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God’s Hero’s of Faith
In The Hall of Fame
# 4 “Abraham”, The Model Worshiper
Hebrews 11: 8-10
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.
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:
10
For he looked for a city which hath
foundations, whose builder and maker is
God.
Introduction:
We have seen thus far in Hebrews eleven;
Abel, The Model
Witness;
Vs 4
Enoch, The Model
Walk;
Vs. 5,6
Noah, The Model
Worker.
Vs. 7
In verses 8-10 we see,
Abraham, The Model
Worshiper.
In the book of Genesis there are four
altars in four different places,
that were built by Abraham. There were
no doubt other altars built by him that
were not recorded in the scriptures.
These four were recorded to reveal
four different experiences in the
life of Abraham. It is also
interesting to note that there are
four statements about Abraham
recorded in Hebrews eleven which link to
the four altars of Genesis.
Each of these four places was the scene
of some special revelation of God. These
sites became, in after years, the most
coveted possessions of the nation. What
did these altars represent to the
patriarch Abraham?
I. THE ALTAR OF SALVATION
- Genesis
12: 7
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and
said, Unto thy seed will I give this
land: and there builded he an altar unto
the LORD, who appeared unto him.
Then In
Hebrews 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.
Abraham followed God’s command, He
Obeyed “by Faith” and did not question
God. We meet God at the altar of
salvation as we exercise faith in God.
After we come to the altar of salvation
we as “obedient children” are to live a
life of faith and holiness.
This altar was a constant reminder to
Abraham.
I) Of his dependence on God.
Follow God’s Will.
2) Of his difference to the
Canaanites.
Salvation truly makes us different from
the world.
II. THE ALTAR OF SUBMISSION
- Genesis 12: 8
And he removed from thence unto a
mountain on the east of Bethel, and
pitched his tent, having Bethel on
the west, and Hai on the east: and there
he builded an altar unto the
LORD, and called upon the name of the
LORD.
In this verse Abraham associates a tent
with his alter. Showing that he was
submitted to God as a pilgrim and a
sojourner. Abraham was very wealthy, yet
he submitted to a lifestyle of a
nomad. Dwelling in a tent with his
family.
Also In
Hebrews 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 11:13,
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.
As pilgrims and sojourners in this world
we are to live a submitted life. Jesus
said of us as His followers in John 17: 16;
They
are not of the world, even as I am not
of the world.
Jesus also admonishes us in
1 John 2: 15
“ Love not the world, neither the
things that are in the world.”
As pilgrims and sojourners we are to
abstain from fleshly lust, and submit to
His will for our lives.
III. THE ALTAR OF SEPARATION
-
Genesis 13:18
Then Abram removed his tent, and
came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre,
which is in Hebron, and built there
an altar unto the LORD.
When Abraham removed his tent, he
separated himself from Lot and the
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Hebrews 11: 10
For he looked for a city which hath
foundations, whose builder and maker is
God.
Genesis 13:8
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be
no strife, I pray thee, between me
and thee, and between my herdmen and thy
herdmen; for we be brethren.
9
Is not the whole land before thee?
separate thyself, I pray thee, from me:
if thou wilt take the left hand, then
I will go to the right; or if thou
depart to the right hand, then I will go
to the left.
10
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld
all the plain of Jordan, that it was
well watered every where, before the
LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even
as the garden of the LORD, like the land
of Egypt, as thou comest
unto Zoar.
11
Then Lot chose him all the plain of
Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and
they separated themselves the one from
the other.
Abraham had separated himself in a
threefold manner.
He separated from Lot’s
Confusion
-
“Strife”
He separated from Lot’s
Choice
-
“Plain of
Jordan”
He separated from Lot’s
Companionship
-
“and they separated
themselves the one
from the other.”
Abraham had his eye on a heavenly city, Hebrews 11: 16
But now they desire a better country,
that is, an heavenly: wherefore
God is not ashamed to be called their
God: for he hath prepared for them a
city.
IV. THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE
- Genesis
22: 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.
In this passage of scripture we see the
great test of Abraham’s faith. He was
to offer his son as a burnt offering
unto the Lord. He did not question God
at any time.
Look at the account of this offering in
Hebrews 11: 17-19
-
17
By faith Abraham, when he was tried,
offered up Isaac: and he that had
received the promises offered up his
only begotten son,
18
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall
thy seed be called:
19
Accounting that God was able to raise
him up, even from the dead; from whence
also he received him in a figure.
Abraham had received Issac through
resurrection. God had raised up Sara’s
womb from the dead, that she might bear
a son through Abraham. He knew that God
could perform another resurrection.
Issac begins to survey the situation and
ask his father the question,
“Where Is The Lamb?”
And Abraham gave him a true and a
prophetic statement in Genesis 22: 8
“… God will provide himself
a lamb for a burnt offering:…”
And God did provide Himself as a lamb.
John 1:29,
The
next day John seeth Jesus coming unto
him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world.
God would not ask Abraham to do
something that He Himself would not do.
God spared not His only son but
delivered Him up for us all. “Trust and
Obey, for there is no other way.” We are
to trust that God knows what is best for
us and obey his commands.
Abraham’s Four Altars:
I. The Altar Of Salvation
Have you personally accepted Jesus as
your savior? If not why not trust Him
now!
II. The Altar Of Submission
Have you submitted your life to Him?
Submit to Him the reigns of your life
and allow Him to direct your life..
III. The Altar Of Separation
Are you separated from the things of
this world?
We are to be holy even as He is holy.
IV. The Altar Of Sacrifice
We are to live a sacrificial life
dedicated to our savior.
Rom 12:1-2
1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.
2
And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is
that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God.
Do You have these four altars in your
life?
If not, why not build these altars today
and follow Him without question!
Message By:
Dr. Bob Daugherty
134 Gravitt Lane
Chickamauga, GA 30707
Web-Site:
www.bobdaugherty.com
E-Mail:
drbobda@bellsouth.net
Phone – 706-858-4655
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