Pt. 2, Biblical Story - Abraham

 
God IS And He Rewards Those Who Diligently Seek Him The Biblical Story, pt. 2: God Builds a Nation through Abraham and his discendents: Genesis 12-13; 15-17; 21-22; 32-33; 35; Romans 4; Hebrews 11 By Pastor Dan Kennedy © January 12, 2014 www.pastorkennedy.com God promised Abraham two critical things, both of which proved to be a serious challenge and an amazing confirmation of his faith: • Leaving home for an Uncertain Destination, for the promise of an inheritance Abraham would never see in his lifetime. • Trusting God to fulfill His promise to Abram of a phenomenally blessed generational heritage (“more than the dust of the earth and the stars in the sky”), when as yet he and Sarai were childless. Theirs was an Unfulfilled Inheritance complicated with the birth of a son so extremely untimely that they could only receive it by faith. Romans 4:18–25 18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Hebrews 11:8–12 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. The Genuine Revelation of Faith What three things did God use to test and subsequently reward Abraham’s Faith? 1. Time – circumstances of delay. The “test of time”. a. The greatest test of time was the promise of, but the extremely “untimely” birth of Isaac (Gen. 21). 2. Adversity – trials in life. There are several times when Abraham faced times of trial and conflict which were serious adversities capable of derailing his life and relationship with God, had not God intervened or given Abraham wisdom. a. Famine and Egypt (Gen. 12:10-20). b. Infighting with Lot’s herdsmen and Lot over pasture land (Gen. 13). c. Deliverance of Lot from capture (Gen. 14). d. Hagar and Ishmael (Gen. 16; 21). e. Abimelech, king of Gerar – the test just before the birth of Isaac (Gen. 20). 3. Sacrifice – chosen opportunities to obey God when it was costly, or potentially costly to Abraham and Sarah. There are at least three times when Abraham is seen to sacrifice his will to obey God’s Voice or to be considerate of others. a. Leaving home. Abram followed God’s Voice in leaving his homeland. Sarai followed Abram. b. Giving the seemingly best opportunity to Lot. Lot chose the well-watered plains leading to Sodom. It is interesting that after Lot left, God led Abram to the top of the mountain and told him to look in every direction. God promised to give Abraham ALL of the land for His inheritance. c. Offering up Isaac. Hebrews 11:17–19 17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Sincere Faith Revealed in this 21st Century How can God reveal the depth and reality of faith for we who live in this pampered 21st Century in the most blessed country in the whole world? Does God continue to reveal true faith through the tests of time, trial and sacrifice? What are some of our most pressing fears and anxieties? Take time right now to script them on the corners of your mind. Do any of these fears and anxieties qualify as being potential testers and revealers of our personal faith? • Physical disabilities Sickness Family history issues • Issues with children • Marriage difficulties • Intellectual struggles • Financial hazards • Interpersonal relationships • Hardships of one kind or another • Abuse • Emotional struggles • Calamities (life-changing accidents, or other tragedies) Death • Other things… Two of God’s Promises in the Face of Our Fears What two things does God know that His Children need, more than any other supposed human asset? God offered these two things to Abraham, even when Abraham believed that his greatest need was the obvious provision of something else that God had already promised him – but had not yet given him. (Question: If Abram believed his greatest need was the fulfillment of something yet unfulfilled that God had promised him…was that not God’s problem to fulfill that need, and not Abraham’s need for anxiety and fear?) What did Abram and Sarai spend more time worrying about (and Sarai conniving about) more than anything else? What do you think those two things are that God promised Abraham, as the two things he needed…more than anything else? Genesis 15:1 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” 1. Our Shield – our Protection 2. Our Very Great Reward What do those two things mean to human beings? • God is our Shield and our Very Great Reward Those who are truly Children of God, Born Again by the Spirit of God, have a special protection under the authority and provision of Christ. God’s Power is our Shield. Psalm 3:3a 3 But you are a shield around me, O Lord; Psalm 18:2 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 119:114 114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. God’s Shield is Sometimes Removed God puts a Shield of Protection around those who are truly His Children, but this can be removed from time to time, according to God’s own purposes. • Remember that Job, in his trial, recorded in the book of Job, suffered his testing only after God authorized satan to touch him. • There will come a time, during the last half of the Tribulation, when God will withdraw His Hand of protection from His People. (This reveals that, in fact, God does have a Shield of Protection around His People - unless, for reasons of His own, He chooses to lift His Protection.) Daniel 7 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them… 25b He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints... The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. Daniel 8 10 (Speaking of the “Little Horn/antichrist”) “It” grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them…. 12b …It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground… 23c …He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. Revelation 13 7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation…. Revelation 17 6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus…. God also removed His Shield of Protection from Job for a time, for His own purposes. In the end, even though God’s Shield may be taken down for a time, those in God’s Kingdom who endure will be amazingly rewarded. So it is true for us. Should God allow His Hand of protection to be removed for a time, He does so for His own ends and for His own Glory. Those who experience such distress, and who by faith, yield their life and being into His Hand, these will be richly rewarded in His Kingdom. They will receive a “very great reward”. God told Abram “not to be afraid”, that He would be to Abram, his “Shield and his very great Reward”. But, true to human form, Abraham did not hear God’s statement very well …Abram went on to quickly counter God’s declaration by reverting back to his old fear: Genesis 15:2 2 But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” But again God countered Abram’s old fears and reaffirmed His promises… Genesis 15:4–6 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. What did God say He would provide for Abraham? “Do not be afraid, Abram. • I am your shield, Your very great reward.” Can we begin to understand how “exceedingly great” Abraham’s reward is right now? Can we even begin to comprehend how great our potential reward will be if we by faith, honorably follow God in our lives here on earth? Conclusion God promised Abraham two critical things, both of which proved to be a serious challenge and an amazing confirmation of his faith: • Leaving home for an Uncertain Destination, for the promise of an inheritance Abraham would never see in his lifetime. • Trusting God to fulfill the promise of a phenomenally blessed generational heritage (“more than the dust of the earth and the stars in the sky”), when as yet they were childless. Theirs was an Unfulfilled Inheritance complicated with the birth of a son so extremely unlikely and untimely that both Abraham and Sarah would try to fulfill the promise some other way. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Are there those things which make us afraid…which are a test to our faith? Can they be involved in timing, in adversity, or in sacrifice? Is it through these things that God reveals the reality of our faith? I believe so. What did God say He would provide for Abraham? “Do not be afraid, Abram. • I am your shield, • Your very great reward.” ~~~ Hebrews 11:13–16 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 http://www.pastorkennedy.comshapeimage_1_link_0