Audio Messages:
Pastor Wade Burleson

---

The Life of Faith: My God
God of Wonders

Genesis70.mp3 (9.45 MB)

---

Genesis 21:1-8 (KJV)

1. And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
2. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
3. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
4. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
6. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
7. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
8. And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

When the prophet Daniel foreshadows some rough days for the people of God in Daniel chapter 11, he brings encouragement to his readers by saying, And the people who know their God shall be strong, and do great exploits (Daniel 11:32). If a person desires to be of strong faith, the first prerequisite is a true knowledge of the God they serve. As we begin a series entitled The Life of Faith we will start by looking at the God of wonders.

1. God is always faithful to His Word
   In the first verse there is a wonderful repetition of phraseology. And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. The repetition is made to call attention to God's fulfillment of His promise and His faithfulness to it. (Cross reference: Genesis 17:16, 19, 21 and Genesis 18:10, 14). Lest one minimize the importance of faith in the God who performs wonders, I direct you to Hebrews 11. Through faith Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised (Hebrews 11:11).
2. God shows Himself faithful at the precise time that is best.
   This is the very principle that allows God's people the opportunity to lay aside worry. For Sarah conceived and bare Abraham a son . . . at the set time (Genesis 21:2).
   1. This time is set by God . . . I will return unto thee according to the time (18:10).
      Too often we allow ourselves to fall into the trap of making God fulfill His promises according to our timetable. We have the assurance His time is best.
   2. This time increases our trust . . . Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the set time I will return unto thee, according to the time of life (Genesis 18:14). Need I remind anyone that Sara was 90 and Abraham 100 at this "set time"?
3. God's ultimate desire is that we, His children, delight in His faithfulness.
   And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, and all that will hear will laugh (21:6).This is said on the occasion of the naming of her son Isaac (Hebrew for laughter). Sarah laughed in unbelief when she first heard God would give her a son in old age. But this laughter is different. "God, having given her a son, laid a foundation for laughter of another kind; for real, solid joy and thankfulness," Dr. John Gill.
   The Westminster Confession states, The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Baptists have a way of emphasizing glorifying God, but the crown jewel of Christianity is the enjoyment of God. "There was a time when I thought the verb "enjoy" and the noun "God" should never be used in the same sentence," Sam Storms. Edwards calls it, "A passionate and joyful admiration of God."
4. God's work in us in evidenced by our ability to always trust the God of wonders.
   What is the best thing that could ever be said of one's life? He trusted in the Lord. Let's see on of Scripture's simple promises, My God will fulfill thy need (Philippians 4:19). Are you in need of hope? My God will fulfill thy need. Are you in need of patience? My God will fulfill thy need. Are you in need of direction? My God will fulfill it.