Life Lessons From Abraham

Intro.

I want to look at the life of a guy in the scripture named Abraham.

Abraham was the father of the nation of Israel.

Sometimes when we talk about him it’s almost in some superhero way.

But this is a guy who got his wife's assistant pregnant and tried to give his wife away twice… I think your doing pretty good.

He was a man loved by God but had some issues and shortcomings...

2 different sections of scripture.

1st, where the Lord shows up in the life of Abraham.

it’s his first encounter with God.

Gen 12:1-7

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

How many of us would be out with these terms?

Go, leave everything, I’ll show you, just trust me.

Abraham knew a lot less than us, but obeyed a lot more.

We don’t need more knowledge, we need more obedience.

(makes an altar)

God has given him a promise, God has not yet fulfilled the promise, but abraham worships even before he sees anything happen.

it’s a whole lot easier to praise God after he delivered, right?!?

When I get the girl...

When God gives you the job… when i’ll sing these songs.

When you get the child

When they leave and get off the paycheck...

Its a lot easier to worship God after he provides, but it takes a greater deal of faith to worship him until he provides.

God said something and Abraham believes it. He trusts.

You have to have an altar at your house and in your life.

Before he built a house, a business or anything else, he knew first priority is we worship God.

We build so many things, have we built an altar in our homes??

What does this look like today?

Prayer.

how do you become the spiritual leader of your household?

Start by praying for your family and with your family.

How can I pray for you?

Make the bible a normal practice.

Bring in God conversations in the home.

Talk about the bible, ask them questions, tell them what your learning...

It may not be every-night, but you look for moments to let God be a normal occurrence in your home.

Talk about church, what did they learn, what did you get.

Normalize God moments.

If you have littles at home, is God part of the night time routine?

1. Your leadership has to be practical and spiritual.

Abraham had was great at the spiritual, but also at the practical. He had to find land, provide for his family.

Just like we are left handed and right handed, most of us are good at one or the other.

I am great at the practical. I provide, generate income, fix the out, do finances, take care of business.

but lack in the spiritual.

Or you are great at relationships, and prayer and worship but you aren’t at good at some practical things...

A spiritual leader has to do both.

when were strong at one and weak at the other its easy to excuse it.

I’m a good provider and put a room over your head

a good provider provides with both hands.

2. Your decisions can create generational differences.

There is a story that was told about your parents, there is a story that will be told about you.

Joshua 24:2-3

Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac,

Abraham served a false religion in a pagan land. The area of modern iraq.

If God can use Abraham, he can use you.

Abraham is mentioned 76 times in the new testament. Thousands of years and generations later because what he did changed generations.

We need to think in greater times than right now but understand the generation impact of our decisions.

Where you will live, move to, friends you will keep, what will be important.

What are we doing and will it build momentum for generations to build on?

This can be good or bad.

Generations of alcoholism, generations of dads abandoning, adultery.

or generations of godliness, faithfulness,

3. You’re never too old to do the right thing.

Abraham started this journey at 75.

A lot of older men will not make any real changes.

why?

I know what I know, too old to fail. don’t have the stamina or drive used to.

This thinking will limit your life.

I don’t know how to pray or do that...

Older we get the less we like change.

dislike the same politicians, ged at the same time, pee in the middle of the night at the same time...

You’re never to old to do the right thing.

Satan has lied to some and said hey it’s too late for you. .

4. Leadership starts at home.

Before Abraham could lead a nation, he had to lead his family.

1st priority is to make sure the home and family are healthy.

I don’t always get it right!

But we said early on that is we win at church but lose at home we lose.

Priorities for leadership look like this.

God. Spouse. Kids. other leadership responsibilities.

Doesn’t mean that looks perfect, but I do have to lead. Step up.

This is the most important thing.

Abraham never saw the great nation happen.

he had some kids who had some kids who had more kids, but he showed them how to serve the lord.

His most important contribution was to the ones who would go after him.

It matters what we do at home.

It’s my responsibility.

If your single, self lead right now. You won’t be ready for the family and responsibility God wants to bless you with if you aren’t leading yourself in a Godly way.

5. Even if you get it wrong, it’s not too late to do it right.

Abraham didn’t always get it right. We talked about some of his flaws earlier.

One thing know about you and me, flaws… we got them.

Don’t think because you got it wrong you can’t start doing it right.

What will she think if I try to lead, I’ve already blown it,

Get back up and start pointing and leading to Jesus.

A few leadership lesson from Abraham.

how does abrahams story resinate with you?

How can you family see you lead for Jesus?

What can God be speaking to you?

Thank you for coming. I honor you men for being here.

Pray.