March 26, 2016

 "So she said to Abram, 'The Lord has kept me from having children.

Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.' "

(Genesis 16:2)

 

Sarah and Abraham received the revelation of a son. God promised them a seed.  God also promised them descendants that would be difficult to count. And what Sarah and Abraham did with this promise?

Revelations, promises and prophecies are different words with a very strong link. All of them have to do with God trying to explain men an attitude or wanting to advance in something that will be done. But, what for?

For men to be ahead!!!

To be ahead of the enemy!

To prepare men!

Sarah for instance, knowing she would be a mother should stop praying fpr a baby, but start praying to be a good mother... As for us: if God promised you an "opened door", stop praying for the door, and start praying to be prepared to go through the door! 

Sometimes we  pray wrong...

Where else do we fail concerning promises, revelations and  prophecies?

- In our haste! 

Promises, revelations and prophecies are made to give us security. Know God and expect them to be fulfilled. (Psalm 40.1) The Lord is very interested in fulfilling His words. (Jeremiah 1:12). Keep in mind that God counts time in a different way. (2Peter 3:8b)

-Try to "help" God

Sarah planned to be betrayed! And surely felt a lot of pain! 

-Succumb to worldly offerings 

There are many ooportunities, considered attractives, that consume our lives and take us a step away from the Lord and delaying our promises to happen. (II Corinthians 7:1). Search for a holy life.

-A heart not aligned with God´s heart God said to Abram, "Walk before me and be blameless" Genesis 17:1. w$hat God has for you has to do with a higher purpose. To be multiplied! To be testified! For the mae of God to be glorified! It goes beyond of just blessing you!

-Having a natural view, forgetting to see with spiritual eyes 

This may postpone the fullfilment of God´s plans. Why did Sarah wanted to be a mother? Maybe just to shut up her neighbors. Maybe just because of vanity. This way the motivation was wrong! If she knew the importance of her offsrping, she would probably have suffered less and caused less trouble for those around her. Imagine the pressure she made over Abraham... And the Word says: "All things work together for good to them that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)  

-Letting unbelief contaminate you 

Believe in God´s dreams! Sarah doubted so much that put the blame for not getting pregnant in God. Genesis 16:2:

New International Version (NIV): "so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her. "

Abram agreed to what Sarai said."

King James Version (KJV): "Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be que I may obtain infor- children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai."

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV): "Sarai Told Abram, "The LORD has not allowed me to have children, so sleep with my slave. Maybe she can have a son, and I will accept him to my own. "Abram did what Sarai said."

Amplified Bible (AMP): "So Sarai said to Abram, "See here, the LORD has Prevented me from bearing children. I am asking you to go in to [the bed of] my maid [so que she may bear you a child]; perhaps I will [a] Obtain children by her. "And Abram listened to Sarai and did the she said."

Contemporary Inglês Version (CEV): "and Sarai said to Abram, "The LORD has not given me any children. Sleep with my slave, and if she has a child, it will be mine. "[A] Abram agreed,"

But God spoke so many times to Abraham... 

Stay away from people who feed unbelief!

-Do not settle! Don´t give up! 

Don´t be lazy! Leave self-indulgence! Get out of your comfort zone. Keep on praying, fasting and worshiping God!

Ana