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THE CHURCH ON HIGHER GROUND |
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HOMEPAGE |
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OTHER STUDIES |
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SERMON NETS short messages |
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WHAT IS IN THE NEWS?.. a Christian response |
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THE PLAN...... BIBLE STUDY |
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GREETINGS AND GUIDANCE |
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LESSON OUTLINES |
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ADAM TO BABEL |
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PAGE 1 ADAM TO SETH (1-6) |
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PAGE 2 ENOCH TO JOB ( 5-11) |
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SHORT STUDY FALSE RELIGION |
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PAGE 3 S.S./ORIGIN OF FALSE RELIGIONS #1&2 |
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ABRAHAM'S LIFE |
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PAGE 4 ABRAM/ CALL TO FALL ( 12) |
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PAGE 5 ABRAM'S RETURN/ LOT IN SODOM/ABRAM BUILDS ALTER (13) |
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PAGE 6 LOT'S RESCUE/ABRAM'S VISION/HAGAR (14-16) |
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PAGE 7 ABRAM'S NAME CHANGED/SS-PERFECTION/CUTTING THE COVENANT(17) |
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PAGE 8 ANGELS VISIT ABRAHAM (18) |
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LOT'S LIFE |
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PAGE 9 THE DAYS OF LOT (19) |
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PAGE 10 LOT'S WAY (19) |
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ABRAHAM |
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PAGE 11 ABIMELECH/ISAAC BORN/COST OF SIN (20-21) |
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PAGE 12 (21) |
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PAGE 13 (22) |
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PAGE 14 (22-23) |
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PAGE 15 (23) |
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PAGE 16 (24- |
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PAGE 17 ( |
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PAGE 18 ( |
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PAGE 19 |
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PAGE 20 |
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PAGE 4 ABRAM/ CALL TO FALL ( 12)
LESSON #1 THE CALL OF ABRAM
LESSON #2 ABRAM'S FALL
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LESSON #1 THE CALL OF ABRAM
We now come to one to the most important milestones in the Bible. Other milestones so far have been satan's rebellion, Adam's fall, Cain's murder, Noah's Flood, Tower of Babel, Job's trial's. In a world that has been completely corrupted, from Europe to Africa to Asia, God has but a few He can count on to be obedient to Him. Remember the way Enoch was described? "...he walked with God and was not for God took him." Remember the way Noah was described? "Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation, and Noah walked with God." Remember the way Job was described? "...and that man was perfect and upright , and one that feared God, and eschewed evil."
Abram is the next man on the scene who is a God-pleaser. He is not a God-pleaser from the start of his life. He was part of a family that worshipped idols (Josh. 24:2). Somehow and sometime God was able to communicate with Abram and initiate a relationship with him. At some point God told Abram to leave his homeland and go to a place he did not know (Ge.12:1). God's plan was ready to be
implemented. He told Abram that He would make a great nation of him and He would bless him above all nations
(vss.2-4). God promised him the geographical area we think
of today as Canaan or Israel or Palestine.
When God called Abram to leave his homeland, the Ur of
Chaldees, Abram's father, two brothers, and nephew were all
part of the entourage. They moved to an area north of Abram's ultimate destination. While there, God called Abram a second time to continue to follow Him. This time to leave Haran and go south to the Promised Land.
Abram's nephew Lot traveled with him to start a new life
(Ge.12&13) From a world bound by darkness, God started a light in a single man that would eventually light the entire world. Abram was now being told that Eve's promised Seed would come through Abram's lineage. He was also being
told that his children would possess the entire land
of Canaan.
Whereas the life of Adam occupies just over two chapters of the Bible and Noah's story takes a little over three, Abram is presented in twelve chapters. God refers to Abraham, after his name change, as His friend (Ja.2:23). Abraham is referred to as the father of the faithful. When giving credability to a person's spiritual credentials, it is often said, "the God of Abraham..." Abram was called and chosen by God. Though we are not expected to be another Abraham, we can learn from his life and example. God calls all of us out of our old lives and pagan ways.
Once we leave our old life, God still calls us (a second
time?) to move into the life He has prepared for us.
Have we heard His call? Have we followed fully? Can we be called the "friend of God"? Do others see us as faithful? Does our faith have the credability of God for it's credentials? God has always had a plan. The plan is focused on the Seed, but it radiates out to the whole world and God uses people to accomplish His will, to fulfill His plan. Are you a living, active part of the God's plan. Leave everything and follow Him.
STEPS TO FOLLOW (Ge.12:1-9)
As we take a closer look at the early life of Abram we learn some things that distinguish him, not only above his fellows but above most men.
Abram's Steps
12:1 God CALLS Abram.
vss. 2-3 God's PROMISE TO BLESS Abram.
vs. 4 Abram OBEYS by starting on his journey.
vs. 5 Abram's FOLLOWS God and TAKES OTHERS.
vs. 6 Abram DID NOT SETTLE for the first wide place in the road. He FOLLOWED God FULLY, and encounters his new neighbors.
vs. 7 God RENEWS HIS PROMISE to Abram upon his arrival in the new land. Abram BUILDS AN ATLAR to the LORD who appeared to him there.
vss. 8-9 Abram ENTERS INTO THE LAND which the LORD had promised him. He also BUILDS AN ALTAR TO THE LORD upon his arrival. He also CALLED upon the name of the LORD. He also CONTINUED ON in his journey.
In our relationship with God we need to follow the example of Abram in these ways.
Our Steps
1. We need to make our "calling and election sure" (read II Pe. 1:3-11) See, God calls many, but only a few are chosen (see Mt. 20:16, 22:14; I Co.1:26; Re. 17:14.) We need to listen for His call and then answer "YES." He does the calling, and by His grace, we do the answering.
2. We need to know the promises of God to us. It is by His promises we are encouraged and garaunteed our inheritance both here and in eternity.
3. We need to obey God's directives. This is not just good, it is essential to life and success in the faith. (we will study this later).
4. We are to not only say "yes" to God at the beginning, we are to follow. That is what a disciple is, a follower and a learner. We are to follow Jesus (another study.) In our following Jesus, we are to bring others along. Disciples making disciples. We are not loners, we are a family. Grace is a great thing for many reasons; one reason is, the more you share with others, the more there is for yourself.
5. Don't settle for "just getting in." The reason people fall out of bed is that they fall asleep to close to the edge. That is why people fall away from the Lord. They fall asleep to close to the entry point of salvation. After entering salvation, press on, follow fully. You will encounter new problems but also new possibilities.
6. Stay in touch with God. He will make His promises new every morning. He does not lead you into salvation to leave you on your own. He is with you all the way. Build those altars. Pray, Study and Meditate. Sacrifice, Worship and Praise.
7. Realize that getting saved is not the promised land. Victorious living is. Getting saved is the entry point to the promised land. Enter the promised land, don't stop in the door way. Build another altar (and another and another
and...) and call on the Lord. He is our start and finish and the way in-between. And continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. In this way you can truly have the faith of Abram (Abraham.)
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LESSON #2 ABRAM'S FALL
(Gen.12:10-20)
One of the things we have seen in this study, as well as other studies in the Bible, is that satan usually attacks us in areas that are not so "spiritual." As in the very beginning, Eve was deceived with a piece of fruit. As spiritual as Job was, satan attacked him through his neighbors, lightening, tornado, physical sickness, friends and wife.
So it is with Abram, though he had chosen to trust and obey God, when a famine hit the land he did not seek God, he did not pray, he hit the road for Egypt (vs.10). Now Sarai, Abram's wife, was good looking and Abram, knowing how men are, realized that someone may try to take his wife by having him killed (11-12). He told Sarai to tell people that she was his sister rather than his wife(13). Someone may say, "Well she was his sister, I mean at least his half sister." Yes but he was wanting people to believe that she was NOT HIS WIFE, and she was. Some may call this a half lie, but it is in reality a whole lie. Some will even say, "But it was justified lying" and even go so far as to claim that "God teaches us to lie." Where does that
come from but satan himself since he is the father of lies (Jn.8:44). Abram's problem was that he did not call on God for guidance and help. He should have sought God when the famine came, if God would have led him to Egypt (which I doubt) he should have sought God about the fear of being killed. Abram feared and doubted and then used his position as head of the household to involve his wife in his failure, sin. Sure enough, the Egyptians thought Sarai was beautiful and she was claimed by Pharoah's officials to become one of Pharoah's wives (14-15).
It is interesting that Pharoah sought to do the right thing by Abram. He was willing to give the customary gifts to the family for the new wife (16). Sometimes the pagan does more honorably than the backslidden "believer". However, God had a vested interest in Abram and Sarai and He intervened. Great plagus hit Pharoah's household "...because of Sarai, Abrams WIFE" (17). Sometimes God works through the natural realm as well. She may have been Abram's half sister, but God saw her as his WIFE. Pharoah's integrity shows up here. He questions Abram about the deception and pointed out that Abram almost caused him to do wrong (18-19). The Egyptian's still had a sense of right and wrong at this point in history.
Certainly Abram knew the right way and did not walk in it.
Pharoah then had Abram "escorted...away" (20).
Truths to notice:
* satan uses natural phenomenon to attack us. Nothing "just happens." Either it is God sent or God allowed, and if God allowed, it is possibly satan sent. See everything in the light of a "plan". "All things work together for good to those who love God..." (Ro.8:28). We are tested and tried in the natural realm because we are physical creatures. Jesus was tried in the natural realm also; hunger, pain, relationships.
* Seek God in everything. When faced with a problem seek God. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths" (Pr.3:5-6).
* Never resort to a lie. That is satans method. God is truth, Jesus is...the truth, and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. We are to walk in the truth and lie not. All liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
* We should never be a stumbling block to our family our friends or our foes. Therefore, walk in the truth. Trust and obey. Fail not. You are to be light, salt and examples.
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