Abraham - Trust till the end or not?

How many people know who Abraham is?

Where was Abraham from? (Canaan)

Genesis 9:18  "The Sons of Noah who came out of the arc were Shem, Ham, Japath (Ham was the father of Canan)"

Genesis 9:25-27 "Noah said, "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers." He also said, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be slave of Shem.  May God extend Japaheth's territory; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may canaan be the slave of Japheth."

Canaan was a nation God knew would became wicked.  In Deuteronomy 20:17 it says " completely destroy them - the Hittits, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jubusites - as the lord your God commanded you.

Abraham was a descendant of Shem and he lived in Canaan.  At this time Canaan was already corrupt and was full of sin and Idolatry.  Among this Abraham found favor with the Lord.

Genesis 12:1-3 read

Did Abraham listen to God?
What did he do that was not listen to God?
(Did not trust God to take care of him and his wife Instead he denied Sarah was his wife 2 times. Gained wealth by letting his wife marry and be with someone else. Let his wife tell him to have a child with her maid, instead of waiting on God.  Let his wife tell him to send Hagar his Concubines and his son Ishmael away. Which is still a battle today and maybe the reason God wanted Canaan destroyed.)

What did he do that was listen to God? (Was first mention to give a tenth, willing to give his son Isaac)

Genesis 22:1-18 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”“Here I am,” he replied.  Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of  Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”  Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.  On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.  He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”  Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac,and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”  “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”  Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.  When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altarthere and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.  Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.  But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven,“Abraham! Abraham!”  “Here I am,” he replied.  “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”  The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
 
In Matthew 1:1-17 Linage of Jesus starts at Abraham.  Luke 3:23-38 Goes thru Abraham to Adam.  Jesus was the blessing that the God was talking about.

Did Abraham deserve to be blessed? (Yes or No it is only be Gods grace)

Conclusion: Even though we go through up and downs and sometimes are completely against Gods desire for us.  God is faithful and wants to bless us.  Because Abraham learned form his mistakes and did not hold back his son but obeyed God.  God blessed him and gave Abraham's decedents the power to conquer their enemy's.  Abraham was spared by God and did not have to sacrifice his son.  God however "did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).  What are you holding back from God?

Are we that different from Abraham? We still have fears, Jealousy and want to do things our way instead of listening to God. Yet God does not change because of our sin and disobedience.  He does not take away blessing or his plan for us.  He still gave Abraham his son, and he will still deliver his promises and plans to us.  We are Decedents of Abraham since Jesus is our king and we are his people and heirs to the kingdom of Heaven.

We reviewed from last week that the enemy can look like ant thing
What power does the enemy have? 

The powers we came up with is Influence, Temptation, doubt and fear.

How can the enemy deceive us?

The enemy uses simple words to cast doubt and turn us from the truth.  We have versus in the bible that we can use to defeat the enemy. We read Matthew 4:1-11 "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.   The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test."   Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”  Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."  Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

See how Jesus used the word to defend himself against the enemy.  These are words he memorized and were written on his heart.  The enemy also used the words to tempt Jesus and get him to fail himself and the God the father.  The Enemy has been around for along time he also knows Gods word inside and out and can use it to tempt us.  Every time we hear the word we need to be able discern it and see if it is inline with God and his Holiness.  Jesus could have easily made the stones into bread saying to himself "oh God must want me to eat."  Has anyone every done that because you wanted something? Instead Jesus concentrated on God and his word. We need to do the same.

Everything is made by God read 1Col 1:15-20 and God has a plan for us in Christ Jesus Eph 1 11:14.  The Enemy has interest in keeping you away from God.  The enemy lives off of our separation from God.  

What was Jesus worst pain?

Do you think it was the lashings? maybe the spikes going thru his wrists and feet?  No his greatest pain was when he took on all our sin as the lamb of God he had to be separated from God.  Light can not stand in darkness.  That greatest pain was our greatest triumph as our sins were paid for, for the last time.  We will not have to know that feeling of being with out God the Father.


What bible says about enemy's defeat:
1 Cor 6:3 "Do you not know that we will judge angels?"
Jude 6 "And the angels that did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home - these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgement of the great Day."
 
What do we have to battle the enemy now?  ..Armor of God Ephesians 6:10-18

Their is 31 versus of Jesus talking about the enemy and the fallen angels.  Jesus battled fallen angels and demons thru  his gospels. What makes us think our life would be any different?  Be prepared to send the enemy away in Jesus name.
 
Conclusion the enemy has no power and is defeated he can only try and deceive us.  Luke 11:15 says " He casateth demons through Beelzebub the prince of demons." Beelzebub is used 7 time in the new testament. It is an English translation of  Ba'al-Zibbul which in Hebrew means lord of the flies.  This enemy exists but we have full authority from God to defeat him, but we must watch for him and in the name of Jesus send him back where he belongs.

It was brought to my attention at the end of the meeting that fly's eat the dead.  This is what the enemy does that want to feed on our death and separation from God.  Keep in the word and be inline with God and the enemy will flee.

What you do you think is the way you talk to people healthy, is it up lifting to their lives?
Matt 4:4  "Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God"
This is the first verse from the old testament that comes out of Jesus mouth.  He is saying this when he is being tempted by the enemy (satan).  The word of God is more important then food!

How many of us read his word and speak his word?  
How many carry his word where you go?

Matt 15:11 "It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
Psalm 37:30 "The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice."
Psalm 52:2 "Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit."
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit"

The bible talks a lot about how important our words are Jesus used them to put the enemy in his place.  Toby Macs songs title is speak life and says "It’s crazy, amazing We can turn a heart with the words we say. Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die." Our words can change a persons life.  WE can keep burying them in sorrow or we can Speak life and see them light up.  We are responsible for the words we say and the life we give to those around us.  Next time you see some one upset or talking bad about their life PRAY and give them the word God tells you.  You could save someones life...

Last week we talked about Cain and Sin crouching at the door and we must master it.  We discussed that we do many things and cause lots of our own problems.  We are ultimately responsible for what we do with our thoughts and the actions that we make.  This week we will look at a the enemy that wants you to fail and also this enemy's ultimate defeat.

Proof of enemy:
Job 1:6-7 "One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"  Satan Answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

2 Cor. 11:13-15  For such men are false apostles, deceitful workman, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  It is not surprising,  then, if his servants masquerades as servants of righteousness.  Their end will be what the deserve.
 
What does the enemy look like?

The enemy can look like anything.  This conversation about the enemy and different ways we have experienced the enemy went on for most of the time.  It was a decision to continue the topic next week.

Please "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lords people.  Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" (Eph 6:18-19

In James it says to call it all Joy when you face trails.  This is partly because of lessons we learn ourselves which bring us closer to God.  It is also because if he enemy is mindful enough of us to try and stop us thet he fears us and the power that God has given us.  May all things I do give glory to God. I am thankful to be part of his family and a Warrior with his word.
 
Last week we had an opposition that i did not face.  The importance of Theology.  It was a problem as some attendees felt Theology is the end all most important.  some claim to be bible scholars (so isn't the enemy right).  It more important to have a relationship with God then to study him.  T.he same as we make friends because of how of our relationship with them not because of their life, background or college credentials.

Cain and Able - Who or What is the Enemy?
 
Gen 4:1-8
Key vrs: "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do wrong sin is crouching at your door; It desires to have you but you must master it"
 
Picture  the brazen Lion crouching waiting to pounce on an elephant for its dinner.  That is what the enemy is when we are week.

Genesis 3: 1-15
The Fall
 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”  The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”   “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.  “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”   When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.  Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.  Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”  He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."  And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”  The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”  Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”  The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”  So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals!  You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[a] and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.”
 
Was Adam a Warrior?
Was there an enemy?
Why did Adam not do anything about eating the fruit?
Was their evil before Adam ate the apple?

We also talked about:
Isaiah 45:7 - "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster;  I, the Lord, do all these things."
Psalm 34:21 - "Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned."

Their was allot of conservancy and was great to hear the guys try to wrap their heads around all of this.
 
Conclusion:
Yes Adam was a warrior.  He had an enemy. His weapon was the same as ours.  It was the word of God.  All Adam had to do was say "NO, GOD SAID NO!" In weakness this did not happen and we see our first sign of Jesus's coming and his triumph as the second Adam. Gen 3:15 "I will put enmity between woman and you and between your offspring and hers: he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.

Each person say what you would like to praise God for.

Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord"

In this meeting we went over the some key verses of who we are supposed to be in Christ.

Galatians 5:16 -25
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.