Hear The Call Series

HEAR THE CALL

Genesis 12:1-8

Introduction

In Recovery Month we are engaging the Scriptures through the eyes of recovery so that… We can acknowledge all of us are in recovery from something. Jonathan Benz “…The case can be made on both statistical and existential grounds that the addicts in our midst include our very own selves.” We can acknowledge that we struggle with habits that are not helping us / others in discipleship. We can learn from our brothers and sisters in recovery and

extend acceptance, love, and joy to them.

Last week we spent some time with Noah and we were encouraged to build a boat in our recovery: Believe, Obey, Abide, Trust God. When we have that relationship with God, we are empowered to grow stronger in the broken places of our lives.

Today we venture further into Genesis to the story that lives throughout the pages of Scripture - the Father of the Faithful - Abraham. Bible heroes are heroic, but they are not perfect. In his stubborn struggles, Abraham manages to hang on to faith. This is because his journey with God began with a call. This week: Hear the Call!

Text:

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation,? and I will bless you;?I will make your name great,?    and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you,? and whoever curses you I will curse;?and all peoples on earth?    will be blessed through you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him … From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.

Let’s think about three ways to hear God’s call.

1. Hear the Call to Leave (Genesis 12:1)

Genesis 12:1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

Abraham was asked to leave his country. Abraham’s father lived much of his life in Ur of the Chaldeans, but later moved his family to Haran and settled there. God called Abram to step out of an idol worshiping environment to new place - a place unknown to Abram. There are a lot of things we do not know here - why Abraham? How did he know it was God speaking to Him? Did he take some time to decide about the call? We do know that Abraham heard the call to leave.

God asks of us to leave our way of life behind. Arterburn: “God has promised to be with us as we seek his help in recovery, but he may also ask something of us. As with Abram, God may call us away from the familiar world that drags us down. And if we want to progress, we will need to follow his plan.”

What are we leaving behind? INFLUENCES keep us where we do not want to be; bring hurt and damage, impact our own soul. One reason we get stuck in our hurts, habits, and hangups is that we do not want to leave behind the environments that contribute to our ongoing issues. Leaving is scary.

Oswald Chambers wrote, “Faith never knows where it is being led; it only knows and loves the One who is leading.

We may not know where we are going, but we know who is making us go.”

2. Hear the Call of His Promises (Genesis 12:2-4)

Genesis 12:2-4 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

These are amazing promises from God that are repeated over and over throughout Abraham’s life.

John Wesley noted the hope that Gods promises provided.

-He lost his country, but God would give him another.

-He didn’t have children, but God promised a future.

-He lost his name, God promised a great name!

-He lost the security of his home but was promised blessing and protection from enemies.

-All peoples on earth would be blessed.

Wesley: “This was the promise that crowned all the rest, for it points at the Messiah, in whom all the promises are [yes] and amen."

These promises are fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ.

God’s Promises …

-Are not like the promises we make - which we often break.

-Are found throughout scripture.

-Are always kept, even if that is a mystery to us.

-Reveal His heart to love us and carry us through.

-Give you assurance for when you fail.

-Give you power to begin again in faith.