Faith is the key to Heaven

Having Order In Our Lives

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Camp of Israel

Book of Numbers Chapter 2: 1, 2, 34 Chapter 9: 15-18; Chapter 10: 35, 36

I do not know about anyone else, but when I was lost and out in the world, I lived one chaotic day after another.

The very first day I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, I began to have “order” in my life.

As Israel began what would become a forty-year journey from Egypt it started as a journey in chaos.

They had no home.
They belonged to no nation.
They lived in tents.
They did not know where they were going.
They did not trust their leaders.
They did not have enough food or water for more than the next day.
They owned the clothes on their back and truly little else.
The riches they borrowed from Egypt could not buy them anything.

Psa 107:4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Psa 107:5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

The Book of Numbers gives us a permanent true record of the “wilderness wanderings” of Israel.

In the forty years that Israel wandered in the wilderness, all those who lacked faith died off and a new generation became a mighty nation because they began to trust God.

Again, we ask ourselves why we need to know these things and that answer is simple.

We can grow in our own faith and see the Love, the Grace, and the Forgiveness, of our Almighty God as we study this new nation of Israel.

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

These are some exceptionally good reasons to study the Old Testament and all the Word of God.

We learn that it is in our nature to fall into unbelief and rebellion. We have a sin nature.
It is in our nature to complain and grumble about the life that has been dealt to us. We all think we deserve more than we have.

It is our relationship with our Holy God where we learn that we have purpose because there is purpose behind everything the Lord does.

The first thing they needed was “faith”!

The first thing we all need is “faith”!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Let’s begin in Chapter 2.

*Num 2:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Num 2:2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.

By placing the Tabernacle in the center of the camp, God made it known that He dwelt in the midst of His people, and He would be their guide to the Promised Land.

We simply cannot trust this road the world is on and only God can tell us how to get to the true Promised Land!

Num 2:17 Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.

The children of Israel began to see that they were indeed a mighty army.

We should not forget that even though these people had been slaves all their lives, Moses had been trained in military tactics and before God decimated the Army of Egypt, that army was indeed the supreme army of that part of the world.

That thing now history, we need to focus on the Almighty God, and this was to be the first lesson for this new nation of Israel.

We must trust our Creator, our Maker!

Another thing we should see is, that under the right conditions our God will indeed live amongst His people.

In fact this is the goal of Jehovah God.

God wants to live amongst all those who love Him!

Every tribe was to pitch their tents in one area. There was to be order.

We should understand that the family is important to God, and we should do our absolute best to keep the family intact.

Today most families are broken, each going their separate ways.

1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

We should all know our place in the family.

It is God who dictates where we live, when we are born, and it is God who appoints the bounds of our habitation, just as He did Israel.

Eze 20:6 In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
Eze 20:7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

It is not up to other nations or the United Nations, to dictate the lands that God gave to Israel!

We see that God has made His house, the Tabernacle, to be in easy reach from all points of this new nation.

You see God is always available to meet our needs if we only trust Him.

He is just as close as a prayer and He knows all our thoughts!

Even today, God dwells in the midst of each and every true Church, but do not expect Him to be where the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ are not welcomed!

Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together “in my name”, there am I in the midst of them.

His name is the Lord Jesus Christ!

The only way this nation of Israel would advance was to give God, Jehovah, the prominent place in the midst of its people.

The only way the church can advance today, is to give the Lord Jesus Christ the prominent place in the Church and follow Him!

We must follow all the Word of God which gives us direction, peace, and order!

The Church that was once a mighty army is now filled with wimps and compromisers and taught to bow to the will of man’s laws.

God will guide and bless only those who follow His instructions and walk in the direction He points out to us!

God’s directions are given to us in the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit who lives within every true Christian!

The standard of the Church is still the Lord Jesus Christ, and we must place our tent under His standard and stand fast as the family of God.

It is called obedience.

*Num 2:34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.

Remember Moses is a type of Christ Jesus.

We need to do exactly what Jesus says to do!

When we go against the Lord Jesus Christ, we are going against God!

Eph_5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

There must be absolute compliance to the Word of God!

The Church that does not obey God is not then a Church, no matter what the Church leaders say!

We do not have the authority to question the Word of God!

Psa 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

If the Word of God is settled in Heaven, how do we think we can change what God has given to us?

Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven;

We have victory in Jesus only as long as long as Jesus rules in our heart! Remember what Ephesians Chapter 5 verse 6 says.

God will only show up to our gatherings if we are obedient to Him!

God will not live in a house filled with disobedience to His Word.

Chapter 9 Verse 15

*Num 9:15 And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.
Num 9:16 So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.

This cloud is symbolic of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; “and a cloud received him out of their sight”.
Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

How will the Lord Jesus return to Rapture His Church?

Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And we must not forget about the day the Lord transfigured before some of His disciples.

Luk 9:34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
Luk 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

We must understand that the Lord uses the clouds to cover His glory to protect the earth from mass destruction until He is ready to reveal Himself on the day of Judgment.

Mar 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

This world will witness the awesome power of the Shekinah Glory of the Lord about seven years after He removes His Church!

Peter, James, and John just got a little taste of the Glory of God, the Shekinah Glory.

2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

This was the same glory that appeared over the Tabernacle during this wilderness journey of Israel.

Rom 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Rom 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Every Born-Again Child of God will witness the Glory of God when we meet Him in the clouds:

2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

It was this same Glory of God that led these children of Israel through the wilderness those 40 years.

This same cloud changed its appearance at night so these children of Israel would know that the Lord is God of the Day, and He is also God of the Night!

You see it is only by the Lord Jesus Christ we have purpose and direction for our lives!

*Num 9:18 At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
Num 9:19 And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.

This would have been an impressive sight to witness but in the end, it is not these things that get us closer to the Lord, it is that fact of “faith”!

These children of Israel knew without a doubt that the presence of God was with them at all times, yet it did not stop their rebellious and sinful ways.

We should understand that at the command of God we need to move and at the hovering of God we need to stand still, and, in both cases, we must know that the Lord is with us at all times, good or bad.

If the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle these Children of Israel knew they were to stay.

If that cloud moved from being over the Tabernacle, then it was time to pick up their things and move.

God uses the Holy Spirit who lives within us to show us these things today.

What did Jesus say?

Joh_16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Joh_14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh_14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

These people of Israel had the Tabernacle, but each believer is now a Temple of the Lord.

1Co_3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

We should understand that this Cloud and this Fire does give us an idea of just how powerful our God is.

All the things of Creation should fill in the blanks of just how powerful our God is if we have any questions!

And it was the death, the burial, and the resurrection of our Savior, that teaches us He is God forever and He is not afraid to use that word and use it often!

God guides us still today and He will continue to guide us until He takes us home to be with Him forever if we are obedient to Him!

*Num 10:35 And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.
Num 10:36 And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.

When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and the Holy Spirit enters into us to remain forever, we will find that the Holy Spirit (He is God) will be faithful in leading and guiding us step by step, day by day, until we reach our final destination (the New Heaven) and even then, He will never leave us.

God has promised to be faithful to us throughout our entire journey to the glory world!

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

If we take the time to read the Word of God, we will understand that we are on the winning side!

We will face trials and tribulations in our walk with the Lord, but the Lord promises us victory and rest throughout an eternity.

God promised this new nation of Israel if they would trust Him, He would be with them and provide all their needs just as He does the Church today.

Moses began each day warning the world that those who hated the Lord should just get out of the way.

We know our enemies are lurking all around us as they were Israel and still are, but this will not change the end result of victory for the Lord and for those with saving faith.

God is our dwelling place if we love Him, and He will always be!

This great march to the Promised Land had finally begun.

In type this represents the journey of every new believer.

I remember well my forty-year journey in the wilderness of sin, but the Lord Jesus Christ ended that journey and has set me on the path of righteousness to the true Promised Land.

When the Lord Jesus Christ arose from that borrowed tomb, He gave the death blow to His enemies and our enemies, and they will truly be scattered in Hell because they chose to be there not because they were destined to be there.

They will flee before the Lord!

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen

The Messiah Confirms His Mission

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Jesus Confirmed His Kingdom

Book of Matthew Chapter 11

What is the truth, there is more effort necessary to be saved by grace than by works!

A life of faith is a life of self-denial! It is not easy, though God’s grace will prevent it being too difficult.

All the eager and enthusiastic followers of Jesus Christ must seize the kingdom and must win it as a prize of war.

In this sense, the Lord Jesus announced Himself as the Redeemer, who had come to save the world, to destroy the works of the devil, to annihilate the powers of evil, and to bring men from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.

He reconciled men to God, gave them access to God, united them to Him as His dear children, and made His people one with God as He Himself is One with His Father.

We cannot therefore think we can just walk into Heaven without facing obstacles!

*Mat 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

We know that Jesus had sent the 12 chosen disciples out to preach that the Kingdom of God is at hand.

They were to go to the Jews only at this time.

What did the Lord Jesus do at this time? He went and preached in their cities.

What was the key to the messages of the Lord?

Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

We know that John the Baptist was locked up in prison because he preached the truth to the government of Israel.

To King Herod he said, it is unlawful by the Books of Moses for him to marry his brother’s wife with whom he had committed adultery.

Herod had committed that sin and he locked away John the Baptist to shut his mouth.

This tactic is still in use today in many places.

What did the laws of Moses say?

Lev 18:16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.

Lev 20:21 And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.

John was locked up and later beheaded in a trap setup by a wicked woman.

The disciples of John were a bit confused because John himself was dealing with some doubts.

*Mat 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
Mat 11:3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Most of us will go through periods of doubt so we need to keep the truth of the Scriptures close to our heart.

We could say our doubts are wavering faith, which is dangerous if allowed to continue.

John had predicted the coming of Christ just as the Old Testament Prophets had foretold so John preached.

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The Lord Jesus had just begun His ministry, but what our Lord was providing was a means of salvation for the entire world and most of the Jews had a real problem with this.

They wanted a king that was like the Old Testament King David and who would free them from the tyranny of Rome.

Judgment would come later, but we can also say “Judgment” begins the moment people reject the truth of God, just as eternal life begins the moment, we accept the Lord Jesus Christ.

John was seeking a more visible proof that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah.

John wanted the Lord Jesus to proclaim that He was the Messiah and the things the Lord had already done were according to the Old Testament prophets.

The message of the Lord Jesus is still salvation at this time!

Psa 118:25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Psa 118:26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Psa 118:27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

So Jesus began to answer them.

*Mat 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John “again” those things which ye do hear and see:
Mat 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Jesus said, go show John what you have seen and what you have heard.

We should notice that word “again”. It looks like John had ask for proof more than one time.

The healing miracles that Jesus had done were impossible for man to accomplish!

The sermons that Jesus had preached, He preached with authority like no one that had come before Him in the name of the Lord.

His birth place was known by most of them!

The virgin Mary was not accepted by many of the super religious but only by true believers.

Joh 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

The many prophecies that had already been fulfilled by His life.

There was no doubt that Jesus was the Messiah, but none of the Jews had seen, that Jesus first came to save, and He would later return in “Judgment”.

Luk 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Joh 12:45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
Joh 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Joh 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
Joh 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

We either accept that the Word of God is true, or we will believe the lies of this world.

The biggest problem the world has, is that word “Gospel”, they just do not want to understand it.

The word gospel means, “good news” or “good tidings”!

The “Good News” of salvation.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The world simply loves “bad news”. This is why most news channels are accepted because they give nothing but bad news!

The Lord Jesus Christ was fulfilling Scripture just as it was written!

People just do not want to accept the Word of God as it is written and many of those call themselves believers!

So what do they believe?

Who are those who are blessed today?

*Mat 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

All the things that the Lord Jesus had done from the time He was a babe in Bethlehem, prove that He is the Messiah!

The Lord Jesus did not just profess to be the Messiah, He proved that He is the Messiah.

Some of the Apostles struggled in their faith also, but they soon believed when the Lord Jesus walked out of that tomb as prophesied!

Joh 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Joh 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

The one thing, that many miss is that they struggled to believe that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah, but many more did affirm that there is truly a sovereign God.

Many today deny there is a Holy God, all the time bragging on their personal god!!!!!

Mother Earth, Earth Day, Allah, Buddha and much too many to name them all.

The Lord Jesus is exactly who He claims to be, and it would be a much better world if more people believed this fact!

I am not looking for a Messiah to come, I am looking for the Lord Jesus Christ to come again!

Joh 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

Why did wicked people want to murder a man that never did anything bad?

Who can figure that one out?

Jesus said take the time to read the Bible and you will see!

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Joh 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
Joh 5:41 I receive not honour from men.
Joh 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

If you take the time to study the Word of God, you will see that there could be no Messiah if it is not the Lord Jesus Christ.

People are waiting on a fairy tale while the truth stares them in the face!

Jesus then says, what were you looking for when you saw John the Baptist?

People were looking for the Messiah and John said it is not me, but many insisted that John could have been the Messiah.

*Mat 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Mat 11:8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

Some people thought that John was wavering in his faith, but this is really not true.

John wanted to be sure that Jesus was the Messiah, if not then he still had much work to do.

When the Lord gives us a task to do, we are not finished with it until the Lord says we are finished with it!

John was not a wavering reed, but he was a man solid in his convictions!

John was not a man that dressed in fine clothes to impress the people, John was a man of discipline and self-denial.

John was the voice that said the true King is Coming.

John was the greatest of natural men, but not as great as the least of true believers.

John the Baptist was the last of the Prophets of days of the Law.

John came in the power of Elijah to proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ.

John was not afraid of Herod or of what Herod could do to him.

John did not preach for the applause of men nor did he weaken his sermon before the doubters.

John preached the message given to him by the Lord and he did not stop until he was beheaded and then his legacy continued as Jesus said.

John did not sway with every breeze of change as we see today in the modern church.

John stood firm on the Word of God.

John the Baptist was much more than a prophet!

John was the last of the priest in the line of Aaron and He passed that priesthood over to the Lord Jesus Christ!

*Mat 11:9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
Mat 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

We must understand that the Old Testament pointed to the coming of Jesus Christ, the true Messiah. Christ and Messiah are the same word when it comes to the Lord Jesus.

John the Baptist said: “He is here”. John prophesied of the salvation that comes by accepting that the Lord Jesus is truly that Messiah.

Joh 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.

Joh 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

What are we looking forward to?

Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

You see John the Baptist was himself a fulfillment of Prophecy with the job of preparing the way for the Lord and after he had done so, his ministry was complete and the world destroyed him as they did most all prophets of God, but not before they had preached the message of God!

Then the Lord Jesus bragged on John just a little bit.

* Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Jesus said the John was the greatest of all-natural men, but true greatness comes only to those who are “Born Again” into the family of God.

All those Old Testament Saints were at one time inferior to anyone who of God’s saints by the work of Jesus Christ.

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

John was perfect by the works of the Law and there were others like him and none as great as those “justified” (already Judged) by the faith in Christ Jesus.

All those who insists upon justification by the Law are still under the curse from the time of Adam!

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

These things are not so hard to understand!

The preaching of John the Baptist was the signal for all mankind to press for the mark as Paul put it.

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Far too many reject this truth!

Jesus Christ is still calling today, but He will not continue to do so for very much longer or He will have lied to His Church!

God does not lie!

As Christians we need to take this time to seize the Kingdom of God and it is prepared for us to do so with “faith” in the works of Christ!

John preached to repent, and this part of his preaching is true today! We must repent of our evil ways and Jesus Christ is the tool of that repentance and our example to follow!

John could not preach the cross because it had not happened.
John could not preach the resurrection because it had not taken place in his lifetime.

Today it is our privilege to know the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

All the called, of God are to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, no other message has the importance of this message!

John was the last of the true prophets of God!

We now have the completed Word of God which has replaced all prophets of God.

We do not need prophets anymore!

*Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Mat 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Mat 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Again the Lord Jesus says that John the Baptist was an end of an Age. The Age of the Law!

John was the bridge that connected prophecy to the fulfillment of prophecy when it comes to the Messiah!

Jesus Christ is that true Messiah, there is no other!

Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

John was that promised man that came in the power of Elijah, not Elijah but he was like Elijah.

Joh 1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
Joh 1:22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
Joh 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Some believe John was the resurrected Elijah, but I believe Elijah has not returned as of yet, but will be one of the two witnesses of the 7-year Tribulation Period.

John did resemble Elijah in many ways, but he says so himself that he was not Elijah.

We know that all Scripture is given to us by the Holy Spirit.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Jesus completes this passage by saying if our ears are working, we need to listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say, and this is said many more times.

If God says it one time, then it is enough, but when God repeats Himself then we had surely pay attention!

*Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Here is a personal invitation from the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible.

Christ pleads with those who have no other steps to take and who fill their journey is unbearable and over.
Christ pleads with those who are about to explode and cannot take any more of this world.

Christ does not mention what causes these things, because He has personally felt this kind of pressure.

Heb_4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Christ knows what we are going through!

You see it does not matter what we are going through, Jesus Christ is the answer to that thing!

This is a simple invitation that opens the door to great things and things that will last throughout eternity.

The solution Christ offers is rest. We can rest our weary soul when we know the Lord.

We see that Christ offers this rest only to those who want to learn from Him!

We must put some effort into knowing the Lord Jesus Christ!

We become over-burdened in this world.
We see that worldliness and carnality do not bring much pleasure and is not a lasting pleasure.

We must choose:

Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

We get tired of the power of sin in our lives.
We see that earthly possessions do not last.
We see that fame is just emptiness.
We see that power is just loneliness.
We see that religion is not what it is made out to be and just full of rituals that are meaningless.
We see rules and regulations that do nothing more than rob us of our freedoms.

Life in this world causes exhaustion.

Searching for the truth, but never coming to the truth leaves us empty.

Only the Lord Jesus and help us with these things in this life and He promises a great life that will last throughout eternity.

Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Let us just take on the yoke of Jesus.

*Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

When Christ was upon this earth, He was meek and lowly, but He was not lacking in power.

God cares for those who love Him!

All the traits of God are perfect!

Yes, Jesus was meek and yes Jesus was lowly but He did not lack in power!

Jesus was perfect in in His understanding.
Jesus is perfect in His patience. (I Know this is true because He saved me!)

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Jesus will always offer encouragement and we must too!

Jesus, custom fits His yoke upon us, to match our problems and gives us the answer and help we truly need!

God made us so He knows how to custom fit our yoke!

To find the rest that God promises we just need to learn and labor under the leadership of our Savior and our Master!

Jesus is not a taskmaster He only requires obedience. After that, it is all downhill until we reach the Highest Hill of Heaven!

1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Amen

Abraham

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

God Calls Abraham

Book of Genesis Chapters 12 through 15

From our studies we know that the first eleven chapters of the Book of Genesis dealt with the creation of this world and then the table of nations.

It also dealt with the beginning of many things.

We next studied the Book of Job who probably lived a couple of generations before Abraham.

We will now pick back up in the Book of Genesis and see Abraham and the beginning of the nation of Israel.

We will see that the key to our relationship with our Heavenly Father is still faith!

We will begin to see how the promises of God have already affected every human upon this earth and the promises of God are the key to our “faith”.

Faith is the key to our relationship with our Heavenly Father!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

And just so you know, you cannot say you have “faith” and disregard the words of the Received Text.

Abortion is still wrong according to the Word of God.
Those who live as Sodomites are wrong according to the Word of God.
All queers are wrong according to the Word of God.
Those who promote these things are wrong according to the Word of God.

When our “faith” is real we can feel the presence of the Almighty God!

In Abraham we get to see true “faith”!

The Book of Genesis also being the Book of Generations let us see how we get to Abraham.

Gen 11:25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.
Gen 11:26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Gen 11:27 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.
Gen 11:28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
Gen 11:29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.
Gen 11:30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
Gen 11:31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
Gen 11:32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

Abraham had begun his journey to the land of Canaan, but the death of his father had brought his journey to and end and this brought a response from the Lord.

*Gen 12:1 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:
Gen 12:2 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:

As we know, Ur of the Chaldees is located in modern day Iraq.

We do not know how God spoke to Abram because God used many methods to speak to those of the Old Testament.

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

How does God speak to us today?

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

So we should not be concerned of any so-called modern-day prophet!

Our only concern should be the teachings of Jesus.

This does not mean we use only the “red letter” passages.
Nor does it mean we use only the New Testament.

We need all the Word of God to be instructed in righteousness!

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Righteousness is doing right according to the written Word of God!

The truth is we can find the Son of God from the Book of Genesis through all the Scriptures to the Book of Revelation.

What we know is that Abram was guided by Jehovah. He did not have a map or a compass.

All Abram had was his “faith”!

God wants us to learn about Abraham!

Fourteen chapters in the Book of Genesis devoted to Abraham.
Chapter 4 of the Book of Romans devoted to Abraham.
Chapter 3 of the Book of Galatians devoted to Abraham.
12 Verses in the Book of Hebrews the Hall of Faith devoted to Abraham.

Abraham was the Father of two races of people who are still relevant in our world today, the Jews and the Arabs.

Three religions of the world can trace their roots back to Abraham.

Christianity, Judaism, Islam.

It can also be said that Abraham is the father of faith therefore the father of all believers.

Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Rom 4:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

One of the great lessons in understanding the power of God is, that God can take one man, one person and change this entire world for many generations!

It all began with a call from God.

Abraham was called to separate from his country.
Abraham was called to separate from his relatives.
Abraham was even called to separate from his father’s house.

Yes, we may have to leave our families to serve God especially if they are against us!

Abraham’s world had forsaken and denied the only Living and True God!

Kind of reminds us of what we see today. A world that is forsaking the One True Living God!

One of the most important things God said to Abraham is in verse 3.

*Gen 12:3 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.

Abraham was a blessing because he was in the blood line to the Messiah.
Abraham was a blessing because he was in the bloodline to the Jews.
Abraham was a blessing because he was in the bloodline to the Arabs.
Abraham was a blessing because he was a great example of “Faith”!

Every Christian must also be an example of the “faith” of Abraham!

Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

So Abram believed God and he obeyed.

*Gen 12:4 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.

Notice Abram did not dispute with God even though these were great things he was asked to do.

Nowhere else in the Bible is one human called to be the father of a new chosen people.

In this Abram is a type of Christ who also is the Head of a new “Born Again” chosen people!

God called Abram to completely change his life.
To turn his life around and go in a different direction.
To forsake all the people and places he had ever known in his 75 years.

In this Abram is a type of Child of God.

Every “Born Again” child of God is called to leave their old life completely and live a new life for Jesus Christ.

Jesus put it like this:

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

This is truth behind becoming a Christian. Jesus said you should not be surprised by this command.

Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

This is the complete truth and there is only one way to be “Born Again” and it is by accepting “the complete Word of God” in faith!

The Bible is no to be accepted as the cafeteria. We cannot pick and choose the parts of the Bible we want and reject the remainder!

1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Those who reject the Word of God, even one passage, have violated the command of our Lord and Savior!

Abram had to turn away from his old country.
Abram had to turn away from neighbors, friends, and loved ones.
Abram had to turn away from his father’s household, his property, and many of his own possessions.
Abram left a place of false gods to seek the true and living God.
Abram was called to live a life separated from that world, in search of a better place.
Abram had to be totally set apart unto God.

Today we call this “sanctification” and every Christian is called to be separate from this world and dedicated to the Lord!

We are just pilgrims passing through this world on the way to God’s New Heaven!

We see that Abram would begin his journey by “faith”.

Abram did not leave alone.

*Gen 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

Abram had not kept these things to himself, but he had told others. Of course his wife who today we would certainly say stepsister.

He took Lot his brother’s son, whose father had died but he chose to trust his uncle Abram.

Then look closely he gathered the “souls” who had believed the Word of God and chose to believe the things they heard.

Abram lives in a pagan land of many gods and Abram learn the truth of the Lord and accepted it as the truth.

We see type after type in these early things of Abram.

If you are child of God, you are on this same journey with Abram today.

Abram will face many difficulties on this journey, but we can enjoy every mile of the trip.

Up to this point we have read where one patriarch after another lived until they died.

Now we get to Abram and we see that he lived so he could live forever!

This is the journey of each true Christian!

We live so we can live with Jesus throughout eternity!

So they went forth into the Promised Land, the land of Canaan.

Gen 17:8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

So Abram journeyed.

*Gen 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

As Abram journeyed, he first passed through the place where in latter days would be the city Sichem.

The oaks of Moreh existed, but the city of Sichem (Shechem)(Samaria) was not yet built.

Jacob later used this oak forest to hide the things stolen from Laban.

Gen 35:4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

The Canaanites were a godless, wicked people. In some places, they may be called the Amorites.

This Scripture indicates that Abram knew he could not yet lay claim to the land because it was easily seen that there were too many so Abram would travel as a pilgrim through a foreign land but they traveled in faith to the Word of God given to Abram.

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.

Abram knew that before the land could be claimed those godless people would have to be removed!

God had a plan for this, but that part of the plan Abram did not know about. It would not happen in his lifetime!

Abram was to be the father of the nation that would destroy the Amorites and most of the Canaanites which is Israel.

In typology that nation would be the believers who with the Lord will destroy all the evil in this world we live in.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

*Gen 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.

What do we know?

Abram had reached the promise land but did not at that time possess it.

As a “Born Again” child of God we have reached the promise land but at this time we do not possess it.

Possession will come by the Rapture or it will come by our death, but this promise of God will be fulfilled!

We must know that though we have not reached Heaven, Jehovah already considers the mansion that is being built by Jesus to be ours.

It has our name on it and cannot be given to any other.

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

We will sit together with the Lord Jesus Christ!

When Jehovah says seed in this Scripture, it tells Abram that it will not happen in his lifetime.

It also tells Abram he will have children and we know Sarai was barren at this time and was now 65 years old, Abram being 75 years old.

It is our “faith” that has caused these things to be sure!

What do we know? Our faith will also be tested just as God tested Abram!

As long as we are on this place called earth, we are among enemies!

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Only in Heaven will we be free from our enemies!

Abram, understanding the Words God had given to him, accepted the truth and chose a place to worship the One True God and built an altar to worship.

To be honest no place of worship is complete without an altar!

*Gen 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.

That word Bethel means “house of God”.

That word Hai, which is Ai means, heap or mass and was a royal city of the Canaanites.

No matter where Abram traveled, he built a place to worship the Lord.

Bethel had started as a place to worship God but in the end, Bethel came under the judgment of God.

1Ki 13:1 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
1Ki 13:2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.
1Ki 13:3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
1Ki 13:4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.
1Ki 13:5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.

We should be very aware that the Judgment of God will begin in the House of God!

1Pe_4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

We know the Lord blessed Abram as he traveled in the Promised Land.

In fact, the Lord blessed Abram and Lot so much it became hard for them to travel together.

Gen 13:6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

We begin to see the difference between “selfishness” and “unselfish faith”.

Most all these things had there beginning in the Book of Genesis!

We must remember what happened to Eve.

1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Lot fit into all these categories and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

It is this city and its actions that gave us the word Sodomites, known today as the gay lifestyle.

*Gen 13:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
Gen 13:15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

The Lord again appeared before Abram but only after he had separated from Lot.

We know that Lot was a righteous man in the eyes of God, but at this time he was allowing his pride to interfere with his relationship with the Lord.

Great lessons are to be learned by all those who trust the Lord.

Great lessons can also be learned by all God’s children who mix with and accept the things of this wicked world!

It is a fact God will do more for those who trust Him than for those who choose to do for themselves.

Lot saw grazing land where He could pitch his tent in one place and remain there, but he chose to be close to the doorway to sin and eventually moved into that sinful and wicked city and immoral city.

Abram chose a place for a nation.

We will see that God’s people who stay away from the worldly, are the same ones who please God.

God told Abram, “do not be sad for your nephew” “look in every direction and you can see the land that will belong to your children and grandchildren and those who come from them”.

Act 7:5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

*Gen 13:16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

What is a promise of God? It is a sure thing! It is real! It will take place!

As we go through these years with corrupt governments easily swayed by climate change, which is happening naturally, we must understand that natures rage can never overcome “faith’s” treasures!

God’s promises will come because every Word of God is the truth!

We know for a fact that Israel became a great nation, was destroyed and placed all around the world and has again become a great nation.

So some say what about this “as the dust of the earth”? Israel has never been that great of a nation but always been a small people.

But God is not just talking about Israel.

Abraham was the father of most all the Arab nations and there have been many peoples.

You may say again yes but still the dust of the earth.

Also out of Abraham comes the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the Church and the Saints from the time of Adam till today would be a large group.

So yes you add all these groups together Abraham was indeed the father of a large people.

So Abraham, let us take a stroll through the Promised Land.

*Gen 13:17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

Is there any doubt that God gave this land to Abram?

It would be some 700 years before Joshua would lead Israel into this land to take possession of it.

It was 700 years before these wicked people reached level of sin without repentance before God would destroy them, but He did.

It has now been just over 2000 years since the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the wicked will be destroyed when they reach a certain level without repentance.

If we will allow our “faith” in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ be our guide, we to will walk around and admire the Heavenly Land God has promised to those who walk by “faith”.

2Co_5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

We do not walk into tomorrow we walk in the great things to come!

We may not know when, but we know they are just as close as our lifetime.

We do not walk in just promises, we walk in “Divine Promises”!

When we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we begin our own journey and through valleys and hills we should enjoy our trip to the “Glory World”.

The gift of this land was not fulfilled until the time of King Solomon and will be a reality during the Millennial Reign of King Jesus.

*Gen 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.

What do we see from Abraham? Steadfast obedience.

Abraham first returns to Hebron where he had buried his wife.

This place was special to Abraham.

Hebron is the very place where Abraham made an alliance with Jehovah!

Hebron is one the oldest cities that still exist today and was well known before Abraham.
Hebron is about 20 miles from Jerusalem.
Hebron is the place where Sarah died and is buried in the cave of Machpelah. (There is now a great mosque built inside this cave)
Hebron is part of the special inheritance given to Caleb because he followed the Lord.
Hebron was also one of the 6 cities of refuge.
Hebron was the capitol city of King David for 7 years until he moved his capitol to Jerusalem.
Hebron was also the city where Absalom began his insurrection against his own father King David.

Abram built an altar in Hebron to worship the Almighty Living God.

Why was Abram so much different from most of the remaining world?

*Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
Gen 15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
Gen 15:3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
Gen 15:4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
Gen 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

We begin to see the “great faith” that Abram had in the Lord.

In reality Abram had no reason to believe the Word of God.

Abram was far past the days of fatherhood and so was Sarah.

Abram did the one thing we are all to do.

We are to listen to what God has to say and then believe every word.

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

We know the red-letter words in the New Testament are the actual words of Jesus and they are words we need to follow, but all the Word of God came by the Holy Spirit.

There is no words in this world that are as accurate as the Word of God!

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

God said and this is all I need to know.

When God told Abram these things, then he just accepted the Word of God to be the truth.

Abram set the standard for “faith” throughout the written Word of God!

God takes our faith and counts it for our righteousness.

This was the reality in the day of Abram who became Abraham.
This reality became well known in the time of Jesus who paid all our sin debt.
This is the reality today!

Faith in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ is counted for our righteousness.

Faith is the key to the heart of God!

In reality the word “believe” has its beginning in this 15th chapter in verse 6 and it holds the same meaning throughout the remaining Scriptures.

We can rest on God’s promises!
We can lean of God’s promises!
We can be sure of God’s promises!
We can have complete confidence in God’s promises!

Abram believed that one of his seed would be the promised Messiah!

It is righteousness that opens the doors of Heaven and this righteousness comes only by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen