 |
|
CHURCH AND THE CHRISTIAN WALK
Gen_13:1-18 Introduction: You may be surprised to know that the most revered name on earth today is Abraham. Abraham is the one person respected and honored by Christians, Jews and Muslims. God had promised him in chapter 12 of Genesis that He would make "his name great", and indeed God has done just that. We will look at a place with much significance to Abraham's life, this place is called "Bethel", "beth" = house "el" = God, or literally "the house of God." The "house of God" is an interesting study in and of itself. The "house of God" during the time of the Law was first the Tabernacle, and later the Temple. In 1 Timothy 3:15, we are told by Paul that the church is the "house of God". But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.(1 Timothy 3:15) Let us look this evening at this episode in Abraham's life and apply this principle to our own Christian walks as they relate to the "house of God" or the local New Testament Church. This particular incident happened while Abraham was still known as Abram, and right after a terrible decision to go to Egypt. I. IT IS THE PLACE OF SACRIFICE. GEN_12:1-8 A. Abram built an altar there and "called on the name of the Lord". B. Under the law, the temple was the place where sinners could make sacrifices and have their sins covered. C. In the New Testament Church 1. The Sacrifice Of The Savior Is Preached. 2. The Sacrifice Can Be Appropriated By Sinners. 3. Sinners Can Receive Forgiveness, Not Just Covering. II. IT IS THE PLACE OF SWEET MERCY. GEN_13:1-4 A. Abram had messed up badly. Gen. 12:10-20 B. Abram came back to Bethel. C. How did he find mercy? 1. He Stopped Doing What He Was Doing. 2. He Went Back To Where He Belonged. 3. He Called Upon The Name Of The Lord. III. IT IS THE PLACE OF SEPARATION. GEN_13:5-13 A. Abram and Lot's tension. B. The command to separate in the Old Testament. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward. (Isa 52:11-12) C. The command in the New Testament. 1. Separate From The World---Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. (2Co 6:17) 2. Separate From Fellow Brethren Causing Division---Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (Rom 16:17) 3. Separate Unto God, Not Your Own Desires---But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. (Jud 1:17-19) IV. IT IS THE PLACE OF SPECIAL BLESSING. GEN_13:14-18 A. God communed with Abram there. B. God reiterated His promises to Abram. |