Abraham

Faith of the Ancients: Abraham

Intro: Moving is the worst! What did the winner of the not moving contest win? Atrophy Someone fell under the bus - was it moving? Others cried but I'm ok

Read: Hebrews 12:8-16

Hebrews 12:8–16 NASB95

But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

Main idea: we are called to have a moving faith

1. Leaving familiar

genesis 12:1-4

Genesis 12:1–4 NASB95

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

a. Your Country

i. Culture - pagan worship

ii. Comfort

iii. Control - (the unknown)

b. Your people

i. For salvation - friends change

ii. For believers - out of our own social circles

c. Your Father's house

i. Nitty gritty practical (church stuck in adolescents)

ii. Safety and security - now come from God

2. Looking forward

(Hebrews 11:8-10

Hebrews 11:8–10 NASB95

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

a. No turning back

i. Remember lots wife (joke)

ii. Luke 9:62

Luke 9:62iii NASB95

But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

iii. Philippians 3:13-14

Philippians 3:13–14b NASB95

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

b. Eyes on the prize

i. Power of vision - end in mind

ii. Here and now versus the there and then

iii. Destination - Jesus, glory, eternity

3. Living faith

hebrews 11:13

Hebrews 11:13 NASB95

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

a. Faith as trust

i. Hebrews 11:1 - we don't see

Hebrews 11:1 NASB95

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

ii. "By faith" - faith leads to moving out

iii. Hebrews 11:6 - we won't obey until we trust His plan, purposes, and promises!

Hebrews 11:6 NASB95

And 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 seek Him.

b. "Living" faith (tent dwellers)

i. Every step

ii. Get ready to be homeless - strangers and foreigners

iii. Destination Jesus - Abraham didn't get to see but he knew - fulfillment "all people blessed through you"

c. He is trustworthy

i. Hebrews 11:11

Hebrews 11:11ii NASB95

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

ii. Faithful God looks for faithful followers

Conclusion: Hebrews 11:14-16 (summary) Charles blondin story

Hebrews 11:14–16 NASB95

For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.