Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 31 July 2021

Call to Worship Pastor Charles Tan

Opening Prayer

Scripture Text: Genesis 21

Message: “As He had said”

Speaker: Pastor Charles Tan

Closing Prayer

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 31 July 2021

Scripture Text: Genesis 21

Message: “As He had said” Pastor Charles Tan

INTRODUCTION

1. Many vital lessons of Faith to be learned

a) The Word of God

i) It is given in the form of a Promise

ii) It awaits fulfilment

b) The lessons

i) To believe

ii) To wait upon the Lord in hope

2. Difficulties faced along the way

a) Fear

b) Faltering faith

c) Human error

d) Setbacks

3. God continued to be

a) Gracious

b) Merciful

c) Patient

d) Understanding

e) Kind

VISIT OF THE LORD

1. Promise of a visit
“At the appointed time I will return to you,
according to the time of life” Genesis 18:14b

2. Fulfilment of a promise to visit
“And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said” Genesis 21:1a

3. Lessons learned

a) What God has said/ promised

b) It would come to pass

c) “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” Genesis 18:14a

d) The LORD will keep what He has said always

FULFILMENT OF PROMISE

1. Promise of a son
“And Sarah shall have a son” Genesis 18:14c

2. Fulfilment of the promise to have a son
“And the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken” Genesis 21:1b

3. What God would have to do

a) Rejuvenate Sarah’s body

b) Healing the problem of barrenness

c) Enabling Sarah to have a son

4. Lessons learned

a) “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” Genesis 18:14a

b) There is nothing too hard for God

i) There is power with the Lord

ii) He will personally see to things

iii) His presence would be manifested

CONCEPTION AND BIRTH

1. Sarah conceived Genesis 21:2a

a) It seems “natural”

b) But God’s power had to be applied

i) Obviously

ii) Significantly

iii) Personally

2. And bore Abraham a son in his old age Genesis 21:2b

a) Recalling a word about “old age”
“Now Abraham and Sarah were old,
well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing”
Genesis 18:11

b) Recalling another word about “old age”
“Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old?
And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” Genesis 17:17

c) Recalling God’s word of promise
“Sarah your wife shall bear you a son” Genesis 17:19a

d) Stating the age of Abraham
“Now Abraham was one hundred years old
when his son Isaac was born to him” Genesis 21:5

e) Lessons learned

i) Recall what God had said

ii) Faith will be refreshed as we see God
fulfilling what He had said

iii) Details are not unimportant

ABRAHAM’S FIRST RESPONSE

1. Naming of the son

a) “And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him⏤
whom Sarah bore to him⏤ Isaac” Genesis 21:3

b) This was in obedience to what God said
“And you shall call his name Isaac” Genesis 17:19b

2. Lessons learned

a) Full obedience

b) The name Isaac

i) It means “laughter”

ii) Abram laughed because of unbelief Genesis 17:17a

iii) Sarah laughed for a similar problem Genesis 18:13, 15

c) This name would be:

i) A reminder of a historical context

ii) A reminder of the problem of unbelief

iii) A reminder that there is nothing too hard for God Genesis 18:14b

ABRAHAM’S SECOND RESPONSE

1. “Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac
when he was eight days old” Genesis 21:4a

2. “As God had commanded him” Genesis 21:4b

RECALLING WHAT GOD HAD SAID

1. Context: The Abrahamic Covenant
“And you shall be circumcised…
And it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you” Genesis 17:11

2. Eight days old
“He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised” Genesis 17:12

3. An everlasting covenant
“And My covenant shall be in your flesh
for an everlasting covenant” Genesis 17:13

4. Lessons to be learned

a) Application of faith in God

b) Full obedience to the word of God

A LAUGHTER OF JOY

1. Sarah’s Testimony
A play on the word “laugh”

“God has made me laugh…” Genesis 21:6a

a) Once, it was a laugh of unbelief

b) Now, it was a laughter of joy from God

2. Sarah’s quip
“And all who hear will laugh with me” Genesis 21:6b

a) She will share openly about her past unbelief

b) And speak of God and His grace and mercy

c) All who hear will laugh with her

i) Of understanding

ii) Of faith

iii) Of gladness

3. Sarah’s further quip
“Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?
For I have borne him a son in his old age” Genesis 21:7

a) The joy of childbirth

b) The blessing which obviously came from God

CONCLUSION

1. The challenge to know God’s word better

a) Read

b) Understand

c) Believe

2. The Joy of Discovery that the Lord is a promise-keeping God!