Lech Lecha – Go Out, Go Forth

Reading:      Bereshith (Genesis) 12:1-5.

Proposition: When Avraham obeyed the voice of God the story of our redemption began.

A Spiritual Song: ‘Father Abraham has many sons, many sons has father Abraham. I am one of them and so are you, so let’s all praise the Lord.’

Teaching:

Abraham’s Journey – 4 Stages.

1. SEPARATION – Abraham went forth – Genesis 12:5.
2. FAILURE – Abraham went down – Genesis 12:10.
3. RESTORATION – Abraham went up – Genesis 13:1.
4. PROGRESS – Abraham went on – Genesis 13:3.

The Testing of the Man of Faith.

1. His obedience was tested – Genesis 12:1-4.
2. His motives were tested – Genesis 13:8.
3. His faith was tested – Genesis 15:2-24.
4. His love was tested – Genesis 22:1-3.

Our Walk and Work.

2 Necessities: –

1)    Walking with God – Genesis 5:24 –

ONE PATH.

‘And Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him.’

2)    Working with God – Nehemiah 4:6 –

ONE OBJECT.

‘The people had a mind to work.’

The Gospel – Good News.

1)    Saved by the Gospel – 2 Timothy 1:8-9 – ‘Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Messiah Jesus before time began.’ CONVERSION.

2)    Separated to the Gospel – Romans 1:1 – ‘Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.’ CONSECRATION.

3)    Sent with the Gospel – Acts 13:4 – ‘So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. COMMISSION.

Good Employment.

3 Requirements: –

Always Praying – Philippians 1:4 – ‘always in every prayer of mine making request for you ALL with joy.’

IN THE SPIRIT.

Always Rejoicing – 2 Corinthians 6:10 – ‘as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing and possessing all things.’  IN THE LORD.

Always Abounding – 1 Corinthians 15:58 – ‘Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain.’ IN THE GOSPEL WORK.

By Faith we Understand and go on – ‘Lech Lecha’.

Hebrews 12:8. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place where he would receive an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

v9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;

v10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 12:28. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.        ‘Omein b’shem Adonainu Yeshua.’