Life Is A Journey. Series

Intro:

1. Vance Havner, "The hardest part of the journey is neither the start nor the finish but the middle mile. There is the enthusiasm of a new undertaking that buoys you at the beginning and there is the thrill of reaching the goal that carries you down the home stretch; but the middle mile, when you are a long way from the start and home is still distant—that tests the mettle of the traveler."

2. Most all of us are at the middle of our journey in life. But whether we are at the beginning, middle, or nearing the end, there are principles that help us continue on our way.

3. Abram's Journey.

Trans:We have seen his Flakey Family, his Treaty, and now his Journey begins. Gen. 12:4-9

I. FIRST, THE JOURNEY IS TO BE PROGRESSIVE.

So Abram departed... - so Abram begins his journey. If your saved you have begun a journey toward Christlikeness - it is a journy that will have many ups and downs, but hopefully will progress forward and upward. Like riding a bicycle - you either go forward or you fall...

"Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. Hebrews 2:1 (NKJV)

Swindoll, "Neglect of spiritual matters leads to spiritual drifting - being at the mercy of the trade winds of prevailing opinion, the currents of passion and the high seas of stormy circumstances. The result? A person could float away from the Lord and the things that please Him...Or get shipwrecked altogether."

We must determine to grow progressively Christlike...

"but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV)

One of the strange things you find in Japan are dwarf trees. I suppose because of limited space, the Japanese grow giant forest trees in flower-pots.

Some of these strange miniature trees are a century old, and are only two or three feet high. From the time or their planting they are repressed, starved, crippled, and stunted. When buds appear they are nipped off.

So the tree, which was meant to be a giant forest tree, remains only a dwarf tree.

Some Christian people seem to do the same thing with their lives. They do not allow themselves to grow. They rob themselves of spiritual nourishment, and refuse to allow grace and the Holy Spirits power to cause spiritual progression.

II. FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE GOD'S PRECEPTS FOR THE JOURNEY. 12:4

as the Lord had spoken to him - you say "Oh, I would give anything if God would speak to me!" He has! He has said far more to us then He said to Abram. 2 Tim. 3:16

"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV)

Like one need physical food to be strong bodily; we need spiritual food to be strong spiritually.

"I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food." Job 23:12 (NKJV)

"Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16 (NKJV) Mt. 4:4

Without an intake of God's word we become weak and weary.

David Livingstone, started his journey across Africa, he started out with 73 books, weighing 180 pounds. After they had journeyed some 300 miles, they had to throw away some of the books. It was just difficult to carry them.

As they progressed his library became smaller and smaller until he was finally left with only one book - his Bible!

Truth is, that is all we really need - God's Word!

III. THIRDLY, THE JOURNEY WILL INVOLVE PEOPLE.

and Lot went with him - this was Abram's first convert. This would be Abram's joy and headache.

Our journey involves people - some we lead to the Lord; some that are a real source of joy and encouragement; and many who are a perpetual pain!

We don't travel alone - we have friends and family and foes.

In a "Peanuts" cartoon, Lucy says to Snoopy: "There are times when you really bug me, but I must admit there are also times when I feel like giving you a big hug."

Snoopy replies, "That’s the way I am... huggable and buggable."

IV. FOURTHLY, THE JOURNEY DEPENDS ON GODS PRESERVATION. 12:4

And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran - we live by God's permission! He must preserve us day by day or we die. EVERY YEAR YOU CELEBRATE ANOHTER BIRTHDAY, YOU HAVE BEEN GIVE A BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM GOD - LIFE!