Back the U-Haul Upto the Door
Text: Gen. 12:1-4
Introduction
1. Read Gen. 12:1-4
2. During an especially trying time in the work of the China Inland Mission, Hudson Taylor wrote to his wife, "We have twenty-five cents--and all the promises of God!
3. Over the next several weeks we are going to take a look at the life of Abraham.
ľ Known as the Father of Faith
ľ He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness
ľ He was blessed of God in everyway imaginable
Transition: There are many things that we can learn from the life of Abraham.
I. Sometimes God Asks Us To Do Things That Are Contrary to Human Reason (1)
A. Leave Your Country
1. You will find this concept throughout the Bible.
ľ Moses and Israelites at Red Sea
ľ David and Goliath
ľ Daniel and the Lions Den
ľ Hosea and Gomer
2. The Lord tells Abram to leave his fathers house.
ľ Abram was 75 years old
ľ Probably worked with his father
3. The Lord tells Abram to go to a land he would show him later.
ƒæ Doesn’t even show him where to go right away
ľ Tells him to go first and then he would show him where
B. Because the Lord Said
1. I’ve learned this from personal experience.
ľ Amsterdam
ľ Bible College
2. 1 Cor. 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
3. Sometimes God may ask us to go places and do things that don’t seem logical to those in the world, but I’d rather be right in God’s eyes than the worlds eyes.
4. I’d rather be:
ƒæ In the center of God’s will
ľ Depend on the wisdom of God
ľ In the deepest, darkest jungle with God than in the Hilton with the Devil
Transition: God may sometimes ask us to do things that do not make sense to the world, but the world is always doing things that do not make sense to anybody.
II. All the Time God Asks Us To Expect A Blessing (2-3)
A. I Will Bless You
1. The Lord tells Abram that he would make him a great nation.
ľ 75 years old
ľ Sarai was old
ľ No children
2. The Lord also tells him that he would bless him.
ľ leaving his livelihood
ľ could only take what he could carry
ƒæ When the head of the household died, his heir assumed that title and its responsibilities. It is also identified with ancestral lands and property. By leaving his father’s household, Abram was thus giving up his inheritance and his right to family property.¡XBible Background Commentary
3. The Lord promises to make his name great.
ľ Abam was just a country boy
ľ From Ur
4. He promises Abram that all the nations on earth would be blessed through him.
5. Abram expected all this to take place. Do you know how I know that? Because he left!
6. However, we cannot miss this point.
ľ and thou shalt be a blessing:
ľ literally from the Hebrew: "Be a blessing!"
ľ God blesses us so that we can bless others
B. Expectations
1. Epigram On Expectation Grandmother, about eighty, is visiting in the East and sends home things she has bought for her house. "I don’t suppose I shall live forever," she says, "but while I do live I don’t see why I shouldn’t live as if I expected to." ¡XEncyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations
2. Eph. 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us
3. Phil. 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
4. If we truly believe these things then why:
ƒæ shouldn’t we expect them
ƒæ shouldn’t we believe on them
ƒæ shouldn’t we have faith to expect them
Transition: We should expect it because God promised it!
III. All of the Time Our Obedience Appropriates God’s Blessing (4)
A. Abram Departed
1. Notice what Abam did: he left immediately!
2. He didn’t:
ľ Phone a friend
ľ Ask for a 50/50
ľ Write a letter to Ann Landers
ľ Consult his horoscope
3. God said move so he moved.
4. His being blessed and being a blessing was dependent upon his obedience to God
B. Step Out In Faith
1. Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from Grace. Thomas a Kampis
2. Heb. 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
3. If he had not gone out he would not have received what was promised.
4. If we want the blessings of God we have to obey the Word of God.
ľ Obedience is an act of faith
ľ We obey not necessarily because we have to but because we believe in the promises of God.
Transition: Obedience puts promises into motion.
Conclusion
1. We learn from Abram:
ľ Sometimes God Asks Us To Do Things That Are Contrary to Human Reason (1)
ľ All the Time God Asks Us To Expect A Blessing (2-3)
ƒæ All of the Time Our Obedience Appropriates God’s Blessing (4)
2. The question is what are we willing to do in obedience to God’s promises to receive God’s blessing?
Thesis: Obedience to God’s word puts the blessings of faith into action.
