The Wandering Worshiper

Open: Michigan - Ohio State game in Nov. 2024. MI won even though OSU was favored. After the game, MI players attempted to plant a flag of Big Blue in the middle of OSU’s field and a riot broke out.

Transition: Planting a flag in hostile territory is a bold move. In Michigan’s case it was a bad decision and resulted in tear gas followed up by fines levied against the University.

In the spiritual realm, however, believers are called of God to plant the Christian flag in enemy territory. In today’s message, we see one of the first examples of this as we continue to examine the life of the Patriarch Abraham.

READ the Text: Genesis 12:4-9

Believers with a Kingdom focus understand they are on a journey

Believers are designed to be moveable (vv. 4-6a)

Explanation: Abram was uniquely and specifically called by God to be placed in the role as father of a nation. Abram left his home in Ur at God’s call, and he eventually resumed his journey after a lengthy holdover in Haran (Gen 11:31b). Abram is now in the land of Canaan and God has him continue his journey: “and Abram passed through the land” (v. 6a) and “he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel” (v. 8)

Argument: While the unique and specific calling on Abram to become the founder of a nation is not to be repeated, we can see a pattern for mobility for believers. God’s goal for Abram was not simply to get into Canaan and stop; God had Abram constantly on the move.

Illustrate: Grand Canyon or Arlington National Cemetery. We didn’t just go to the front gate and say, “well, there it is.” We got out and explored.

Do Not Confuse the destination with the Journey

Application: Are YOU moveable?

Geographically: Some of us have roots planted so deep we will NEVER move. I am not talking just about physically relocating somewhere, but that should be open to consideration. “I’ll go anywhere God calls me to go as long as it’s south Georgia” - Phillip Burden

Relationally: Are you open to new friendships and opportunities. Community in Schools - all us volunteers were from somewhere else. The locals had all their relationship slots filled and were not open to any change

Financially: Are you so far in debt you can’t move if God calls? Ex.: young couple felt the call of God to missions but they were so far in debt they could not make arrangements.

Believers are called to penetrate enemy territory (v. 6b)

Explanation: Don’t miss the second part of verse 6, “and the Canaanite was then in the land.” Abraham was traveling through enemy territory the whole time he was on his journey. He and his entourage were the only true believers in the entire land! He was surrounded by idol-worshiping pagans who practiced all sorts of immorality and wickedness.

Illustrate: mission trip into the highlands of Nicaragua or being in a remote village in India with Todd Payne. These are not vacation spots that cater to tourists. Its just a few of you with a whole lot of them!

Argument: The vast majority of Americans are comfortable. We are comfortable in our socio-economic strata and we are comfortable in our church attendance. We have our comfortable traditions and we basically know what to expect - keep the surprises to a minimum. We have retreated into our comfort zones.

The Good News about this principle of penetrating enemy territory is that it no longer requires a physical move! Due to our apathy and lack of spiritual focus, our nation has degenerated into a highly secular demographic that is definitely post-Christian.

Application: Open your eyes and you will discover you are in the midst of enemy territory in spiritual terms. I have never been in the military or in combat, but I have been told that a person has a heightened sense of danger and is much more aware of his surroundings.

Believers are to worship the One True God on our journey of faith (vv. 7-9)

Explanation: Abram was not just wandering through enemy territory with the goal of getting through it so he could reach the “safe zone.” (There wasn’t one). Abram was making himself and his family visible to the enemy. He was building altars to the One True God as he journeyed through the midst of heathen idol worshipers. Abram was planting flags in the enemy’s territory!

Illustrate: covert operations are military projects with a single focus. They are designed to get a small, specialized group into hostile territory, achieve a specific objective, and get out - without being spotted.

Argument: Too many of us American Christians have placed ourselves on a permanent “covert status” concerning our belief system. We DO realize we are in enemy territory and we DO realize taking a stand for Jesus can land us in some difficult circumstances. So we keep the “Jesus stuff” in the church house and in our own house. We do not take our biblical beliefs into the marketplace or the work spaces. We are flying under the radar and hoping to not get noticed - definitely not going to plant a Christian flag where it might get noticed.

Application: Become more intentional in moving outside of your comfort zone. Have a purpose of meeting others: build relationships to establish a platform for sharing your faith.

Conclusion: Abram embraced the life of being on mission for God - “And Abram journeyed on” (Gen 12:9) because he had a spiritual goal. As the writer of the Hebrews states it, Abraham and his family “confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb 11:13). Does the term Pilgrim apply to you? Abraham was seeking the heavenly city and he realized that this world was not his home.

Which one are you living and investing in?