HEROES OF THE FAITH ~ LESSON FOUR

ABRAHAM
Heb 11:8 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.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
The walk by faith is not for timid souls
It has been said that real men don't need religion. The truth is that it takes a real man or woman to walk by faith. It isn't for sissies.

Q. Was Abraham a 'wild eyed zealot' who had 'flipped out', or were the fires of youthful zeal still burning throughout his long life?
Ans. The only low spots in his life were those times when his faith was low and he doubted God.
1. He denied his wife in Egypt. The real problem was that he doubted God's ability to keep them safe. Gen 20:1-3
2. Taking Hagar as the one through whom the promised seed would come. Gen 16:1-4
Always remember that if the husband and wife are ONE, then the promise to one is effective to both. The promised seed was to her as well as to him.
I. Faith Goes at God's command.
A. By faith he went out. He left a place of palatial homes to live in tents.
1.Peter and Andrew left the family fishing business.
Mat 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mat 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
2. Likewise, James and Zebedee.
Mat 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
Mat 4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
3. Matthew left a cushy job.
Mat 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
4. Paul changed course and never looked back.
Conclusion: If the walk of faith hasn't made a difference in your life, maybe you're not walking it yet!

II. Faith gives up ANYTHING God asks. He offered Isaac. Only then did God take on a new meaning in his life.
Gen 22:14 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.
[Jehovah sees] After we have proven God through faith, we never have to feel abandoned again!

III. Faith looks beyond this present world. Abraham looked for a city.
Did these people have a vain faith?
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
They will see the results of their faith.
Mat 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.