THE PERFECTION MANDATE – PART 2
(Using Abraham as a case study)
Genesis 17:1-5; 15
(Using Abraham as a case study)
Genesis 17:1-5; 15
Man was created in the image and after the likeness of God. When God
created and formed man, he was in a state of perfection. He was meant to
represent God’s interest on earth.
‘And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good…’ (Genesis 1:31).
‘For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving’ (1 Timothy 4:4).
Truly, God actually knew that mankind would fall, even before He created them. Because of this, He made provision for the Blood of the everlasting covenant…The Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8; 1 Peter 1:18-20).
The devil actually thought he had foiled God’s plan of perfection for mankind through the fall. However, God had a better plan!
‘And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good…’ (Genesis 1:31).
‘For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving’ (1 Timothy 4:4).
Truly, God actually knew that mankind would fall, even before He created them. Because of this, He made provision for the Blood of the everlasting covenant…The Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8; 1 Peter 1:18-20).
The devil actually thought he had foiled God’s plan of perfection for mankind through the fall. However, God had a better plan!
After the fall, God began to seek for a vessel through whom He would
reconcile mankind back to Himself, in order to bring into fulfilment, the
perfection mandate. God eventually found a man called Abraham (formerly called
Abram) in Genesis 12.
When God found Abraham, he didn’t look like the ‘perfect’ man for the
job, but God had to take him through the ‘perfection’ process, so that he would
eventually be the friend of God and the father of faith…
God is not man! Unlike mortals, He declares the end from the beginning. He is not intimidated by the present condition of things. He sees far ahead, into the future. He knows you are in a mess, that’s why He wants to make a message out of your life…
Shortly after God called Abram and gave him promises concerning the future, he relocated to Egypt because of the famine that broke out in the land (Gen. 12:10). Furthermore, he lied unto the Egyptians concerning his relationship with his wife (Gen. 12:10-20).
God is not man! Unlike mortals, He declares the end from the beginning. He is not intimidated by the present condition of things. He sees far ahead, into the future. He knows you are in a mess, that’s why He wants to make a message out of your life…
Shortly after God called Abram and gave him promises concerning the future, he relocated to Egypt because of the famine that broke out in the land (Gen. 12:10). Furthermore, he lied unto the Egyptians concerning his relationship with his wife (Gen. 12:10-20).
In Genesis 13, he came out of Egypt, rich in livestock, in silver and in
gold. An Egyptian maid called Hagar was probably ‘packaged’ alongside for him…
Later on, he had to separate with Lot. Both of them were in the same line of business. They were so great that they couldn’t stay together in one place. There was strife between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s.
One important lesson to draw from his life was that he kept building altars unto the Lord (Gen. 12:7-8; 13:18). Build an altar unto the Lord!
In Genesis 14, he went to rescue Lot, his family, goods and other people who were held captive, with his friends and three hundred and eighteen trained servants (Gen. 14:11-24).
Later on, he met with Melchizedek who was king of Salem, the priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek blessed him with bread and wine, declaring the blessings of God upon him. Furthermore, he gave Melchizedek tithes of all… (Gen. 14:18-20).
Even Levi paid tithes on that particular day (Hebrews 7:9-10).
Later on, he had to separate with Lot. Both of them were in the same line of business. They were so great that they couldn’t stay together in one place. There was strife between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s.
One important lesson to draw from his life was that he kept building altars unto the Lord (Gen. 12:7-8; 13:18). Build an altar unto the Lord!
In Genesis 14, he went to rescue Lot, his family, goods and other people who were held captive, with his friends and three hundred and eighteen trained servants (Gen. 14:11-24).
Later on, he met with Melchizedek who was king of Salem, the priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek blessed him with bread and wine, declaring the blessings of God upon him. Furthermore, he gave Melchizedek tithes of all… (Gen. 14:18-20).
Even Levi paid tithes on that particular day (Hebrews 7:9-10).
In Genesis 15, God showed up, reassured Abram of His promises. Abram
believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:1-6).
Furthermore, the Lord made a covenant with him (Gen. 15:7-21).
Furthermore, the Lord made a covenant with him (Gen. 15:7-21).
In Genesis 16, Abram yielded to his wife’s counsel, went in to his maid
and she conceived and eventually brought forth a son called Ishmael. Abram was
eighty-six years when Ishmael was born.
(For the next thirteen years, God remained silent and never spoke to him.)
(For the next thirteen years, God remained silent and never spoke to him.)
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said
to him, I am Almighty God; walk
before Me and be perfect’.
I pray that in 2016 and beyond, the Lord will appear to you...He will speak to your heart, and you will hear His voice
‘And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord’ (1 Samuel 3:21).
I pray that in 2016 and beyond, the Lord will appear to you...He will speak to your heart, and you will hear His voice
‘And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord’ (1 Samuel 3:21).
After a long season of spiritual famine or barrenness, Abram heard the
voice of the Almighty God again, telling him to walk before Him, in order to
attain perfection. God also reassured Abram of His intention to keep all the
promises He had made…
This act provoked an attitude of worship in Abram, such that he fell flat on his face in worship before the Lord…
This act provoked an attitude of worship in Abram, such that he fell flat on his face in worship before the Lord…
When there is an opening in your heart
and the Revelation Of Christ the King (the Word) comes to you, it will surely
provoke an attitude of worship in you…
This is the beginning of impactful living! (James1:21).
God changed his name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude or many nations) – Gen. 17:4-5.
God also changed his wife’s name from Sarai (my princess) to Sarah (the Princess) – Gen. 17:15.
This is the beginning of impactful living! (James1:21).
God changed his name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude or many nations) – Gen. 17:4-5.
God also changed his wife’s name from Sarai (my princess) to Sarah (the Princess) – Gen. 17:15.
God definitely took Abraham through the process of ‘perfection’ in order
to make him a distributor or conveyor of the eternal blessings He bestowed upon
mankind (Gal. 3:13-14). Some of the processes Abraham went through will be
examined in the next edition of this message, as the Lord wills…
PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
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