Scripture: Galatians 3:26-29

C.I.: Spiritual Patriarchs Wanted Needed!

1. It is not by accident that the New Testament – begins by talking about family.
a. (Matt. 1:1), “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David the son of Abraham.”
b. Genealogy (heritage/family tree): some limbs may be knotty & rotten – but the fruit is precious!
c. Today we will learn some lessons – from the life of the patriarch – of the family of God!

I. Lessons on Faith for a Patriarch…

A. Lesson #1: Learning to Obey even When We Don’t Know the Consequences of Our Obedience

1. Our faith needs to be characterized by trusting God even when they don’t know where He is leading
a. (Quote Gen. 12:1-4), “Now the Lord said to Abram … So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to Him. – Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.”
1) Note: “And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
2) Today people retire at 65 – 10 years after this God tells Abram - its time to go to work.
3) You are never too old – or even too young – to begin your work for God as a patriarch!

b. (Heb. 11:8), “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which….”
1) People rob themselves of the opportunity for God to work in their lives – by predetermining the consequences – even though God may have another plan (miss out on the adventure!!)
2) Examples: Jobs/Careers (Jms. 4:13-16) – Ministry (Acts 16:6; 19:10) / Rev. 3:8.
3) Because it was Abraham’s purpose to follow God wherever – he achieved God’s purpose in his life – (Gen. 12:7), “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I….’”

B. Lesson #2: Learning to Trust even when We are Afraid (…and even when we have “blown it”!)

1. Too often people stop trusting - after they have sinned – because they believe God now can’t use them
a. (Gen. 12:11-13), “And it came about that when they came near Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, ‘I know that you are a beautiful woman; - and it will come about that when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, “This is his wife”; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. – Please say that you are my sister – so that it may go well with me on account of you.’”

b. Abraham didn’t trust God’s promises vs. 2-3, so he lied/sinned. – Have we ever done the same?
1) God promises to take care of our needs (Matt. 6:33) – but we don’t trust; steal, cheat IRS, etc.
2) God promises to bless us (Eph. 1:3) – yet we seek after the world’s blessings.

c. Yet while people may stop trusting God’s promises – He remains faithful to His word (cf. v. 3)
1) (Gen. 12:17), “But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of S...”
2) (Rom. 3:3-4), “If some did not believe, - their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? – May it never be! – Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar.”

d. We have all “blown it” from time to time. – Yet our God is a God who keeps His promises. – And one of those promises is that if His children return to Him and seek His forgiveness, (I John 1:9)!
1) When Abram returned to God – God returned to His promise (Gen. 13:14-15), “Look north..”
2) God doesn’t call the perfect – He perfects those whom He calls!!!
C. Lesson #3: Learning to Believe even When the Consequences of Our Belief seem Impossible

1. God had promised to make Abraham a “great nation” . . . at 75 years of age????!
a. That was when God had first made the promise – but it wasn’t the last time He made it.
1) (Gen. 17:1, 5), “Now when Abram was 99 years old, - the Lord appeared to Abram and said, . . . ‘No longer shall your name be Abram (exalted father), - but your name shall be Abraham (father of a multitude); - for I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.’”
2) What made this such an impossible promise – was that Abraham & Sarai were childless!

b. Has God ever made a promise to you – that you believed would be impossible for Him to do?
1) Abundant life (Jn. 10:10) – Good conclusions (Rom. 8:28) – Victory over temptation (I Cor. 10:13) – Power to Achieve (Eph. 3:20)
2) We can do the difficult without God - He specializes in doing the impossible - for those who trust in Him - (Mk. 10:27), “With men it is impossible, but not with God; - for all things are possible for God.” – Now we see 4 lessons Abraham learned from God…

c. #1: God provides what we lack – in order to accomplish His will - (Rom. 4:17-21), “As it is written, ‘A father of many nations have I made you.” – Abraham in the sight of God whom he had faith, - believed God gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.”
1) Are you living the “abundant life” (Jn. 10:10) – God can “call it into being” for you!
2) Has your victory over sin “died” (or it on life support) – God can bring it back to life for you!
3) Are we as a congregation of God’s people – powerless to do great things for God? - He…

d. #2: When hope is gone – believers trust what God said/spoke! “In hope against hope Abraham believed - in order that he might become a father of many nations, - according to that which had been spoken, ‘so shall your descendants be.’”
1) Even when God’s promise appeared impossible – “descendants more than dust/stars”!

e. #3: Our personal situation - does not limit what God can do - “And without become weak in faith – he contemplated his own body, - now as good as dead since he was about 100 years old, - and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. - Yet with respect to the promise of God, - he did not waiver in unbelief, - but grew strong in faith, - giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, - He was also able to perform.”
1) Abraham took stock of his situation – and realized that if he was to be a father – then God would have to be involved!
2) There wasn’t a star in the east – but belief and action by Abraham – because of God’s promise

CONCLUSIONS:

1. The people God used to bring the Messiah into the world weren’t perfect – they were just like you & me

2. God is calling all of us – no matter how dysfunctional we are – to become part of His family

3. If you need to RETURN – He will forgive / If you need to become part of His family… (Gal. 3:26)!
a. (v. 26), Does this “Faith” mean: obeying God even if you don’t know where this will lead?
b. (v. 26), Does this “Faith” mean: trusting God even if you are afraid?
c. (v. 26), Does this “Faith” mean: believing God even if you being His child seems impossible?

4. If you have learned these lessons of faith – then God is ready to reward your obedience (quote v. 27)!