ABRAHAM'S PROMISE

ABRAHAM'S PROMISE

Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Today, we have two or more great bodies of human beings claiming to be the heirs of that promise which God gave to Abraham.

Abraham had two sons-- Ishmael and Isaac. Both were destined to become great historic nations. But, the Lord definitely intended to honor one above the other. It was Isaac and his children who were to be the children of promise.

Genesis 17:18-21 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

Ishmael's birth was a completely normal process of procreation. The birth of Isaac was supernatural from the start of conception.

The births of the boys can tell us something, if we are willing to listen to what the Lord is trying to tell us.

While the posterity of the two boys are squabbling over the land and the inheritance, GOD IS WORKING ON A DIFFERENT PROJECT ALTOGETHER. The two boys were merely the blueprint of what God was, and is, doing in the world today.

God chose to bless and use the one whose birth was miraculous, in order for us to have a guideline to direct us into the correct understanding of His Purposes in the earth today.

God is not (NOT) planning to make a great nation out of the NATURAL offspring of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob. We are sorry to have to disappoint the prophetic teachers of the day. A CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE POINTS US IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

The ONLY WAY (REPEAT, ONLY WAY) God has anything future in store for the NATURAL SEED of Abraham is in the exact same manner as everyone else comes into it.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call.

If our present-day theologians could have it their way, things would get into a royal mess right soon, but God is still in control, and--

"MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH" -- God is quietly working on the REAL PLAN-- the one which is typified by the birth and difficulties of the two boys born to Abraham-- one a NATURAL birth, the other a MIRACULOUS birth.

Genesis 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

Hebrews 6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

In tracing the PROMISE of the Father to Abraham, we can follow it TO and THROUGH Isaac, Jacob, Judah and David.

Ø Gen 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
Ø Gen 17:18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
Ø Gen 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
Ø Gen 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
Ø Gen 17:21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

ISAAC

Ø Gen 28:1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
Ø Gen 28:2 Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
Ø Gen 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
Ø Gen 28:4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.


JUDAH

Ø Gen 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

DAVID

Ø Psa 132:1 A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:
Ø Psa 132:2 How he swore unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
Ø Psa 132:3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;
Ø Psa 132:4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,
Ø Psa 132:5 Until I find out a place for the LORD, a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
Ø Psa 132:6 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.
Ø Psa 132:7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
Ø Psa 132:8 Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.
Ø Psa 132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
Ø Psa 132:10 For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.
Ø Psa 132:11 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto DAVID; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

Ø Mat 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of DAVID, the son of Abraham.

JESUS

Ø Mat 1:18 Now the birth of JESUS CHRIST was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Ø Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
Ø Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Ø Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Ø Mat 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Ø Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Ø Mat 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
Ø Mat 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Ø Luk 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because (he was of the house and lineage of David:)
Ø Luk 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Ø Luk 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
Ø Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Ø Luk 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Still following, the PROMISE is found upon the Man, Jesus. But Jesus said that when He went away, He would SEND THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER (to Abraham) upon those who followed Him.

THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM

Ø Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the PROMISE of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Ø Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the PROMISE of the Father, which, [saith he], ye have heard of me.

Ø Act 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from JERUSALEM, but wait for the PROMISE of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Ø Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Ø Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Ø Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Ø Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power (Dunamis), after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in JERUSALEM, and in all JUDEA, and in SAMARIA, and unto the UTTERMOST PART of the earth.

JERUSALEM AND JUDEA

Ø Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Ø Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Ø Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Ø Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Ø Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Ø Act 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Ø Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Ø Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Ø Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Ø Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Ø Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Ø Act 2:39 For the PROMISE is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

SAMARIA

Ø Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Ø Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Ø Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Ø Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

WHOSOEVER WILL

Ø Act 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Ø Act 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Ø Act 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
Ø Act 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Now, it boils down to the fact that the PROMISE given to Abraham was actually the promise that in the "SEED" there was to be a BLESSING TO ALL NATIONS.

Ø Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the PROMISE of the SPIRIT through faith.
Ø Gal 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
Ø Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the PROMISES made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy SEED, which is Christ.

Ø Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard [this], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Ø Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the SEED SHOULD COME TO WHOM THE PROMISE WAS MADE; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Ø Galatians 3:26 FOR YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.

Ø Galatians 3:29 And IF YE [BE] CHRIST'S, then are ye Abraham's seed, and HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE.