ABRAM FAILED BUT HE WASN'T A FAILURE

GENESIS 12:1-31:4



Pastor Rick Jackson



I. THE FIRST FAILURE - THE FLESH [12:1-8]



We saw last Sunday night Abram's failure in hesitating. He hesitated in leaving his country [v. 1, 11:31], his kindred [v. 1, 4-5] and his father [v. 1, 11:31-32] as God had said.



1. His separation was a matter of spiritual ties [12:1-3]



Joshua 24:2And 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: and they served other gods.



2. His hesitation was a matter of carnal ties [12:4, Acts 7:2-4]



3. His dedication was a matter of renewed ties [12:5-8, Acts 7:5]



II. THE SECOND FAILURE - THE WORLD [12:9-20]



1. Abram ran from the will of God [12:9-10]



2. Abram ran from the wall of God [12:11-16]



Running away, however, is never the correct way to respond to testings of faith, reasonable as it may seem. - John G. Balyo



3. Abram ran from the witness of God [12:17-20]



III. THE THIRD FAILURE - FAILURE ITSELF



You can fail and not be a failure if you:



1. Remember the goodness of the Lord [13:1-2]



2. Return to the will of the Lord [13:3]



3. Repent toward God [13:4]



Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?



Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.