Lead On O Man Of God

LEAD ON O MAN OF GOD

Genesis 12:1-5

“A Father’s Day Message”

The story of Abraham is a true lesson for every man and especially every father.

There are three main areas I’d like to share with you today, and know that if they are employed in your lives they will bring forth fruit.

• God spoke and Abraham listened.
• God spoke and Abraham left.
• God spoke and Abraham led.

I.                   God spoke and Abraham listened.

The difference in the way which Abraham listened to God compared too much of what we see currently, is found in the word – obedience.

It can be said that many men hear God speaking…

            Through His word,

            Through the preaching and teaching,

            Yet, far too few are listening!

When a man listens to God he is brought to confession and conformity!

            He stops everything to give full attention to what the Lord is saying.

Some think that God is not speaking to them, but I assure you He is. It is only that he cannot hear Him, because …

He has filled up his hearing with useless and unholy speech, lifestyle, and anything that opposes itself to godliness.

            And,

That we are in a place where there are just too many distractions.

Which brings me to my next point.

II.                God spoke and Abraham left.

A.    Leaving is synonymous with being a Pilgrim.

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13, KJV)

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;" (1 Peter 2:11, KJV)

There is probably no more familiar illustration of this than the events of 1620 when a group of believers left Europe on the Mayflower, for a better place, a new home. How radical was this voyage? Not nearly as radical as leaving your comfortable place  for a spiritual place, a place in your heart where God can lead you; a place that culminates with a mansion, celestial city, and streets of Gold!

B.     Leaving is the only way to the abundant Christian life.

I suppose God could have tried leading Abraham where he was, but as the scriptures bear out time and again, the history of Israel proves this to be futile. Remember the Exodus?

Man, will you leave that Chaldean existence for a godly one?

Everything that Abraham loved was in Ur and Haran, but he left it all because God said to!

The abundant life is not found in Ur but in Canaan.

The abundant life cannot be found in the abundance of sin.

III.             God spoke and Abraham led.

As God led Abraham, Abraham led his family.

He used all his wisdom and influence to gain their respect, trust, and confidence, and led them to the new land, a righteous land.

A.    You can only lead if you’re out in front pointing the way.

B.     You can only lead through love and holiness.

C.     You can only lead by example.

Conclusion:     Some of you will put this to the test and find it not to work. The problem will not be with the method for it is God’s. Rather, any failure will be solely on your part because you were only half hearted in your attempt.

You see Genesis 11:31 tells us that Terah, Abraham’s father left Ur of the chaldean’s for Canaan, but settled in Harran. He did not see the journey through. Many start well but never finish. Paul said that we run so that we may win!

Which will you be?