WEBVTT 00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:04.240 Our scripture passage this morning comes from Genesis. 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:05.200 Chapter 12. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:07.679 We're going to be reading verses 1 through 9. 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:12.400 We are starting a new summer series today. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:16.879 Living by Faith Lessons from Genesis. 00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:21.359 And particularly for most of this series, we're going to be looking at the life of Abraham. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:27.359 How do we learn how to live by faith through the patriarch Abraham? 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:34.560 I was grateful for singing this song that we just sang in preparation. 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:39.359 I found myself confessing sin as I was singing. 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:42.960 The songs that we sang this morning. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:50.479 By faith we sang, we will fix our eyes on him, our soul's reward. 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:55.039 And I felt like the Spirit searching my heart. 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:59.679 Tom, is he your soul's reward? 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:02.640 Tom, what are you living for? 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:05.359 What are you living for? 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:10.480 And then we just sang, Christ is mine forevermore. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:17.439 Come rejoice now, O my soul, for his love is my reward. 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:21.840 I think the Spirit is trying to reach my heart this morning. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:23.280 How about yours? 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:27.280 Is his love my reward? 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:30.959 Or am I looking for a different kind of reward? 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:34.239 Am I looking for something more tangible? 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:37.840 No, this is good. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:40.400 Thank you, worship team, for leading us. 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:43.920 Now we're going to read about the call of Abram. 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:46.400 Genesis chapter 12. 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:54.159 Now the Lord said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house and the land that I will show you. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:02:02.159 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:12.400 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:18.960 So Abram went as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:35.599 Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran, and Abram took Sarah his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:43.439 When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Mora. 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:46.960 At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:53.280 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, To your offspring I will give this land. 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:57.840 So he built there an altar to the Lord who would appear to him. 00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:06.879 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:11.120 And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:15.840 And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:20.319 This is the reading of God's holy, precious word. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:23.919 Let's ask the Spirit's work in us today. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:26.159 Father, we thank you. 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:28.080 We thank you for the call of Abram. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:35.360 We thank you for the call of each of us who have been called by faith into your service, into your kingdom, into your family. 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:41.199 And Lord, we pray, even as I preach this morning, I pray that you would be our reward. 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:43.680 Would you be our reward? 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:47.919 May we not be searching anywhere else for such a reward. 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:49.360 In Jesus' name. 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:50.319 Amen. 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:59.520 Living by faith, lessons from Genesis, this new summer sermon series. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:02.719 Why this series now? 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:07.840 Well, this is a good time for this church to live by faith. 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:11.840 As you hear often these days. 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:14.960 How many times have you heard the word transition? 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:17.199 Are you getting tired of that word? 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:19.600 Well, it is. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:24.800 It is a time of real transition in many ways. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:32.720 Transitions, not just churches transitions, but I think of all ages. 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:45.920 I think of transitions in as a pastor just in the last year of people who have had to move into assisted living after giving up their earthly house for many decades. 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.519 I think of some friends of mine who have moved into assisted living. 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:50.800 That's a transition. 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:55.199 I think of students going off to college. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:59.439 About a dozen from here going off. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:01.120 That's a transition. 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:15.040 I think of graduates from high school, junior high, kindergarten, you little ones, you little ones getting ready to go to kindergarten next fall. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:16.240 That's a transition. 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:19.120 Transitions in many ways. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:24.399 Starting, adults, starting new jobs, making changes. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:31.439 I also think this text is special because of the status that is given to Abraham. 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:37.680 Did you know that Abraham is mentioned 74 times in the New Testament? 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:41.120 That's really striking. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:46.160 The chosen channel, human chosen channel of redemption. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:55.199 Only person in Scripture who's called in the Old Testament, the only person in the Old Testament that is called a friend of God. 00:05:57.439 --> 00:05:59.600 That's quite the description. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:03.199 That's quite the compliment. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:06.560 We read about that in Isaiah chapter 41, verse 8. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:12.639 In the New Testament, James chapter 2, verse 23, refer to Abraham, the friend of God. 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:15.120 So you get it. 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:17.360 There's a lot we can learn from this man. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:18.560 His faith. 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:20.639 His God, most of all. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:22.720 Let's dive in. 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:27.120 Certain words and phrases stand out from this text before us this morning. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:34.000 I want you to focus on three words: a voice, a tent, and an altar. 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:37.439 A voice to hear. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:39.040 That's the first point. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:42.000 A voice to listen to. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:44.480 That was true for Abram. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:47.279 I'm going to have a hard time always calling him Abram. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:49.759 But you know what I mean. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:51.279 Abram, Abraham. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:53.439 The name change comes later. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:07:00.079 Abram heard God speak. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:04.399 Verse 1, God spoke to Abram. 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:06.480 And what did he say? 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:12.879 Leave your country, leave your people, leave your home. 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:18.560 I'm sending you somewhere else, and it will be for your good. 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:20.160 Leave. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:24.639 At that point, he was 75 years old. 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:34.399 He lived in the land in the biblical times called Mesopotamia, which today is Iraq, probably southern Iraq, is where he started off from. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:41.040 And this middle-aged man apparently was very settled in his life. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:47.360 The city of Ur was a port city, rich in commerce, culture. 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:54.720 He had so much comfort surrounding him in so many ways at that time in his life. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:58.000 And yet God said, leave. 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:01.680 Leave all of this behind. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:06.959 And then the second verb in the text is be, be a blessing. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:16.560 I want you to be a blessing, but you will be a blessing by going and going with me, God says. 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:17.759 But go. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:22.160 So let's break down this voice call. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:22.720 Okay? 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:26.079 First of all, it's a sovereign call. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:29.360 God's voice is like no other voice. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:31.680 How does God speak to us? 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:34.159 God speaks to us from his word. 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:37.039 From his word by his spirit. 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:43.279 His spirit is able to use his word to speak directly to you. 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:51.279 This is not just a general call, if you happen to hear it. 00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:53.279 It's a sovereign call. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:58.000 And we're going to dig into this covenant life that he lived. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:00.000 It's not between two equals. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:02.320 God is clearly the sovereign. 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:04.960 He is the vassal. 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:07.919 We'll get into that more in the series. 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:11.440 But it's God's voice that matters most. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:17.120 The most significant call for all of us from God is the call to salvation. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:19.039 We can agree on that. 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:25.120 In our Reformed theology, we refer to that as God's efficacious call. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:41.759 In other words, when God calls directly to a person, when God has something in mind to say specifically that's important, he says it clearly and powerfully, effectually, so you hear it. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:43.679 You don't miss it. 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:46.879 Why do we call it an efficacious call? 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:54.000 You can't miss it because this is his voice, and his voice is all powerful. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:56.559 C.S. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:10:00.240 Lewis talked about his testimony. 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:12.399 Looking back on those years later, to his surprise, to his surprise, he heard God's call after years of being an agnostic. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:32.000 As the dry bones shook and came together in that dreadful valley of Ezekiel, so now here this philosopher, very much cerebral, began to stir and heave and throw off the grave clothes and stood upright and became a living presence. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:35.039 God became a living presence in his life at that moment. 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:39.360 I was allowed to play as a philosopher no longer. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:47.360 It might, as I say, still be true that my spirit differed in some way from others. 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:50.559 But I could not argue anymore. 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:53.200 God said, I am the Lord. 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:54.960 I am that I am. 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:56.320 I am. 00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:59.039 And I knew it. 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:05.360 People who are naturally religious find difficulty in understanding the horror of such a revelation. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:07.440 In other words, what is he saying? 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:10.320 Until it happens to you, you're not going to get it. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:13.120 And that might be you. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:17.840 Until it happens to you, you're not going to understand this. 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:20.799 But it might happen to you this morning. 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:28.639 It might happen this morning that God speaks directly to you, powerfully, graciously, efficaciously. 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:30.960 And all of a sudden you hear his voice. 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:33.679 And you can say, Yeah, but I thought I heard his voice before. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:35.440 I've read the Bible. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:40.320 No, it's different when you come to Christ. 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:42.399 And you know it. 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:48.159 And you know that you believe like you have not believed before. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:50.320 That's what he's saying. 00:11:51.600 --> 00:12:02.240 Lewis goes on to say, to me, as I then was that day, they might as well have talked about the mouse searching for a cat. 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.639 You get that, right? 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:06.879 Mice don't search for cats. 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:08.960 Cats search for mice. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:12.320 He's just saying, I wasn't really looking for them. 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:14.879 I was religious. 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:16.399 Maybe. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:17.759 Maybe you. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:21.519 No, I, yeah, I'm I'm good with God. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:23.759 There's a place in my life for God. 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:26.559 That's not Christianity. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:35.200 Christianity is understanding that when he speaks to you with this powerful voice, all of a sudden you understand he's God and you're not. 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:40.240 And you're a sinner and you need a savior, and only Jesus Christ can save you. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:41.679 And you believe it. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:43.600 And your life is changed. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:52.159 And you realize, you realize that you weren't searching for God, he was searching for you. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:53.919 In a different way. 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:59.200 A voice to hear, it's a sovereign call. 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.720 God has a voice. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:02.080 Did you know that? 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:17.840 Jesus says in John chapter 5, verse 24, I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word, whoever hears my voice, and believes him who sent me has eternal life and is crossed over from death into life. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:19.840 That can happen to you right now. 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:23.120 By the power of the Spirit of God. 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:33.519 Secondly, it's a definite call to specific people, to specific places, at specific times. 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:36.159 God called Abram by name. 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:37.840 He always does. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:39.919 He always does. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:44.320 I know some of you grew up in different churches that don't believe this. 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:48.480 Some of us grew up in churches that believe that he just gives a general call to everybody. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:52.960 Just let the leaflets fly out of the plane, and whoever they land on, they land on. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:53.679 No. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:14:00.080 He has you in mind when he calls you. 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:05.759 Your name, your face, your story. 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:07.759 He has you in mind. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:13.679 And when he calls efficaciously, he wants you, and he's going to get you. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:16.480 Because he's way more powerful than you are. 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:21.120 He doesn't just call out to crowds. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:27.600 He calls people with names and stories to accomplish a particular task once they come to him. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:32.240 Let me say this: nothing just happens in your life. 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:34.000 Did you hear that? 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:38.559 Nothing just happens in your life. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:41.360 There's a purpose for everything. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:48.720 And you're beginning to understand life and understand wisdom when you begin to understand that. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:51.679 These things come from the hand of God. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:55.440 He's got his hand on you, and he's got a purpose for your life. 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:58.240 He has a call in your life, Christian. 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:01.759 And thirdly, it's a gracious call. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:03.679 It's a very gracious call. 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:06.080 Seven times he says, I will. 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:09.679 This is all about what God can do, not what you can do. 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:12.639 I will bless you. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:14.000 I will make you a blessing. 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:15.279 I will give you a land. 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.559 I will bring people. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:24.480 There will be more people that come from your family line than the sands in the shore, than the stars in the sky. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.159 Now, when you hear that, what do you think? 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.519 That's crazy. 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:28.799 It's true. 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:36.799 Abraham's family is a big family because of God. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:38.879 It's a gracious call. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:47.919 The contrast between Genesis 11 and 12, and if you want to take the time later today, look, just go back and read Genesis 11. 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:56.799 That's about the Tower of Babel where all these ungodly people say, remember what they said? 00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:00.240 Come, let's build a city for ourselves. 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:02.799 That's what they said. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:05.600 So that we will make a name for ourselves. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:10.799 Doesn't that sound like people around you? 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:14.480 Doesn't that sound like Washington, D.C.? 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:17.919 We're gonna make a name. 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:20.240 We're gonna make a name for ourselves. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:24.240 We're gonna build things that are gonna make us look good. 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:25.519 No. 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:28.960 That's not for us. 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:34.240 He said, chapter 12, we get to Abraham. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:38.399 If we are truly blessed, it's only because God Himself blesses us. 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:41.200 That's true. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:47.600 There's not a blessing that you have that's worth keeping if you had it made it happen. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:51.120 But everything that God gives you is gold. 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:56.320 To be blessed by God, he's our reward. 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:00.000 A gracious call. 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:03.679 These are God's unconditional promises to Abram. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:20.799 It's been said, I think Jim Boyce said it, in its unconditional nature, the promise of God to Abram does not depend on Abram's ability to see it, to see how it can be fulfilled, nor in the ability of himself or his descendants to live this out. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:32.880 God's commands are not always accompanied by reasons, but they are always accompanied by promises, either expressed or implied. 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:35.440 Take that to the vag. 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:39.119 God's promises are not always accompanied by reasons. 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:40.640 Wouldn't we like that? 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:45.359 God walk me through this that you want to do in my life. 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:47.440 Give me the plan, please. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:49.039 Let's lay it out. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:52.960 I want to know where I'm gonna be every step of the way, where you're gonna be and what you're gonna do. 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:54.319 He doesn't do that. 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:58.240 We think, well, I wish he would. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:04.000 But the truth is we would not grow. 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:08.400 We just would not grow living in that kind of comfort. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:14.240 We've been talking about God's voice. 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:17.039 Now let's talk about tents. 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:19.440 A tent to pitch. 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:25.599 From there he moved to the hill country and Abram pitched his tent. 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:31.759 Some of you, some of you love living in tents, but not me. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:38.240 How many nights have I spent in a tent? 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:40.960 No. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.880 Like one. 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:53.039 Hey, I God bless you guys who love living in tents. 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:59.440 I prefer cabins when I'm out roughing it. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:04.240 What about tents? 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.559 Two things. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:10.079 First of all, tents remind us that we're not home. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:12.240 We are pilgrims. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:24.799 For all the promises that God gave to Abram about becoming a great nation, possessing a great land, Abram never owned land except his burial ground. 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:29.039 Abram never paid taxes. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:32.640 Abram never paid real estate taxes. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:35.440 Think about it like that. 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:39.359 He was in a tent. 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:45.200 And he could pick up the tent and move whenever God told him to. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:50.400 And he would stay as long as God told him to. 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.599 Let's take a moment. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:56.720 Let's flip over if you're in your Bible to Hebrews. 00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:59.519 Chapter 11. 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:06.720 This is really great, great teaching. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:09.440 Hebrews chapter 11. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:11.839 I'd love to hear those pages flip. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:16.079 Love to hear those pages flip. 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:19.519 It's good to bring your Bible. 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:23.279 Bibles on phones are good. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:26.000 They can be helpful, but it's good to bring your Bible. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:28.960 Just back and forth and take notes. 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:34.000 Hebrews chapter 11, verse 8. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:39.519 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:42.559 And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:58.400 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise, for he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.440 Verse 13. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:14.079 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:18.799 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:24.799 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:29.119 But as it is, they desire a better country. 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:32.160 Did you know that there's a better country? 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:34.079 It's a heavenly one. 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:35.839 It's not this one. 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:42.559 Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city. 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:49.759 Those words, those are good words, I guess, for congregations to recite probably every week. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:51.440 That wouldn't be too much. 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:58.240 Acknowledging that we're strangers and we're exiles on this earth. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:01.920 So we don't get Too attached. 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:06.640 How long does it take you to get attached? 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:11.680 Kids to your favorite new toy. 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:16.880 Adults to your favorite new toy. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:23.519 How long does it get you, how long does it take to get attached? 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.759 I just don't want to keep it. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:28.079 It's going to go where I go, it's going to go. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:29.839 As much as possible. 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:37.680 No, it's good to remind ourselves every Lord's day that every one of us are pilgrims. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:39.599 Not drifters. 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:42.720 There's a big difference between being a pilgrim and a drifter. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:45.279 A drifter really doesn't know where they're going. 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:49.039 A drifter doesn't have any particular place in mind. 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:51.759 A pilgrim does. 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:54.400 There's a big difference. 00:22:54.799 --> 00:23:00.400 There's another passage I came across this week studying that I just, man, I love this passage. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:05.920 This is Stephen talking about the call of Abraham in Acts chapter 7. 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.519 Listen to this. 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.599 Verse 2. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:12.559 Brothers and fathers, hear me. 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:19.039 The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:23.279 What stands out to you when you hear that? 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:27.039 The God of glory called me. 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:30.000 Let's talk about that. 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:37.440 Unless we encounter God's glory, we will always be trying to make a home out of this world. 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:38.960 That's true. 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:52.400 We will attempt to do so through our careers, perhaps, through relationships, through families, through our achievements. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:59.839 Until you're captured by the glory of God, you're going to be too comfortable in this world. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:03.920 This world is going to feel like it's your home. 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:08.160 And you're going to live for this world even though you go to church. 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:12.559 And you're going to live for this world, even if you call yourself a Christian. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:22.880 Until you and I encounter the glory of God, then we're ready to pick up stakes. 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:27.920 Then we're ready to say, God, I will go where you lead. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.839 I will follow you. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.279 Yeah. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:38.400 We will either live for comfort or we will live for God's glory. 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:40.319 You cannot do both. 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:43.119 You can't. 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.720 You can try. 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:46.720 And you'll be miserable. 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:54.319 If you're trying to live for God's glory and you're trying to live for comfort, you will be miserable. 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:57.839 You'll just feel, you'll have, you'll walk around, and maybe you do. 00:24:57.920 --> 00:25:01.359 You'll just have a lot of this low-level chronic guilt. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:05.519 This low-level chronic, yeah, I'm not sick. 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:08.559 I don't have 103 fever, but I have a 99.9. 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.359 I have 100. 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.799 I don't feel great. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:13.759 Do you hear me? 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:15.119 Physically. 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:17.200 Like spiritually. 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:19.359 You'll wonder why. 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:24.319 Why don't I why don't I have the joy of the Lord? 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:28.000 Why don't I have the peace of God? 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:30.720 Because you're trying to live in two worlds. 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:32.880 You're trying to live. 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:35.359 It just doesn't work that way. 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:42.160 Tents remind us that we are not home. 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:45.279 Secondly, tents stretch us, don't they? 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:48.799 Tents stretch us. 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:53.200 Tenth living isn't easy to be on the move. 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:58.960 APC has been on the move physically for 36 years. 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.680 It's not easy. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:15.119 As I think back, and if you want to know what that looks like pictorially, just go down that hallway, this level, down that hallway, you'll see photographs of all the tents this church has lived in. 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:33.680 From the Campania Center in Old Town to Seventh-day Adventist Church on Russell Road, to Delray Baptist Church on Russell Road, to Alexander Bible Church on Braddock Road, to where you're sitting now. 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:42.160 Each of those photographs says a whole lot to me because I was in those tents. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:47.440 And I think back of what was required to believe God's promises. 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:55.519 And every time God said to get up and move, oftentimes through days of prayer and fasting, we heard him. 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:59.119 And we got up and we moved at just the right time. 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:01.920 Not too soon, not too late. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.720 I like this tent. 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:09.680 I do. 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:11.599 Not gonna lie. 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.839 But it's a tent. 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:20.000 It's a tent. 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:24.880 It's not our home home, as beautiful as it is. 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:27.920 Tents stretch us. 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:35.599 Tent living is designed to keep us on our knees, trusting God, learning how to pray, not depending on our circumstances. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:42.640 It's not moving around, listen to me, it's not moving around that grows us. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:48.400 For some of us, it requires more faith to stay than to move on. 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:53.279 I'm gonna say more about this. 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:55.839 It's in my notes at the end. 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:58.720 But I want you to start thinking about that. 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:03.839 That brings us to our third word, altar. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:09.599 There is an altar to build for Abraham and for us. 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:16.960 Tent, Donald Gray Barnhouse from 10th Presbyterian Church said this decades ago. 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:20.960 A tent and an altar was all Abram ever had. 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:27.279 A tent and an altar was all that he had. 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:32.880 Verse 7, the Lord appeared to Abram with great promises. 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:36.319 So he built, Abram built an altar. 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:39.200 Finish the sentence because you've got to finish the sentence. 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:43.680 Abram built an altar to himself. 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:44.880 No. 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:48.000 To the Lord. 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:52.559 Not all altars are built to the Lord. 00:28:56.559 --> 00:29:03.119 Only your heart reveals who your altar is dedicated to. 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:08.960 We can say with our lips, oh, that altar is to the Lord. 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:13.200 But have you had the experience like I've had where my heart says, no, it's not? 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.640 Have you had that? 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:16.160 I'm sure you have. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.720 If you have the Holy Spirit. 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:23.599 He built an altar to the Lord. 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:33.680 Oh, I love going back and reading the old preachers. 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.480 F. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:34.799