Scripture References: Isaiah 51:1-3; Genesis 12-14; Ephesians 4:31-32; Hebrews 12:15; Luke 6:45
Intro: Welcome to this sermon exploring faith through the life of Abraham. As Isaiah encourages, let's look to him as our example. True faith builds trust in God, which empowers us to do two critical things: release hurts and offenses, and reach out in love, even when it's difficult. Let's examine how Abraham modeled this journey of release and reach.
Key Points:
- Abraham's Initial Test & Failure (Gen 12): God called Abraham with a great promise. Yet, facing famine, fear trumped faith. Abraham resorted to a half-truth about Sarah in Egypt for self-preservation. Instead of being a blessing, he brought trouble, having lost sight of his divine calling.
- Abraham's Repentance & Return (Gen 13): Recognizing his failure, Abraham intentionally journeyed back to Bethel, the place of his first altar. He repented and re-established his connection with God through worship. This reminds us that repentance often involves a conscious return to our foundation of faith.
- Faith Demonstrated in Release (Gen 13): Immediately tested by strife between his and Lot's herdsmen, Abraham chose relationship over rights. Saying, "We are brethren," he relinquished his claim as elder and benefactor, allowing Lot to choose the seemingly better land. This was a profound act of releasing control and potential bitterness, trusting God's promise over circumstance, even amidst Lot's betrayal.
- Understanding Bitterness (Our Response): Bitterness often feels justified, especially when caused by those close to us (proximity matters more than magnitude). However, scripture reveals bitterness stems from our own hearts (Luke 6:45). What spills out when we're "jolted" by offense shows what's inside. It's not solely the bumper's fault. We have a choice – Ephesians 4:31 and Hebrews 12:15 urge us to actively get rid of bitterness.
- Faith Demonstrated in Reach (Gen 14): Having genuinely released Lot and any bitterness, Abraham was free to act in love. When Lot was captured, Abraham didn't gloat or say "serves him right." Instead, he pursued and rescued Lot. True release through faith empowers us to reach out, even to those who have hurt or betrayed us.
Conclusion: Abraham's journey shows that faith isn't just belief, but active trust leading to release and reach. We’ve all sinned, and we’ve all been sinned against. Faith calls us away from justifying bitterness, especially towards family and close friends, and towards releasing them to God. This release isn't forgetting or excusing, but trusting God enough to let go of our "right" to hold onto the offense.
Call to Action: Where are you holding onto bitterness? Recognize it today. Stop justifying it and start repenting, asking God for a willingness to let go. If you struggle with how to release, focus first on asking God to make you want to. Like Abraham, even while feeling wounded, lift your eyes to God. Build an altar of worship in your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit for supernatural power to break the chains of bitterness, enabling you to truly forgive and potentially reach out in love. Pray: "God, help me trust You enough to release this person and this hurt."
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