Over the past four weeks, we have been looking at the life of Abraham being a man given to intense fellowship, one that is indeed family focused irrespective of his service to God & people, a dogged follower of God and today, we will exploring him a one who is faith personified.
Our original foundation with God is LIFE, the life of God.
Genesis 2:7 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Then the Lord God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the [e]dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit].
Just like every piece of computer or smart device has an operating system that defines how it operates, what the views look like, what stores or platform it can get or download additional apps from or where you get the required support from when troubleshooting is required… THE OPERATING SYSTEM IN MAN WAS LIFE
# Adam had no need of FAITH because he was operating on the platform of LIFE
The day Adam ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, his operating system changed from LIFE to a Knowledge-based OS
Genesis 2:25 King James Version (KJV)
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Genesis 3:7 King James Version (KJV)
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
That’s why Jesus’ main offering centred on ETERNAL LIFE.
John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 Amplified Bible (AMP)
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 10:10 King James Version (KJV)
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
# Abundant Life here is not a measure in the quantity but a measure of quality/class.
# Eternal Life is an upgraded operating system compared with what Adam had
# On the platform of Life, everything Adam needed came to him
Genesis 2:18-21 King James Version (KJV)
18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
God brought all formed things to him to see what he will call them.
# The LIFE in him had capacity for immediate supply
# He knew all things without being taught. Knowledge gathering was not in the equation
Knowledge is a product of information or data collection and we collect data/information with the use of our senses being Sight, Touch, Hearing, Smell,
Faith exploits one exploits our senses in a very dynamic way
This massive loss and change in the configuration of man triggered the requirement for another platform through which man then able to re-connect to God.
However, since man’s operating has been degraded to knowledge, it will take an effective level of operation in knowledge backed up by another element, FAITH, to connect back to God.
Faith is the action I take in response to God’s word or the inherent Life in me.
Romans 10:11-17 King James Version (KJV)
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
# As powerful as faith is, it is a degradation
# God did not plan that we will have to live by faith
When God came to Adam and Eve in the Garden, they hid themselves. So, Faith is one of God’s provisions to man through which man can get back to Him
Genesis 3:8 King James Version (KJV)
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
Romans 3:23 King James Version (KJV)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
So, falling from glory to shame made it difficult for Adam to show up before God
# Faith helps me to reconnect with God
# Access to God signifies access to the real me because I was created in His image and likeness and He breathe His LIFE into me
# Faith helps me to relocate to my lost Glory
Faith is an action word
Genesis 12:1-4 King James Version (KJV)
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
Abraham acted on the instruction in faith
Hebrews 11:8 King James Version (KJV)
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Matthew 14:25-29 King James Version (KJV)
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Genesis 22:1-14 King James Version (KJV)
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
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.
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.
Hebrews 11:17 King James Version (KJV)
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Faith Unlock Access to Deep Secretes
Matthew 14:25-29 King James Version (KJV)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Abraham operated in grace, and righteousness through faith rather than through the law. That’s why Jesus said he had seen His days.
In Genesis 22, Abraham was tested by the same challenge that God was going to put Himself through. He was given the opportunity to see the days of Jesus through the experience He had.
Faith Loads your Righteousness Account
Galatians 3:6 King James Version (KJV)
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Faith Speaks
Genesis 22:8 King James Version (KJV)
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Prayers
# Father, I choose to submit all that I am to you… Please help me
# Father, help to grow in my faith in you as you take me on a journey with you for the fulfilment of my destiny.
# Father, I choose to obey your every word, give me more grace to stay true to this pledge