3-26-23 Setlist: Let The Heavens Open Jireh How Deep The Father's Love For Us Way Maker Sermon Notes: Key Passage: The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3 Key Passage: Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife... So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!” Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away. Genesis 16:1-6 1. Other people’s wrong choices cannot permanently derail God’s plan in your life. Key Verse: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 Key Passage: The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. The angel said to her, “Hagar... Genesis 16:7-8a 2. God knows your name. Key Verse: See, I have written your name on the palms of My hands Isaiah 49:16 Key Verse: ...the sheep recognize His voice and come to Him. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3b Key Verse: The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” Genesis 16:8 Key Verse: “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied. Genesis 16:8 Key Passage: The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.” And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress.... Genesis 16:9-11 3. The Lord hears the cry of your distress. Key Verse: Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:2 Key Verse: Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 Key Passage: Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” ...So Hagar gave Abram a son, and Abram named him Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born. Genesis 16:13-16 4. God sees you. Key Verse: For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, Hebrews 4:15 Discussion Questions: 1. What do you feel like God is saying to you through this message? 2. What can you learn from Hagar? How can you apply it to your life? 3. Which point really spoke to you during this message? How can you apply it to your life?