Abraham departs out of Harran by Francesco Bassano For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 1 John 5:4 (NKJV
This post is about faith that overcomes fear, doubt, depression, lack, sickness, etc. It’s about faith that overcomes all things. This is faith that overcomes the world.
Abraham’s Faith
Genesis 12:1-4 (NKJV) Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Jesus came from the linage of Abraham and that is how all the families of the earth are blessed' but first Abraham trusted and believed God.
Romans 4:3 (NKJV) For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
This post is about faith that overcomes fear, doubt, depression, lack, sickness, etc. It’s about faith that overcomes all things. This is faith that overcomes the world.
Abraham’s Faith
Genesis 12:1-4 (NKJV) Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Jesus came from the linage of Abraham and that is how all the families of the earth are blessed' but first Abraham trusted and believed God.
Romans 4:3 (NKJV) For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
Sarah Laughs Abraham’s Faith Overcame Familiar Surroundings and People
Genesis 13:1-2 (NKJV) Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 24:34-35 (NKJV) So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
Hebrews 11:8-10 (NKJV) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Emphasis mine)
Abraham’s Faith Overcame His and Sarah’s Ages
Abraham and Sarah were childless, which in that culture was looked down upon. God promised Abraham that he would have a son.
Genesis 15:4-6 (NKJV)” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness
Genesis 13:1-2 (NKJV) Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 24:34-35 (NKJV) So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
Hebrews 11:8-10 (NKJV) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Emphasis mine)
Abraham’s Faith Overcame His and Sarah’s Ages
Abraham and Sarah were childless, which in that culture was looked down upon. God promised Abraham that he would have a son.
Genesis 15:4-6 (NKJV)” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness
Isaac embraces his father Abraham after the Binding of Isaac, early 1900s Bible illustration Only problem was that both Abraham and Sarah were very old
Genesis 17:17 (NKJV) Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?
Here’s what happened.
Genesis 21:1-3 (NKJV) And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him–whom Sarah bore to him–Isaac.”
Hebrews 11:11-12 (NKJV) By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude–innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. (Emphasis mine)
Abraham’s Faith Overcame His Biggest Test
Isaac was this child God promised to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. One day God gave Abraham a command that must have shocked and crushed him. God told Abraham to sacrifice his son.
Genesis 22:1-2 (NKJV) Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Just as when God told Abram, to leave his familiar surroundings, he didn't hesitate.
Genesis 22:3 (NKJV) So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
Here’s what happened
Genesis 22:10-14 (NKJV) “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of The LORD it shall be provided.”
Hebrews 11:17-19 (NKJV) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. (Emphasis mine)
What We Can Learn From Abraham and His Overcoming Faith
Abraham wasn’t perfect, and neither are we, but Abraham’s life of faith is an example for us in how we can, be blessed when we believe, trust, and obey God. When God told Abraham to leave his family and his familiar surroundings, he left. When told that he and Sarah would have a son, even though they were old and Sarah was barren, he believed God. When told to sacrifice Isaac, his and Sarah’s promised son, he was prepared to do it. Abraham was justified by his faith and he acted in faith.
God used Abraham to play a very important role in His plan of redemption which culminates in Jesus. Abraham is a living example of the truths of overcoming faith. We too can live our lives walking in faith, believing, and trusting in the promises of God. Then we can say and experience “the victory that overcomes the world.”
I am going to continue this series with posts about Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Samuel, David and others who had faith that overcomes the world. You have that kind of faith too if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If not then you don’t have the kind of faith that overcomes the world and you won’t have victory but you will continue to be defeated.
If you are tired of being defeated here’s how you can turn that defeat into victory.
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
If you want the victory then pray this prayer right now.
“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.”
If you have just prayed this prayer, in all sincerity, call, text, email, Tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody, leave me a comment here or send me an email with this Link. Then find a bible believing church and start to fellowship with other believers. Welcome to the family of God.
Genesis 17:17 (NKJV) Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?
Here’s what happened.
Genesis 21:1-3 (NKJV) And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him–whom Sarah bore to him–Isaac.”
Hebrews 11:11-12 (NKJV) By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude–innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. (Emphasis mine)
Abraham’s Faith Overcame His Biggest Test
Isaac was this child God promised to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. One day God gave Abraham a command that must have shocked and crushed him. God told Abraham to sacrifice his son.
Genesis 22:1-2 (NKJV) Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Just as when God told Abram, to leave his familiar surroundings, he didn't hesitate.
Genesis 22:3 (NKJV) So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
Here’s what happened
Genesis 22:10-14 (NKJV) “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of The LORD it shall be provided.”
Hebrews 11:17-19 (NKJV) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. (Emphasis mine)
What We Can Learn From Abraham and His Overcoming Faith
Abraham wasn’t perfect, and neither are we, but Abraham’s life of faith is an example for us in how we can, be blessed when we believe, trust, and obey God. When God told Abraham to leave his family and his familiar surroundings, he left. When told that he and Sarah would have a son, even though they were old and Sarah was barren, he believed God. When told to sacrifice Isaac, his and Sarah’s promised son, he was prepared to do it. Abraham was justified by his faith and he acted in faith.
God used Abraham to play a very important role in His plan of redemption which culminates in Jesus. Abraham is a living example of the truths of overcoming faith. We too can live our lives walking in faith, believing, and trusting in the promises of God. Then we can say and experience “the victory that overcomes the world.”
I am going to continue this series with posts about Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Samuel, David and others who had faith that overcomes the world. You have that kind of faith too if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If not then you don’t have the kind of faith that overcomes the world and you won’t have victory but you will continue to be defeated.
If you are tired of being defeated here’s how you can turn that defeat into victory.
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
If you want the victory then pray this prayer right now.
“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.”
If you have just prayed this prayer, in all sincerity, call, text, email, Tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody, leave me a comment here or send me an email with this Link. Then find a bible believing church and start to fellowship with other believers. Welcome to the family of God.
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