Bible Readings:
1 Thessalonians 1:1 – 10, Genesis 16:1 – 16
Semon Outline:
Genesis 16:1–3 (NKJV)
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. 3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.
I Declension/Decline
II Disaster
Genesis 16:4 (NKJV)
4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.
III Deliverance
John 12:45 (NKJV)
45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.
1 Peter 1:8–9 (NKJV)
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.