The Chronicle rnd\ xM^^ 1 October 18, 2018 B3 Religion The Birth of the Promised Son Lesson Scripture: Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-7 By the end of this lesson, we will *Remember to trust the promise of God. * Appreciate the value for God promises. *Celebrate that God keeps promises in unex pected ways by grace. Background: The time is 2065 B.C. and the place Hebron under the Oaks of Mamre. God has already made a promise to Abram in the twelfth chapter of Genesis. God has built Abram’s wealth and promised him an heir from his own loins and God gives Abram a glimpse of the future of his descendants and the Promised Land. Abram was good with it all until God said the heir would come from Sarah ... he responded by laughing. Lesson: Abraham has had visits from God singularly ... now God comes and is accompanied by two others. Abraham extends the customary manners and invites the visitors to sup with him under the Oaks of Mamre. During dinner conversation God announces that He will come back to this place in a year’s time and Sarah will have a son (vs. 9-10). Sarah listened inside the tent and reacted the same as Abraham when he was told that Sarah would be the mother, but she laughed to herself, not out loud. She was thinking in the natural sense being convinced that, at their age, childbearing was impossible. She did not consider God’s unlimited abilities (vs. 11- 13). Reading Sarah’s thoughts, God says, “Why did Sarah laugh? Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” God’s divine declaration is, “At the appointed time Sarah will have a son.” (vs. 14-15). Caught and afraid, Sarah denies laughing, but God’s response is, “No, but you did laugh.” (vs.15). Life goes on, time and events pass, and God ends Sarah’s barrenness as He had promised. She conceived and bore a son in God’s timeframe at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him (vs. 1- 2). Abraham named the child Isaac, which means “he laughs,” thought to be an abbreviated form of “God laughs,” as did both Abraham and Sarah (vs.3). Keeping the covenant, circumcision was performed identifying Abraham’s physical and ethical lineage. Isaac was cut when he was eight days old (vs.4). Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety years old when Isaac was born. Sarah happily acknowledged that God kept His promise to both her and Abraham and now not only will she and he laugh, but God will cause all those around them to laugh with them (vs.6-7). (The. MacArthur Study Bible, UMI and the Oxford Bible Commentary.) For Your Consideration: Do you have doubts as to what you hear God speaking into your life at this time? Do you have the faith to believe it and act? Life’s Application: Sarah is reminded that God has unlimited power and can bring about the impossible. Like Sarah we have doubts. Maybe we perceive our own shortcomings and believe we are not up to the task. Or maybe the season has passed (we think). What God speaks to us may sound laughable, but it is not impossi ble. We can miss out when God confirms what He’s spo ken to us if we are not watchful. It is important to be both watchful and mindful so that when God comes through for us, we can show appropriate appreciation by doing with the blessing what God has instructed. Obedience is always the proper response to God, whether it’s the mundane or the fantastic that He does for us. “In all things give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) www.wschronicle.com Oct.18 Revival services Greater Galilee Church “The Gathering Place”, 1355 Peachtree St., will host a revival service on Thursday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. For additional information, call (336) 784-1062. Dr. Robert McGowens is the host pastor. Oct. 18-21 Church anniversary Miracle Temple Deliverance Church, 2930 Prescott Drive, will host its 20th church anniversary on Thursday, Oct. 18-19 at 7 p.m. each night. The event will culminate on Sunday, Oct. 21 at an 11 a.m. service. Clergy alliance seeks volunteers for cleanup in Eastern N.C. Photo by Timothy Ramsey Mayor Allen Joines speaks during the press conference at Emmanuel Baptist Church last Tuesday. BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY THE CHRONICLE The people of eastern North Carolina are still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. The Minister's Conference of Winston- Salem and Vicinity (MCWSV), Love Out Loud, the City of Winston- Salem, and others held a press confer ence at Emmanuel Baptist Church on Oct. 9, to update the community of the citywide collaboration to respond to the devastation. The alliance announced there will be a mission trip planned for Oct. 21- 27. They are looking for 100 volun teers to assist them with the clean up efforts that will take place in Craven, Jones and Onslow counties. Rev. Dr. Preston Harris, modera tor of the Trent River Oakey Grove Missionary Baptist Association, was Photo by Timothy Ramsey Following the service, the various ministries of the church gave Dr. Bishop anniversary gifts and presenta tions. Pastor celebrates anniversary Calendar Oct. 20 Fish Fry New Gospel Tabernacle Church, 206 Laura Wall Blvd, will have a fish fry fundraiser at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20. For more information, call (336) 528-3399. Oct. 21 CROP Walk Winston-Salem/Forsyth County CROP Hunger Walk to raise money to end hunger will be Sunday, Oct. 21 at Bailey Park Long Branch Trail at Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, 445 Patterson Ave. in downtown Winston-Salem. Registration time is 1:30 p.m. Walk Time is 2:30 p.m. Contact: Carol Wilson, cwilson@cri- siscontrol.org or (336) 724-7875, ext.1060. BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY THE CHRONICLE Rev. Dr. Dennis Bishop is one of the most well respected pastors in the city. This past weekend he celebrated his 50th anniversary in the ministry, with 35 of those years at his current church, First Waughtown Baptist Church. The church organized a multi-day celebration culminating in a special Sunday morning service. The scheduled service Thursday evening was can celed due to Hurricane Michael, but that did not dampen the spirits of the congregation for the remaining events. “I am just so thankful to have my family here to celebrate this day with me,” said Bishop. “I also wanted to thank the congregation of First See Anniversary on B4 Oct. 21 58th Church anniversary The Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, 1905 N. Jackson Ave., will be celebrating its 58th church anniversary at the 11 a.m. worship Sunday Oct. 21. The pastor is Paul W Hart. Oct. 21 173rd anniversary Bethania A.M.E. Zion Church, 2120 Bethania-Rural Hall Road, will celebrate its 173rd Anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 21. The Rev Allen W. Stimpson Sr., pastor of Bethania, will deliver the 11 a.m. message. Lunch will be served at 2 p.m. At 3 p.m., Rev Daryl Napper, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lexington, N.C., will be the speaker. See Rel. Cal. on B4

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