GOD'S CALL IS THE CALL TO A LIFE OF FAITH

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#1. ABRAHAM’S PAST: THE WRETCHED YEARS OF OBSCURITY. (11:27-30)

THE PLACE HE LIVED: UR OF THE CHALDEES

THE PROBLEMS OF HIS FAMILY: IDOLATRY

THE PAIN OF HIS FAMILY: (A TIME OF SPIRITUAL DARKNESS: ) (A TIME OF DEATH, 11:28) & (A TIME OF DESPAIR, 11:30)

Joshua 24:2 NIV
Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.

2. ABRAHAM’S PARTIAL OBEDIENCE: THE WASTED YEARS (11:31-32 & 12:1)

Genesis 11:31–32 NIV
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.
Genesis 12:1 NIV
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

THE CALL TO LEAVE: HIS REGION, HIS RELIGION, HIS RELATIVES (12:1). FOR ABRAHAM, IT WAS NOT EASY.

GOD CALLED HIM TO (1) FOLLOW; (2) TO FAITH; (3) TO A NEW FUTURE: LEAVE ALL—>TO WHERE? WHEN TO ARRIVE?—> LEAVE IT ALL IN THE HANDS OF GOD.

Q: WHY DID GOD PICK THIS ONE MAN? WHY NOT OTHERS? WHY ME? WHY NOT MY NEIGHBOURS? (GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY)

Matthew 16:24 NIV
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Luke 10:20 NIV
However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

ABRAHAM’S COMPROMISE IN DEVOTION ().

Genesis 11:31 NIV
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there.
HARRAN = N.E. OF THE PROMISED LAND! THIS IS NOT WHERE GOD WANTED THEM TO BE! HE HAD NOT GONE ALL THE WAY YET! ALWAYS REMEMBER: PARTIAL OBEDIENCE IS DISOBEDIENCE. UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE ALL THAT GOD CALLS YOU TO DO, YOU HAVEN’T DONE WHAT GOD HAS TOLD YOU TO DO!

Q: WHAT HAS GOD TOLD YOU TO DO THAT YOU HAVEN’T DONE YET? SOMETIMES, GOD’S CALLS ARE DIFFICULT, COSTLY, FRIGHTENING, AND EVEN RIDICULOUS (E.G.: KILLING OF ISAAC!) WILL YOU OBEY?

ABRAHAM DID NOT LEAVE HARRAN UNTIL TERAH DIED. WHY?

TERAH MEANS: “DELAY, A STATION OF REST, STOPPING PLACE, A REST AREA OR A ROADBLOCK.”

Q: WHAT IS YOUR “TERAH” TODAY? WHY ARE YOU NOT MOVING FORWARD? WHY ARE YOU NOT TOTALLY OBEYING GOD’S CALL? WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE DOUBTING? WHAT MUST HAPPEN TO YOUR “TERAH”? —DEATH!

THE COST OF DELAY IN ()
Genesis 11:32 NIV
Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.

Q: WHY SHOULD WE SETTLE FOR THE SECOND BEST WHILE WASTING OUR YEARS PILED UP IN OUR LIVES? EVERYDAY BRINGS US ONE DAY CLOSER TO THE GRAVE! MAKE UP YOUR MIND TO FOLLOW GOD’S WILL.

Q: HAVE YOU BEEN PUTTING SOMETHING OFF THAT GOD HAS TOLD YOU TO DO? DELAY IS DANGEROUS AND COSTLY! JESUS ALWAYS DID THE WILL OF GOD IMMEDIATELY.

FINALLY, ABRAHAM’S PRECIOUS OPPORTUNITIES HAVE ARRIVED: THE WONDER YEARS! ()

Genesis 12:1–3 NRSV
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1–3 NIV
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

ABRAHAM MOVED FROM THE WRETCHED YEARS---WASTED YEARS---WONDER YEARS!

WALKING BY FAITH = WALKING IN GOD’S PRESENCE (12:1)

WATCHING & ANTICIPATING GOD’S BLESSINGS TO COME: NOT KNOWING HOW GOD WILL DO IT. BUT GREW TO TRUST GOD COMPLETELY.

WONDERING HOW GOD’S PURPOSES WILL BE UNFOLDED.

Q: HAVE YOU REACHED THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN REST IN THE ARMS OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE AND KNOW THAT GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU? ()

AN OLD SAYING: “THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH ONE STEP.”

Q: HAVE YOU MADE THE FIRST STEP OF FAITH? HAVE YOU MADE THE STEP OF FAITH TO TOTAL SURRENDER? HAVE YOU MADE THE FIRST STEP TO RESPOND TO GOD’S CALL AND COMPLETELY TRUSTED HIM THAT HE WILL PROVIDE ALL YOUR NEEDS?

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