Scripture Reading: Acts 7:1-5
Abraham's Surrender
Intro.
1. Surrender: “to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand; to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another; to give (oneself) over to something (as an influence)” (M-W Dictionary).
2. Discipleship to Jesus demands surrender/sacrifice, Luke 9:23; 14:33; Gal. 2:20. [“All to Jesus I Surrender”]
3. Abraham stands as “the friend of God” and father of the faithful; his faith was marked by the complete surrender of himself to God’s will.
4. Christians are Abraham’s seed if we “do the works of Abraham,” John 8:39; Gal. 3:29, 7, 9.
5. What did Abraham surrender? Will we do the works of Abraham?
I. ABRAHAM SURRENDERED HIS COUNTRY, Acts 7:2-4.
-(Its familiarity, security, and comfort)
A. America is Great, but Our Heavenly Home is Greater, Phil. 3:20.
1. Our first allegiance is to God, Acts 5:29.
2. At conversion we pledged allegiance to heaven (God).
B. Christians are Pilgrims Like Abraham, Heb. 11:8-10, 13.
1. Do not “drive down stakes” here on earth (1 Pet. 2:11-12).
2. Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims; This World is Not My Home; Anywhere is “Home.”
II. ABRAHAM SURRENDERED HIS CLOSE FAMILY RELATIONS, Acts 7:3.
A. Sometimes Our Greatest Enemy is in Our Own Family, Matt. 10:36.
1. Abraham’s family served other gods, Josh. 24:2.
2. Marry someone with common faith (spouse impacts your faithfulness to Christ and eternal destiny, 1 Cor. 7:33).
3. All to Jesus, I Surrender? (1 Cor. 7:23)
III. ABRAHAM SURRENDERED HIS JUDGMENT, Heb. 11:8.
A. Surrender is about Trusting God’s Word and Way (Anywhere With Jesus). Abraham went because God said to “go.”
B. We Must Act When God Speaks Instead of Depending on Our Judgment, Heb. 11:17.
-“Whatever God says to do in the Bible, I must do. If He says to jump through a stone wall, I’m going to jump at it. Going through it belongs to God, jumping at it belongs to me.”
1. God says: Be baptized; love your enemy; return good for evil; etc.
-Assemble to worship, Heb. 10:25. We let recreation and personal comfort set our habit of not assembling then depend on our own judgment to justify us.
2. Surrender our wisdom/judgment to the will of God, Phil. 1:9-10.
-Our salvation depends upon it.
IV. ABRAHAM SURRENDERED HIS PERSONAL PRIVILEGES IN THE INTEREST OF PEACE, Gen. 13:7-9.
A. Unity in Christ Compels Us to Surrender Personal Liberties for the Sake of Peace, Eph. 4:3; 1 Cor. 8:9-13.
1. Pursue peace instead of demanding “my rights,” Rom. 14:19.
2. Do not surrender truth, but willingly surrender liberties for the sake of peace.
V. ABRAHAM SURRENDERED WHAT WAS MOST PRECIOUS TO HIM IN ORDER TO OBEY GOD, Heb. 11:17-19.
A. He Obeyed by Faith (Surrendered), Gen. 22:2; James 2:21-22.
B. He Surrendered Immediately, Gen. 22:3.
1. Arose early (urgency and priority); Did not argue with God (content that God knew what He was doing).
2. What about us? Acts 24:25; 22:16 (Heb. 3:7-8, 13).
C. He Surrendered His Son Because He Trusted God’s Promises.
1. In hope he believed God’s promise of Isaac’s birth, Rom. 4:18-22.
2. He believed God would keep His promises through Isaac, Heb. 11:17-19.
3. We must set our eyes on God’s promises when we are called to surrender for the sake of Christ, Heb. 6:11-15, 19.
Conclusion
1. Are we surrendering all to Jesus, or only until it hurts? Rom. 6:12-13; Phil. 3:7-8
2. Surrender all to Jesus, and He will be Lord in our hearts and lives (1 Pet. 3:15).
By: Joe R. Price
Posted November 4, 2021