Faith: Learning To Believe In What You Believe

In the records of American History during the gold rush days there is a story about a family that was crossing the Arizona desert on their way to California.

As they traveled across the hot and blistering desert, water supplies grew scarce and all the family could see was the blinding haze of heat that cracked the thirsty soil.

Yet, as they traveled, they saw an old abandoned shack that had an old water pump off the porch.

Excited about possible being able to obtain water, they B-lined their way straight to the pump and noticed a bucket of water with a note attached to it that said: “This pump must be primed, there is just enough water to prime the pump, but not enough if you drink some first. Pour the water in the top of the pump and pump the handle quickly. After you drink, refill the bucket for the next person who comes along.”

At that point, the family had a choice; believe the note and prime the pump (or) doubt the note and drink the water out of the bucket leaving others with nothing.”

Fortunately, this pump provided water for many years because people believed and obeyed what they read.

Transition:

Today I would like to introduce you to a man named Abraham. It is said that the first 11 chapters of Genesis contain the have history of the human race; while chapters 12-50 give us the history of the Hebrew race.

Abraham is called many things: James called him the: “Friend of God.” (James 2:23) Abraham is also called “The Father of the faithful.” (Hebrews 11:8-9) In chapter 12 he’s introduced as “Abram” that means simply: “Father” and later we will refer to him as “Abraham” which means: “Father of a multitude.”(Genesis 17:5) when God renamed him.

Yet, Abraham is called the Father of Faith. (Galatians 3:6-9) Why? He definitely did not consistently model faith did he? Absolutely not. Yet, he teaches us about how God teaches us to trust. He shows us the pathway of faith and helps us to start walking.

Transitional Sentence: Abraham teaches us what it takes to walk with God by faith. Where do I start? Abraham shows us that trusting God begins when I:

I. Step Out On Faith

vs. 1-4- “Now the Lord said to Abram. Go forth from your country. And from your relatives and from your fathers house, to the land which I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. So Abram went froth as the Lord had spoken to him...

Explanation:

When we meet Abram we discover how he met God. Verse 1 reads: “Now the Lord said to Abram. Go forth...”

In these 8 short words we discover that faith is more than > something you believe; it is something you do.

Paul sums up the Christian life saying: “For we walk by faith; not by sight.”

Salvation sets us on the path of faith and we walking with Jesus; not just talking about Him.

When we meet Abram we quickly discover that Abram did not know God until God spoke to him and said: “Go forth...”

It is shocking that Abraham became a follower by faith because of many reasons:

a) He was raised by a family that didn’t know God- He wasn’t saved on the family plan. Abrams family worshipped “the moon god” not the God who made the moon. The moon god was the god of the Chaldees. Joshua 24:2 says records that Abrams father served “other gods” and the moon god was his favorite.

b) He was raised in a family of progress and position- Abram was a part of the upper crust in the city of Ur. Ur was about 135 miles from Babylon. It was a prosperous city and Abraham was prospering with it. He was rich. Had a beautiful wife. He was respectable, and religious.

This city was progressive. Archeologists have discovered that the city Abram grew up in had irrigation canals, ornaments, tombs, altars, art, weapons, household utensils, and even a primitive type of brain surgery.

Terah, Abrams father was a great prince or sheik in the land of Ur. Abram was a type of prince in that city which is obvious when we discover the name of his wife; Sarai, meaning: Princess.

Most would have thought that Abram was too caught up in human knowledge and opportunity to forfeit his prominence for a place with the living God. Yet, he did, by faith.