Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

since the pandemic, it seems that people have speeded up in making moves: engaged, married, retiring, starting businesses, changing careers, writing books, moving, joining the military, moving out, moving in

and all the move making is great, if that is what the Lord is telling you to do

If you are making moves, I have a word for you

Even if you are not making moves, I have a word for you because sometimes life will move you

God called Abraham to leave his home and relatives

God gave Abraham purpose and made him promises

Abraham responded with faith: living for purpose, and believing in the promises of God

Abraham is constantly on the move, and when he stops, he has learned to pitch tents and build altars.

A pattern that continues throughout his life, and provides instruction for us.

pitch tents

Abraham is a nomad, and nomads use tents

tents are for a temporary residence

living quarters for a limited time

for when you understand that things are not permanent

in other words: you don’t plan on staying long, because you recognize that where you are is not your home, nor final destination

if it was, you would build house, home, community, walled city, and settle down

When you serve the Lord, follow God, living for his purposes - you must recognize that this world is not your home, nor final destination, you are just passing through,

therefore, wherever you go, you should have the mind set that I am just pitching tents

in other words, don’t settle down with the world

don’t get too comfortable with the things of this world

don’t put down strong roots in this world

don’t put your hope in this world

don’t lose yourself in this world . . .

just pitch a tent

When I went off to school, the people who did best, came with an attitude that I came there to get out . . .

college was a temporary residence . . .

.pitched tents

they enjoyed their time, but they came in to leave

they came in to graduate, and get out . . .

.they had careers to start

Those like me, who did not fare so well, came with an attitude that “I am here to enjoy this thing called college life

got so caught up in being at college that I did not do well in college

Are you getting so caught up in living life, that you are not doing good in life?

In other words, are you living like you are here to stay?

let me give you some godly wisdom

put effort into trying to have a good career, but don’t get caught up

seek multiple streams of income, but don’t get caught up

increase your education, but don’t get caught up

be as healthy as possible, but don’t get caught up

enjoy your family, but don’t get caught up

just pitch a tent, because all these things are temporary . . .

yet we are tempted to try to build a walled fortress around the good things in life

If I could just go back 15/20 years!

first of all, I was younger . . .

mom and dad, alive and healthy, family members were all at the same church, no one lived too far away

all the kids at the age where you could say, go and play, and not have to really watch them, and they had child level problems, instead of adult level problems they have today

go to work with my sister every day

on sundays, after church, my immediate family, my sisters immediate family, we would go to mom and dad’s house after church . . .

mom and dad would pay for most of the food . . . .

eat, talk, play games, and laugh

If I could just stay right there, build a brick home right there, put down roots right there

but God did not put me on this earth just to eat, talk, laugh, and play games with my family . . .

that was just a blessing he allowed me to enjoy

my purpose is to not enjoy my family, but be there for my family

my purpose is to lead God’s people

preach the gospel, teach his word, lead lost souls to Christ Jesus, comfort/encourage his people

make music that will lift up the name of the most high

let my light so shine before men . .

so wherever I am, even if it’s a glorious time . . .

I must pitch a tent

my dad used to say, “things in life will be taken from you, or you will be taken from them”

so our children continued to grow and go, people moved to locations further out, new obligations made scheduling get togethers difficult, people began to grow apart, my sister and I no longer worked at the same job, health issues began to crop up, and even death arrived at the door . . .

so I had to pack up my tent and move from that spot

things have drastically changed, and today I live in a totally new situational tent with some expected changes, and some unexpected changes . . .

but my purpose has not changed, cause God’s purpose for our lives travels well

I am still called to be there for my family

lead God’s people

preach the gospel, teach his word, lead lost souls to Christ Jesus, comfort/encourage his people

make music that will lift up the name of the most high

let my light so shine before men . .

so even in good times, learn from Abraham, and just pitch a tent

pitching a tent also helps you in the rough times

when you have that, “I’m just living in a pitched tent” mentality, you realize that in bad times, you are not stuck in a walled city, you are in a temporary tent

you might have to endure for a while, but you won’t be there always

There have been great times at WMBC, and some rough times at WMBC

having to have church in YMCA - just temporary

having church in a little run down house - just temporary

when we got kicked out of church building across the street and had church at my parents’ home

pandemic causing us to not meet in person for over a year

those were rough times, but God helped us each time, we were not stuck there, nor felt we were stuck there

and in all those times, our purpose remained the same, “showing the love and power of God”

I told you that purpose travels well

that problem that you are facing, is real, but you’re not stuck with it, it’s temporary, you will be moving on

you don’t have to build a house in despair and misery

just pitch a tent, and focus on your purpose

Building altars

as Abraham moves, not only does he pitch tents, he also builds altars

“and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord”

altars are about recognizing /respecting God

connecting with God, thanking God, praising God, calling upon God for help

everywhere you go in life, recognize/respect the Lord

in places you like, in places you don’t like

circumstances you like, circumstances you don’t like

build an altar

even when it seems that you don’t need him cause things are going good

even when you’re mad at God because of what he allowed in your life

build an altar

always recognize/respect God, connect with God, thank God, worship God

call on the name of the Lord