Faith to Get Going

I love movies. My father and I have a tradition that we see all the latest movies. Its always been that way for as long as I can remember. Its something he passed on to me and now my children are avid movie goes. Right now for for a movie goer its the best time in cinema history, with all of the new superhero movies and all of the Star Wars moves and even some of the remakes of older movies make it fun with the new technology they have. I love it. But, my favorite movie of all time is The Matrix. The Matrix is full of biblical allegories. The main character Neo is a type of messiah figure but before he can defeat the machine oppressors he has to come to grips who he really is, The One. The first big step that he must take in becoming who he is destined to be he must make a choice. The choice is simple but it has eternal consequences. He is presented with a Red pill and a Blue Pill, “You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more.” The choice he is presented with is this, He must choose between what is familiar or he must chose to leave his former life. He chooses the Red pill and so begins his journey to become all he is meant to be. Well you might be wondering what has this to do with me or this sermon, well I’m glad you asked. And its real simple someone in this place has been missing out on a fulfilling life in Jesus because you’re stuck in a blue pill mentality, that is you aren't willing have faith to get going. (Run)

Let it Go app.

Forsaking what’s Familiar (v.1)

Country, Community, Comfort

The call to follow God is one that requires us to relinquish all that would impede our progress. God, in calling us does ask us to forsake what is familiar because he is set on our discomfort, be because in relying on him do we find the strength to do what he asks. In other words you will never accomplish great things for God as long as you are stuck in the same depravity where he called you from.

Country (familiar Place), Kindred (familiar People), Community (familiar Protection)

Burning fire. Girl doesn't jump until she hears a familiar voice.

He doesn’t know where he is going

God does not give Abram the directions to where he is about to go. He just tells him to “Go from here...” There will be times in your life when God does not give you all the answers you ask for or all of the information you want but his directives will be sufficient. If God says “Go” then where ever you go is going to be already considered and covered by the grace of God. And it is not our business to know everything all the time anyway, there is a motif we find in the bible of walking by faith and not by sight. You must learn to put one foot in front of the other. And guess what, sometimes any place is better than your current place.

Story of Isabella Bumfree (Sojourner Truth) “perfect trust in God”

Here is the promise and the first promise at that, “to the land that I will show you.” God promises Abram the land, everything else that happens between there is irrelevant. I don’t need to know how I’m going to get there all I know that there is were God is taking me.

Blessed to Bless

Being blessed to be a Blessing (v. 2-3)

This is what we know. Abram was never blessed for the sake of being wealthy, he was not blessed for the sake of having a large amount of real estate called Caanan, he was not blessed with the activation of this old loins without the medical miracle of Viagra just so that he could know his wife. All of the blessings of Abraham were so that he could be a blessing to the world. We know this because God tells him immediately. So it should move us to be a blessing to someone else.

Blood bank food bank illustration. They collect a lot to give a lot.

Great Nation

Great Name

(Exegete v.3)

Complying with the Command (v. 4)

Non of this amounts to much of anything if you don’t comply with the command to “go.” There is a great hesitancy to venture off into the unknown. But, their shouldn’t be, especially when God has promised you so much if you obey.

The problem with us is that we desire the blessings without the obedience . Abram was not such a person. He realized at some point between Ur and Haran that he had to eventually make a move because as long as he remained there he also remained unfaithful, as long as he stayed home he stayed out of God’s plan, as long as he did his own thing he wasn’t doing God’s will, as long as he was complacent he wasn’t complying, and as long as he didn’t go he didn’t get the promise.

There is a cause and effect at play then. When you plant you get harvest, when you sow you reap, when you invest you get a return, when you work you get compensated, so it follows that if you are willing to be obedient to God you will be the more blessed for it! James puts it better than I ever could when he said, in 2:17 “faith without works is dead...”

Follow me…(Run)

I have decided to follow Jesus; (x 3) No turning back, no turning back.

James puts it better than I ever could when he said, “faith without works is dead...”

The world behind me, the cross before me; (x 3) No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow; (x 3) No turning back, no turning back

My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; (x 3) No turning back, no turning back.

Will you decide now to follow Jesus? (x 3) No turning back, no turning back.

Abram Complies with the Command