Sunday Morning - March 1, 1998
Text: Genesis 17:1-4 "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4. As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations."
GOD ALMIGHTY
Genesis 17:1-4 "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty [to be strong, mountain, or breast] God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
THE LORD ALMIGHTY
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."
SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY
Psalms 91:1 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
WALK BEFORE ME
Genesis 17:1 "... the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect."
ADAM AND EVE HID
Genesis 3:8 "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God ..."
FELLOWSHIP
Genesis 15:1 "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."
THIRTEEN YEARS OF SILENCE
Genesis 16:5 "And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; ..."
FELLOWSHIP AGAIN
Genesis 17:1 "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, ... walk before me, and be thou perfect."
MAINTAIN THAT FELLOWSHIP
1 John 1:6 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
BE THOU PERFECT
Genesis 17:1 "... the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect [without blemish, upright, complete, full, sound, without spot, undefiled, upright, whole]."
NOAH WAS PERFECT
Genesis 6:9 "These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God."
WITHOUT BLEMISH
Exodus 12:5 "Your lamb shall be without blemish [perfect], a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:"
THE PRIESTHOOD
Leviticus 21:17-23 "Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. 18. For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind [not a leader or example] man, or a lame [inconsistent walk], or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous [not balanced], 19. Or a man that is broken footed [unable to walk], or broken handed [unable to hold and not able to help or give], 20. Or crook backed [looking down, affections on things below], or a dwarf [lack of spiritual growth], or that hath a blemish in his eye [defective vision, unable to discern the word], or be scurvy [scratching, distracted], or scabbed [blemish from within, hidden sin], or hath his stones broken [not able to bear children, fruit]; 21. No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God."
THE SACRIFICE
Leviticus 22:21-22 "And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. 22. Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen [cyst], or scurvy [itch], or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD."
THE CHURCH
Ephesians 5:26-27 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
BLEMISHES
Ephesians 5:1-6 "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2. And walk in love [obedience, sacrifically], as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
3. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY
Ephesians 5:15-16 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
KNOW YE NOT?
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
ENTANGLED AGAIN
2 Peter 2:20-21 "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment..."
UNBLAMEABLE AND UNREPROVEABLE
Colossians 1:22-23 "In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, ..."
AS MANY AS BE PERFECT
Philippians 3:14-17 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing."