Difference Makers- Abraham

Introduction

All throughout the scriptures we read of men and women who made a difference. These faithful men and women made a significant impact on their generation and many of them altered the very course of history by choosing to follow God by faith.

What we need desperately in this hour are some men and women of faith who will rise up and determine to follow God and to make a difference in this generation.

Throughout the next several weeks we will take a look at the lives of a number of these “Difference Makers” and learn some valuable lessons that will help us to be “Difference Makers” ourselves!

We begin today with Abraham or Abram as he was originally called. Abraham’s life certainly made a difference in his generation and the impact of his decision to follow God is still being felt today for it is he who is responsible for the birth of the nation of Israel.

Abraham made a difference by being willing by faith to:

Courage (Vs. 1)

When God first called Abraham the only instructions he had were to leave behind all that was comfortable and familiar to go to a place that he knew absolutely nothing about.

Abraham did not argue with God that he could serve him better in his homeland, he did not make excuses as to why he could not leave behind his family and friends, he did not wait for God to give him more information before he chose to follow.

If you and I want to make a difference in our generation it may mean stepping out into the unknown. It will likely mean that we will be asked to step away from the comfortable and the familiar to follow God in faith.

Far too many Christians today are more interested in being comfortable than they are in being effective. Those who make a difference rarely do so from a place of comfort and familiarity.

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” - Corrie Ten Boom- The one who makes the difference is the one who is willing to step out into the unknown trusting a God which they know personally.

One cannot help but wonder how many times God has been ready to do a supernatural work in the life of an individual who never got to experience it because he/she wasn’t willing to step out into the unknown.

We must seek the face of God and listen for His voice of instruction so that we may follow His call even if it leads us away from all that is familiar and into the unknown.

What will you do today if God asks you to leave behind all that is familiar and comfortable to follow Him? Do you desire to make a difference? If so, it is likely that there will come a point when you won’t have the entire plan, you won’t know exactly what lies ahead, but you will be led to step out into the unknown to follow God.

Abraham was a difference maker because he was willing to:

Confidence (Genesis 15:5-6 & Romans 4:16-21)

God had promised Abraham that he would be given a son, but the promise came at a time in his life when it seemed wholly impossible for the promise to be fulfilled.

Yet, impossible as it was, Abraham believed God would do exactly what He had promised He would do.

In the eyes of Abraham there was no limit to what God could do, there was nothing that was to be considered beyond the scope of his power.

Where are the men and women of faith today who are willing to believe God for impossible things? Is God still able to do seemingly impossible things today?

Has the power of God somehow been limited by the darkness and wickedness of the times?

I do believe that the power of God has been limited but not by the wicked and immoral, rather by the lack of faith of professing Christians!

“God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible--what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves” - A. W. Tozer

If we desire to make a difference, we must be willing to believe God for impossible things. Right now it seems implausible if not impossible that America could once again be a godly nation but we must believe God for the impossible.

It may be that there is someone in you life who is lost and it seems all but impossible that they would come to Christ, we must believe God for the impossible!

It may be that God is calling you to do something that seems beyond your reach, something that for you seems impossible, you must believe God for impossible things!

Mark 10:27- the impossible with man is possible with God!

Abraham simply believed that God was capable of doing impossible things. If we are going to make a difference in this world, we must believe that God is still able to do impossible things!

Concern (Genesis 13:14-17 & Genesis 15:13-18 & Hebrews 11:13)

One of the most striking truths about Abraham’s life is that he never had the opportunity to enjoy the land that God had promised to give to him.

Abraham lived and died only glimpsing the promises of God in the future. The results of Abraham’s obedience would not be fully evident for four generations and yet Abraham was determined to be faithful not only for his own sake but for the sake of future generations.

We must also obey God not only for the present benefits but more importantly for the future blessings of God. If we do not rise up and take a stand for truth what type of a world will our children and grandchildren inherit from us.

Abraham could have turned from God when he recognized that he would not get to see the actual fulfilment of God’s promises but instead he remained faithful to God so that future generations could inhabit the land God had promised to them.

Our actions today will either bring blessing or hardship for future generations. We must realize that the stands we take or tragically don’t take today will have a tremendous impact on future generations. We may be mocked, ridiculed, or persecuted for standing for truth in our generation but it may be that our stand will make it easier for future generations to stand.

The world that our children and grandchildren will inherit will be the result of our willingness to obey God in our generation. The darkness and depravity that we see in our generation is at least partly due to the failure of previous generations to stand for truth and right.

We may not see the fruit of our decision to follow the Lord in our lifetime, it may be others who receive the benefit of our decisions. Are you concerned for future generations or are you content so long as the evil does not overtake you in your generation.

II Kings 20:16-19- Hezekiah only concerned for himself and his generation.

“ A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” Greek Proverb

We must be motivated to make a difference for the benefit of those in future generations even if we will not be around to enjoy the reward of our efforts.

Conclusion

Do yow want to make a difference?

Do you have the courage to step out into the unknown at God’s instruction?

Do you have the confidence that God can still do impossible things?

Are you concerned enough for future generations that you are willing to make a difference now?

Will you be a “Difference Maker”?