Introduction

Good morning, beloved. We are gathered here today, not by chance, not by coincidence, but by divine appointment. We are here because our Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and boundless love, has called us together to commune, to learn, and to grow in our faith.

Today, we're going to turn our hearts and minds to an intriguing passage from the book of Genesis. It is a passage that speaks of callings, commands, and courage, a passage that echoes through the ages, whispering God's timeless truths into our lives today.

Hearing God's Call

Opening Scripture Reading – Genesis 12:1-4 reads, "The Lord had said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.' So Abram went, as the Lord had told him."

Isn't it powerful? Abram, later known as Abraham, was called by God to leave everything he knew, to step out in faith, and to follow God's command. And he did. He harnessed the courage that comes from knowing and trusting God, and he obeyed.

As we reflect on this passage, I am reminded of a quote by the great Christian theologian and author, J.I. Packer. He once said, "There's a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share Him, and contentment in Him."

Isn't that the heart of what we see in Abraham's story? He didn't just know about God; he knew God. And because he knew God, he had the energy to serve Him, the boldness to share Him, and the contentment in Him, even when the path before him was uncertain.

Opening Prayer – Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we reflect on the life of Abraham today, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to understand the depth of his faith and obedience. Help us to hear Your call in our lives, to heed Your commands, and to harness the courage that comes from trusting in You. We ask all these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

So, dear friends, let's turn our attention to our first main point: Hearing God's Call.

A. This is the first aspect of hearing God's call that we need to understand. It's not just about the physical act of hearing; it's about understanding. It's about recognizing God's voice amidst the noise of the world, discerning His will in the midst of our own desires, and grasping His truth in the face of our doubts and fears.

Abraham didn't just hear God's call; he understood it. And because he understood it, he was able to respond with obedience. This is a lesson for us today. We too need to strive to understand God's call in our lives, to discern His voice amidst the noise, and to grasp His truth in the face of our doubts and fears.

B. But understanding God's call is just the first step. Once we understand, we need to respond. And this is where the second aspect of hearing God's call comes into play. It's about obedience. It's about taking action, stepping out in faith, and following where God leads.

Abraham didn't just understand God's call; he obeyed it. He left his country, his people, his father’s household, and went to the land God showed him. He didn't know where he was going or what he would find when he got there. But he trusted God, and he obeyed.

Application – This is a lesson for us today. We too need to strive to obey God's call in our lives, to take action, step out in faith, and follow where He leads. We may not know where we're going or what we'll find when we get there. But we can trust God, and we can obey.

C. The third aspect of hearing God's call is about trust. Abraham trusted God. He trusted His promises, His provision, His protection. And because he trusted God, he was able to step out in faith and follow where He led.

Application – This is a lesson for us today. We too need to trust God. We need to trust His promises, His provision, His protection. And when we trust God, we can step out in faith and follow where He leads.

D. The fourth and final aspect of hearing God's call is about courage. Abraham had courage. He had the courage to leave everything he knew, to step out into the unknown, to follow God's call even when it was hard, even when it was scary.

We too need to have courage. We need to have the courage to leave our comfort zones, to step out into the unknown, to follow God's call even when it's hard, even when it's scary. And when we have courage, we can follow God's call, just like Abraham did.

So, as we reflect on the life of Abraham, let's strive to hear God's call in our lives. Let's strive to understand His voice, to obey His commands, to trust His promises, and to have the courage to follow where He leads. And as we do, let's remember that we're not alone. God is with us, guiding us, strengthening us, and equipping us for the journey ahead.

Heeding God's Command

In the heart of the Genesis narrative, we find God's command to Abram ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO