Leaving and Receiving

1 A RUSSIAN COUNTESS ACCEPTED THE LORD JESUS AS HER SAVIOUR • AND WAS OPEN ABOUT HER TESTIMONY. • THE TSAR WAS DISPLEASED AND THREW HER INTO PRISON. • AFTER 24 HOURS WITH THE LOWEST LEVEL OF RUSSIAN SOCIETY, • IN THE MOST MISERABLE CONDITIONS IMAGINABLE, • HE ORDERED HER BROUGHT INTO HIS PRESENCE. • HE SMILED AND SAID, “WELL, ARE YOU READY NOW TO RENOUNCE YOUR SILLY FAITH • AND COME BACK TO THE PLEASURES OF THE COURT?” • TO HIS SURPRISE, THE COUNTESS SMILED AND CALMLY SAID • “I HAVE KNOWN MORE REAL JOY AND MORE REAL HAPPINESS • IN ONE DAY IN PRISON WITH JESUS • THAN I HAVE KNOWN IN A LIFETIME IN THE COURTS OF THE TSAR.” • SOMETIMES IN LIFE IT TAKES A DRAMATIC CHANGE • FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THOSE WALKING • IN THIS WORLD WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST • HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE MISSING • I KNOW FOR SURE THAT BEFORE I CAME TO CHRIST • I WAS UTTERLY CLUELESS ABOUT WHERE I WAS • WHO I WAS, WHAT I WAS DOING, HOW I WAS LIVING • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN CALLED • OUT OF THAT OLD LIFE TO BE TRANSFORMED • TO LIVE A NEW LIFE….. IN CHRIST • TODAY WE ARE RETURNING TO THE BOOK OF GENESIS • TURN TO GENESIS 12:1 • WHEN WE FINISHED UP LAST YEAR MOSES HAD TOLD • THE ISRAELITES ABOUT THE TOWER OF BABEL • AND HE HAD GIVEN THEM THE GENEALOGIES • FROM SHEM (NOAH’S SON) TO ABRAM • MOSES IS NOW GOING TO TELL US THE DETAILS • ABOUT ABRAM BEING CALLED BY GOD • TO A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN HIS LIFE GENESIS 12:1 NOW THE LORD SAID TO ABRAM, “GO FORTH FROM YOUR COUNTRY, AND FROM YOUR RELATIVES AND FROM YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE, TO THE LAND WHICH I WILL SHOW YOU; CALLED TO LEAVE PEOPLE • GOD HAD SPOKEN TO NOAH AFTER THE FLOOD • AND THEN NOTHING… FOR 300 YEARS GOD SPEAKS TO NO ONE. • AND THE FIRST WORDS AFTER 300 YEARS WERE • “GO FORTH FROM YOUR COUNTRY,” • STEPHEN AT HIS TRIAL EXPLAINED • THAT GOD ACTUALLY APPEARED TO ABRAM ACTS 7:2 AND HE SAID, “HEAR ME, BRETHREN AND FATHERS! THE GOD OF GLORY APPEARED TO OUR FATHER ABRAHAM WHEN HE WAS IN MESOPOTAMIA, BEFORE HE LIVED IN HARAN, • THESE WORDS WERE SAID TO ABRAM • A MAN LIVING IN THE LAND OF UR • UR IS A PAGAN LAND WORSHIPING FALSE GODS • IN IMMENSE TEMPLES… BUT UR IS ALSO • A CULTURALLY DEVELOPED LAND • WITH LAWS, AND COMMERCE COMFORT AND SAFETY • AND GOD COMMANDS ABRAM • TO MOVE HIMSELF FROM HIS HOMELAND… • SOMETIMES IT TAKES SOMETHING DRAMATIC TO GET US TO CHANGE • ABRAM IS IN A COMFORTABLE PLACE… A PLACE HE KNOWS • AND GOD DRAMATICALLY CALLS HIM OUT OF WHAT HE KNOWS… • THAT IS KINDA WHAT HAPPENS TO FOLKS WHEN CHRIST CALLS THEM • THEY ARE LIVING IN A PAGAN DECADENT WORLD • BUT IT IS ALSO A COMFORTABLE WORLD • A WORLD THEY KNOW… • AND THEN GOD CALLS THEM TO FAITH IN CHRIST • AND THEY ARE CALLED TO LEAVE COMFORT • NOT ONLY IS ABRAM CALLED TO LEAVE HIS COUNTRY • HE IS COMMANDED TO LEAVE • FROM YOUR RELATIVES AND FROM YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE, • IN THAT CULTURE FAMILY AND RELATIVES • WERE NOT JUST NICE TO HAVE AROUND • THEY WERE NOT JUST CONVENIENT • FAMILY AND RELATIVES WERE SECURITY…. SAFETY • FAMILY AND RELATIVES WERE FINANCIAL SAFETY • THEY WERE HOW YOU MADE A LIVING • THEY WERE HOW YOU DEFENDED YOUR SELF • HOW YOU PROTECTED YOUR FLOCKS AND HERDS • AND GOD HAS CALLED ABRAM TO LEAVE THEM • GOD COMMANDS THAT HE CHANGE HIS COUNTRY • GOD COMMANDS THAT HE CHANGE HIS LIFESTYLE • THOSE ARE SOME PRETTY DRAMATIC CHANGES • JUST LIKE ABRAM WAS CALLED TO MAKE SOME DRAMATIC CHANGES • SO ARE WE, WHEN WE COME TO JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR MATTHEW 10:37 “HE WHO LOVES FATHER OR MOTHER MORE THAN ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME; AND HE WHO LOVES SON OR DAUGHTER MORE THAN ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME. • IT WOULD TAKE A LOT FOR ME TO JUST CHANGE • SO MANY THINGS ABOUT MY LIFE • THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME PRETTY GOOD REASONS • I WOULD AT LEAST WANT TO KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING • BUT ABRAM IS CALLED NOT KNOWING WHERE • IT IS ONE THING TO COMMAND SOMEONE TO PACK UP AND MOVE • TO LEAVE COUNTRY… FAMILY… RELATIVES.. • IT IS SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT • TO ASK THEM TO DO THIS • AND NOT SAY WHERE THEY ARE TO MOVE TO • GOD COMMANDS ABRAM TO GO TO • THE LAND WHICH I WILL SHOW YOU; • AS IN… START DRIVING AND I’LL TELL YOU WHEN WE GET THERE • INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH…. THIS IS ALSO A LOT LIKE • HOW IT WORKS FOR THOSE COMING TO CHRIST • GOD THE FATHER CALLS US TO CHRIST • CHRIST SAYS… LEAVE THAT WORLD YOU LIVED IN • THE PAGAN ONE.. THE DECADENT.. CORRUPT ONE… • LEAVE THE COMFORT OF FAMILIAR ACTIONS… THOUGHTS… DESIRES • LEAVE THE PEOPLE WHO YOU WERE CLOSE TO IN THAT MESS OF A WORLD • LEAVE… AND GO.. AND I AM NOT GONNA TELL YOU WHERE • YOU ARE GOING … JUST GET UP AND LEAVE… • THAT IS THE CALL I FELT WHEN I GOT UP • AND WALKED DOWN THAT AISLE IN 2006 • AND I HAD NO IDEA WHERE IT WAS GONNA TAKE ME • LET ME BE REAL HONEST HERE… • AT THAT POINT WHEN I STARTED DOWN THAT AISLE • I DID NOT KNOW MULLIN TEXAS EVEN EXISTED • NEVER HEARD OF IT.. I JUST STARTED WALKING DOWN THE AISLE • I TRUSTED IN CHRIST.. AND A FEW MONTHS LATER • HE SAID.. OK LETS GET TO WORK… • AND TEN YEARS AFTER THAT I ENDED UP IN MULLIN TEXAS • THAT IS SOME PRETTY DRAMATIC CHANGE….. • SOME PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO ACCEPT CHANGE. • THERE’S A STORY ABOUT A DOCTOR • WHO TOLD A MAN TO GIVE UP EATING RED MEAT, • SO.. THIS FELLA, HE STOPPED PUTTING KETCHUP ON HIS HAMBURGERS…. • GOD LOVES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US • JUST LIKE WE ARE… • BUT HE DOES NOT WANT US TO STAY THAT WAY • WE ARE ALL CALLED TO CHANGE.. • NOW, IT CAN BE REALLY HARD TO CHANGE • BUT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND • WHAT GOD IS OFFERING US IF WE WILL CHANGE GENESIS 12:2 AND I WILL MAKE YOU A GREAT NATION, AND I WILL BLESS YOU, AND MAKE YOUR NAME GREAT; AND SO YOU SHALL BE A BLESSING; PROMISED A GREAT PEOPLE • MANY OF US MIGHT NOT HAVE EVEN HEARD THIS PART • WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE A WAY OUT OF THE COMMAND TO GO • COME UP WITH SOME EXCUSE.. I’D LIKE TO GO… BUT… • THERE WERE THREE PARTS TO THE COMMAND • LEAVE COUNTRY… LEAVE RELATIVES… LEAVE FATHERS HOUSE • AND THEN WE SEE THREE PROMISES. • THE FIRST OF THESE THREE PROMISES IS • I WILL MAKE YOU A GREAT NATION, • THAT PHRASE “GREAT NATION” • IS A WAY OF SAYING EXTRAORDINARILY LARGE PEOPLE GROUP • YOU GOTTA LEAVE THAT COUNTRY… THAT NATION YOU ARE IN • BUT IF YOU DO I WILL MAKE YOU A GREAT NATION… • NOW THIS IS AN AMAZING PROMISE.. • BUT IT IS EVEN MORE AMAZING WHEN YOU REALIZE • THAT ABRAM IS IN HIS 70’S AND HAS NO KIDS • FOR SOMEONE TO BECOME A “GREAT NATION” • THEY HAVE TO HAVE DECEDENTS.. AND NOT JUST A FEW • AND ABRAM HAD NONE. • FOR ABRAM TO BECOME A GREAT NATION IT IS GONNA TAKE • AN ACT OF GOD… THANKFULLY ABRAM IS PROMISED GOD’S FAVOR • THE SECOND PROMISE GOD GIVES ABRAM IS • I WILL BLESS YOU, • THE WORD USED HERE FOR BLESS MEANS • DIVINE FAVOR, ACTIONS TAKEN BY GOD TO AID OR HELP • AS WE GO THROUGH THE BOOK OF GENESIS • WE ARE GONNA SEE THIS BLESSING HAPPEN OVER AND OVER • THERE WILL BE PERSONAL BLESSINGS • MATERIAL BLESSINGS, BLESSINGS IN HIS WORK • BLESSINGS IN BATTLES HE WILL FIGHT • BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE BLESSINGS WILL BE HIS SON • BORN WHEN ABRAM IS 100 • HE WAITED FOR THIS BLESSING OVER 20 YEARS… • BUT IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT… • BUT GOD WAS NOT DONE WITH THE PROMISES… • IF ABRAM WOULD LEAVE HIS COUNTRY… • HIS RELATIVES… HIS FATHERS HOUSE.. • LEAVE THE FAMILIAR… THE SAFE… THE COMFORTABLE.. GOD PROMISED INFLUENCE • THE WAY THIS IS WORDED…. • AND MAKE YOUR NAME GREAT; • IS TALKING ABOUT ABRAM’S INFLUENCE • BEING WIDESPREAD… EVEN ACROSS GENERATIONS.. • NOW… WE MIGHT WANT TO REMEMBER • THE REASON THEY BUILT THE TOWER OF BABLE • WAS BECAUSE THEY WANTED MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES • SO… THE IDEA OF MAKING A NAME FOR YOURSELF… IS NOT SUCH A GOOD THING • BUT THE IDEA OF GOD MAKING YOUR NAME GREAT • IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT… THIS IS NOT ABOUT ABRAM’S EGO • THIS IS ABOUT GOD’S GLORY BEING REVEALED • THROUGH THE ABRAM’S LIFE • ABRAM’S NAME… HIS LIFE.. HIS FAITH… • WILL STILL BE INFLUENTIAL… HIS NAME IS STILL GREAT • THOUSANDS OF YEARS AFTER THESE WORDS WERE WRITTEN… • ABRAM LEFT HIS COUNTRY… HIS RELATIVES… HIS FATHERS HOUSEHOLD • AND GOD FULFILLED HIS PROMISES TO ABRAM…. • AS CHRISTIANS WE HAVE A VERY SIMILAR SET OF PROMISES • ABRAM WAS PROMISED THAT GOD WOULD MAKE HIM A GREAT NATION • WE ARE PROMISED THAT WHEN WE TRUST IN CHRIST • WE BECOME PART OF THE GREATEST NATION PHILIPPIANS 3:20 FOR OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN, FROM WHICH ALSO WE EAGERLY WAIT FOR A SAVIOR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST; • THAT IS OUR NATION… HEAVEN.. THE GREATEST NATION.. • WE HAVE THE PROMISED BLESSING OF GRACE JOHN 1:16 FOR OF HIS FULLNESS WE HAVE ALL RECEIVED, AND GRACE UPON GRACE. • THERE CAN BE NO GREATER BLESSING THAN THE GRACE OF GOD • HIS UNMERITED FAVOR • AND WE HAVE THE PROMISE THAT AS WE WALK IN CHRIST’S LIGHT • WE WILL INFLUENCE THE WORLD AND BRING GLORY TO GOD MATTHEW 5:16 “LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. • GOD FULFILLED HIS PROMISES TO ABRAM • GOD FULFILLS HIS PROMISES TO US • AND OUT OF THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR • GOD FULFILLING HIS PROMISES TO US…. WE ARE CALLED TO BLESS OTHERS • NOW IN OUR TRANSLATION IT SAYS • AND SO YOU SHALL BE A BLESSING; • BUT KINDA MAKES IT SOUND LIKE • GOD IS TELLING ABRAM THAT HE WILL BE A BLESSING • BUT THE GRAMMAR IN THE HEBREW IS VERY CLEAR • THIS IS A COMMAND, AN INSTRUCTION • FOR ABRAM TO BE A BLESSING • GOD GAVE ABRAM A COMMAND TO GO FORTH • AND FOLLOWED IT UP WITH THREE PROMISES…. • OUT OF THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR THESE BLESSINGS • WE SEE GOD GIVE ABRAM A COMMAND TO BE A BLESSING • THIS COMMAND IS FOLLOWED BY THREE MORE PROMISES… • WE NEED TO REMEMBER THIS COMMAND TO BE A BLESSING • AS WE STUDY ABRAM’S STORY IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS… • IF WE PAY ATTENTION, WE WILL SEE JUST HOW • ABRAM IS A BLESSING TO THOSE AROUND HIM • HE IS CERTAINLY A BLESSING TO LOT, HE IS A BLESSING TO MELCHIZEDEK… • JUST LIKE GOD INSTRUCTED ABRAM TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS • WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO BLESS OTHERS 1 PETER 3:9 NOT RETURNING EVIL FOR EVIL OR INSULT FOR INSULT, BUT GIVING A BLESSING INSTEAD; FOR YOU WERE CALLED FOR THE VERY PURPOSE THAT YOU MIGHT INHERIT A BLESSING. • SEE WE ARE CALLED TO EVEN BLESS THOSE ARE DO EVIL TO US • WE ARE CALLED TO DO THIS FOR THE SAME REASON • ABRAM WAS INSTRUCTED TO BE A BLESSING • OUT OF THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US • WE HAVE RECEIVED AMAZING BLESSINGS • R. C. CHAPMAN, A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN, WAS ASKED HOW HE WAS FEELING. • “I’M BURDENED THIS MORNING!” WAS HIS REPLY. • BUT HIS HAPPY ATTITUDE CONTRADICTED HIS WORDS. • SO THE QUESTIONER ASKED IN SURPRISE, • “ARE YOU REALLY BURDENED, MR. CHAPMAN?” • “YES, BUT IT’S A WONDERFUL BURDEN— • IT’S AN OVERABUNDANCE OF BLESSINGS • FOR WHICH I CANNOT FIND ENOUGH TIME • OR WORDS TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE!” • THE BEST WAY FOR US TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE • FOR THE OVERABUNDANCE OF BLESSINGS GOD GIVES • IS BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS…. GENESIS 12:3 AND I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU, AND THE ONE WHO CURSES YOU I WILL CURSE. AND IN YOU ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH WILL BE BLESSED.” OBEDIENCE AND BLESSINGS • GOD INSTRUCTED ABRAM TO GO…. • LEAVING COUNTRY, FAMILY, AND HIS FATHERS HOUSE • AND GOD PROMISED THREE THINGS IF HE OBEYED • MANY DECEDENTS, THE DIVINE FAVOR OF GOD, AND INFLUENCE… • GOD FOLLOWED THESE PROMISES WITH AN INSTRUCTION • TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS • THIS INSTRUCTION IS FOLLOWED BY THREE MORE PROMISES • FIRST GOD PROMISES THAT HE • WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU, • GOD IS PROMISING TO BE A FRIEND TO ABRAM’S FRIENDS • TO CARE FOR THOSE THAT CARE FOR HIM • AND THERE IS THIS SENSE THAT THIS PROMISE • EXTENDS TO THE GREAT NATION THAT WILL COME OUT OF ABRAM • IF WE LOOK FOR IT, WE SEE EVENTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT • THAT BEAR THIS OUT • INDIVIDUALS AND NATIONS THAT ARE HELPFUL… A BLESSING • TO THE HEBREW PEOPLE RECEIVE DEVINE FAVOR • BUT THERE IS A SECOND PROMISE BALANCED WITH THIS ONE • AND THE ONE WHO CURSES YOU I WILL CURSE • NOW WE KINDA MISS SOMETHING IN THE ENGLISH HERE • THE HEBREW HAS TWO DIFFERENT WORDS FOR CURSE • THE FIRST ONE MEANS MORE LIKE REVILE OR INSULT • AND THE SECOND MEANS MORE LIKE DIVINE HARM • SO THE ONE WHO REVILES OR INSULTS ABRAM OR HIS DESCENDANTS • GOD WILL CAUSE HARM TO COME TO HIM • AND DID YOU NOTICE HOW THE BLESSINGS HERE • ARE APPLIED TO THE GROUP… • THOSE WHO BLESS I WILL BLESS (AS A GROUP) • AND THE CURSE IS INDIVIDUAL.. • THE ONE WHO CURSES WILL CURSE (INDIVIDUALLY) • GOD WILL BE A FRIEND TO ALL WHO ARE FRIENDS TO ABRAM • GOD WILL BE AN ENEMY TO ANYONE WHO IS AN ENEMY TO ABRAM • AND THEN WE SEE THE FINAL BLESSING THE ULTIMATE BLESSING • GOD TELLS ABRAM • IN YOU ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH WILL BE BLESSED.” • THIS IS A STUNNING PROMISE • THERE ARE FEW WAYS WE CAN TAKE THIS PROMISE • WE CAN SEE IT AS A PROMISE THAT ALL PEOPLE GROUPS • IN THE WORLD WILL BE BLESSED BY ABRAM THE INDIVIDUAL • POSSIBLY THIS COULD BE IN REFERENCE TO THE • EXAMPLE THAT ABRAM PROVIDES FOR FAITH IN GOD • PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD READ THEIR BIBLES • AND SEE THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAM’S FAITH IN GOD • AND THEY ARE BLESSED BY THIS EXAMPLE • BUT THERE IS ANOTHER WAY WE CAN TAKE THIS PROMISE • MOSES WROTE THIS BOOK TO HEBREWS • WHO VIEWED ABRAM AS THE FATHER OF THEIR NATION • IN THEIR CULTURE ABRAM REPRESENTED THEM AS A PEOPLE • AND THEY MIGHT SEE THIS PROMISES AS BEING ABOUT THEM • THAT THE HEBREW PEOPLE WOULD BE A BLESSING TO ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH • AND THAT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN TRUE • IN MANY WAYS ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH • HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THE HEBREW PEOPLE • BUT THERE IS ONE MORE WAY TO SEE THIS PROMISE • JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH.. THE MESSIAH… THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD • IS OF THE LINE OF ABRAM MATTHEW 1:1 THE RECORD OF THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF DAVID, THE SON OF ABRAHAM: • AND IT IS CERTAINLY VALID TO SAY • THAT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST • THROUGH HIS LIFE, DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION • ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH • HAVE BEEN BLESSED ACCEPTING THE GOSPEL IS CERTAINLY A DRAMATIC CHANGE • WE WILL CERTAINLY KNOW MORE REAL JOY • AND MORE REAL HAPPINESS • IN ONE DAY WITH JESUS THAN A LIFE • TIME FOLLOWING AFTER THE WORLD…. • WHEN WE BRING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE TO OTHERS • WE ARE BRINGING A MESSAGE THAT IS VERY SIMILAR • TO THE ONE GOD BROUGHT TO ABRAM • WE ARE CALLING THEM TO A DRAMATIC CHANGE • THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO LEAVE WHERE THEY ARE • NOT THEIR PHYSICAL COUNTRY… BUT WHERE THEIR HEART IS • LEAVE THE SELFISH SELF-CENTERED WORLD • OF DOING WHATEVER I WANT CAUSE I HAVE TO GET MY WAY.. • GOD IS ASKING THEM TO LEAVE… COMFORT.. SECURITY… • AND COME WITH HIM TO A PLACE THEY DON’T KNOW • IF THEY WILL LEAVE THAT LIFE, GOD PROMISES THEM • THEY WILL BE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN • THEY WILL RECEIVE GOD’S DIVINE FAVOR • THEY WILL HAVE INFLUENCE AS THEY LIVE FOR CHRIST • THEY WILL BE CALLED TO BLESS OTHERS IN THIS NEW LIFE • WHEN THEY BRING THE GOSPEL TO OTHERS THEY WILL • BE BRINGING THE ULTIMATE BLESSING • ETERNAL SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVOIR • WE ALL NEED THIS SALVATION BECAUSE WE ALL SIN… 88