Abraham: Friend of God: Father of Faith

Introduction

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 8

48 The Jews answered and said to him, “Do we not correctly say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus replied, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me! 50 But I do not seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges! 51 Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never experience death ⌊forever⌋.”

52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham and the prophets died, and you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death ⌊forever⌋.’ 53 You are not greater than our father Abraham who died, are you?* And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself to be?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 And you have not known him, but I know him. And if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you! But I know him and I keep his word. 56 Abraham your father rejoiced that he would see my day, and he saw it* and was glad.”

57 So the Jews said to him, “⌊You are⌋ not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am!” 59 Then they picked up stones in order to throw them* at him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple courts.*

a. Many great people in the Bible

b. Abraham- -descendant of Shem 3/4 of Gen.

c. Obeyed God by leaving his home

d. birthed a nation - his son

e. offered Issac - believed God

I. Called to Leave

a. Gen. 12: 1-4

Genesis 12:1–4 LEB

And Yahweh said to Abram, “Go out from your land and from your relatives, and from the house of your father, to the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great. And you will be a blessing. And I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse. And all families of the earth will be blessed in you.” And Abram went out as Yahweh had told him, and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he went out from Haran.

a. beginning of something amazing in the earth

b. flood

b. babel

c. Christ foretold gen.

d. birth a nation

e. left familiar comfort,

f. Word idea of loneliness, isolation, parting, seclusion. trouble

g. why would Abraham do this?

h. How did Abram know God?

II. Seven components of blessing

a. great nation

b. God would bless

c. name would be great

d. blessing in earth

e. bless you, curse you

f. all families of earth blessed

III. The promised son

a. cant help God - Abraham interventions

b. Hagar - form Pharoah

c. division, sorrow, consequences…even today

d. Heb. 11:8-19

Hebrews 11:8–19 LEB

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to a place that he was going to receive for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived in the land of promise as a stranger, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow heirs of the same promise. For he was expecting the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith also, with Sarah, he received the ability to procreate even past the normal age, because he regarded the one who had promised to be faithful. And therefore these were fathered from one man, and he being as good as dead, as the stars of heaven in number and like the innumerable sand by the shore of the sea. These all died in faith without receiving the promises, but seeing them from a distance and welcoming them, and admitting that they were strangers and temporary residents on the earth. For those who say such things make clear that they are seeking a homeland. And if they remember that land from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac, and the one who received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, with reference to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants will be named,” having reasoned that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which he received him back also as a symbol.

e. Abraham saw the day, the victory

f. Rom. 4:3

Romans 4:3 LEB

For what does the scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.”

IV. Abraham’s greatest test

a. Friend of God Isa. 41:8

Isaiah 41:8 LEB

But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you, the offspring of Abraham my friend,

b. Gen. 22:1

Genesis 22:1 LEB

And it happened that after these things, God tested Abraham. And he said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

c. prove , assay

devil tempts with evil, God proves our faith…what sort is it...

Strong, weak, small, large, Tall praying!

d. through so much…why more?

e. why not? your not your own....your subject to being proved unitl your home...

f. Gen. 22:16-18 stop

Genesis 22:16–18 LEB

And he said, “I swear by myself, declares Yahweh, that because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only child, that I will certainly bless you and greatly multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is by the shore of the sea. And your offspring will take possession of the gate of his enemies. All the nations of the earth will be blessed through your offspring, because you have listened to my voice.”

Called - do you have a call?

Went - will you go?

Made mistakes all have

endured - commanded to

sacrificed privaleged to

prevailed - blessed to--