THE WORD OF THE LORD

Abraham: Following In The Footsteps Of Faith

ABRAM’S WORD FROM GOD

Series Intro: few men, outside of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself have has such an impact on the history of the world as did the man introduced to us in this passage of scripture. This man is revered by over one-half the world’s population. In our day, Abraham is held in high esteem by Jews, Muslims and Christians. In ancient times the Jews considered Abraham to be almost worthy of their worship.

Consider This:

1. Genesis 1-11 deals with 2000 years of history-creation, sin, flood, languages changed.

2. All the rest of Genesis 12-50 covering about 400 years deals with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

3. The rest of the OT 39 books deals with the history of the nation which sprang from Abraham, the nation of Israel.

4. All of the rest of the Bible is occupied with and centers on Abraham’s greater Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

5. One man’s obedience and devotion impacted all of human history, and we don’t think it is important for us to obey God!!!!

Introduction:

In our text, Abram hears the “word of the LORD” and this word from God changed his life.

Note: this is the first time in the Bible that this phrase “the word of the Lord” is used and it addresses the fear that a man was experiencing.

In Abram’s day, he was just one insignificant person among millions of other people, but God had a special plan for his life. To God, Abram was of supreme importance. In this passage, Abram receives a word from the Lord concerning his Fear, his Future and his Faith. What he heard changed his life forever. He received a word from the Lord and it revolutionized his life.

By the way, of all the possessions we have in this world, none can compare to the Word of God! To be able to hold in our hands the complete and perfect revelation of God to man is a treasure without equal. We do not have to wait for some “New” word from God because we have all that is needed for this life and the next!!!

In this passage, God had a word for Abram, but He also has a word for you and me. Let’s listen in on this conversation between the Lord and Abram. Let’s hear the words that Abram heard and see what they have to teach us about our own walk with the Lord.

I. A WORD ABOUT ABRAM’S FEAR-VS. 1

(Ill. Abram has just returned from a great military victory. During the course of the campaign, he made a bitter enemy in king Chedorlaomer. This king was mighty enough to come against Sodom and the cities of the plain, surely Abram felt that he too was in danger of attack from this king from the East. God has a word to comfort him in his fear.)

A. The Peace That Comes From Knowing God

- This is the first time the phrase “fear not” is used in the Bible. But, thank God, it will not be the last! Men may encourage us to walk in peace and fear not, but their words are empty and without power. However, when the Lord comes by and speaks peace to your heart, fear must take flight!

(Ill. The Disciples in the ship - John 6:17-21 He is still the great “I AM”. Let him on your vessel and he will calm your storm!)

John 6:17–21 KJV 1900

17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. 19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. 20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. 21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

B. The Protection That Comes From Knowing God

– (shield) first time used in Bible

1. Abram needed not fear the attack of his enemies. The Lord was camped about him and all he had providing perfect protection day and night.

2. (Note: Those who are the Lord’s are sheltered by Him all the time,

(Psalms 34:7) The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

“Round about” = “On every side!” Ill. Col. 3:3)

C. The Prize That Comes From Knowing God

- Abram is a man who has left home and family to follow God, but as yet, he has not received even the slightest hint of all that he has been promised. He is also a man who gave up much when he refused the offer of the king of Sodom, 14:21-24.

1. Now, the Lord comes by to remind Abram that if one has the Lord, they possess everything!

2. (Note: What earthly treasure can compare with God’s love, grace, mercy, salvation, forgiveness, presence, peace, power, heaven, hope, etc? When we have Him, we possess it all, even if we have none of this world’s goods!

3. The child of God is not to be pitied ; He is to be envied! When we have him, we have all that is His, Rom. 8:17. (Ill. The Prodigal received the Father’s ring when he returned from the far country, Luke 15:22.))

II. A WORD ABOUT ABRAM’S FUTURE-VS. 2-5

(Ill. Abram is concerned and burdened about all the promises he has received. His are not questions of doubt, but they are honest questions, which, by the way, God doesn’t mind at all! Abram knew where to take his burden and, as a result, he received the answers he sought! There is a lesson in that for you and me, Phil. 4:6-7. God’s answer brought hope to the old man’s heart once again.)

(Philippians 4:6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

(Philippians 4:7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

A. V. 4 The Simplicity Of God’s Promise

- God’s promise is stated in the simplest and clearest of terms. Abram is assured, again, that he will have a son and that this son will be his heir. (Note: All of God’s promises are made in the same manner. He speaks very clearly in His Word. Oh that we would learn to take Him at His Word and believe all that He tells us without question. Ill. He is looking for childlike faith, Luke 18:17.)

B. V. 4-5 The Sovereignty Of God’s Promise–

1. God’s promise said something about God’s power. Abram is an old man, well past the days when most people think of fathering children.

2. God’s promise is designed to overcome the “laws of nature” and do what men say cannot be done. (Note: It would do the people of the Lord to learn that our God is an “able” God-

(Ephesians 3:20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

3. We need to remember that He is a God Who operates in the realm of all-power, Matt. 28:18; Luke 1:37.

(Matthew 28:18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

(Luke 1:37) For with God nothing shall be impossible.

4. We need to remember that we do not serve the God of the “can do”; we serve the God of the “has done”! Before we ever exercise our little faith, His plan is already in motion and He is working out His will through His Sovereign power.)

D. V. 5 The Size Of God’s Promise

- Abram was concerned about a single heir to his fortune. God was concerned with giving him more heirs than he could count. God wanted Abram to know that he was about to receive a blessing so big that it would blow his mind! (Note: We serve the God of “abundance”

(John 10:10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

1. He wants to do more in our lives than we can even imagine, Eph. 3:20. If we could ever get hold of that tonight, it would revolutionize our praying and our faith.

(Ephesians 3:20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

2. God is not just “enough” , He is “more than enough”. He’s not interested in doing the ordinary and the run of the mill.

3. He wants to leave us scratching our heads in amazement at His power when He comes through.

4. He’s not only all we need! He’s all we have and He is more than enough for any situation!)

III. A WORD ABOUT ABRAM’S FAITH-VS. 6

(Ill. This is one of the simplest, yet greatest verses in all the Bible. It tells us all about Abram’s faith. What it teaches us about his faith should be true about our own faith as well.)

A. The Direction Of His Faith

- The little word “in” tells the tale.

1. Abram has moved beyond hearing the Word of the Lord and believing the promises of God into the realm of casting himself totally in faith upon the Lord Himself.

2. He doesn’t just believe the Word anymore, he believes God. He is like Job, Job 13:15. His faith is in the Lord. (Note: Has your faith made that transition?)

3. It is one thing to believe what the Bible says about God and His promises. It is another thing altogether to move from the intellectual acceptance of the facts to the absolute trust in His person. One belief leads to Hell, the other to Heaven.

B. The Depth Of His Faith

- Abram believed in spite of the obstacles. No doubt others around him thought he was a fool when he started talking about what the Lord had promised him. But, he still believed God! (Note: What a challenge to you and me today. Our faith in Him should be unassailable and unwavering Men may mock us because we believe in Heaven. They may think we are fools when we speak of “being saved” and “knowing the Lord”. If you are saved, then let no trial, no naysayer, and no devil cause you to waiver in your faith!)

C. The Dividend Of His Faith

- Faith in God always pays off big and Abram was no exception.

1. When Abram believed God, God erased Abram’s sin and applied His own perfect righteous to Abram’s account. God looked at Abram as being a just and righteous man.

2. (Note: Salvation has always been a work of faith. This lesson from Abram’s life is applied to our own lives in Romans 4:13-25.)

3. (Note: Abram was not saved by “keeping the Law”, for it had not yet been given. He was not saved by being “circumcised”, for it had not yet been commanded. He was saved by simple, childlike faith in God.)

4. (Note: What was the message that Abram believed? A message about a promised son! That is the same message that saves the sinner today, John 3:16.)

Conclusion:

Abram heard a Word from the Lord, he believed that Word and it forever changed his life. Are you ready for a Word from the Lord?

· I wonder, has the Lord has spoken to some need in your life today?

· Is there some battle you need peace about?

· Is there some storm you need calmed?

· Is there some area of your life where you need a Sovereign God to move? Has your sin been dealt with biblically?

· Are you saved? Believing what God says about His Son?

· Are you walking in the perfect will of the Lord this evening?

If He has spoken to your heart, this altar is open for you to come and do business with Him. Let’s mind Him!