fbpx

Abraham: An Example of Faith

James 2:21-23

Abraham was used as an example of what Faith and deeds look like. Our goal: If someone wants to know what faith and deeds looks like, they can look at our life

Read Hebrews 11:8-19

More versus in Hebrews 11 attributed to Abraham as to what he did as a result of his faith. Stood out as a hero among heroes

Abraham Obeyed God

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

God called Abraham at 75 yrs old to go

  • To leave what was familiar, secure, prosperous and to trust God

God expected him to go and he trusted God, obeyed and went

  • Abraham refused to put limits on his obedience

We must embrace the call of faith

We must refuse to make exceptions to God’s expectations

God made no exceptions for Abraham

God expected him to sacrifice his son; to be faithful and obey

God has expectations for us as a disciple

  • Put God first in our lives
  • Deny ourselves and take up out cross daily
  • To serve people and the church
  • To help people know God
  • To live a holy life, open about sin
  • To have spiritual relationships 

Exceptions

  • Life is busy with school, work, activities, so I can’t put God first and be as devoted as I’d like to be
  • I’m single, I can’t live a pure life
  • I’m married with 10 kids, I can’t be involved bible studies to help people become disciples

Abraham Considered God Faithful

11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Faithful: true to one’s word, promises, vows, reliable, trustworthy

At 99, God promised Abraham he would have a son at 100 yrs old

He considered God Faithful to His Promises

At times we get disappointed, hurt when people don’t keep their promises, break a trust or prove unreliable

At times we can get angry at God or disappointed with God for what goes on in our lives and for things he did not promise

  • God never promised perfect health, financial security, spouse, perfect marriage/kids/parents,  pass all your exams, no harm would come, trial free life
  • He never promised Heaven on Earth

What happens when we don’t consider God faithful (trustworthy)?

Hold back heart, time, money, no longer take risks

We try to overcompensate: work harder, do more, step out of the commands of God and do what we think best 

He Consider God Faithful Despite the Facts

Romans 4:18-21

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Abraham faced some facts:

  • His body as good as dead
  • Sarah past the age of child bearing
  • He did not waiver through unbelief
  • By human reasoning, power and effort it was not possible

He considered the facts and approached it with Faithful in a powerful God

He believe in who God was, In what God promised and His ability to carry it through

We can approach facts different ways:

Try to avoid the facts

Analyze the facts

Be critical of the facts

Be disappointed by the facts

Believe the facts will get worse

Abraham: He approached the facts with faith

What are the facts about your life?

Approach them with faith! Trust God, His plan

God is faithful

Abraham believed God was faithful to His promised, even despite unfavourable circumstances.

Abraham Reasoned That God Could Raise the Dead

Hebrews 11:17-19

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

He received a promised from God

Through him all nations would be blessed

They had Isaac

God called him to sacrifice hi,

The only way for him to reconcile what was being asked was to believe that God could raise the dead

  • never seen it before
  • He reasoned God was going to work; He had a plan
  • Yet God had a different plan. 
  • The facts remains: He believed God could raise the dead

We know God can raised the dead. If God can raise the dead, God can: Change your heart, People’s heart, circumstances

There is no limit to what God can do.