Sermon Central
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The Father Of The Faithful Series
Contributed by Ian Johnson on Jun 3, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: The greatness of Abraham was not moral perfection, but in getting back to God and believing again.
FATHER OF ALL THE FAITHFUL.
11 So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are made right with God by faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 It is clear, then, that God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not based on obedience to God’s law, but on the new relationship with God that comes by faith. 14 So if you claim that God’s promise is for those who obey God’s law and think they are “good enough” in God’s sight, then you are saying that faith is useless. And in that case, the promise is also meaningless. 15 But the law brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)
16 So that’s why faith is the key! God’s promise is given to us as a free gift. And we are certain to receive it, whether or not we follow Jewish customs, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who brings into existence what didn’t exist before.
18 When God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, Abraham believed him. God had also said, “Your descendants will be as numerous as the stars,” even though such a promise seemed utterly impossible!
There are mighty men of God recorded in the bible. : Warriors, Kings, Priests, prophets and Leaders.
But none of them achieved the honor or special mention bestowed on “the father of all who believe”
Abraham was the great example when it comes to faith!
How did he develop such trust in God?
1 Then the LORD told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
God asked for one act of obedience from Abram as he was then known and in return promised 8 things in return!
1) ..”The land I will show you…”
2) I will make you a great nation..”
3) I will bless you..”
4) I will make your name great…”
5) You will be a blessing..”
6) I will bless those who bless you…”
7) Whoever curses you I will curse…”
8) All peoples of the earth will be blessed through you..”
So Abrams caravan left town with only the promise of God to sustain them!
We cannot live off the commands of God! The commands reveal the holy nature of God but they give us no power!
However out of the grace of God comes the promise. As we receive His promise then we can walk in obedience to his commands! Can never work the other way around!.
The tender love of God revealed toward us in His promise’s draws us closer to Him.
But the commands alone and the judgements attached to them repel us .
Story of Martin Luther: Monk bound by law wanting to do right but repelled by the demands
Then he saw Romans 1:17 “the just shall live by faith:”
The book of Hebrews tells us in (11:8) that by faith Abraham obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going:
No map
No motel reservations
Tell story of Mr Abraham
Where are you going?
How wil you know when you get there?
Who will supply all your food?
As long as the strong hand of God was on Abraham he just moved on in faith!
The promise at the beginning of the book of Acts is “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” Jesus told His disciples to wait for the gift”
Abraham & his wife Sarah had to wait also for what God had promised.
Many people looking for a church in todays world are looking for a well oiled machine which runs regardless of faith.
We forget that the church was born out of a prayer meeting!
Led by men full of faith and the Holy ghost”
The challenge is to continue to walk in faith
