Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Abraham and the life of Faith
• It is increasing difficult to live a life of faith
• People seem to have removed God from life
• This is not true in other parts of the world
• It can be more challenging to live a life of faith
• Abraham (and Sarah) gives us a clear example of what it means to live a life of faith
• 4 points

Faith's First Step (v8)

• Abraham's faith journey began by God's initiative / God called Abraham
• The momentum is not with us but God
• God calls Abraham
• God revealed Himself to Abraham
• Having caught a glimpse of God, Abraham followed Him
• Abraham obeyed
• Abraham did not obey the 'voices' around him (in Mesopotamia)
• God's voice was more compelling
• Abraham did not know where he was going
• The vision of God was so great (with such assurance), that Abraham went out
• What does it mean to be called by Jesus?
• The big call on our lives to repentance and faith
• The call on our everyday lives to be followers of Jesus
• There is a dynamism to our relationship with God

Faith's Final Goal (v9-10)

• Abraham journeys out from Mesopotamia and arrives in the Promised Land
• God promised to give this land to him as an inheritance
• However, he lives in the land like a stranger
• He was looking forward to the city built by God
• The first step - responding to His call
• The second step - is looking at God's final goal
• We all look forward to things (e.g. Christmas)
• Living in the world, it can be difficult to look forward to our eternal goal / our long term vision

Faith's Lasting Fruit (v11-12)

• One of the challenges of journeying by faith
• "It is a waste of time"
• Why would you 'sit loose' to the things of the world?
• Abraham's and Sarah's life was astonishingly fruitful
• Their descendants were more numerous than the sand on the seashore
• We cannot understand God's economy
• Who knows what God is doing with our lives?
• God had promised
• Sarah and Abraham looked to God
• They held to the promises of someone that could be relied on (even though the evidence seemed to the contrary)
• They considered Him faithful
• God brought about great fruitfulness

Faith's Worthy Finish (v13-16)

• Abraham and Sarah did not receive what was promised in this life
• They admitted that they were strangers in the world
• They were able to continue through the ups and down of life, because they were following Jesus
• Genesis 23
• They did not return to Mesopotamia
• God is not ashamed to be called their God
• God is pleased to be called our God
• 'If you want to know what I am like - speak to Abraham'
• God identifies with us - what an incredible thing!
• Wonderful comfort
• God is aware of the cost but has prepared a city for them
• God understands the cost of salvation and the journey of faith

Closing Remarks