THEME: FAITH LEADETH UNTO HOPE, HOPE LEADETH UNTO GLORY 

PREAMBLE 

Praise Ye the LORD…Service to God: Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow us… 

Last Sunday, we continued our discussion on the Foundation of Faith, the Christian Faith and Christian Life based on the Calling, Life, and Works of Abraham the Father of Faith and Nation of the Called Out and Chosen People of God. 

In our first installment, we discussed the State and Position of Abraham at the time of Calling.  We were made to understand that Abraham was a rich and wealthy man before his calling. That although God bless him in many ways, he was essentially a Man of Faith, Industry, and Performance. That his spirit and character of Faith, Industry, and Performance provided the basis of Multiplication and Increase in his possessions. 

Abraham’s Life of Abundance was not based on Miracles… of Faith without Industry (creativity, productivity and perseverance) and Performance (productive works, effective results and output).  He was a man whose belief and trust in God was put to productive works and good performance. 

The height of test of his Belief, Trust, and Obedience of God was when he was asked to sacrifice his own son of Promise—Isaac. This he did with flying colors. This led to expanded and extended promises, blessing, and glory. 

Last Sunday, we began discussions on ABRAHAM’S ENCOUNTERS in the Building of the Promised Nation.  We found out that the Promises of God are not without challenges, stress, fires, and threats, even threats to life. 

For example, we found out that the first challenge Abraham faced when he was asked to leave his father’s house, the comfort and stability of family, friends, and people, land, and supplies and things familiar, his first challenge on the journey to the Promised Land was Famine. 

Abraham, a man of dignity and wealth, faced with fear and survival SACRIFICED HIS WIFE, not any of his servants.  It took God to intervene and save his life and possessions. 

Indeed, there were other challenges, including loss of land, war, and above all, the challenge to use carnal means to attain the PROMISES of God.  We found out that not only did the birth of Ishmael, a carnal affair, brought trouble into the peace and quiet in his home and test of his fidelity to his wife… (comment on the challenges in marital relations between man and his wife over children and possessions). 

That is to say, the CARNAL MEANS for attaining the promises of God such as we have with the theories of winning ways, breakthroughs, and success, power, and possessions now common in the Church not only challenge the basis of Faith, Trust, Obedience, and Hope in God, they may well bring PAIN IN THE NECK—such as development in self-confidence and egoism, trust in works, not the grace of God, and lack of spirituality and above all true Christian character. 

Let us remember this one thing we found out—that in all his challenges, God always showed up. The LORD IS THERE is a cardinal truth, reality. and beauty of the Christian Faith and Life. 

INTRODUCTION 

We will continue today with ABRAHAM’S ENCOUNTERS on Building the Promised Nation—or in other words, challenges on the way to the Promised Land, or challenges of the Christian Faith and Life with the Promises of God or in another context the challenges of the Christian Faith and Christian Life on the way to Heaven. 

We mentioned last Sunday that there is some rich result with the challenges, tests, and trials with the Faith and Life, namely BUILDING CHARACTER, the Christian Character.  We found out from Abraham’s encounters that the challenges and tests brought him closer to God.  The result being, Great Revelation and Knowledge of God and expanding Promises, Blessings and Covenants between him and God.  You come to True and Deep Revelation of God, His Will, His Mind, and His Way through challenges, trials, and tests. It is through the challenges, threats, and trials that Israel concluded that: “THE LORD IS GOOD, HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER.” 

THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER 

Christian Faith and Christian Life call us unto SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD –  

• from the spirit and power of man (1st Corinthians 2:1-5) 

• from the spirit, wisdom and mindset of the world – 1st Corinthians 2:6-8,11; 1st John 2:13-17 

We are called unto a Life of Trust, Obedience, and Dependence upon God—believing, walking, and working with the Holy Spirit—1st Corinthians 2:12-16. 

The first challenge this brings us is Death to Self, Trusting not in our own understanding, knowledge, skills, and powers, but in God. 

The second spiritual way for the Saint then is Building Relationship with the Holy Spirit depending upon the Grace and Hope in God (Romans 5:1-11). 

Of course, there are and there shall be challenges—we depend on Trust, Grace of God rejoicing in hope of Glory in Christ not of ourselves (Romans 12:12). Christ in you is the Hope of Glory, not your own spirit and mind power. 

This calls for the Spirit of Trust and Dependance on God—so we might enter into the abundance and everlasting Kingdom of Jesus Christ—2nd Peter 1:1-16.  This is the Way, Joy, and Hope in Spiritual Maturity. 

The third factor in Christian character is assurance of Faith in God, Christ, The Word of God.  This is the basis of Assurance of Faith—1st John 5:4-5, 11-12, 14-15.  We are elected of God, so we grow in Christ—1st Peter 1;2-9, 13-16. 

Christ is Alive. We know.  Essentially, we see Him not, yet we believe, trust, and hope in Him… we are in no way shaken in our Faith though we be tried and tested in diverse ways. 

CONCLUSION 

The CHRISTIAN FAITH calls unto a LIFE of – 

• Righteousness – seeking, knowing, believing, depending upon and doing God’s Will… 

• Holiness – being sanctified or separated unto Faith, Trust, and Total Yielding unto God.  God Is Holy. He is not of the world, so be separated unto Him. 

• Faithfulness – building up maturity in Trust, Obedience, and Total Dependence upon God through obedience of the Word and the Holy Spirit, not yielding to lures, tests, trials, and all. 

Remember, you are Born Again… you are no more of the old flesh, which is but grass, its glory short and temporary not eternal. Build your Life, Works, and Hope in Christ, the Word and the Holy Spirit.  This is Spiritual Maturity and Christian Character. 

Sunday, July 22, 2007