Sunday Morning - April 19, 1998
Text: Genesis 20:1 "And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar."
ABRAHAM MOVED BEFORE
Genesis 12:8-9 "And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel [house of God], and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai [ruin] on the east:
and there he builded an altar [between the two cities] unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. 9. And Abram journeyed [middle of the road], going on still toward the south."
STILL ON THE FENCE
Genesis 13:3 "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;"
ABRAHAM AT MAMRE
Genesis 13:18 "Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron [fellowship], and built there an altar unto the LORD."
VICTORY OVER THE ENEMY
Genesis 14:17 "And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale."
BLESSING OF MELCHIZEDEK
Genesis 14:18 "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God."
BLESSING FROM THE LORD
Genesis 15:1 "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."
BROKEN FELLOWSHIP
Genesis 16:2 "And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai."
RESTORED FELLOWSHIP
Genesis 17:1 "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect."
FELLOWSHIP IN HIS TENT
Genesis 18:1 "And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;"
FELLOWSHIP IN TRUTH
Genesis 18:17 "And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;"
ABRAHAM MOVED FROM FELLOWSHIP
Genesis 20:1 "And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar."
SAME AS BEFORE
Genesis 12:9 "And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south."
ABRAHAM AFRAID OF MAN
Genesis 20:2 "And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah."
SAME AS BEFORE
Genesis 12:13 "Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee."
ABRAHAM FORGOT THE PROMISE
Genesis 15:4 "And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, ...but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir."
FORGOTTEN COVENANT
Genesis 17:7 "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee."
FORGOTTEN APPOINTMENT
Genesis 18:14 "Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."
ABRAHAM LOST HIS MINISTRY
Genesis 20:3 "But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife."
WAS TO BE A BLESSING
Genesis 12:3 "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."
ABIMELECH JUST
Genesis 20:4 "But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?"
ABRAHAM UNJUST
HAD INTEGRITY
Genesis 20:5 "Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this."
ABRAHAM LOST HIS INTEGRITY
GOD INTERVENES
Genesis 20:7 "Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine."
ABRAHAM, A TROUBLE MAKER
Genesis 20:9 "Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done."
DAVID TROUBLED ISRAEL
1 Chronicles 21:1 "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."
1 Chronicles 21:14 "So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men."
ACHAN TROUBLED ISRAEL
Joshua 7:5 "And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them ...wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water."
Joshua 7:25 "And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him ..."
JONAH TROUBLED THE MARINERS
Jonah 1:5 "Then the mariners were afraid, and ... cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah ... was fast asleep."
Jonah 1:10 "... Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, ..."
PETER TROUBLED MANY
Galatians 2:11-13 "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation."
WE AFFECT OTHERS
Romans 14:7 "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself."