Lesson 4 emphasizes important spiritual principles and virtues that help us to further God’s mission in the world.

The text “The Gift of Hospitality” shows how Abraham practiced hospitality as a noble virtue through initiative, politeness, care, hospitality, generosity, and awareness of his mission. This teaches us how hospitality can bring about positive changes in the world.

In “Abraham Loved Everyone,” we recognize Abraham’s extraordinary love and compassion for all people, even those living in sin. This encourages us to cultivate charity and compassion and to believe in the possibility of repentance and redemption for all.

“Abraham’s Spirit of Prayer” highlights the power of intercessory prayer and the importance of love, compassion, humility, and persistence in our prayers for others. This reminds us that as Christians, we have a role as advocates before God.

In “Abraham’s Mission,” it is shown that our mission is to spread the Gospel, but not everyone will accept this message. This teaches us that we must respect the invitation to salvation while taking our role in proclaiming the faith seriously.

“Surrendering to God’s Will” underscores Abraham’s obedience and dedication to God’s will, even when the path is unclear. This challenges us to trust God in all life situations and submit to His will.

The challenge of reaching out to people in difficult situations and showing compassion illustrates how our faith and submission to God’s will can be translated into concrete actions.

Overall, this lesson highlights the importance of hospitality, love, prayer, mission, and obedience in our Christian life and how these principles can contribute to furthering God’s mission in the world.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-4-sharing-gods-mission-4-6-summary/

To submit to God’s will, as described in the verses from Genesis 12:1-9, is an attitude of humility, faith, and obedience to God, even when the path before us appears unclear and challenging. Abraham, a central example of this devotion, shows us how this submission bears fruit in various life situations.

Abraham’s calling is an impressive example of this attitude. Although God’s command to leave his homeland and relatives and go to an unfamiliar land was undoubtedly unusual and frightening, he submitted to God’s will and followed Him. This illustrates that God’s plan often extends beyond our imagination and comfort, but our trust in God and our willingness to heed His call can lead us in remarkable ways.

Similarly, Abraham’s obedience is evident in his choice of land, his handling of conflicts, and his love for people. His willingness to subordinate himself and his interests to God’s higher will resulted in divine blessings and showed that he prioritized God’s agenda above all else.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah reveals Abraham’s compassion and his earnest effort to fulfill God’s will even in a hopeless scenario. His intercession and desire for salvation are evidence of his deep devotion to God and his love for people.

In today’s time, we can learn from Abraham to submit to God in every situation. Regardless of the challenges or obstacles we face, by subordinating our own will to God’s divine will, we can effect change and advance God’s work on Earth. This encourages us to pray for the spread of the Gospel and actively support those in our surroundings who need assistance and prayer.

The challenge of reaching out to people in similar difficult situations demonstrates how our submission to God’s will can become concrete. It encourages us to show compassion and love, pray for others, and seek opportunities to bring God’s love into the world. For by submitting to God’s will, we can become instruments of His grace and love for others.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-4-sharing-gods-mission-4-5-submission-to-gods-will/

The report on Abraham’s mission in Genesis 19:1-29 clearly demonstrates how Abraham’s spirit of hospitality, love, and prayer had positive effects. In this passage, we learn that Lot, Abraham’s nephew, lived in Sodom and held an important position there, likely in public service.

Abraham and Lot were both hospitable hosts who invited strangers to rest with them and prepared food for them. This shows that despite their flaws and weaknesses, both Abraham and Lot possessed good qualities. The fact that Lot lived in Sodom, a city known for its sins and wickedness, shows that he lived in a challenging environment.

However, the consequences of this story are grim. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah due to their sins and wickedness by sending sulfur and fire from heaven. Only four people left the city, and only three of them were saved. This reminds us that not everyone will be saved, even if we strive to spread God’s message.

Our mission as Christians is to invite as many people as possible to accept Jesus and His plan of salvation. We can pray and ask the Holy Spirit for support, but ultimately, the decision for salvation rests with each individual who has free will. Our goal is to spread the message of love and salvation, and we hope that many people will accept it. However, we must also accept that not everyone will accept this invitation, as free will must be respected.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-4-sharing-gods-mission-4-4-abrahams-mission/

The verses Genesis 18:23-32 and James 5:16 teach us a lot about the power of intercessory prayer:

1. We have the privilege of being intercessors before God: Abraham serves as an example of our potential to intercede before God on behalf of other people. This role of prayer allows us to actively participate in the spiritual transformation and salvation of others.

2. The effectiveness of intercessory prayer: These verses illustrate the effectiveness of intercessory prayer. Abraham’s fervent prayer influenced God’s decisions regarding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. James 5:16 also confirms the power of intercessory prayer, stating that the prayer of a righteous person has great power.

3. The importance of love and compassion: Abraham’s prayer for the people in Sodom and Gomorrah was based on his love and compassion for them. His willingness to intercede for people in sin shows that our prayers should be characterized by deep love and a desire for salvation.

4. Humility and persistence: Abraham demonstrated humility and persistence in his prayer. He dared to engage in dialogue with God and continued to plead for mercy on behalf of the people. This reminds us that our prayers should not be just a formal exercise but a sincere and enduring expression of our hearts.

Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25 make it clear that Jesus acts as our High Priest and intercessor before God. He advocates for us by representing our sins and justifying us before God. This truth helps us understand that our own prayer and intercession for others are an extension of Jesus’ intercession. We should be aware that our role as intercessors inspired by Christ should be characterized by love, compassion, humility, and persistence, just as Abraham’s was.

Overall, these verses demonstrate the power and significance of intercessory prayer in our lives and remind us that it is an effective tool for seeking God’s grace and mercy on behalf of others.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-4-sharing-gods-mission-4-3-abrahams-spirit-of-prayer/

In this Bible passage, Abraham demonstrates an impressive quality: his love for all people, regardless of their tribe, race, or nation. This is an important lesson in charity and compassion that is inspiring to us all.

In the story where God reveals to Abraham that He will destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their grievous sins, Abraham shows extraordinary compassion. Even though he knew the wickedness of the inhabitants of these cities, he humbly and reverently interceded with God on their behalf. He prayed for the salvation of the people without distinguishing between the righteous and the wicked.

Abraham’s love and intercession for these sinful cities illustrate that he saw hope for repentance and redemption in every person. He trusted in God’s love and the potential for even the most severe sinners to repent and turn to God as long as they live. Abraham’s attitude is an exceptional example of universal love and compassion, reminding us that it is never too late to hope for God’s goodness and mercy.

The story of Abraham and his love for all people, regardless of their sins, encourages us to seek charity and compassion in our own hearts. It teaches us that love for our fellow human beings, even those who are strangers to us or who have seemingly committed unforgivable mistakes, should be a central value that we cultivate in our lives.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-4-sharing-gods-mission-4-2-abrahams-love-for-everyone/