We focus on the life and times of Abraham. He is described as the father of three faiths. But he can really only be the father of the one true faith, even though from Abraham three religions were born.
Genesis 12: The Call of Abram
1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonours you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.
9 And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.
Abram and Sarai in Egypt
10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.
11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, "I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance,
12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me, but they will let you live.
13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake."
14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
17 But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
18 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
19 Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go."
20 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.
Genesis 13: Abram and Lot Separate
1 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.
2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD.
5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,
6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together,
7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.
8 Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.
9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left."
10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other.
12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom.
13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.
14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,
15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.
16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.
17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you."
18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
Things to think about…
1. In Gen 12:1-9 we see the call of Abraham from Haran which was in northern Mesopotamia – on the border of Syria and modern day Turkey. From there Abram travelled south into the land of Canaan. Remember Canaan was cursed by Noah. Abram was to initiate the promises that would come to Israel. He passes through Canaan from top to bottom and builds an altar in the Negeb – in the wilderness in the south.
2. Negeb, the southern part of Israel can experience drought – even today it is barren. Abram goes to Egypt with Sarai his wife to avoid the drought. She is his half-sister, but his wife first. He has got her to agree to say she is his sister – literally a half-truth. Abram escapes from the Lord’s land and disassociates from the Lord’s blessing – his wife. Have you ever denied the blessings of Christ and counted them as nothing? The Lord afflicted Pharaoh with plagues as a result. This would not be the last time this would happen to a Pharaoh because of the Lord’s hand upon His people. In the same way the Lord’s people were removed from Egypt. There are many similarities here as to what would happen over 400 years later when Moses would lead them out of Egypt.
3. Look at where Abram ends up – back in the Negeb Gen13:1 – and was still very rich vs 2. He then returns to where he originally set out from Bethel where he made an altar at first Gen 13:4. Sometimes the Lord calls us full circle because we don’t learn things right away. This can take years of course. Far better to obey to start with. In what ways have you wasted time – maybe for years, in pursuits the Lord was not calling you to?
4. The Lord promises Canaan to Abram and separates from Lot. God calls Abram to walk through the land, Gen13:14-17. How well do you know the mission field where the Lord has called you? Know it and embrace it.
Vision Point
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Questions for Cell groups
Sunday’s sermon, “Am I my brother’s keeper” came from Gen 4:1-16 by Ps Jay.
1. Is there a person’s life that you envy, either past or present? Discuss reasons why.
2. God didn’t accept Cain’s sacrifice, but accepted Abel’s sacrifice. Why was this the case?
3. God told Cain that sin was crouching at the door, ready to strike. This is like Satan the snake. Cain didn’t listen, even though God spoke to him directly. Cain then murders Abel after speaking with him. Discuss why it is easier to destroy God’s servants rather than focus anger directly to the Lord.
3. Eve was told her seed would bring separation from the seed of the Serpent. What a tragedy for her when her son rather than being a messiah was a murderer. Discuss how you bring Christ to your children, even when they do not embrace the Saviour.
4. Pray for your cell group and prayer/praise points.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for those who heard the gospel on Sunday. Pray for Christ to grant them salvation.
2. Pray for Victoria they are in stage 4 lockdown. Curfews and very strict travel restrictions in place for 4 weeks.
3. Pray for our church services now meeting together and our streaming that both can continue to be done well every Sunday.
4. Continue to pray for our government for wisdom and economic management.
5. Sunday’s fb live messages and for Kids church. The message this week – “The legacy of Abraham” Gen 4 – Doug Horne.
6. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
7. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
Praise Points.
1. New visitors on Sunday. Please pray that they receive Christ as their Saviour. Pray they keep coming back to CBC.
2. Full church – had to use our overflow in house and café
3. Wonderful spirit of joy in our church. Thankyou Jesus.
4. Finances being maintained and donation to Café roof. Thankyou!
7. Praise God for worship and technical team – amazing individuals.
Announcements
1. One service at 9:30am Every Sunday morning. This service will also be live streamed. No kisses, hand-shakes or hugs are allowed. Hand sanitizer is to be used, tables will be wiped and chairs arranged for appropriate distancing. Families can of course sit together. CBC is allowed up to 50 people inside, then we will have an overflow into the café.
2. Cell groups – Ask for details as to how and what is required.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Kids Church will be run in the house when the message starts.
Q. 15. What do we pray for in the fifth petition? A. That God would pardon our sins for Christ's sake, and enable us to forgive those who have wronged us.
