1. Recovery And Abraham Part 1

2. Intro – Recovery and Abraham Try something – parallel recovery and the challenges of recovery with the life of Abraham Try something – parallel recovery and the challenges of recovery with the life of Abraham Abraham – founder of Israel – Patriarch Abraham – founder of Israel – Patriarch Lived 2200 B.C. Lived 2200 B.C. Lived in Ur – modern day Kuwait – one of the most important cities in the world at that time, and considered to be one of the first cities inhabited Lived in Ur – modern day Kuwait – one of the most important cities in the world at that time, and considered to be one of the first cities inhabited Advanced city – university, library, wealthy Advanced city – university, library, wealthy Worshiped moon god, Nannar Worshiped moon god, Nannar Human sacrifice and sexual immorality Human sacrifice and sexual immorality

3. Genesis 12 – The LORD had said to Abram, Go from your country, your people and your fathers household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12 – The LORD had said to Abram, Go from your country, your people and your fathers household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. 3 promises – land (unknown location), son/nation (no children), blessing to whole world (Make a huge impact on the world) 3 promises – land (unknown location), son/nation (no children), blessing to whole world (Make a huge impact on the world) Promises included in 3 promises – guidance, protection, provision Promises included in 3 promises – guidance, protection, provision

4. Dont know what experience he had with God prior to this time – what caused him to believe what God said Dont know what experience he had with God prior to this time – what caused him to believe what God said Leaves for Canaan – 500 mile trip – Age 75 Leaves for Canaan – 500 mile trip – Age 75 Wealthy (servants and livestock), nephew Lot, wife Sarah Wealthy (servants and livestock), nephew Lot, wife Sarah The Parallel to Recovery The Parallel to Recovery 1. Great promises and blessings if one follows this new way of life – living healthy, following Gods design and plan 2. Radical decision to step out on this journey – to change life and how you live it – many would laugh at you and criticize you 3. Challenges and cost

5. An honest salesman – I want to give you something great – so great, it boggles your mind – but here is what it will cost An honest salesman – I want to give you something great – so great, it boggles your mind – but here is what it will cost 1. Always elements of change and unknown 2. Times that will push you out of your comfort zone – when you will be stretched to the breaking point 3. Times of failure – and the failure may result in some painful consequences 4. Times of confusion 5. Times of doubt and discouragement 6. Times where you are asked to do stuff that feels dumb

6. 7. Times where you will need faith in God 8. Times where God seems absent or that He doesnt care 9. There will have messy situations to deal with – life will not be black and white, with easy answers and solutions to the problems youve created, or find yourself in 10. Times where people will disappoint you 11. Times where things do not go as you thought they would 12. Times where things get worse instead of better

7. 13. Times of conflict 14. Times where old behaviours and wounds surface, when you thought they were behind you 15. Times of mundane and boring – where you do the same stuff over and over, but you see no evidence that its making a difference 16. Always being asked to live a life of deferred gratification – to keep doing the right thing even though you dont see anything positive happening 17. Always dealing with temptations to get off track

8. 18. Times when you will have to stand all alone – when you follow God – His design and plan – when no one else is 19. There will be a few times that call for great sacrifice Question – Whats the point? The cost seems to outweigh the benefits Question – Whats the point? The cost seems to outweigh the benefits 1. Abraham – the Friend of God Only person in the Bible who is referred to as a friend of God Only person in the Bible who is referred to as a friend of God Not talking about warm fuzzies Not talking about warm fuzzies This is the greatest blessing anyone can experience This is the greatest blessing anyone can experience To know God intimately, to trust Him totally, which results in total surrender to Him. To know God intimately, to trust Him totally, which results in total surrender to Him.

9. Point - In order to give Abraham the greatest blessing – becoming an intimate friend with God - God had to teach Abraham the most important lesson one can learn – that God is motivated only by perfect love and wisdom, and He is totally reliable Point - In order to give Abraham the greatest blessing – becoming an intimate friend with God - God had to teach Abraham the most important lesson one can learn – that God is motivated only by perfect love and wisdom, and He is totally reliable Faith in a faithful God will stretch one to the limits of their physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual beings; but the stretching will serve only to expand their capacity to know God and in that knowledge to discover the vast potential of life lived by faith. Faith in a faithful God will stretch one to the limits of their physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual beings; but the stretching will serve only to expand their capacity to know God and in that knowledge to discover the vast potential of life lived by faith. Abraham was like us – he failed, struggled, had many frustrations, but he kept following Abraham was like us – he failed, struggled, had many frustrations, but he kept following

10. Two thoughts to consider Two thoughts to consider 1. Recovery usually begins by viewing God as a 911 Operator or a Repairman I call out to God only when I have a problem. Otherwise, I pretty much ignore Him. I call out to God only when I have a problem. Otherwise, I pretty much ignore Him. True recovery is a faith walk. But it is not just trusting that Gods design (healthy) is best; it must go beyond that - It is getting to know the person I am trusting – it is about a relationship True recovery is a faith walk. But it is not just trusting that Gods design (healthy) is best; it must go beyond that - It is getting to know the person I am trusting – it is about a relationship True recovery means growing in a relationship with God where He becomes your friend True recovery means growing in a relationship with God where He becomes your friend This must be a real relationship – you express anger, confusion, desires, etc This must be a real relationship – you express anger, confusion, desires, etc

11. 2. If your goal in recovery is just to stay clean, or to get kids, or to get a wife, the cost of recovery will often outweigh the benefit Another way to look at it – why bother doing all this work if I dont end up getting my kids back or getting a healthy spouse? Another way to look at it – why bother doing all this work if I dont end up getting my kids back or getting a healthy spouse? Healthy Attitude – I will fight the good fight of faith for the rest of my life. I cant guarantee that I will get some of the things I want, and that will hurt. But thats OK because my greatest desire is that God become my best friend. I will trust Him with the other desires. Healthy Attitude – I will fight the good fight of faith for the rest of my life. I cant guarantee that I will get some of the things I want, and that will hurt. But thats OK because my greatest desire is that God become my best friend. I will trust Him with the other desires.