Abraham Series

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS SERIES

2 – ABRAHAM

This morning, we are continuing our sermon series called “Close Encounters”

And we’re talking about the lives of the great people of God in the Bible who had CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God

And we’re going to be talking about the fact that no matter who you are, or what you’ve done, you too can have CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with the living God

And if there’s ever been day to have CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God is now…

--we’re living in the last days

--these are the days of great opportunity

And if for no other reason, than because the world that is watching our lives

Did you know that we as Christians should be a witness for Jesus? But not only a witness, but we ought to be part of the EVIDENCE

Did you know that a Christian is not only the greatest argument for Christianity, he can also be the greatest argument against Christianity.

Do you know what Mahatma Gandhi said? He said, "I would have become a Christian if it had not been for the Christians."

And oh how like never before, do we need for Christians to be on fire for God, not…

--half backslid

--with one foot in the world

--sanctified and “cranctified”

But we need some believers…

--who have been alone with Jesus

--who have holy fire

And most importantly who’ve had CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God like never before

And before you think…

--you’re not holy enough

--you’re not educated enough

--you’ve made too many mistakes

You’ll learn very quickly, that the greatest people who had the closest encounters with God were people just like you and me

People who had…

--flaws

--setbacks

--failures

--problems

But at the same time, people who HAD CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD!

And last week, we began this series by talking about ADAM, and today, we’re going to be looking at another great person who had close encounters with God, and his name is ABRAHAM

So, with that in mind, let’s read…

Genesis 12:1-5 ( KJV ) 1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee: 2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

INTRODUCTION

If you could list the top 100 most influential people of all human acheivement, Abraham would be in the top 5

Because without question, there is no one man that has impacted all of humanity like this man called Abraham

And the reason being, is because…

A. HE IS GREAT IN HISTORY

He is the biological father of BOTH the JEWS and the ARABS

In other words, when you look at the map today, much of the world is held by the direct descendants of this man and the world as we know it today has been shaped by the history of this man and his descendants

But not only was he great in HISTORY, secondly…

B. HE IS GREAT IN SPIRITUALITY

Because from him has come the 3 greatest religions of the world – JUDAISM, ISLAM, AND CHRISTIANITY

The Torah, the book Koran, and the New Testament are all a direct result of the life of Abraham

There is rich spirituality in this man

In fact, in the Christian Bible, he’s not only greatly mentioned in the Old Testament (the Jews only use the Old Testament), but over 60 times he’s mentioned in the New Testament

For it’s in the New Testament He’s…

--called the father of them that believe (Romans 4:11)

--called the Friend of God (James 2:23)

--listed in the Champions of Faith in Hebrews 11

And not only is he great in history and great in spirituality, but ultimately, this man Abraham

C. HE IS GREAT IN DESTINY

Because everyone today and all who will yet to come in some way or another will be impacted by the life of this great man

What a great man this man Abraham was and is

And there’s no way we could do a sermon series on people who had close encounters with God and ignore this giant of the faith