Looking for a Home

Home

What is home?

Many say that home is where the heart is.

In our lives currently home means different things. In November, we will have lived in five different homes in three different countries. Emily wants to go back to the green house. We had a lot of fun in our house in Costa Rica. We are blessed to stay in a missionary house that Catawba Baptist owns. In October we will live with the Beards for about three weeks and then in November we will move into our rental house in Mexico.

Things are going to be different for us in the next few years as we move to Mexico. We will not be able to see our family and friends as often as we would like to. Our children will become more familiar with the country of Mexico than South Carolina. They will gain new friends and new adopted family.

As many other Kid Missionaries who return from their country of service for furlough or vacation, they will be asked “is it good to be home”. This is a confusing question for TCK’s.

Since they have spent many years growing up in a different culture they may not even associate with South Carolina being their home. Don’t feel sad for them, they will have the opportunity to experience things that a normal child from South Carolina will never experience. Yes it is difficult to not be able to see Grandma and Grandpa, but they will be more comfortable in day in and day out routine’s of a different culture than South Carolina.

What is home to you?

Today is homecoming Sunday. Many members who have moved away or God has led them to another church set aside this Sunday to return to Westerly Hills for Homecoming.

Home is where the heart is, or you could say that home is where ever your family is.

This morning we are going to look at a family who were looking for a home, but never found it.

Hebrews 11:8-16

King James Version Chapter 11

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many sas the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Please be seated as we pray

Wanting a home

Hebrews 11:8-10

King James Version Chapter 11

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

By faith Abraham obeyed with blind faith. He had no idea what he would be getting into, but he went.

There were some pretty awesome promises that God had given to Abraham. Their family had moved 600 miles from Ur to Haran and now that Abraham’s dad had passed away, God is instructing him to move again about 500 miles to Canaan.

1-4

King James Version Chapter 12

12 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4 So Abram departed,

Abraham didn’t just go, but he also made the new land his home, but all the while looking for the promise that God gave to him.

Hebrews 11:9-10

King James Version Chapter 11

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

A city that had foundations and who God was the contractor.

A city that had foundations and who God was the contractor.

The promises that God gave to Abraham were passed down to his children. They knew the promises that God had given Abraham. Isaac especially had lived out one of the promises that Abraham was given.

Wanting a home

Willing to trust for a family

Hebrews 11:11-12

King James Version Chapter 11

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many sas the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

Abraham was promised to be the father of a great nation, but if he didn’t have any children this seemed an even bigger miracle that needed to take place.

Sarah was old and laughed to herself, but God heard her and called her out. She is listed here in the hall of faith because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Abraham is described as good as dead, but God was faithful to His promise. And not just a promise that he would have many descendents, but that through his family, Abraham would bless the entire world.

Genesis 22:18

King James Version Chapter 22

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

We know now looking back that this blessing was Jesus. We can follow the genealogy of Jesus all the way back to Abraham through Isaac.

All because Abraham obeyed the voice of God.

Wanting a home

Willing to trust for a family

Waiting for a Home

Hebrews 11:13-16

King James Version Chapter 11

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

They weren’t citizens of the country they were in, they were just living and working there. They died waiting on the promise, but they never gave up,

They were persuaded by the promise

They embraced the promise

They confessed that they were stranger and pilgrims on this earth.

They declared that they seek a country. If they weren’t seeking, they would have stayed back in Haran. However, they desire a better country, a heavenly.

God isn’t ashamed to be called their God and is preparing a heavenly city for them.

Today as we think about home, how tied to this earth and your house are you that if God told you to move you would do it.

Is your house your idol?

Is your family your idol?

Is your career your idol?

God has promises for us through His word, they require action. Every person listed here in is listed there due to their actions.

Are you persuaded by the promises of God?

Have you embraced His promises?

Have you confessed that you are just a stranger and a pilgrim on this earth?

When people look at your life can they tell that this world isn’t your home or can’t they?

Is God ashamed to be called your God?

“In church today we feel like we need to receive a special call from God to go. He has already commanded all of us to go. So, if anything, we must receive a call if we are going to stay.”

- Scott Phillips DAO tribe Indonisia