God Talks Covenant Again

• Covenant                                              

  When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers."
  Genesis 17:1-2

• Covenant                          

  No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations... God also said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.
  Genesis 17:5, 15

• Covenant Sign --                                                             

  This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
  Genesis 17:10

25 Years of Covenant Promises

• A great                                from Abraham (Gen. 12)

• Your heir -- a                                                                    (Gen. 15)

• Your heir will also be                                     biological son (Gen. 17)

  Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. . . But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year."
  Genesis 17:19, 21

• But... what about Ishmael?

  Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?" And Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!" . . . And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.
  Genesis 17:17-18, 20

Life Lessons

1. God gives us a                 covenant --                          .

2. God gives us a new covenant                      and                          .

3. God asks you for a covenant                                                    to Him,

4.                 is more important than the                                    .

5. God is working out his                      in your life between the prayer and the answer.