Yesterday, at FBCD, the message was on "God's Call To Abraham" based on Genesis 12. This was the 2nd message in my series of messages on the biblical scenes depicted in stained glass windows in our sanctuary. These are the highlights of the message.

Although there are many things major religious groups in the world disagree on, Abraham is one person there is agreement on. Bruce Feiller wrote a book several years ago entitled "Abraham: A Journey Into The Heart Of Three Faiths" that dealt with this subject. We definitely have major doctrinal differences with these groups however, we do share a common belief in the importance of Abraham.
Christians look to Abraham as a man of faith because we believe the Bible and the Bible records Abraham as the first of the patriarchs.
Jews look to Abraham, along with the other patriarchs in the scriptures were considered the founder of the Jewish faith.
Followers of Islam look to Abraham was the father of Ishmael whom was considered the father of the Arab people.
By studying the call of Abraham in Genesis 12 we learn the following:

I. The Call Of Abraham.
The scripture says "Now the Lord said to Abram, Go forth from your country." God is calling Abraham to leave behind his family and the familiar. He says "Go forth from your country."
If God is calling you, you are going to have leave something behind. Jesus said, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man has no where to lay his head.”
It has been said "Whomever God calls, God equips; Whereever God leads, God provides."
II. The Course Of Abraham
God says "Go forth from your country... to the land that I will show you." Abraham doesn't have a road map. There isn't anyone he can talk with who has taken this trip. There is no GPS. There is simply the voice of God. Abraham has no idea where he's going but he knows God is calling. God says "I will show you the land."
It was a faith experiment for Abraham. The Christian walk is a faith exercise. We believe in Jesus through faith. We ask Jesus to save us through faith. We walk in faith. Faith means trusting the Lord.
Legendary Pastor R.G. Lee once said, “Anything believable and conceivable is achievable if you have faith in God.”
III. The Conditions For Abraham
God has called Abraham and has told him that he is taking him to the "...land which I will show you." Then God says, "I will make you a great nation... And I will bless you, and make your name great."
Someone has said, “Faith is belief with legs on it.”
Now, some of us may be like the disciples. They said to the Lord, “We do believe, help our unbelief.”
Now, someone may say “How can my faith grow?
Be saturated with the scriptures. The Bible says “Faith comes from hearing the Word of God.”
Be dedicated to the Savior. Remember that faith is no better than its object. It’s not so much a great faith in God as it is faith in a great God.
Be separated from sin. Unconfessed sin is a faith killer.
Be activated by the Spirit. Remember the old song “Trust and Obey?” We are to be obedient.
An unkown poet expressed his faith this way;
“I believe in the Sun even when it is not shining.
I believe in Love when I feel it not
I believe in God when when He is silent.”

This week, ask the Lord to help you grow in faith.