Untitled Sermon (2)

The Call Hearing God’s call: ScripturePrayerCircumstanceGodly CounselConscience The call of God is one to: Complete ObedienceComplete trust There could be no half way for Abraham and there can be no half way for you or me either! Partial obedience is no obedience at all. Abraham either loaded the camels and went or he stayed home.(Complete Obedience ) -- Abraham was called to leave all: Economic security – His business contacts would be lost…his good name would mean nothing to those who did not know him and had not heard of him.Personal Security – Having friends close by meant protection from marauders and thieves. Striking out on one’s own meant great risk to property and life. There was no police department to call upon.Cultural and social identity – He was moving into a new place where nothing would ever be the same. He was 72 years old! He knew the food, music, traditions, places and people of Ur and Haran. To leave would mean the abandonment of all that was familiar. His world would be literally turned upside down! Abraham was to trust God. Trust – Reliance upon the character or ability of someone or something. Abraham was ultimately being called to believe He was served a good God and a big God! A God who wanted to care for Abraham and could take care of Abraham…come what may.Illustration: Peter got his feet wetAnd so Abraham got his feet wet…He placed His trust in God and obeyed Him.

Obedience Results in Big Living Legacy – Great nation. Abraham would not live to see this come to fulfillment but he had the promise of GodThe blessing is often times a future blessing. Obedience to God means we can affect future generations…even those born long after we are gone.You may not live to see the results of your obedience to God. Your kids, grandkids and great grandkids can and will receive the benefits of your obedience or disobedience to the Lord.Illustration: Dr. James Dobson recounts the story of his great-grandfather, who spent an hour every day in prayer for the spiritual welfare of his family, including the generations to come; and how God answered his prayers: "Toward the end of his life, my great-grandfather made a startling announcement. He said God had promised him that every member of four generations--both those living and those not yet born--would be believers. Well, I represent the fourth generation down from his own, and it has worked out more interestingly than even he might have assumed..."God is in the business of giving a legacy to those who will obey, trust and follow His call on their life. You may not see the results on this side of Heaven but you will in the great cloud of witnesses on the other side of Heaven. A fool lives for only what he can see in the here and now!Blessing – Caused to prosper by GodThis type of prosperity is the type found in , in the life of Joseph and King David. When you get on board with what God is doing in the world around you He will prosper what you are doing…because you are joining Him in what he is doing…and He succeeds.God told Abraham…Go where I send you, be a part of what I am doing over here and I will prosper everything you touch. I will prosper those who are your friends and I will come against those who want to be your enemy. I will make you successful because you are about my business…about my work…and my work will be done.Here is the difference between Biblical prosperity and the “name it claim it crown” we see on so many religious television programs. Biblical prosperity is not about me speaking something and obligating God to give me what I want…Biblical prosperity is about me hearing the call of God, joining Him in what He is doing and being a part of His success when He accomplishes HIS will.Our blessing and prosperity is ultimately for the benefit of others. God didn’t save you just so you could enjoy the hope of tomorrow. He saved you so you could be the instrument of salvation for those who have yet to receive Christ…So you could be the hands and feet of His Holy Spirit on this earth…So we might serve others.Abraham would be the grandfather of the Christ! All people would be blessed, prospered spiritually, through the salvation found in the line of Abraham.