By Faith Abraham Obeyed
The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's guidance and provision, even when we don't know what the future holds.
Charles E. Cowman preaches on the powerful faith of Abraham, who obediently followed God's call without knowing the destination, trusting in the Promiser more than the promises. He emphasizes the importance of contentment in following God's will, even when the path is unknown, and the willingness to leave everything behind to follow Christ with unwavering confidence. Cowman highlights the unexpected nature of God's guidance, urging believers to trust in God's wisdom and fear nothing in His presence.
Text
"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed" (Heb. 11:8).
Whither he went, he knew not; it was enough for him to know that he went with God. He leant not so much upon the promises as upon the Promiser. He looked not on the difficulties of his lot, but on the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, who had deigned to appoint his course, and would certainly vindicate Himself. O glorious faith! This is thy work, these are thy possibilities; contentment to sail with sealed orders, because of unwavering confidence in the wisdom of the Lord High Admiral; willinghood to rise up, leave all, and follow Christ, because of the glad assurance that earth's best cannot bear comparison with Heaven's least. --F. B. M.
It is by no means enough to set out cheerfully with your God on any venture of faith. Tear into smallest pieces any itinerary for the journey which your imagination may have drawn up.
Nothing will fall out as you expect.
Your guide will keep to no beaten path. He will lead you by a way such as you never dreamed your eyes would look upon. He knows no fear, and He expects you to fear nothing while He is with you.
The day had gone; alone and weak
I groped my way within a bleak
And sunless land.
The path that led into the light
I could not find! In that dark
night God took my hand.
He led me that I might not stray,
And brought me by a new, safe way
I had not known.
By waters still, through pastures green
I followed Him--the path was clean
Of briar and stone.
The heavy darkness lost its strength,
My waiting eyes beheld at length
The streaking dawn.
On, safely on, through sunrise glow
I walked, my hand in His, and lo,
The night had gone.
--Annie Porter Johnson
Sermon Outline
- The Faith of Abraham
- The Possibilities of Faith
- The Journey of Faith
- God's path is not always what we expect
- We must trust in God's guidance and provision
- He will lead us through dark times and into the light
Key Quotes
“He leant not so much upon the promises as upon the Promiser.” — Charles E. Cowman
“O glorious faith! This is thy work, these are thy possibilities;” — Charles E. Cowman
“He will lead you by a way such as you never dreamed your eyes would look upon.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We must trust in God's guidance and provision, even when we don't know what the future holds.
- Faith allows us to obey God's call without knowing the outcome, because we trust in His goodness and sovereignty.
- We can rise up and follow Christ with confidence, knowing that He will lead us through dark times into the light.