Breakthrough to blessings - following Abraham's footsteps

It was an honor to be ministering at Christian Family Church International, South Africa for Drs. Theo and Beverley Wolmarans. 
People were blessed by the teaching and some emailed me and asked for the notes.
This is Sunday evening service message: "Breakthrough to blessings - following Abraham"

Gal. 3:26-29, Gal. 3:7-9

Those of faith are children of Abraham

The same blessing of Abraham is duplicated on those that walk by faith

Gen. 12:1-4, 7-8

Abram believed God - God said: "Follow me...trust in me..."

Gen. 12:1-3 : If you do what God says then He "shows" (vision) and He will "make" (provision)...

1. Abram acted on what he believed - He did what God asked :  Abram operated in FAITH

Faith requires "confession" and "action"

Abram walked by faith and not by sight

2. Abram built altars - Gen. 12:7-8, Gen. 13:4, 18

Gen. 13:2 - Abram built altars before and after he became very rich 

Altars are place of worship, sacrifice, communion, covenants, spiritual gates - the place where man and spirits meet

Make your house an altar - a place of worship, serving and covenant

3. Abram refused to quarrel and strife - Gen. 13:5-17

Quarrel and strife brings confusion and every evil work - Js. 3:16

Confusion = no decision or direction - you are lost!

*THOSE WHO QUARREL WILL BE INFLUENCE BY THEIR NATURAL EYES - Gen. 13: 10

*PEOPLE OF FAITH WHO DONT QUARREL WILL BE DIRECTED & INFLUENCE BY SPIRITUAL EYES - Gen. 13:14-17

4. Abram was humble - he was Lot's senior spiritually and physically yet he gave Lot first choice. (1 Pet. 5:5)

5. Abram refused offense and vengeance - he went out to rescue Lot his nephew (Gen. 14)

Offense leads to vengeance

Forgiveness leads to grace

God is a God of grace and mercy - as children of God, we must become people of grace and mercy.

6. Abram trusted God. He met Melchisedek: bread and wine and then gave TITHES of all.

Abram was a TITHER

7. Abram refused to depend on the hand of corrupt and perverse king of Sodom - Gen. 14:23

Melchisedek - King of justice and King of peace

He depended on justice and peace

8. Abram covenanted with God and broke the curse of barrenness - Gen. 15: 8-18 & Gen. 17, Gen. 21:5

9.  Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorah - Gen. 18:22-33

He did not accused, judge or condemn others, he stood in the gap and prayed for them

10. Abraham put God first (offered Isaac) - Gen. 22, Ps. 126:5-6, Heb. 11:4

We must develop faith to receive and to GIVE

God blessed Abraham in ALL things - Gen. 24:1 

Visit: www.jamesarekion.com

Email us: soteriamauritius@intnet.mu

 

Understanding the will of God

The will of God means the desire and plan(s) of God.
The theme of the bible consists of His will.
One of God's passion is to reveal His plan to us.

There are two types of will:
1. The standard or universal Will as written or documented in His Word.
2. The personalized or specific Will of God for our lives.

"For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
    line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." 

Isa. 28:10

In regards to the specific will of God for our lives:
God's word is revealed progressively..."here a little, there a little"
This then keeps us connected to God and focused on Him. The closer we are to Him, the more He reveals to us. The more we obey, the further we go. If you walk in the light we have, you are rewarded with more light.
This also keeps God as our priority and keeps us reaching for Him. The apostle Paul declared that his goal is to KNOW God (Phil. 3:10).

Every revelation from God, whether by His Word, dreams or vision must be documented (Hab. 2:1-3).
God never gives us a picture of obstacles or the challenges we may face. He shows us the grapes not the giants. However, if we remain connected to Him, we can slay and conquer the giants. We can overcome the storms of life through His Word. His Word gives us strength (Dan. 10:19).

Our desires are often contrary to His Will. This is why we need to learn to submit ourselves to God.

Submission is the seed for Promotion

(Mike Murdock). 

We need to bring ourselves into agreement with His will.
We do not DECIDE our assignment, we DISCOVER and DISCERN our assignment - Jeremiah 1: 4-19

Some important truths about the revealed or specific Will of God for our lives:

• The Will of God will require training - Ex: Daniel

• The Will of God may require geographical changes - Ex: Abraham

• The Will of God is costly - Ex: Jesus and Stephen

• The Will of God may involve pain and loneliness - Ex: John the Baptist and Jesus

• The Will of God cannot be discussed with everybody - Ex: Mary pondered all these things in her heart.

• The Will of God means that you may not be granted access to certain places - Ex: Acts 16:6-7

• The Will of God means you cannot have anything and everything you want - Ex: Samson

Comfort is NOT a confirmation that you are in God's will