A TESTED FAITHGenesis 12-22

Leave your Home & Family

• Text –Gen.12:1-8• Sounds easy – “Get out of your country…so Abram departed…”

• But life changing decisions often difficult• Especially true of obedience to Christ– Luke 14:25-35

-Must disregard others -Work for & follow Christ

– Jn.12:42-43

Honesty in All Things

• Text –Gen.12:10-20• Being fearful, Abram lied showing lack of faith• Tests of our Honesty on regular basis– Given too much money at store– Finding something belonging to others– Work ethic when nobody is watching– Telling the truth even when unpleasant

• Eph.4:25; Prov.12:19; 19:5; Rev.21:8

Putting Others before Yourself

• Text –Gen.13:1-13• Risked being taken advantage of by Lot &

willing to accept it• Rebuke of the Corinthians -1Cor.6:7• Preferring others –Rom.12:10, 17-21• When was the last time you put others before

yourself? -Phil.2:3-4• Consider end result of ex. of Christ -Phil.2:9

Helping others in Distress

• Text –Gen.14:14-16 ;18:23• Would it have been easy to find reasons not to help?– Not my problem -Have my own probs -Don’t have time– Nothing I can do -Getting what he deserves

• Why then did Abraham get involved?-same reason Samaritan got involved =compassion Lk10:29-f

• Do we understand our Christian obligation?– Mt.25:31-46

Doing God’s will God’s way

• Text –Gen.22:1-19• Did God cross the line? Was He asking too much? • Was he just so gullible that he accepted anything?• Not gullible, but trusting in his creator(Heb.11:17-19)• How do we react to things we disagree with or don’t

understand?-question things -devise ways to change things -give up 2 Sam.6:6-10 ; 2 Kgs.5:8-15-baptism, one church, attendance, worship, marriage/divorce

Are you passing the tests of Faith?

• Is family keeping you from obeying Christ?• Are you completely Honest in all things?• Do you put yourself before others?• Do you neglect others in their distress?• Do you obey God only when it pleases you?

If so, you are failing the tests of your faith!