Father Abraham

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date:

Text: Genesis 12.1 – 3; Acts 7.1 - 8

Thesis:  God can, and will, bless our descendants by faith as did our Father Abraham before us.

1           Introduction

A. Abram was first called in Ur of the Chaldeans

B. Abram and his family were polytheistic pagans

                   1) Ur was the center of the worship of the moon god

                   2) Joshua 24.1 – 3

                   3) God did more than just “call” Abram, He APPEARED to

                   Abram!

                             a. Acts 7.2

C. Abram not only followed God, he convinced his family to go with him!

             1) Genesis 11.31 – 32

             2) His family was extended even unto his nephew Lot.

D. Abram’s faithfulness to God’s call was rife with incredulity!

             1) He had to leave his country

                       a. Ur was the center of the known world at the time

             2) He had to leave a good portion of his family

             3) He had to leave his father’s house

                       a. He had to leave whatever blessing was his as his

                       older brother, the heir, had just died leaving him the

                       heir to his father’s house.

             4) He had to wrest control of the family from his father

             In order to lead this familial band in an unheard of journey

             To unknown places!

E. Faith has its reward!

             1) Salvation is the most self-serving thing one will ever do!

F. The rewards are in the promise.

2          Reward One: (12.1) I will show you!

A. I will show you the way

B. I will show you the truth

C. I will show you the life

3          Reward Two: (12.2) I will make of you a great nation!

A.   God makes patriarchs and progenitors

1) Patriarch: “Founder…the oldest member or representative of a group.” MWOLD

2) Progenitor: “A person who begins something.” MWOLD

B.   God will make Abram a nation

1)     His legacy is assured by the number of descendants

2)    His legacy will be numerous

C.    Not only will God make Abram numerous, He will make him GREAT!

1)     Father of the faithful

2)    Father of a nation

3)   Father of a Great Nation

4)   Father of the Land Promise

5)   Father of the child of promise

6)   Father of the Christ

7)   Ruler of the Bosom

4         Reward Three: I will bless you and make your name GREAT

A. Abram will bring fear into the hearts of the kings of Canaan

B. Abram will bring fear into the heart of Pharaoh himself!

C. Abram will sweep his enemies before him in battle

D. Abram will receive a blessing from the greatest king – the king and priest of Salem, Melchizedec

5.  Reward Four: I will make YOU a blessing

          a. He blesses Lot by saving him

          b. He blesses the kings of the Canaanites by defeating their

          enemies.

          c. He blesses himself by serving God first and only

          d. He blesses all nations by his faithfulness

5          The Meaning of the Text – Abram and faithfulness are one in the same!

A. By faith God showed Abram the way

B. By faith God made of Abram a great nation

C. By faith God made great the name of Abram

D. By faith God made Abram a blessing to others

6         The Challenge of the Text is this: Will we become a FATHER ABRAHAM in our day the time?

A.   Will we, by faith like Father Abraham, allow God to show us the way?

B. Will we be, like Father Abraham, a progenitor of a great people?

C. Wil we, like Abraham, honor the Holy Name of God and He in turn our name?

D. Will we, like Father Abraham, be a blessing to all others?

7          “The Gospel Call”

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.

·         On Friday night, August 5, 2016 Russ will dramatically portray the life and times of his 5^th Great grandfather, John “Justice” Gaston entitled; “A Patriot of the Revolution.” A portion of the event will cover also the life and times of his brother, Hugh Gaston.  The event will take place at the Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 at 7 p.m.   The public is invited to this free presentation.