Sermon Central
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Abraham's Separation
Contributed by Ivan Casteel on Feb 16, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: Abraham was called upon to make a great decision in separating himself from all and everything he counted dear.
ABRAHAM’S SEPARATION
Genesis 12:1-3. (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.
God promised Abraham that he would be a blessing to every family on the earth.
INTRODUCTION: The theme for this meeting is: “Investing In America Through Our Family.” There are many ways one can invest in the lives of others. If we could take one family at a time and mold them into a good Bible believing, God fearing families, and then another and another, what a difference it would make.
If we could challenge every home to focus on building godly homes as Bro. Mike Stanley has told us, what a difference it would make.
Most families today are too interested in self purposes and self-focus to allow them to be used of God. We are more interested in:
Retirement – than investing in lives of people.
Financial advancement – than being a blessing to others.
Personal success.
Pleasure.
God promised Abraham that all the families of the earth would be blessed by his family. If Abraham had not allowed God to use him Isaac would not have been the seed promised, and Jesus Christ would have come through some other family line than Abraham.
Abraham’s life was filled with times of separation. Most of these were not separation from things that were evil. So we may well have to separate from some things that are not bad or evil if we are going to be an investment in other’s lives.
We may have to give up some of those favorite times or favorite things if we are to be a blessing to others.
Let us examine the things that Abraham had to separate himself.
I. SEPARATED FROM HIS COUNTRY
The first time God spoke to Abraham:
A. God’s First Word To Abraham Was – “...Get thee out…” “Leave”.
(Gen 12:1) "Now 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:"
Leave your country.
Leave your people.
Leave your father’s household.
Leave your comfort.
Leave everything that is familiar to you.
Leave your desires.
Leave your preferences.
Leave your daily routine.
Leave your friends.
Leave the assurance of three meals a day.
Leave everything you have come to love and enjoy over the past seventy-five years of your life and go.
B. God’s Second Word To Abraham Was, “…..unto a land I will show thee…” “Go”. We had rather hear, “Come and get….”
Go to that land that I will show you.
Go to the unknown.
Go to the unfamiliar.
Go to the place where you will have to trust Me as you have never had to do before.
Go to where I will provide for you.
Go, and I will be your road Map.
Go and watch me be your Bread of Life.
Go and I will bless you.
It’s hard to hold on to the Lord when our hands are full everything that gives security and comfort.
Things will never satisfy, but God can.
People do not have the power to quiet the storm of our soul, but God can.
God alone must be our security.
God alone is enough.
Abraham Had To Re-Locate.
Move All That He Had To A Strange Land.
Make New Friends.
I have done that. I know the experience. Quit a lifelong job – sell a house – move 1000 miles to a strange land.
I think of Bro. Sam and Connie Kilmer – In their 50’s. Sam would have retired in 5 more years. Left his job – went on deputation – Left their family and friends then to Viet Nam as missionaries.
(Titus 1:1) "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;"
Paul is saying: “I am a bond servant, a slave, of Jesus Christ. My life is not my own. My happiness is not my goal. My comfort is not my aim. My loss is Christ’s gain. I have been blessed to be a blessing to others.”
(Phil 3:8) "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"
