Throwback to June 2015
Galatians 4:3, 23 NLT “The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.”
Our works can be born from our own human attempt or born of God as His own fulfillment. Especially in ministry or in God’s works, many and much has been born in human attempts outside God’s time and grace. It may appear on the surface as good. After all, Ishmael was dearly adored by Abraham. In fact, Abraham wanted God to fulfill the promise through Ishmael. But God would have none of man’s work to mix with His holiness.
Genesis 17:18-19 NLT “So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!” But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.
We want God to bless our life and the work of our lives birthed from our own personal dreams, endeavors, and plans. Then, we seek God to validate what we have done. But when it all falls apart, we then get angry at God in self pity.
Many may have started out with their own strength and dreams, but we must cast out what is our own human attempt, humble ourselves, and be willing to start over even though much time may have passed.
Many churches are born from human attempts and strength. Many churches are Ishmael churches. Ishmael was part of Abraham’s family, but the inheritance did not belong to him or his descendants. A church may have been born from human strength and attempts, and God may still use them since they are still part of His family. But the promise will be fulfilled through Issac. All things born of flesh will fail or wither away. This is one reason why churches end up shutting down. They were born by human attempts and never got right with God.
Ishmael was born naturally when Abraham and Sarai were able to do so in their years. Issac was born supernaturally through the Holy Spirit when they were very old and when it looked impossible. We must be in a church and ministry born by the Spirit of God. We must be led by the Spirit, for HE is leading us to our inheritance.
Pastor Steve Kim