The Ambassador Group

Biblical Missionaries

0. Biblical Missionaries: The Great Commission

01. Biblical Missionaries: The Missionary Nature of God

02. Biblical Missionaries: Abraham- the First Missionary

03. Biblical Missionaries: The Unlikely Missionary

04. Biblical Missionaries: The Jonah Saga

05. Biblical Missionaries: Exiles as Missionaries

06. Biblical Missionaries:  Mordecai and Esther

07.Biblical Missionaries: Jesus- The Master of Missions

08.Biblical Missionaries: Cross-Cultural Missions

09. Biblical Missionaries: Peter and the Gentiles

10. Biblical Missionaries: Philip as Missionary

11. Biblical Missionaries: Paul- Background and Call

12. Biblical Missionaries: Paul- Mission and Message

13. Biblical Missionaries: Must the Whole World Hear?

Welcome to another in-depth exploration of biblical missionaries written by Borge Schentz, edited for audio and produced by the Ambassador Group.

So also Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.

Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham.

Galatians chapter 3 verses 6 to 8 New International Version.

It's no coincidence that 3 of the world's major faiths, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, are sometimes called the Abrahamic faiths.

That's because all 3, in 1 way or another, trace their roots back to this great man of God.

Though Abraham is admired as the defining example of faithfulness, this exploration will examine this faithfulness from a different angle.

That is, we want to view him as a missionary, as someone called by the Lord to go to another land and witness to the people about the true God, the Creator and Redeemer.

And if you belong to Christ, are in Him who is Abraham's seed, then you are Abraham's offspring and spiritual heirs according to promise.

God gave Abraham and his family after him a threefold purpose.

Purpose 1, to be recipients and guardians of the divine truth of God's kingdom that had been lost in the earlier history of humankind.

Purpose 2, to be the channel through which the Redeemer would enter history.

And purpose 3, to be as God's faithful servants a light to the nations, a light to those who needed to know the Lord.

The Call of Abraham The Lord had said to Abraham, Go from your country, your people, and your father's household to the land I will show you.

I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you.

I will make your name great and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis chapter 12 verses 1 to 3 New International Version.

Abram, whose name meant, the father is exalted, and whose name was changed to Abraham, the father of multitudes, grew up in Ur, in what is now Iraq.

God called him to separate himself from his familiar social and spiritual context and migrate to an unfamiliar country where God conducted a hundred-year spiritual makeover, turning him into the father of the faithful.

In the midst of personal and family struggles, Abraham became a prototype missionary to several people groups and a respected leader who witnessed to his faith in God.

Listen to Genesis chapter 12 verses 1 to 3.

What principles do you hear that you can apply to your own particular situation?

That is, what did Abraham experience that you might experience in your own way as well?

Now, in Haran, the Lord said to Abraham, Go for yourself, for your own advantage, away from your country, from your relatives and your father's house, to the land that I will show you.

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you with abundant increase of favors, and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing, dispensing good to others.

And I will bless those who bless you who confer prosperity or happiness upon you and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you in you Will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed and by you they will bless themselves?

Let's compare our listening observations.

He's speaking to you through the Holy Spirit.

Are you willing to leave your comfort zone?

Are you eager to be a blessing to other people?

Let's also compare those verses in Genesis to Hebrews 11 verses 8 to 10.

Urged on by faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance.

And he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.

Prompted by faith, he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise of God, though he was like a stranger in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise.

For he was waiting expectantly and confidently, looking forward to the city which has fixed and a firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

The patriarch was called to leave his past behind him, to step out in faith, to believe what seemed unbelievable, to do what God had called him to do.

And as a result of his faithfulness, all the nations of the world would be blessed.

Of course, you might not hear the voice of God speaking directly to you, but he calls us by the teachings of his word and the events of his providence.

We may be required to abandon a career that promises wealth and honor.

We might have to leave congenial and profitable associations and separate from family.

Indeed, we might have to enter upon what appears only to be a path of self-denial, hardship, and sacrifice.

But if God calls us to, how can we refuse?

In Genesis, the Hebrew reads literally, And God said to Abraham, Go for yourself from your land.

He was told to go for himself, that is, for his own sake.

Abraham's Testimony to the Kings Lot was a relative of Abraham, and accompanied him on some of his travels.

His choice of the well-watered Jordan Valley brought him into the company of the wicked men in Sodom.

He was then rescued first by Abraham, and later by 2 angels.

When Abraham heard that his relative Lot was in trouble, he decided to help him.

In rescuing Lot, Abraham headed a military force of more than 300 men of his own household.

Numerous kings were involved in the battle for Sodom, and Abraham came out to the victor.

Genesis 14, 8-24 says, Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Bilar, that is, Zoar, went out, and together they joined battle with those kings in the valley of Sidum.

With the kings Chedorlaomer of Elam, Tidal of Goim, Amrephel of Shinar, and Ariok of Elessar, 4 kings against 5.

Now the valley of Sidum was full of slime, or by Tuman pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell, were overthrown there, and the remainder of the kings fled to the mountain.

The victors took all the wealth of Sodom and Gomorrah and all the supply of provisions and departed.

And they also took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods away with them.

Then 1 who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, 1 from the other side, who was living by the oaks or terrabinths of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and of Anar.

When Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he armed, led forth the 318 trained servants born in his own house and pursued the enemy as far as Dan.

He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and attacked and routed them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.

And he brought forth all the goods, and also brought back his kinsmen lot, and his possessions, the women also, and the people.

After his return from the defeat and slaying of Chedor-Leomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom and went out to meet him at the valley of Shephe, that is, the king's valley.

Melchizedek, king of Salem, later called Jerusalem, brought out bread and wine for their nourishment, and he was the priest of God Most High.

And he blessed him and said, Blessed, favored with blessings, made blissful, joyful, be Abraham by God most high, possessor and maker of heaven and earth.

And blessed, praised, and glorified be God most high, who has given your foes into your hand.' And Abram gave him a tenth of all he had taken.

And the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the persons, and keep the goods for yourself.

But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand and sworn to the Lord, God most high, the possessor and maker of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a shoelace or anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich.

Take all except only what my young men have eaten, and the share of the men, allies, who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.

Let them take their portion." What did Abraham's actions say about his character and as a result about his faith and his God?

To the kings he conquered, Abraham revealed the power of God.

Even during this rescue mission, the father of the faithful did not lose his divine call to be a blessing to the nations.

The worshiper of Jehovah had not only rendered a great service to the country, but had proved himself a man of valor.

It was seen that righteousness is not cowardice, and that Abraham's religion made him courageous in maintaining the right and defending the oppressed.

His heroic act gave him a widespread influence among the surrounding tribes.

On his return, The King of Sodom came out with his retinue to honor the conqueror.

He bade him take the goods, begging only that the prisoners should be restored.

By the usage of war, the spoils belonged to the conquerors.

But Abraham had undertaken this expedition with no purpose of gain, and he refused to take advantage of the unfortunate, only stipulating that his confederates should receive the portion to which they were entitled.

The book is entitled, Patriarchs and Prophets.

That extensive insight is found on page 135.

What kind of witness do they present to people about your faith?

Though hardly perfect, Abraham was a man of God, and time and again in the Bible, even in the New Testament, he is used as an example of faithfulness and of what it means to be saved by faith.

Let's consider 2 verses, 1 in the Old Testament, 1 in the New Testament.

Old Testament, Genesis 15 verse 6, And he, Abraham, believed in, trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness, right-standing with God.

New Testament, Galatians chapter 3 and verse 6, Thus Abraham believed in and adhered to and trusted in and relied on God, and it was reckoned and placed to his account, and credited as righteousness, as conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action.

Listen to Hebrews chapter 11 verses 8 to 19.

What does it tell you about Abraham and his faith that is so important for anyone who wants to be a missionary for God in whatever capacity possible.

Back to Menu

Series

Biblical Missionaries

02. Biblical Missionaries: Abraham- the First Missionary

Transcript

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

The Nativity

03 The Nativity

43m

Plenary

Almost Engaged

49m

Market Gardening Track

A Balancing Act

59m

Throne Exchange

30m

A Major Breakthrough in the World of Health

21m

Joy Born at Bethlehem

46m

Dear and Dangerous Occupations

37m

Secrets from the Ancient Sanctuary

05 Millions are Looking at the Wrong Temple

46m

The Lord’s Prayer

37m

Is Fundamentalism a Threat?

56m

Sabbath School 2nd Quarter 2024: The Great Controversy

12 Earth’s Closing Events

29m

Luke-- Jesus, Our Savior and Friend

01. Luke: The Coming of Jesus

58m

Sound Doctrine