MAN UP BIBLE SERIES Living a Legacy Lesson One

The Real World Time magazine had a cover in 2010 with a picture of a man and his son with the words MAN UP! The article inside stated, “If men are going off the rails, how do they get back on track?” Are fathers an endangered species? I would challenge that it is time for us to MAN UP! We need men today who are not afraid to accept responsibility for their family. Men who do not look to the corporate office as a measure of success. Men who want to live a legacy! Men who find their worth in faith, family and hard work. We need men who are not afraid of the challenges they face but are ready to climb the mountain. Caleb was an old man and he declared, “Give me that Mountain!” Every Journey begins with a first step. Neil Armstrong took the first step on the moon with these words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Lets look at someone in this lesson who had great faith, Abraham.

The Real Word Romans 11: By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she [b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.b 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” [c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.c

Real Talk The Time article had some statements that make for interesting discussion: “ When men lose, women and children lose too.” Is this true? “The home is a natural place to start.” Is this true? “Men have a choice: Feel inadequate or get a lot more creative.” What does this mean?

Real Steps Lessons from Abraham: When God talks you Listen and Obey. It was not easy to leave Ur and follow God. Many of us know but few step out in faith. You can be exceptional or ordinary: It’s your choice. Exceptional faith is rewarded. Abraham was rewarded when he stepped out! Stepping out leads to problems. Abraham faced separation and loss by following God. It is never easy to do the will of God. But it is rewarding! Money is not the answer to everything. He was rich but followed God. Money cannot by what we really need. God. Your choices today affect many tomorrow. Abraham was the father of a nation but could not have children until late in life. Because he stepped out a nation was born.

Time to Close Abraham Lincoln visited the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church to hear a sermon by Dr. Gurley. Following the message one of his aides asked Lincoln what he thought of the message. Lincoln replied: “I thought it was well thought through, powerfully delivered, and very eloquent.” His aide thought Lincoln meant it to be a great sermon. Lincoln countered, “ No, it failed because the pastor did not ask of us something great.” Where are you headed? In Genesis 25:8 we read, “He took his last breath and died at a ripe old age, old and contented, and he was gathered to his people..” Abraham a man who never built much or led great armies but he did one thing great, He heard the voice of God and followed. No matter what the cost, the price, the difficulty. It is time to MAN UP!