Come and See – Chapter 8 of the Gospel of John – Part vi – Rejoice and Be Glad

Come and See

Chapter 8 of the Gospel of John

Part vi

Rejoice and Be Glad in It

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.  (John 8:56)

The Day of Grace

—— ♦——

   The Lord identifies a CERTAIN DAY as His day. This is not a period of time of twenty-four hours. This is a time period of manifestation from His divine birth in Bethlehem to His ascension at the right hand of the majesty on high. From the moment He left heaven to the moment that He returned . . . this is the day that Abraham saw and rejoiced in it. This was His entire life fulfilling His day of grace. For grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, and a time that only God keeps, a knowledge that is only given of God, He is the Time Keeper of every soul. Abraham saw this DAY afar off; yet, through faith Abraham entered into that very day.

   At Abraham’s call he stood before the God of glory. The God of glory revealed His glory to Abraham as later He revealed His glory to Isaiah in the book of Isaiah, Chapter 6.

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1)

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. (Isaiah 6:2)

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:3)

And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:4)

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 6:5)

   Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, and the God of glory revealed His glory; thus, when Abraham was called, it was this same God of glory who revealed Himself to Abraham.

   Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (John 8:56)In this one verse in the Gospel of John, we see (through the eye of faith) a present sense in a tense with Abraham, a present tense with the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a present tense with us who have like faith as Abraham: that Abraham rejoiced to see the Lord’s day, and He SAW it and was glad. In this statement by the Lord Jesus we see the past revelation to Abraham and the present manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet Abraham was looking into a future distant time that would be fulfilled by the Lord Himself, the God of glory, which the Lord Jesus revealed on the mount of transfiguration. It was on this mount of glory that Moses and Elijah spoke of things concerning His death. With the same eyes of faith that Abraham had, Peter, James, and John witnessed this transfiguration of glory. The God of glory appeared unto Abraham and although the day was still yet far off, Abraham entered into that very day when grace and truth would be revealed in God’s dear Son.

Side Note: The Godhead: In the title God of glory we must see the total Godhead:

1. The Father of Glory: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (Ephesians 1:17)

2. The Lord of Glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1st Corinthians 2:8)

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. (James 2:1) 

3. The Spirit of Glory: If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (1st Peter 4:14)

—— ♦——

What Abraham Understood

—— ♦——

Abraham understood the call of God.

Abraham understood the separation from the world. (Acts 7)

Abraham understood the faith of God imparted unto him.

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (Galatians 3:6)

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7)

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (Galatians 3:8)

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. (Galatians 3:9)

Abraham understood the righteousness of God.

For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3)

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13)

   Abraham is the first person in Scripture to couple faith with righteousness. This is also the first mention of the word ‘righteousness.’ And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)

Abraham understood the judgment of God.

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25)

Abraham understood the promises of God.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8)

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: (Hebrews 11:9)

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10)

But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. (Hebrews 7:24)

Abraham understood the fellowship and communion with God.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (Genesis 14:18)

And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: (Genesis 14:19)

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. (Genesis 14:20)

   Abraham rejoiced and was glad to see the fullness of time in Jesus Christ, and the evidence of THIS DAY God gives in His word in Acts 7? The Holy Spirit begins with a question, a question that all of mankind should answer for their eternity depends on the answer they give before God. The question was asked by the high priest of that day (he was the religious authority, and the Jewish political authority) and he asked Stephen this question, Are these things so?

   The answer came from a man who was full of faith. (Acts 7:1) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. (Acts 6:8) Stephen’s face put forth a radiant glow of glory as an angel of God. And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. (Acts 6:15) A man full of faith and by the evidence from the glow of his face, he was standing before the Almighty God, and he received his very words from on high. He replied steadfastly, without fear of man, And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, (Acts 7:2) Stephen began with the God of glory appearing to Abraham in Mesopotamia.

   This was the first encounter Abraham had with the God of glory. He was called of God, there was no mistake, there was no doubt of reasoning, WITH his eyes he beheld the God of glory. Abraham was not looking for God that day, it was the God of glory who was looking for Abraham. Think of being called out from among the world, the only one called by the God of glory from all the inhabitants of Mesopotamia. The only one called to separate himself from the whole world. Remember that only one man of faith came through the flood, and this was Noah. It was Noah who carried the last seed of promise, and when Noah died, there was no faith found in Shem, Ham or Japheth.

—— ♦——

The Root of Evil in the Tree of Mankind

—— ♦——

   The world was once again in the darkness of the devil’s world. Noah’s descendants went whoring in the same path, in the same evil imaginations of their wicked hearts as the men in Genesis Chapter 6. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The descendants of Noah became so evil that once again, God had to come down. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. (Genesis 11:5) God looked on the children of men, and on their evil imaginations — before Him stood a tower, the tower of Babel. The whole world was gathered round. The whole world was of one language, and one evil heart. This was the world gone whoring after false gods, and still believing the lie of Satan, that ye shall be as gods. One could say, The feebleness of man building a tower to heaven this would seem insane, however, the same lie of Satan permeates the subconsciousness of mankind today, that ye shall be as gods.

   We have a space station, a tower in the heavens, men have walked on the moon, and man is striving and reaching for Mars, rockets have been sent into deep space, and the whole world is of one language, the language of binary numbers – x’s and o’s. Man still wants to be as gods; yet, this is impossible. For man in Adam has plummeted into a pit that he cannot climb out of. Man is a sinner, ALL have sinned and have come short of the glory of God. The distance that separated Adam from God is too far for Adam to return. Adam was stripped from ALL that is of God. And yet, after the great universal deluge of the flood, after watching the great tree of humanity being cut down by boisterous waves, the screams and the horror of men without God on this side of the flood, the descendants of Noah built a tower, and worshiped themselves for they wanted not only to reach the heavens, but as Lucifer, they wanted to exalt themselves above the most high God the possessor of heaven and earth. God could not let this corrupt society continue any further, therefore, He confounded the language of the people, and scattered them throughout the world so that the evil deception of Satan could not abound. Although they were scattered, although there were borders between man and man, mankind kept digging in the realm of the devil’s energy. Man wanted and continues to want in some way, some how, to acquire deity. You say that this is foolish. Yet, think of past kings of this world who were deified by the people, and they themselves thought that they were deity. However, this all ended when death overcame them, and they perished from this world.

   Mankind has worked through history trying to deify himself. He has relentlessly put all his strength in attempting to become gods. Why is this? Because this was Satan’s original sin (as Lucifer in the spiritual realm) that was past down to Adam at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam was the first fruit of the tree, and throughout history we have many men attached to this tree. For man in his sin has not changed. Even today, men will believe a lie before they will believe the truth. Man carries in his heart, in the back of his mind, the lie ye shall be as gods.

    From Adam mankind became a mighty tree, its branches filled the world, its leaves cast a dark shadow over the world, and yet, this mighty tree (because of the evil heart of mankind and man’s evil imagination) continued to go deeper and deeper into the darkness of sin. Although this mighty gigantic tree of renown was destroyed by God in Genesis Chapter 6 when the Lord hewed it down by the flood, Noah’s descendants, however, did not turn to God after the flood. Only Noah built an altar. Only Noah sacrificed the clean animals, and only Noah approached God. All the others including his sons, wanted to exalt themselves above the most high God. Not one of Noah’s sons traveled in the path way of Noah’s faith. Does not this speak of the total depravity of mankind? ALL men without God in this world are apart from God’s grace. That distance between Adam and God was pronounced at the tree of good and evil, thou shalt surely die. The great gulf of sin and death cannot be bridged by Adam. Consequently in the days of Abraham, when all seemed lost once again, the God of glory appeared.

—— ♦——

The Man of God’s Choosing

—— ♦——

   God chose Abraham. Abraham had no say in the matter of God’s choice. This is very hard for man to accept. Yet, today, NO man in Adam by his own self will can bridge sin and death to acquire faith and grace. There has to be another Man, there has to be a holy Man, there has to be a Man of deity, there has to be a Man who has created all things, there has to be a Man that within Him is eternal life, and the power of all life. This is the Man that Abraham saw, and rejoiced in THAT Man — THIS Man IS the Man Jesus Christ.

   We see the call of God in ourselves: those who are born of the Spirit of Christ. Did we set the time, did we set the date, did we determine the hour, or the year of our call and salvation? Was it our time or was it God’s time? Anyone born of the Spirit of God knows that it was God’s interest in us, not our interest in God that saved us. Consider Romans Chapter 8:28-30.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:30)

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2^nd Timothy 1:9)

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2^nd Timothy 1:10)

   As He called Abraham out of Ur of Chaldees, so today, God calls out the children of God. To understand Abraham’s feeling, we need to look into the entire life of Abraham. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (John 8:56) With rejoicing and gladness, Abraham viewed the Eternal. Therefore, we need to follow the faith of Abraham, from Ur he went with his father Terah, his wife, Sarai, and his nephew Lot. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. (Genesis 11:31) We should realize that in the movement of God through Terah, God was just honoring the patriarch of that day, which was Terah, but Terah was not called of God. Terah would have to give way to the man of faith in Haran. At the death of Terah, Abraham responded to the promises that he had received in Ur of Chaldees. The line of the seed was broken at the death of Noah, but was re-instituted in the call of Abraham. Terah could only go so far, Haran became the place of death, and from Haran Abraham stepped out in God’s faith to go where God would tell him. For into the land of Canaan was not a stopping point. Abraham had received a promise of a heavenly seed and an earthly seed. This made Abraham a stranger in the world that he dwelt in. Although he became rich in cattle, in sheep, in oxen, and in gold and silver, Abraham remained a stranger amongst the world, and amongst his own possessions. Upon leaving Haran Abraham committed himself to the care of God. As he approached Canaan, the distance of the old world became greater, and the eye of faith was opened to a new path that God would set in the land of Canaan, the land of promise. The death of Terah was the first release of Abraham from his family since his call by God in Ur. Not only was Abraham’s back turned away from the world, but the unity of family influence had to be severed as well. Lot remained because he was a ward of Abraham. Truly, Abraham was his brother’s keeper, because Lot was the son of Abraham’s brother.

   In the beginning of Chapter 12 of the book of Genesis, we are reminded through the Spirit of God what God had declared to Abraham. Within Abraham the voice of God would remind him of his call, and that all his cares should be cast upon the God of glory. Although Terah was a deterrent to the faith of Abraham, Terah was allowed to remain in Abraham’s life. The Holy Spirit waited for Terah to be removed through death, and then opened Chapter 12 with the same declaration of Abraham’s call and faith. According to 12:1, this is what the Lord had promised.

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: (Genesis 12:1)

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: (Genesis 12:2)

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)

   The conscience within man is a wonderful tool of the Lord. Your conscience is not controlled by you. It is controlled by God. For those who are called by God in Jesus Christ, the conscience is not only a tool in God’s hands, but God uses it as a reminder of that path that he has set us upon. In the beginning of Chapter 12 of the book of Genesis, not only are we reminded of the call of Abraham, but the conscience bears witness to Abraham of this very call. The Lord HAD called him, and Terah was as a parenthesis in Abraham’s call. The conscience (upon the death of Terah) reminded Abraham of all that he had received from the God of glory. This also applies to us today. God set us on a course when He called us out of darkness; yet, this darkness is still all around us in all types of influences; from of the world, and from the family of flesh and blood. These are all weights against faith. Yet, faith can lift mountains, faith is the one factor that keeps the soul on course with God.

——♦ ——

The Faith of the Man of God’s Choosing

——♦ ——

    Abraham removed himself by the conviction of his conscience to continue on the path of faith that God had promised. When God instills faith in those who He chooses, faith never runs out. Faith never disappears, faith is never conquered, faith is the invisible eye that allows us to perceive the promises of God, and to behold with the eye of faith the God of glory.

   We are most blessed in our day for we have the extended record of Abraham’s faith. John 8 is part of the divine record of the faith of Abraham. Acts 7 continues that walk of faith, and Hebrews Chapter 11 concludes that walk of faith when Abraham (full of faith) walked by faith, and at the end, the man of faith walked with God into eternity.

   In Chapter 12 of Genesis, 1, the Lord stated, Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee. This also, leads us to Chapter 8 of John, verse 56. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then the Lord declared, And I will make of thee a great nation in Genesis 12:2. This leads us to Hebrews Chapter 11, where we see the fulfillment of the faith of Abraham. The Lord also said, I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: (Genesis 12:2) And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:3) In Hebrews 11, Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. (Hebrews 11:12) we not only see the fulfillment of Abraham’s faith, but the result of his faith as prophesied in Genesis 22:17 and 18. That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; (Genesis 22:17) And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:18)

   This truly was the promise not only in THIS life, but in the NEXT world, that Abraham believed that he was a stranger here, and that God had promised him a better country, a greater city, more then man could comprehend. Only faith can SEE the city whose Builder and Maker is God. God (looking into the future of mankind) declared to Abraham, I will bless them. This is not only the immediate earthly seed through Abraham, through Isaac, and through Jacob, which one day will flourish in this world beneath the reign of the God of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ, but then we have the heavenly seed, as innumerable as the stars above. It is amazing how our eyes will not look up, but we spend most of our life time looking down.

   The promise of the seed as the sand, is of the earth. The promise of the seed of the stars are of the heavens. The heavenly hosts are those who belong to Christ shining out through the darkness, as glittering and pulsating lights moving through the heavens in the darkness at the command and will of God. Around the throne (within the majestic temple heaven) is the keeper of this seed of life. For this seed has been given by Him who is light and perfection. (Urim and Thummim)

   In the first, I will, (I will shew thee – Genesis 12:1) as well not only to Abraham, but also unto us who have joined the ranks of just men made perfect in Christ. We walk with the eye of faith being opened by the same God of glory. Abraham went out believing God although his eye, his natural eye, could not see the distance to Canaan, the land of promise, nor could his eye see the history of both his earthly seed and his heavenly seed. Yet, he would continue in God’s promises. Thousands and thousands of years were in the distance, yet, Abraham looked and walked by faith.  For faith is not subject to time, or circumstances, faith can see into tomorrow, faith can bridge years, faith can pass through centuries, and faith can overcome millenniums. Abraham rejoiced to see, and he was rewarded in his faith.

   Abraham would travel with God not knowing where he went. This was an act of reliance spawned by faith. This removes self, and inserts another with greater power, with greater care, with greater provision, with greater authority, and with greater knowledge. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. According to John 8:56, the revealing of Christ Himself brought JOY and GLADNESS to the heart of Abraham. We see this vision of faith, and the joy of this faith expanded in the Chapter of faith in Hebrews 11. The multitude of witnesses and testimony of men who walked by faith, and of women who believed by faith all rejoiced in their vision of faith. Even Abel, the first recipient of faith, believed the promises of God and he (although being dead) yet speaketh of the faith that was in him. The promises of God will always be accomplished because the great Accomplisher is the God of glory. Those who walk by faith in Jesus Christ are the benefactors of faith.

   It is evident that all was not accomplished and revealed in the lifetime of Abraham. It is also quite evident that all is not revealed in our present time, however, faith is the constant. For as Abraham waited, we also wait to see the city of our God. We are waiting to enter into the heavenly land of Moriah. We wait to pass through the gates of the city that are not built by the hands of man, but are built by the hands of God.

——♦ ——

One Faith — One God of Glory

—— ♦——

   In Genesis Chapter 10, we have mankind without faith building with slim, mortar and straw. In Hebrews Chapter 11, we have man building with faith, building with grace, and building with truth. In Genesis Chapter 10, man proclaimed his independence and his enmity against God. In Hebrews Chapter 11, the man of faith is dependent on God.

   In the call of Abraham it was the God of glory who appeared to him. This title ‘God of glory’ is only recorded two times in the entire Bible: Acts 7:2, and in Psalm 29:3. Compare these two verses, and what do you find? You find that the voice of the Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. (Psalm 29:3) We see in Psalm 29 that the voice of the God of glory thundereth. This was at the call of Abraham. This was a tumultuous revealing, even in the New Testament, we hear the God of glory thundereth when He speaks. In John 12, some say that it thundered. Verses 28 and 29.

Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. (John 12:28) The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. (John 12:29)

   When comparing Psalm 29, we see the God of glory revealed by the thundering of His voice, yet not exposed to the people by sight. Psalm 29 describes a voice of thunder, and this voice of thunder holds the seas above from those who are below. It is His voice at times that the God of glory mixes the seas above with the seas below together in a windy gale called a Euroclydon. It is a storm of heaven and earth mingled with lightening, thunder, with a freeing wind, a time of great horror as in Genesis 15:12. And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. And we should compare with Moses on mount Horeb God’s holy mount.

For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, (Hebrews 12:18)

And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (Hebrews 12:19)

(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: (Hebrews 12:20)

And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) (Hebrews 12:21)

   We see the fear and dread of the voice of the Lord, as in Psalm 29. We should also consider what Elijah went through on mount Sinai.

And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. (1^st Kings 19:8)

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? (1^st Kings 19:9)

And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. (1^st Kings 19:10)

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: (1^st Kings 19:11)

And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1^st Kings 19:12)

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? (1^st Kings 19:13)

And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. (1^st Kings 19:14)

And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: (1^st Kings 19:15)

    In the New Testament we have the dreadful experience of Saul on the road to Damascus when he fell to the ground in terror of the sight of a blinding intense light and of the sound of the voice of the Lord.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: (Acts 9:3)

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 9:4)

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:5)

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (Acts 9:6)

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. (Acts 9:7)

   We should consider the call of Saul when the Lord spoke out from the blinding light. It was ‘Saul, Saul,’ which is the last double call in the holy Scriptures. The transformation of Saul was so complete that God gave Saul a new name for a new man: Paul. This new name became the crown of Paul’s faith. Kneeling on the ground, smitten and trembling with fear, Paul cried out, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Thus Paul began his trail of faith that led him from Damascus to mount Sinai (which is in Arabia).

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. (Galatians 1:11)

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:12)

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: (Galatians 1:13)

And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. (Galatians 1:14)

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, (Galatians 1:15)

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (Galatians 1:16)

Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. (Galatians 1:17)

   Also compare the journey of Elijah. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: (1^st Kings 19:15) In Elijah’s journey after leaving mount Sinai, he was to return to the wilderness of Damascus. When Paul left the holy mount of Sinai, he returned to Damascus after receiving God’s revelation to him concerning the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Paul’s trip to Sinai he ascended into the third heaven and there he heard voices that he was unable to describe.

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. (2^nd Corinthians 12:1)

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. (2^nd Corinthians 12:2)

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) (2^nd Corinthians 12:3)

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (2^nd Corinthians 12:4)

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. (2^nd Corinthians 12:5)

For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. (2^nd Corinthians 12:6)

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (2^nd Corinthians 12:7)

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. (2^nd Corinthians 12:8)

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2^nd Corinthians 12:9)

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2^nd Corinthians 12:10)

I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. (2^nd Corinthians 12:11)

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. (2^nd Corinthians 12:12)

For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. (2^nd Corinthians 12:13)

    The same faith that was in Abraham was the same faith that was in Elijah, and the same faith that dwelt in Paul. This was the measure of their faith, and their walk with God. In each individual life they were called and sent forth by the God of glory. The same God of glory who spoke to Abraham, instructed Paul in the things of the Church. As Abraham was called out of Mesopotamia, Paul was called out of Damascus to begin his walk of faith with the God of glory.

—— ♦——

The Mystery and Measure of Faith

—— ♦——

   The measure of Abraham’s faith, the measure of the faith of Moses, the measure of Elijah’s faith, and the measure of the faith of Paul is there for us to lay hold of. Their walk of faith is an example to each and every child who has met the God of glory on their own personal road of faith. We see the measure of faith many times in Hebrews Chapter 11. And the Holy Spirit explains the measure of faith in Romans 12:3. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Faith is not limited. Faith is expanded to every saint. Faith is a vessel that is measured and in this vessel there is an unlimited mountain of possibilities for the servant of God. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:7)

   Consider a great hall where one speaks to many people, and the speaker gives the people an opportunity to do great things in respect of their faith. However, instead of following and reaching for that goal, and taking on the measure of faith, they turn away and walk their own path, and end up eating the husks with the swine.

   In the situation of demon possession, it would not only take faith, but prayer and fasting: again faith applied to the knowledge and will of God. This formula works every time. And may I say, at times as with Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and Paul the voice of faith came from the possessor of all faith the God of glory.

   The voice of God can be a fearful thing, a fearful experience, whether audible or heard with the heart. However, the one who listens to the voice of faith is always rewarded with the very presence within of the God of glory. We see this presence in the manifestation of God in Jesus Christ.

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. (Matthew 9:28)

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. (Matthew 9:29)

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. (Matthew 9:30)

But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. (Matthew 9:31)

   In verse 29 the phrase According to your faith is only mentioned one time in the entire Bible. This statement was spoken to men who were blind. The Lord Jesus was about to restore their sight, however, when He spoke to them, it depended on their individual faith, not their collective faith, and because of the unity of faith, ALL received sight. Each individual man was brought out of darkness to glorify God in the restoration of their sight. Their individual faith had made them whole. Their eyes were opened to the measure of their faith, and the first sight that they saw was the God of glory in Jesus Christ. Faith always meets the occasion. Whether small or great, it is the promise of a seed that will travel through history into eternity, and springs forth, during its course, into nations, and into heavenly saints: a seed as the sands of the sea, and a seed as the stars of the heavens, and this Seed is Christ. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)

   As we have been gleaning through the Gospel of John, notice that the name of Abraham is only mentioned in Chapter 8, and the Holy Spirit mentions Abraham’s name eleven times in nine verses. The name of ‘Jesus’ is mentioned twenty times in Chapter 8. The repetition of Abraham’s name should get our attention. For this marks the eighth Chapter of John in the specific character of Abraham’s faith compared to the pharisaical Jews who stood before the Lord Jesus Christ especially since this is the only Chapter in the Gospel of John that has Abraham’s name recorded.

   In John 8 in our 56^th verse the Lord was referring to the same time period that we find in Galatians 4:4, But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, This fullness of time was His day, and He wants us to understand that Abraham saw this day. This is not unusual in Scripture. May I remind you of the dream of Joseph, and the visions of Ezekiel, so why would it be so foreign for Abraham to SEE the Lord’s DAY and rejoice in it. The God of glory, which is only mentioned twice in Scripture appeared unto Abraham in Mesopotamia, and because this title, the God of glory, is only used twice in Scripture, it is very significant. The day of Abraham was very dark, the world had plummeted back into the darkness of Genesis Chapter 6. The whole world was opposed to God when God chose and called Abraham to walk in the measure of his faith.

   In Galatians 2:20, we learn the mystery of faith, for faith belongs to God, and it is the Lord Jesus who is the Minister of faith. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. (1st Timothy 3:9)This is why the apostle declared, I live by the faith OF the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

—— ♦——

The Unchanging Eye of Faith

—— ♦——

   We don’t have every moment recorded, or every event documented that took place in the ministry of the Lord Jesus to Abraham. Just as we do not have every miracle that our Lord Jesus Christ performed in the Gospel of John. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: (John 20:30) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:31)

   The Bible is not about us. The Bible is God revealing Himself and His will concerning man and his journey through time. From the fall to the very end where we see the new heaven(s) and the new earth, where righteousness dwells. In man’s fall his ruin began the journey of sin and death. In the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ we have the new Man come from heaven to impart His life into a new creation: wherein each individual who is born again through faith, and consequently, receives God’s grace and eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

   In Abraham we see the promises of faith because they MUST be believed by faith. Abraham would never see the fulfillment of the promises of God given to him. Although we do not have every word that God spoke to Abraham in the prophecy, and in the future of Israel, God told Abraham of the bondage of his seed in Genesis 15:13, (And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;) and this was just a small part of the 175 years that Abraham spent on the earth. (Genesis 25:7) The Lord had many opportunities to speak to Abraham, and we rejoice with Abraham that we have these windows into his faith as he walked with the God of glory. In like manner, our faith is similar in this way: we look BACK to the Lord’s day, and we behold the record of the Spirit of God in the gospels. The Holy Spirit speaks to each and every one of our hearts, and declares as the measure of your faith so be it unto you.

   By reading the Scriptures we are hearing the voice of the Spirit of Christ. Faith is the catalyst of belief, and believing is the doorway to grace. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) By faith we see the wonder and majesty that were revealed to Abraham, and through the voice of the Spirit of Christ we see that wonder and majesty revealed to us through faith. Abraham’s call by the God of glory was monumental because this was the first time that God appeared to man since the days of Noah. From this first appearance in the new world, we see a continuance of God’s appearing to Abraham throughout his lifetime. In the second recorded appearance of the God of glory to Abraham, we find Abraham in the land on the plain of Moreh. It was here IN the land that the God of glory made His second appearance to Abraham, and reaffirmed to Abraham that He will give to the seed of Abraham this very land that was before Abraham. Since the call of Abraham out of Ur, there is no record of an altar; however, once Abraham is in the land, when God confirmed His promise, Abraham built an altar unto the Lord who appeared unto Him.

And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. (Genesis 12:6) And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. (Genesis 12:7)

   Remember that this is the FIRST altar built unto the Lord since the days of Noah after the flood. This was an epic occasion for God was establishing His promise to Abraham in an oath sanctified by the offering that was placed on the altar. Although a description of the offering is not recorded, through the sight of the Spirit of God we see this: the reason that Abraham’s offering was not mentioned was because it was from heaven to earth, and not from earth to heaven. It was God confirming His promise to Abraham for Abraham could not confirm the promise. It had to come from above.

   Is it any different in our day? Do we confirm our own faith? No. It is confirmed from above. Our faith, as the faith of Abraham, is seeing into the future as well as into the past. We glorify God for the faith that He has given us, and we look forward to what will yet be revealed with the power of that same faith for thousands of years plus. The saints of this world have been holding the truth in faith, in the faith once delivered to the saints. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 1:3) The entire canon of Scripture provides the evidence that faith never changes nor diminishes.

   We are still looking through the eyes of the faith of John when he received the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, and this revelation was sent to John by the angel of the Lord. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. (Revelation 1:1) In the book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, we see the three prong instrument of faith. (Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;) in verse 19 of Chapter 1, John unfolds to us, through faith, the things that he had seen, and to expand our faith he also gives us the things which ARE in his present time. And as Abraham looked into the future, John unveils the future to us of the things which shall be hereafter. We see the future of mankind, and the horrible end that Adam comes to, but we also see the path of faith for those who believe, and THEIR future in a new heaven(s) and a new earth.

   Faith only sees the God of glory, there is nothing within us to fulfill faith. Faith must be fulfilled by God, and it must AGREE with God’s determinate counsel. The eye of faith never changes through time. Some have wider vision then others; yet, it is faith that pierces the darkness of unbelief to see the substance of the invisible, a tangible faith, so that one is possessed by the invisible God, Jesus Christ.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:17)

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (Colossians 1:19)

   Abraham looked on the manifestation of the God of glory. This was a wonder of faith to Abraham in his day as it was to Simeon in his day.

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. (Luke 2:25)

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (Luke 2:26)

And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, (Luke 2:27)

Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, (Luke 2:28)

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: (Luke 2:29)

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, (Luke 2:30)

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; (Luke 2:31)

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2:32)

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. (Luke 2:33)

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Luke 2:34)

(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. (Luke 2:35)

   Simeon held the promised Seed in his arms, an infant, and yet, also the God of glory. Simeon looked through the eyes of faith. He was allowed to see the promise of his own faith fulfilled, and in his spirit saw the tangible fulfillment of his faith. Now he could depart from this world in peace for he had held the God of peace in his own arms. Only faith could see the miracle that took place from the birth to the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. The pathway that God the Father gave to the Son of God to fulfill can only be understood, and can only be beheld by the eyes of faith. As Simeon held this infant, he saw the fulfillment of God in THAT infant, and that all the power of God (concerning redemption and salvation) would come forth in the Savior whom God had sent into the world in the Lord Jesus Christ. Simeon held the divine Seed in his arms filled with all power and wisdom. This infant would grow and come forth, and be revealed before all men as God’s Christ, the Son of the living God.

   His day, His time, His hour would have the sole purpose of bearing the sins of the world upon Himself so that many would go free as the people of God. Out of Israel, and out of the Gentile world, this infant was a light to the dark world of the Gentiles. He would free mankind from the burden of sin, He would defeat death with eternal life, and He would destroy the works of the devil. This is the day that Abraham rejoiced to see, and was glad in it. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. The wording of John 8:56 shows a present reality when the Lord addressed the day as His own particular day or lifetime.

——♦——

The Spirit of Christ

— The Author of Faith, Then and Now—

—— ♦——

   Abraham understood the day of Christ. The God of glory ministered and revealed to Abraham the truth of the Lord’s day. It was the Spirit of Christ within Abraham that gave him understanding in the things of eternity. These were the sundry times, and diverse manners of Hebrews 1:1. For as the prophets of God, the Spirit of Christ dwelt within them as it did within Abraham.

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1^st Peter 1:8)

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1^st Peter 1:9)

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:(1^st Peter 1:10)

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1^st Peter 1:11)

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1^st Peter 1:12)

   In verse 11 of 1^st Peter Chapter 1, we should listen to the voice of the Spirit of Christ concerning revealed truth. As you read the word of God the only understanding that you can receive is from the Spirit of Christ within you. For the eye of faith is one vision. Revealed truth (whether it is to Abraham or to the prophets, or to us) must come from above from the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Minister of the covenant of grace. Within Him is all divine truth. He is the ONLY one who spans the entire history of mankind. Therefore, when the Spirit of Christ spoke to Abraham He revealed divine truth. When the prophets spoke their prophecies, it was the Spirit of Christ within them, and they (like us) were searching the Scriptures to understand The Day of Christ. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1^st Peter 1:11) The Spirit of Christ was in them guiding them as the same Spirit guides us today. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. In this verse from Romans 8:9 we have the act of the Spirit of God already accomplished within the believer. The new birth has already taken place, and the one who had been born again is free from the law of sin and death. This one has the divine nature within. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2^nd Peter 1:4) This divine nature in the new born child of God IS the Spirit of Christ.

   What Abraham saw in his seed is being fulfilled in this day in all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And as Abraham, we also seek a heavenly country, we wait to be delivered from this body of death. We are waiting for our eternal state which will be in the image of God’s dear Son, who is the image of the invisible God. It is Christ (in His image) who created Adam in that very same image. In the new creation of a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ, at our present time, we have been brought back to the divine nature within us; however, the outward will be changed when God conforms us to the image of His dear Son, and we shall see Him as He is, and we will be like Him. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1^st John 3:2)

   We should realize that even in our present state all things are complete, yet, not revealed. This is the measure of our faith for we look forward to the day when we all come together in Christ. Yet, those things were completed when the Lord Jesus gave Himself on the cross at Calvary. For all the promises of God in him [are] yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (2^nd Corinthians 1:20)

   In our position before God today, our freedom is in Christ Himself. He has set us free from sin and death. As Abraham, one day we will be free of this present evil world, and we (the elect of God) called by Jesus Christ will be in the presence of a Just God and Savior. The mystery of the fullness of time is within us in the Spirit of Christ.

   The fullness of time with the Lord appearing is unfolding in each and every believer, and as Abraham, we also rejoice in that same day of the Lord. We not only rejoice, but we are glad in it. As Abraham saw the God of glory, we also see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2^nd Corinthians 4:6)

   When we think of glory of the Lord, we also think of illumination as we are illuminated in our spirit by the Spirit of God. The phrase ‘the God of glory’ carries with it the understanding of the illumination of God.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; (Hebrews 10:32)

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (Hebrews 6:4)

   In these verses we see the precept of the glory of God not only in the life of Abraham, but also in our lives as well. As far as the world is concerned, the light of this world IS the Lord Jesus Christ. He IS the illuminating power that illuminates the soul unto salvation which these previous verses bear out. The SAME glory that has been revealed in our Savior is the SAME God of glory who called Abraham.

—— ♦——

The Downs and Ups of the Journey of Faith

—— ♦——

   In Genesis 12:4 we see Abraham, Sarai, and Lot departing from Haran. The name ‘Haran’ means mountain, or ‘their mountain’ showing possession. It was also the name of Terah’s son who died. The mountain speaks of dominion which we could contribute to Terah. For it was Terah who brought Abraham to Haran. At the death of Terah, Abraham then left to continue on his journey of faith. Haran was the last place connecting Abraham to the land of Ur that he had left. Abraham was then seventy-five years old. The way that verses 4 and 5 are connected with the departure of Abraham, indicates that he would never return to the old world that he had left. This was the final cut with the Terah’s of this world. And in Abraham’s departure the Holy Spirit of God used two verses, 4 and 5, if we look into these verses: first, we see a separation. In verse 4, we have the word ‘depart’ recorded twice. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (Genesis 12:4)

   In verse 5, the Holy Spirit speaking of their journey to come used the phrase ‘they went forth.’ The Holy Spirit completes the journey by the phrase ‘they came.’ This leaves us with the opinion that all ties to the old world were cut and the new land Canaan filled the eyes on the horizon of faith.

And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. (Genesis 12:5)

   Another fact of Haran, while Abraham was not moving toward the land, he was building his wealth in Haran. God was preparing those of his household, those he had acquired in the land of Haran, and the wealth that he had acquired. When Abraham departed from Haran, God had provided for his journey and not only for his journey, but to establish him in the land. We need to remember that Abraham would never own or acquire the full land of promise that God had promised him. The promise was to his seed in Isaac, and to the long future of Israel, and will come to its fullest point when the Lord reigns in His millennial kingdom.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (2^nd Peter 1:5) Once Abraham was in the land, the Lord APPEARED to Abraham again.

And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. (Genesis 12:7)

   The Lord reassured Abraham’s faith by confirming the promise concerning the seed of Abraham and the promise of the land. Unto thy seed will I give this land. God used His appearances to add to the faith of Abraham. The result is a new work in the heart of Abraham, for he built an altar unto the LORD. This shows an attitude of worship toward the God of glory. God adds to our faith, as we learn more of the glories of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a higher plain of worship for our Savior and our God. The material altar that Abraham built was only a type of the altar that we have in Jesus Christ.

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. (Hebrews 13:10)

For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. (Hebrews 13:11)

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. (Hebrews 13:12)

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (Hebrews 13:14)

   The altar that Abraham built is no less significant for his altar was a place of worship, and this worship was directed to the God of glory. Abraham had left everything that he knew from the land of idolatry in Ur to follow the God of glory. We also go outside the camp in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ separated from the world because of our new birth with the Savior. We are a new creation which totally separates us from the old creation in Adam. And as Abraham in his separation, we also are looking for that city whose builder and maker is God.

   It is the altar that is the important object for it is the altar that sanctifies the offering, and not the offering that sanctifies the altar.

Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? (Matthew 23:17)

And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. (Matthew 23:18)

Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? (Matthew 23:19)

Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. (Matthew 23:20)

   Let’s compare the book of Hebrews with the book of Matthew: in Hebrews both the sacrifice and altar are of one, and this one is the Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew’s gospel under the old economy, the altar sanctified the offering because the offering was offered by man in the Aaronic priesthood. Under the Melchisedec priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ, He offered Himself upon His own altar, and therefore, He is BOTH the Sanctifier and the Offering for sin.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)

   Abraham was in the land, and faith built an altar to the God of glory. His communion with the Lord was truly a place of rest, and then, we have a glitch in Abraham’s faith. He was tested in the land of promise. A great famine came into the land, and Abraham went DOWN into Egypt. And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. (Genesis 12:10) Upon Abraham’s departure from Haran, the Holy Spirit used these words: Abram departed as the Lord had spoken unto him. Again, in the same verse, he departed OUT of Haran.

So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (Genesis 12:4)

   Concerning Canaan, the Lord used these words: and INTO the land of Canaan they came. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. (Genesis 12:5)

   It is not insinuated that Abraham went DOWN into Canaan, at this point in his faith for he was on a higher ground. He was traveling on the horizon of faith. At this point his sight was unlimited, and in the measure of his faith he built his first altar. Then famine, not war, drove him from the land, then he went DOWN into Egypt. Famine is a hard experience, even today, there is a world wide famine. You may say that this is not true. In the natural sense, it is not true. In the spiritual sense, it is true. The days are upon us are full of evil. Everything around you is permeated with evil, and there is a famine of hearing the truth which is within the word of God.

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: (Amos 8:11) And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. (Amos 8:12)

   You may say that there are Bibles everywhere; you say, Look at all the religions; you say, Look at all the churches. God says that You shall die in your sins. Salvation is not of religion! Salvation is not of buildings! God has cast all that away, and left only one way to be saved out of this evil world. The Lord Jesus proclaimed that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

   The world has replaced TRUE salvation with many cults of all kinds. However, in the Bible the truth prevails, and the truth declares that there is ONLY ONE SAVIOR. That there is ONLY ONE God. And there is only ONE IMAGE of the invisible God.

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2^nd Corinthians 4:4)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)

   This image of God, the image of the invisible God, and the express image of his person, has a name, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and this name is the name that is above all names.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2:9)

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:10)

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:11)

     These are the facts that those of us who love the Lord Jesus Christ build our altar on the sole Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Ephesians 2:19)

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20)

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  (Ephesians 2:21)

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)

   Abraham in his day had no control over the famine, however, the saints of THIS day have control over the famine. It is searching Scripture that keeps the blight away. It is searching Scripture that plants and reaps fruit for God. It is devouring the word of God as the bread of life, for in the word of God we see the image of the invisible God. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

   Abraham went DOWN into Egypt, however, the Lord preserved him, but notice what we see in this downward plunge into Egypt. We have deceit, we have lies, we have denial, and a young man named Lot was watching Abraham’s every step. We never progress in our spiritual walk when we are in spiritual Egypt. There is no growth, and there is no communion with God. The world in Egypt becomes our master. Although we may take from Egypt (Egypt always takes from us) and we will always bear the scars that Egypt places upon us.

   There were many things that happened to Abraham in Egypt. He violated his trust between him and his wife. He used his wife in a sinful way to preserve is own life. This is opposite of the institution of marriage. This is opposite of what the Lord did for His bride. There was no compromise with the Lord Jesus, He was faithful to those who are called, He was faithful to God His Father. He was faithful unto death for His bride. However, let’s not stand on a high mountain criticizing Abraham, for God has tried each one of us, God has tried our faith, and found us wanting.

   One point we need to make . . . that while faith faltered, God preserved. Abraham survived among the enemies of God. He also came UP out of Egypt with great herds of cattle, sheep, oxen, and silver and gold. Was this of his own making? No . . . God pressed the heart of the Egyptian. It was God who increased Abraham, and not the Egyptian. Man had failed, but God never fails. God had His eye on every footstep of His servant Abraham.

   What were the scars that came out of Egypt? In Chapter 13, Lot had grown out of his breeches, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot. We also see the return of Abraham to a place of communion with God. Abraham returned to his altar, and the Holy Spirit makes sure that we understand that it was the altar that he made at the first.

And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. (Genesis 13:1)

And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. (Genesis 13:2)

And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;(Genesis 13:3)

Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. (Genesis 13:4)

   The Holy Spirit informs us that Abraham came UP out of Egypt. The wording is precise to show the movement of not only the physical, but also the spiritual. In any point of restoration it is not the outward man, but the inward man who has to be restored. The heart, the soul, and the spirit must return to the place of departure, and so Abraham returned to his first altar, and restores himself in the eyes of God. This was not salvation, but this was a return from a path of error. Abraham could say, I came out of Egypt with more than what I had before, BUT inside of Abraham, we have the truth of his conscience before the God of glory. Abraham knew the damage that he had done to his relationship with the Almighty God; therefore, he must return to the altar, his first altar unto the Lord, and THERE he began anew, refreshed in the Spirit, and in the power of God’s might. There is another thing that fortified this altar and this place, so when Abraham came into the land from Haran, at this altar, at this place, the God of glory APPEARED again to Abraham.

   Concerning the saint today, you have been born again, God has called every one of His children to service. This does not mean service of the collection plate, or the building, or to an organization. This means service to God and to God alone. The day that He called you, you remember well, and times when we have failed we must muse on that very moment that God saved us. We need to embrace the moment of our new birth, and then being freshened by the Spirit of God we can then continue on our path of faith. We cleanse ourselves in the laver which is the word of God. We commit ourselves afresh by prayer and fasting laying our heart bare before God. Then the Spirit of God takes us by the hand and leads us back into the green pastures where we can be strengthened for the next conflict ahead.

   Abraham returned to his first altar in Genesis 12:7, In the number 7 we see the complete restoration and then in the 8^th verse we see the result of his restoration, and the confidence in the God of glory. We see our new beginning, we see a new altar, and what a witness of God for Abraham built this new altar between Bethel and Hai, between the house of God (Bethel) and the place of ruin (Hai). What a message we hear from the Spirit of God. That from the east we have Bethel (the house of God), and on the west we have Hai (the heap of ruin). I am sure that this was a time that Abraham reflected on both. A constant reminder that this altar, this place of fellowship stood between the house of God and blessing, and a place of ruin, Hai. Now to us. . . we always have to see daily our position with the Lord Jesus Christ, the inner man must be dressed in the Spirit’s garment of truth and God’s righteousness for we stand between Bethel and Hai. Our altar is constantly there to remind us of our position before God, for it is at this new altar that Abraham called upon the name of the Lord. This is fruitful growth.

   We see progression by Abraham. He identified himself with the God of glory openly before God, before man, before Bethel in the east, and before the place of ruin on the west. This is very important . . . for it take us back to Seth in Genesis 4:26. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

   When Abraham returned to his altar between Bethel and Hai, he renewed his commitment with God, and once again called on the name of the Lord. This identified Abraham with children of Seth, the renewal of the seed after the death of Abel. In this renewal of the seed of promise Abraham called on the name of the Lord.

   This is a good place to rest, to take some time to muse on that first appearance of the God of glory in Ur of Chaldees. We need to muse with Abraham on the journey to Haran, the death of Terah, and the onward journey to the land of promise. Now, nothing can be fulfilled outside of the land. Going DOWN into Egypt did not fulfill the promise, however, when Abraham returned to the land, and at the place of the altar that he built unto the Lord, he was refreshed for the next conflict which would come IN the land, and between family. This is one of those spiritual scars that Egypt left in the spiritual and physical walk of Abraham. Trouble came between the herdsmen of Lot and Abraham. Strife came from without, yet, it affected the relationship of Abraham to his nephew Lot. This strife that came out of Egypt would tear them apart for the remainder of their lives, and they would not be united at the altar of God ever again. This was a tragedy, yet, it continues to happen in the world of Christendom crying to us all the time to change our path with God in order to maintain a form of unity (as Christendom defines unity). Their unity is to go in the direction of unbelief, to drag us DOWN into the dregs of Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. (Genesis 13:13) Christendom presents a choice between two pathways: stand at the altar of God, or go DOWN to the land of Sodom.

   The difference between these two men is that it was Abraham who built the altar, it was Abraham who called on the name of the Lord. Where was Lot in all of this? I am sure, according to Scripture, that Abraham did not want this division between his nephew Lot, however, what Lot SAW in Egypt changed his desires, and division was in his heart, and could not be reconciled. How do I know this? It was Abraham who gave Lot the choice. What was the real choice? It was the difference between unity and fellowship with Abraham, or division and separation from not only Abraham, but also from the God of glory. It was separation from the altar, and the intimidation from the world of Sodom. Lot surely never called on the name of the Lord while in the city of Sodom. What betrayed Lot? The well-watered plains of Jordan? No . . . Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature [shall be] hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. (Isaiah 10:33)

   The grace of Abraham was to remove the strife between himself and Lot, and to remove the strife between their herdsmen. This also was, undoubtedly, a product of Egypt. Abraham (being heir of the promise) turned to Lot and told him that the entire land was before him. Gracefully giving Lot the choice, but Abraham still knew that there was a need to separate. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. (Genesis 13:9)

   Abraham removed himself from the decision. It would be the decision of Lot, but how would Lot decide? Would he make a humble decision, or one of arrogance and pride? We see that he chose pride and arrogance. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. (Genesis 13:10) Lot lifted up his eyes. Wouldn’t it be nice that the next two words were ‘to heaven,’ but instead it was to behold the well-watered plains of Jordan. What Lot saw before him was a plain of green grass so marvelous that the Spirit of God compared it with the garden of God, but then the Spirit of God also reminds us of Egypt, and what Lot learned in Egypt influenced him as he looked down on the well-watered plains of Jordan. There is a reason that the Lord speaks about the lust of the eyes. For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1^st John 2:16) The Spirit of God reminds us of Egypt, and also gives a warning to the reader that these well-watered plains of Jordan disappeared when the Lord judged Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19:28, 29) When you desire the things of the world, you must also acknowledge the world’s proverb, Here today, gone tomorrow.

   Abraham had returned to the point of his departure, however, Lot could not return because he was still under the influence of Egypt. In this strife between Lot and Abraham, Abraham was the man of grace, Lot was a man of the world and self. In grace Abraham gave Lot the choice. Although they were parting, Abraham wanted to maintain peace with Lot. Lot could not see what Abraham still felt, that he was still his brother’s keeper. This break with Lot severed the last family tie to Ur of Chaldees. Abraham’s faith had grown for in giving Lot the choice, Abraham relied on the God of glory for what would remain for him of the land. The well-watered plains of Jordan would one day turn into a fiery scorching desert. What is visible to man in his immediate circumstances is not always the end result. In the service of God, a worldly calling to a worldly church will one day end with broken faith. Faith sees things from the side of God, however, in this day, men accept the Laodicean syndrome and error that being rich and increased with goods is synonymous with God’s blessing and approval. However, on God’s side, He sees them as being wretched and miserable and without faith. Abraham understood this. Although Abraham could not see Lot’s future, he knew that Lot was headed in the wrong direction.

   Sometimes it is good to separate oneself from someone whom you are attached to, especially family, although they are flesh and blood they are not always like minded in the things of faith. I am sure that this separation that Abraham endured with Lot grieved Abraham more than it grieved Lot. Lot was probably enjoying his choice, and it was his choice that grieved Abraham. For Lot could not see Him who is invisible, but Abraham still had the vision of the God of glory within him, and he responded accordingly. Lot would go DOWN to the well-watered plains, and they would become a pit of muck and mire to his soul. The well-watered plains led to his corruption in Sodom. And in Sodom Lot took a wife, a wife of corruption, a wife of wickedness, a wife of Sodom. (The fact that Lot had a wife was never mentioned before Sodom, in all the travels of Lot, at no time was a wife mentioned. Lot’s wife is only recorded in connection to Sodom.) But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. (Genesis 13:13)

Side Not: Thirteen: What is so amazing with MY Bible is the numbering system. When you think that we have just read Genesis 13:13, what comes to mind? Evil personified. Not only in the duplication of the number 13, but what the number 13 represents. If we wanted to compare it to the evil world, and the evil world to come, we could compare it with Revelation Chapter 13, where the man of sin is revealed, and where he receives the number of his name: 6 – 6 – 6.

   In Lot’s choice, he was still a tent dweller, his herds were so vast that he had to separate himself from Abraham, however, being in the proximity of Sodom his wealth was drained, and instead of the plain, his next choice was the city, and whatever influenced him to give up the well-watered plains. Sodom became his home, and it was in Sodom that the things that he saw and heard vexed his righteous soul.

And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; (2^nd Peter 2:6)

And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (2^nd Peter 2:7)

(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (2^nd Peter 2:8)

   Lot’s decision did not add to his spiritual life, but drained him with the evil that was all around him. Both his eyes and his ears betrayed him, and he relished in the presence of evil. It took divine intervention to separate him from this evil. There is no unification with Abraham after Lot’s departure into the well-watered plains of Jordan. While Lot was chasing the daughters of men, and drowning himself in the wickedness of Sodom, Abraham moved his tent to Hebron, here again, we see communion with God for Hebron means ‘a place of fellowship.’ Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. (Genesis 13:18) Out of Genesis 13:13, which is a place of darkness, we are immediately ushered into God’s light in verse 14.

And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: (Genesis 13:14)

For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. (Genesis 13:15)

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. (Genesis 13:16)

Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. (Genesis 13:17)

   God reassured this man of faith. This is important because during our walk of faith there are times when we need to be reassured. Abraham had just made a critical decision, and separated himself from Lot who was his brother’s son. Abraham had taken the burden of responsibility for Lot, and because of strife, that responsibility was broken, but not in Abraham’s heart. For later Abraham rescued Lot because that burden was still on his heart. When we separate from a friend who has walked by faith with us, when we separate from a family member, we are still burdened in our hearts for them regardless of their circumstances. Yet, we cannot go DOWN with them in our own walk of faith. In Abraham, God is showing us that faith is not a collective thing, faith is the work of God to open and reveal the unseen things of God Himself, and to understand the unseen things as we walk with the faith, the tangible faith, that God gives us.

   Hebron was not only a place of fellowship, but a place of worship for Abraham built an altar. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. (Genesis 13:18) Hebron was in the plain of Mamre, the meaning of Mamre is ‘increasing fatness.’ We could compare it with the New Testament as growing in the Lord. From verses 14 to 18 in Genesis Chapter 13, Abraham was once again laying hold on God’s promises of this vast land that God had shown him.

   To all saints, God may give you a place of communion with Him, but always be aware of the enemy around you. Although we see the increase of Abraham’s trust in the God of glory, Abraham will have to lean on that trust in the next Chapter in Genesis 14. In this Chapter Abraham found himself in a great conflict with the world. The kings of the east had swooped down on the land of the Canaanites, especially the five cities of the plain. These kings came to collect their tribute that was long over due, and because of rebellion, these kings of the east warred against the five kings of the cities of the plain, this included the king of Sodom. These kings battled in the slime pits of the valley of Sidom. Sidom means ‘farrows or pits,’ and the kings of the east in defeating the kings of the plains collected their tribute and even more. They not only captured Abraham’s nephew, but also a great many of the people were taken into captivity from the five cities of the plain.

Side Note: Conflict of the Ages: This is the conflict of the world, of evil men fighting with other evil men, a world and society without God. Even at this time, in our present evil world, we see the godless society of the world (evil men) fighting with other evil men to promote the evil heart of Adam in every man. Only grace separates anyone from this evil world, and that grace has to come through faith in the God of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ.

   In this present time period, the child of faith is exhorted to love not the world, nor the things that are in the world. Just the opposite was Lot’s dilemma. For Lot was moved by the lust of his eyes, and this did not change, when he entered into Sodom.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1^st John 2:15)

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1^st John 2:16)

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1^st John 2:17)

   Believe the Spirit’s writing here in 1^st John, and hold fast to the things that are of the God of glory. For He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

   The kings of the east were not only evil in idolatry,  but they were also men stealers. Again we have the Cain syndrome of mankind: wanting his brother in slavery to him, or killing his brother when he refuses to submit. In Genesis 14:12, we are told by the Holy Spirit that the kings of the east took Lot, Abraham’s brother’s son, and specifically gives us his dwelling place at the time of this battle, which was in Sodom. Lot also lost all of his goods. The lust of his eyes had brought about his bankruptcy in material goods and the bankruptcy of a vexed soul. If the kings of the east had taken all of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and had completely plundered all the five cities of the plains, this would not have concerned Abraham, however, in Abraham’s heart he was still his brother’s keeper. The kings of the east made one big blunder by taking Lot captive (Abraham’s brother’s son). Out of the captive throngs, one escaped, and he came and told Abraham, and God reaffirmed Abraham’s separation with the word ‘Hebrew.’ And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. (Genesis 14:13) In most cases when one moves to a new land, or a new country, they identify with that land by citizenship. In the United States they become an American, a United States citizen; however, Abraham, when he came into the land as a Hebrew, he kept his designation although he was in the land of the Canaanites. For the Canaanites were still in the land.

   The world knows not of the things that are spiritual and unseen. The things of the God of glory can only be laid hold of by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Many times we hear the phrase, ‘the battle is not ours but the Lord’s.’ This is not a phrase of myth. It is a reality, and your faith must answer to this call. Abraham had confederates. He could have sent them after Lot, he could have told them, the battle is not ours but the Lord’s, and Abraham could have stayed out of the battle. However, although our faith has an unseen quality, it is quite evident that the reality of our faith must be visible and tangible to the world that we witness to. Abraham could not send his confederates to relieve his own burden of Lot. Abraham’s faith had to come forth in a real battle against the enemies of God. Abraham undertook the retrieval of his nephew above his own personal welfare. The kings of east were a mighty throng, and Abraham’s host was small in comparison. Abraham must act with the measure of his faith, and the God of glory gave Abraham and his confederates a great victory. (Abraham definitely was not a pacifist.) They retrieved all of the goods, they retrieved the people, and they retrieved Lot. On the practical horizon, the calculated eye of man would not have given Abraham’s men and his confederates a chance, they were just a small band compared to the armies of the kings of the east. The natural man in Adam would have been defeated before he even began, but the eye of faith sees Him who is invisible believing that even the mighty walls of Jericho can come tumbling down without the instrument of man, or the prophet telling Jehoshaphat ‘stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD.’ God turned the hosts of the enemy against their own selves, and their own swords destroyed each other in the valley of blood.

   No foe can vanquish God. God can turn certain and sure defeat into an overwhelming victory. If you believe this right now, and I know that I am speaking to the children of God, right now, with faith believing . . . pray in the power of your faith that this ministry will touch untold souls and bring fruit for the Lord Jesus Christ. According to your faith, be it unto thee. And I personally thank you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Abram had confederates, so we have YOU in like faith and spirit. Although the numbers were staggering against Abram, his faith gained him the victory and for us today, this is the victory, even our faith. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1^st John 5:4)

Amen

Abraham will continue in faith in our next article.

© Copyright 2020, Michael Haigh

This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)