LEAVING THE WORLD BEHIND

Genesis 13:1–4 NKJV

1 Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

INTRODUCTION:

1. In , Abram is seen leaving Canaan (The Promised Land) during a time of famine to go to Egypt (a picture of the world).

We are told that to get to Egypt from Canaan, Abram had to go "down", 12:10.

I mentioned to you that anytime a believer leaves the place where God has placed them, they are on a downward path…and this is seen in the actions of Abram while in Egypt.

He lied about his wife Sarai, 12:12, 18… He encouraged her to commit the same sin, 12:12… He became self-centered, 12:14… He created the potential for others to fall into sin, 12:14-15… He left Egypt worse than he found it, 12:17… and He ruined his testimony in the eyes of the Egyptians, 12:19-20.

To say the least, Abram's trip to Egypt was a disaster!

2. However, I am glad to tell you that no failure has to be permanent in the walk of faith!

NOTE: Just b/c you fall doesn't mean that it's over…Just b/c you may have wandered down to Egypt doesn't mean that it's over for you.

3. Verse one of our text tells us that Abram "went up out of Egypt."

Even though he had taken a downward path to get into Egypt, he took an upward path to remove himself from that place.

NOTE: It’s possible for the wayward saint to return to the place of blessing, but there are certain requirements that must be met by the returning saint.

And this morning, we are going to talk about what it takes to leave the world behind.

4. Let me give you 3 truths about Leaving the World Behind.

1) Leaving the World Behind Involves Separation

1. Abram separated himself from Egypt.

He placed distance between himself and that place.

Abram separated himself from Egypt. He placed distance between himself and that place.

You will also notice in the text that He didn't allow anything he owned to be left at the disposal of that evil system.

He took his resources with him when he returned to the place of blessing.

NOTE: I know that biblical separation from the world isn’t popular in our day.

The world wants us to be tolerant & accepting…The world wants us to wink at sin…but separation is a requirement for those who want to walk in God's blessing and power.

Separation is a requirement for those who wish to walk in God's blessing and power, , .)

, .)

2 Corinthians 6:17 HCSB

17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you.

We can’t dabble in the world, indulging the flesh, and expect to enjoy the abundance of Canaan at the same time.

Hebrews 12:1 HCSB

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

NOTE: We can’t dabble in the world & indulge the flesh… and expect to enjoy the abundance of Canaan at the same time.

We can't have one foot in the world & one foot in Canaan at the same time.

In other words, we can't straddle the fence.

(Illus. Elijah)

1 Kings 18:21 NLT

21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.

We can't live for the Lord & the world at the same time.

We can't live for the Lord & the world at the same time.

Elijah was telling the people - you need to make up your mind who you will serve.

I want to tell everyone today in this church - You need to decide who you’re gonna serve.

If you’re gonna serve God - You have to say goodbye to the world… You have to be separate from the world… You have to leave the world behind.

He took his resources with him when he returned to the place of blessing.

(Note: Too many Christians want to talk about living for the Lord, but they spend more of their resources on worldly pleasures than they commit to the control of the Lord and His work.

But I want to remind you that God blesses in direct proportion to our giving, ; .)

You can't hold on to the things of the world.

I’m not saying that we isolate ourselves from the world…and cut ourselves off from unbelievers.

NOTE: To leave the world behind…you have to leave the world behind.

But I am saying that you can’t be in love with this world & with God at the same time.

1 John 2:15–17 HCSB

15 Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever.

You have to separate yourself from the world.

NOTE: If you’re going to leave the world behind…you’re going to have to love God more than you love the world.

You can't hold on to the things of the world.

And you will have to put some distance between you & the things of this world.

2) Leaving the World Behind Involves Returning

2 - Leaving the World Behind Involves Returning (v 3-4)

1. As Abraham left Egypt, he had clear direction on where he was headed, with a particular destination.

He wasn’t interested in merely exiting the geographic boundaries of Egypt… he was committed to returning to Canaan.

But notice the text gives us a specific place that he's headed… a place between Bethel and Ai.

And notice this phrase that tells us all “. . . where his tent had been at the beginning.”

2. You may be asking - The beginning of what?

And the answer is - The beginning of his walk with God in the promised land.

3. The spot between Bethel and Ai is the last place where we saw Abraham before he journeyed to Egypt.

This was the last spot where Abraham was in touch with God.

It was there that he honored God and made his commitment to God public.

It was in that specific spot that Abraham built an altar and called on the name of the Lord ().

NOTE: Abraham had gone down to Egypt & failed but now he's returning back to the place where he had proclaimed his commitment to the Lord and he does this same thing again ().

Lessons/Applications

A. Returning to God means You will have to Return to The Place Of God's Worship

Abraham left Egypt and made his way back to Bethel, "The House Of God", and the "place of the altar", v. 4.

When Abram was in Egypt, there were no altars, there was no praying, and there was no word from God.

While in Egypt, apparently God wasn't on his mind…Apparently, he didn't give God any attention.

But now that he has left Egypt…God has to become the focus of his life again.

God had to have his affection & devotion.

NOTE: The child of God will never be fulfilled until he or she returns to a place where God can be encountered.

Once you have experienced the presence of God…nothing else will compare with it.

Once God has ever touched you… no other feeling will ever match His touch.

Which is why I believe the most miserable people in the world aren’t necessarily lost people…but saved people who are out of fellowship with God.

B. Returning to God means You will have to Return to The Place Of God's Working

Abraham returned to the place where God had previously worked in his life.

NOTE: God will always be found in the place where we left Him.

Many of God's people need to return to their altars and to the place where they walked away from God.

He is waiting to meet you and bless you again!

If God seems distant, He's not the one who moved…you did.

C. Returning to God means You will have Return to The Place Of God's Will

Abram returned to the place where God sent him…Canaan represented the perfect will of God for Abram.

NOTE: The place where God can bless you the most is the place where God places you!

He'll give you a lot of rope, but in the end, if you want His blessings on your life… you must be in that place near Him.

3) Leaving the Word Behind Involves Renewal

A. He Renewed His Devotion To God

The text says Abram came back to the place of the altar.

There seems to be a renewal & recommitment of his desire to be in God's presence.

NOTE: There is something wrong when a believer possesses a lack of a desire to worship the Lord.

This is true both privately or publically.

God wants us be in a state of mind where His worship is a priority in our lives.

Worship is important to God.

; .

John 4:23–24 HCSB

23 But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Hebrews 10:25 NKJV

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

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NOTE: We have forgotten what the altar is for in the church!

(Note: We have forgotten what the altar is for in the church! It is a place of sacrifice; of seeking the Lord; of repentance; of surrender; of thanksgiving; of forgiveness, both given and received; of supplication; of praise and worship! May the Lord help us to remember the way there and how to use the altar for His glory!)

It is a place of sacrifice… of seeking the Lord… of repentance… of surrender… of thanksgiving… of forgiveness, both given and received… of supplication… of praise and worship!

May the Lord help us to remember the way there and how to use the altar for His glory!

B. He Renewed His Dependence On God

Abram "Called on the name of the LORD..."

Abram is now through with Egypt and he does what he should have done in the first place…he relies on the Lord.

NOTE: Instead of looking here and there for the help we need… God wants us to walk in total dependence on Him.

He desires our faith and will honor genuine faith by His provisions, .

C. He Renewed His Dedication To God

Whatever happened in the heart of Abram that caused him to walk away in the first place has been dealt with.

The phrases "at the beginning" and "at first" suggest that Abram has experienced a renewal of his "first love."

NOTE: What happened in this man's life is what needs to take place in the lives of many of God's people this morning!

So many have allowed the flames of love to become nothing more than a flicker or a spark.

We need a revival!

We need to fall in love with Jesus all over again!

The problem with many

Revelation 2:1–7 HCSB

1 “Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: “The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says: 2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. 3 You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name 4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in God’s paradise.

The church in Ephesus worked & persevered.

From the outside looking in…it was a great church - but Jesus knew them well & He said they had left their first love.

If Jesus walked in here today - What would He say about us?

CONCLUSION:

CONCLUSION:

1. I wonder today - How many would be honest enough to admit that they are more "down" than "up" in their walk with God?

NOTE: When we are in that down place spiritually, God can’t bless and use us like He desires to.

We need to take the same steps that Abram took and come back up again.

2. I don't know where you are spiritually this morning, but I know that if you need to come before the Lord to seek His forgiveness, to love Him, to thank Him, to pray for a lost loved one, or for any reason at all, He will gladly meet you here if you will come.

3. May we determine in our hearts that Egypt is no place for us to dwell and that we are going back to Canaan, whatever the cost!