The Call To A Life Of Commitment Series

Theme: The Commitment to a Life of Faith

Text: Genesis 12: 4-9

Introduction

A. Last week we have learned that out of Abram’s miserable spiritual condition God called him to live his life in faith. This gives us the truth that indeed, no one is beyond the touch of God. He is able to come where we are to touch and change us for His glory.

Praise God, in His own sovereign will, He chose you, He chose me to experience the touch of His saving and transforming power. He took our life that was so insignificant, so barren and hopeless and turned it into one of the greatest examples of the power of faith and grace! Our spiritual freedom –or the fact that we are living in liberty is the greatest proof of the power of His grace. Indeed, God is able to change the life of anyone into something that displays the glorious power of His grace. And I’m glad that one of the many lives that God took and transformed is mine.

B. Today, we will continue to study the life of Abraham and his journey of faith. In depth probe shows us that Abram’s life is one of a pilgrimage. He is the first person in the Bible to leave everything behind to walk with the Lord by faith. His pilgrimage was not easy, though there were blessings along the way for him to the land God had promised him.

Significantly, the Bible tells us that Christian life is also a pilgrimage (1 Pet. 2:11). Every one of us who is saved by the blood of Jesus is a pilgrim for the Lord through out our life. We are on a journey that began the day we received Jesus into our hearts and that will continue until the day we arrive in Heaven. This pilgrimage is, at times, a wonderful thing. At other times, it is difficult. Yet all the time, it is a pilgrimage that is to be lived out through faith in the Lord.

In his own pilgrimage, Abraham sets us the example on how to live our lives in absolute faith and in total commitment to the Lord God Almighty. His life is teaching us a very important lesson for our spiritual journey in life, which is, “The Commitment To A Life of Faith.” There are three sides about his commitment to a life of faith:

I. HIS OBEDIENCE (v.4-5).

1. The first lesson that Abram learned about living one’s life in absolute faith and total obedience to God is the departing of anything that would block him from obeying the will of God. We see that God called Abram to live his life in absolute faith and in total obedience to Him. Part of God’s call to Abram was to leave everything that would hinder his walk of faith.

This is the same call God has for everyone of His children. Everything that weighs us down or entangles us from progressing spiritually must be laid aside or be left behind. Hebrews 12: 1 says, “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us….”

It could be a relationship, a lifestyle, a character, a vice, a career, an earthly goal, or anything that hinders you to progress in your relationship with the Lord. God wants you to leave behind everything that block you from moving on in the things of God.

At first Abram was not wholehearted in his response to God. There were years that he was in the state of compromise. He did not totally obeyed God’s divine order. And as consequence, Abram missed many wonderful opportunities God had to offer him within those years. This incident should lead us to understand that no one can ever find God’s blessing in the place of disobedience. It is only in the place of total obedience that we can find the true blessings of God. It is the desire of God to bring each of His children in the place of total obedience.

2. In verse 5 we can see that Abram left Haran to follow the Lord, and he took “all his substance” with him. He did not leave anything for the world to use, but took it all and went after God. He learned that total commitment involves “all his substance.” He understands that everything he had acquired were given by God and should be used for God’s glory and honor.

Well, we can gauge the level of a person’s commitment to the Lord by how much of his possession has been dedicated to God. Yes God is pleased when we give our tithes for His work, but how we use the 90% left to our hands is just as important to Him. God gives us what He does so that we might use it for His glory and honor. And you know, it’s not only about money. It’s about everything we have. And remember this, God might want to use what you have now for His glorious work. Thus He expects your dedication.