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Father’s of Nations. The Redemption Story. The creation account (Genesis 1:26-28) Sin & the fall – man sins & seems to thoroughly disrupt God’s purpose for us Abram & the Jews – God’s plan to rescue mankind begins (Genesis 15-22)
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The Redemption Story • The creation account (Genesis 1:26-28) • Sin & the fall – man sins & seems to thoroughly disrupt God’s purpose for us • Abram & the Jews – God’s plan to rescue mankind begins (Genesis 15-22) • Jesus incarnate – Jesus gives His life for our reconciliation to restore the nations back to Him
1) Abram leaves to receive (Gen 12) • Genesis 12:1-7 • Abram told to leave his family & nation • All the “families of the earth” would be blessed by him • God would make Abram’s name great
2) Abram just believed (Gen 15) • Genesis 15:1-6 • Abram believes God’s Word • Galatians 3.6-9 • Abram just believed God (apart from works – Romans 4) & stepped into the stream of God’s blessing & plan • We believe & we step into the stream of God’s blessing & plan
3) Abram & Sarai aren’t perfect (Gen 16) • Abram & Sarai aren’t getting any younger – he’s 86 & 11 years have gone by • Abram & his wife Sarai try to help God out • They think that the child of promise might come from her handmaid Hagar (Genesis 16)
4) Abram receives a new name (Gen 17) • Genesis 17:1-8 • God tells Abram to “walk” with Him “blamelessly” • God promises “I will multiply you exceedingly” (v.2) & “make you exceedingly fruitful” (v.6) • God says “your name shall be Abraham” (v.5) • God promises Abram that he will be “the father of multitude of nations” (“ha” from “hamon” = multitude)
4) Sarai receives a new name (Gen 17) • Genesis 17:15-16 • “I” changed to an “H” on the end of Sarai’s name also! • Their destiny’s & identity’s were changed together • Genesis 17:17 “… Abraham fell on his face and laughed … Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?"
5) Abraham obeys & gives God the best • Genesis 22:1-3 • Abraham, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Gen 22.7-8) • The angel, says don’t kill the child (Gen 22.10-12) • God supplied a ram (v.13) & offers instead of his son. Mt. Moriah is the mountain range where Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem • Genesis 22.16-18
5 Keys to become fathers of many • Leave - Abram had to leave his clan & country – his comfort zone, to experience the new • Believe – Abram just needed to believe & trust, God would handle the restRomans 4.1-3,13-16 • Repent & go on -- you’ll make mistakes while you’re waiting, but move on & don’t get stuck
5 Keys to become fathers of many • Receive - God will give you a new name, a new identity & a new boundary – together • God will change your identity • God will change you lineage • God I will make you a father of many • Your range of influence will be far greater than the natural
5 Keys to become fathers of many • Give God the best & obey -- • You cannot out-give God • When you give God the best, on that “mountain”, God will provide! • Abraham became a pointer to Christ – so do we • As we point to Christ, we can father many
Become a father of many! • Abram moved beyond the natural to the supernatural, becoming a father to nations & this was “pre-Christ” • Galatians 3:13-14“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE "-- 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Father’s of many • Ephesians 1:2-3 • Called to “…follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised”, Romans 4:12 • We don’t remember “Abram”, we remember “Abraham” – the man who changed the world! • As natural fathers, we beget families & clans – but as spiritual fathers, we can affect nations! • Your name can be changed by the Spirit & the “H” put it in
Fathers of man • Paul fathered multitudes & nations1Corinthians 4:15“For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.” • Saul became Paul & changed the world! • Foursquare people today: • Chris & Laura Dakas in Albania • Ted & Sue Olbrich in Cambodia