WEBVTT 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:07.280 Stories in the book of Genesis. 00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:18.879 If you measure time by the genealogies in Genesis, the first 11 chapters of Genesis cover about 2,000 years. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:21.679 So 11 chapters, 2,000 years. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:35.119 And then God takes 39 chapters from chapter 12 to chapter 50 to cover the lives of one man and his sons and grandsons. 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:39.439 Okay, so you might think this man is important. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:41.840 And you would be right. 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:55.920 Because not only does God give 14 chapters of his of his uh of Genesis to him, he gives a whole chapter in the book of Romans, he gives two chapters in the book of Galatians. 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:59.119 Abraham is called the father of them who believe. 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:06.239 Abraham three times is called the friend of God, a title that's only given to him, no one else. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:13.439 And the writer of Hebrews, when he lists the heroes of the faith, he gives more words to Abraham than anybody else. 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:19.439 So, and he says, this is a man we can learn to live by faith from. 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:22.319 And we call him Father Abraham. 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:31.760 He's the father of those who believe because in Abraham started this lineage and journey all the way to Jesus. 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:33.840 This was a promise. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:37.359 The writer of Hebrews is making a larger picture. 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:48.159 He's painting a larger picture of what it means to approach God, about living by faith, living and approaching God by faith. 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:56.079 That there's a better covenant, there's a better, there are better promises, there are better, there's better blood that was shed, that speaks a better word. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:01:59.120 And Jesus is a better mediator. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:15.360 So the whole point is pointing to the fact that we, just like Abraham was justified by faith, and therefore he was right with God, we are justified by faith in what has been done in Jesus Christ. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:17.439 And we're right with God. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:21.439 So we're learning from the lives of these heroes of the faith. 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:30.159 And one of the things that we're learning is that faith is not merely something you have, faith is a way of life. 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:35.439 Faith walks, faith works, faith looks like something. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:46.639 Faith hears God and responds in obedience and steps out into unknown places and does things that don't make sense sometimes. 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:52.240 It does things that by all measures are impossible unless God is involved. 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:55.680 That's what we see in the heroes of the faith. 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:02.800 So I want to tell you this morning just three things that I saw in this passage as I've been studying it over the last three weeks. 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:07.199 And the first thing is that by faith Abraham obeyed God. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:10.560 Just what the first words that we read, okay? 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:18.960 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place where he was to receive as an inheritance, and he went out not knowing where he was going. 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:26.319 So let's go to the passage that this writer is talking about in the book of Genesis, chapter 12. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:28.719 Genesis 12, starting at verse 1. 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:33.759 Now the Lord said to Abram, Abram and Abraham are the same person. 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:40.000 God changed his name when he changed his destiny, which happens quite a bit in Scripture. 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:48.080 So here you're going to read, we're going to read Abram, but it's the same person as Abraham, and I'll be referring to him as Abraham through the sermon. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:56.000 Now the Lord said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:04:05.280 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. 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:15.840 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. 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:20.560 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:25.600 Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:43.040 So here we have a pagan, a man who likely worshipped many gods, and yet he is singled out and called by the one true living God, and who in kindness reveals himself to him. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:53.120 I think what's revealed in Abraham's story is not so much the faith of Abraham, but the mercy and faithfulness of God. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:58.000 When God reveals himself to you, it's a gift. 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:05.199 God decided to reveal himself to us. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:07.600 And this is the gift of God. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:14.959 But studying Abraham's life, it's a little bit funny because he's really inconsistent, you know? 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:26.160 It's like sometimes he he's a he's upright and he's trusting God, he's doing things that are that are uh really outside of reason because he's believing God. 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:32.240 And other times he's he's like acting like there's no God at all, and he has to take everything into his own hands. 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:36.480 So it's a little confusing when you're reading Abraham's whole story. 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:52.560 If you just read Abraham's story, but if you read the the God of the story, if you study the God of the story, you find out that he is faithful even when Abraham isn't faithful. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:53.600 He's consistent. 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:57.519 He remains the same even when we stumble in our faith. 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:02.639 So the true hero of Abraham's story is not Abraham, it's God. 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:07.120 And the true story of the true hero of our story is also God. 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:18.879 So everything Abraham lacked was made up in the character and the nature and the faithfulness of the God who called him. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:23.120 And we read several times in Genesis that God appeared to him. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:25.439 And that's a gift. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:27.839 And I'm wondering what must have happened. 00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:31.920 We're not told in this account what it was like when God spoke to him. 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:39.040 Other accounts later in Genesis, we are told more details about how God came to him and interacted with him. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:44.319 But this time we're just told God spoke to him, but he had to appear to him to speak to him. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:56.000 And what Abram saw was had to be so life-changing that he was willing to change his own life. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:00.560 Actually, to step out and do things that were that didn't seem to make sense. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:07.120 Something powerful enough about the the appearing of God that caused him to obey. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:11.680 Sometimes we get a glimpse of God, and that's all it takes. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:14.959 We can we can actually step out and do something. 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:17.680 And everything changes in our life because of that. 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:28.000 I was thinking about the stories that we hear of current-day Muslims who see a vision of Jesus out of nowhere, and it's enough. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:31.519 That one vision is enough to change their whole life. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:38.639 It's enough for them to risk being alienated from their families, to risk death. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:43.839 Everything changes because what they saw was worth the change. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:49.439 So here's my question to you. 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:52.720 Do you remember a time that God has revealed Himself to you? 00:07:53.920 --> 00:08:07.120 Either in a vision, like an experience, or over a period of time, like a journey, where he's been leading you, opening your eyes up to the fact that he wants to have a relationship with you? 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:10.399 Have you seen this God? 00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:11.839 Has he appeared to you? 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:14.959 Is he making himself known to you? 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:21.759 And if so, and maybe that maybe that day is today, maybe that season in your life is right now. 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:27.759 And if so, you should you should take a tip from Abraham and just obey. 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:29.120 Take a step. 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:31.839 Take a step. 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:33.759 Obey God's call. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:36.320 Because first Abraham heard the call. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:43.600 I love the way the King James says it because it says um God repeated to Abraham and he said, Get thee out. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:46.799 She's a great get thee out. 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:49.759 I think we should we should have like t-shirts. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:52.639 Get thee out, get thee out. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:57.679 But that wasn't very easy, you know, because Ur was not a little place. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:09.919 Ur where Abraham lived, was not, it was like a big city, and it was a center for learning, it was a center for commerce, and it was generally a comfortable place. 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:12.799 I mean, this is a place of security. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:21.120 But Abraham saw something that made him willing to leave his comfort and his security and go out. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:25.519 He gave up everything that was familiar to follow a God he did not know at that point. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:27.600 He had not known up to that point. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:33.600 So there in that calling, God initiated a relationship. 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:37.840 And this is what I want you to see is that faith is about relationship. 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:41.840 It's not about what you can conjure up and how you can believe God. 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:50.879 Faith is about the beginning of a relationship that continues to grow as you walk with Jesus, all the way until you are with Jesus. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:52.320 You're growing. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:55.679 And Abraham went not knowing where he was going. 00:09:55.919 --> 00:10:00.639 Oswald Chambers, in his little book, Not Knowing Whither, says this. 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:04.559 Faith never knows where it's being led. 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:07.919 It knows and loves the one who is leading. 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:16.080 The call of God only becomes clear as we obey, never as we weigh the pros and cons and try to reason it out. 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:20.320 When Jesus Christ says, follow me, he never says to where. 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:25.279 The consequences must be left entirely to him. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:33.039 So if you're going to get thee out, there is a from and there is a to. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:39.600 Get thee out from your country, from your family, from your father's house. 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:45.600 God said to Abraham, these are all influences that mold a person's life. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:52.399 They can be real anchors in a person's life, or they can be shackles in a person's life. 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:55.120 It can be positive or it can be negative. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:11:08.320 But God's saying, make a clean break from your past, from the things that have defined you, and follow God in His new definition of you. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:12.799 Ultimately, he changed Abram's name. 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:21.759 So there are things that are trying to pull us back into the old ways of thinking, but I'm asking you this morning, is there anything that God is asking you to get thee out from? 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:45.919 Does he want you to get thee out from a way of living that is not pure before him, from a sin, from a job, from a relationship, from a season of your life that he is changing, and he's saying that doesn't define you anymore. 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:47.679 There's a new destiny. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:51.600 If that's the case, then do it. 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:54.320 There's your sermon. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.120 Do it. 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:00.720 I have to make it a little bit longer than that, but that's really it. 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:01.919 Just do it. 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:04.559 Abraham, by faith, Abraham obeyed God. 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:05.759 Just do it. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:06.639 Do it. 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:08.480 Don't weigh the pros and cons. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:08.960 Do it. 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:10.240 That's what faith looks like. 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:12.559 Get thee out from your country, he says. 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:17.120 Okay, that's a big deal for Abraham, because maybe more than it is from us. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:18.159 It's not that hard. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:22.000 It's an issue to, you know, to move from one place to another. 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:23.919 But it was bigger for him. 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:26.320 Get thee out from thy country. 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:29.120 In Abraham's day, land ties were huge. 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:33.279 Land was, most people didn't travel more than a few miles from their home, even. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:38.960 And land was everything because you pulled your very existence out of the land that you owned. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:44.480 So if you leave your land, you're leaving that security of provision. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:49.519 Get thee out to a new place. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:53.360 Get thee out of thy country to the country that I will show you. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:57.519 Get you out, get thee out of the comfort. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:06.000 Step off of the shore onto the boat that's going to sail you to where I want you to be. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:08.240 That's what God was really saying. 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:12.720 From your current existence to my plan for you. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:16.240 And then he said, from your kindred, family. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:22.240 Okay, now we're getting into emotional ties and cultural responsibilities. 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:27.679 And for Abram, there was big cultural pressure to take care of his extended family. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:35.840 We don't have that as much in our culture, although some of us are in the season of life where we're we need to take care of our family members. 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:40.159 But most of us don't have the kind of pressure that Abraham had. 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:50.080 And there are seasons when we are, when we are, we set things aside and we love our loved ones by meeting their needs. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:51.759 And that's right, and that's noble. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:53.120 It's the right thing to do. 00:13:53.279 --> 00:14:00.879 But I've seen another kind of family ties that prevents us from stepping out into the will of God. 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:07.519 I've known people who are so tied down to their identity that their family put into them. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:13.519 Their family of origin put something in you that was negative, and you don't believe you can do it. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:14.639 You don't believe you could do it. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:16.080 You couldn't step out. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:24.320 Like Gideon, and God calls him and says, I want you to join with me on mission, and I want you to save Israel. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:29.200 And Gideon says, I mean, obviously you don't understand. 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:32.720 Obviously, you don't know who you're talking to. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:40.000 I'm the least one in the least family, in the least tribe. 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:43.279 And some of us feel that way. 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:47.120 God couldn't use me. 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:51.679 And God calls, and you say, You got the wrong person. 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:53.519 That happens a lot in scripture. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.320 Have you noticed? 00:14:54.639 --> 00:15:01.039 The people God shake things up with are the people who think they could never shake anything up. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:07.200 But who's more qualified to know what you're capable of? 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:09.120 God or you? 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.279 It's it's not rhetorical. 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:12.080 God or you? 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.759 Okay, good. 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:16.480 Yeah. 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:17.759 Yeah. 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:20.639 And if he calls you, there's a reason. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:22.399 It may not be because you're great. 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:25.519 It may be because you are the least in the least in the least. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:30.879 But it may be because he wants to glorify his name through the least of who you are. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:31.919 It's okay. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:33.519 He gets glory. 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:41.519 But if you don't step out, there's an adventure of a lifetime that God may be calling you into. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:50.960 And when you're 80 or 85 or 90 years old, and you're looking back, and you'll say, I'm so glad I took a step. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:59.759 But I've known people who've been ridiculed and belittled by their parents or their family members. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:02.320 They and it just set a trajectory for their lives. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.639 It set a mindset inside of them. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:06.240 I can't do this. 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:14.080 And those relatives' voices are like the loudest voices in their head in their life. 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:26.960 And it beats them down and it holds them back until they learn to turn that volume down and turn the volume up of what the scripture says about them or what God thinks about them. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:30.879 And God wants you to be free from that. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:36.000 You're not the sum of your family history, brother. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:41.360 You've been adopted into a different family. 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:45.679 And if God calls you, you can get thee out. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:50.159 Get thee out of that family identity that has held you back. 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.519 Get out. 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:53.519 Step out. 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:04.640 Abraham had to leave his idol worshiping, extended family and follow what he knew was true. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:16.240 And then we add to the fact that Abraham was a wealthy man, and this wasn't easy to do to get out, because I mean it wasn't like he put his stuff in a couple of carry-ons and went down to the airport. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:18.240 He had caravans. 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:31.200 We're talking about livestock and at least dozen scores of people that were counting on him, uprooting all these people, and it looked impossible or at least impractical. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:34.880 And then you added the fact that he didn't even have a destination when he started out. 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.240 Okay, everybody, let's go. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:36.960 We're going. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:37.440 Okay. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:38.720 We're ready. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:39.039 Let's go. 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:40.079 Where are we going? 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:45.119 Um, I don't. 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:47.119 Are we going east or west? 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:50.160 Um, are we going north? 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:55.839 Um, well, he said he would show me as I was going. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:59.279 Whoo, you gotta be kidding. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:02.400 How do you how are you gonna follow somebody like that? 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:05.599 It takes, it's not an easy thing that God was asking him to do. 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:08.880 But he said, all he had was not a destination, but he had a promise. 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:09.680 He had a promise. 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:11.039 I will bless you. 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:14.720 I will bless you so that you will be a blessing. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:18.319 I will bless you so that you will be a blessing. 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:24.880 And all you, all the families in you, all the families of the earth will be blessed, including us this morning. 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:26.880 Including us. 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:31.119 For through his seed came Jesus. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:34.079 We are blessed this morning by his faith. 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:36.400 So as we walk, God's gonna show us. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:38.079 Faith is about relationship. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.839 As you walk, he shows you. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:56.960 So is there something God is stirring inside of your heart that's gonna cause you to leave comfort and get the out to a place of blessing, but a blessing to bless other people. 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:59.599 By faith, Abraham obeyed God. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:04.079 It's really simple, it's not easy, but it's simple. 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:07.200 You you know, you can you can have simple, but not easy, right? 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:14.400 This is simple, and there are natural reasons that always cause us to think it can't happen. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:17.279 I mean, he was 75 years old. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:19.119 That's an issue. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:22.000 Let's go on a journey. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:29.920 He didn't have clear directions, other people's lives were hanging in the balance of his decision. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:33.599 The land they were traveling through was not the most fertile in the world. 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.960 None of this makes sense. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:36.880 None of it makes sense. 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:39.119 But you know what? 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:44.880 Abraham believed, if God is with me, what does it matter where I go and what happens? 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.680 If God is with me. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:51.359 You see, Abraham was a friend of God. 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:58.319 There's this presence of God that changes everything about how you look at an unsure future. 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:02.480 This problem we all have, the future's not known. 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:06.799 The presence of God changes how you look at that. 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:08.799 He was the friend of God. 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:11.599 As he was walking, God spoke to him. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:17.200 As he took a step, God led him and guided him through those things. 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:23.680 Something he saw when God appeared to him made him think everything was worth it. 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:24.160 And he did. 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:24.880 He stepped out. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:27.279 But we see something similar with Sarah. 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:29.200 So this is the second thing I saw. 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:31.519 Sarah knew the one that she believed in. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:34.160 Sarah knew the one she believed in. 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.400 Look what it says. 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:47.519 It says, By faith, Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful, who had promised. 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:49.920 She had an opinion of God. 00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:54.079 Now, she also laughed when she heard it. 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:55.599 Okay. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:00.559 And sometimes God tells us things and it's and it's laughable to us, you know? 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:03.599 So, okay, well, God's very patient when we laugh. 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:07.359 He did call her out on it, and she denied it. 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.960 And he said, uh-uh. 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.480 You did. 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:12.000 You did laugh. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:15.279 God might call you to do laughable things. 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:18.160 Things, well, it's laughable because it's not possible. 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:19.599 That's why it's laughable. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.720 But look what it says. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:24.240 It says, by faith, Sarah herself. 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:32.000 I love how that's put because she did not live vicariously through the faith of her husband. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:38.480 By faith, Sarah herself received power to conceive. 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:41.200 This was not a piggyback kind of faith. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.079 She believed. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:43.359 She herself believed. 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:45.440 And you yourself have to believe. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:50.640 Sometimes God, when we're young in the Lord, He connects us to people who have a vision. 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.920 And this is good. 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:54.400 And they and we kind of live off their faith. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.680 We kind of learn from their faith. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:59.759 But there's a time when God calls you to have your own faith. 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:08.640 You can't hang on the faith of your parents or your husband or your friends or your pastors. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.960 You need your faith. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:14.960 It needs to be you by faith. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:17.039 By faith. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:26.079 Chad himself, Trisha herself, Sharon herself believed God and received power. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:30.480 And God uses women as much as He uses men. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:40.960 God gifts and empowers and fills women with faith for impossible things, and impossible things happen. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:48.160 A lot of us, probably here today, are the products of the faith and prayers of our moms. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:54.480 I'm almost 100% sure I'm here because of my mom's faith and prayers. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:58.160 Many of us. 00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:00.480 So Sarah, why does she believe? 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:04.640 She believed because she considered him faithful who promised. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:09.279 She saw something in, she believed in God's character. 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:16.559 So again, Oswald Chambers says this faith is not resignation to a power we do not know. 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:23.680 Faith is committal to one whose character we do know because it has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:29.200 It's not just a blind faith, it's faith in his character. 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:33.759 It's not even faith in my ability to believe or to make things happen. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:35.680 It's faith in his character. 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:44.160 I step out because I believe him to be good and able and strong and faithful and trustworthy. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:51.440 And then when I step out, I find him to be more of those things than I even imagined. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.880 Can I testify this morning? 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.559 Give you a story. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:24:10.640 So uh years ago, even before Melissa passed, uh, we were we were planning to uh do more of ministry in the nations, and um we were talking to the elders about that. 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:16.240 And so uh, and then and then when she passed away, it was like there was an uncertain future. 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:20.240 Man, you don't know, you don't know what to do, do you? 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:25.119 Those of us who've lost our spouses, we don't know exactly how to go forward. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:29.039 It's uncertain, but I believed there was a call there. 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:30.640 I believe there was a get the out. 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:35.200 And so there was a there was a time when I'm we're we're praying with the elders. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:37.440 It's like my I'm full-time at the church. 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:41.759 My I'm gonna be five, six months of the year out of the country. 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:45.680 I can't be full-time at the church because I'm not full-time at the church. 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:49.839 So my salary comes down, so I have to believe God to raise money, right? 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:53.599 So, okay, so I'm up in my head because I'm like you are. 00:24:54.079 --> 00:25:04.319 I'm I'm thinking, okay, I'm calculating, okay, I need this much to live on, and so I need you to provide this much, Lord, and I'm gonna believe you. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:06.720 I'm gonna like Abraham, I'm gonna obey. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:09.200 I'm gonna step out and believe you, and this is what I need. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:11.279 So I'm actually gonna stretch my faith, Lord. 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:16.079 I'm gonna believe you not just for this, I'm gonna believe you for like that much. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:20.400 It wasn't, it wasn't, it was not this, but it was just that. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:22.240 Yeah, like I'm even gonna stretch. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:24.480 That's how far my faith could stretch at that point. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:26.960 It's like, I'm gonna trust you even for this. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.559 And you know what happened? 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:35.920 The first year when I stepped out, he didn't give me this and he didn't provide this, he provided that. 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:39.680 It was just crazy. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.799 It was crazy. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:47.279 It was, and it was majority of it was from anonymous givers that I didn't know who they were. 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:54.640 Let me ask you, was it my faith that manifested that? 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:58.160 It was not. 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:01.039 My faith was like right here. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:06.240 It was my faith that obeyed God and took a step. 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.680 I just took a step. 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:11.359 It was God's faithfulness that manifested that. 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:20.319 I didn't call those anonymous people and say, hey, you know, I'm going uh out on faith here because you I don't even know who they are. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:22.079 God did it. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:26.160 When we step out, this is what we're called to do. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:29.599 We're not called to know everything, to provide everything. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.039 We're called to just obey. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:33.680 By faith, Abraham believed God. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.119 This is the way it is. 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:39.920 God will do his part if we do our part. 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:43.519 So, my question to you is what you know of God. 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:46.880 Here's the thing: I knew God was faithful. 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.240 He had been faithful to me. 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:52.640 I knew that he honored my obedience in the past. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:27:00.720 I knew that he had called me, but I didn't know all of those things as much as I was going to learn those things. 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:08.880 I learned he was much more faithful, much more able, much more willing than I even understood him to be. 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:17.680 So, is what you know of God and his character and his previous works in your life worth trusting him for the future? 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:21.839 Worth getting the out and taking a step? 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:29.599 Is it worth stepping out into something to a destination that he knows but you don't know? 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.200 Is he worth that? 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:44.480 Living by faith means you have to resign control of your future to the one who holds the future, and that's how you face an unknown future. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.240 There's your answer. 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:49.519 How do you get bearings for what you don't know is gonna happen? 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:55.119 You give your future into the hand who that holds the future. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:28:05.440 If you want to live a life whose designer and builder is God, you're gonna have to turn in your contractor's license. 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:11.359 Stop building it yourself, burn the deed. 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:20.160 I don't know, whatever, whatever metaphor you want to use, you you gotta you gotta release it into the hands that are trustworthy. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:26.960 So faith is a life of surrender to a God whose character you believe is worthy of surrendering to. 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:37.759 And Abraham and Sarah walked this faith walk together, imperfectly, sometimes blindly, but together. 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:42.880 And the promise had to come through Abraham and Sarah. 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:45.119 One of them alone was not enough. 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:53.200 It takes two to bring a baby into this world, to bring a promise into this world. 00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:57.359 And husbands and wives are in this together. 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:00.079 Press in. 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:03.920 Married couples, press into one another. 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:09.839 Press in to God in this walk of faith. 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:14.720 So, what did Abraham and Sarah learn about God when they're walking on their journey? 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:16.079 Well, they learned he was kind. 00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:22.000 They learned when they made mix mistakes, he was patient and he was kind and he could make up for those things. 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:25.599 In spite of my bad decisions, his blessing can come. 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:32.000 He learned God is an they learned God is an all-powerful creator. 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:35.440 Look at the stars, Abraham. 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:37.440 Can you count those? 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:47.519 If I'm able to put those in the heavens, I'm also able to create countless airs for you. 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:48.880 Doesn't matter. 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:54.799 In the heavens, in the womb, I'm able to create beyond your imagination. 00:29:56.799 --> 00:30:01.519 And they learned that God is generous because he blessed and continued to bless. 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:03.759 And they learned to be generous. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.839 You know, Abraham was generous. 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:08.480 He he just lived with his hands open. 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.440 He gave. 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:11.359 He gave Lot the best land. 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:14.480 He said, We're gonna choose, but you choose, you choose. 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:15.839 You choose whatever land you want. 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:21.519 And Lot chose the better land, and God still blessed him, still blessed Abraham. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:28.480 Abraham tithed before tithing was mentioned in the Bible. 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:33.599 He thed before there was a command to tithe, because he had tithing in his heart. 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:36.960 It didn't come from the outside, you know, to do this thing. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:38.079 It came from the inside. 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.920 I need to just be open. 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:45.279 He lived like this because he saw a generous God and he became generous. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:52.799 Okay, the last thing I saw in this is that my faith or my lack of faith affects other people. 00:30:54.640 --> 00:31:00.880 Everybody who went on this journey with Abraham eventually shared in the blessing that God gave to this man. 00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:07.039 The blessing that God put in his life also rippled over into their lives. 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:20.960 Wives and servants and extended family and surrounding people groups and us today, we got we're we're living in the ripple of this blessing of his step of faith. 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:25.599 Your faith affects other people around you. 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:30.079 Abraham let Lot choose the best land. 00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:37.440 And Lot chose the portion towards Sodom, and Lot got himself in trouble. 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:40.000 He made bad decisions, and now he's in trouble. 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:45.039