Genesis 12:1-3 // Abraham's Call to Faith
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A New Agenda
A New Agenda
In the In this section of scripture, not only are we introduced to Abram, we are ushered into this major shift, not only in the Book of Genesis, but in the story of the entire Bible. You see, we know that the highest purpose of all people is to worship God. But don’t do that, in fact most never have. So, in this chapter we see that chose to “set apart” a people for himself. Now for a long time, people thought you could only have this special status if you were born into the Jewish race. But Jesus helped us understand, through his ministry on earth, and through the teachings of His disciples, that inclusion into this special family of God is done by faith. That is true now, and it was true from the beginning with Abraham.
You cannot overstate the importance of faith in a relationship with God. In Hebrews 11:6 we read that, “without faith it is impossible to please Him.” So, whether you are seeking to start a relationship with God, or you have found yourself in a season if life marked by great trials, or maybe both of those… what you need is faith…we all do.
So this story of Abraham is more than simply a lesson in how God brought about a nation of His people, its lesson in what it takes to have faith, from the life of man the Bible show so have had tremendous faith.
The Invitation
The Invitation
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.
The wording here is very important...
God asked him to leave:
his Country
his People
his Father’s House
Leave behind everything & follow me.
Lessons in Faith
1. Faith in God will always require you to offer Him every part of your life.
God was asking Abram to leave behind and truth him with
His identity (nation)
His security (his kindred)
His future (his father’s house)
How often do we put our faith in God, yet hold back back the parts that are “too important” to us to loose.
That is NOT what God is asking from us. He is asking for everything.
The Promise
The Promise
And 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 him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Lessons in Faith
2. Sometimes you may not think God’s promises for your life don’t line up with the reality of your life.
Take Abraham for example
God was promising to bless all people through him … yet ...
Abraham’s father was pagan
Joshua 24:2 -Abrams father served other Gods
Abraham did come from a family that was “close to God”
292 years (9th generation) since the flood
Average age to start family (since the flood) 32 years old
Abram is now 75 years old
Sarai (Abram wife) is barren. (they are childless)
God wasn’t even telling him WHERE he was calling him to.
God was promising to CHANGE THE AGENDA of Abraham’s life.
(kind of answer to the previous lesson..but I love it!!!)
Lessons in Faith
3. Your current situation in life does not dictate God’s agenda for your life.
The last lesson we learn from the rest of scripture.
Hebrews Chapter 11 “The Hall of Faith”
Abraham of course if names there.
There is an important thing that is said of those listed here.
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Abram was old in years…this promise was likely not one he would be able to personally enjoy. (He was likely just a vessel)
Lessons in Faith
4. Your faith in God will involve you but it will always be about Him.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
We are called to be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves.
While God will bless yo in this life.
it may not be in ways you exprect
and life certainly will not always seem like you being blessed.
You are being called to be a part of something God has been doing since the beginning of time
and (unless Christ returns) will last long after you are gone.
One day God asked Abraham to trust Him to change the agenda of his life. He did and God changed the world. The same God is asking you today to trust Him with the agenda of you life.
I don’t know what His agenda for you will be.
But I do know that if you truth Him, he will change your life forever.
He will use you for His purpose and His glory.