A Life of Kingdom Impact

Open: Many persons have made an impact on the world. Julius Caesar, Aristotle, Henry Ford, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos - all these have made or are still making an impact on the world. Adolf Hitler, Napoleon and Charles Darwin also made a difference - a very negative difference. The issue before us today is not just making an impact, but living a life of positive impact for the Kingdom of God!

Transition: Over the next several Sundays we are going to look at the life of a man who God used to make a powerful impact for the Kingdom. Abraham is a well-known biblical figure and there is much about his life that should encourage and help us in our own journey of faith. Today’s text will introduce us to the Patriarch and will help us see how we too can continue to positively impact the Kingdom

READ the Text: Genesis 11:27 - Genesis 12:4

A Life of Kingdom Impact begins with the call of God on your life (Gen 11:31a, Gen 15:7, Acts 7:2)

Explanation: Abraham is one of the most well-known persons in the Bible. Consider this: Genesis 1 - 11 cover a time period of approximately 2,000 years; Genesis 12 - 25 covers a time period of only approximately 100 years. The account of Abraham takes up over 25% of the Book of Genesis. He is the first of the Patriarchs, he is called the Friend of God, and he is respected as a father -figure by three world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Abraham’s life and legacy has had, and continues to have a tremendous impact on a global scale.

Abraham was not always a likely candidate to make such an impact. He does not even begin to grow into his legacy until he is 75 years old (Gen 12:4). As a matter of fact, Abraham was raised as an outright pagan who worshiped false gods and was heavy into idolatry! (Joshua 24:2). What happened in Abraham’s life that brought him out of idolatry into the Patriarch of righteousness? The answer is found in Stephen’s speech to the Council in the book of Acts: “The God of Glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia” (Acts 7:2)

Argument: The Call of God upon his life is the only thing that made the difference. God reached down and sovereignly chose to bring Abraham out of his paganism. God revealed Himself to Abraham. He was not smarter than his brother or his father; he did not reason out the person of the Creator God on his own - Abraham responded to the Spirit’s call on his life. God elected Abraham to further His plan and His promises. God promised to destroy Satan in the Garden (Gen. 3:15) and He chose to use Abraham as the fountain-head of the family of faith that would become the nation of Israel. And through Israel the Messiah would come!

Application: Have you responded to the call of God on your life? No one, including Abraham, just becomes a good person on his own. No one seeks God on his or her own initiative (Rom 3:10-11) because in ourselves we are blinded by the god of this world to the truth of the Gospel (2 Cor 4:4). The light of the Gospel pierces the darkness, and those who repent and trust Christ are enabled to begin living a life of Kingdom impact.

The early stages of Abraham’s journey of faith reveal that he was not ready to assume a position of prominence in the Kingdom. Abraham did see the glory of God and the LORD did bring Abraham out of his paganism. But Abraham’s faith was swayed by familiarity and family - and this leads to the second point:

Selfish choices (disobedience) will cause delays in making a positive impact for the Kingdom (Genesis 11:31b; Acts 7:4a)

Explanation: In Gen 12:1 and in Acts 7:3 Abraham is commanded by God to leave Ur and his family and to go to the land of Promise (Canaan). Abraham does leave Ur and he does begin the journey to Canaan by the way of the Fertile Crescent. He does NOT, however, leave his family behind (his father and his nephew and his other brother) and he stops short of Canaan and has a holdover in Haran.

Illustrate: Stopping at Buc-ees on my Florida trip. A great stop: plenty of pumps with cheap fuel, clean bathrooms, fresh coffee and all kinds of food! A great rest stop, but what would you think if I remained at the Buc-ees for several years?

Argument: Haran is about the half-way point to Canaan from Mesopotamia, and it was probably a good place to stop and maybe get some fresh camels. But Haran was NOT Abraham’s destination. We are not told why the party stopped in Haran, but we know that this is the place where Abraham’s father eventually died, and the place where his brother Nahor remained (Jacob and Isaac get their wives from Nahor’s famliy in Paddan-aram)

We also need to ask the question, “why did God tell Abraham to leave his family?” Obvious answer is that his father and brother were still caught up in idolatry. Abraham must have told his family about the True God, but they did not become believers. We can imagine Abraham relating the command to leave and fulfill God’s plan and the confusion that must have followed. Somewhere along the line they agreed to go together, but they reached their limit in Haran - they would go no further. Instead of leaving them, Abraham compromised his call and stayed with them! Abraham’s actions caused a delay over several years. (cf Luke 14:33)

Application: If you are IN Christ you have been given a purpose and a calling. Are you fully surrendered to God’s call on your life or are you in a “holdover in Haran?”

What about our congregation at Smyrna? Are we pursuing our Kingdom purposes or have we allowed the affections of the world and the comfort of stability to delay in the achievement of God’s plan?

A Life of Impact for the Kingdom is realized through obedience (Genesis 12:1-4)

Explanation: In Genesis 12 we see God reissuing the call to Abraham. After the death of his father, Abraham leaves Haran and heads out to Canaan. He is finally operating on faith and trusting God. As the writer of Hebrew states it, “and he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (Heb. 11:8)

As Abraham moved out in faith, God stepped in with His unilateral blessing and promise. God is the One who said, “I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless thee.”

NOTE: Before moving on, let’s stop and be thankful that God gives us second chances. Abraham’s holdover in Haran could have been fatal had God put him on a shelf.

Argument: God’s plan WILL be realized. He WILL accomplish His purposes (Isaiah 46:9-10; 55:11). It is possible for us, however, to miss out on being part of His plan. Countries where the Gospel was once welcomed and respected are now either under Islamic dominion or in the hands of the secularists. A lack of national disobedience and / or apathy will have consequences.

Make no mistake, God’s Kingdom will continue to advance. Jesus is the One who emphatically declared, “I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18) The Church of Jesus WILL keep going; there is no guaranteed promise that the Church in America will continue. If God’s people get complacent and apathetic, God may move His Church to a more receptive people.

Conclusion: We can look at Abraham and think that there is no way for us to be used at the level. You are right - Abraham was given an incredibly important role in the formation of the national Israel and of the family of faithful believers. You can, however, fulfill God’s purposes in your generation.

Do not look for glory or “big” assignments - just resolve to be obedient to what God has called you to, and let Him take care of the rest.