Inheriting the Promises E-Book

Rev. Daniel G. Caram

• Herausgeber: Zion Christian Publishers
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

Rev. Daniel Caram presents a study of the life of Abraham so that we might understand the man who is called the “father of faith.” It is vital that we understand Abraham’s life as he represents the true pattern for Inheriting the Promises of God. He is an example to the children of faith, showing us how we too can inherit the promises and blessing.“And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” (Hebrews 6:15)

Leseprobe

Inheriting the Promises

Following in the steps of Abraham

“Inheriting the Promises: Following in the steps of Abraham”

© 2003 Daniel G. Caram

Reprinted February 2014

All Rights Reserved

Printed in the United States of America

Version 1.0

The picture on the Front Cover is copyrighted by NASA

© July 1999 NASA — Used with permission

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles or reviews.

All scripture quotations in this book are taken from the

King James Version Bible unless otherwise stated.

Reprinted February 2014 in the United States of America

Published as an e-book on November 2015

in the United States of America

E-book ISBN 1-59665-658-1

Zion Christian Publishers

P.O. Box 70

Waverly, NY 14892

Phone: [phone] ● Fax: [phone]

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the following:

• To Mary Humphreys – for her proficiency in the editing of this book.

• To Jeremy Kropf – for his proficiency in the formatting of this book.

Foreword

The true pattern of faith

“Who through faith…obtained promises” (Heb. 11:33). The foregoing verse tells us that faith is the medium through which the promises of God are claimed. With this thought in mind, we are going to consider the man who is called “The father of faith” (Rom. 4:11-16). Of course, that man is Abraham and he was counted as one that inherited the promise.

Abraham’s life represents the true pattern for inheriting the promises of God. He is a prototype (a pattern) to the children of faith. His walk will show us how we too can inherit the promises and blessing. It says of Abraham: “And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Heb 6:15). How many promises are left unclaimed because of a failure to allow the word of promise to test us?

In today’s Christian society there is a certain pervading mentality that has come to be known as “easy get-ism” – no cost, no investment, no price to be paid. Just claim it, it’s yours! We suddenly have a generation that can jump from Egypt into the Promised Land without the testing of the wilderness. That is scarcely the pattern that we find in Holy Scripture.

Until faith becomes sight

Gal. 3:29 “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Yes, we can legitimately say that we are called to inherit a blessing through Abraham. We could quote Galatians 3:14 and say, “Abraham’s blessings are mine.” Theoretically we are called, but what we often overlook is that there are certain conditions that must be satisfied before we receive that promise. Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Mat. 22:14).

What does that mean: many are called, but few are chosen? That simply means that to be called is one thing, and to be qualified is something else. The prophet Isaiah declared that we are qualified in the furnace of affliction. In other words, we are qualified via the trial of our faith. “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” (Isa. 48:10). Being chosen is associated with passing the test.

Walking in the faithful steps

Israel could claim to be heirs of father Abraham physically but spiritually their lives did not measure up to that of faithful Abraham. Israel had very little spiritual fruit, and their lives bore little resemblance to Abraham’s. That is why John the Baptist said, “God is able of these stones to raise up seed to Abraham” (Mat. 3:19). Abraham is the spiritual father of those who follow in his steps:

“And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only,but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham,which he had being yet uncircumcised. 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” (Rom. 4:12-13).

The promise to Abraham concerned his seed – whose seed we are if we walk in the faithful steps of Abraham. This is what is called “the righteousness of faith.” Abraham not only believed, but he walked out what God said. He activated his faith through obedience.

Called, chosen and faithful

Abraham’s life is an example of one who was called, chosen and found faithful. We shall consider these three aspects of the Christian journey throughout this commentary. Just being called and chosen is not enough, it is the end of the race that counts! Many do not finish the race – they are not faithful until the end. The prerequisite for reigning with Christ in the millennium is found in Revelation 17:14:

“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him arecalled, andchosen, andfaithful.”

Perspective

The life of Abraham helps us (the church) to put life into the right perspective. Abraham caught a glimpse of something eternal, and that vision consumed his whole life. It says of Abraham: “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10).

The city that Abraham saw afar off was not an earthly one, it was an heavenly one, and it was comprised of his own spiritual offspring. He knew that the real Kingdom was the heavenly one, even though many of the promises concerned the physical realm as well. (The realities of the physical promises are to be realized in the millennium). But as for his sojourn upon earth, he was destined to be a stranger and a pilgrim, setting a precedent for the spiritual offspring who were to follow. (See Heb. 11:13 and 1 Pet. 2:11.)

The greater promises to be fulfilled by Abraham’s seed

The full scope of the promises given to Abraham was only received in token measure. This is stated clearly in Hebrews 11:13: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth”

We are also told in Hebrews 11:39-40: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

Our spiritual fathers saw these things from a distance. They were convinced of their validity, they lived their lives in the light of that vision, and it was accounted unto them as though they had attained! However, it is through the church that the vision will be completed: “…Theywithout usshould not be made perfect.” It is through the means of the church that the vision shall be consummated! In fact, the Master himself substantiated the point when He said: “Greater works than these shall he do…” It is the glorious latter day church that shall complete the acts of faith and they shall incorporate the city that Abraham saw from a distance!

It is with this final thought in mind that I have penned this little commentary: that through the spiritual lessons demonstrated through the steps of faithful Abraham, we too might be recipients of those promises and enter into the things that Father Abraham saw from a distance. Amen!

“And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

(Heb 6:11-12)

The Call of Abraham

Gen. 12:1“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 show thee:”

From Ur

Although we are beginning our journey in chapter twelve at a place called Haran, Abram’s journey actually began quite a distance south of Haran at a place called Ur in the land of the Chaldeans. (Better known as Babylon.) In the beginning of this venture (Gen. 11:31) it would appear as though Terah (Abram’s father) was leading this expedition. However, we are told very plainly in the New Testament that God had called Abraham out of Ur:

Acts 7:2-3 “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 [Haran], And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee.” (Also see Neh.9:7 and Jos. 24:3).

The birthing of a vision

Carefully note from the (above) passages that the call and vision was given exclusively to Abraham. Let us also consider what the prophet Isaiah said concerning Abraham’s call:

“Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I calledhim alone, and blessed him, and increased him” (Isa. 51:2). This is what election is about. It has nothing to do with genealogy. God calls us by His foreknowledge. He knows what we will do if given the opportunity.

It must be clearly understood that God was birthing a vision uniquely to Abraham. It is God who chooses our inheritance for us (Psa. 47: 4). The rest of Abram's family did not share the vision, and that helps us to understand that there is a certain price tag attached to a vision. The patriarch Joseph is a good example of one who paid a price for his vision – his brethren persecuted him for it.

The New Testament tells us that Abraham was on a quest for a city that was not made by hands (Heb. 11:10). We are not told (per se`) at what point of Abraham’s life this vision was birthed. Perhaps it took place when Abraham was told to look up to see if he could number the stars (Gen. 15:5). However it may be; something eternal was birthed in Abraham’s spirit right from the initial call.

Jesus likened the kingdom to a treasure hidden in the field: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Mat. 13:44). Here is a man who catches a vision of something eternal – the spiritual kingdom. He then sells out for that vision, and that vision consumes his life!

Many years ago the Lord awakened me with a vision. I can’t define the vision except that I knew that God’s hand had come upon me for His eternal purpose, and that thought consumed every day of my life. Like the pilgrim in John Bunyan’s novel, every day was absorbed with the heavenly call.

Leaving Country and Kin

Gen. 12:1“…Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house…”

Get thee out of thy country – the spiritual implications

For Abram the call was quite literal – “Leave thy country.” However, for us the calling may have other ramifications – let me explain: The main difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament is the difference between physical and spiritual.

Although the Old Testament functioned in the tangible realm, it was a type and shadow of the spiritual realm. Regarding the Old Testament, the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:11, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” The word, ensample means type. The Old Testament was type; the New Testament is the anti-type.

Therefore, the main import that we want to receive from Abraham’s walk is the spiritual implications. For us, get out of thy country, could mean to separate from the world. Egypt is a type of the world in scripture, and we are exhorted not to be conformed to, or love the world (world system). Babylon is a figure of false religion; therefore, to get out of Babylon could mean to separate from our former religion. In fact, Ur was a notorious center of the occult and moon worship.

The literal connotation

I must also point out that the calling to leave thy country could also be quite literal. This may be understood from the missionary call. Many times God calls people to leave their homeland to serve Him on a foreign field. We have known a few dear saints that have virtually spent the greater part of their lives in another land. Yes, there is a price to be paid – but the eternal dividends are so great! May we, like Saint Paul be able to say, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19).

Statistics tell us that 92% of the first year missionariesnever finish their course – nor return to the field!

And from thy father's house

Obviously, there is a reason that Abram is told to separate from his kin and from his father’s house. Firstly, they were not partakers of Abram's vision – this will be confirmed later on in this study. Secondly, his father’s house was idolatrous. Although we are not specifically told that in Genesis, we are told this in other passages. For example:

“And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: andthey served other gods.And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood (river), and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac” (Jos. 24:2-3).

Abram was not only called out of Babylon, but also out of his family because they were idolatrous. The scripture makes special note of a few people who severed the idolatrous ties of their parents. Gideon destroyed his father’s gods (Jud. 6:27-32). Asa removed his mother from being queen because of her idolatry (1 Kings 15:13). Ruth left her country and family and their gods (Ruth 1:15-16).

Family idols

There is far more idolatry mixed into Christianity than what we may think (both naturally and spiritually). Several years ago I was preaching in a village church in Guatemala. At the conclusion of the service I gave an invitation to the altar, and as I was doing so I felt prompted to ask the people if they were free from their former idolatries. I was amazed at what happened. The majority of the people began weeping and responding by coming forward.

I later learned that when the Jesuits had evangelized that area centuries ago, they had allowed the Indians to keep their gods. Catholicism in other countries is very mixed with other little deities – which they are allowed to incorporate into their feast days, etc. These Indians had been converted to Pentecostalism and apparently still felt they could keep their ancestral gods. This is a problem in many countries!

The false religions of our family will eventually taint our lives and ministry, and even our eternal place unless we totally sever from them spiritually or denounce them etc. I know of one particular man who loved our church. He loved the truths that we preached; however his wife was a staunch Catholic and he could not pay the price of severing from the family religion. Today, he unhappily accompanies his wife to her spiritual Babylon.

We knew another man who actually had quite an influential ministry, but somehow he never quite disconnected from his mother’s Mormon beliefs. Later on in his ministry he got quite involved in genealogies (as the Mormons do). It tainted his whole ministry.

We can never whole-heartedly serve the Lord our God or follow the Lord our God as long as there are idols in our life. Even being bound to a family that serves other gods (religion) will eventually affect our relationship with God. There must be a clear denunciation – a severing in the spirit! I am not endorsing breaking ties with the family; we want to see our families saved. But we must not be bound by their persuasion. I am not trying to minimize the cost; often the family rejects you because of your faith.

I just recently returned from a country where I happened to be touching this very subject. The lady who was translating for me began to weep – her family had rejected her for her faith. Although we in the United States are not affected as much by family religions, in some nations to leave the religion means excommunication from the family.

Part of the cross involves the family

The family issue sorts people out right from the start. The call of God will invariably challenge our family ties in some measure. Jesus said this: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Mat. 10:34-38).

The sword is the Word of God, it separates those who will follow on to know Him and those who will not. This is all about family relationships. Let us also observe that we are not only tested in regards to our parents, but also in regards to our children. People often pass the first hurdle, they suffer rejection from their parents; but then later on they compromise when their children are against them. In today’s society, parents often suffer for righteousness sake at the hands of their own children who do not want to leave the world.

We want to honor our father and mother, but if the choice is between honoring God or honoring our parents, we must honor God. Abram was commanded to leave his kindred and his father’s house.

Unto a Land I Will Show Thee

Gen. 12:1“…Unto a land that I will show thee.”

True faith takes a step

What an excellent concept of faith this presents. God spoke, Abram believed, and thus he stepped out. I was told about a certain seminar teacher who majors in principles. (There is nothing wrong with principles as long as they don’t overshadow what God is speaking.) This teacher was telling his followers that they should never step out until certain things came into place. He gave his constituency quite a list of things that must happen first… must have so much money, the right house, the right school, etc.

The real faith often requires us to go forward when there is nothing visible in sight: “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” (Heb. 11:8).

Faith is not always sight

He was called. He obeyednot knowing what all was involved. This is what we call “The obedience of faith.” We do not always know what is involved. We may see the end, but not all of the steps in between. As we shall learn from Abraham’s walk, there is an on-going vision. As the psalmist said, “…In thy light shall we see light” (Psa. 36:9). What that means is that as we walk in the present truth or the present light – more light shall be given. The path of the just increases in light!