CHALLENGES To The JOURNEY Of FAITH-IV—Genesis 11:26—12:9
VENTURING By FAITH
Attention:
A young man who was also an avid golfer found himself with a few hours to spare one afternoon. He figured if he hurried & played very fast, he could get in 9 holes before he had to head home. Just as he was about to tee off an old gentleman shuffled onto the tee & asked if he could accompany the young man as he was golfing alone. Not being able to say no, he allowed the old gent to join him.
To his surprise the old man played fairly quickly. He didn't hit the ball far, but plodded along consistently & didn't waste much time. Finally, they reached the 9th fairway & the young man found himself with a tough shot. There was a large pine tree right in front of his ball & it was directly between his ball & the green. After several minutes of debating how to hit the shot the old man finally said, "You know, when I was your age I'd hit the ball right over that tree."
With that challenge placed before him, the youngster swung hard, hit the ball up, right smack into the top of the tree trunk & it thudded back on the ground not a foot from where it had originally lay. The old man offered one more comment, "Of course, when I was your age that pine tree was only 3 feet tall."
Driving over the ‘three-foot tree’ was a Challenge to the man’s golf game.
Need:
Genesis records Abram’s encounter with YaHoWeH & his resultant/subsequent actions of faith.
Encountering God calls us to a venture/journey by faith.
What limits/hinders the venture of faith?
What is challenged in a journey of faith?
12 challenges to the venture/journey of faith.
A challenge to our journey of faith lies in...
1. Our HOME(11:26-32)
2. Our RELATIONSHIPS (11:26-32)
3. Our COMMUNITY(11:27-28, 31)
4. Our DIRECTIVE(12:1)
5. Our INTEGRITY(12:2)
6. Our FUTURE(12:3)
7. Our WILLINGESS(12:4-5)
8. Our SOCIETY/CULTURE(12:6)
9. Our FEAR(s)(12:6)
10—A challenge to our journey of faith lies in...
Our PERCEPTIONS(of God)(12:7)
Explanation: (12:7)Have we seen & heard from God?
12:7—“Then the LORD appeared to Abram & said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.”
Now God not only speaks to Abram but reveals Himself to him visibly(“appeared”). YaHWeH also tells Abram something further regarding his purpose.for being in Canaan.
Abram is told by God that he will have future “descendants.” These “descendants” are destined to inherit the very “land” wherein Abram stands as witness of YaHWeH.
The Holy Spirit of God intentionally indwells the believer. There is nothing anyone can do to cause Him to physically leave a person who is saved.
However...the believer can do something which has the same practical result—as if the Spirit was absent...The believer can “quench”(extinguish, suppress, stifle.put out the fire) the Holy Spirit(1Thess. 5:19; Eph. 4:30). That is, I can so involve myself in sin, giving sin so much sway & influence in my life, that sin’s voice overshadows/overwhelms the voice of God’s Spirit!
1Thess.5:19—“Do not quench the Spirit.”
Eph. 4:30—“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
?Have you rightly perceived God & His promise(s) to you?
?What is your perception of God & His promise(s) to you?
?Does it conflict with the clear statements of Scripture otherwise?
“Appeared”2X—har raw-aw'—Niphal Imperfect—1) To see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider—1b) (Niphal), 1b1) To appear, present oneself, 1b2) To be seen, 1b3) To be visible. Strong—a primitive root; To see, literally or figuratively(in numerous applications, direct & implied, transitive, intransitive & causative).
“Descendants/Seed/Offspring”—erz zeh'-rah—1) Seed, sowing, offspring. Strong—Seed; figuratively--Fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity.
“Give”—Ntn naw-than'—Qal Imperfect—1) To give, put, set—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend, 1a2) To put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate, 1a3) To make, constitute. Strong—a primitive root; To give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.).
Argumentation:
2Cor. 11:3-4—“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!”
Gal. 1:6-12—“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you & want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Deut. 13:1-18—““If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, & he gives you a sign or a wonder, “& the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’--which you have not known--‘& let us serve them,’ “you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart & with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God & fear Him, & keep His commandments & obey His voice, & you shall serve Him & hold fast to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt & redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst. If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go & serve other gods,’ which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, & afterward the hand of all the people. And you shall stone him with stones until he dies, because he sought to entice you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. So all Israel shall hear & fear, & not again do such wickedness as this among you. If you hear someone in one of your cities, which the LORD your God gives you to dwell in, saying, ‘Corrupt men have gone out from among you & enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying, “Let us go & serve other gods”’--which you have not known-- then you shall inquire, search out, & ask diligently. And if it is indeed true & certain that such an abomination was committed among you, you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword--utterly destroying it, all that is in it & its livestock, with the edge of the sword. And you shall gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, & completely burn with fire the city & all its plunder, for the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again. So none of the accursed things shall remain in your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of His anger & show you mercy, have compassion on you & multiply you, just as He swore to your fathers, because you have listened to the voice of the LORD your God, to keep all His commandments which I command you today, to do what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God.”
2Cor. 11:12-15 “But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
BF&M interpretation of the Scriptures concerning God—These are based on no less than 176 Scriptures from both the Old & New Testaments—
“There is one & only one living & true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, & personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, & Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness & all other perfections. God is all powerful & all knowing; & His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, & future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, & obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.”
A. God the Father
“God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, & the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, & all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.”
B. God the Son
“Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit & born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed & did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands & necessities & identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, & in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body & appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven & is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God & man. He will return in power & glory to judge the world & to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living & ever present Lord.”
C. God the Holy Spirit
“The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, & of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, & effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, & bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens & empowers the believer & the church in worship, evangelism, & service.”
Again—The above conclusions are based on no less than 176 Scriptures in their proper contexts from both the Old & New Testaments.
Trinity
Nature of God
Design of God
God’s Plan for mankind
Illustration:
I can distinctly remember seeking to understand this God that I had heard of & read about in the Bible!..How can there be a God, a Jesus, & a Holy Spirit?...Will the real God please stand up?/Not long thereafter I realized that My Perceptions of God had become heavily influenced, skewed, & entirely limited to fleshly & worldly imaginings & wisdoms rather than their being focused upon & opened up by the truth of God/Our PERCEPTIONS
Has ‘the Lord’ really appeared to you? Does what he has convinced you of align with Scripture(God’s revealed & written word) or contradict it?
Application:
?Are PERCEPTIONS a daunting Challenge to your Journey of Faith?
?You overcome the Challenges to your Journey of Faith?
11—A challenge to our journey of faith lies in...
Our MOVEMENTS(12:8-9)
Explanation: (12:8-9)Why am I moving?
12:8—“And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, & he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west & Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD & called on the name of the LORD.”
Abram then “moved” from the site of Shechem & the tree of Moreh to the “mountain” which was located east of Bethel. Abram dwelt there between Bethel & Ai.
At his place between Bethel & Ai, Abram built another altar to the LORD. At this altar we are told that Abram “called upon” YaHWeH’s “name.”
12:9—“So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.”
From there, Abram continued(at God’s direction?) to “journey” toward the Negev[South country].
God had begun to call out His servants thru His servant Abram. Abram appears to be so enthralled with YaHWeH’s choosing him for His favor, that he is willingly obedient to his every encounter. Abram seems anxious to explore the land which will one day belong to his progeny.
It appears that God was speaking to & directing Abram’s journey all along.
Gen. 13:14-18—“And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now & look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, & westward; for all the land which you see I give to you & your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land through its length & its width, for I give it to you.” Then Abram moved his tent, & went & dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, & built an altar there to the LORD.”
“Journeyed & Still/Set out & Continued”—eon naw-sah'—Qal Imperfect & Qal Infinitive—1) To pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. Start on a journey.
“Going on”—Klh haw-lak'—Qal Infinitive—1) To go, walk, come—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away, 1a2) To die, live, manner of life (fig.). Strong—a primitive root; To walk(in a great variety of applications, literally & figuratively).
“South/Negev”—bgn neh'-gheb—1) South-country, Nekeb, south. Strong—from an unused root meaning to be parched; The south (from its drought); specifically--The Negeb or southern district of Judah, occasionally--Egypt(as south to Palestine).
Argumentation:
Prov. 3:5-8—“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD & depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.”
Prov. 16:2-3—“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.”
1Sam. 30:1-8, 11, 15-19—“Now it happened, when David & his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South & Ziklag, attacked Ziklag & burned it with fire, & had taken captive the women & those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away & went their way. So David & his men came to the city, & there it was, burned with fire; & their wives, their sons, & their daughters had been taken captive. Then David & the people who were with him lifted up their voices & wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, & Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons & his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them & without fail recover all.””.....“Then they found an Egyptian in the field, & brought him to David; & they gave him bread & he ate, & they let him drink water.”.....“And David said to him, “Can you take me down to this troop?” So he said, “Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, & I will take you down to this troop.” And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating & drinking & dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines & from the land of Judah. Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels & fled. So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, & David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.”
Ezra 8:21-23—“Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us & our little ones & all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers & horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power & His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” So we fasted & entreated our God for this, & He answered our prayer.”
Php 4:6—“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer & supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”
Ps. 25:9-10—“The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy & truth, To such as keep His covenant & His testimonies.”
Jer. 10:23-24—“O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. O LORD, correct me, but with justice; Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.”
Jas 1:4-7—“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect & complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally & without reproach, & it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven & tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;”
Illustration:
Chris Tomlin’s— ‘I Will Follow’
Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow...
All your ways are good
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Higher than my side
High above my life
I will trust in you alone
Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you
Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for you alone
You're the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in you alone, in you alone
In you there's life everlasting
In you there's freedom for my soul
In you there joy, unending joy
& I will follow
Application:
?Are MOVEMENTS(away from the merely rational) a daunting Challenge to your Journey of Faith?
?You overcome the Challenges to your Journey of Faith?
12—A challenge to our journey of faith lies in...
Our WORSHIP(12:7-8)
Explanation/Illustration: (12:7-9) Does God move with me?
12:7—“Then the LORD appeared to Abram & said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.”
Upon seeing & hearing from YaHWeH, Abram buils an “altar to the LORD.” Through his personal witness, Abram is driven to worship YaHWeH above those gods with whom his culture was familiar.
“Appeared”2X—har raw-aw'—Niphal Imperfect—1) To see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider—1b) (Niphal), 1b1) To appear, present oneself, 1b2) To be seen, 1b3) To be visible. Strong—a primitive root; To see, literally or figuratively(in numerous applications, direct & implied, transitive, intransitive & causative).
12:8—“And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, & he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west & Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD & called on the name of the LORD.”
At his place between Bethel & Ai, Abram built another altar to the LORD. At this altar we are told that Abram “called upon” YaHWeH’s “name.”
Abram is in contact with God thru worship.
*What is Worship?:
Worship is borne out of true appreciation.
Worship is borne out of an abiding love & trust in this God Who has revealed Himself to us personally.
Thus Worship is a supernaturally appropriate expression of appreciation, which is borne on the wings of love for & trust in God.
True Worship is both individual & corporate.
The last time that we have experienced this type of worship regarding YaHWeH was when we were told in Gen. 4: 26 that in Enosh’s day “men began to call on the name of the LORD.” Though Noah, upon exiting the Ark built an altar to the LORD upon which he sacrificed of every clean animal(Gen. 8:20). Noah’s actions pleased God & prompted YaHWeH to bless mankind & establish the Covenant of the Rainbow(Gen. 8:21—9:17).
“Bethel”—la-tyb Beyth-'El—Bethel = “House of God.” 1) Ancient place & seat of worship in Ephraim on border of Benjamin, identified with Luz(former name).
“Ai/Hai”—ye ah'ee —Ai or Aija or Aiath or Hai = “Heap of ruins.” 1) A city lying east of Bethel & beside Bethaven near Jericho & the second city taken on the invasion of Canaan.
“Built”(See :7)—hnb baw-naw'—Qal Imperfect—1) To build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To build, rebuild, 1a2) To build a house (ie, establish a family). Strong—a primitive root; To build(literally & figuratively).
“Altar”(See :8)—xbzm miz-bay'-akh—1) Altar.
“Called on”—arq kaw-raw'—Qal Imperfect—1) To call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim. Strong—a primitive root [rather identical with arq through the idea of accosting a person met]; To call out to(i.e. properly--Address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications).
“Name”(See :2)—Mv shem—1) Name—1a) Name, 1b) Reputation, fame, glory, 1c) The Name (as designation of God), 1d) Memorial, monument. Strong—a primitive word [perhaps rather from Mws through the idea of definite & conspicuous position; compare Mymv]; An appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication--Honor, authority, character.
Argumentation:
Ps 22:1-3 “<
Ps. 50:23—“Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.””
Heb. 10:24-25—“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love & good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, & so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Jn. 4:20-24—““Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, & you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus said to her[the woman at the well], “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, & now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit & truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, & those who worship Him must worship in spirit & truth.””
“Worship”—proskunew—To fawn or crouch to, i.e. literally or figuratively--Prostrate oneself in homage(do reverence to, adore).
Mat. 18:18-20—““Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, & whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””
Ignorance or a distant relationship effects our ability to worship.
Likewise a close relationship with God grants us knowledge of Him, His ways, His mind, His heart, His design, His plan, His power, His ability, His perfection, His omniscience, His love, etc. & we cannot help but worship Him!
Rom. 11:24-25—“For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, & were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
1Cor. 10:1-6—“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud & in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, & all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, & that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.”
1Cor. 12:1—“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:”
1Thess. 4:13—“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.”
Application:
?Is WORSHIP a daunting Challenge to your Journey of Faith?
?You overcome the Challenges to your Journey of Faith?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Golfing over the 3 ft. tree.
Action:
10. Our PERCEPTIONS(12:7)
11. Our MOVEMENTS(12:8-9)
12. Our WORSHIP(12:7-8)
Presented 03/03/2012pm to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
