God gave Abraham his word, a promise which Paul refers to in his letter to the church at Rome. “The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.”
Romans 4: 13
God gave the promise as a gift with no strings attached and no conditions to fulfil.
God promised Abram that he would be the father of a great nation and that all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
Genesis 12: 1-3
Abram pointed out to the Lord God that he had not given him an heir. Eliezer of Damascus would inherit Abram’s estate. ”And the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; your own son will be your heir.” The Lord told Abram to look towards the heavens and if you can number the stars, your descendants shall be as many as those stars. Abram believed the Lord and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:1- 6
Abraham pleased God, through having faith in him. But we understand that Abraham had to learn to live by faith and grace.
At this time Abram and Sarai had no children and she was too old to have any so they decided between them that under Nuzi Messapotainian law it allowed for their servant girl Hagar to bear them a child. Hagar bore Abraham a son who they named Ishmael. Genesis 16: 1-15 Nuzi Tablets – The Messiah’s Secret blog Removing the Veil 15th July 2010
But that wasn’t what God intended, he didn’t want Abraham to work it out for himself. God wanted Abraham to wait upon him so that by having faith that God could do the impossible, to give them an heir.
God changed Abram’s name to Abraham meaning a father of a multitude of nations. Sarai’s name was changed by God to Sarah from her she would be a mother of nations; kings of peoples would come forth from her. Genesis 17: 5, 15, 16.
The Promise Fulfilled.It was a miracle that Sarah bore Abraham a son Isaac, he was the heir to the promise and through his descendants all the families of the earth would be blessed.
Genesis 21: 1-3
In the New Testament Nicodemus a descendant of Abraham.
Nicodemus was a member of the ruling council the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem; he was an important man in Jewish society.
It was recorded by Luke that the Pharisees and Lawyers were opposed to John the Baptist baptism. “Jesus said, “Yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist. When they heard this all the people and the tax collectors justified God, having been baptised with the baptism of John; but the Pharisees and the lawyers had rejected the purposes of God for themselves, not having been baptised by him.” Luke 7: 28-30
Jesus’ ministry was rejected by the authorities (council) Chief Priests and the Pharisees. Jesus was regarded by the Pharisees as a law breaker and blasphemer.
“The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering about him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.” John 7: 32.
The temple guards were sent to arrest Jesus but they returned without having arrested him.
They were questioned by the Pharisee, “Why did you not bring him?” The guards responded, “No one ever spoke like this man!” “The Pharisees answered them, “Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? (Jesus) But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed.” John 7: 45-49.
We can understand why Nicodemus came at night to where Jesus and his disciples were staying because he did not want to be seen by another ruler consorting with Jesus. Nicodemus was not convinced that the council were right in their assessment of Jesus.
Nicodemus’s own view, he saw that God was at work in Jesus, so he went to him to find out more about him. He believed that they shouldn’t judge a person without first hearing what they are about. John 7: 50.
He expressed this at a time when the officers were in confrontation with the Pharisees.
On entering the house Nicodemus started the conversation by acknowledging Jesus’ teaching and the signs, the healings and miracles; these could only have been accomplished by God working with him. Jesus and his disciples would have been glad to hear these words from Nicodemus; his comments probably put them at their ease.
However, Jesus knowing the thoughts and intentions of every person’s heart touched immediately on the subject of ‘Baptism.’ “Truly, truly, I say to you unless one is born anew he can not see the Kingdom of God.” “Unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can not enter the Kingdom of God . . . . . . . verse 11 Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony.” John 3: 1-11.
These words in verse 11 I feel is were Jesus touched on an underlying issue between him and Nicodemus that needed to be sorted out.
“We speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen.”
Nicodemus had already acknowledged Jesus’ teaching and the signs; these could only have been accomplished by God working with him.
“But you do not receive our testimony.” What was the testimony that Nicodemus did not go along with?
John the Baptist and Jesus baptism were in preparation for the coming Kingdom of God. John bore witness to Jesus that Jesus’ words and signs were of God. John 3: 25-36. As we have read in Luke 7: 30 “The Pharisees and the lawyers had rejected the purposes of God for themselves, not having been baptised by him.”
These words would indicate that Nicodemus had not received John’s or Jesus’ baptism in preparation for the coming of the Kingdom of God. John 4: 1, 2.
On that night instead of talking to Nicodemus about John the Baptist’s water baptism, being cleansed set apart, sanctified. Jesus spoke of the baptism that he was going to give, 'the baptism of water and Spirit,’ which we understand Nicodemus had no knowledge about.
Jesus’ baptism of water and Spirit that was first received at Pentecost. John in his first letter wrote “There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood.” 1 John 5:8
Water is something that we all use for cleansing purposes and when we add a cleansing agent to it removes stains, dirt and germs.
So when we think of Jesus baptism: the water and the cleansing agent the blood of Jesus applied to our heart we can understand the implications, it removes the things that spoil our relationship with God.
So the water and the blood cleanse us and then God adds the sparkle to the water, the Holy Spirit.
The King James’ Bible’s translation the word ‘Quicken’ – to become alive,
Quickening – the period in pregnancy when the mother first becomes conscious of the movement of the child.
”And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2: 1
”Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.)” Ephesians 2: 5.
Nicodemus was unsure about Jesus. That night when he came to see Jesus, Nicodemus wanted to confirm that Jesus was the Messiah. Later after Jesus' death on the cross, he openly made his association with Jesus when he helped his fellow councillor Joseph of Arimathea take Jesus’ body down from the cross and carried it to the tomb. Nicodemus he could not have done this without having love for Jesus. Mark 15: 43. John 19: 39, 40.
Today after hearing about Jesus some people need some evidence to confirm their faith. In the 1980’s I can not remember the exact date, I went to a meeting the guest speaker was Farmer Jim Wilkinson of Holly Bush Farm. I remember him telling us a true story about his neighbour who lived on the farm next to his. Jim had witnessed to his neighbour about Jesus being his Saviour, but he did not respond straight away, not until the time of harvesting the wheat. Jim and his neighbours field where side by side and both were being harvested at the same time. The weather was overcast and Jim said that they had prayed for the weather to hold fine in order to get this field of wheat in before it rained. That afternoon it rained but only on his neighbour’s field and not on Jims’ field. His neighbour marvelled at the way God had spoken to him through this incident, as a result he came to faith in Jesus.
Stepping out in Faith. For us it is often in the small things were we learn to have faith and trust as we hold onto the Lord Jesus.
Visual Aid. An 8’ x 5” x 3” plank and a blind fold and plastic boxes.
The plank is raised off the ground at both ends. Place one end of the plank on chancel steps and the other end on a box that is the same height as the chancel steps. Ask for a volunteer to walk the plank. Blindfolding the person whist explaining what it is about.
Stepping out in blind faith can be difficult (tying the blind fold on to the person’s head) holding onto Jesus is necessary (taking the person’s arm they begin to walk along the plank) so as we begin to walk in faith we find it easier to trust in the Lord.
(Taking off the blindfold halfway across the plank, the last few steps to the end of the plank are taken on their own.)
It’s in the small steps of faith that we experience our faith and trust grows. I went to Manchester to a meeting; I turned into my usual car park, but on this occasion the only spaces available where at the north end which meant I had to walk the full length of the car park before the short walk first crossing the road and then on past the Cathedral and on to Deansgate. On my next visit, three weeks ago, I prayed that I would not have as far to walk. When I entered the car park I saw a car just leaving and it was on the perimeter. I only had the short walk crossing the road and then on past the Cathedral and on to Deansgate. The shortest walk that I could have ever had imagined, which gave me assurance that the Lord had heard my prayer.
Like Abraham we have faith in God’s Promises
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11: 24.
I was waiting for a special delivery of Transfers the 150th Celebration of St Thomas’ Church Musberry from Mr Cross of Pilling Pottery my supplier. The deadline was drawing near and they still had not arrived it was only two weeks away. Another week went by and still they had not arrived. Mr Cross confirmed that he had sent them to me by registered mail and I should have received them.
I rang the Royal Mail Parcel depot, the man who answered took my address and he said that a wagon had just arrived at the depot and he would go and ask the men unloading to look out for my parcel.
Within minutes the phone rang and a very excited man told me, “When I reached the bay the wagon was just starting to be unloaded. I asked the men unloading to look out for your parcel and I gave them your address. As soon as I read out your address a man coming off the wagon had it in his hand and he gave it to me” and he said that they were all amazed.
I thanked the Lord; I went straight away to the depot and picked up my parcel. The pottery was completed, at least enough to present on the day of celebration at St. Thomas’ Musberry.
Precious Promises “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him, Jesus who is called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises . . . . . . and become partakers of the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1: 3-4
“Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.” John 15: 7
“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.” Ephesians 3: 20
