⏱️ How to Prevent Delay — Abraham’s Instant Blessing
Romans 4:3 (NKJV) — opening verse
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Pentecost Sunday — Romans 4 is about Abraham, faith, and righteousness. Two steps to instant blessing: (1) understand faith & righteousness · (2) understand what changed at 99.
| Pentecost | When | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (Sinai) | 50 days after Egypt | ❌ 3000 died |
| 2nd (Upper room) | 50 days after ascension | ✅ 3000 saved (Peter preaching) |
Letter kills · Spirit gives life — Moses vs Jesus (Romans / 2 Corinthians 3).
Matthew 7:11 (KJV)
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
🌟 Abraham’s Calling
- Age 75 — first promise & stars
- Age 99 — El Shaddai appears; delay ends
- Fully convinced God performs what He promised
Genesis 12:2 (KJV)
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.
Genesis 17:1 (KJV)
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Romans 4:21 (NKJV)
and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Romans 4:17 (NKJV)
(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
🍎 Two Fruits — Law vs Life
- Eden: fruit of good & evil vs fruit of eternal life
- Law = knowledge of good & evil (old covenant — Romans)
- God’s word = food · when you hear it, you eat spiritual fruit
John 14:6 (KJV)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
2 Corinthians 3:6 (NKJV)
who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Romans 5:19 (NKJV)
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
📋 Part 1 — Age 75 to 85
God promised a generation at 75. Isaac came at 99 — 25 years later. First understand faith & righteousness (Part 1), then what changed at 99 (Part 2).
Characteristics of Abraham at age between 75 to 85
The first change at 75 — stars shown, righteousness credited. Yet delay continued because Abraham still mixed his strength with God’s.
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| ⭐ Stars & gospel | Believed the Seed (Christ) — Genesis 15 |
| ✝️ Righteousness | Counted righteous before Isaac came |
| 🔀 Mixed power | Sufficient God — but not all-sufficient yet |
| 🟢 70% self + 🔴 25% God | Own effort + faith → delay |
| 😨 Fear steps | Sarai as sister · brought Lot |
1️⃣ Knowing the Gospel
- Gospel preached to Abraham before the law (Galatians 3:8)
- Word must be mixed with faith — or it doesn’t profit (Hebrews 4:2)
- Israel: 40 years delay · Joshua: instant possession
- The Seed is Christ — one, not many (Galatians 3:16)
⭐ Stars shown twice — meditate on the difference:
| When | Reference | Focus | Faith & righteousness? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (age 75) | Genesis 15:5–6 | The Seed (Christ) — gospel | ✅ Yes — counted righteous |
| 2nd | Genesis 22:17 | Generations / Isaac to come | ❌ Not mentioned — child promise |
- Hebrew saphar (סָפַר) — “count the stars” also means declare, tell, proclaim the gospel
- Look at the stars → proclaim Christ’s story (not astrology)
- True faith = believe Jesus died for every iniquity → that is your righteousness
🌌 Gospel in the stars (Virgo → Leo — Christ’s journey):
- ♍ Virgin birth → ♎ price paid → ♏ enemy trampled → ♐ conquering rider
- ♑ atoning sacrifice → ♒ living water → ♓ fishers of men → ♈ Lamb of God
- ♉ Messiah’s strength → ♊ God & man → ♋ shepherd’s care → ♌ Lion of Judah
Psalm 19:1 (KJV)
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Luke 10:19 (KJV)
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Revelation 5:5 (KJV)
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Hebrews 4:2 (KJV)
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Hebrews 3:18-19 (KJV)
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Hebrews 4:1 (KJV)
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Galatians 3:8 (KJV)
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
John 8:56 (KJV)
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Genesis 15:5-6 (NKJV)
Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Genesis 22:17 (NKJV)
I will bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
Galatians 3:16 (NKJV)
Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.
Genesis 22:18 (NKJV)
In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.
Genesis 15:5-6 (KJV)
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Romans 4:3 (KJV)
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 4:3 (NKJV)
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
2️⃣ Righteousness Apart from the Law
Promise = through faith, not law. Works not → believe → righteousness counted.
Romans 4:5 (KJV)
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 4:13 (NKJV)
For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
3️⃣ Sins Are Forgiven
Blessed — lawless deeds forgiven, sins covered.
Romans 4:7 (NKJV)
Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;
4️⃣ Shall Not Impute Sin
Romans 4:8 (NKJV)
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.
Romans 4:22-24 (KJV)
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
📋 Part 2 — Transformation at Age 99
At 99, God appeared as Almighty God (Genesis 17:1). Three changes ended 25 years of delay — instantly.
Characteristics of Abraham at age 99
| # | Change | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hope | Spoke God’s word · new name Abram → Abraham |
| 2 | Faith | 100% Christ on cross · Hey (ה) = grace |
| 3 | El Shaddai | All-Powerful, All-Sufficient — not by my might |
- Weak, almost ready to die — yet blessed instantly at 99
- 🟢 My power + 🔴 His power = delay · Spirit alone = instant blessing
1. Hope
Hope = proclaim my life will change — speak what God says, not what circumstances show. God renames — new identity ends delay.
| Old name | New name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| אַבְרָם Abram | אַבְרָהָם Abraham | Father of many nations |
| שָׂרַי Sarai | שָׂרָה Sarah | Princess |
- Spoke “father of nations” with zero children
- What you speak today shapes tomorrow
James 3:4-5 (NKJV)
Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
Genesis 17:5 (KJV)
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Genesis 17:15 (KJV)
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
2. Faith
Faith = Christ already finished it on the cross — healing, righteousness, victory. Not blessed by qualifications; by grace through Christ.
אַבְרָם → אַבְרָהָם
שָׂרַי → שָׂרהָ
- Hebrew Hey (ה) added = grace / undeserved favour
| Hope | Faith | |
|---|---|---|
| Speaks about | My life will change | Already done on the cross |
| Proclaims | What God says about my future | Victory received in Christ |
| Who has it? | Everyone has hope | Believers in Christ alone |
3. El Shaddai
El Shaddai — All-Sufficient, All-Powerful God. Not by my might nor power — by Spirit alone. 25 years of delay ended instantly.
| Mixture | Result |
|---|---|
| 🟢 My power + 🔴 His power | ❌ Delay |
| 100% His power — Spirit alone | ✅ Instant blessing |
- Green = My Power · Red = His Power — no mixture
- Lied, brought Lot, Sarah lied — yet faith in Christ counted for righteousness
Genesis 17:1 (KJV)
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)
Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.
Romans 4:13–14 (KJV)
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Galatians 3:29 (KJV)
And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
🌟 The Gospel in the Stars — Visual Guide
Abraham looked at the stars and declared the gospel (not astrology). Full teaching: The Gospel in the Stars.
✅ Final Thought
- 📋 Part 1 (75–85): know gospel · righteousness · sins forgiven
- 📋 Part 2 (99): 1. Hope · 2. Faith · 3. El Shaddai
- Delay → instant blessing. Amen.