As I lay in bed on Saturday night, resting like a baby, I was awakened by a sound in my spirit saying, "cast out the bondwoman."  It was 3:30 a.m. so I turned over to get more sleep, but the voice in my spirit wouldn't allow it.  I felt strongly that God wanted to speak something profound to me, and I was not disappointed.

I had already studied my lesson for Sunday's service, and this was not it.  God had changed my message, and He did not leave any stone unturned.

"Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac"  (Genesis 21:10)

The Lord had spoken to Abram that he would bless his seed, numbering them greater than the stars toward heaven.  Abram believed the Lord, but had approached the time of life where child bearing for he and Sarai was becoming less probable.  Abram was 86 years of age when Sarai convinced him to lay with her maid, Hagar, to conceive and bring forth a son.  Abram was not aware at the time that this would not be the child of God's promise.  He had been birthed from the desire of the flesh, not according to divine purpose.

14 years later, the Lord visited Sarai (now Sarah) that she conceived and was with child, and his name was called Isaac.  This was the seed of the promise that God had made to Abram (now Abraham).  And, as the child grew, there was controversy between he and his older brother, Ishmael.  He was mocked by Ishmael and his mother, causing Sarah so much grief and anguish that she complained unto Abraham about it.  This complaint led Sarah to remove Hagar from their household to be sent into the wilderness, a thing that really bothered Abraham. 

"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise"  (Galatians 4:22)

Holy scriptures teach us that we should put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill it's lusts and desires.  We should wait upon the Lord for renewed strength.  They also admonish us to put on the "whole" armor of God as we conduct warfare against our enemy, Satan.  He goes forth as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, but we're instructed to resist him steadfastly and he will flee from us.

"And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption"  ( 1 Corinthians 15:49)

Our flesh wars against the Spirit of God in us on a daily basis, just as Ishmael constantly warred against Isaac.  And even though Ishmael was the first born of the two sons, yet he was not the son chosen by God for the purpose of eternal salvation.  He was a representation of the image of the earthy, fleshly, while Isaac represented heavenly and divine calling. 

We should strive diligently to walk in the Spirit and not to fulfill the lust of our flesh.  The result of a life sown to the desires of the flesh is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.  Present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice unto God, and do not conform yourself to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove (demonstrate) what is that good, and perfect, and acceptable will of God. We must put on the whole armor of God in order to stand against the wiles of the enemy. 

Jesus said that no man can serve two masters.  One would be loved, while the other would be despised.  Abraham found out that he could not love Isaac and Ishmael evenly, for one would always get the preferential nod.  He had to make the decision to release that which was of the flesh and cling to that which was of the Spirit.  That's the same decision that's before us today.  Joshua admonished the people to choose for themselves who they would serve, but for his house, they would definitely serve the Lord.  What about you? 

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith"  (Hebrews 12:1)