Untitled Sermon (8)

James 1:2–4 KJV 1900

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

I want to begin this morning by looking at the word of God in the life of Abraham.

I first want to look at what the bible says about this great patriarch...

James 2:23 KJV 1900

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Abraham is called a friend of God!

Hebrews 11:8–10 NKJV

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Roman 4:16 he is referred to as the father of all that are of faith.

What an incredible, exalted and esteemed opinion God holds of Abraham.

He is called the friend of God because of his faith

He obeyed God by his faith

and he is called the father of all that are of faith.

Perhaps the greatest display and demonstration of Abrahams faith is found in Genesis chapter 22 when God calls him to ascend the heights of the Mountain Moriah and there to place his only son…his promised son…Isaac on an altar as a sacrifice unto God.

Here, is the ultimate test. it is a test of trust. It is a test of faith. It is a test of commitment.

Yet perhaps more than all of these attributes that are put to the test…is the test of Abrahams willingness to continue alone with God!

This wasn’t the first time that Abraham has been tested regarding his willingness to continue forward, with God alone as his reward.

The very first time that God calls Abraham, all the way back in Genesis chapter 12, he speaks directly to Abraham who is 75 yeas of age…Abraham, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house…The NLT says it this way…Leave your native land, your relative’s and your father’s family.

Yet 3 verses later, we find that as Abraham leaves his native land…the bible says that his brothers-son, Lot went with him.

Abram…I’m testing you…are you willing to walk, when you have to walk alone.

There are various thoughts and ideas as to why Abram brings Lot along with him.

Some suppose that it an act of kindness and compassion on Abrams part. It is likely that Lot’s father is deceased and Abram has become the father figure in his life. Abram has become his protector and his provider. And now out of sympathy, Abram brings with him something that God has called him to leave behind.

Now, I know its some 4,000 years later, and humanity has evolved in their spiritual maturity and we would never fall prey to such a thought pattern. We would never consider permitting something that God said to leave behind under the guise of compassion....right? We would never carry a secret sin…because we were worried that poor sin might not survive with us!

There is a danger in thinking that we can somehow be more loving than God.

That when God calls something wicked, or an abomination…but we want to coddle it and protect it…Listen if God says something is evil…he said it for a reason…stop trying to act like you are more loving that God who IS LOVE!

We want to carry attitudes, mindsets and behaviors forward with us that God said to leave behind and we want to cover it up with a sappy, “I’m just trying to be loving”

I promise you the day will come that you will with you left Lot in Ur!

The day will come when you lament the day that you didn’t leave Lot where God told you to leave him.

Another reason that Abraham brought Lot with him.

Abraham is 75, in his reasoning…and this is before God has promised him that he will have a son…He is beyond the age of having children. So he needs an heir. The heir gives him the opportunity to transcend success and enter into legacy…With no heir the reward of his labor ends when his life ends...

In Genesis 15 God speak to Abraham concerning this concern.

Genesis 15:1 KJV 1900

1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

God says Abraham…I am your reward!

You brought Lot with you because Lot offered you the security of reward…but Abraham…I want you to have faith and to trust that I am your reward!

Abraham…you’ve got a Lot to lose! I can’t bless you the way that I’m going to bless you until you trust that I am your reward!

I can’t exalt you the way that I want to exalt you until you are willing to continue forward with me alone!

Abraham you’ve got a LOT to lose!

I wonder today, child of God…do you have a lot to lose!

Are there things and relationships that you’ve carried with you that are hindering you from moving to the next level in your faith!?!

God separates Abraham and Lot

The herdsmen of Abraham and Lot begin to quarrel over grazing grounds for their expanding herds of cattle.

So the separate, and Lot chooses the well watered valley as his home.

I want to use this to draw a very clear line between testing and temptation.

Lot would come to dwell in the morally bankrupt cities of Sodom and Gamorah…and the bible tells us that every day his soul was vexed. Every day, he faced temptation....

Abraham on the other hand…would be called by God to ascend to the top of Mt. Moriah…tested once again…he climbed with his son Isaac and there he would once again be tested by God…Abraham are you satisfied to go forward with me alone as your reward?

Abraham are you willing to journey forward with God alone as your inheritance and your reward!?!

Here is the contrast between testing and temptation

James 1:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

God tested Abraham

Sodom tempted Lot

God tests us to reveal the best in us

Satan temps us to bring out the worst in us

When you are following the Lord you will be tested!

Job 23:10 KJV 1900

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

When you are living in Sodom you will be tempted!

James 1:14 KJV 1900

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

The longer you dwell in Sodom, the more you will be tempted.

I just don’t understand why I’m always being tempted…well…it might be because you’re hanging our Sodom! It might be because you’re putting yourself in situations where carnality and lust have dominion!

You have to choose, do I want to descend to Sodom living…or do i want to ascend to the mountain!

if you are dwelling in Sodom and being destroyed by temptation…you’ve got a lot to lose!

You’ve got a lot mentality to lose! You’ve got a lot outlook to lose!

Lot had a crowd around him! He was surrounded by the citizens of Sodom and Gamorah....

But Abraham, was all alone with God and his promise on the top of Mt. Moriah...

But God was testing Abraham....He was strengthening his faith

And now…here we are again Abraham…I called you to leave UR…to leave your native land…to leave your family…To walk alone with me…to have faith that I would be your reward...

And you weren’t willing…You had to bring Lot with you.

Now…here we are again…Abraham…are you ready! This is a test…a test to reveal your faith…