The Journey of Faith (Sermon 3)

The Perspective of Faith

Genesis 12:5–10 ESV

5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb. 10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.

Introduction:

As we’ve been studying the faith journey the last couple of weeks, we’ve looked at the need to listen for God’s call, and then, the need to act on that call. But we also need to be prepared when we find out that the faith journey God has called us to isn’t everything we expected it to be. I’m in no way suggesting that God doesn’t fulfill His promises, but rather, sometimes our impatience, unrealistic expectations, as well as other factors, lead us to a let down when we finally reach the place we believe God has called us to.

Imagine how Abram must have felt when he reached the land of Canaan. Earlier God said:

Genesis 12:1–2 ESV

1 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. 2 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.

Abram believed God and went, but when he reached Canaan, he discovered that not only were the Canaanites still living there, but there was a famine taking place. Here is the first thing I think the text teaches . . .

WE MUST FOCUS ON GOD’S PROMISES

While I’m sure Canaan wasn’t everything Abram expected, he didn’t give up on God’s promise to make a great nation from his offspring. He didn’t cross the border and then say, “Man, I give up. God hasn’t come through for me. I mean, God, what have you done for me lately?”

Abram is so trusting of God’s promise that it appears he is unbothered. Can you do what Abram did? Continue to believe God when the evidence seems unclear?

The key is to see what God says not what we see.

Do not get ahead of God

Do not doubt God

ILLUS: Barney Fife . . . He always wanted to be the hero

Application: Let God be the hero in your life

WE MUST WORSHIP GOD IN IT

Genesis 12:7–8 ESV

7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.

God show Canaan to Abram and Abram worshipped God

Doubting gets us nowhere

Abram worshipped because he saw what God was going to do. Abram did not have the Land or the offspring but he was there!

John 4:24 ESV

24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

KEEP PUSHING FORWARD