Sermon Series: 2007 - Releasing Your Drive and Passion for God
Today’s Message: Living in God’s World & God’s Way (pt.2)
Text: Colossians 3:23; Gen. 17:15-27
Dr. Ken Squires, Jr. January 07, 2006
Edited by Dale Weaver
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. (Colossians 3:23 - NIV)
Abraham fell face down; he laughed and said to himself,
“Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?” Will Sarah bear a child at age ninety? (Genesis 17:17 - NIV)
It has been said that the Old Testament tends toward ILLUSTRATION and the New Testament more toward INSTRUCTION. If this is the case (and we believe it is) we can use Abraham as an illustration to more fully receive instruction on what it means to live in the power and performance of Colossians 3:23 during 2007. When we look closely at the life of Abraham, we cannot help but notice that he was a pioneer of the faith. But we mustn’t limit his pioneering spirit to faith alone!
Like Americans who move every five years in a rootless society, we find Abraham on the move in Genesis 12;
(1) The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your Father’s household and go to the place I will show you…(4) So Abram left, as the Lord has told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran (Genesis 12 - NIV).
Abraham had the spirit of a pioneer. He was willing to move – in every sense of the word - from the known to the unknown. Life can be really bland if played strictly between the forty-yard lines. As each tent peg was unearthed, Abraham was undoubtedly surprised by our God of surprises.
· Abraham was an idol worshipper? What could God possibly want from him? Can God really use me, in spite of my past?
· Why was God’s plan so slow in unfolding? Fully thirteen years passed between chapters 16 and chapter 17.
· How in the world were Isaac’s aged parents to keep with him in their old age? “Look, Sarah -- the stork just landed at our senior retirement community!”
Pioneers are in a class all their own. They are people who swim upstream against the ethical current of the day (like Noah). They are individuals who take on the Goliath of the day with no fear of defeat (such as David). As servants of God living grace filled values they accept injustice in a spirit of humility (example: Joseph).
Take the founders of space travel, for example. Three innovative men, each unaware of the others, launched our world into the unexpected new era of space travel: (1)
In 1903, Russian Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky first speculated that a rocket could travel beyond the earth’s atmosphere.
In 1923, Hermon Oberth, a Transylvanian-German developed the first mathematical formula for space travel.
In 1926, Robert H. Goddard launched the first liquid-propellant rocket from a farm near Auburn, Massachusetts.
Each man was different, yet each fulfilled the love and passion of a lifetime. Although worlds apart, the impact of their discoveries would not be fully understood until years later. Others would build on each person’s contribution, and mankind would move inexorably toward flight into space. The individual endeavors of these pioneers would combine to eventually landing a man on the moon.
Abraham was a pioneer; not in space flight but in the spiritual flight of faith. A study of his life takes us into uncharted territory -- allowing us to experience a relationship with God that spans the ages. In addition to being the father of faith, Abraham is also the father of mentorship, apprenticeship and discipleship. Entire nations trace their roots back to Abraham. Today three world religions claim Abraham as their founder -- Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Do you remember these insights from our last message?
So what is a disciple? It is a person willing to be mentored by another person; who learns what that individual is and does. The nice thing about this definition… is that you can do it! It is learning from Jesus how to live your life, your whole life, your real life.
You are not learning from Jesus how to live his life. His life was supernatural and without sin. It has been lived. Nobody will live that life again, not even Jesus. So what is it we are trying to do? I love what Dallas Willard says we should be doing-
“I need to be able to live my life as he would live it, if He were I.
-Dallas Willard (2)
Using Genesis 12, 15 and 17 as our Bible Study, let me illustrate for you how Abraham pioneers the truth of Colossians 3:23-
(23)Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men (Colossians 3 - NIV)
1. Let God define your drive and passion for 2007.
whatever you do… (Colossians 3:23a - NIV)
Abraham was a friend of God. The New Testament gives us
a description in James 2:23. How I long to have that kind of relationship with Him. What does it look like? I think the relationship implies that the two of them were-
…comfortable in each others presence,
…shared common hopes and dreams,
…often spent time together.
Don’t forget that’s why we are here today. To learn how
friendship with God works. In chapter 15, Abraham needed some reassurance of God’s promise. Many events had transpired since the first encounter in Genesis 12 that sent Abram to Canaan: a lengthy God-directed journey to the Promised Land, a wrong turn into Egypt, a huge marital mistake, a major regional conflict with kings fighting kings and Abram leading the winning coalition to liberate his nephew, Lot.
When reassurance came it was in the form of a vision. It was here that Abram got his first glimpse of the extent of the promise:
(1) After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. (2) But Abram said, “O, Sovereign Lord what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? (3) And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” (4) Then the word of the Lord came to him: This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars-if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” (6) Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness (Gen. 15-NIV).
As Abram stood gazing at the stars God clearly defined his future. Today God wants to continue to define yours. A new future. A forgiven past. A satisfying present. Make no mistake my friend, the anxiety and fear that gripped Abram was short-lived. Standing in the cool of the Middle Eastern night, Abram’s confidence in God’s plan began to take hold. All doubt would be removed.
Abram received a gift from God as he believed. When God received Abram’s trust and faith as a credit, God responded by releasing him from any penalty of sin (lack of faith). That day Abram had the assurance of his fatherly future but also the presence of Fatherly (God’s) forgiveness. Work that thought over in your mind. Write it down. Spend time in deep meditation! Abram’s sin ledger was declared “paid in full.”
Now, the greatest truth is “Jesus makes it possible for your ledger to be cleared of your debt with God. “ How? Accept the truth of John 3:16;
…Whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have eternal life.” Come on friend, do it today. Bring the ledger of your sins to Jesus Christ’s cross and have them “paid in full.”
Several years later -- a couple of chapters further into Genesis -- and Abram was thinking that God’s promises were not making any sense. Why? The years had surely taken their toll on Abram’s virility and fertility.
In our next point we will see how God not only defines the promise of a child; He also develops the promise. The only really satisfying life is one where your ambitions are defined by God. Never forget God grades on potential not perfection.
In Seminary a professor in preaching gave me a grade on a sermon that was way below what I thought I deserved and I was steamed! In talking to him about it, he said, “I know that you are good, your class mates know that you are good and you know that you are good…but I am grading you based on your potential.” My grade for the sermon on evangelism (my favorite topic) was a C-
Well, I was determined to show him. I worked all that much harder on my next sermon. I had all the elements of content correct: theme, thesis, interpretation of text, application, great illustrations, closing; and my delivery was flawless: rate, pause, pitch and no distracting mannerisms. When my grade finally came it was a C+! I thought for a moment: “This professor must think I have a lot of undeveloped potential. I need to find a way to develop and release it.”
God knows that you are capable of so much more. What grade is He giving you today? Is it possible that your potential is waiting to be released? He grades on potential not perfection. Praise Him for that!
2. Let God develop your drive and passion for 2007.
work at with all your heart… (Colossians 3:23b - NIV)
In Genesis 17, God patiently repeated his promise again:
(15) God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” (17) Abraham fell face down; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?” Will Sarah bear a child at age ninety? (Gen. 17 - NIV)
In this text we get a glimpse of the development of God’s promise of a child in the changing of the name Sarai to Sarah. God’s promised offspring needed a mother and only Sarai would make the grade. She and Abram both received new names that would proclaim the extensiveness and development of God’s promise to the nations.
Her name Sarai which means, “My princess” is changed to Sarah which means, “Princess.” If the blessing of God had not been pronounced on Sarah, it would have been physically impossible for her to bring forth a child. If God’s blessing has not been pronounced on your life, you’ll accomplish nothing for Him.
God’s blessing was not limited to her immediate family, Jehovah pronounced her as “the mother of nations” (Gen. 17:16-NIV). When God finds willing servants he extends and develops their potential far beyond their wildest imaginings.
Once again Abram returns in his mind to that night in Gen. 15: 5 when the sky was dark and filled with countless pin-bursts of light -- millions and ten’s of millions -- as his eyes scanned from horizon to horizon. Now, it was God’s time to fulfill the promise and to pull this off “Abram” gets a name change to “Abraham.”
(5) No longer shall your name called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham. For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. (Gen. 17 - NIV)
Abraham’s name is like a brightly lit beacon, asking all who see it to notice God’s life-changing drama: Step by step; Mistake after mistake; Grace offered and grace received. God writes the script, offers the promise and gets the glory. God calls, we respond. God promises, we prevail. God blesses, we blossom. Isn’t it exciting that God still takes ordinary people and operates in us far beyond our greatest expectations?
(20) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us… (Ephesians 3 - NIV)
Converting ambition to growth results in miles of spiritual capillaries that allow the power of God to reach deep into spiritual muscle and haul away unwanted waste.
(16) From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each does its part. (Ephesians 4 - NIV)
If God is to develop His plan in your life and you are to work at it with all your heart, then you must grow new spiritual muscle for the challenge. As a runner begins to train, his or her entire being is transformed. Within weeks of starting training the runner actually grows new capillaries. This extends the natural byways that allow blood to reach deep into muscle tissue so that oxygen saturates the recesses before hauling away waste products. Training works on a microscopic level; resulting in the increase of the number of cellular mitochondria. What is that? These are flash points where stored fuel becomes action. You might call them millions of spark plugs that are strategically located around your body and “fire” as you train (3).
Come on, let’s start training. A God-preferred and God-blessed future awaits anyone willing to develop with God as their trainer. God was doing just that with Abraham. Abraham was about to experience that part of the work-out where it would be so easy to give up: a hill to climb, an injury to side-line us, lack of motivation because of depression. Let’s watch Abraham as he became a father.
3. Let God delight in your drive and passion for 2007.
as working for the Lord, not for men! (Colossians 3:23c - NIV)
God lived ambitions, it turns out, often transform your
entire being. As the transformation is happening God delights as we laugh in amazement. Is it really possible? Could it be happening to me?
(17) Abraham fell face down; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?” (Gen. 17:17) Will Sarah bear a child at age ninety?
I can just see the stork flying away from Abraham’s nursing
home. Instead of using their retirement funds for Carnival cruises, Sarah spent them putting together a new nursery. The laughter that mother and father were both experiencing came from their own surprise, but they would laugh for many years to come. Their child brought such laughter – “Isaac” in Hebrew means “laughter.” Clearly, no other name would do!
God wants you to laugh. “If you are weeping,” Luke 6:21, says “God wants you to laugh.” When I think about opportunities for laughter in God’s Word I turn to: Psalm 126:1-2; Luke 15:24.
So why did Sarah and Abraham laugh? Obviously, who would have expected that old age would give them a new lease on life with laughter-Isaac? Overwhelmingly, they must have thought-where are we to get the strength to pull this off? Obediently, they were just thankful that God hadn’t pulled the plug on His promise in spite of the mistakes and hang-ups?
And the laughter continues.
The Bully and the Boy
Bavaria. 1934. It was the wrong time and the wrong place to be a Jew. And Heinz was a Jew. The little Bavarian village of Fürth was already overrun with Hitler’s young thugs. To be a Jew…of any age…was to be a target. And Heinz was only eleven. It was the first minute of a black hour in European history. Some fled before the clock ran out. For many, time stood forever still. But Heinz was one of the lucky ones. And he would take with him…from that place of creeping horror…an indelible lesson with which one day he would make the whole world less dark.
Tradition, the song goes. Heinz’s father was a schoolteacher as had been his father before him. Tradition. The precepts of Judaism were carefully handed down from one generation to the next…and Heinz learned them well. The observance of the Sabbath, of Rosh Hashanah, of Yom Kippur. But, for Heinz’s parents, those ancient traditions had gained a new importance. They were a means of teaching their children self-control at a time when sudden impulse could be dangerous.
In the beginning, it was different. Heinz started out in a cozy, close-knit little world. He vastly preferred soccer to school. A happy, often mischievous child, there were always tricks to play…pigtails to pull. He was an undistinguished student, expounding at great length and with great flourish only when he knew the answers. But Heinz didn’t always know the answers. Then that black hour descended, as it always does…one second at a time. Heinz’s father was dismissed from his teaching post. There were fewer and fewer soccer games. Heinz was expelled, forced to attend an all- Jewish school. Slowly the playful, exuberant boy became more cautious. Slowly the streets became a battleground.
Hitler Youth roamed everywhere…but Heinz remembered what he’d been taught. There was no such thing as a sudden impulse. When a gang of bullies approached him on the street, he’d cross to the other side…when he could. Sometimes a beating was unavoidable. Sometimes it was not. Whatever the case, he must not pick a fight…and he must not speak up.
One day, the silence was broken…one day in 1934. Eleven-year-old Heinz was forced into one of those inevitable confrontations with a Hitler bully, but this time…for the first time…he started talking. Perhaps it was about anything and everything. And perhaps Heinz himself didn’t remember how he talked his way out of it…but he did talk his way out of it. And that was important. Today, Heinz recalls his childhood in Bavaria. “I was not acutely aware of what was going on. For children, these things are not serious…the political persecutions of my childhood are not what control my life. That part of my childhood was not a key to anything.”
Maybe. Or maybe the boy who talked his way out of a beating learned something that would one day be valuable to all of us. Gratefully, Heinz and his family escaped Bavaria in time, made their way to America. Even there, he would cross the street whenever a group of boys walked his way. He’d been preconditioned to expect violence, I suppose. But he never forgot how to talk…and if indeed the pen is mightier than the sword, for Heinz the spoken word is most powerful of all. You see, he Americanized that Bavarian name when he arrived in New York. And Heinz, who had negotiated that first peace for himself, ultimately devoted his life toward a more peaceful world. Henry Alfred…Kissinger (4).
Henry Kissinger. Star number 17, 876, 542? Certainly one of the stars in the night sky found in Genesis 15:5;
He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars-if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Summary Statements
1. It has been said that the Old Testament tends toward ILLUSTRATION and the New Testament more toward INSTRUCTION. If this is the case (and we believe it is) we can use Abraham as an illustration to more fully receive instruction on what it means to live in the power and performance of Colossians 3:23 during 2007.
2. If the blessing of God had not been pronounced on Sarah, it would have been physically impossible for her to bring forth a child. If God’s blessing has not been pronounced on your life, you’ll accomplish nothing for Him.
3. Converting ambition to growth results in miles of spiritual capillaries that allow the power of God to reach deep into spiritual muscle and haul away unwanted waste.
(16) From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each does its part. (Ephesians 4 - NIV)
Surprising Statements
1. That day Abram had the assurance of his fatherly future but also the presence of Fatherly (God’s) forgiveness.
2. I can just see the stork flying away from Abraham’s nursing
home. Instead of using their retirement funds for Carnival cruises, Sarah spent them putting together a new nursery
End Notes
(1) Chuck Swindoll. Bible Study Guide: Abraham. Insight for Living. Fullerton, California, 1986, pg. 1
(2) Dallas Willard. The Divine Conspiracy. HarperSanFrancisco, 1997, pg. 283
(3) Marty Jerome. Runner’s Day-by-Day Log and Calendar. Random House, New York, 2006, February-Fundaments.
(4)Paul Harvey’s by Paul Aurandt. The Rest of the Story. DoubleDay & Company, Garden City, New York, 1977, pg. 74-75.
