Abraham's 3 qualities

When I think about Abraham, I imagine a man who was the pillar of his community, one who was looked up to and respected, not only by his wife and family, but also by his trained servants and even his enemies. But what made him such a recognised figure before God and those around him?

Read these 2 verses below, then you will have an idea where I'm coming from.

"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
James 1:19,20

There are 3 qualities that I think Abraham possesed in which he epitomises faith.

Firstly, I REALLY believe that Abraham was swift to hear, or i.e. a good listener. He firstly listened when God spoke to him without any doubts in his mind. I'm sure he listened to his wife and valued her opinions. We all know he did so when she suggested he sleep with her maidservant."...And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai." Gen. 16:2.
Abraham thought he was doing God's will and wrongly listened to what his wife told him, but he listened all the same. So don't you think he showed her respect by listening to her in other instances as well, giving advice on things that only a wife sees in her husband?
I think he also valued his servants, by listening to their concerns and needs, that's why they were loyal to him when going to war.

Secondly, I REALLY believe that Abraham was slow to speak, i.e. he only spoke when necessary. We do not read of Abraham saying many things in the Bible. He spoke little and when he did speak, it did not get him into trouble. When Abraham answered God, his words were simply "...Here I am." Gen. 22:1
Generally, the less a person speaks, the more they will be able to listen to other people's ideas, opinions and suggestions.

And finally, I REALLY believe that Abraham was slow to wrath, i.e. he had to have a very good reason to be angry.
Abraham did not lose his temper when Lot was taken captive. He did not shout at his wife for telling him to sleep with her maid. He did not set out for revenge when his wife was taken by Abimelech, king of Gerar.
Though he had many reasons to get angry, he was able to channel that anger into action that brought positive results - he possessed self-control.
"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city." Prov. 16:32

When we lose our temper, we lose control of ourselves. We are then capable of doing anything in our anger - e.g. lie, swear, shout, lash-out, physically and verbally abuse, even murder.

Abraham not only possessed these qualities but there was also something else that was very special about him.

"Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness." Genesis 15:5,6

Because Abraham believed and obeyed God from the beginning, not answering back or blaming Him for things that may have gone wrong, his uprightness (righteousness) made way for God to perform His faithful promises in his life.
If you have not seen God's righteousness, it is because your actions or behaviour have not provoked God to perform those promises in your love life.

God wants you to be an exemplary figure; in your relationship with your partner or spouse, your relatives, the wider community and even to those who dislike you.

I think I have spoken a lot, so I will leave you with this:

1. Be a good listener
2. Speak less
3. Control your temper

Why not apply point 1 (at least) this week and email me the changes you have noticed in you, or your partner.

The One thing they had in common...

If you are one of the 300 that has sacrificed on the altar, having cut down your altar of baal in the process, what is the next step in achieving your transformation of life or the one goal that you desire? Well, let’s see what the following had in common—and did!

When Gideon broke down the altar of baal, cut down the wooden image, built a new altar to God and presented the bull and then went down to the camp of the Midianites, 120,000 men of the enemy died by their own swords. Fifteen thousand fled. Was victory certain for Gideon at this point? Not at all! Those fifteen thousand men years later would regroup and build a stronger army to come against Israel once again. To be certain, Gideon had to do something to ensure victory...

When Abram heard that his nephew Lot, his wife, his goods along with the women and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were taken captive by Chedorlaomer king of Elam and the four other kings along with him along with all his goods, Abram had to do something to ensure his nephew returned back with all the people to safety...

When David saw that the Amalekites had invaded Ziklag and burned it down and had taken his two wives as well as the wives and children of all his men as captives, David had to do something to ensure their wives and all the spoils were recovered...

What was the one thing these 3 had in common? – THEY PURSUED!

“When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit.” (Judges 8:4)

“Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.” (Genesis 14-16)

^“So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. But David pursued, he and four hundred men...”
“...So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.”  (1 Samuel 30: 9-10, 18-19)

They did not allow circumstances to get the better of them. Were they exhausted?—YES! However, they had a goal to reach. This is what makes the difference between people who achieve what they want and those who give up when things get tough.

One week has already gone by. Does someone find, date, get engaged and eventually marry someone in one week? Of course not! It is not time to stop. Last Sunday your journey to a fulfilled love just started!

Get yourself up and challenge yourself to do new and exciting things, things you did not think was in you to do; (a) Get a different hairstyle, (b) buy bolder colour clothes, (c) ask God to help you get over your shyness, ATTEND THE ‘LOVE NITE’ ON SAT 30^th JULY AT THE RAINBOW.

Gideon, Abram and David pursued after what they wanted! ...Now it's your turn!