December 6, 2020 Deep Roots Make Good Fruit Genesis 15 Study Guide Insights for Small Groups How our Small Groups Should be Like Abraham’s Fighting Men By Warren W. Wiersbe Prayer Requests While believers must not compromise with the unsaved in matters of spiritual walk and ministry, when you see that people are in trouble, you don't ask them _________________________ for a testimony before helping them. Sacrificial service is one way of showing we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Abraham risked his life and fortune to rescue his nephew Lot and others along _________________________ with him. Something God might expect from us when we see one of our Christian brothers or even our non-Christian brothers in difficulty. Our goal as Small Group _________________________ members should be the same, to be prepared to take up the battle when we see it raging in our world against someone who needs help. _________________________ 1. They were born in his house (v. 14). Spiritually speaking, this reminds us that "whatever is born of God overcomes the world" (1 John 5:4). Our first birth made us _________________________ children of Adam, and he was a loser, but our second birth makes us children of God, and Jesus Christ is the Victor. He has overcome every enemy (Eph. 1:19-23), and He _________________________ shares His victory with all who will trust Him. 2. They were armed (v. 14). It takes more than zeal and courage to win a war. You must also have effective equipment. The Christian soldier must wear the whole _________________________ armor of God and use the spiritual weapons God has provided (Eph. 6:10-18). Our weapons are spiritual, not fleshly (2 Cor. 10:3-5), and we use them in the power of _________________________ the Holy Spirit. The Word of God and prayer are our two most effective weapons (Acts 6:4), and we must use them by faith. _________________________ 3. They were trained (v. 14). No matter how good their equipment is, if the soldiers are not trained, they will be easily defeated. One of the purposes of the _________________________ local church and Small Groups is to train God's people how to use the Bible effectively, how to pray, how to recognize the enemy, and how to follow orders _________________________ as soldiers in the army of Christ. The better you know your Bible, the better you are equipped to fight the battle. If we fail in the battle, it is not the fault of the equipment or the strategy of our Captain. Something is wrong with the soldiers. _________________________ 4. They believed in their leader. Abraham and his allies rode 100 miles to make a surprise attack on the four kings, and they won a complete victory. Apparently _________________________ Abraham got his directions from the Lord, so the whole enterprise was a victory of faith. The spiritual application is clear: If God's people expect to defeat their _________________________ enemies, they must trust the Lord and obey His orders. 5. They were united. If God’s people today were united in love, what victories we _________________________ could win. “The trouble with the church,” said a pastor friend, “is that there are too many generals and not enough privates. _________________________ 6. They were single minded. Their goal was not personal revenge or private gain, but victory over the enemy so the captives could be freed. A double-minded _________________________ soldier is destined for defeat. “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” (2 Tim. 2:4) _________________________ December 6, 2020 Deep Roots Make Good Fruit Genesis 15 Study Guide Big Idea: Going deep roots into God’s Word is the only way to have great faith. People with faith are also people with feelings, and feelings must not be discredited or ignored. While it is unwise to trust your emotions and bypass your mind, or let your emotions get out of control, it is also unwise to deny and 1 suppress your emotions and become a religious robot. David and others expressed their feelings to God about everything — including what they felt about God, His world, and the people and circumstances in His world. In these first verses of Genesis 15, there is barely a hint about Abraham’s fear. In fact, the only reason we know about it is because God tells him “Do not be afraid.” One who truly fears God, and is Fear may be from the past or the future (Genesis 15:1) obedient to Him, may be in a condition After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, of darkness, and have no light; and he may walk many days and years in that Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” condition. “After this” represents a lot of interesting events in Abraham’s life. And while it Puritan Thomas Goodwin could be just the warfare Abraham was involved in, we humans save up emotions (1600-1679) and feelings and they often come out at unexpected times. You might remember these events — even though we don’t know how much time elapsed between Who among you fears the Lord and them: obeys the word of his servant? Let the • Moving from Haran to Canaan; one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and • Famine in Canaan and a move to Egypt to support his family; rely on their God. • Distress in Egypt from the Pharaoh; Isaiah 50:10 • Moving again because of large flocks and separation from Lot, his only family; • Lot’s capture and rescue in a daring raid on powerful kings. At times even the most dedicated Chris- These same kinds of things happen to people in today’s world — especially our tian feels “in the dark” and wonders military families. We can easily understand that fear, even though unspoken, why God seems so far away. During the Boxer Rebellion, the China Inland Mis- could easily be present. But God knows our mind and hearts. And He cares about sion suffered greatly, and its founder, J. us. Hudson Taylor, said to a friend, “I can- God said one of the things He said over and over to people: “Do not be afraid.” not read; I cannot think: I cannot even He often added another thought like He did for Isaac, Abraham’s son, “I will be pray; but I can trust.” It was dark times with you.” or later to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” Here, for Abraham, He but God eventually gave light.8 said, “I am your shield, your very great reward.” Warren Wiersbe This is an amazing statement. God’s remedy for Abraham’s fear was to remind him who He was. God’s “I AM” was the opposite of for man’s “I am not.” Abraham obviously needed some encouragement, so God promised to shield him from danger and He, Himself, became Abraham’s reward. He wanted Abraham to see Him as the goal, the reward, the true meaning in life. We humans tend to see God’s creation as true meaning — rather than God. We value money, or land, or power and control, or prestige more than God. God was promising Himself to Abraham. He loves with everlasting love (Jer. 31:3). He is compassionate on those who fear Him (Ps. 103:13). He rejoices 1 over us, even with singing (Jer. 32:41; Zeph. 3:17). God always burns with anger against sin and injustice (Ex. 22:24). He is always zealous for His glory and name (Ezek. 5:13). God is always the one to whom everyone owes ultimate love. There- fore, He has always been jealous for the love of all beings. Not because He is needy, but because He longs to see everyone’s desires as properly ordered as His own.2 God is our shield and our reward, and our protection and our provision. Just like He was for Abraham. Protection and provision are the blessings that the world is seeking and the politicians are promising whenever they run for office. Almighty God is the only One who can offer you protection and provision and keep His promises. Abraham’s real fear (Genesis 15:2-3) 2But Abram said, Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain child- less and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Apparently Abraham was not so worried about the 4 kings who he had just defeated coming back for retribution as he was about the problem of having no descendants. He was concerned that even though God had a marvelous plan with Humble yourselves, therefore, under a gracious promise, God didn’t seem to be doing much about it. God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you His may have been pleading with God about the emptiness In his life. “What can up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on you give me since I have no children? I’ve been here ten years but there is still no him because he cares for you. evidence of offspring.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 One of the lessons Abraham was to learn (and so must we) was that in the school of faith, God’s will must be fulfilled in God’s way and in God’s time.