Abram, The Father Of Faith Series

Alpha and Omega, Part 16

Abram, the Father of Faith

Genesis 11:27-32 and 12:1-3

Introduction

- 2023 has been led with “one purpose”: To know there is a God!

-- Continuing our series, “Alpha and Omega”; examining the beginning to the end

- Last week we examined the Tower of Babel, and that it stood as a symbol of:

• The people’s name

• their worldwide religion/politics

• it was a representation of their own works and effort

- This same attitude still exists today: “Let’s show everyone how great we are!”

-- SEE: There is nothing wrong with success and nice things … until …

-- SIN: When it becomes about our abilities to do things vs. what God has done

- God’s interceding was done to prepare them to raise up a godly people

-- BIG: Always, in the background, God is working to draw us to Himself!!

- This morning, we begin to unpack the life of Abram (a.k.a. Abraham)

-- Lots of scripture from NT reflects on Abram life … and for good reason!

-- Is considered the father of the faith … we’d be wise to pay attention to his life

- Need us to not glaze over the many things God does with Abraham

-- EXP: I had planned to do that very thing; God changed my heart!

-- Why? Critical for us to know, and celebrate, who we get to serve also! (God)

- Let’s dive in … Read Genesis 11:27-32 and 12:1-3 / Pray

- TR: Our first point today is to understand …

Point 1 – Abram’s purpose

- Abram’s belief in God was clear, so strong that there was no doubt in him

-- It is obvious he would have been a rich man, coming from means (rancher)

-- Also, he would have amassed a bit of an inheritance; and God tells him to leave

- APP: He would have to separate from the world he knew TO fully follow God

-- In fact, he had to be willing to sacrifice his life, his world, and all that he had

- If Abram believed/responded to God, God would do three specific things

-- Need to us to see the promises that Abram was given from God …

-- It truly is what moved Him to trust and to respond to God

Promise #1: God promised to give Abram the promised land (v1)

- This is the land of modern-day Palestine, it is the nation of Israel

-- But also refers to Heaven; the promised land of Canaan (the image of heaven)

-- He is literally promising Abram the whole world can be inherited

-- BIG: Romans 4:13, “Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.”

-- It was a promise filled with assurance of personal inheritance, a new country

- God’s promise included the eternal, permanent possession of a promised land

-- Hebrews 11:9-10, “And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.”

- It refers to the heavenly Jerusalem, the capital of the new heavens and new earth

-- Hebrews 11:13-16, “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously, people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

-- v10 & 16 of this tells us where Abram’s heart was focused: Heavenward

-- It shows us that God was granting two promises: life and afterlife

- It would be a place of great rest, a promise to dwell eternally with God

-- Consider: Full-time spiritual rest in the presence of God – that was the promise

-- APP: That alone ought to make God attractive to us – to know we WILL be His

- Interesting: the spiritual victory of Abram shows the same rest of the believer:

-- The promise given to Abram is outlined in Gen 12:2-3

-- And the promise given to the believer (you and I today) is shown in:

-- Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”