Sermon Tone Analysis

LEAVING THE WORLD BEHIND

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, , .)

, .)

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

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)

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.

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.

; .

.

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, .