God’s Call to Get Up and Go
In the Beginning • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Genesis 12:1–9
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.
5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan,
6 Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites.
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
8 After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord.
9 Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.
INTRODUCTION:
I. ACCEPT THE PROMISES OF GOD (Genesis 12:1-3)
I. ACCEPT THE PROMISES OF GOD (Genesis 12:1-3)
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.”
A- God’s call involves making some radical changes. (Genesis 12:1)
A- God’s call involves making some radical changes. (Genesis 12:1)
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.
1- God’s call to Abram was to part with all that provided security. (Genesis 12:1 a)
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.
a. The country he was familiar with.
b. The relatives and family that were his support system.
2- God’s call to Abram was to leave for an undisclosed destination. (Genesis 12:1 b)
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.
1- God revealed his will in stages.
a. Follow me to a place I will show you.
b. Follow me , and I will give your descendants everywhere you go. (Genesis 13:14-18)
14 After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west.
15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession.
16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!
17 Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”
18 So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the Lord.
3- God’s call to us is an open-ended call.
a. It is a call to walk in faith for all of our lives. (Colossians 2:6-7)
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.
7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
b. He shows us where to go - one step at a time. (Psalm 37:23-24)
23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
B- God’s call includes accepting His promises. (Genesis 12:2-3)
B- God’s call includes accepting His promises. (Genesis 12:2-3)
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.”
1- His promise of salvation. (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.
2- God’s promise of provision. (Philippians 4:19)
19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
3- God’s promises were good, even when Abram’s faith wavered.
a. When Abram was in Egypt and lied about Sarai.(Genesis 12:10-20)
10 At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner.
11 As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman.
12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’
13 So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”
14 And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty.
15 When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace.
16 Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
17 But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. “What have you done to me?” he demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?
19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!”
20 Pharaoh ordered some of his men to escort them, and he sent Abram out of the country, along with his wife and all his possessions.
b. When God’s promise of an heir was taking “too long.” (Genesis 15:1-6) (Genesis 16:1-2)
1 Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”
2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.
3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
4 Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.”
5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.
2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.
II. BEGIN TAKING THE PIONEERING STEPS OF FAITH. (Genesis 12:4-5)
II. BEGIN TAKING THE PIONEERING STEPS OF FAITH. (Genesis 12:4-5)
4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan,
A- Taking steps of faith begins with taking the first one. (Genesis 12:4)
A- Taking steps of faith begins with taking the first one. (Genesis 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.
1- Abram had to take the first step or the promises could never be realized.
a. The journey Abram was to take was long and difficult.
2- Age was not a factor!
B- Taking the walk of faith involves bringing others along who are willing. (Genesis 12:5)
B- Taking the walk of faith involves bringing others along who are willing. (Genesis 12:5)
5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan,
1- Abram brought his wife, his servants and Lot with him.
2- God’s design is that we will bring others into this life of faith.
(Matthew 4:19)
19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
(Acts 1:8)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
III. ENGAGE PERSEVERANCE IN OUR PILGRIMAGE. (Genesis 12:6-9)
III. ENGAGE PERSEVERANCE IN OUR PILGRIMAGE. (Genesis 12:6-9)
6 Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites.
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
8 After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord.
9 Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.
A- It is a life-long journey.
A- It is a life-long journey.
1- Abram journeyed for the remainder of his life.
a- He was a pilgrim for 100 years.
He nwas 75 when he started. (Genesis 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.
He was 175 when he died. (Genesis 25:7)
7 Abraham lived for 175 years,
2- There is no retirement plan for believers.
B- Perseverance is key in spite of the trials life sends our way. (Genesis 12:7-9)
B- Perseverance is key in spite of the trials life sends our way. (Genesis 12:7-9)
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
8 After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord.
9 Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.
1- We keep our focus on worshipping and serving God in all circumstances.
a. Abram worshipped God and served him in many trials.
After the journey began (Genesis 12:7)
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
At the next stage (Genesis 12:8)
8 After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord.
After the affirmation of the covenant (Genesis 13:18)
18 So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the Lord.
2- We continue walking by faith, one step at a time. (Genesis 12:9)
9 Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.
a. Abram continued to walk with God through good times and difficult times.
like having to rescue lot. (Genesis 14:1-24)
Note (Genesis 14:18-20)
18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine.
19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.
Like hearing of God’s judgment on Sodom and the cities of the plain. (Genesis 19)
b. The key to it all is walking by faith and trusting God. (Hebrews 11:1,6)
1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
CONCLUSION:
