THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM: Faithfulness (Genesis 11:10-12:20)

real thing—sitting disease

1/4 population sit 8 hours or more per day

sitting for long periods can lead to

increased blood pressure,

high blood sugar,

excess body fat around the waist

unhealthy cholesterol levels

Mayo Clinic “Researchers analyzed 13 studies of sitting time and activity levels. They found that those who sat for more than eight hours a day with no physical activity had a risk of dying similar to that posed by obesity and smoking.”

simple solution

move more

God designed our bodies to move

sitting disease doesn’t just apply to the physical world

it can apply to the spiritual world

has your faith been sitting for more than 8 hours per day?

faith is like a muscle, it gets stronger when exercised

the reason our faith should increase and grow

is because we consider the object of our faith

ALMIGHTY GOD

we look back on what God has done

and we believe He has the power to do it again

Faithfulness (Genesis 11:10-12:20)

back in Genesis—The Life of Abraham

before Christmas

Genesis (beginning) of what???

at first glance, Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (universe)

Gen 1-11 screaming through centuries and centuries at the speed of light

then stop abruptly on 1 man and his family

and never lose focus of him

is it the genesis (beginning) of the universe???

or the genesis (beginning) of God’s chosen people???

genealogy 1

start with Adam and his descendants

focus on Seth

God starts creation over again with focus on Noah and his descendants

special attention given to Shem

then focuses on Terah’s descendants

black screen

11:27-32 (pew Bible # 10)

the setting of much of what will unfold is alluded to in these short verses

specifically—Sarai’s barrenness

genealogy 2

add Lot

with the Biblical backdrop of the Tower of Babel

where humanity wanted to make a name for themselves

God calls one man and promises, “I will make your name great” (12:2)

black screen

12:1-3

we must see this as a divine invitation

not because Abram deserves it (likely worshiping gods of ancestors)

but God’s gracious invitation to have a people set apart for Him

God makes promises to Abram

1. I will make you a great nation

2. I will bless you

3. make your name great

4. so that you will be a blessing

5. I will bless those who bless you

6. him who dishonors you I will curse

7. in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed

phrase later reaffirmed to

Abraham (22:18)

Isaac (26:4)

Jacob (28:14)

this final promise can be fulfilled only in Abram’s great son, Jesus Christ (Matt 1:1),

who will send out his followers to ‘make disciples of all nations’ (28:19).

7 is the Biblical number for perfection (completeness)

God’s promises to Abram are perfect (complete)

unbelievable that God issues these promises to Abram

a divine invitation

what will Abram do???

Canaan is not known as the promised land of riches like found in the United States

Abram would have to make a complete break with his past

leave his family—leave his country

leave his identity

what will Abram do???

12:4-9

Abram’s trust in God is the theme of these verses

great faith to believe all is true

Abram is told to trust that God will lead him to a favorable land without seeing it first

we don’t hear Abram questioning God

simple obedience

no small move

his travel from Haran to Canaan alone is an ordeal

map of journey (map / satellite)

400 miles

before anyone thought about moving across state lines

U-haul changed that but not until after WWII

crazy amounts of people

later 318 male servants joined to rescue Lot (14:14)

black screen

while in Shechem, God makes another promise and Abram responds in worship

12:7

1st time Lord is said to appear to anyone

God promised land to offspring (seed) while Abram still childless

Sarai’s barrenness stands in the way of great nation

wealth is great but doesn’t produce an heir

Paul picks up on this verse in Galatians 3:16

3:15—can’t help but think about the seed of the woman crushing the head of the serpent

but for Abram, this promise is NOT a reality or even possible

yet Abram responds in worship

but sermons are not intended to be just history lessons

your faith in the Lord should move you to make bold actions of obedience

God’s divine invitation and promises are unbelievable

Abram’s trust in God is unbelievable

12:4

notice Abram’s response to God’s invitation was immediate and unquestioning

great faith is highlighted by Jesus

Mark 2:5 “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.””

Matthew 15:28 “Then Jesus answered [Syrophoenician woman], “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.”

Matthew 8:10 Centurion “When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.”

as followers of Jesus, we should look to Abram’s faith as an example of faith

Galatians 3:7-9

Abraham is the father of God’s people not because he is the biological ancestor of the Jews

but because he has a family of spiritual children who follow in his footsteps by believing as he did

Abraham started out as a pagan, not an Israelite

and God justified him by faith

Abraham’s actions are often explained by a growing faith in response to the Lord

prior screen

when has your faith in the Lord moved you to make bold actions of obedience?

when we are convinced the God of the Bible is real

we are moved to action

not here to play church

not mystically trying to hear the voice of God

BUT listening to Him in accordance to what He has already said (THE BIBLE)

regarding salvation

convinced of Jesus

God in the flesh, virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious death, physical resurrection

surrender everything to Jesus

Jesus is saying, “Follow Me”

what is the one thing you are holding back from total surrender to Jesus?

want to know God of the Bible

CONSISTENT quiet time (God will transform you through His Word)

reading Bible

praying (opportunity cost)

what is standing in the way of your quiet time every day?

evangelizing

God placed someone on your heart last week during Pastor Mark’s sermon

will you share the hope of Jesus with them THIS WEEK?

change of job

to serve Lord more faithfully

be more faithful on Sundays

be more present with your family

is God calling you to change your job?

giving to the Lord

when not sure how you will have enough money to pay bills

watch Him show up!

is God calling you to be faithful with your finances?

call to ministry

no one else in your family called to ministry

but maybe God is calling you

to pastoral ministry

to women’s ministry

to youth/children’s ministry

to the foreign mission field

is God calling you into ministry?

if you believe God is as big as He is revealed in the Bible,

we should be less and less shocked when someone acts in faith towards our ALMIGHTY GOD

black screen

we could stop with 12:9

easily God is gracious

and Abram is a hero for being so faithful to respond to God’s call

BUT we will look at all of 12

the Bible doesn’t just record victories (like FACEBOOK),

but failures too

In nearly every account which follows,

the promise of a ‘numerous seed,’ ‘blessing to all families of the earth,’ or the ‘gift of the land’

is placed in jeopardy by the actions of the people

12:10-16

great expectations get our attention at the beginning of Gen 12

only to be let down before we finish the chapter

the hero is not quite so heroic

famine—twist of events

God’s promise of the land seems to be in question

appeal of Egypt

Gift of the Nile

black screen

scheme

Sarai quite attractive woman

at both 65 years old and 90 years old—25 years later (20:12)

Abram doubts that God can protect Sarai with the whole truth

so devises a scheme with half truth to hide her true identity

despite divine protection promised in 12:1-3

this account is almost a polar opposite example of the faith in 12:1-9

it is like Abram’s faith is unreliable

Gen 12:1-3 is in great question

will there even be a descendant from Abram?

will the promised land be given?

12:17-20

strangely, Pharaoh is more concerned about morality than Abram

Abram is not being a blessing to the nations

Abram’s plan backfires

AND GOD STILL RESCUES ABRAM AND SARAI

God promises protection and provides rescue even when Abram’s faithlessness prevailed

there’s a word for us in this

your faith in the Lord can and likely will waver under the trials of life

have you ever found your faith flounder under pressure?

committed to Amanda staying home when kiddos were young (and not born)

not enough money to go around (Annawood)

have felt like the Lord was leading you…

to be more faithful in your finances BUT flat tire this week???

to change jobs BUT not as much money so questioning if God will provide???

Spirit leads you to share gospel

know you have been promised divine presence of Jesus in making disciples

Matthew 28:20—And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

but prejudice, fear, or apathy takes over

don’t open your mouth even after a clear leading of the Holy Spirit

in one moment we look like we are giants in the faith

only to realize we are ashamed of our faith moments later

are you trusting in your faith?

OR are you trusting in God Almighty?

In nearly every account which follows,

the promise of a ‘numerous seed,’ ‘blessing to all families of the earth,’ or the ‘gift of the land’

is placed in jeopardy by the actions of the people

the purpose—only God can bring about His promises

Human failure cannot stand in the way of God’s promises.

your wavering faith will not stop the unwavering faithfulness of God

if you want to rely on someone’s faith, don’t let it be on your faith

let it be God’s faithfulness and not your waffling faith

TITLE FLIPPED ON HEAD: Faithfulness

it is God’s faithfulness that prevails

not Abram’s

our hope and trust is not in our faithfulness (which waivers and falters)

our hope and trust is in God’s faithfulness

we rest in the faithfulness of Christ on our behalf

2 Timothy 2:11-13—even when we falter (not fully deny)

all the while knowing our faith (and faithfulness) will be ever increasing

Abraham lived 175 years

God called him at 75 years old

God fulfilled His promise at 100 years old

Abraham had bouts of unbelief along the way

Abraham’s last 75 years were of rock solid faith (much of what NT highlights)

Abraham’s journey wasn’t always filled with unwavering faith

but looking back, Abraham’s life was typified by growing faith

not until the birth of Isaac was he unshakeable in his faith

so in summary he can be viewed as a man of faith

how the NT looks back on Abraham

what was the constant? WHO never wavered?

it was God’s unwavering faithfulness that prevailed

your faith NEVER should be in your faith, but in Almighty God

Faithfulness (Genesis 11:10-12:20)

what is the trajectory of your faith?

is your faith growing?

where is your faith stagnant?

where do you need to step out in faith and trust the Lord?

in the end, don’t trust in your faith

trust in the faithfulness of God to do what He has promised

and you will notice that your faith will be increasing

GOSPEL—God promises to save sinners that repent of sin and believe in Jesus