Journey of Faith - Part 5 Genesis 12:10-13:4

Abram turned to the world to meet his families needs instead of turning to God.

1. We would like to think our faith is alway on the upward scale (going higher and higher).

That is not always the case.

We’ve all had they moments when we stumble in our faith.

2. Weak faith will always get us into trouble.

Weak faith is the reason we suffer and face trouble in our world.

3. All human have these basic needs in our life.

Food & Water

Clothing & Housing

Life & Health

Love & Purpose

4. We we are faced with one or more of these needs being met we are faced with decisions.

How are we going to met those needs.

5. God gives us the ability to work toward meeting those needs.

We should work to met those needs.

We have two options at doing that.

6. Work in our own effort and depend on the world to provide.

Or work in our effect and depend on God to help us meet those needs.

7. God wants those who trust Him to allow Him to help met those needs.

Sometime our faith becomes weak and we ignore God.

8. Abram learned a lesson in this area and wants us to learn from the word of God.

Weak Faith Causes Us To Slip Away From God

When our faith is weak we see five common factors.

Facing great trial - Vs. 10

One of our failures when faced with having a need in our life is;

Relying on self instead of God at the onset.

We all have this failure.

We have been taught to be self dependent.

Our first response should be to seek God through prayer.

Many times our survival instincts kick in and we turn to self and the world to help.

Abram was called into a strange land and had many responsibilities.

When he realized their basic needs wasn’t being meet he went into survival mode.

God is calling us to strong faith not weak faith.

Genesis-II (Chapters 12–50) (King James Version) D. Abram Forsook the Promised Land: Weak Faith—Slipping Away from God, 12:10–13:4

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the LORD” (1 Co. 15:58).

Genesis-II (Chapters 12–50) (King James Version) D. Abram Forsook the Promised Land: Weak Faith—Slipping Away from God, 12:10–13:4

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)” (He. 10:23).

2. Turning to the world instead of God to meet our need - Vs. 10

1. Abram plans was to travel to Egypt for a short period of time (sojourn).

It doesn’t say anything about Abram seek God before this journey.

2. Egypt for the worldly system.

Ungodliness

Secularism

Humanism

Self-sufficiency

Worldly religion

3. Abram was called into the land of promise.

The old saying, “If God leads you to it He will lead you through it”.

4. We must remember the God of promise lives in you.

God will meet your needs according to His riches and glory.

Don’t let our needs distract us from the one who can meet our needs.

5. We have to reprogram our way of doing things.

Just like Abram he took actions into in own hands before seeking God.

We must train ourselves to seek God first (Matt. 6:33).

Move when God says move.

Accept the provisions of God.

Sometimes that our problem we expect God to met our needs a certain way.

When it comes in some other form we reject God’s provision.

3. Slipping into severe sin - Vs. 11-16

The bible is such a beautiful book.

Not only does it tell us the goodness of God.

It tells us when Godly people fall.

Why? To help us in our journey.

2. When we become weak in our faith it can have a snowball affect.

One sin and easily led to another sin.

The next sin is easier to commit than the first sin.

Then we grow callus to sin.

Vs. 11-13a - Abram thought evil and suggested evil.

Vs. 13b - Abram acted selfishly.

Vs. 14 - Abram condoned evil thoughts and sin toward his wife.

Some think here that Sarah dressed to attract the attention of men.

Did she want the attention, was it a plan to attract men for gain favor with them? We don’t know.

Vs. 15 - Abram allowed a terrible injustice to his wife.

Other men looked upon her with lust.

They didn’t dare to her for themselves.

They brought her to Pharoah and he desired to have her.

Vs. 16 - Abram could have corrected the wrong but was a coward.

4. Facing the judgment of God - Vs. 17-20

Sin is never without judgement.

2. Judgment upon the unbelieving (vs. 17).

We don’t know what this plague was.

We do know it instill fear into Pharaoh.

3. Judgment upon the believer (vs. 18-20).

Be sure your sins will find you out.

5. Returning to God (repentance) - 13:1-4

When we wonder from God and fail Him there is only one thing a believer can do.

Repent - O.T. - A return to God, turning back from the path you’re heading on.

Your first step is separated from Egypt

Repent

Go back to where God is.

God never moved, you did!