"FELLOWSHIP OF SUFFERING"
Intro: God created man for fellowship. He desires fellowship with you. The story of Abraham
is a man being drawn into full fellowship with God. "Friend of God." We haven't
cried together.
I. THIS IS THE SEVENTH AND FINAL APPEARANCE OF GOD TO ABRAHAM.
A. First in the Ur of the Chaldees and later at Haran called to leave land a family.
1. Fellowship with discontentment of God with surrounding world order.
2. "I can't feel at home in this world anymore."
B. Next when He showed him the land where the purposes of God were to be worked out.
1. Abraham built an altar unto the Lord.
C. God promised Him a son.
1. Fellowship with patience of God.
D. Strange night vision.
1. Horror of darkness.
2. The lamp moving amongst the sacrifices.
3. The predicted bondage of Egypt before the coming back to take land.
4. Fellowship with the hope of God.
E. Next where God revealed Himself as El Shaddai. "God Almighty" or all sufficient.
1. God is sufficient.
2. Fellowship of trust.
F. Next was prior to the destruction of Sodom where Abraham interceded.
1. Fellowship with the righteousness and justice of God.
G. The call to offer his son.
1. Fellowship of the suffering of God.
2. To understand fully. - John 3:16.
a. "Thine only son whom thou lovest."
1. First mention of love in Bible.
2. Father's love for his son.
b. Jesus said, "For the Father loves me.
c. Yet, "God so 'loved the world."
II. ABRAHAM'S IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
A. Note the often repetition of "and."
1. Form of Hebrew figure of speech known as polysyndeton to show continuity
and persistence.
B. The faith of Abraham revealed in message to servants.
1. And I and the lad will go and worship and come again.
2. Abraham was expecting Isaac to return with him. Why?
a. God had promised to Abram through Isaac shall thy seed be called.
b. At this point Isaac childless.
c. Abraham believed in the resurrection of his son when he
offered him.
3. The gospel Paul preached - I Cor. 15.
a. "Christ died for our sins according to..."
b. "Was buried and rose the third day according to the scriptures"
Where?
C. Abraham was acting out a drama that would one day unfold into reality as God
was bringing him into fellowship of His suffering.
1. This is the point of fellowship where many half.
2. Paul in Phil., "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection."
So many stop there, and the fellowship of His suffering.
III. ABRAHAM'S PROPHESY.
A. "God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering."
B. Called the place "Jehovah-Jireh" in the mountain of the Lord it shall be seen.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013)
Pastor Chuck was used in the Jesus People revival where he was used along with others to minister to the hippy young people. They saw a work of the Spirit where many were added to the church and discipled. He has raised up many pastors who are a part of the Calvary Chapel movement now and where he pastors the large Costa Mesa church in California.The Calvary Chapel movement is based of simple principles that Chuck Smith taught over the years such as: The priority of agape love, Simple fellowship amongst the saints, the breaking of bread, the teaching of God's word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And lastly and most importantly the principle not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord.