Lesson 4: Tested By Broken Relationship

Series: Learning Faith From Abraham Dr. Elmer Towns

Lesson 4: Tested By Broken Relationship February 24, 2013

A. ESCAPE FROM SPIRITUAL FAILURE

1. You have to leave your place of trouble. “Abram went up from Egypt” (Gen. 13:1).

2. Remove your loved ones from trouble. “His wife . . . and Lot with him” (13:1).

3. Get by yourself. “Into” the Negev (desert) (13:1, NLT).

God usually puts people into a “desert” so they become dependent entirely upon Him.

4. Be careful what you acquire out of the will of God. “Abram was very rich in livestock, silver and gold” (13:2).

5. Abram got his wealth because of his sinful lie. “Pharaoh gave Abram gifts because of her (Sarai)” (12:16).

6. Go to the center of God’s will. “Abram, went back . . . to the place where his tent had been at the beginning . . . to the place of the altar” (13:3-4).

Two Symbols of Abram’s

1. The tent stood for separation from the world and evil.

2. The altar stood for blood sacrifice and cleansing from sin.

7. Be careful what others get because you are out of the will of God. “Lot who went with Abram had flocks and herds and tents” (13:5).

8. Abram was able to overcome his excursion into Egypt, but Lot was infected for a lifetime.

B. FAITH IS TESTED IN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

1. People usually never are tempted alone. It takes others to help us to do the will of God, or oppose our service for God. “There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram and . . . Lot” (13:7).

2. Problems from your first sin may cause a different problem. “The land was not able to support them . . . their possessions were so great” (13:6).

3. A strong believer can be a stumbling block to a weaker believer. “Lot who went with Abram had flocks, herds, and tents” (13:5).

4. What do the unsaved think when they see Christians fight? “The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land” (13:7).

5. The stronger believer must take the initiative to solve strife with a weaker believer. “Abram said . . . ‘let there be no strife . . . we be brothers’” (13:8, KJV).

6. The land was promised to Abram, but he gave first choice to Lot. “If you take the left, then I will go to the right” (13:6).

a. Was this godly humility?

b. Was this a compromise by Abram?

c. Should Lot have honored his elder?

7. The choice by Lot revealed his embryonic attraction to stuff. Lot saw well-watered plain and chose the best and richest.

8. Our problem is usually with what we see and desire. “Lot . . . saw the well watered plain . . . like the goodness of the land” (13:10).

9. What was wrong with living in the well watered valley? “The men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord” (13:13). The issue was their sin against God.

10. Lot chose for himself but God chose for Abram. “Lift up your eyes . . . I will give to you and your descendants” (13:15).

11. When you make choices that are tough and right, God will vindicate you. “Abram moved his tent . . . built an altar” (13:18).

12. Abram chose separation and fellowship with God.

13. God doesn’t vindicate us because of inner choice, but for outer obedience. “The Lord said to Abram after Lot had separated from him” (13:14).

“After Lot moved into the valley, the Lord took Abram to a mountain and said, ‘Look in every direction as far as you can see. I will give all this land to you and your descendants. You will have so many descendants like the dust, you cannot count them. Now, walk through the land in every direction to explore your possessions’” (Gen. 14:14-17, Amplified).

14. Everything begins with vision. You have to see something before you can do something.

15. You can’t see unless you obey and go up the mountain with God.

16. You must believe what you see.

17. You must act on your faith in God.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord,

I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.