The Faithful Journey

Outline:

• Intro - Story of Zae looking for direction and finding it in a voice, the voice directed him to a person

• Read the txt

• Calling/ God’s Will – comes through the form of His voice. His voice guides us to Him

• God’s calling is first to Him and then to a place to go or a thing to do

• God’s character, He is faithful to fulfill His promise

• The faithfulness of God compels us to be faithful to God.

• Abraham’s obedience

• Action: What is the next faithful step God is asking you to take?

Intro:

Story of Zae at state fair. He’s running off, standing in the crowd and he begins to look around with the expression of confusion. He lacked clarity and direction on where he was suppose to go.

I believe that many of us in this room, at some point, have felt this. We’ve been standing in a moment wondering where we were to go or what we were to do.

Perhaps your a freshman and you’re feeling the weight of longing for clarity and direction in life on what your major should be. Or perhaps your a senior, and you are really feeling the weight of wondering what’s next, or perhaps you’re just human and are longing for clarity and direction on where to go and what to do. You’re at a crossroad wondering what direction to go.

Well, I believe that God’s Word will speak to all of us regarding this issue.

If you’ve been with us during the month of August, you know that we were in Eph 4, and Eph 4:1 it starts by saying, “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.” starts by saying,

Have you ever wondered what your calling in life is? What’s God’s will for my life?

If so, please turn to Genesis 12:1-4

The Text

Genesis 12:1–4 NLT

1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

“The LORD had said”

The vehicle through which God delivers to us His calling is His voice. If you want to know God’s will you have to first listen for His voice!

When God speaks He provides clarity and direction.

When God speaks He attunes our hearts toward Himself.

When we were at the state fair and Isaiah was confused and lost and didn’t know which way to go, I called out to him saying, “Zae Zae, Isaiah.”

And immediately upon hearing my voice he gained clarity and direction, because my voice oriented his body towards me.

If we are to follow God, to be orientated towards Him, and to go the direction He has for us, we must first be willing to listen to Him.

So we see that God “had said”, but what did He say? LEAVE!

Calling/God’s Will - “Leave your _____,

God calls us to step out side of what is familiar and comfortable

What might God be calling you to step away from? What comfort zone or familiar landscape do you need to leave behind? Perhaps you’re a freshman here and you just left you family to embark on this college journey! That’s awesome. Is there something else God might be calling you to leave behind? Maybe a location, maybe a habit, maybe people who constantly pull you away from Jesus.

GO TO the land that I will show you”

God’s calling for Abram and for us is first and foremost to himself moreso than the destination. God calls Abram, “to the land that I will show you”, it is less significant where God is guiding Abram to and more significant that God will be his guide, His companion!

God knows us too well. He knows we’re human and left to ourselves we will put our trust in ourselves and not Him.

Give example of GPS. Could you imagine if God just said, go to cannan, or go to ____ and gave him the exact address? Abram would have no need to continue the relationship, to allow God to be his guide.

God wants to be our siri, our GPS, our guide moment by moment turn by turn, He wants us to depend on Him and be in relationship with Him.

So what are we called to? Really the question must begin as who are we called to?

When Zae was lost and looking for clarity and direction, I simply called His name. The significance of calling to Him was not calling him to a place but to myself. I longed to be with him.

Our calling is first and foremost TO GOD!

I have found this to be true in moments where I didn’t understand how promise or His plan for me would come to fruition and yet I knew I was called to stay close to Him, I knew He hadn’t left me.

But in order to walk in His calling, to respond to His invitation we have to first be willing to LEAVE.

If you know He’s called you to Himself, what has He called you to leave?

What might God be calling you to step away from? What comfort zone or familiar landscape do you need to leave behind? Perhaps you’re a freshman here and you just left you family to embark on this college journey! That’s awesome. Is there something else God might be calling you to leave behind? Maybe a location, maybe a habit, maybe people who constantly pull you away from Jesus.

Our calling is found as we walk with God, so if you feel overwhelmed by the journey or the calling - let us be reminded by WHO He is.

If you’re discouraged and overwhelmed by your call realize this, 4x in 3 verses God says “I WILL”. Our calling and God’s promise will be fulfilled not because of who we are but because of WHO He is!

God’s Promise “I will _____” 4x in 3 verses

A professor of mine once said,

As we surrender to his plan, we are also assured that our calling is accomplished by divine power.

R. Scott Pace; David Wheeler

Numbers 23:19 “19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”

The weight of the promise is found in the person making the statement. God is perfect, true, unfailing, and faithful, if He declares it, it will happen.

Mention two friends we’ll call one Sam and one Joe. Sam almost always says he’ll be there and never shows up vs Joe who’s rarely let me down. He’s faithful. The person making the statement dictates the trustworthiness of the statement.

And as great a man that Joe is, he is not God.

God has been faithful since the foundation of the world and His word has never returned void.

One Example:

Isaiah 53:4-6 “4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”

Matthew 26-28. See the fulfilment 700years later

God will always fulfil His promise, but rarely does that coincide with our timeline and expectations.

Gen 12:4 Abram was 75 when he recieved the promise and 100 when it was fulfilled Gen 21:5.

So if we know God is trustworthy and He has a specific plan and purpose for us, even though we may not be able to see it fully, if we can see Him clearly - how should we respond?

Gen 12:4 “4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.”

Obedience “So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed”

So yes, we should be encouraged that God’s promises will be completed because of Him and by Him, but that does not then cultivate in us complacency. Rather the opposite. If we are confident He will empower us to walk in His calling, then we should walk boldly in obedience.

If we know He is Good, if we know He is faithful we should then respond by being faithful to Him.

It’s the faithfulness of God that compels us to walk in faithfulness to God.

What happens when we walk in faith and obedience? We experience God’s faithfulness!

Conclusion: What has God called us to? First and foremost Himself. If you know Him, then what? Obedience. In what? The land He will show you.

I believe that God is our guide and He is faithful to show us the next step. Are you listening, if so, I am confident you know the next thing He has asked you to do.

Maybe its LEAVING something, someone, some habit, some food choice behind. Maybe its GOING to God. Maybe you know your with God and He’s called you to GO somewhere. I’m confident that wherever He’s leading you will be UNCOMFORTABLE. What’s the thing He’s asking you to do, but your hesitant because it’s hard, it’s unknown, and uncomfortable?

Action: What is the next faithful step God is asking you to take?

Benediction: 1 Kings 8:56-58

1 Kings 8:56–58 NLT

56 “Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us. 58 May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors.

Go knowing that God will fulfill His promise to you, that He is with you and He has simply asked you to obey.

Other thoughts to not use:

Psalm 37:4 “4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”

What an amazing promise God has given us!

Describe the moments in life where I struggled to believe this is true (desire for a godly wife, cut from D1 team). Share how I missed the context of the verse.

Is there a promise in Scripture that you struggle to believe? Have you ever heard a verse and wondered, how can that be true?! I remember thinking this for years about John 3:16 “16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Still to this day, the statement is shocking! But I believe it’s the promises of God that allow us to endure the painful moments of life. When we choose to believe them and we chose to walk in faith.

When our faith is in God’s character and His promises it allows us to have a firm foundation to navigate life even when our circumstances don’t feel secure or solidified.

It’s worth noting that although Abram was obedient but he wasn’t perfect.

Here in Gen 12:4, we see him obey. But then in Gen 16 he tries to obtain the fulfillment of the promise in His own way and own strength, instead believing God when He said“I will”, Abram then said I will and took matters into his own hands.

Have you ever got tired of waiting on God to fulfill a need or promise? Remain patient, continue to trust, continue to obey.

Dale’s Version

September 3: "The Faithful Journey" Genesis 12:1-4

Genesis 12:1–4 NLT

1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

The Will of God Revealed through Abraham's Obedience

Introduction: In this sermon, we will explore the life of Abraham, a man who responded to God's call and embarked on a journey of faith. Through his obedience, Abraham discovered and fulfilled God's will for his life.

Key Points:

Responding to God's Call:

Þ God called Abraham to leave his country, his people, and his father's household.

Þ Abraham's willingness to obey and step out in faith demonstrates his trust in God's leading.

Following God's Promises:

Þ God promised to bless Abraham, make him a great nation, and bless all nations through him.

Þ Abraham believed God's promises, even though they seemed impossible at the time.

Walking in Obedience:

Þ Abraham's obedience involved leaving everything familiar and embarking on an uncertain journey.

Þ His obedience was not without challenges, but he continued to trust God and follow His will.

Experiencing God's Faithfulness:

Þ Throughout Abraham's life, God proved faithful and fulfilled His promises.

Þ Abraham's obedience not only impacted his own life but also played a crucial role in God's plan for salvation.

Conclusion: Abraham's life teaches us the importance of obedience and trust in discerning and doing God's will. By embracing a faithful journey like Abraham, we too can experience the fulfillment of God's promises and become instruments of blessing in the world.