God Calls A Follower
Text: Genesis 12-15
Focus: Genesis 12:1-7; 13:8:14-18; 15:6
What some people have a hard time believing is that God uses people to get things done in this world. Man is God's greatest creation. We have studied some already. Adam, Noah, and Job, all important to the plan of God. We will now spend some time with Abraham. Abraham is recognized by God's children and the Muslim world as a great man. The Book of Genesis is the book of the beginnings, we will see that the Bible says that Abraham was the first Hebrew. It is Abraham that is the father of the Hebrew nation we know as Israel. Abraham is also the father of the Arab nations. There is a family feud between the children that have Sarah as a mother and those that have Hagar as a mother. This feud has been going on for over 4000 years. The Children of Ishmael and Isaac will one day join hands but that will not happen in the Church age. We will find that God begins to form and work with this nation of Israel beginning in chapter 12. He will use this nation for specific purposes. This nation of Israel has many enemies in our day but let's look at some of the things the Jew have contributed to the world before we call them our enemy.
PRACTICAL INVENTIONS: Jeans, Lipstick, the Ballpoint Pen, Contraceptives, Instant Coffee, Television Remote Control, Traffic Lights, Scotch guard, the Flexistraw.
BIG INVENTIONS: The Atomic Bomb, the Thermonuclear Bomb, Genetic Engineering, the Nuclear Chain Reactor, Virtual Reality.
CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Hollywood, the Sit-Com, the Long Playing Record, Woodstock, Sound Movies, Videotape, Color Television, Instant Photography, Holography
GAME CHANGERS: Monotheism, Psychoanalysis, the Theory of Relativity, the Weekend (Shabbat)
INVENTIONS BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER “C’: Capitalism, Communism, Circumcision, Cheesecake, Cafeterias
RETAIL: Discount Stores, Pawn Shops, the Shopping Cart and the Ready-to-Wear Clothing Industry
MEDICAL: Prozac, Valium, The Polio Vaccine, Radiation, Chemotherapy, the Artificial Kidney Dialysis machine, the Defibrillator, the Cardiac Pacemaker, Vaccination against the deadly “Hepatitis B” virus, the Vaccinating Needle, Laser Technology
TECHNICAL: Google, the Wire Transmission Facsimile (FAX) , the Microphone, the Gramophone, the Micro processing Chip, Optical Fiber Cable, Laser, Cellular Technology, the Videotape Recorder
HOW COULD WE LIVE WITHOUT THESE?: Drip Irrigation, Scale Model Electric Trains, the Pager, the Walkie-talkie, Refrigerated Railroad Car, High-vacuum Electron Tubes, the Incandescent Lamp, Kodachrome Film, the Blimp, the Adding Machine, Stainless Steel, Tapered Roller Bearings.
A NOBLE PEOPLE: At least 178 Jews have been awarded the Nobel Prize, accounting for 23% of all individual recipients worldwide between 1901 and 2008, and constituting 37% of all US recipients during the same period. In the scientific research fields of Chemistry, Economics, Medicine and Physics, the corresponding world and US percentages are 27% and 40%, respectively. (Jews currently make up approximately 0.25% of the world’s population and 2% of the US population).
We will see that the Bible will show how God has used this great nation to be a blessing to the world and the world could not be the same place without the Jew.
God's promise:
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
We can see from the days of Abraham to the days we are in now that Israel has been a blessing. As one of the oldest nations on this Earth we can see the Prophecy of God will hold true.
If we as God's creation would just accept the truth of God's word, we would have a much clearer perception of what is going on in this world we live in. God does not hide things from us!
Amo 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
What we saw that in Genesis chapters 1-11 was a period of about 2000 years but what we will see in the the remaining chapters 12-50 is a period of only about 280 years. Chapter 12 is the pivotal point in the Book of Genesis. We will see the covenant nation of Israel. We will see the origin and the calling out of a special people and a special nation to carry out God's plan of redemption through the promised seed.
These people were no different than the rest of the world in fact they were worse than some:
Deu 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Deu 7:7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
Deu 7:8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
36 times God calls these people a rebellious people:
Eze 3:7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.
Eze 3:8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
Eze 3:9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
You see God has a purpose for all of us. The nation of Israel brought God's Word to the world. The proof being the Bible itself.
Rom 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Rom 3:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that [unto them were committed the oracles of God].
Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, [let God be true, but every man a liar]; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
With Satan's help the Nation of Israel ceased for a time but if you want to see prophecy fulfilled in our time all we need do is look at the rebirth of the Nation of Israel.
Isa 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
May 14, 1948 this prophecy was fulfilled. Israel became a nation again to live in their own land. We see their battle to survive daily with our very own eyes. The world is foolish to not realize the HAND OF GOD!
Jesus Christ was a Jew. To hate the Jew is to hate the Word of God! To be saved is to be bathed in the Word of God!
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it [with the washing of water by the word],
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
To say you are Christian and hate Israel you are denying the Word of God! Real faith is not based on feeling nor emotion. Real faith is accepting the promises of God. When we believe God then we should act on that belief. WE CANNOT IMAGINE THE WONDEFUL THINGS GOD HAS IN STORE FOR US BUT WE CAN GET AN IDEA BY TRUSTING IN THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE. THAT'S WHY IT IS CALLED FAITH!
****Our Text:
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 shew thee:
Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
If you do not believe the study of Genesis and Abraham is important to the Church then let's see what the first deacon of the Church had to say:
Act 7:2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
Act 7:3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
Act 7:4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
Act 7:5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
Act 7:6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
We know at the end of those 4 hundred years began the Exodus from Egypt but, continue on to read from verse Act 7:7-54 for a short history lesson.
We can see it takes real "faith" to trust God completely. Do we have that kind of faith today? It takes real faith to be saved. THE SAME FAITH ABRAHAM HAD!
The Bible says:
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Abraham did not come from a godly family nor was there any part of the Church existing at that time:
The Bible says:
Jos 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: [and they served other god]s.
It is the Jew among others that honor Abraham but they do not honor the New Testament of the Bible but we can find Abraham's name 196 times in the Bible and that includes 74 times in the New Testament. Abraham is mentioned in every Book of the New Testament but Jude.
You know every child of God is called out just as Abraham was called:
1Th 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, [who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory].
1Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, [but as it is in truth, the word of God], which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Is there some great revelation? Maybe, sometimes, but it is more likely a visit to one of God's churches or some child of God inviting you, or a gospel trac, or some witness of God's people or you just stumble onto God's word, among the many other ways God uses to call. If you are reading this lesson you have been called. Nothing happens in the world that does not fulfill God's will and His purpose:
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, [to them who are the called according to his purpose].
Does God call just the Jew?:
Rom 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Rom 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, [but also of the Gentiles]?
God calls "WHOSOEVER" WILL BELIEVE!
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 [Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God]: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, [who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus], after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1Pe 5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
That call can only come through Jesus Christ, there is no other way to reach God:
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, [I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me].
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
We already know that Abraham was called to begin the nation of Israel but the purpose of this nation was to preserve the word of God for all people. They have fulfilled that purpose and God will keep His promises to them. It is the purpose of the Word of God to establish the Church of Jesus Christ and that began at Pentecost just after the ascension of Jesus Christ back to Heaven.
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
It is the Holy Spirit that brought life to the Church because it is the Holy Spirit that brings life to God's children.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
*****Verse 3:
One of the most important scriptures in the Bible is Genesis 12:3. All nations and peoples of the World need to take notice.
GOD SAID HE WOULD BLESS EVERYONE THAT BLESSED THIS NATION OF ISRAEL. Most of the World seems to hate this Nation of Israel. If you believe the Word of God then we need to believe what is written in this verse because it comes also with the "CURSE OF GOD"!
ALL FAMILIES WILL BE BLESSED IN CHRIST JESUS IF YOU BELIEVE. TO THOSE THAT DO NOT BELIEVE, YOU WILL SEE GOD'S WRATH!
Let's review the seven promises of God:
1.) God said "I will make of thee a great nation"
2.) God said "I will bless thee"
3.) God said "I will make thy name great"
4.) God said "You will be a blessing to the world"
5.) God said "I will bless them that bless you"
6.) God said "I will curse them that curse you"
7.) God said "In you will all the families of the World be blessed"
The blessing to the world came in Jesus Christ!
Mat 1:1 [The book of the generation of Jesus Christ], the son of David, [the son of Abraham].
Gal 3:14 [That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ]; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
You will notice Abraham did't have to say anything. This promise has no conditions. This promise does not require anything from Abraham except to Believe.
*****Our text:
Gen 12:4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
Gen 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
Gen 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
Gen 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded
Abraham forgot his age of 75 years. He laid aside the fact that he was rich and had few needs if any. He broke away from false religion and he left his family in what is now Iraq. Abraham believed God and left on a journey to the promised land.
This is the exact same thing we all will do when we believe in the promises of God. When we are born again into the family of God and do not place our faith in the unending power of God we are failing in our faith. We are strangers in this land. Our home is in Heaven. God will provide our needs. It may not be riches because our riches are in Heaven. If we leave all false religion we may have to leave our family behind but they have the same choice to make. They do not have to be left behind. We see that Sarah and Lot went with Abraham.
Our faith should encourage and influence others to follow God's word and the leadership of the Holy Spirit!
Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Tit 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Php 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Abraham stepped out on faith alone:
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Abraham's first stop along the way:
Sichem, also known as Shechem, Sychem,
Sichem means ridge
Shechem means a ridge, the neck(between the shoulders)
Sychem means ridge
All these being the same place and many important things would happen at this place in Palestine
Who is already in this land? We find the first use of the word Canaanite. We will learn a great deal more about the Canaanites later on. It will be some 600 years before Joshua finally wrestles this promised land away from the Canaanites. These Canaanites were the, Hittites, Amorites, Jebusites and many other clans. None of these are descendants of Abraham. Abraham chose this location to stop and worship the Lord and the Lord appeared unto him.
Here again we see another word that appears for the first time in the Bible, (Bethel).
Bethel means "House of God". When we worship the Lord God Almighty as often as we can it should be in the house where He has placed His name.
Neh 1:9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet [will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there].
And we should assemble more often in these end times:
Heb 10:25 [Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together], as the manner of some is; [but] (exhorting one another: and [so much the more], as ye see the day approaching).
Not in our lesson but in verse 9 we see that Abraham traveled further toward the south. In the travels of Abraham and others I should point out that "to the south" means south of Jerusalem and "to the north" means north of Jerusalem. This will stop some of the confusion of traveling when we remember directions will have Jerusalem as the place of origin. We must also remember Abraham never settled in any one place because he was looking for a city made by God. That city is New Jerusalem!
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 [For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God].
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, [new Jerusalem], [coming down from God out of heaven], prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
*****Our text:
Gen 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Gen 13:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
Gen 13:15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
Gen 13:16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
Gen 13:17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Gen 13:18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.
Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
In verse 13:8 we can see the answer to all the Church is in being in one accord. "let there be no strife, for we are all brethren"
Those that gathered at Pentecost were in one accord and 3000 were saved in the first church.
They continued daily in one accord and the Church grew daily. We of the Christian Church are all brothers in Christ. We are brothers because of Christ Jesus. If you know Jesus Christ as your savior you are my brother no matter where you live and call on the name of God. Jesus Christ is Lord to all whom believe.
WHY ARE OUR CHURCHES CLOSING THE DOORS? ******STRIFE.
Pro 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
Pro 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
God is not the author of strife or ill feelings nor hard feelings, no never! When these things are in the Church then somebody has failed to obey God! When these things happen, some will go the wrong way:
Gen 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Lot was walking by sight and not by faith at this time in his life. We know he came to know God at some point in his life.
The Bible says:
2Pe 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2Pe 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
How many of the Church do we hear of daily that have pitched their tents toward Sodom. No doubt that at this time Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent cities are the most immoral on the Earth.
Gen 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
The gay life style was one of these exceeding sins in these cities and we can see this lifestyle is growing in all the world. We need to pray and love them into the arms of Christ where they will find true love if they repent. Repent still means to walk away from a sinful life.
The Bible says to the Church:
1Jn 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1Jn 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Lot was foolish enough to separate himself from Abraham. Abraham was God's man. We will see that Lot chose with his eyes and not with the Word of God. Lot lost all his family by his actions. We can see that when we choose what we think is the best of this life without looking unto God, without listening to the teaching of Jesus Christ we will find ourselves alone, our lives destroyed and our families broken. Divorce rates in the world are higher than they have ever been even in the Church. God had said to Abraham, "I will bless those that bless thee". Abraham was the source of Lot's blessing just as his descendant, the Messiah, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST is the place of blessings for all the World.
Verse 15:
There is a lot of argument over a very small piece of land that is called Palestine. There is no nation of Palestine and there never has been. The name Palestine has always meant "the land of the Hebrews". For any other people to lay claim on this land is a slap of God's face. As God always does He will honor His Word.
Exo 15:14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
Exo 15:16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
Exo 15:17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
To battle against the true owners of this land is to battle with God.
Deu 20:1 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: [for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt].
The covenant God made with Abraham will still hold true, when Jesus returns and that is sooner than most people realize.
Plain of Mamre:
Mamre is an important place in the Bible and this is the first time we hear of it.
1.) This is the place God made His key promise to Abraham.
2.) The Lord announced to Abraham and Sarah they would have a child.
3.) The burying place of Abraham and Sarah.
4.) Isaac dwelt there and was buried in the same cave of his father.
5.) Jacob was buried there with his fathers.
6.) David reigned at first from Hebron which is Mamre.
About a mile from the town of Hebron, up the valley, is one of the largest oak trees in Palestine. This, say some, is the very tree beneath which Abraham pitched his tent, and it still bears the name of the patriarch.
*****Gen 15:6
How simple can it get!
The plan of "salvation" is so simple that people overlook the simplicity of it.
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
We must remember just what the serpent did. Satan twists and turns the pure word of God into something that is false. Why are there so many versions of the Bible? SO PEOPLE CAN FIND ONE THAT SUITS THEIR LIFE STYLE!
God has just a couple of rules:
1.) Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
2.) Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
3.) Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
There is only one duty of mankind:
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: [Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man].
This means we must trust in the Word of God and that the Bible is the truth in ALL that it says. We do not need science or history to back up the Bible. The Bible backs up science and history so we can know that they are true.
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, [let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written], That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Mankind has complicated the world since the time of the Tower of Babel and confusion still reigns in this world. God is not the "author", (you know He wrote this Book) of confusion!
1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
The author of confusion is the Devil, Satan! He began with Eve and he even had me for most of my life but THANK GOD FOR JESUS CHRIST, THE WAY TO SALVATION.
There is no other way but Jesus!
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
What does the scripture say?
Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
THIS IS THE ONLY WORK ABRAHAM DID FOR HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, "HE BELIEVED"!
It does not get any easier that that.
Genesis 15:6 is one of the most important pieces of scripture in all the world and in the Bible.
1.) The Jew honor Abraham!
2.) The Arab world honors Abraham!
3.) The Christian Church honors Abraham!
Now if we could get together with this belief what would the world look like then. We would would squash the terrorist and all corrupt governments and there could be peace.
The first time the word "believed" is used in all the Bible(KJV) is in this verse of Genesis 15:6.
The Hebrew word "aman" says: to trust, to believe, to have faith, to be certain, to establish.
THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH!
Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
In verse 15:2 we see the Hebrew word "adonay"(Lord) which means: to rule or govern as judge.
In verse 15:6 we see the Hebrew word "y hovah"(Lord) which means: the self existent one, the Eternal God of this entire world as we know it.
If you want to be a friend with the Almighty God then you must believe as Abraham.
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and [he was called the Friend of God].
To believe other wise will make you an "enemy" of God.
When you believe in the substitutionary work of the Lord upon the cross and accept this for yourself then God counts your faith to you for "righteousness".
There are so many things to cover in these chapters that we cannot in these short lessons. Please read and study the Book of Genesis. It is truly the Book of "The Beginnings".
Remember it takes but "simple faith" to pleas God. God does not give reasons, HE GIVES PROMISES. Abraham did not respond with questions, HE RESPONDED WITH FAITH. Did Abraham do everything right? No He made many mistakes, BUT HE NEVER FORGOT WHO HIS GOD WAS AND WE CANNOT ALLOW THE NAME OF JESUS TO BE SMEARED IN THIS WORLD BUT WE MUST STAND UP FOR OUR FAITH. IT IS THE FAITH THAT CAN MOVE ALL MOUNTAINS!
Jesus said:
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Who is the Creator and Savior of this world?
1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
Abraham knew he was coming and Abraham believed. He is coming back for His Church at any time now. I believe do you?
GOD IS STILL CALLING FOLLOWERS!
Let's Pray!
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