Our Father of Faith: Abraham

Lately I have recognized that in America, Christianity has been taught with such a "western culture mindset", that we are missing the truth, depth and richness of the gospel. It may be true that "gospel" means "good news", but it seems that so much church teaching focuses on "self help techniques", or "how to", rather than focusing on the character, holiness and power of God. My hearts desire (and what I see is a tremendous need) for the community of God - believers in Yeshua, Jesus - is to go beyond surfacy Christianity, truly lay down our lives, take up our cross and follow Jesus. I never much liked teachings that hinted that "suffering" was something a Christian should expect or accept. Who needs that? No, the Christianity I liked was a Christianity that says that Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly - and that the anointing breaks the yoke and sets the captive free - that God will meet all my needs according to His riches in glory - that we are more than conquerors through Him that loves us - and all the promises of God are yes and amen! Who can't say amen to that?

The only problem was that whenever a negative, overwhelming problem presented itself in my life, I was blown away. I could not figure it out. I thought that God had abandoned me, or that somehow I was being treated unfairly by God because He was allowing "poor me" to go through this terrible circumstance. I would launch into an effort to muster my faith and fight a good fight. But I must admit that I felt God had let me down somehow, or that I must have opened some door to allow this bad thing into my life, or that something I had done had shut the door to God's power. In any case, a lot of "wondering" went on.

Recently I have been struck with some of the scriptures concerning our "father in the faith" - Abraham. His relationship with God was so strong that it caused Abraham to be a conqueror in life.

Genesis 21:9-11 tells us, "Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom Hagar had borne to Abraham, making fun of Isaac; so Sarah said to Abraham, 'Throw out this slave-girl! And her son! I will not have this slave-girl's son as your heir along with my son Isaac!' Abraham became very distressed over this matter of his son."

Now we can easily dismiss what Abraham must have felt, because we read in the next verses that God spoke to Abraham and said, "Don't be distressed because of the boy and your slave-girl. Listen to everything Sarah says to you, because it is your descendants through Isaac who will be counted. But I will also make a nation from the son of the slave-girl, since he is descended from you."

Abraham's strength came from hearing from God. God was faithful to speak to Abraham. But it also remains a fact that Abraham was a human being, subject to feelings. Distress over a situation like the one in Gen. 21 was real. In Gen. 15:1 God again speaks to Abraham and says, "Don't be afraid, Abraham. I am your protector; your reward will be very great." Why would God say, "Don't be afraid", unless Abraham had been feeling afraid."

Then in Genesis 21:14 we read that, "Abraham got up early in the morning, took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child; then he sent her away."

Also, I am reminded of Lot - Abraham's nephew. 2Peter 2:8 says, "For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds". His mind, will and emotions were vexed daily. I have experienced that kind of emotion. It is not pleasant. However, verse 7 tells us that God delivered Lot. Verse 9 says that, "God knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations. . ."

The lesson from Abraham and Lot is that in the middle of vexing, fearful and distressing situations, turn to God, looking to him for direction - and immediately obey when direction comes.

While writing this blog this morning, a program came on the radio that spoke exactly what I am attempting to deal with. The program was by Don Gossett. He told about people who prayed much, begging and crying out to God for some time over certain situations. The answer to their prayers came when the people strengthened themselves through making a decision to trust God, obey the scriptures and "watch with thanksgiving" for the answer to their prayers.

Once Abraham heard from God, he obeyed quickly.

There is so much to learn from Abraham. Let's not skim over the verses and dismiss the fact that he was human and experienced human emotions. It is too easy to "romanticize" the scriptures and simply read them as nice stories about people who were "extra ordinary", or extraordinary.

There is a time to pour your heart out to God. When you are vexed, fearful, distressed or tormented, cry out to God. Turn to the Scriptures. Then strengthen yourself in Him. Remember and think on His faithfulness. His promises. His ability. What does the Scripture say concerning your desires? Are you praying for others to come to know God? Are you praying for others to be made whole or to be healed? Are you praying for God to pour out His mercy and help in a circumstance? Then you can know that you are praying for God's will to be done. John 5:14, 15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in His presence; if we ask anything that accords with His will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - then we know that we have what we have asked from him."

Romans 4:18-20 is marvellous! It speaks of Abraham, telling us, "For he was past hope, yet in hope he trusted that he would indeed become a father to many nations, in keeping with what he had been told. . .His trust did not waver when he considered his own body . . .or when he considered that Sarah's womb was dead too. He did not by lack of trust decide against God's promises. On the contrary, by trust he was given power as he gave glory to God."

The Psalms are full of prayers to God that were offered during times of great distress. The pattern is clear. Cry out to God. Plead your case. Then strengthen yourself in Him by calling to remembrance His faithfulness. And then praise Him. By making a decision to trust God, give glory to God.

Help in Distress

Glance at your enemies; Gaze at your God.

That is what my pastor in St. Louis, Missouri always said. When things around you are in turmoil, that is hard to do. Circumstances may loom so large that it seems impossible to see a clear view of God. How desperately we desire to hear from God at these times, wishing He would speak clearly to us and calm the storm raging in our minds, stirring our emotions into a frenzy.

Circumstances have been like that for me at times. Dread and fear washed over me and I desperately wanted to hear from God. When time permitted I got on my face on the floor and cried out to God for help. I searched Christian websites looking for an article that would minister the grace I needed to calm my soul; an anointed Word - one that would come from the Spirit that would break the yoke and remove the burden I was under. I did find one after some searching. How grateful I am for that.

The experience gave me a new appreciation for simple preaching of the Word of God. When we are in trouble, we don't need human insight so much as we need a Word from God that comes with the power to break the cycle of fear generated by the negative thoughts we are being bombarded with.

The circumstances causing the turmoil are real. The threat is real. But the power of God is very real too! How do we connect with it?

Under distress it is very easy to magnify every negative thing. Under these circumstances it is necessary to get out your spiritual magnifying glass and magnify every tiny thing you can possibly think of that is a good report in any way. Is there even one person around you that has spoken kindly to you lately? Have you had anything to eat lately? Are you wearing clothes? Thank God for them. What I am saying is, allow any tiny glimmer of light in that is available.

Jesus said, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So if you have a 'good eye' your whole body will be full of light; but if you have an 'evil eye' your whole body will be full of darkness. If then, the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matt. 6:22

If you cannot see any good thing - no glimmer of good anywhere, how dark is your existence! The good news is that no matter what the circumstances, we can find something good.

In the letter Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, Paul wrote, "In conclusion, brothers focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy." Philippians 4:8

Since I am a stickler for not taking the Word of God out of context, plus the fact that the verses leading up this one in Philippians are so good too, I will print them as well. They say:

Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice! Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. (When we are distressed, it is natural to become short- tempered and harsh with others.) The Lord is near! (When distressed we can be tempted to think God has left us.) Don't worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. (It can be difficult to feel thankful at all, but it is necessary to be thankful for any tiny thing we can think of - which will allow a glimmer of God's light and hope into our hearts. Refusing to be thankful at all is a refusal to humble ourselves; God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. To be thankful causes us to receive His grace - His power toward us. To be unthankful is to refuse His grace, and therefore refuse His power extended to us which He gives to help us.) Then God's shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua." (Shalom is an amazing word. It is translated peace, but that is an insufficient translation. Shalom means wholeness, harmony, well being, integrity, health, tranquility, safety and success. Bible teacher Billye Brim has said it means, "nothing missing, nothing broken")

The words in the passage above state that God's peace passes all understanding. This reminds me of another verse that the Holy Spirit ministered to me recently also. It is:

Proverbs 3:5,6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths."

Another passage that is crucial concerning our attitude during times of distress is:

II Corinthians 10:3,-5 "For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war in a worldly way; because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God's power for demolishing strongholds. We demolish arguments and every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah"

It can be a challenge to take every thought captive. Make it obey the Messiah. Give thanks to God. Jesus, the Messiah, said to not worry, but to pray always and trust the Father (Matt 6:25-34; Matt 7:7-11; and Matt 10:29-31 are some examples). Remember the story Jesus told about the widow who kept bothering the unjust judge? He finally did what the widow wanted even though he did not care about the situation. Jesus said, "Now won't God grant justice to His chosen people who cry out to Him day and night? Is He delaying long over them? I tell you that He will judge in their favor and quickly! But when the Son of Man comes, will he find this trust on the earth at all?"

God is looking for those who will trust Him. It is easy to think we are trusting when the circumstances are good; but difficult circumstances bring out areas that are weak in us that need strengthening. When we choose to focus of God, and choose trust Him, and choose to present our needs to Him, and choose to thank Him in difficult times, we become stronger in our spirits, just like our physical muscles are strengthened when we lift weights and experience physical discomfort.

God wants what is best for us! God is good! God is love! He is our Father (if you have believed in His Son Jesus - Yeshua the Messiah and been born of His Spirit by repenting of living according to your own ways and accepting the gift of life given through His Son). If you have not accepted God's gracious gift yet, I encourage you to diligently seek God about it. Compare the Old Testament which speaks of Jesus, Yeshua. Don't look at people. Look at the Scriptures. The Messiah came right on time as the Prophet Daniel prophesied in Daniel 9:24-26.