Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the significance of Abraham's faith and obedience to God's call, illustrating how Abraham left his prosperous life in Ur of the Chaldees to follow God's promise without knowing where it would lead him. He highlights that true faith requires a willingness to sacrifice worldly comforts and to trust in God's unseen plans, as exemplified by Abraham's journey and the trials he faced. Ravenhill calls for believers to seek a deeper relationship with God, to be spiritually rich, and to recognize the urgency of the spiritual needs around them, urging the church to rise up in faith and action.

Let this time of worship be a hallowed hour. Breathe thy Holy Spirit into every heart. Bid all fear and sorrow from each soul depart. Thus with quickened footsteps we'll pursue our way, watching for the dawning of eternal day. We thank you for giving us this day of rest and gladness, this day of holy joy. We come again to this amazing book that you have given to us, this book you have preserved to us down through the generations. This book in which you have sketched the life stories of illustrious men and reminded us that they were men of like passions even as we are. They were flesh and blood. They had their temptations and their trials and their adversities and their enemies. And yet they were able to overcome because they believed God, because they had received the Spirit. In which again the Apostle says, through that Holy Spirit we can be more than conquerors through him that loved us. Again we thank you for the word. We're never safe when we live outside of its truth and we're never in danger when we live inside of it. Or if there are dangers, there are deficiencies indeed to make us more than conquerors in these situations. We have sung this afternoon about those many millions who still are lying in heat and darkness without God and without hope. Sometimes we're challenged by our own contentment. We feel almost we're vulgar in our indifference. We remember the starving millions shown on TV this week to remind the world of those who suffer physical malnutrition and mental malnutrition because they have not been taught. But most of all they suffer from spiritual not merely malnutrition but death. We would pray that somehow even this little meeting this afternoon might feed thy cause and hasten some to take up their cross and follow the Lamb with us wherever he lead us. It may be this very week some in Russia or China or some other countries have been martyred for the sake of the gospel. And yet one of the ancients said the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. We pray Lord that we may not just bask in the sunlight of your blessing but that again we may be soldiers and put on the whole armor of God and fight the good fight of faith. There are battles to be won in this generation that were not even there a generation ago. There are situations beyond the understanding of men who lived a hundred years from us. There are calamities round the corner which apart from divine intervention will write the most tragic pages in history. We believe again the answer is not in the White House or with politicians but in God's house. When we explore the possibilities of grace. When we're more eager to be spiritually rich than materially rich. To be spiritually enlightened more than mentally enlightened. To be engaged in a warfare against the powers that would enslave the world in a more diabolical way than even we know. Give us we pray thee those eyes that see and as the writer in the Revelation says that we may have ears that may hear what the spirit is saying to the church of God. Again we pray the words of your own word that says open our eyes that we may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Beyond the sacred page we seek thee Lord our spirit pant to thee. We cannot love a doctrine we can only love the person who gave it. We cannot love truth we can only love the one who is the way the truth and the life. We cannot judge according to the seeing of our eyes nor the hearing of our ears. We can only judge righteous judgment as thy spirit guides our lives. Bless any here who are distressed. Bless any who have wounded spirits comfort them and heal them we pray. Bless any who are cast down lift them up. Bless any who are weak grant that they may gain strength this afternoon. For those who feel that they're neglected to recognize that the eternal God loves them that underneath are the everlasting arms. That if in all our ways we acknowledge thee thou wilt direct our paths. We pray again for these young people and if Jesus carries we ask thee to take them scatter them to the ends of the earth. Let them not lift for the vanities of this life in which we live. Grant the Lord they shall see that eternal goal and that they and us may live with eternity's values in view. And we give you praise in Jesus name. We're going to look at the book of Genesis chapter 12. And maybe go a little bit further on in that chapter or beyond the chapter. Genesis the twelfth chapter. We read from verse one. Now the Lord had said unto Abram. Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from thy father's house unto a land that I will show thee. And I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curses thee. And in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken unto him. And Lot went with him and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. It won't be very informative for me to tell you that the book of Genesis is a book of beginnings. The first of course is the creation of God and the pardon me the creation of the earth and the creation of Adam the human family. The second creation was after the flood when God launched a new effort in the world through Noah and his sons. And the third creation is this amazing man Abraham through whom God is going to create a new nation. It's very interesting in those two, the first two creations I've mentioned that here in the word of God they cover roughly a period of two thousand years. And yet only eleven chapters of the Bible are taken up to cover those two thousand years. Now this next story, this story of Abram, it covers, which is the third division, it covers a period of only four hundred years and yet it takes up thirty nine chapters of the book of Genesis. That's a disproportion but it's God's allotment anyhow. And then we discover that actually from this twelfth chapter of Genesis to the fourth chapter in Malachi verse six, the whole of the Old Testament is really talking about the creation of Israel. And then it's taken up again in the, in the New Testament. Actually of course the, the whole of the scripture is really an expansion of God's dealings with Israel. The chapters one to eleven make one division and then chapters twelve into verse fifty could be explained like this. That as the root is to the stem, so chapters eleven and chapters one to verse eleven are and unto chapters twelve and verse fifty. And then as the stem is to the rest of the tree you get chapters twelve fifty right to the end of the Bible. And then as the stem of the tree is to the rest of the foliage, so the whole word of God brings us into the great human race which we're a part now. And it speaks again continually of the perpetuity of this people that God has called. Now I think and I can only of course work in the, in the limits of my own thinking. But I think that this man is in one sense Abraham is the most unique character in history. For instance today he's revered by the Christians. We're told very clearly that we come actually as we'll find later through the Apostle Paul. He reminds us that we're of the seed of Abraham and the Gentiles. We reverence Abraham, the Jews reverence Abraham, the Mohammedans reverence Abraham. Now the amazing thing to me is this. It says that the Lord say come to Abraham. Where did he live? He lived in Ur of the Chaldees. Fairly modern archaeology has rediscovered part of that ancient city. And it's very different from where it was located in the old map in the Persian Gulf. Actually what has happened is the sea has washed up the sand and the river has tilted up. And the ruins of that city are roughly a hundred miles from the coastline right now. Simply again because of the changes in nature. But they have located this and I think there's no question about the different types of things they found there. But this is the original Ur of the Chaldees. Now originally then it was on the sea coast. It was a commercial city, it was a prosperous city. You might have said as a hymn writer says in that hymn from Greenland's icy mountains. Where every prospect pleases and only man is vile. People have suggested that because Abraham followed God he became rich. I don't think you can prove that. I think he was exceedingly wealthy before ever he heard the call of God. We'll discover in a little later in I think about the 15th or 14th chapter. Where Abraham you remember was going to deliver his nephew Lot out of the hands of the enemy. And he had 318 servants that he armed. Now I'm sure he didn't arm the women. So he had 318 adult members in his family. His immediate circle of servants was 318. And it says they were of his own household. He had raised them in his own household. So I presume he was a wealthy man when he was in Ur of the Chaldees. Now please remember this that when you hear that God says. It says the Lord had said unto Abraham. In this 12th chapter it's dealing with something that happened somewhere at the end of the 11th chapter. Now the 11th chapter gives us one of those great tragedies of men. You see God had said to Noah and his son. You go out and be fruitful and cover the earth. And they decided to get together and do the job themselves. And they built the first skyscraper. Which happened to be called the Tower of Babel. There are ancient pictures of it which show story after story. Winding way, way there maybe 50 or 100 stories up in the sky. Now in that country, that country was given over to idolatry, to paganism, to soothsayers, to astrologers. They got far, far, far from any revelation of God and any commandment of God. And so they set up business for themselves. And the great ruler, if you'd like to call him such, the dictator was a man by the name of Nimrod. He was surely very smart, he was very wise. And God decided again to come in judgment. You know it's an awful thing that God has to keep judging nations. As I said to you sometimes my definition of a fool is a man that falls in the same hole twice. You think by all the scourgings and times that the children of Israel went into captivity, they'd learned their lesson. That they were in captivity for 400 years. The prophecy was given to this man Abraham. That if people were going to captivity for 400 years, they were in captivity to the Babylonians, they were in captivity to others. They were in captivity for 400 years between the old and the New Testament. They never learned their lesson. But don't clean your feathers and think we do. Because you see I'm old enough to remember the First World War was a war to outlaw all wars. And all that men are saying in political circles today, they said 50 years ago, 60 years ago when I was a little boy. We can do it, we'll change this, we'll change that. But again as Einstein said after he had invented or split, helped to split the atom and so forth. We can denature the atom, we cannot denature men. There's something rebellious in men and they rebelled against God and they built their powers. Now how in the world does a man in a commercial area, a heathen area where there are temples to strange gods. Where he sees heathen practice, how does he hear God's voice? In the rush of the traffic as it were. And yet the word of the Lord came unto Abraham. I want to know why, why, why Abraham? There were maybe a million people there. God isn't arbitrary we say. There's nothing in you that commends yourself to God, I seriously doubt that. Well of course we're sinners and there's a lot in us that's wrong. But you see God is eternally the same. And if he revealed the truth in the in the New Testament, it wasn't because he suddenly invented that new truth. God is eternally the same. And you know God says, blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness. And I believe that this man, this wonderful man Abraham. He saw the conditions of the nature, nation until he was physically sick. The conditions of heathenism and paganism and godliness, physically sick. I believe that spiritually, he was lovesick for God. I believe that in the deepest part of his disposition, he was already homesick for heaven. The word of the Lord came unto him. Now that again, how did he know it was God's voice? Why didn't somebody suggest it was all just a suggestion? Wasn't it a creation of his own thinking? Wasn't there going to be an economic collapse? Weren't they surrounded by enemies? Weren't there a hundred things he'd be glad to disown and get away from? How did he know it was the voice of the Lord? I don't think I'd really know. Except a few centuries after, there was a new group of people around. They were considered fanatics. They followed a carpenter who said he was the son of God. He had been crucified and raised up. And still a bunch of stupid people were following after him. And they had established little fellowships like this in back alleys. Where, not that nobody could see them. But because it was so inexpensive to meet. And most likely anyhow they met in homes. And then they discovered in their growth, that they needed some government in the church. And they selected young men and, well no women I'm sorry. But they selected young men to be deacons and elders in the church. And the first man on the list was a young man who I guess wasn't 20 years of age by the name of Stephen. Now I want to see him when I get to heaven. I want to see a man who isn't 20 years of age, put in a corner and his flesh torn with rocks. And jagging his eyes out and breaking his teeth. And his face is as luminous with the divine light as that lamp is. And they saw his face as the face of an angel. Do you know why they did that? Because for the second time, those Jews that crucified the Lord of Glory. They thought they'd have it pretty easy. You see the man that was the fore leader apart from Jesus was a man called Peter. And he turned yellow and he ran away. But he happened to go to a place where God bathed him in love. And bathed him in redemption. And bathed him in power. And the man that ran away from the finger of a girl stands up and he points his finger at the whole nation. And he says, you crucified the Lord of Glory. Man he rehearsed their history to them until they were cut as though he had a knife. And he slashed into their spirits as though he had a sword that stabbed their consciences. As though he had some kind of key that would open their memories. And they were haunted with fear. The second time God did a whipping on that people was when little Stephen stood up there. Full of faith. Full of the Holy Ghost. Full of wisdom. Full of courage. God in heaven send us some new folks like this these days in the Church of the Living God. Full of everything except fear. Full of everything except what will it cost me to follow the Lamb. And Stephen begins to rehearse. When he backed up everything that Peter had said. It said then he said to the, then the high priest said in the seventh of Acts. So these things spoke. And Stephen said men brethren and fathers hearken, hearken. Listen the God of Glory appeared unto our father Abraham. That answers all my problems. There's no question as to why he followed. It isn't even recorded in the Old Testament. It says God appeared. Do you know that's the first time that God appeared to anyone after the Garden of Eden? In all the thousands of two thousand years before he had never appeared to anyone until he came to Abraham. And he appeared to Abraham because Abraham was sick of materialism. He was sick of the world and he longed for a revelation of the Eternal God. And he says the God of Glory appeared. You know what I think he's giving them a thrust there that. Unless you read between the lines you won't see. He's saying to them you know what? God has already appeared in glory to you and you crucified the Son of Glory. Because he said father I want to get back to heaven. I'll stay here. I'll bear the cross. I'll bear the sin of the world. They can crucify me but I'm longing for the glory that I had with me before the world was. I think one real proof that you and I love God. You'd rather die this afternoon than live. Not to get out of your problem. You see there's a little subtle word. I've never heard anybody preach on it in the book of the Revelation. It says the Spirit and the Bride say come. Have you said come to Jesus this week? Would you really like to quit everything? Not just because you've got problems or you're in debt or some other crazy thing. But really out of sheer love to him. I so want to see him. Now I don't know how often the Bride, the Spirit says come. But I kind of figure not too many of the Brides say come. Oh I want to see him. Look upon his face. Okay, okay, okay. But you see this man. Here is testifying. He says the Father of Glory. The God of, the Lord of Glory appeared unto our Father above. I wonder if we could stand it. Hmm? You think of the Shekinah Glory there in the temple of old. When the priest went in. You know in the outer court there was daylight. In the inner court a seven-branched candlestick. In the Holy of Holies no light at all. And one man went once a year for one nation that's all. He, if he musted or missed it, he finished for a year. And yet we sing of him don't we? I need thee every hour most gracious Lord. And mysteriously maybe while you're typing in the office and the boss is breathing down your neck. Or some other situation. You can shoot a prayer to heaven like that and feel an inflow of divine life and power. There's a quickening of the Spirit of God. Of course it's not the Glory which will yet be revealed. But he says the Lord of Glory appeared unto our Father Abraham. And you know what? He doesn't tell you whether it was midnight or midday. He might have been milking I nearly said a sheep. But with a goat herd here. So a goat. Maybe he was milking one of the goats. And the Glory of the Lord came upon him. Maybe his wife was angry with him. I don't know. But some other situation. And suddenly he's developed in majesty. And I'm sure he fell on his face to the ground and said this is God. But God of Glory appeared unto our Father Abraham. When he was in Mesopotamia he says. In the most worldly place in the whole world. God appeared. Well isn't that just like God? Didn't God appear to a man? They showed up in the lion's den one day. Appeared in his own way. Didn't the man run away because he committed murder and he was terrified. And he walked up and down that desert till he knew every rock in the place. And the color of every sheep's eyes. And how long their tails were. And every blessed thing about them. And he's gone up that road for 40 years. Year after year he's there. Oh suddenly the bush burns with the Glory of God. Do you think he ever forgot the place? Think of that elaborate tabernacle. Ours isn't too elaborate. I love it because it's so plagued. I think the stable Jesus was born in was a bit of an old barn like this. And I like it. We don't have any stained glass windows. Not even stained with bad money. There's just no windows anyhow. But we've got some light. But oh when you think of that tabernacle. That temple that Solomon built. The most costly building ever in history I'm sure. And yet he has the sense to know that even if he overlays the desk with gold. And the walls have gold and you splash diamonds in. And they're lustrous and beautiful. He says Father this is no good. This is no good. There's one thing that will prove your majesty and your presence. And he prayed and the fire fell. Because fire is the proof again. Our God is a consuming fire. And the Glory of God filled the temple so the priests were speechless. They couldn't say a word. I long for that day when God will invade us. Oh I'll quit preaching. It will be hard for sure. But I'll quit preaching. Just let the Glory come and tie my tongue up. Let the Glory come and we all fall on our faces in speechless adoration. Viewing his majesty. Viewing his beauty. Seeing the King in all his glory. Father the God of Glory appeared unto our father Abraham. While he was yet in Mesopotamia of all places. And that again is the reason why he was never never in doubt. That it was the voice of God. Because it was accompanied with all the majesty of the Eternal God. The God of Glory appeared unto our father Abraham. That's what little Stephen says as they're slaughtering him. But again I say I believe in subtleties. Saying listen the God of Glory appeared to you. He was here in flesh and blood and you never recognized him. The God of Glory appeared in the upper room when he came on those men and turned them out. Such amazing men. A bunch of cowards revolutionized by the power of the Spirit of God. And I think he's saying in essence say do you know the God of Glory is here as well. I don't think we gaze on the Glory of God enough. Do you know how many advantages this man Abraham had. He had all the advantages in the world in heathendom. Do you know why? Because he had no magazines, no newspaper, no TV, no telephone, no radio, no stupid automobiles. I was reading what a great American preacher said a hundred years ago on the east coast of America. He said this is a day of devastation. He said the most horrible thing that Satan has invented is the bicycle. Because he said people aren't coming to church Sunday mornings. They're riding round New York, round the waterfront. I wonder what he'd say with the invasion of the automobile. And the mobile home unless you're going on vacation. Our blessings have become a curse. We're not snowed under merely with inventions. Most of us are snowed under with church magazines and even books. Oh they're a curse if they get in the way of the Word of God. Why just this week I got so many magazines I stacked them all up on one side and said forget you for a while. Oh there are some little nuggets in them too enough. But it's bad when you have to chew through you know. My mother used to make bread. And she'd say sometimes now this loaf we're keeping it. It's got currants in it. Or somebody would give her a loaf with currants in it. I never got the slice with the currant in it. I'd say mother but you've cut six slices and there's no currant. And she used to smile and say Len it was windy when the lady made the loaf. They blew away. You don't want to eat the whole loaf of bread to find one currant. You don't want to read a whole magazine to find one truth necessarily. And then if you don't put your magazine down you get in your automobile and you turn on the radio. And if you've no radio you put a tape on. If you've no tape you're bored to death. If I make a version of the scripture I'm going to put in how shall they hear without a tape recorder. We're snowed under. We're hearing a hundred voices. Listen did you this week hear his voice? It's his voice that makes the difference. Andrew Bonner I think it was. There were three Bonner brothers in America. They were a family in Scotland. They weren't Bonners. They were Bonners. B-O-N-N-E-R And one of them wrote that lovely hymn. I heard the voice of Jesus say. I think it's in our hymn book we ought to sing it. Sing it to the tune drink of me only with thine eyes. It's very beautiful. I heard the voice of Jesus say. Come unto me and rest. Lay down thou weary one. Lay down thy head upon my breast. I came to Jesus. And I found in him. My star and my sun and so forth he goes. I heard the voice of Jesus say. Come unto me and rest. I heard the voice of Jesus say. I am this dark world's light. I heard the voice of Jesus say. So he goes on verse after verse. He heard the voice. Do you remember in the book of the Revelation. John says. I turned to see the voice of the one that spake with me. Disguised. No he wasn't disguised. Mary was shattered. At least she got there to the tomb before the men got there. And all Jesus did. He didn't turn the light on and become as transformed as he did on the mount of transfiguration. He stood behind the bush and he just said one word. And it set her all alight. He just said Mary. I think that must have been the most thrilling moment. I'm sure it was the most thrilling moment of her life. You might have said you know. Were you there when Peter came out of the upper room. And he turned the heat on. And he preached that dramatic sermon in Acts 2. And she says yes. You know the greatest sermon I ever heard. No it had one word. One word yes. He said Mary. I don't believe that Moses or anybody else had had this revelation. Oh yes yes. God appeared unto our father Abraham. The God of glory appeared in Mesopotamia. I don't know how maybe with blinding light. But God has strange ways of manifesting himself. You remember when God said the 70 could go so far. Then after them the 70 only one or two. Adam and Abihu could go so far. And then finally Moses must go up the mountain by himself. Or just with Joshua. And then finally. The Lord won't let anybody go another way. Another inch of the way. You know if you're going to really walk with God. Somewhere on the road you'll leave the pack behind. It's not that they're less worthy. It's because God wants you by yourself. And then when he got in the mount. There was blazing. No no no no. On the mountain God was wrapped in thick darkness. And the mountain trembled beneath his feet. And the lightning flashed. And the thunders roared. You know I believe that Moses was less afraid. Than the people down in the valley. Watching that strange sight and saying. I don't know what God's doing. But Moses isn't coming back. We better make a God of our own. Again they wanted Moses out of the way. They wanted to make a God of gold. A God with eyes that couldn't see. And ears that couldn't hear. And a God that couldn't feel and understand. But Moses is wrapped in the mount. Sure sure Moses is wrapped in the mountain with God. The same Moses that was there at the burning bush. Now sees God in all that. And you know what. He'd been on the mountain what 40 days. No he'd been on the mountain here. Six days by himself. And on the seventh day God spoke to him. God kept him waiting. Again these are classics. From the word of God itself. As to how these men heard God. How these men had revelations of his majesty. Sure I think I'd like to have been on the mountain with Moses. It must have been a terrible experience. When God revealed himself in majesty. I'd like to have been with Abraham. When he revealed himself to Abraham. In a way that I don't know of. I haven't a clue. I'd like to have been with Moses. When God revealed himself at the burning bush. I sure would have liked to have been in the upper room. When he came with what sounded like wind. And the tongue of fire that sat on each of them. But don't worry I've got no self-pity. I'm going to see the greatest manifestation of his glory. If you put all those together. They won't make a single thing. Compared to the glory that shall yet be revealed. Because he's coming. Oh like he came on the Damascus road. And when he came you remember Peter says afterwards. Saul said, Paul said afterwards. He was Saul then. There shone round about me. And them that journeyed with me a light from heaven. But that's only a foretaste of glory. The glory that shall yet be revealed. His coming is in glory, majesty. Brighter than a million suns. Why? The place I'm going to live. I'm going to have my vacation there forever. It has no need of sun. There's no energy shortage. There are no problems. It's going to be eternal bliss. It's going to be eternal light. It's going to be eternal progressive revelation. We're going to know him. And we're going to see his face. And his kingdom again is a kingdom that can never, never, never, never end. This man heard the voice of Jesus. Heard it in a heathen country. Say, do you know how to visualize how difficult it was? You see he, he, he did have a wife. And he did have relatives. And he did have associations. And he did have business connections. And he did have a culture that he'd lived in all his life. I remember one day we were sailing with some friends out in the Bahamas. And the captain, we weren't really sailing, we were in a yacht. The captain turned on one, one, one of the big motors. And I heard him blump, blump, blump away. Then he turned the key for the other. And that went and, and he said, somebody said, OK, OK, OK skipper. He was on the upper deck. And he said, hey, somebody loose that rope. They'd loosened every rope except one. And you know what? That, that good beautiful yacht wouldn't move even with one rope tied to it. And you know, if you and I are going to launch out into the deep, you can cut every rope, but it's the last one that's the hardest to cut. You've still got connections with the shore. And he had to cut them all. If you're going to launch out into the deep. Now remember that day when that man took that last rope like that. You know, that yacht backed off like that. The mother of Hudson Taylor, the man who founded the China Inland Mission, said, I never understood John 3.16 until my boy stood on board that ship and they threw the last rope off. And, and the boat began to pull away. And every instant it got wider and wider and wider and wider. She said, now I understand what it meant for God to give his only begotten son. Because I'd only one son to give. And God had only one son to give. You see, this man has to cut every shoreline. He has to leave his country. He'll have to leave his people except one or two he can take. He has to leave the land he inherited. He has to leave the customs. He has to leave the language. Now this is kind of a one-sided benefit this man has. Maybe next week I'll talk about all those things that are supposed to be involved in a, in an agreement between two people. And you can find them all here in the word of God. But you see God says get up. And you know what, at that moment he didn't offer him a thing. He didn't offer him any reasons. All he offered was promises. But what do you need reasons for if you have promises? Again I ask you, do you often see yourself, your darling self, and you're so beautiful. Do you ever see yourself standing on a dais before the eternal God, before a billion, billion people. No preacher to lean on, no wife, no husband, no friend. Just there and you're to give an answer to God. That you lived in a dispensation with the total revelation of God. I say so many things we have now. They deafen our ears to the voice of God. We're so busy, we're so industrious. You know we read about the Bible instead of reading the Bible. We preach so often about the Bible instead of preaching the Bible. God is still looking for men. Men of the caliber of this amazing man Abraham. The man that God said, get up and go. God called him, go into this country. He says in this first verse of chapter 12. The Lord said unto Abraham, get thee out of thy country. Number one, from thy kindred. Number two, from thy father's house. Number three, unto a land that I will show thee. Now that's all he knew about it. Now come on, come on. Look he's going down an uncharted path. There are no lamps on the road because nobody's been that way before. Remember Moses hasn't been before him. No, the bunch that went before him were a bunch of failures. Adam had failed, Noah and the bunch had failed. Nimrod and the crowd had failed. And he says Lord the heart of God says, listen I've been looking about heart of yours. And I know you're sick of everything round about you. Now listen I'll tell you what I'll do. I'm telling you what to do. Get thee up, out of thy country, out of thy kindred. And fair play for the man, do you know what it says? In verse 4 it says, So Abraham departed. But wait a minute I left something out rather important. Listen to what God says to him, listen. And remember that God Almighty has said the same thing to you and me. In other language right through the Word of God. Listen to what he says in verse 2. I will make thee a great nation. Number one. Number two. I will bless thee and make thy name great. And thou shalt be a blessing. Which is number three. I will make thy name great. Number three. Thou shalt be a blessing. Number four. I will bless them that bless thee. Number five. Curse them that curse thee. Number six. And in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Did you get that? He didn't say just the people of Israel. He said in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Now the first time God spoke to Abraham. It was to do a very simple thing. Leave everything he had. And follow the Lord. God says verse 6. Read verse 6. Abraham passed through the land unto the place of Sikkim unto the plain of Morah. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the Lord appeared unto Abraham. And said unto him. Thy seed will I give. Unto thy seed will I give this land. And there he builded an altar to the Lord. Who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto Mount. The Mount Bethel. All right. And in the middle of that verse again. He builded an altar unto the Lord. Now look. This one initial act of this man surrendering his family. His wealth. Every association. Was not one final act. That did not have to be repeated again. He spent his whole life from there. Building altars. Which are a sign of sacrifice. Building tents. Which are a sign of submission. Everywhere he went in obedience to God. He built an altar. He built a tent. Now you get a little further in this chapter. He goes into Egypt. Where God never told him to go. And he never built an altar. And he never fixed his tent. He got into the protection of the king. You remember his wife. She must have been a doll. She was 80 years of age. And fascinating and beautiful. And they said. Is this your wife? Oh no no. She's not my wife. Isn't it amazing. The man who departed. At the call of God. Defected. You see he got hit in the pit of the stomach. There was a famine. Now look. God is going to take this man. Through some of the most severe trials of his life. He built an altar. Every place he stopped. But listen. They were only preparations for a great altar. He was going to build to sacrifice his son. Faith is progressive. Paul writes to the Thessalonians. That he longs to be with them. He says. I'm praying night and day. Not for a lost world. Not for the overthrow of the Roman Empire. Not that the Jews will be pushed out of existence. And the church will prosper. He says. I'm praying for you. That I may see your faith. And supply that which is lacking in your faith. He says that to a local church. He starts a second epistle by saying. I'm delighted because. Your faith grows exceedingly. Now they had faith. Abraham had faith. When he came out of Ur of the Chaldees. When he left society. When he became a pilgrim. And everywhere he walked in obedience to God. I say. He built a tent. He built a tent. Put his tent up. A sign of submission. There's no floor in the tent. There's no permanence to it. He's a pilgrim. He's not going to be attracted by any other cities. And there were plenty of them. Because they were going through Canaan. And there were Canaanitish cities. He's not going to be safeguarded from enemies. Because he's going to walk. The 17th chapter. I guess it's the 17th chapter there. That says. Or rather. Pardon me. The end of the 13th chapter. God said arise and walk through the land. Chapter 13 of Genesis and verse 17. Arise and walk through the land. What do you mean walk through the land? I've got the finest horses in the world. Why can't I rise? You know I get tired of these playboys on TV. I think they're pirates. They used to go through the. Stealing gold on ships. You know down in the Caribbean. Now they have radio stations. They pick old ladies pockets. And beg for money they don't need. And somebody says. Why do you drive a Cadillac? Well Jesus rode the Cadillac in his day. He rode on a donkey. That's a lie and it's blasphemy. And it's a cover up for their greed. Jesus rode a donkey. It wasn't in any way a Cadillac of the day. You never saw a king ride a donkey. A donkey is a beast of burden. The donkey is a slave. It's Jesus identifying himself with a loyist. No king rode a horse in those days. He rode a chariot. That was covered with gold and diamonds and everything else. God says to this man Abraham. Look I'm going to give you this land. You're going to inherit the whole land. Walk through the length of it. And you know what he did? He did exactly as God told him. So he walked roughly 150 miles. 150 miles? Yes he walked 150 miles through the land. Because God had told him he should inherit that land. Well how much did he inherit? Well just enough to be buried in. He never inherited a foot of it. Not one piece of land did he inherit. You look a little doubtful. Let me read it from the scripture eh? That's more authentic. Verse 4 of the 7th of Acts says. He came out of the land of the Chaldeans and he dwelt in Cairn. And from thence when his father was dead he removed him into this land. Wherein ye now dwell. You see he's hitting them right below the belt. He's saying you say you're children to Abraham. Well why are you crucifying us? Because we're the spiritual heritage of Abraham. All right? In verse 5 he says. He gave him non-inheritance in it. Not so much as to set his foot on it. Yet he promised that he would give it unto him for a possession and unto his seed after him. When as yet he had no child. That's something isn't it? The first claim that God made on this man was to leave the promised land and obeyed him. That's the first time he heard the voice. Well the first time you hear the voice is when he says you come. The first time people heard the voice was when Jesus said come unto me. But to some people he not only said come unto me he said follow me. And here he calls this man the first time to leave all he has. So that's where he parts with everything. Now he calls him again. You see Abraham surely he went down into Egypt. Sure he got into trouble. You know the church becomes a problem to people. Abraham went into the palace of the king. And everybody broke out with sickness. And the animals got sick. And there was all kinds of trouble. And somebody said you know we've never been right since that man crossed into our building. Get him out of here. You know sometimes everybody in an office is happy until a Christian goes works in it. And says you know what this office was different before she came or before he came. I remember I went to work in a factory. I finished school in the seventh grade. I guess it shows up but that doesn't worry me. And I went and worked in a factory. And before long men used to say hey you know I... I feel uncomfortable when Len's about. I don't want to curse. They used to say Len hey why don't you go to the washroom for a few minutes. Because I want to tell this fellow a story, a dirty story. You wouldn't let... You know I became a conscience and I was happy about it. I told them when I got baptized. And after that they if anybody asked for a patent. You know I was patent 23 short. He said yeah John the Baptist just took it. That didn't worry me. I thought it was a nice name. They didn't call me Elijah. It was better than nothing. And so you see you can become a problem. Oh we say wouldn't it be wonderful if you know if the Lord comes we'll all be one. Listen they were all one before the day of Pentecost not after. Wherever Jesus goes he splits people he doesn't unite them. Before Jesus could walk or talk the first thing he did. Jerusalem was divided and all Jerusalem. Jerusalem was divided. Herod was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. And here a little company of saved and sanctified people. My we need somebody a bit older. Now you better get a bit older quickly. We need somebody about 90 around here you know. To have a nice old lady like Hannah in the temple. And nearly a hundred years of age. And a few old people around there nice. At least I think so. And we need some old people to balance up the young. We've got a lot of young people a lot of them away right now. Bless the hearts we pray for them every day. But as soon as Jesus came to earth he couldn't walk or talk. And Jerusalem was split in two. And the last thing he did on the cross was divide two men. And when he went in the synagogue. The synagogue was divided because of him. Wherever Jesus goes you'll get trouble. Because you'll live in a world that's antagonistic. And religious systems that are antagonistic. To the way the truth and the life. But anyhow they get out of Egypt they come back. And they set off again on the pilgrimage. Oh God bless Abraham. It says he was what? He was exceedingly wealthy. And he had lots of territory. No he didn't own an inch of ground. But he did have a lot of cattle. But you know what? His ungodly nephew had as much as he had. They both prospered. Still there wasn't room for them to feed their cattle. Or do anything that they could. So one day they had strife. You see once you really see God in his glory. Once you turn your back upon Ur of the Chaldees. And you look for a city that has foundations. Whose builder and maker is God. Nobody will stir you to jealousy or envy or covetousness. No brother you've got it all coming. He walked through the length of the land. And he never owned a bit of it. The kings were there with all their opposition. The Lord didn't sweep them all up with some giant vacuum cleaner. And later he's going to get hold of a little man called Philip. And transport him through the air. He didn't do that with Abraham. He says you foot flog it. Not even get on a donkey that drags its feet. You tread on that ground every inch of the way. And all that land is yours. And the good book says he went out not knowing whither. He not only didn't know whither he didn't know when. But he knew who and that's what matters. He knew the one that had called him. He'd seen him in his glory and his majesty. He'd heard his voice and it was registered deep there in his spirit. So what does he care if his nephew Lot steals all the land. He says hey son you know what this isn't really good. I mean it says here that Lot lifted up his eyes. When Abraham said to him what would you like. It said he lifted up his eyes. Full of lust. Full of desire. Itching for gold and success. He lifted up his eyes and said look at that grass. Look at the water there. My herd I'll get all the prizes the 4H show. I'll go everywhere and show my stuff. But not poor Abraham. Why the grass on those hills is so low the sheep have to kneel down to nibble it. And there's no water. Now I'd be a fool. I mean Abraham's getting old anyhow. I'd be a fool not to take this. I mean it's it's gilt edged. I mean it's got gold every inch of the way. And so that what is it the 10th verse in the 13th chapter says. Lot lifted up his eyes and beheld all the plains of Jordan. They were well watered. They were like two things the Garden of Eden and Egypt. And he'd just come back from Egypt. And if his uncle hadn't taken him there he wouldn't have known what Egypt was like. So be careful where you take your children. Because you may be the first to initiate them into some godly a godless thing. So poor Abraham. He's lost that round. His cattle aren't going to be fat and healthy. His nephew has taken the left side of the valley there. Now when God called this man he never said to him. Listen son I want to tell you something. Once you cut that rope loose. You're going out to an uncharted sea. But I promise you this. There are no storms. There are no rocks. There are no pirates. There are no shoals. There are no quicksands. This is going to be the cruise of all cruises. You're going to have it so easy. And there'll be angels round you. And if kings dare to come near you. I'll breed them and blow them all out. Everything is going to be delightful. God didn't say that. What did he say to him? Well he did say. So the little fellow says. He was preaching just before he dies. God spake on this wise. His seed should sojourn in a strange land. They should bring them into bondage. And entreat them evil for 400 years. So God let him in on the secret. Your children aren't all going to be like you. They've gone into rebellion. But for 400 years. And then they're going to come out again. And he gave him a covenant of. Pardon me. The nations to whom they serve. Shall be in bondage. And the nations to whom they shall be in bondage. Will I judge saith God. And after that shall they come forth. And serve me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. So that Abraham begat Isaac. And circumcised him the eighth day. And Isaac begat Jacob. And Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And so forth. You see God says to him. You're going into enemy territory. Now when he walked up through that land. Which is roughly 150 miles. He had to go through hostile territory. There were tribes. There were Canaanitish kings. Do you think they welcomed this stranger? And then they decided to come down. And they invaded the country. And they took lot. They took lot. Hmm. Oh my. We haven't quite got there yet. But that's what they did. They were going to do anyhow. But listen. Before you get there. This man lot lifted up his eyes. Just on the natural level. Now listen. Look down at verse 14. The Lord said unto Abraham. After lot was separated. Lift up thine eyes. Ha ha. And you know what he said. You don't need to worry lot. You don't need to worry Abraham. Lift up thine eyes. And look from the place where thou art. Northward. Southward. Eastward. And westward. All the land which thou seest. To thee will I give it. And to thy seed forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth. So that if a man can number the dust of the earth. Then shall thy seed also be numbered. What a thrill. Lot goes down the valley. Saying you know. I've got so many thousands of acres here. There's nothing like them on earth. They're better than the Garden of Eden. They're better than Egypt. And the Lord says. Abraham come back. Stand on that rock again. Look north. You can't see very far. I know because of the mountain range. But even over that you're going to get it. And look south. And way in the distance is Egypt. And look to the east. And look to the west. And you know when he looked to the east. He saw every bit of territory. That his son. His nephew had just borrowed from him. Though he thought he got it for good. All the land that thou seest. Will I give unto thee. He never ends it. The thing that his nephew cheated him from. The next thing quickly is. The battle of the kings. That came from the north. They never mentioned after this. They swooped down. And they took all the treasures they saw in Sodom. You see this man Abraham never got envious. Do you know why? Because his nephew became the. His son-in-law. Became the judge. He sat in the gate. But he never envied him his success. He made his money. He was a number one star figure. And it never moved the man of God. He never envied the fact he'd been superseded. He never envied the fact that the man got richer than he had. He had no jealousy. He had no covetousness. Why? Because God said. Every bit of land to the north, south, east and west. It's all yours. All right. So they stole his nephew a lot. And then he goes with his hired servants. 318 of his hired servants. Born in his own house. It says in verse 14 of chapter 14. And he pursued the kings. And he got his nephew Lot. Cut the rope off his neck and brought him back. And then you know what he said? Abraham said listen. I not only got you. I got all the treasures they stole from you. All your gold. All your silver. All your cattle. But you're not getting them. They're mine. The Lord told me that. Now you can take the rope around your neck as a souvenir. You can go back to your wife and children. But I'm keeping all the loot. He never said that. He's a magnanimous bountiful man. He says here get back. And take your money. And take the land. And take all you've got. And under his breath he said. I'm going to get it back anyhow eventually. It's yours. Take it. And then as he was coming back. They met that mysterious majestic marvelous personality. Nobody has ever yet explained him to me. Melchizedek. Somebody says it was an appearance of Jesus. But I don't think Hebrews makes that clear. This man comes to serve bread and wine. Melchizedek the king of Salem. And Abraham offered tithes. I know this lot never offered anything. And as they came back. And the news spread to the king of Sodom. He came out with his entourage. And he says. Oh I've heard the good news. You subdued all those kings Abraham. Now listen. Listen I want to. I'm going to take care of you. I'm just going to do this that the other. And Abraham says. Sir I wouldn't even take a pair of shoestrings from you. No. No. I think under his breath he said. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. And the Lord's promised me the whole world. What I want a pair of shoestrings from you. Or a gold watch. I don't want anything you've got. He wouldn't take anything from his nephew. That had stolen everything. He wouldn't even ask for any land back. He won't take anything from the king of Sodom. He says. No sir. God has made his promises to me. And they're great and exceeding precious promises. Give me a few more minutes. It's skipped out down there from there. And go down. Into verse 18. Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine. And he was the priest. He was the priest of the most high God. Not the son of the most high God. And he blessed him and said. Blessed be Abraham of the most high God. Possessor of heaven and earth. Oh isn't that wonderful. Isn't that wonderful. The possessor of heaven and earth. Had given backing to this. This amazing man. I think if he'd not that chorus. For him we sing sometimes. Which is beautiful. He would have sung. How great thou art. How great thou art. Oh Lord my God. When I in awesome wonders. Consider all the worlds. Thy hand does make. When I think you brought me out of the era of the Chaldees. But listen before you think of that. Think of this. He snatched you from a horrible pit. He said. But I was a good Methodist. Or a Presbyterian. Or something else. Listen friend. If you weren't in the pit. You were going to the pit. If you hadn't stopped. You're getting down the road anyhow. So we better have some praise and thanksgiving to him anyhow. Verse 23. As I told you. He said. I'll not take a thread. Even a shoelatch. It will not take anything that is there. Unless thou should say. I have made Abraham rich. Now you never heard a radio voice preaching on that. I think they'd take money from harlots. Or jailbirds. Or drunkards. Or gamblers. Or anybody. As long as you send in the filthy loot. Send it. You know maybe God is going to have to deal with the nation. To get the church purified. We think about him purifying to get to the nation. He's going to have to maybe to beat the nation up. To get to the church. He's going to have a pure church. Yes he's going to have a pure church alright. Chapter 15. Pardon me. After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abraham. Another time he comes in a vision. Saying. Fear not Abraham. I am thy shield. And thy exceeding great reward. Isn't that beautiful. I like that. It thrills me to my toes. He didn't say. I'll give you a shield. He said. I am your shield. Well in God's name. Does it matter if a thousand come against you. I am thy shield. Well if God put his omnipotence. Between me and the situation. Who's going to get through that. What can get through that. Paul says the same thing. In more exciting language. In Roman age. Look come on. Come on. You're in a war. You're going to have to fight your way through it sometimes. You've got adversity and distress. But I want to tell you something. What will separate us from the love of Christ. Do you think God redeemed you. To cast you down. The only thing God is interested in your life and mine. Is not you live in a big house or a small. And a big car or a small. God's only interest is that you and I mature in this life. And come to holiness and purity. And strong in the grace of God. I'm convinced in my own spirit. God right now is looking for some more Abrahams. That will step out in faith. And pioneer new ways. The church is yet. Is only in water to the ankles. Never mind to the knees or waters to swim in. I'm convinced again. God is going to give us a final Pentecost. That will out Pentecost, Pentecost. I'm not too sure we gray heads. If you're over 50 you're out of this. If you're over 40. You better do what you can while you're young. Because he says your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Your young men see visions. Your old men dream dreams. And on my servants and handmaids. Oh yes God's going to do it. He'll do it all right. He'll do what he did on the day of Pentecost. When people received. Not the tongues of angels. But the tongues of men. And they spoke in known languages. And that has happened more than once too in history. Where the Holy Ghost will come upon somebody. And they'll speak. A friend of mine went out to an altar a while ago. In a certain church. He knelt against a little Chinaman. And he began to pray. When he finished. The little Chinaman stood up all shaking. And he said you learned my language where? And he said I never learned your language. You preach sermon. Best sermon I ever hear. You preach down here. For years I've been searching for God. I wanted to be born again. I did not understand. Words are so difficult. But he said you preach. So clearly in my language. That while you prayed. I was born again. The man's never spoken Chinese since. Oh that doesn't matter does it? Hallelujah. I'd like to speak a hundred languages in a row. If that's going to make the. Solve the problem. But I believe that. I believe disbelief is in life. But I believe God is going to do that. Something miraculous. Super miraculous will have to happen. To evangelize the world. In our generation. And I believe this is the last generation. Because when you see Jerusalem. Surrounded with armies. Look up. And she's surrounded. You're not a bunch of educated devils. We are this week. We've revealed the fact. That we've invented a thing. We can fire through the sky. A new shell. And it will fall in cities. And all it will do. Is destroy human beings. But not property. Isn't that kind? Good night. We don't live in a big city. But I. I understand this. This past week. In the last 10 days. In our little community. Not far away. Somebody raped an old woman. What 84 years of age. And raped another one 80 years of age. And raped another one 30 years of age. What kind of a beast is loose among us? 30,000 boys. Children have been molested. In the city of Chicago in the last year. 30,000 boys under 15 are male prostitutes. In California. Without Sodom, Sodom. Sodom had no Bible. Sodom had no preachers. Sodom had no radio preachers. Sodom had no prayer meetings. The backslidden lot who lived in Sodom. He had no influence there. Or he sat on the town council. And did a few things. But where in God's name was his power? You see Abraham kissed the world goodbye. Not reluctantly saying. You know if I'd gone. I'd have made millions. He ended up poorer than he began. Despite all the radio preachers said. He didn't have a piece of land. He didn't have a son at this time. But I'll tell you what he did. He came within an ace as we say. Of saving whole Sodom and Gomorrah. He didn't pray a prayer like that. For the first time he prayed. He got down and he almost. Almost. And we say that God destroyed the city. Because of it's rottenness. I suggest you he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Because the church failed in it. There weren't 10 righteous. We're always pushing them back to the world. And the flesh and the devil. Why? If Lot had been saved. And his wife had been saved. And his two daughters had been saved. That was for. All God was asking. Because you see. Abraham didn't live in the city. He lived on the mountain side. And when God Almighty was going to destroy the city. Do you know what he did? He sent a telegram to the mayor. He didn't even bother with the mayor. He sent his message into the ears of Abraham. And said Abraham time's up. Now tell me this. Has God wound up a clock of the ages. And it's going to go off despite anything. It's a kind of a fatalistic thing. We can't do anything to stop it. Does judgment come? No. I agree with you. I don't believe that. Judgment comes not by time. But temperature. There comes a time when nations stink in God's nostrils. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Because they'd have died of venereal disease. And every diabolical thing if he hadn't been mercy. Sent fire on them. It was an act of mercy as well as judgment. I read was it this last week. We have two world records in America at least. Number one with more crime. Pro rata than any other nation. Number two with more divorce. Children are being dealt with now in pornographic literature. It's a curse. It's a shame. And if God is going to speak. He isn't going to the White House necessarily. Or the mayor of San Antonio. Or the bishop. Or necessarily the governor. He's going to get through to some farm boy maybe. Or some businessman. I don't know. But I'll tell you what. He doesn't have to go to ecclesiastical lords and ladies. Or bishops. Or necessarily kings or rulers. He found Abraham that made a breakdown there. A man that's been walking with God. Because God not only said to him. Go up and walk through the land. He said this monumental thing to him. Walk before me and be thou perfect. He was perfect in obedience almost every time. He made a slip. Surely he went into that country. And you see once he made a slip. It was easy to make another. First he digressed. He defected. He got out of the way. Secondly he told a lie about his wife. But then he comes back. And God appears again. Isn't God merciful? He says listen. He doesn't tell me about the vision. I wish he did. Most folk would have written a book about it. He doesn't say anything about how God appeared in glory. No he doesn't say a thing about how God appeared in a vision. But God says I am thy shield. And thy exceeding great reward. I think he must have said in his heart. Lord that's all I want. That's all I want. I'll nurse that till I die. Come hell or high water. Come Philistines or Amalekites or Canaanites. Trouble or distress. You're my shield. That's all I need. I'm safer than if I had 10,000 angels round about me. I'm alright. And my reward. And you know what God said. Do you remember the words? That he's coming and when he comes. His reward is with him. It's not payday yet. Don't worry. It's not payday. It's coming eventually. And each of us shall receive. According to the way we've served. And according to the obedience that God has registered of us. Alright. Let me read this on to you now. Abraham said verse 2 of 15. I'll rush up. It'll be three and five minutes. Abraham said Lord God what will thou give me. Seeing I go childless. The steward of my house is Eliezer. The Eliezer of Damascus. Abraham said behold. To me thou hast given no seed. And lo one is born in my house. Born in my house is mine heir. And behold the word of the Lord came unto him saying. This shall not be thine heir. But he shall come forth. Out of thine own bowels. And he shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad. And he said to him. Look now toward heaven. And tell the stars if thou be able to number them. And he said unto him. So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the Lord. And he counted it to him for righteousness. Now that's the first time he said that I guess. Well didn't he count it to him for righteousness. That he came out. I don't think so. You see there's something more involved in this. He's walking through the land he doesn't own. He's looking up to the stars. And I think ever after that. You know I think every night when he went out of his tent. He said hallelujah to all my children. I'm going to have more children than the whole bunch of you. He looked at the stars for multitudes. He hadn't got a son. He hadn't got any territory he could leave to his son. But he believed God. And God accounted it to him for righteousness. Because he said. This shall be numberless. They'll be numberless like the seed. And he believed in the Lord. And he counted it to him for righteousness. Now listen to Romans. Chapter 3. Pardon me chapter 4. The father of circumcision said unto them. We are not of the circumcision only. But who also walk in the steps of that faith. Of our father Abraham. Which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise that he should be the heir of the world. Was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law. But through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs. Faith is made void. And the promise made of none effect. Because the law worketh wrath. For where no law is there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace. To the end the promise might be sure. To all the seed. Not to that only which is of the law. But that also which is of the faith of Abraham. Who is the father of us all. This is the apostle writing. And he says that Abraham is the father of us all. As it is written. I have made thee a father of many nations. Now come down into verse 20. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief. But was strong in faith. Giving God the glory. And being fully persuaded that he. That what he had promised. That he was able to perform. And therefore it was imputed unto him for righteousness. What, what, what? For what? Because he believed his seed would inherit the land. His seed would bless the whole earth. When he had no land and he had no seed. And therefore God accounted it to him for righteousness. He believed God. He believed though he had no physical evidence. Either in the ground beneath him. Or physical evidence of a child. God will do it. I believe him. I believe he's going to perpetuate his promise. That we shall hold the land. It's amazing when you think about it. That little country of Palestine. That you could drop in one of the big lakes and lose it. Is the biggest headache in the world today. It's a problem to Russia. It's a problem to the Egyptians. It's number one problem to us. Do we defend it or don't we defend it? What do we share? What don't we share? What did they ask for this year? Another billion dollars. And everybody said they won't get it. But they sure did. Somebody pulled strings. No, no, no. There's something mysterious. God says any nation that curses you. I'll curse them. Any nation that blesses you. I'll bless them. Now. I say again I believe that God blessed him. Because he believed when he had no seed. And he believed when he had no land. You see the seed. Was those that should eventually come from him. Do you remember what it says? The same thing in the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. He shall see his seed. He shall prolong his days. But Jesus had no seed. He was cut off from the land of the living. Oh yes those Jews loved to think they were Abraham's seed. They threw that in the face of Jesus more than once. Where he said well we're of our father Abraham. And Jesus said you know God could turn those rocks into children of Abraham. If that's all you're worried about. But you see there was something else. Jesus was born of what? Isn't it in. I forget. My mind doesn't work as quickly as it used to. But I think it's. I think it's in Hebrews somewhere. Where it says we are of. Of Abraham's seed. That Jesus was of Abraham's seed according to the flesh. Maybe I can't find it. Anyhow I can't find it just for the moment. But that's the word of God. We're Abraham's seed. According to the flesh. Jesus was of the line of Abraham. When you trace the thing right back. And his seed shall all the earth be blessed. You know I heard somebody say not long ago. You know we live in the greatest country in the world. America has never been a country like it. And it outclasses every other nation under heaven. Well first of all we're not a nation. In one sense we're more mixed breeds than any nation under heaven that there's ever been. Number two. We're sure a great nation economically. We look so. Scientifically yes. But you know we haven't produced an Elijah. We haven't produced a Jeremiah. We haven't produced an Abraham. We haven't produced a Moses. You know the nation of Israel is fascinating. I saw a book advertised this past week. It was $45. I thought I'd like to buy it. Then I saw it on sale for four and a half. So I'm writing for it. But it gives a biography of Jews for about the last thousand years. You know they're amongst the greatest scientists. There's a law in the Old Testament. A Jew cannot loan money to another Jew with usury or with interest. He has to loan it free. And I understand devout Jews still do that. There's something very mysterious about them. Five times in history they've been annihilated. They've been reduced to less than a million on one occasion. And Hitler we're told got rid of six million. But they're still back. They've got up to about 18 and a half million today in the world. And you know what? If you marry a dozen Jewish men into another race a hundred years from now you'll trace the physiognomy. You'll trace the outline of the Jew in his offspring a hundred years from now. If you took a hundred Englishmen and married them in another race they'd be obliterated in a hundred years. But not the Jew. He can't lose his identity. There's something mysterious about him. And yet the great mystery is that this man of almost impeccable character After all the two most perfect characters in the Old Testament were Jews weren't they? You can't find any fault as far as I know with Daniel he's called the Beloved. And you can't find any fault with Joseph. He just had about a spotless record. And another record that Abraham is called what nobody in the whole world of God is called. He's called Abraham the friend of God. The friend of God. And Jesus says a servant doesn't know what his boss doeth. But a friend knows. And we sing it easily don't we? What a friend we have in Jesus all our... Is he that... Are you on such good terms with God he whispers secrets to your heart. Are you on such good terms with God that sometimes you read a verse and it explodes and you have to put the book down and worship him and adore him and say Lord that's enough. You know you think you're going to eat the whole loaf and all you do is eat a slice of bread. I mean from the book and you're filled up you're choked up you say Lord. I can't go any further. The Word of God says that these amazing men. Do you know how the record is left? The record is left for those of us upon whom the ends of the age are come. Again I tell you we're going into the toughest next five years that we've ever lived. If Mr. Carter stands up and I pray God he will stand up for human rights. Russia already is saying she's not going to negotiate this year. Oh she can talk. Solzhenitsyn was on TV last night it was a mighty revelation. I listened to him I think he's a fantastic man. He just says he says look you don't need to worry now. You missed it nearly 10 years ago he said look America can take you with bare hands. She can take you with bare hands she doesn't need weaponry. I'd like to have read the whole text or heard it all I didn't hear it. So I say. Oh Russia Russia Russia well Russia can take America with bare hands that's right. Do you know that ought to strike no fear in us. Abraham has to go through a land full of kings. He's going to meet adversity. He's going to see Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed. Didn't destroy him didn't destroy his faith. He's going to get into a country never intended to go in. God's going to deliver him. And we have the same God. One day we'll sing the hymn in our hymn book it's in there I guess. They say it's the oldest hymn in the world. And then when we've done that we'll sing Jerusalem the golden. But I'm not sure it's in the hymn book. What joys await us there. What radiancy of glory. What bliss beyond compare. They stand those halls of Zion all beautiful with song. Listen this week when you're under the weather. You got a flat tire in the in the in a rainstorm. Like those beauties we had last week. Or the washing machine stops and you go out and find the flood has come back. Or you have some other distressing thing. They stand those halls of Zion all beautiful with song. And bright with many an angel. And all that glorious song. The King is ever in them. The daylight is serene. The pastures of the blessed are decked in glorious scenes. Oh sweet and blessed country. The home of God's elect. Oh sweet and blessed country. That eager hearts expect Jesus in mercy. Bring us to that fair land of rest. Who art with God the Father and Spirit ever blessed. And then afterwards sometimes Sue has sent for some. Found some copies of that lovely hymn. She found it this week. But it's only 19 stanzas. It's had 27. Wouldn't it be nice to sing hymns like that brother Herb. 27 stanzas in one hymn. Most of Wesley's had 20 to 30 when he wrote them. We chopped them down and chopped them down. Till we didn't have anything left. But oh what wonderful hymn. Rutherford's lovely hymn. The King there in his beauty without a veil is seen. It were a well spent journey. Though seven deaths lay between. The lamb in his fair glory doth on Mount Zion stand. And glory glory dwelleth in Emmanuel's land. The bride eyes not her garments but her dear bridegroom's face. I will not gaze on glory but on the King of grace. Not at the crown he giveth but on his pierced hand. When thrown where glory dwelleth in Emmanuel's land. And he goes on to say it were a well spent journey. If you're to die seven times over. If you could die and have a resurrection and go to the rack. If you could die and have a resurrection and be burned at the stake. If you could die and resurrection and they pulled your fingernails off. And skinned you alive. I read recently they did that in some foreign countries. To persecute people. Isn't it amazing in a day of atom bombs and jets. You can still rip people alive. Tear their skin off while they're living. There's no change in sin. Men are wicked. And the word of God says. We've sinned and come short of the glory of God. And I leave that word with you. You know if we hadn't sinned like others. If you were never a prostitute or a jailbird. Or a drug addict or a drunkard. Or some other rotten sinner. And a criminal. If the only thing you did was negative. You had not sinned. The other side of the coin we never stress. We'd come short of the glory of God. And I believe the church is still short of the glory of God. And I believe the glory will be revealed. If we'll humble ourselves. If we'll walk before him. If we'll say goodbye to cities. And goodbye to Sodom. And goodbye to Ur of the Chaldees. And say Lord read my heart. I'm not itching for gold. I'm not itching for a place. I'm not itching for a faith. I'm itching only to see you come and restore your glory in the church. And let the world know that you're still the same God. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.