The Call of Abraham
Categories: Biographical Sermon Outlines, Sermon Outlines Tags: Sermons on Abraham CommentsSermon on Abraham
INTRODUCTION: Read Genesis 12:1-9
A. The Lord called Abram to leave his homeland for the promise of a new land.
B. Abram was to begin a new nation which would result in blessing for the world.
C. The Gentile people, though, were steadfastly working to get as far away from God as possible (Rom. 1:21-23)
D. At the same time God was working through Abraham to save all who would be true to Him.
E. Genesis 12 reveals Abraham’s call and his coming.
DISCUSSION
A. ABRAHAM’S CALL
1. Abram was to leave his homeland and go to a place he had never seen.
a. Certain promises were given to Abram, if he would do what the Lord was instructing him to do
1) Genesis 12:2-3
2) God would make of him a great nation.
3) He would bless Abram, make his name great
4) The Lord would bless them that blessed Abram, and curse them that cursed Abram.
5) In Abram would all families of the earth be blessed
b. God’s calling always includes obligations for men to follow, coupled with beautiful and abundant promises.
1) God calls all men today through the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 The. 2:14)
2) God’s calling is complete with its promise to become part of the greatest nation even know to men (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6)
3) Those who obey that call will be blessed, wear a great name (Acts 11:26), and will be a true blessing to the world (Mat. 5:13-14).
2. If obeyed, Abraham’s call would translate him from a mortgage holder to a pilgrim and stranger.
a. Ur of the Chaldees was well developed, affording men the best the world could offer.
b. God’s calling demanded Abram to leave the best the world could offer, and look for the best of a better place.
c. Ur’s fruit was fading quickly.
1) Through man’s eyes it would have been hard to see the fading glory of Ur.
2) But, God knows all of these things and if Abram would trust and obey, he would be blessed!
3. The gospel’s call, when obeyed, translates one from his allegiance to the world into a better kingdom
a. Colossians 1:13-14
b. The word translate means to remove from one place to another
c. The world affords men all fleshly desires (1 John 2:15-17).
1) Through man’s eyes it can be hard to see the fading pleasure of worldly desires (Heb. 11:25).
2)But God’s word reveals the end of lust, and of those who live for the moment.
3) He that doeth the will of God abideth forever!
d. The Bible teaches that many will be called, but few will be chosen (Mat. 22:14).
B. ABRAHAM’S COMING
1. The reason many are called, but few are chosen, is because God’s call must be answered by “coming”?? to conformity with God’s will.
a. The journey from Haran to Canaan was about 400 miles.
b. Abram was already 75 years of age and Sarah was a barren woman.
c. God would give Abram a great name and fertility.
1) Here the promise of blessing counteracts the crisis of Sarah’s barrenness (Gen. 11:30).
2) Only obedience would bring God’s blessing so Abram obeyed.
a) Romans 4:17
b) Abram who stood against hope, learned to believe in hope _ Romans 4:18
c. When Abram finally arrives in the land, he is greeted by famine (Gen. 12:10)!
1) Abram’s “coming”?? was greeted with hardship and trial.
2) Because Abram was a man who would keep coming, he became a channel of blessings to all men everywhere.
2. Because he obeyed God’s call, Abraham lived as a separated sojourner.
a. The only way that Abraham could be used as a channel of blessings for humanity, was to be a separated person.
1) This separation was not to prevent Abraham from associating with other people.
2) It was to prevent him from being like other people
3) The world of evil must not influence godly people – godly people must be an influence for good.
b. By trusting in God, Abram was able to leave a fine home in Ur of Chaldees and become a pilgrim.
c. After writing about Abram and his family, the Hebrews writer wrote _ Hebrews 11:13
1) Why were they strangers on the earth, because they were seeking a better country
2) Hebrews 11:14-16
3) To keep from making excuses to return to his home land, Abraham just keep focusing on Jehovah – the source of his strength.
3. God’s calling always must be answered by “coming”?? _ Hebrews 11:6
a. This “coming”?? must be through Jesus (John 14:6), that is through his word (John 12:48).
b. Whatever distance one must travel in his coming (through repentance), the joy of harkening God’s call is tremendous.
c. Like Abraham, Christians are to be separated sojourners looking for a better country.
d. Regardless of the obstacles one must overcome on his journey, famine or any other trial, God’s way will always prove to be the best way.
4. Abram’s journey in Canaan can be traced by following his altars (Gen. 12:6-8).
a. The oak of Moreh was probably a place where the Canaanites taught about their gods.
b. The oak of Moreh, were shade existed, was favorite places for the tents of the wandering patriarchs.
c. The same Hebrew word used to translate Moreh is translated as teacher (Isa. 9:15) and teacher’s hill (Judges 7:1).
d. Probably in this cool grove some religions personage had given instruction to the people.
e. It was here that Abraham first build an altar to worship Jehovah, and by so doing Abraham was teaching the lost about his source of strength – The Almighty
f. Abraham left behind him a trail of altars, Christian friend, what follows you?
CONCLUSION
A. Abraham was called by God and answered that call by coming into conformity with God’s will.
B. God promised to bless this man with a great name, great descendants and a great land.
1. Abram enters the land only to face famine.
2. God promises Abraham’s seed the land (Gen. 12:7); but, Abram’s wife was barren and the Canaanites possessed the land.
C. Abraham was able to overcome insurmountable odds because he was determined to do things God’s way.
D. Friends, God is still calling men to come to him (2 Thess. 2:14).