Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Heroes Of Faith, Abraham: Father Of Many Nations

                                                                   HEROES OF FAITH

Abraham: Father Of Many Nations

 

Christian Faith is in Crisis in the Western World, even more so here in the USA. A new report from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University reveals a significant decline in Christian Faith, a rise in non-Christian faiths and "no-faith" segments, and widespread confusion about moral truth. George Barna found that the percentage of Americans identifying as Christians fell from 72% in 2020 to 66% in 2025, a loss of about 15 million adults. At the same time, non-Christian faiths are experiencing growth, with Buddhism increasing by 56%, Judaism by 21%, and Islam by 12%. In total, non-Christian faiths have expanded by 39% since the start of the decade, outnumbering Catholics, the largest single religious group in the country.

 

Another alarming concern is the rejection of Absolute Moral Truth. One of the most significant outcomes of this spiritual shift is the growing national rejection of absolute moral truth—a foundation that has long been associated with the biblical worldview. The research found that 66% of American adults reject or doubt the existence of absolute moral truth. Instead, most Americans determine right and wrong based on personal feelings, circumstances, or public opinion. This trend extends across religious boundaries.

 

"Two out of three adults believe truth is conditional, and more than four out of five Americans are comfortable drawing from multiple sources or bases of truth," Barna explained. "Even people who generally believe the Bible or the God of the Bible are the most reliable sources of moral truth admit that it is common for them to make their moral choices based on feelings, laws, traditions, peer pressure, social standards, science, or ease."

 

Barna continued, "With a minority of Americans believing that the God of the Bible is real and reliable, and an even smaller number reading the Bible during a typical month, it's no wonder there is such moral turbulence in our culture. Everyone becomes their own arbiter of truth, and without absolutes, there is little sense that there is a 'right' answer to discover, or to have ideas about how to figure it out if there were such a definitive reality."[1]

 

What do these findings mean for the future of the Church in the USA? These findings imply that our core biblical principles are being challenged. Our Faith in God is being shaken. These trends point us to the end times, before our Lord returns. In the midst of these changing trends, how can born-again Christians hold and continue to grow in their Faith? We will explore the answer in our Fall Series: Heroes of Faith. Our first Hero is Abraham: Hebrews 11:8-19.

I. What is Biblical Faith and Why Live by Faith?

Before we study several biblical heroes and heroines of Faith, let us examine what Faith is and why God wants us to live by Faith in Him, as well as the basis of our Faith. But first, what Faith is not? It is not a blind leap of Faith, as the World sometimes thinks, nor is it presumptuous. Faith in God is not irrational or illogical, as skeptics sometimes try to ridicule those who live by trusting in God. Here is what Biblical Faith looks like.

Hebrews 11:1-2, "Now Faith is confidence in what we hope for and Assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." Biblical Faith is closely tied to confidence and Assurance. Our confidence is in God, who is all-powerful, gracious, loving, merciful, generous, and absolutely reliable and trustworthy. That confidence assures us that God will grant what we hope for in His own way and timing. Sometimes we receive what we hope for immediately, while at other times it may take some time, and yet in some cases, we may never receive it during our lifetime. Regardless of whether we receive or not, we live our lives trusting in Him.

II. Why does God want us to live by Faith?

First, God wants us to live by Faith in Him to prove to the World and to us that He is real. When we refer to God, we typically mean Jesus Christ, as many people often have misconceptions about who God truly is. Though all things in the universe, on the earth, and underneath the earth, both visible and invisible things have been created by and for God, many say in their hearts that there is no God; the Bible calls them fools or morally deficient. (Ps14:1).

Why were they morally deficient? It is not that God was hidden from them. Indeed, since the creation of the World, God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people have no excuse. Although they knew God, they didn't glorify Him because their hearts had become darkened.

If the first reason is to prove to the World and us that God is real, the second reason is to see our Faith increased. Think about the process God designed for us to go through as infants. Our little Avila Joy is three months old and brings such Joy to all of us. How about if she never grows and remains small all her life? She is very active, moving her hands and legs, which helps her muscles develop. Soon, she will stand up, walk, and run.

Similarly, that's how it works in our faith Journey. Jesus invites us on a spiritual journey by saying, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Being like little children means trusting God for both the small and the big things in life. Romans 12:3 says, Each of us has been given a measure of Faith.

Faith is a gift from God, but it must grow through use. The key difference between Dwayne Johnson (AKA The Rock) and the rest of us is that he is committed to increasing strength and muscle mass through exercise. No Pain! No Gain! Similarly, Faith increases as we exercise. The disciples asked Jesus to increase their Faith (Luke 17:5).

Jesus could have imparted Faith to them miraculously, but He didn't. They had to go through the same process as we do. Faith is a gift from God, but for our Faith to increase, it must be used and tested. In YWAM, thousands of Missionaries have learned to trust God for their food, drink, clothing, medicines, etc. The third reason why we should live by Faith is that it pleases God. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Heb11:6

In Hebrews 11, we find several people who, despite all odds, learned to trust God. By their Faith, they earned a good reputation. (Heb 11:2). And God was so pleased with them that He was not ashamed to be called their God. How is your Faith today? Is God ashamed of you? Let me introduce you to one of such Heroes of Faith: Abraham.

III. Abram's Family Background ( An Idolator and an Immigrant)

            From our Sunday school lessons, we have learned about this biblical character, Abraham. Before he was called Abraham, his name was Abram, which means exalted father. His lineage traces back to Shem, one of Noah's sons. His timeline was from 2100 to 1450 B.C. Abram's father was Terah. Terah was 70 years old before he had his three sons, Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

After Haran's death, Terah uprooted his family from their home in Ur of the Chaldeans and set out for the land of Canaan. For unknown reasons, Terah never made it to their destination but stopped and settled in Harran instead. This is where Terah died at age 205.[2] Human migration to other places in search of better living may have begun around that time.

After Terah's death, and following a call from God (which we will discuss later), Abraham himself relocated to Egypt due to a famine in the Negev. (Gen 12:10). What was Abram's family trade? According to Jewish tradition, "Terah was an idolater. Terah also made and sold idols, as the Midrash Genesis Rabbah 38 explains."[3]

Abram's ancestors were idol worshippers. Joshua 24:2, Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods." Terah and his family were idol-worshipers, and that means God spoke to Abraham before he even knew God. For now, it is a blessing to know that God can call anyone, regardless of their family background and former religious affinity and ideology, to live a life of Faith in Him and to be a part of His great plan. But the question is, how will we respond to God's Call?

 

 

 


[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/Terah-in-the-Bible.html#:~:text=Answer,the%20end%20of%20his%20days.

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_and_the_Idol_Shop

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Sunday, September 21, 2025

Prayer: A Hallmark of A Christian

                                                 PRAYER: A HALLMARK OF A CHRISTIAN

Robert Morgan writes that as the 25th President, William McKinley, lay dying from an assassin's bullet in Buffalo, New York, on September 14, 1901, the Lord's Prayer was on his lips. Prayer had been a lifelong practice that guided McKinley through his political career and into the presidency. McKinley had been born into a devout Christian home fifty-eight years prior and was born again at the age of fourteen. According to his pastor, A. D. Morton, young McKinley stood up during a youth meeting and said, "I have sinned; I want to be a Christian ... I give myself to the Savior who has done so much for me."

McKinley's mother, a woman of deep Prayer, taught him to pray by example and encouragement, but his greatest lessons in Prayer were forged under the pressures of his duties as President of the United States. One of his most significant decisions arose in 1898 regarding the status of the Philippines following the Spanish-American War.

One day, a delegation of church leaders visited the White House, and McKinley informed them of his decision to resolve the crisis in the Philippines. "The truth is, I didn't want the Philippines," he said. "I did not know what to do. I sought counsel from all sides, including Democrats and Republicans, but received little help. I walked the floor of the White House night after night until midnight, and I am not ashamed to tell you, gentlemen, that I went down on my knees and prayed Almighty God for light and guidance more than one night.

And one night late it came to me this way." McKinley relayed the strategy that developed in his mind as he prayed: that the Philippines should be taken seriously and helped, that the United States should "by God's grace do the very best we could by them as our fellow-men for whom Christ died." McKinley added, "And then I went to bed, and went to sleep and slept soundly."[1] He concluded his last address to the people in Buffalo, New York, with this Prayer: "Our earnest prayer is that God will graciously vouchsafe prosperity, happiness, and peace to all our neighbors, and like blessings to all the peoples and powers of earth."[2] Our country and the world would be different if the current presidents and prime ministers followed the example of the 25th president, McKinley, whose life and death were guided by Prayer.

 

The Apostle Paul began his new life in Christ and continued throughout his life, even unto death in Prayer. As we conclude our In Him sermon series, we will examine the Apostle Paul's final remarks to the believers in Colosse and how they will impact us as we determine to live Christ-like lives in this world. Colossians 4:2-6 Paul's parting words to the Colossian believers were, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Col 4:2. A faithful Christian doesn't live his life independently on his own terms; instead, he is prayer-dependent. Let us explore further: Prayer - A Hallmark Of A Christian.

 

I. Prayer is a Hallmark of a True Christian

The apostle Paul began his letter to the Colossians by letting his heart be known to them. His heart was filled with thanksgiving and Prayer as he heard their faith in Christ Jesus and their love for God's people. Praying for Colossians was not a one-time thing; Paul continued to do so to some extent, as he said, "We have not stopped praying for you." (Col 1:9). What was Paul Praying for? For God to fill them with the knowledge of his will through all the Spiritual wisdom and understanding.

So that they may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. That they might be strengthened so that they may have great endurance and patience,  and give joyful thanks to the Father. Paul's Prayer can be a model prayer for all believers. (Col 1:9-12)

After praying for them fervently and continually, he wanted Prayer to become a daily part of the believers' lives, so he gave them this instruction: "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." The Greek word for devotion means to endure, to tarry, continue steadfastly with someone, to cleave faithfully to someone. In this case of Prayer, we are called to commitment, steadfastness, faithfulness, waiting patiently, and endurance.

Prayer is a hallmark of true Christians. A hallmark is a distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature. Hallmark also refers to purity, or genuineness. In that sense, Prayer to God is one of the characteristics of a true and genuine Christian. After Jesus ascended to heaven, Prayer became a regular feature among the 120 disciples of Christ. As instructed, they all joined together constantly in Prayer, along with the women, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers in the upper room. (Acts 1:14). As a result of their fervent Prayers, God poured out the Holy Spirit, and a three-thousand-member Church community began. The early Church members devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, and Prayer. Acts 2:42.

What distinguished the early Christians from the rest of the people was their devotion to Prayer. We see similar devotion to Prayer in other religions such as Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Wilma and I lived in Hyderabad, closer to a Mosque where we used to hear calls to Prayer five times a day. When the call goes out, all Muslims are mandated to pray.

We saw similar devotion among the Hindus as well. Unfortunately, we don't see similar devotion among many Western Christians. Many of us are too lazy to pray. How can we call ourselves Christians when we seldom or never pray?

II. Cultivating a Consistent and Lasting Prayer Life.

How can we cultivate a consistent and lasting Prayer Life? First, we have to understand what Prayer is all about. Some of us grew up in homes where we learned to say grace during three meals, and that is the only Prayer we may have ever known. Others grew up in Churches where only the pastor or the priest did all the prayers.

Because of such a lack of understanding and wrong models, even some born-again Christians find it difficult to pray to God. At Hope Church, we believe that all Christians can and must pray, as Prayer is our lifeline. Therefore, we encourage our members to learn and grow in both their private and corporate prayer lives. Here is how Praying to God began in the Bible.

Genesis 2:25-26, Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth. Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time, people began to call on the name of the Lord." The verse does not claim that Prayer began for the first time, but collective worship and Prayer became a defining characteristic of humanity. The name Enosh carries man's vulnerability and mortal condition. By naming his son Enosh, Seth highlights human weakness in contrast to God's sovereignty. The Hebrew word Qara meant to cry out, to proclaim, to praise and celebrate, and another prominent use was to call upon God's name.

Prayer is nothing but crying out to or calling on God. What and when do we call on God for? Consider these biblical examples that called on God often in desperation. God saw the suffering and the oppression of the Israelites in the hands of the Egyptians. God said, "I have heard them crying out, so I have come down to rescue them." He sent out a deliverer. Ex 3:7-10.

When people cried out for food and water, Moses prayed to God, and He sent them Manna, Quail, and water, taking care of them for 40 years in the wilderness. God heard the cries of Abraham and Sarah and gave them a son, Issac, through whom the blessings came to all of us.

Another childless mother, Hannah, was distraught in her spirit. Year after year, she pleaded with God for a child. At times, without words, she prayed in her heart. Seeing her moving lips but not hearing her voice, the chief priest Eli rebuked her for being drunk. Hearing her cries, God granted her a child, Samuel, who became one of the greatest prophets of Israel.

In the OT, when people were in critical and chronic need, they called out to God. Several Psalms are prayers of David, who learned to cry out to God in his desperation. Psalm 34:6-7, "This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."

Jesus was a great example of someone who prayed fervently to God, especially during times of anguish. During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission." Hebrews 5:7. If Jesus, being the Son of God, prayed fervently, are we his followers to do anything less? The way we can cultivate and grow in our prayer life is not by listening to or reading about it, but by getting down on our knees and crying out to God. This is the foundation of a consistent and lasting prayer life. Praying in Jesus' name opens the doors of heaven and ushers us into the presence of Almighty God, who hears and answers our prayers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


[1] Robert Morgan, Worry Less, Live More (Thomas Nelson, 2017), pages 49-50

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