Summary Summary of Sermon: Finding Your Own Faith This sermon explores the story of Abraham's servant finding a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24) as a metaphor for developing a personal relationship with God. Key Points: Don't rely on the faith of others: The sermon criticizes the idea of "piggybacking" on the faith of leaders or prominent figures in church. We are all called to develop our own relationship with God. Faith is a journey: The servant in the story starts with doubts but finds his faith growing throughout his mission. Our faith journey may start unsure but can become stronger with experience. Taking action is important: Faith is not just belief; it requires acting on that belief. We should respond to God's promptings in our daily lives. Prayer is a conversation: The sermon encourages us to talk to God directly, share our doubts and questions, and ask for help. God works in unexpected ways: We shouldn't be discouraged if our prayers aren't answered in the way we expect. God may have a different plan. Start now: Even if you feel inadequate, God wants you to come to him. There's no need to wait until you feel "worthy" enough to pray. Biblical References: Genesis 24: The story of Abraham's servant finding a wife for Isaac. Judges (mentioned but not specified verse): The story of Gideon and the fleece. Applications: The sermon encourages listeners to: Pray more regularly and authentically. Seek opportunities to encounter God in their daily lives. Develop their own faith journey, independent of others. Thank God for his blessings, big and small. Transcription Morning everyone. It's nearly afternoon by the way but cheer up. Often when you're running out of time in things like this the first thing a preacher will do is not read the Bible and just go into their notes because obviously what we have to say is far more important than scripture. It's the big mistake we make. I'm going to read, this is the, I've been given, you'll be pleased to hear, one of the longest chapters in the Bible to speak on today. So I'm, it is but it's a story so it's great. It's a very well-known story about an arranged marriage. It was a love match, a match brought together by God of Isaac and Rebecca and I'm just going to read quite a chunk of the 67 verses to you and then I'm not going to bother much with my notes and just try and wing it a bit based on the time we've got left. So this is Genesis chapter 24 as we're going through Genesis and this is my newer version of the Bible because my NIV became a loose leaf version when I was preaching at a church recently and Ephesians ended over here and Revelation over there and a bit of Genesis I've never seen since so I had to, I had to pick up another Bible and I had this copy and I'm not sure what version it is but it's not a paraphrase, you'll be pleased to hear but it is a modern version and here we go. Genesis 24. Abraham was now a very old man and the Lord had blessed him in every way. One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh and swear by the Lord the God of heaven and earth that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives and find a wife there for my son Isaac. The servant asked but what if I can't find a young woman who's willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives to the land you came from? No, Abraham responded. Be careful never to take my son there for the Lord the God of heaven who took me from my father's house and my native land solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send an angel ahead of you and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. If she's unwilling to come back with you then you are free from this oath of mine but under no circumstances are you to take my son there. So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and he swore to follow Abraham's instructions. Then he loaded 10 of Abraham's camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master and he traveled to distant Aram Neharaim. There he went to a town where Abraham's brother Nehor had settled and he came to the he made the camels rather kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening and the women were coming out to draw water. Oh Lord God of my master Abraham he prayed please give me success today and show unfailing love to my master Abraham. See I'm standing here beside this spring and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. This is my request. I will ask one of them please give me a drink from your jug and if she says yes have a drink and I'll water your camels too let her be the one you have selected as Isaac's wife and this is how I'll know that you have shown unfailing love to my master. Before he finished praying he saw a young woman named Rebecca coming out with her water jug on ...
