“ …God does everything just
right and on time, but people can
never completely understand
what He is doing.”

Eccl. 3:11

I. Understand seasons of faith by looking at Abraham’s story

• PHASE 1: A DREAM (Age 75) (God) “I will make you into a great nation…” Gen. 12:1-3
• PHASE 2: DECISION “So Abraham left as the Lord had told him to…” Gen. 12:4
• PHASE 3: DELAY (Age 86) “But Sarah still had not borne any children…” Gen. 16:1
• PHASE 4: DIFFICULTY (Age 99) How can a son be born to a man my age?” Gen. 17-18
• PHASE 5: DEAD END “Take your only son, whom you love, and sacrifice him…” Gen. 21:1-6, 22:1-12
• PHASE 6: DELIVERANCE! (God) “Don’t hurt the boy…I’ve provided a lamb…” Gen. 22:12-14

II. REMEMBER: What God can do!

• “Abraham believed in God who
• gives life to the dead and who
• creates something out of nothing.”
• Rom. 4:17

III> RELY: On God’s promises

• “When hope was dead within him, Abraham went on hoping in faith…He relied on the word of God…” Rom. 4:18
• “While God was testing him, Abraham still trusted in God and his promises, so he offered his son Isaac…” Heb. 11:17
• “Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death” Heb. 11;19
• “Though it seemed Abraham’s hope could not be fulfilled… he did become the father of many nations, exactly as God had promised.” Rom. 4:18

IV. RECOGNIZE FACTS OF FAITH

• “Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead…and Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he didn’t waver with unbelief…” Rom. 4:19-20

VI. REJOICE ITS COMING

• “Abraham never doubted. He believed God, for his faith and trust grew ever stronger, and he praised God for this blessing even before it happened. He was completely sure that God was well able to do anything He promised.” Rom. 4:20-21

3 Kinds of Deliverance

• Circumstantial
• Personal
• Ultimate (Heaven)

“We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”

Rom. 5:2

“I pray that you may be active in sharing your
faith…”

Philemon 1:6