetest frame…)

3.) Trust Horizon (vv. 26-29) – (Application: Definitely look to the horizon and wholly lean there…)

*The Main Idea: God Restores the life of Noah in love and Extends the Offer Through Covenant

*The Central Point: Love Only Means Love In Covenant

*The Big Question: How does God’s love shine after the flood?

God loves to show his love to us via his covenant – Which shows us his:

1.) Love Of Life (vv. 1-7) – (Application: Step up into God’s Covenant Commands)

2.) Love Through Life (vv. 8-17) – (Application: Rest assured of God’s Covenant Promises)

*The Main Idea: God Restores the life of Noah in love and Extends the Offer Through Covenant

*The Central Point: Love Only Means Love In Covenant

*The Big Question: How does God’s love shine after the flood?

God loves to show his love to us via his covenant – Which shows us his:

1.) Love Of Life (vv. 1-7) – (Application: Step up into God’s Covenant Commands)

2.) Love Through Life (vv. 8-17) – (Application: Rest assured of God’s Covenant Promises)