Moving Faith

Sometimes with no Explanation

Grace Bethel B.C.

Revival 2007

Test: Genesis 12:1-9

Read: 12:1-3

Points:

The Call

When God called

How God called

Why God called

The Covenant

God will show you

God will make you

God will bless you

The Commitment

Faith brings us out

Faith brings us in

Faith brings us on

Introduction:

Keep movin' movin' movin' - Though their disapprovin' - Keep them doggies moving Rawhide - Don't try to understand them -Just rope, throw and brand them - Soon we'll be living high and wide -My heart's calculating -My true love will be waiting - be waiting at the end of my ride
Move 'em on (Head 'em up)
Head 'em up (Move 'em on)
Move 'em on (Head 'em up)
Rawhide
Cut 'em out (Ride 'em in)
Ride 'em in (Cut 'em out)
Cut 'em out (Ride 'em in)
Rawhide
Yah!
Rollin' rollin' rollin' Rawhide
I know that I have just baffled about ½ of you, but that is the song that stuck in my mind as I read this account in our text tonight. When I was a kid, I loved westerns and Rawhide was a favorite, especially the theme song. It gives no destination to their journey, much like the lead character in our text. I don’t know is you’ve ever experienced a situation of just roaming without a destination. Just going from place to place with no particular place in mind. It’s a daunting feeling, to be existing and yet not have a place of belonging or a sense of belonging. I know probably none of you have experienced that, but I have. I remember trying to escape, trying to hide, trying to flee an abusing husband. I had little money, I had three children in tow, and I had only the clothes on our backs. I could not go to relatives for surely I’d be found; I dare not go to so-called friends who would either talk about me or reveal my whereabouts; I could not afford a room, so we just wandered in an old car and found out of the way places to park and sleep. The ironic thing was that my wandering was my choice. Oh, it was necessary and prudent; it was wise and timely, but it was my choice. Nobody told me to leave; nobody placed conditions on my leaving. But not so with Abraham. God had chosen this man, Abram and his wife Sarai, to give humanity a new start. Man, up to this point had done nothing except disobey and humiliate God. Man had disobeyed, murdered, deceived, become drunkards, exposed nudity, and rebelled. But God, in His grace, still allowed a new beginning. I don’t know about you tonight, but I’m so glad that God is the God of new beginnings and many chances. See, those things did not die out, no. Men today are still disobeying, rebelling, exposing nudity, drinking to excess and thumbing their noses at God. Men are still failing God and missing the mark. I’m glad that He gives more chances. More chances to Move by Faith, and sometimes that move is without explanation. Such was the case with Abraham. There are three things that I wish to expound about Abrahams’ move, and then I will take my seat. Abraham’s move encased A Call; A Covenant, and A Commitment.

A Call:

When God calls

Grace and faith
Abraham was in idolatry in Ur of the Chaldees

Nannar – the moon god

Abraham did not know the true God – call of grace

“You have not chose me, but I’ve chosen you” Jh. 15:16

Abraham was 75 and God still expected Faith
Why did God call him?

“Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” I Cor. 1:26-31 – consider your calling – not many wise, not mighty, not noble, foolish, weak, base (average), despised – no man can boast.

God will call you when you least expect it. God will call you to a work that you have never even given thought to. God will call you as a vessel to work through or a servant to work in. He will call you because He is gracious, but will you answer in faith?

If Abram would get out of Ur, God would do three things for him, so that he could then be a blessing in the land (the second imperative); and he had to be that blessing so that God would do three more things for him. This symmetry should not be missed, for it strengthens the meaning. Abram’s calling had a purpose: his obedience would bring great blessing.

Three promises were based on God’s call for Abram to leave his land: (a) a great nation, (b) a blessing for Abram, and (c) a great name (v. 2). These promises would enable him to “be a blessing” (the second imperative, v. 2). Based on this obedience were God’s three promises to: (a) bless those who blessed him, (b) curse anyone who would treat him lightly, and (c) bless the families of the earth through him (v. 3). To bless or curse Abram was to bless or curse Abram’s God. Unfortunately God often had to use other nations to discipline His people because, far from being a blessing to the world, they were usually disobedient. The third promise takes on its greatest fulfillment in the fact that Jesus Christ became the means of blessing to the world (Gal. 3:8, 16; cf. Rom. 9:5).

[1]

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v. verse

cf. confer, compare

[1]Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 1:47