“What shall we say … that Abraham … hath found?”

Romans 4:1

Treasure in Christ is worth more than worldly treasures

This Epistle is one of, if not the fullest statement of Christian theology and faith given to us by Paul or any other writer. It demonstrates the New Testament’s Hebrew roots while spelling out the means of salvation for the Gentile and God’s plan to glorify Himself in the entire world through the work of His Son Jesus.

He traces God’s work all the way back to “the creation of the world” ( 1:20 ).

He shows the choosing of the Jews to be a great “advantage” (3:1)

however, it was squandered through unbelief (3:3) and sinful living ( 3:23 ).

He establishes the guilt of all men before God ( 3:23 ) but holds up a banner of Hope and Grace in declaring “Redemption” ( 3:24 ) freely available through Christ.

Time and space will not permit a full treatment of this comprehensive work here, but it has been described as

“The Great Epistle of Theology, The Epistle Written for Every Man, The Church’s Last Testament, The Gospel’s Main Truth and God’s Worldwide Plan for Israel and the Gentiles.” (TPOSB) It is an extremely important book! Of special interest to us today is the fact that Paul described humanity’s need (Both Jew and Gentile) and announced that at least one man, Abraham, had found something of great value. Paul requires the reader at first, to look closely and consider a number of theological details. In doing so, there are three things “Abraham found” that come to light:

• Blessing

Paul equates the experience of David to Abraham’s and to all who have righteousness imputed to them whether by works or by grace! “Blessed are…they…whose sins are covered” (4: 7) Every Christian believer who is conscious of “SINS FORGIVEN” can identify with this great blessing! And if God will forgive Sin, the question begs to be asked, “What Blessing would He withhold from those He Loves?”

• Heritage

Abraham had left everything of any value behind when he left Ur of the Chaldees. He spent his entire adult life wondering from one water hole to another looking for a few blades of green grass and a few moments of security in a hostile world! Now it is revealed this tent dweller “Is the Heir of the World!” (4:13-14)

• Life

Abraham had almost arrived at the end of his earthly journey without a Son or anyone to carry his name or memory into the future. His linage was dead, his dreams were dead, and his hope for the future was dead. Then he had a Great Revelation! “God…gives life to the dead…” ( 4:17 )

These three wonderful things are woven into chapter four. They were found by Abraham, they can be a part of your life by Faith! You too can find Blessing, Heritage and Life!

Paul seems to be caught up in the excitement of Abraham’s discovery but abruptly abandons the theological details to blurt out, “…we have peace…we have access… and rejoice… patience…  hope… the love of God… the Holy Ghost…is given unto us… we shall be saved” (5:1-9)

What a wonderful list of great things Abraham and his descendants in the Faith have found!  What have you found?

• Peace is available through the Prince of Peace.
• Access is especially precious to those who know what it means to be excluded or shut out.
• You can have Joy in a world full of sadness!
• The NKJV uses the word Perseverance for patience; you can persevere, because the Lord is going to help you!
• You can have Hope instead of despair.
• You can know that the Love of God is set on you and the Holy Spirit is in you and you shall be saved!

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus told of a man who “found…a pearl of great price,” (Mt 13:46 ) he sold everything he had to invest in that treasure!

What is FOUND in Christ is worth everything.

Have you “Found” this treasure?

Have you “Invested” your life in this treasure?

“…he went into a ship … And they launched forth.” Luke 8:22

The word translated “launched” means, “to lead up to a higher place.” (Thayer’s Lexicon)  It is the same word translated “led” in Matthew 4:1 which states, “… Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil…” The precarious place in which Jesus is found in Matthew was the result of Heaven’s Leading!

That difficult “wilderness experience” resulted in the Devil’s defeat, the Glory of God and a great example to every believer that the Word of God is key to our personal victory in every situation. Likewise, when Jesus took His disciples into the boat and “Launched forth,” it was the Divine will at work.

1. Pursuing the will of God results in the need of Divine Assistance for progress and perhaps even survival.

An example is furnished by Peter’s experience of walking on the water as recorded in Matthew 29. We have been encouraged by Bible teachers using this incident to have faith, keep our eyes on Jesus, avoid presumption and other equally powerful lessons. Regardless of where the lesson starts, it always brings us to Peter’s cry, “Lord Save Me!”

He had come to a place where no human hand was sufficient to save him. He had arrived at that place when Jesus uttered one word in answer to his inquiry! Peter asked, “…  Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water…” and Jesus reply was simply, “Come.” (Matthew 14:28-29)

Peter was following the voice of Jesus when he found himself in danger of drowning! Perhaps you can identify with Peter. You have diligently tried to follow the voice of God and inexplicably you are drowning! Drowning in sorrow, debt, physical pain, emotional torment etc. Your path has led to a place where there is no alternative but to rely on Him alone!

2. Deliverance comes on a certain day.

“…it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples…”(Luke 8:22 ) I remember a “certain day” my life was changed by an encounter with Christ!

There was nothing uncertain about it! No one had to tell me, I knew I had met God! I remember a “certain day” when the call of God was made clear to me. On that day, no one had to explain anything to me, I knew what to do! I remember a “certain day” when the truth dawned on my mind, since that day it has guided my decisions and shaped my character. Perhaps, you are thinking of a Certain Day when everything changed for you.

a.       That “certain day” brought with it a consciousness of His presence, “…he went into a ship with his disciples…” (v22) There is so little certainty in the life of that person who feels alone in the world and is left to face life’s storms without a friend like Jesus.

b. His disciples have His presence on that certain day, in the ship, during the storm. (v22) The person who insist on charting his own course, or living independently of God’s will is not making a wise choice! Be sure you are His Disciple (follower, learner)!

We know we are His disciples and His business is to save and care for His own and we have cast all our care on Him! But being His Disciple is not about being comfortable as they are about to discover. Because, they had already-

3. Launched forth.

They were being “led” to a “Higher Place .” A HIGHER LEVEL! Many speak of moving up to the Next Level. What did that involve?

a.       Jesus, the only person in the Universe who could help them, went to sleep!

b.      A Storm Came.

c.       The boat filled up with water.

d.      They were in jeopardy.

e.       They were perishing.

f.        Their Beloved Master rebuked them for a Lack of Faith and fear came on them because of His awesome power!

g. When they did arrive on shore it was in a cemetery and they were met by a naked man full of devils and as a result of their ministry the locals invited them to leave!

Could it possibly be that all those things going wrong in your life are really confirmation that you are His disciple, in the boat with him, led by His Spirit and just moving up to the next level?

Come on! Laugh a little today. You know all those things cannot be coincidence! Not that He is the author of them but He has permitted you to travel a path that requires Divine Assistance.

Aren’t you glad you know Jesus is with you in this and every storm?

Genesis 24: 42-43 “…I came… unto the well… I stand by the well…”

This chapter of Genesis relates the story of Abraham’s efforts to find a bride for his beloved son Isaac. His own wife Sarah had died and conscious of his own mortality he is trying to do everything he can to steer his son on the right course before his departure. Isaac would inherit the lands and herds but the most important things in life are the relationships. This chapter is full of relationships, parent and child, master and servant, uncle and niece and nephew, siblings, spouses, nurse, grandparents, in laws, etc. The most important relationship is that between God and His people. The Lord blessed, provided guidance and witnessed an oath. The people on the other hand prayed, worshiped, and testified of Divine favor and leading.

What can one expect as a result of a Right Relationship With God?

1.      A right relationship with others. The servant, was Loyal to Abraham. He entered and oath with Abraham to complete his mission and fulfilled that oath (v9). Rudy Giuliani the former mayor of New York City wrote, “Loyalty is the vital virtue.” He was writing about leadership and those who were part of his team after they helped rally the city’s morale following the September eleventh attacks on the Twin Towers . If loyalty is missing, relationships are shallow indeed! One wonders if loyalty is even considered a virtue by today’s society.

The convenient thing is usually embraced and that without justification or excuse! Sadly, the expected thing to do is, “watch out for number one.” From Abraham’s servant comes the lesson that a completed mission requires loyalty to the relationship. From Mayor Giuliani comes the lesson that preventing chaos and the revival of a City in the grip of fear requires virtue. The writers of the Declaration of Independence finished with, “…with a firm reliance on…Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” Marriages, cities, nations, churches, civilizations are built on relationship and relationships require loyalty.

2.      God will answer prayer. When Abraham’s servant first arrived in Mesopotamia he prayed a specific prayer for the girl God had chosen to be Isaac’s wife. According to the Biblical record, Rebekah was revealed before he finished his prayer! (v15) It is difficult to be anything but optimistic when one lives day to day and moment to moment expecting the answer to be revealed!

3.      Divine Favor. The servant asked for a drink of water (v17) but Rebekah did not stop drawing water until he and all his camels had quenched their thirst! (v20) Later the entire caravan was accommodated at her father’s home where they were received with considerable hospitality and all their needs met. The Bible writer has painted a masterful picture of Favor with this story. The servant is a stranger in a strange land, asking only for a drink and an over abundance is provided!

4.      Divine Assistance. The servant testified to Rebekah’s family that before he left his homeland he had received a promise. “God …will send his angel with thee and prosper thy way…”(v40)  If you are in right relationship with God there is HELP available! His Angels Go before us and camp around us!

5.      Supernatural Refreshment. “ …I came… unto the well…I stand by the well…” What could be more refreshing, more welcome after a journey such as his, than a well? Are you weary? There is a place of Refreshment! The Hebrew word for well is “Ayin.” (Strong’s #5869) The Gesenius Lexicon defines it as, “an eye…a face…a fountain.” The servant said “I came to the well, I stand by the well.” He is telling us there is an all seeing eye that observes our journey and the progress of our mission. He is telling us there is a reassuring face into which we can gaze when the dangers and the difficulties of the journey threaten to push or drag us off course! He is telling us there is a fountain at which we can quench the thirsting of our souls when we are weary, withered and perishing!

“I came” (Strong’s # 935) means exactly that, “to come.”

“I stand” (Strong’s # 5324) means “…to station …”

Make your approach! Take your stand! By the Well!

This is the only place in the universe these wonderful things are available! You can “stand” by many things the world views as a source, but there is only one place where you can stand that will result in right relationships with those around you, where the answer to prayer is revealed,  Divine favor is found, Divine assistance is provided and supernatural refreshment is offered, that is BY THE WELL! Jesus said, “…the water that I shall give … shall be … a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)