5. God’s promises to Abraham.

1. Too numerous to count: God promised Abraham that his children would fill the earth! “I swear by myself, declares the Lord … I will surely bless you and make your descendents as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.” ( Genesis 22:16-17) ‘Those who believe are children of Abraham’ (Galatians 3:7) and ‘he is the father of us all.’ ( Romans 4:16-17) John, in his vision saw the fulfillment of the promise for he ‘looked and saw a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.’ ( Revelation 7:9)

2. Too powerful to be conquered: God promised Abraham that his offspring would be the ‘heir of the world’ ( Romans 4:13) and his descendants would possess the earth. “Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies…” (Genesis 22:17) Those who believe are indestructible and undefeatable because “the gates of Hades will not prove stronger than the Church.” (Matthew 16:18) John, in his vision saw the fulfillment of the promise for he heard a loud voice in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ” (Revelation 11:15)

3. Too big a blessing to contain: God promised Abraham that the blessing would overflow into the nations! “I will bless you … and you will be a blessing …” ( Genesis 12:2-3) “… and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed …” (Genesis 22:18) Those who believe are ‘blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith’ ( Galatians 3:9) to be a blessing to the nations. Amen.