Faith of Abraham - Part 15

Genesis 23:1-20

Solomon wrote, "A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death, than the day of one's birth." (Ecc. 7:1) The point was not that it is better to die than to be born. Rather that we are given a name at birth that is like a fragrant ointment and that we should keep it that way until we die. At birth no one knew what we would make of our name, but at death our name will either be fragrant or putrid. Consider names of individuals like Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate, Adolf Hitler, etc. These names were given at birth filled with hope and promise. We are talking about the testimony of our lives. When a person with a good name dies, the day of death is better than the day of birth and folks will rejoice over their lives. Over the last several weeks we have studied the life of Abraham and Sarah. Now we come to end of their lives. We have learned from them how to live by faith, and now we will see what it means to die in faith. Tonight we will look at the death of a princess. Sarah had her faults, as we all do, but God called her a princess. She had been a good wife to Abraham and a good mother to Isaac. She is included in God's 'hall of faith' in Hebrews eleven, Peter named her as a good example for Christian wives to follow, and Paul used her to illustrate the grace of God in the believer's life.

Faith in the Dark

I. A Time of Tears v1-2

II. A Time of Testimony v3-6

III. A Time of Strength v7-16

IV. A Time of Faith. v17-20

There are times when we all look at an impossible situation and wonder how much more we can take. Let me assure you that God's grace is sufficient for you in everything we will face in this life. He will give us grace to deal with our loss and to go on for His glory, until the battle is over. I do not know what you might be facing this evening, but I do know that through faith you can have the victory.

(1 John 5:4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.