What factors led Abraham to inherit the promise?
(Psalm 37:8-11; Habakkuk 2:2-3; Romans 15:3-5; Hebrews 6:12-15) Blog Sep. 4-10, 2022
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: When Christians suffer, they are to rejoice in hope, knowing that their affliction is but for a moment and that a far more exceeding glory awaits them. As seeing the invisible, they praise God before being delivered and appreciate his tender care during their trials. When they are tried, they will come forth with increased faith, perfected characters, and a closer bond to Jesus.
Patiently Waiting
1. For what did Paul commend the Thessalonian believers? Paul commended the Thessalonian believers for their patience & faith in persecutions & tribulations (2 Thes. 1:3-5).
2. What historical churches does Jesus commend for their patience? Jesus commends the churches of Ephesus & Thyatira for their patience (Rev. 2:3, 19).
3. Is it possible to be patient yet have other faults? Yes, the church of Ephesus was patient but had lost her first love & the church of Thyatira was patient but allowed false teachers to teach in the church (Rev. 2:4, 20).
4. For what do Christians wait? Christians are waiting for God’s final judgment, the Latter Rain, the redemption of their bodies, the second coming of Jesus, & their eternal inheritance (Psa. 37:6-7; Rom. 8:18-23; 1 Cor. 1:7; Jam. 5:7; 1 Pet. 1:3-4).
5. Is all waiting appropriate? No, waiting for a superstitious troubling of the waters or waiting to accept Christ as your Savior is not appropriate (Matt. 12:38-40; Acts 24:25).
6. How long does the Bible say that God’s people are to patiently wait? God’s people are to patiently wait until they die or until Jesus comes at the end of the world (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Heb. 3:6; Jam. 5:7; Rev. 2:10).
7. What New Testament saint waited patiently for Jesus’ first coming? Simeon was promised that he would see God’s Messiah before he died & he met the baby Jesus when Joseph & Mary brought him to Jerusalem when he was a month old (Lk. 2:25-32).
God’s Timing
8. How could John the Baptist so boldly preach that the kingdom of heaven was at hand? John could boldly say that the coming of the Messiah was at hand for he studied & believed the prophets (Matt. 3:2).
9. What prophecy told John the Baptist that it was time for the Messiah to come? The prophecy of Daniel nine gave John the information on which to understand the nearness of Christ’s coming (Dan. 9:24-27).
10. Did Jesus come exactly when Daniel 9 said he would? Yes, for Daniel was told that the Messiah would be anointed 483 years after the decree to restore & rebuild Jerusalem. This happened in AD 27, followed 3 ½ years later by his substitutionary death (Dan. 9:24-27; Gal. 4:4).
11. How did God express the certainty of the timing of Bible prophecy to Habakkuk? God told Habakkuk that though the vision tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (Hab. 2:2-3).
12. When the promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah was delayed what steps did they take to speed up God’s promise? At Sarah’s suggestion, Abraham took Hagar to wife, thinking they could speed up God’s promise through her (Gen. 16:1-3).
13. What two factors led Abraham to inherit the promise? It was through faith & patience that Abraham (& we will) inherited the promise (Heb. 6:12-15).
Learning to Wait
14. While longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit, who does Peter say should be adding patience to our characters? Peter says we, ourselves, are to add patience in our character development (2 Pet. 1:6).
15. How does Paul say that we should be spending our time while waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promises? Paul says that while patiently waiting for glory, honor, & immortality we should occupy ourselves in well doing (Rom. 2:7; Gal. 6:9).
16. What does Paul say will comfort us and give us hope while patiently waiting for God to fulfil his promise? The Holy Scriptures will comfort us & give us hope (Rom. 15:4).
17. With what kind of people should we not be patient? Paul says we should “be patient toward all men.” I wonder if that applies to the tempter or the seducer (1 Thes. 5:14).
18. For what church offices is patience a requirement? Apostles, elders, & deacons are all required to be patient (2 Cor. 12:12; 1 Tim. 3:3; 2 Tim. 2:2).
19. What result comes from letting patience have her perfect work? When patience has been exercised to the end, the result will be perfection (Jam. 1:2-4).