(Pastor Caleb)
God Encounters
"Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran." (Genesis 12:1-4 ESV)
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17 ESV)
Faith demands a commitment! We live in a time where people would rather quit because its easier than the struggle.
God did not explain why to Abraham but he made him promises. God has those same promises for you.
15 years later, Abraham is discouraged.
"After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:1-6 ESV)
God encouraged Abraham by reminding him who he was. God places you some where for a purpose, do not quit! Don't make it about "you", focus on what God has for you.
"The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted." (Genesis 13:14-16 ESV)
Do not lean on the promise itself, Lean holy on the God that makes the promise! Put your faith in God.
Abraham was tested, after he received his heir that God promised to give Abraham (descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky) but then he asked him to sacrifice that only heir.
"After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” (Genesis 22:1-5 ESV)
God tests us to purify our faith. God didn't want his son Isaac to be an idol in Abrahams life; b/c Isaac was a gift and an answer to a promise that God made. (Abraham came from Uz : a city where they worshiped idols. ) So God tested Abrahams faith. Abraham was obedient & put his trust in God's promise.
and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. (James 2:23 ESV)
Remain faithful!
No comments:
Post a Comment