A Study of the Miraculous Continued
A Journey Of Faith
GTCOTR/ws073102
The setting: Genesis 14
Abram had just come from a victorious battle to recover his nephew Lot, Lot’s family and all the people and goods of Sodom from their captors. He had been asked to accept all of the goods recovered as a financial reward for his victory by the King of Sodom. Abram refused to allow any man the claim of making him rich because he had already covenanted with God in that matter. Abram asked only for provisions for his servant/soldiers and also takes one tenth, a tithe of the recovered wealth, and gives it to Melchizedek, the priest of God. By this act, Abram sanctified the regained goods, passing them through the covenant at the altar of God in the form of a tithe.
This shows that Abram had both a dependence on God and a covenant with God.
Genesis 15
1 ¶ After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
2 ¶ And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Romans 4
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 ¶ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 ¶ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Abraham Chose A Journey Of Faith
* Abraham asked God for a son
* Abraham believed God against all hope for his miracle
* Abraham confessed his faith above his circumstances
* Abraham learned patience (through several errors)
> He learned that only God can make an Isaac
* Abraham received his miracle
* Abraham’s miracle was put to the test
> Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
* Abraham passed the test (He did not withhold from God)
> Genesis 22
15 ¶ And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Get Into Covenant With God (dependence & involvement)
* Choose Your Miracle
> For God’s Glory
> For Other’s Provision
> For The Kingdom’s Advancement/Enhancement
> For Covenant’s Sake
* Go Against The Odds (Against hope, believe in hope)
* Declare Your Faith - (out talk your fears)
* Be Patient (Do not let time dictate future)
* Keep your Isaac on the altar
Divide up into small groups
Begin your journey of faith
Start small: (Exodus 23:30; Deuteronomy 7:22; Isaiah 28:10&13)
Ask yourself the question:
What would I change if I could?
What would I get if I could?
What would I do if I could?
What would I give if I could?
What would I be if I could?
Declare your faith
On this journey you will learn many lessons. Enjoy!
