SF775 - WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR FAITH FALTERS (Genesis 12 10)

Genesis 12:10-20

Introduction

Abraham was a man of great faith!

He is called the father of faith.

His faith faltered.

Faith is essential to the Christian life.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him…

Faith can do anything God can do.

Matthew 9:29 …According to your faith let it be to you.

Three questions…

What is faith?

What causes our faith to falter?

What is the cure for a faltering faith?

1A. Abraham’s Response of Faith (12:1-3)

1B. Faith is a response to revelation.

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2B. Faith is not rooted in human motivation.

Faith is more than positive thinking. (Genesis 11:4; 12:1-3)

We are not to “name it and claim it” – God names it and then we can claim it.

3B. Faith is not rooted in human merit.

Abraham was an idolater, he lived in the Ur of the Chaldeans. (Joshua 24:2-3, 14)

Ø They worshipped the moon god.

Romans 4:3-5 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 4Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Faith is not a response to my goodness but to God’s grace.

4B. Faith is not rooted in human mentality. (12:1b)

Faith does not require that God to make sense.

Ø I do not have to understand it but I have to stand on it.

5B. Faith is rewarded by God.

God gave him the land. (12:1)

God made him a blessing. (12:2)

God made his name great. (12:3)

2A. Abraham’s Relapse of Faith (12:10-20)

1B. The cause of a faltering faith

Incomplete obedience (11:31-12:1)

Ø He only went halfway with God. (11:31; Acts 7:2)

Ø He left the place of worship (12:8-9)

Incomplete dependence (12:10)

Ø He doubted in the dark what God had told him in the light.

Ø He left God’s place for Him.

Incomplete honesty (12:11-13)

Ø He told a half truth which amounts to a whole lie. Sarah was his half-sister.

Ø He intended to deceive Pharaoh.

2B. The cost of a faltering faith

Lost time

Ø Egypt was out of God’s will, anytime we are out of God’s will we are wasting time.

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Lost testimony

Ø He was to be a blessing to Pharaoh, instead he was a curse. (12:17-20)

Ø He was to be a mentor to Lot. He could never get Egypt out of Lot. (13:10)

The curse of earthly wealth (13:1-2)

Ø Livestock = cattle

Ø The cattle overcrowded the land cause division with Lot.

The curse of a divided heart

Ø Hagar = Ishmel the father of the Arab nations.

3A. Abraham’s Return to Faith (13:1-4)

1B. There was separation (13:1)

Abraham would never get right with God until he came out of Egypt.

Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

2B. There was sanctification (13:3)

He returned to the “house” of God.

It is not only what you leave behind, it is also what you go to.

3B. There was sacrifice (13:4)

The altar pictures Abraham’s faith in God.

Ø He was looking forward to Calvary.

Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed."

Application

Lessons:

Testing will follow triumph.

Remain where God has put you until He tells you to move.

It is better to perish of hunger in God’s will than to be lavished with plenty out of His will.

It is never right to do wrong, even if it appears ok.

God does not give up on His children.

When you find yourself in Egypt, run back to God.

Has your faith faltered?

The good news is that faltering faith does not have the last word!

Jeremiah 29:13-14 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.…."

Genesis 12:10

1A. Abraham’s ___________________ of Faith (12:1-3)

1B. Faith is a response to _____________. (Romans 10:17)

2B. Faith is not rooted in human motivation. (Genesis 11:4; 12:1-3)

3B. Faith is not rooted in human _________________.

Abraham was an idolater, he lived in the Ur of the Chaldeans. (Joshua 24:2-3, 14; Romans 4:3-5)

4B. Faith is not rooted in human mentality. (12;1b)

5B. Faith is rewarded by God. (12:1-3)

2A. Abraham’s _________________ of Faith (12:10-20)

1B. The ______________________ of a faltering faith

Incomplete ________________________ (11:31-12:1)

Ø He only went halfway with God. (11:31; Acts 7:2)

Ø He left the place of worship (12:8-9)

Incomplete _____________________________ (12:10)

Ø He doubted in the dark what God had told him in the light.

Ø He left God’s place.

Incomplete __________________________ (12:11-13)

Ø He told a half truth which amounts to a whole lie. Sarah was his half-sister.

Ø He intended to deceive Pharaoh.

2B. The ______________________ of a faltering faith

Lost time

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Lost _________________________________ (12:17-20; 13:10)

Gained wealth (13:1-2)

Gained a woman

3A. Abraham’s ___________________ to Faith (13:1-4)

1B. There was ___________________________ (13:1)

Abraham would never get right with God until he came out of Egypt. (Isaiah 55:7)

2B. There was ___________________________ (13:3)

He returned to God.

3B. There was ___________________________ (13:4)