Dad Leads Us to Faithfulness

OPENING

Today we will continue with part 2 of our series, “What about Dad?”

Last week we talked about failures and second chances

From the book of Proverbs we learned some 5 different things that cause failures in our lives

We fail when we don’t plan ahead

We fail when we don’t listen to good advice

When we fail when we afraid to take risk

We fail because we give up too soon

We fail when we don’t listen to God

Mankind failed because of their failure to listen to God

Noah, Dad of Shem, Ham and Japheth led us to new beginnings when God found favor on him, He gave us a second chance

We will not always understand God, but we can always trust Him like Noah did

Even the world thinks we are crazy, we must obey God like Noah did

If Noah led us to new beginnings, Abraham, his descendant through his son Shem, led us to faithfulness

THE GREATEST THREAT TO FAITH IS FEAR

The greatest threat to Faith is “Fear”

False Emotions Appearing Real

Fear of the unknown

Fear of getting out of our comfort zones

Fear of loosing our job, our pride, our ego!

Fear of loosing our spouse, our loved ones

Fear of failing

Fear of being imcompetent

Fear of being perceived as weak

Fear of being irrelevant

Fear of looking foolish

Fear of loosing our control over our situations

Fear about what tomorrow would bring

Fear of believing God

Fear of loosing

Fear of trusting His promises

Fear! Fear! Fear!

Just like Failures, people don’t want to talk about our their “Fears”

People would rather talk about their courage over their fears

It is highly unlikely for people to post their “fears” on their facebook because of the fear of being perceived as weak

No one wants to appear weak, people would typically portrait themselves to be strong

They project themselves

But for us to be strong, we have to face our fears

So today, I’d like to talk to you about fear

Tell the person next to you, “I am a fearful person”

Ask the person next to you…

What is your greatest fear?

“what breaks the connection between fear and failure is faith”

TEXT: , Dad Leads Us to Faithfulness

The Bible defines faith as confidence and assurance

Two big words!

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

And without faith it is impossible to please God

Hebrews 11:6 NIV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Not all fears are bad, holy fear is an exemption

Hebrews 11:7 NIV

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

Hebrews 11:7

Faith gives you direction even though you do not know where you are going

Hebrews 11:8 NIV

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Hebrews 11:8

Who is Abraham? what do we know about him?

Abram who was later on named Abraham after God had a covenant with him (Genesis 17:5)

is a descendant of Noah through his son Shem and the way down to Terah who became his Dad

His wife was Sarai, whose name was later on changed to Sarah

Abraham is the most mentioned character in the New Testament

Abraham is very important and greatly impacted our history

If Abraham wasn’t important, God wouldn’t call him “friend”

It is very worthy to note that during the time of Abraham, the scriptures wasn’t written yet

And God talks to us through the Prophets

God appeared to Abraham (, , Genesis 17:1)

God talk to him in visions ()

God talk to us through Jesus

Abraham was a prophet

When Abimilek took Sarah to be his wife, God told him in a dream…

Genesis 20:7 NIV

7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”

Abraham is a Prophet, like Elijah, they are human beings just like us

James 5:17 NCV

17 Elijah was a human being just like us. He prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years!

James 5:17 NIV

17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

Being a human being like you and I, Abraham had his flaws, just like how we all had our flaws

Abraham lied to the Pharoah and to Abimilek about his wife, telling them Sarah was his sister

It is half truth because indeed Sarah is his sister from a different mother (Genesis 20:12)

But half truth is not the truth, it’s a lie, lie is a lie and lie is a sin ()

However, flawed as he was, Abraham was a man of great faith

THE CALL OF ABRAM GENESIS 12

James 2:10 NIV

10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

When he was called by God to go to the land that God will show him, he just went, without any questions asked!

He took his nephew Lot, his wife Sarah, all the possession they had accumulated and the people they acquired

So what does that makes our hero today?… A sinner, just like all of us. Deserving hell

Noticeably, just like Noah when he got onto dry land, the first thing they did was to build an altar

When God made a covenant with Abraham, he asked God a rhetorical question, “what can you give me since I remain childless?”

God took him outside and said, “look up at the sky and count the stars, if indeed you can can count them, so shall be your offsprings”

In other words, God promised him a child and he believed the Lord and God credited it to him as righteousness

Then Sarah give birth to Isaac when Abraham was 100 years old

ABRAHAM’S FAITH TESTED GENESIS 22

God tested Abraham’s faith when He told him to take his son to the region of Moriah and sacrifice him (Isaac) as a burnt offering

Early morning, Abraham got up and loaded his donkey

He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac

On the third day, he looked up and saw the place in the distance and instructed his servants to stay there

Abraham took the wood for the burn offering and placed it on his son Isaac

As two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said, father, firewood are here Isaac said, but where is the lamb for burn offering?

Abraham replied, God himself will provide the lamb and they went on together

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar and managed the wood on it

He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood

Then he reached out for his knife to slay his son, when suddenly, the angel of the Lord called out on him from heaven

Abraham! Abraham! Do not do anything to the boy (Isaac). Now, I know that you fear God (holy fear), because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son

THE LORD’S PROMISE TO ABRAHAM

Genesis 22:15–17 NIV

15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,

Genesis 22:

4 THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM THE FAITHFULNESS OF ABRAHAM

1. BE UNQUESTIONABLY OBEDIENT

Genesis 12:1 NIV

1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

Genesis 12:1

Genesis 12:4 NIV

4 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.

Genesis 12:

Even though he doesn’t know where he was going, he went and obeyed God

Not many of us would willingly leave behind everything we know and love to journey on to an undisclosed location

During Abraham’s time families were extremely strong knit and it was very odd for family members to live far away from each other

2. OBEDIENCE SHOULD NOT BE FORCED

Even though Abraham was always obedient, he never forced his actions.

There are several instances of this told in Genesis.

One great example is when Isaac asks his father where the lamb went

Genesis 22:8 NIV

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Genes

Although we have the willingness to obey God, we must not force it

3. SACRIFICE ISN’T SUPPOSED TO BE EASY

Genesis 22:2 NIV

2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

When Abraham loaded up the donkey, took his two servants and his son Isaac with him that day there was no doubt that Abraham had a heavy heart.

Sacrificing his only son wasn’t an easy task to come to grips with, but he was unquestionably obedient.

Abraham had all night and morning to change his mind and go against God’s plan; however he realized that the bigger the task means the bigger the sacrifice.

4. LIVE A LIFE OF FAITH

Genesis 22:3 NIV

3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.

Over and over again, during Abraham’s life, we see a number of instances where Abraham lives a life of faith.

From wanting a child to sacrificing his child, Abraham constantly displays and carries out a life directed by faith.

Obedience to God should be our second nature as christians

CLOSING:

My wife and I went to Niagara Falls to celebrate our anniversary in 2017

We saw the mighty creation of God where Charles Blondin, a famous French tightrope walker performed in September 14, 1860

CHARLES BLONDIN STORY | September 14, 1860

The amazing story of Charles Blondin, a famous French tightrope walker, is a wonderful illustration of what true faith is.

The amazing story of Charles Blondin, a famous French tightrope walker, is a wonderful illustration of what true faith is.

Blondin's greatest fame came on September 14, 1860, when he became the first person to cross a tightrope stretched 11,000 feet (over a quarter of a mile) across the mighty Niagara Falls.

Blondin's greatest fame came on September 14, 1860, when he became the first person to cross a tightrope stretched 11,000 feet (over a quarter of a mile) across the mighty Niagara Falls. People from both Canada and America came from miles away to see this great feat.

People from both Canada and America came from miles away to see this great feat.

He walked across, 160 feet above the falls, several times... each time with a different daring feat - once in a sack, on stilts, on a bicycle, in the dark, and blindfolded. One time he even carried a stove and cooked an omelet in the middle of the rope!

He walked across, 160 feet above the falls, several times... each time with a different daring feat - once in a sack, on stilts, on a bicycle, in the dark, and blindfolded.

One time he even carried a stove and cooked an omelet in the middle of the rope!

A large crowd gathered and the buzz of excitement ran along both sides of the river bank. The crowd “Oohed and Aahed!” as Blondin carefully walked across - one dangerous step after another - pushing a wheelbarrow holding a sack of potatoes.

A large crowd gathered and the buzz of excitement ran along both sides of the river bank. The crowd “Oohed and Aahed!” as Blondin carefully walked across - one dangerous step after another - pushing a wheelbarrow holding a sack of potatoes.

Then a one point, he asked for the participation of a volunteer. Upon reaching the other side, the crowd's applause was louder than the roar of the falls!

Then a one point, he asked for the participation of a volunteer. Upon reaching the other side, the crowd's applause was louder than the roar of the falls!

Blondin suddenly stopped and addressed his audience: "Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?"

Blondin suddenly stopped and addressed his audience: "Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?" The crowd enthusiastically yelled, "Yes! You are the greatest tightrope walker in the world. We believe!"

The crowd enthusiastically yelled, "Yes! You are the greatest tightrope walker in the world. We believe!"

"Okay," said Blondin, "Who wants to get into the wheelbarrow."

"Okay," said Blondin, "Who wants to get into the wheelbarrow."

As far as the Blondin story goes, no one did at the time!

As far as the Blondin story goes, no one did at the time!

This unique story illustrates a real life picture of what faith actually is. The crowd watched these daring feats. They said they believed. But... their actions proved they truly did not believe.

This unique story illustrates a real life picture of what faith actually is. The crowd watched these daring feats. They said they believed. But... their actions proved they truly did not believe.

Similarly, it is one thing for us to say we believe in God. However, it's true faith when we believe God and put our faith and trust in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Similarly, it is one thing for us to say we believe in God.

However, it's true faith when we believe God and put our faith and trust in His Son, Jesus Christ.

;

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 1:1 NIV

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

Hebrews 1:1–2 NIV

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

1. BE UNQUESTIONABLY OBEDIENT

Genesis 12:1 NIV

1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

2. OBEDIENCE SHOULD NOT BE FORCED

3. SACRIFICE ISN’T SUPPOSED TO BE EASY

4. LIVE A LIFE OF FAITH

PRAYER