GOD IS FAITHFUL: ARE YOU ABRAHAM SEED – BE FAITHFUL AS FAITHFUL ABRAHAM!
“And if ye BE Christ’s, then ARE ye Abraham’s SEED, and HEIRS according to the PROMISE” Galatians 3:29.
As I read, ponder and make up this write up, I recall countless times I have sang and still sing the song: “ABRAHAM BLESSINGS ARE MINE”. This I have done for over 45yrs and still counting. And then while working on the cause and course of this month theme, the Lord reminds me again of the Scripture of Galatians 3:9, 29 in a more ASSURED insight and foresight, as written:
“So then THEY which be of FAITH are BLESSED with FAITHFUL ABRAHAM. . . 29 And if ye BE Christ’s, then ARE ye Abraham’s SEED, and HEIRS according to the PROMISE” Galatians 3:9.
How gracious and graceful for one to easily lay claim to be Abraham seed and wants Abraham Blessings; more so, to be God’s friend as Abraham, as we do sing “I AM A FRIEND OF GOD”, even as the Scriptures indicate in James 2:23. Yeah, the Scriptures did say in Galatians 3:6-9, 13-14, 26-29, that as many of us who ARE of FAITH in Christ Jesus ARE of Abraham and can share in the Abrahamic BLESSEDNESS of God in Christ Jesus stead. Amen. This becomes possible because Abraham was ascribed as being FAITHFUL ABRAHAM; this is due to his obedience cum humility in believing God’s word above any thing else and being ASSURED of God’s FAITHFULNESS in His promise, to let go of himself and let God be, in all about him doing life and living godly to fulfill God’s divine PURPOSE meaningfully.
Abraham was FAITHFUL toward God from the moment the GOSPEL as said in Galatians 3:8 was PREACHED to him; and I repeat, that the GOSPEL of God in FAITH was PREACHED to him, wherein he BELIEVED and acted upon accordingly, intentionally and unreservedly. He believed God, and in obedience through FAITH, he journeyed with God in FAITHFULNESS until death as in his memoir in the Holy writ of Genesis 12-25 and Hebrews 11:8-12, 17-19. And all who came afterwards in FAITH have shared in his BLESSEDNESS of him with God, in that he was FAITHFUL as ascribed as – FAITHFUL ABRAHAM.
Let us see some FAITHFUL characteristics of FAITHFUL ABRAHAM that we can learn of him and can use as a measure to ascertain in SHARING in his GOSPEL enabling for us today:
- He was FAITHFUL to OBEY when he received the call of God without conferring with flesh and blood. He left all, his people inclusive, to cleave to God in faith. How I wish we can learn of him, on how to LEAVE and CLEAVE to a CAUSE – PURPOSE. Genesis 12; Galatians 1:12-17; Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5 (Make 10:7).
- He was FAITHFUL to depend on God’s provisions when tried and tested by his nephew – Lot – who was in his greediness on business deals and acquisitions with him. He turned his face to God, instead of having a fight on Earthly possessions that takes people lives instead of offering life. Genesis 13; Luke 12:15; Mark 10:28-3; Philippians 4:13, 19; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 2 Corinthians 3:4-6.
- He was FAITHFUL to pay up in FAITH at no pressure or dispute, the TITHE of his earnings – Genesis 14; Hebrews 7:1-9; Hebrews 3:1-2; Matthew 23:23; Matthew 22:15-22; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Luke 6:38; Luke 8:1-3; Acts 20:32-35; (Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:10-12; Deuteronomy 26:1-19; Leviticus 27:30-33).
- He was FAITHFUL toward God in Covenant in FAITH, being assured that God will do the needful – Genesis 15-17; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 5:14-15; Hebrews 10:23, 35-39.
- He was FAITHFUL to receive and entertained Angelic visitors unaware and at no question or cost. Genesis 18; Hebrews 13:1-3; Romans 12:9-21;
- He was FAITHFUL to intercede in prayers for His family and Nation in crises and awaiting God’s judgement, peradventure God might show mercy – Genesis 18/19; Isaiah 59:16; Ezekiel 22:30; Romans 8:26:26-27; Isaiah 53:12; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25.
- He was such FAITHFUL to let GO of his wife when challenge, in order to fulfil PURPOSE in God; and God foreseeing his sincerity save him and wife from such challenging test of his marital relationship. Genesis 20; Mark 10:28-31; Colossians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Romans 8:28-30.
- He was FAITHFUL in the midst of the CONFUSION he find himself by the errors and failures he made in course of time in his decision. And God was there to turn his MESS into a MESSAGE because he was troubled and repentant. Genesis 21; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Galatians 1:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 1 John 1:9-10.
- He was FAITHFUL to let Go of his precious and most treasured gift – his son Isaac to God, at God’s request and demand, without questioning and arguing with God of His intent. – Genesis 22; Hebrews 11:17-19.
- He was FAITHFUL even at his lost of his dear wife and in bereavement. And turn his lost for legacy, in that by her burying place, he then set up a foundation stone (the land of Canaan) that earmarked that which was to be FULFILL for posterity in God’s Prophecy in MOSES and the Israelites in years to come. Genesis 23; (Galatians 3:17-18; Genesis 15:12-14); 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; John 11:1-45; Romans 12:15; James 5:13.
- He was FAITHFUL in that he was able to create the needed atmosphere that his son Isaac could get married faithfully. Genesis 24; 1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:1-8; Ephesians 6:1-4; Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Peter 3:1-12.
- He was FAITHFUL to leave an inheritance for his Children as he died in FAITH, fulfiling PURPOSE in FAITHFULNESS. Genesis 25; Proverbs 13:22.
Abraham have FAITH in God’s FAITHFULNESS – being FAITHFUL; that’s why he was prepared from the moment of receiving the GOSPEL of FAITH, to LET GO of himself of anything, counting and accounting that God will take CARE of him no matter what may happen; thus indicating that whatsoever he let go at God’s request, God knows best as He’s a FAITHFUL God to make it up for him in a far better placement than the one he could have held unto and held back with; and in selfishness and in not Believing and Trusting that GOD IS FAITHFUL to keep to His PROMISE.
Today, we as Abraham seed, who are partakers of his enabling in Christ Jesus, how much can it be said, that we are as him, in being called FAITHFUL ABRAHAM. Let us not be the Believers in Christ Jesus stead, who wants the BLESSEDNESS of Abraham but are not PREPARED of the PROCESS in it; especially when that is the part that can fortified and make us grounded and rooted in FAITH and in the FAITH, in Christ Jesus stead, as we share in his blessing.
ABRAHAM was called a friend of God – James 2:23, because of the attribute of being FAITHFUL ABRAHAM. May we be as he’s toward God in Christ Jesus stead I pray for now and always. Amen.
SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“Hearken to me, ye that FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, ye that seek the Lord: LOOK UNTO THE ROCK whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. 2 Look unto ABRAHAM YOUR FATHER, and unto SARAH THAT BARE YOU: for I CALLED him alone, and BLESSED him, and INCREASED him. 3 For the Lord shall COMFORT Zion: he will COMFORT all her waste places; and he will make her WILDERNESS like Eden, and her DESERT like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody” Isaiah 51:1-3.
“Even as Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they WHICH ARE OF FAITH, the same are the CHILDREN of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, PREACHED before the GOSPEL unto Abraham, saying, IN THEE SHALL ALL NATIONS BE BLESSED. 9 So then they which be of faith ARE BLESSED with FAITHFUL Abraham . . . 13 Christ hath REDEEMED us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 that THE BLESSING of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith . . . 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” Galatians 3:6-9, 13-14, 26-29.
“By FAITH Abraham, when he was CALLED to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, OBEYED; and he went out, NOT KNOWING whither he went. 9 By FAITH he sojourned in THE LAND OF PROMISE, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through FAITH also Sara herself RECEIVED STRENGTH TO CONCEIVE SEED, and was DELIVERED of a child when she was past age, because she judged him FAITHFUL who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable . . . 17 By FAITH Abraham, when he was tried, OFFERED up Isaac: and he that had RECEIVED the promises OFFERED up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 ACCOUNTING that God was ABLE to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he RECEIVED him in a FIGURE” Hebrews 11:8-19.
“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father JUSTIFIED by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how FAITH wrought with his works, and by works was FAITH made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the FRIEND of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” James 2:20-24.
“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. 18 Who against HOPE believed in HOPE, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness . . .” Romans 4:17-25.
Further Scriptural Reading Text: Romans 4:18-25; Hebrews 11:8-19; Genesis 12-25.
REV. CHUKIE MORSI