Abraham - A Life of Faith

Faith is Obedient to God’s Call

a) “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

b) Genesis 12:1-5, Begins with a call of God. (This came at age 75 for Abraham). An invitation to a relationship.

c) Obedience is really just an outward evidence of our inward trust in God.

d) Going without knowing “a land that I will show thee”

e) Often involves leaving or laying aside those things that are familiar or comfortable (a sign of trust)

f) God will often give a glimpse of the goal, but on the path we must trust Him one step at a time.

Faith Rests in God’s Covenant Promise

a) “By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.”

b) Abraham adopted the life of a pilgrim in this earth.

c) He trusted God to fulfill the promise, not man’s power (Genesis 14:22-23 “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’”

d) God made a covenant with Abraham that He would keep. It was not dependent upon Abraham’s work, just his faith in God’s promise. Genesis 15.

The smoking oven is a picture of God’s justice and righteousness - Malachi 4:1 “1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”

The flaming torch is a picture of God’s salvation (his mercy) - Isaiah 62:1 “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.”

God made covenant with Himself and Abraham entered into the promise Gal 3:16 “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.”

Faith Trusts God’s Character

By faith he offered Isaac. Worship is an expression of implicit trust in God’s character.

He trusted God’s promise - He is FAITHFUL.

He trusted God’s power - He is ABLE.