The Point Man Part 2 Series

The Point Man (Part 2)

Some Examples of Point Men

REFLECTION: This morning we looked at the “Equipment” God provides Fathers in order to successfully lead our families through enemy territory.

DIRECTION: While none but Christ, the Captain of our Salvation (Heb. 2:10) has mastered God’s equipment, each of us must “grow in Grace and knowledge” if we are to successfully follow Him. This evening we will look at how two men used (or failed to use) this equipment and how it impacted themselves and their families.

1. ABRAHAM: The Father of Faith Heb. 11:8-19

> P: PERCEPTION

Sensitivity to God, the condition or your family, and the tactics of the enemy.

1) He heard God’s voice to leave his home in Ur. Vs 8 “by faith…when he was called..he went”

> O: OBJECTIVE (His chief objective was to follow God. ) vs 14-16

> I: INTEGRITY (Tongue, Trust, Track-record)

1) He had two episodes recorded where he lied. (Gen. 12 and Gen. 20)

2) The overall direction of his life was one of growing faithfulness.

3) God marks us, not by our denials, but by our direction.

> N: NERVE (Courage or Endurance)

1) 318 shepherds and servants against the soldiers of 4 Kings in order to regain Lot. (Gen 14)

2) Willing to sacrifice Isaac in order to obey God. (Gen. 22)

> T: TRAINING (His whole adult life was a series of tests and training in faith.)

1) He failed a few of the tests. (Going to Egypt, Lying, marrying Hagar)

The Key to Success is learning from Failure!!!

2) He passed many more. (Tithing, Trusting, Triumphing)

> M: MANUAL

1) Abraham didn’t have the written word of God, but he “hung” on the spoken word.

> A: AVAILABLE

1) He was available to his Son. (Gen 22:7) "And Isaac spake unto Abraham …and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son.?"

a) He was on a 6 day trip with Isaac.

b) What is your response to your children’s questions?

2) He was available to his God. (Gen 22:11) "And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I."

a) Do you ever hear from God? Do you respond, “Here am I?”

> N: NURTURE (Gen 22:2) "Take now thy son, whom thou lovest,"

1) The word love here ('ahab) means to have affection for, to be a friend.

2. LOT: The Father of Fools (2 Peter 2:6-10)

> P: PERCEPTION

1) Lot focused on temporal value. Genesis 13:10

2) He “vexed his soul” Vexed means to torture, and comes from a word that means stone. He sacrificed his spiritual sensitivity on the altar of his temporary popularity.

> O: OBJECTIVE (He chose wealth and power over God’s will and his family)

1) He probably justified his choices as being in the best interests of his “Family.”

Gen. 13:12,13 “Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”

> I: INTEGRITY (Chose reputation over relationships: Genesis 19:8)

"I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing;."

> N: NERVE (Had to be forcibly removed from Sodom) Genesis 19:16

“And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.”

> T: TRAINING (He had lived with Abraham for most of his life!)

> M: MANUAL (Listened to the siren song of prosperity that drowned out God’s voice.)

> A: AVAILABLE (When he went after his married children, they laughed at him. Vs 14)

> N: NURTURED (Instead of seeking God or even Abraham, or thinking of his daughters, he ended up living his days out on a mountain. Gen. 19:30)

CONCLUSION: Both men lived together and had the same opportunities until they parted company. Abraham led his family to blessing, while Lot made a series of choices that led his family into an enemy ambush.

HE CHOSE THE WRONG:

EMPHASIS: Secular Prosperity over Spiritual Priorities. (Gen 13:9-11)

ENVIRONMENT: Environment => Associations =>Attitudes =>Decisions =>

RESULTS.

(Prov 13:20) "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a

companion of fools shall be destroyed."

EXPECTATIONS: He though he could profit from Sodom without being polluted by Sodom.

EXAMPLE: He rejected the example of Abraham (His authority)

His children rejected his authority. (Genesis 19:14)

ENTANGLEMENTS: 2 Timothy 2:3-5 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”