Sermon Cloud

   Same Is Lame Learning From Changed Lives

Hebrews 12:12-13 ¹² Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

I. Abraham - Called To The Unknown

Following God isn't safe but it is for our best.

A. Called Out Of A Pagan Lifestyle

1. Genesis 12:1-3

12     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. ²  I will make you a great nation;  I will bless you  And make your name great;  And you shall be a blessing. ³  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.”  ⁴ 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.

2. Called From Paganism

3. Called To The Unknown

B. Called To Deeper Levels Of Faith

1. The Land

Abraham Leaves Ur By Way Of Haran (Gen 12)

Abraham was a member of a family associated with city life in Southern Babylonia, but was called by God to leave for a land unknown.  So he moved to 300 miles to Haran in Upper Mesopotamia and stayed 15 years. In Haran, God called him again to leave for the land which he would show him, so he and Lot, his nephew, went to Canaan.

When they got to the land the first thing God did was make a promise to give the land to Abraham and his decendants.  So Abraham responds by building an altar and calls on the Lord.

Then the next thing that happened in this new land of Abraham's is a famine. Which causes him to leave it and go to Egypt to seek food and then lie about Sarai his wife for fear of Pharaoh.

Abraham's Battles The Four Kings Who Attack Sodom (Gen 14)

Lot and Abraham split up because their flocks and servants were too large to remain together.  Abraham give lot the pick of the land and he chooses the green area around the wicked city of Sodom.

Well four kings get together and attack Sodom and take Lot and his family captive.     Abraham goes against all odds and with his servants defeats the four kings and rescues lot.

2. The Lad

Abraham was promised a child in his old age (Gen 15)

God took Abraham and showed him the stars of the night sky and promised him he would give him descendants as uncountable as the stars.

Then in Genesis 15:6 we read that "Abraham believed in the Lord and He accounted it to him for righteousness."

But it was not until after he and Sarai have a laps of faith and tried to have a child through Sarai's maidservant that the promise was fulfilled.  This was after he was 100 years old and Sarah was 90.  The promise given when he was 75 

Abraham was tested in that which he loved most (Gen 22)

Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice Isaac his son of promise.

But at this point in Abraham's life he has matured in his faith and believes God that Isaac will fulfill His promise.  And in a most dramatic way sees God's faithfulness by providing a sacrifice instead of Isaac there on Mt. Moriah.

Hebrews 11:17-19  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, ¹⁸ of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” ¹⁹ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

3. The Longings

Abraham ultimately wanted God's plan for his life.  It was a life of challenge and difficulty and not a dull moment.

C. Called To Follow The Unseen

Hebrews 11:8-12 ⁸ 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. ⁹ 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; ¹⁰ for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. ¹¹ 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. ¹² 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.

II. Gideon - From Hiding To Fighting

Judges 6-8

A. Man Of Hiding To Mighty Man Of Valor

Turn To Judges Chapter Six

(6:1-8:28) Gideon & Midianites ,

(6:1) 7 Years Bondage,

(6:1-6) Israel Cries Out  Because Of The Midianites,

(6:7-10) The Prophet Sent

(6:11-18) The Angel Of  The Lord Calls Gideon  (Read This Section)

B. Man Of Doubting To Man Of Faith

(6:25-27) Obeyed By Tearing Down Altar Of Baal At Night

Read Judges 6:36-40   - The Fleece

·                    Also - Judges 7:9-15 God gives the Midianites a dream of doom to Encourage Gideon (Loaf Destroys Tents of Midian)

C. Man Of Strength To Man Of Weakness

·                   (Chapter 7) The Conquest Of The Midianites by Gideon,

·                   Started with 32K but 22k left as Gideon told them to leave if they were afraid

Of the 10K only 300 were left when tested by the water (7:5-6)

·                   (7:15-25) The Plan & Victory 3X100 W/Jars & Torch, Trumpet 

·                   They Conquered 110k Midianites.  - Enemy Destroyed Themselves In Fear The Remainder Fled Away

·                   Gideon's 300 Pursued 15k and destroyed them as well.

III. Paul - Misdirected To Missionary

A. A Man Misdirected

1. Persecuting The Church

2. Persuing Man's Aproval

3. Pushed Off A Horse

Acts 9:3-9  ³ As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ⁴ Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” ⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” ⁷ And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

B. A Missionary Man

"On his numerous missionary journeys, the apostle Paul showed a greater accomplishment in distances traveled than any known general of the Roman army, official of the Roman Empire, or trader of his time'' (Encyc. Britannica Macropaedia, 1974 ed., v4, p504).

Three Long Missionary Journeys

C. A Messenger For Christ

Philippians 3:7-11 ⁷ But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

IV. Phillip - Servant To Super Evangelist

A. (Acts 6:3) A Descriptive Beginning

Acts 6:3  Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;

Acts 6:6  whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

B. (Acts 8:4-8) A Dynamic Ministry

Acts 8:4-8 ⁴ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. ⁵ Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. ⁶ And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

Talk about leaving your comfort zone - Remember the pursecution of the church is what led Philip to Samaria!

C. (Acts 21:8-9) A Diligent Life

Acts 21:8-9  On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. ⁹ Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

Later in life still on-fire for God, serving the Lord throught the church and his kids are following in his footsteps by following God!