Believers' Trials

Genesis 12 (2) Believers’ Trials

- Read Genesis 12:1-20

Last week we saw that God made some great promises to Abram, to Abraham.

God called Abram out of a land of pagans, and even though Abram himself was as lost as a ball in high weeds at the time, and not because of any good thing Abram had done, God called Abram and told him, “Go to the place I will show you and I will bless and protect you.

Eventually, Abram did what God told him to do and went where God told him to go.

In verse 8, Abram built an altar and called on the name of the Lord.

Abram may have been slow in what he was doing, and he may have been slow doing what God called him to do, but eventually he got there and got his mind straight. He built an altar and called on the name of the Lord.

If ever there was a time for God to bless Abraham, it’s now. If ever there was a time for God to send down His spiritual and physical blessings on Abraham, it’s now.

Abraham is where he’s supposed to be, doing what he’s supposed to be doing. “Lord, I’m 75 yers old. I’ve been doing my own thing and living my life the way I’ve wanted to, but as of now I put my life in Your hands. I’ll follow You and trust You and worship You. Lord, now give me the things I’ve missed out on all my life by doing my own thing. Let me see the peace that passes understanding. Let me see your joy. Let me see Your blessing on my life. Let me see the things I’ve heard about all my life but have missed out on because of my disobedience or because of my slow and partial obedience.”

Verse 10, “There was a famine in the land.” There was a famine in the land.

Wait a minute, that’s not how this thing is supposed to work. This is not what I was told. This is not what I expected. I’ve finally got my stuff together. I’ve finally got God on the throne. Now is the time for me to see blessings, but, there was a famine in the land.

I. OBEDIENT PEOPLE WILL SEE TRIALS

My friends, I want you to understand that obedient people will have trials. Tell someone, in this world you will have trials.

In this world there will be trials.

Oh my friend, the Lord has promised us that one day His children will be in a place where there is no pain, and where there is no suffering, and where there will be no death, and no sorrow, and no grief. One day we will be in a place where there is no loneliness, a place where we never again have to say goodbye.

Save your places and turn with me please to Revelation 21. Revelation chapter 21 and verse 4.

- Read Revelation 21:4-8

Some day there will be a separation between the sheep and the goats. One day we will be in a place where the Lord Himself will wipe away every tear, but, we’re not there yet.

We have a promise. We have a hope. We have a goal. We have something great waiting us in the future, but we’re not there yet. Between here and there obedient people will see trials.

Yesterday, Linda’s Mom came over with Kyle, and brought some bookcases to our house. Drew and I were working on our roof when she got there, so we got down and went over to unload the bookcases. When we did, Linda’s mom asked if this was my son. I said, “Yes Ma’am. This is my son Drew, but my favorite child is in heaven.” She said, “What? What happened?” I said, “Gladys had a tubal pregnancy, so we lost our first child. This is what the Lord left us with.”

Now, I was kidding yesterday, but it wasn’t funny at the time. It wasn’t funny 26 years ago, when we lost that first child. It wasn’t funny during the next several years when we wondered if we would be able to have any children.There were a lot of tears back then. There were a lot of questions and a lot of soul-searching back then. Obedient people will see trials. Obedient people will lose family members. Obedient people will have wayward children, and birth defects. Obedient people will have automobile accidents. Obedient people will get hurt in burning towers helping other folks. Obedient people will have financial setbacks. Obedient people will have friends turn on them. Obedient people will get sick. Obedient people will get hurt. Obedient people will see trials.

Let me ask you, “Where were the disciples when the storm came against them and they saw Jesus walk on water?” They were in a boat, in the Sea of Galilee, right where Jesus told them to be and doing what He told them to do, and heading where He told them to go. And a storm came.