Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-10-04
I. Abraham's Call ". y.

I. Abraham's Call ". y.
The new era lnaugulaled with Moan
Mt It's head ended In n colossal failure.
In view of such failure God turned
aside from the nation rs such, ana call
cd Abrnm ont from his kindred aud
land, and placed him NJ the head OF Il
new nation which he would train Tor
himself. This call involved:
l. A call to separation. He was to
leave the place of his fond asSocln-
tons for n land unknown to him ODE
diencc to this command meant the sew
cranee of three ties.
O Ills country in the widest
range of his affections. ca His place
of birth and kindred. which comes
closer to his heart. CD His fathers
house. as the nmost circle of all ten
der emotions" All this must be cast
off before the Lord could get him into
the place Of blessing. When kindred
and possessions stand In the way OF
love and service to Christ one must
renounce them (Mat,hew l0:37).
9. A call to heroic tasks. For Abram
TO 90 into strange land and take pos
session of 1t for God called for the
heroic In him. II costs much to live
the life Of separation but II Is the only
way to have Gods favor Those who
are children of faithful Abram must
trust God
u. Gods Promise to Abram wv.
2:D.
Gods demand for separation was fol
lowed by n scven-fold promise--a sra'
ciouS engagement on the part of God
10 communicate certain unmerited 'a'
vois and to confer blessings upon him
|, Il will make of thee great ma
ton" ". ~. This in some measure
compensated for the loss Of his cOun
try. He escaped from the dehling in
ilucnces of his own nation, and became
the head of n chosen nation. This was
fulfilled in natural way in the Jewish
nation ana in Ishmael (Gen. II :20)
also in spiritual seed embracing boil
Jews and Genlilcs Galatians 1873.
,. Il will bless thee" ". y. This
was fulfilled QD Temporarily Wen
l3:1il7 :2i-35). He was enriched with
lands and cattle, silver and gold. e.,
Spiritually (Gen. II %; John $3.50. II,
was freely justified a, the grounds O
his faith. The righteousness of Chris
was imputed to him.
3 And make thy name great" ". y
He rencunced his fathers house, an,
became the head Of new house whicl
would be veneratcd far aud wide. II,
is known as the friend Of God (Jame
2:23).
4. "rhou shalt be n blessing" w. ~
{ was great thing TO be thus honoret
and blessed by God. but TO be the me
dium of blessings to others was create
still. II is more blessed to give than I,
receive.
s. IL will bless them that bless thee
! ". -. God so identified himself witt
his servant that he regarded treatmen
Of Abram as treatment Of himself
, Christ so completely identifies hlmssl
with his people that he regards wron
done to them MS done TO himself Sine
he was Gods friend, God regarded act
performed toward Abram rs performc
toward himself In all ages since the
+ the nations and individuals that hay
used the Jew well have been blessed
g. "And curse him that clrseth thee
| ". -. The nations that have bee
T. against the Jews have never pro,
pered. While God Mt different time
used the surrounding nations n
! scOurgcs OF Israel, he in turn puniShc
them fer their mistreatment of Tsrne
Z. "In thee shall all families Of IN
earth be blessed" ". -. This has bee
: fulfilled (D In the Jewish nation b,
Ing made the repository of the Oracle
of God. Through them the Bible ha
been given TO the world (o) Tn
bringing into the world Of the Redeem
er.
(3) In the future time when IN
Jews shall be Gods missionaries /
carrying the good tidings of the Gosp,
10 the ends of the earth
~. Abrams Obedience wv. 4.e).
Abram at once departed out Of HI
own land. He proved his faith by HI
works. He did not argue or parle,
Neither did he demand some graral
tee. but stepped out upon Gods make
word. There were difficulties in hi
way, but faith in God made him BRAY
Faith in God gives victory over tn
world. He worshifcd God To 9
into a heather land and establish tr,
wDrShip requires a cOurnppouS faitl