Abraham’s Road to Renewal Text: Gen 20:9-10 Intro: Job 40:8 Ps 51:4 Ps 51:10 I. Self-exaltation- Gen 20:9a Gen 12:18; 26:9; Josh 7:25; Pr 28:9-10; 2Sam 12:9; Gen 20:11a; Pr 29:25-26; Isa 57:11, 15 II. Vain Imagination- Gen 20:9b Gen 12:13; 20:11; 17:15, 19; 18:9, 10; 20:2; Rom 1:21; 2Cor 10:5; Luke 1:50-51; Job 40:12; Ps 10:4; Gen 6:5; 8:21 III. Self-Justification- Gen 20:10 Gen 20:12; Ps 50:21; Ezek 18:25, 29 Conclusion: • Self-exaltation magnifies the creature above the creator. • Because man thinks he is his own god, he creates his own laws from his imagination. • Then he finds his own laws do not match his ever-changing desires, so he invents self-justification without Righteousness.

1. Abraham’s Road to
Renewal
Text: Gen 20:9-10
Intro:
Job 40:8
Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou
condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
Ps 51:4
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this
evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when
thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Ps 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right
spirit within me.

2. This Christian life requires constant maintenance, the Bible
calls it “renewal”.
Rom 12:2
2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.
Abraham was a great man, but even he, needed a
spiritual checkup.
Gen 20:1-11
The first step a man takes in conforming to this world is…

3. I. Self-exaltation- Gen 20:9a
Gen 20:9
9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him,
What hast thou done unto us?…
Man has a perpetual problem with pride.
Gen 12:18; 26:9; Josh7:25;Pr 28:9-10; 2Sam12:9;Gen 20:11a; Pr 29:25-26;Isa 57:11, 15
Gen 12:18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is
this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell
me that she was thy wife?
Gen 26:9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of
a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my
sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die
for her.
Josh 7:25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us?
the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned
him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had
stoned them with stones.
Prov 28:9-10 9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing
the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. 10 Whoso

4. causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall
fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have
good things in possession.
2Sam 12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the
commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou
hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken
his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword
of the children of Ammon.
Gen 20:11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely
the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me
for my wife's sake.
Prov 29:25-26 25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but
whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. 26
Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment
cometh from the LORD.
Isa 57:11 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared,
that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid
it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and
thou fearest me not?
Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that
inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high

5. and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and
humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to
revive the heart of the contrite ones.
II. Vain Imagination- Gen 20:9b
Gen 20:9b
9…and what have I offended thee, that thou hast
brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou
hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
Gen 12:13;20:11; 17:15, 19;18:9, 10;20:2; Rom1:21; 2Cor 10:5; Luke 1:50-51; Job 40:12;
Ps 10:4; Gen 6:5; 8:21
Gen 12:13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may
be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live
because of thee.

6. Gen 20:11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely
the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me
for my wife's sake.
Gen 17:15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy
wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her
name be.
Gen 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a
son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will
establish my covenant with him for an everlasting
covenant, and with his seed after him.
Gen 18:9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy
wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
Gen 18:10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee
according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall
have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was
behind him.
Gen 20:2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my
sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they
glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but

7. became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart
was darkened.
2Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ;
Luke 1:50-51 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him
from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed
strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the
imagination of their hearts.
Job 40:12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him
low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
Ps 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance,
will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was
great in the earth, and that every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the
LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground
any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's

8. heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any
more every thing living, as I have done.
III. Self-Justification- Gen 20:10
Gen 20:10
10And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest
thou, that thou hast done this thing?
Gen 20:12;Ps 50:21; Ezek 18:25, 29
Gen 20:12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the
daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my
mother; and she became my wife.
Ps 50:21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence;
thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as

9. thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order
before thine eyes.
Ezek 18:25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal.
Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not
your ways unequal?
Ezek 18:29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the
Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways
equal? are not your ways unequal?
Conclusion:
 Self-exaltation magnifies the creature
above the creator.
 Because man thinks he is his own god, he
creates his own laws from his imagination.
 Then he finds his own laws do not match
his ever-changing desires, so he invents
self-justification with out Righteousness.

10. To renew, just reverse the formula:
Humility
Faith in God’s Word
Let God declare your justice not your own lips
Abraham’s Road to Renewal
Text: Gen 20:9-10
Intro:
Job 40:8
Ps 51:4
Ps 51:10
I. Self-exaltation- Gen 20:9a
Gen 12:18; 26:9; Josh 7:25; Pr 28:9-10; 2Sam
12:9; Gen 20:11a; Pr 29:25-26; Isa 57:11, 15
II. Vain Imagination- Gen 20:9b

11. Gen 12:13; 20:11; 17:15, 19; 18:9, 10; 20:2; Rom
1:21; 2Cor 10:5; Luke 1:50-51; Job 40:12; Ps
10:4; Gen 6:5; 8:21
III. Self-Justification- Gen 20:10
Gen 20:12; Ps 50:21; Ezek 18:25, 29
Conclusion:
 Self-exaltation magnifies the creature above
the creator.
 Because man thinks he is his own god, he
creates his own laws from his imagination.
 Then he finds his own laws do not match his
ever-changing desires, so he invents self-
justification with out Righteousness.