Faith's Journey: Trust, Obey, and Worship God

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as a Continuous Journey

Faith is not a static event but a dynamic journey that unfolds over time. Abram's story in Genesis 12 exemplifies this journey, as he was called by God to leave his homeland and venture into the unknown. This journey required Abram to believe in God's promises, trust in His guidance, obey His commands, and worship Him throughout his life. Faith is multifaceted, beginning with belief in God's promises and extending to trust in His character and plans, even when the path is unclear. True faith leads to obedience, as seen in Abram's willingness to leave everything familiar and follow God's call. Moreover, faith is expressed through worship, as Abram built altars and called upon the name of the Lord. [49:36]

Hebrews 11:8-10 (ESV): "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 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."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith, even if the path is unclear? How can you take a step in that direction today?

Day 2: The Role of Grace in Our Faith

God's grace is a central theme in the story of Abram and in our own lives. Despite our unworthiness, God chooses to bless us and call us into a relationship with Him. Abram was chosen by grace, and we too are recipients of God's grace, called to salvation and blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. This grace is the foundation of our faith and compels us to live in obedience and gratitude. It is not something we earn but a gift that transforms our lives and draws us closer to God. As we reflect on God's grace, we are reminded of the depth of His love and the call to respond in faith, trusting in Jesus for our salvation and living lives that reflect His love and truth. [57:41]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: How has God's grace been evident in your life recently? In what ways can you express gratitude and live out this grace in your daily interactions with others?

Day 3: Faith and Obedience

True faith is not passive but active, requiring us to follow God's commands even when the path is uncertain. Abram's journey to Canaan illustrates that faith leads to obedience. He left his homeland, trusting in God's promises and guidance, even when he could not see the outcome. Obedience is a key aspect of living out our faith, as it demonstrates our trust in God's character and His plans for our lives. As we reflect on Abram's story, we are challenged to examine our own lives and consider how we can respond to God's call with the same willingness and trust. [01:18:32]

James 2:21-24 (ESV): "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness'—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."

Reflection: Is there a specific area in your life where you feel God is calling you to obedience? What steps can you take today to align your actions with His will?

Day 4: Trusting in God's Promises

Faith involves trusting in God's promises and His character. Abram trusted God to fulfill His promises, even when he could not see the outcome. This trust is not based on our circumstances but on the faithfulness and provision of God. As we journey through life, we are called to trust God in the same way, relying on His promises and character. This trust is a vital component of our faith, as it allows us to navigate the uncertainties of life with confidence in God's plan. [01:16:06]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: What is one promise of God that you find difficult to trust in your current situation? How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness and choose to trust Him today?

Day 5: Worship as an Expression of Faith

Worship is a natural response to faith. Abram's altars and prayers demonstrate that true faith leads to worship, acknowledging God's greatness and expressing our devotion to Him. Worship is not limited to singing or attending church services but is a lifestyle that reflects our faith in God. Our lives should be acts of worship, as we seek to honor God in all that we do. As we reflect on Abram's story, we are encouraged to consider how our faith is expressed through worship and how we can cultivate a heart of worship in our daily lives. [01:27:08]

Psalm 95:6-7 (ESV): "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand."

Reflection: In what ways can you incorporate worship into your daily routine, beyond traditional practices? How can your actions and attitudes reflect a heart of worship today?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound journey of faith exemplified by Abram in Genesis 12. We began by acknowledging the various activities and events happening within our church community, such as the talent show fundraiser for the Puerto Rico mission team and the upcoming fall festival. These events are opportunities for us to come together, support one another, and extend our love to the community. We also highlighted the significance of Baptism Sunday, encouraging those who have not yet taken this step of obedience to consider doing so.

Turning to the scripture, we delved into the story of Abram, who was called by God to leave his homeland and journey to an unknown land. This narrative is a powerful illustration of faith, which is not merely a one-time act but a continuous journey. Abram's faith was characterized by belief, trust, obedience, and worship. He believed God's promises, trusted in His guidance, obeyed His commands, and worshiped Him throughout his journey.

Faith, as we discussed, is multifaceted. It begins with believing the facts about God and His promises, but it goes beyond mere belief. It involves trusting in God's character and His plans, even when the path is unclear. True faith leads to obedience, as seen in Abram's willingness to leave everything familiar and follow God's call. Moreover, faith is expressed through worship, as Abram built altars and called upon the name of the Lord.

We also reflected on the grace of God, who calls and blesses us despite our unworthiness. Just as Abram was chosen by grace, we too are recipients of God's grace, called to salvation and blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. This grace compels us to respond in faith, trusting in Jesus for our salvation and living lives that reflect His love and truth.

As we concluded, we prayed for Todd and Noel, faithful members of our church who are moving to Florida. We thanked God for their service and asked for His blessings as they embark on this new chapter. We are reminded that, like Abram, we are all on a journey of faith, called to trust and obey God wherever He leads us.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith as a Journey: Faith is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. Abram's story teaches us that faith involves believing, trusting, obeying, and worshiping God throughout our lives. We are called to respond to God's call with the same willingness and trust that Abram demonstrated. [49:36]
2. The Role of Grace: God's grace is evident in His call to Abram and to us. Despite our unworthiness, God chooses to bless us and call us into a relationship with Him. This grace is the foundation of our faith and compels us to live in obedience and gratitude. [57:41]
3. Faith and Obedience: True faith leads to obedience. Abram's journey to Canaan illustrates that faith is not passive but active, requiring us to follow God's commands even when the path is uncertain. Obedience is a key aspect of living out our faith. [78:32]
4. Trusting God's Promises: Faith involves trusting in God's promises and His character. Abram trusted God to fulfill His promises, even when he could not see the outcome. We are called to trust God in the same way, relying on His faithfulness and provision. [76:06]
5. Worship as an Expression of Faith: Worship is a natural response to faith. Abram's altars and prayers demonstrate that true faith leads to worship, acknowledging God's greatness and expressing our devotion to Him. Our lives should be acts of worship, reflecting our faith in God. [01:27:08]
** [87:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:03] - Gratitude and Community
[25:40] - Focus on Worship
[46:51] - Introduction to Genesis 12
[48:02] - Abram's Call and Obedience
[49:36] - The Journey of Faith
[51:40] - Understanding Faith
[53:15] - The Complexity of Faith
[54:48] - Abram's Background
[56:04] - God's Will and Abram's Journey
[57:41] - Grace and Calling
[58:28] - God's Gracious Choice
[60:34] - The Gospel in Genesis
[61:32] - Spiritual Blessings in Christ
[64:01] - Faith's Many Facets
[74:14] - Trust and Salvation
[78:32] - Faith and Obedience
[87:08] - Faith and Worship
[91:50] - Closing Prayer and Farewell

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What specific command did God give to Abram in Genesis 12:1, and what was Abram's response? [49:36]
How did Abram demonstrate his faith through his actions as described in Genesis 12:4-5? [48:02]
What promises did God make to Abram in Genesis 12:2-3, and how do these promises relate to the concept of blessing? [57:41]
What actions did Abram take in response to God's appearance to him in Genesis 12:7-8? [01:27:08]

Interpretation Questions

How does Abram's journey illustrate the multifaceted nature of faith, including belief, trust, obedience, and worship? [51:40]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's grace is evident in His call to Abram and to us? [57:41]
How does the concept of faith as a journey, rather than a one-time event, challenge or affirm your understanding of faith? [49:36]
What does the sermon imply about the relationship between faith and obedience in the life of a believer? [01:18:32]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt called to step out in faith like Abram. What was your response, and how did it impact your journey of faith? [49:36]
How can you actively trust in God's promises and character in a current situation where the path seems unclear? [01:16:06]
In what ways can you express your faith through worship in your daily life, similar to how Abram built altars and called upon the name of the Lord? [01:27:08]
Consider the role of grace in your life. How does recognizing God's grace influence your response to His call and commands? [57:41]
Identify an area in your life where you struggle with obedience. What steps can you take to align your actions with your faith in God? [01:18:32]
How can you support and encourage others in your community to embark on their own journeys of faith, similar to how Abram's story inspires us? [49:36]
Reflect on the importance of community events, like the talent show and fall festival mentioned in the sermon, in fostering faith and support within the church. How can you participate or contribute to these events? [24:03]

Sermon Clips

1) "Baptism doesn't save you. It is kind of like I tell you guys, it's like this wedding band. It tells people I'm married. I can take it off. And guess what? I'm still married. But baptism doesn't save you. It is kind of like I tell you guys, it's like this wedding band. It tells them it doesn't save you, but it is something our Lord commanded us to do. And it's an outward profession of what he's already done on the inside. So if you haven't done that, I hope you'll be obedient to him and see me, see Caleb, see Seth, and be a part of that next week." [24:03] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "Faith is a very important word in Christianity. It encompasses... us as the Christian life. It is there in the beginning. When you think about it, we receive redemption, the forgiveness of our sins through faith. We say we are saved through faith in Christ. But we also need to understand that faith is not a one-time response for the Christian. It's not a one and done. Once we receive salvation through faith in Christ, we live by faith in Christ. So the Christian life is a journey of faith." [52:35] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Faith is trusting in God. It is reliance. You've heard me share this before, and it is not from me. I heard it myself. But to illustrate faith, we often help you see this. When all of you came in a few minutes ago, I get to watch you do this. I didn't actually see any of you stoop down to your knees and look under the chair to make sure the legs were there. None of you pushed down on the base to make sure that the base of that chair was not broken. No, every one of you plopped down in faith, trusting in that seat to hold you up. You're like, man, this is going to hold all my weight. That's what faith is, is trusting." [01:11:13] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Faith in Jesus is not trusting in you and your works. It's trusting in Jesus and his works for your right standing. The Bible is clear. Your works cannot save you. Only Jesus can. So faith is believing facts about Jesus, and it is trusting, in him as Lord. It is trusting in him as Savior. It is trusting in his work on that cross for your right standing with God. Gilbert said this, faith is reliance. It is a rock-solid, truth-grounded, promise-founded trust in the risen Jesus to save you from your sins." [01:13:03] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "Faith is what we live. The Christian life, one man said, is about believing God. It's about living by every word that proceeds from his mouth. It's about following him into places where we've never been, into situations where we never experience, into countries that we've never seen because we know who he is. Calling it blind faith is actually not correct. It's not a blind faith because you're trusting in the God who made those promises, those plans, carrying out his purposes. It's an interesting thing, isn't it? Faith is believing God. We always talk about believing in God, but it's believing God. Christians, we live by trust in the word of God. So faith, believes. Faith trusts." [01:17:44] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "True faith obeys Jesus, period. Because we love him, because we live in submission to him, we do what he tells us to do. No matter how we feel. One thing I have found in Christianity that is sometimes hard for me to swallow is the belief and behavior that God's commands are up for debate. That they're subject to your approval. This really, we have basically tried to add this facet to faith. Feeling. You know what I'm talking about. If I feel like I want to do this, then that's the command. I'll obey it now because I feel like it. No command of Jesus, no teaching of Jesus is subject to your approval. If he commands it and you are a Christian, you'll obey. Because true faith. Obeys. All the commands." [01:21:42] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "True faith obeys. I am presently in some counseling training for my certification for ACBC. And I kind of enjoy it. I was talking to Ryan this week about it. I kind of enjoy it because it's like preaching. You just, here's the truth of God's word. And then you realize that in counseling, any kind of counseling, once you present that truth and you help them to see what repentance is, if they're like, no, I'm not going to do that, there's not much more you can really do with that. I mean, like if I look at Ryan and go, Ryan, hey man, you need to stop doing that. Here it says that in the word. And Ryan goes, I don't really feel like it. Okay, Christian counseling's over. Let's go back to evangelism. I mean, really, it's just kind of, let's talk about the gospel. Let's talk about salvation. Because true faith obeys." [01:25:51] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "True faith believes. True faith trusts. True faith obeys. And true faith worships. I like this guy, Abram. He's a good example of faith. He responded with faith and he walked by faith. Two quick applications for us and I'll let you go home. First one is, if you're not a Christian, Abram believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. He responded in faith. I implore you to do the same. If you're not a Christian, by faith believe this. Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. He was buried. And on the third day, he arose from the grave. Believe the facts about Jesus. He is God. He is the one who stepped down and put on humanity to die for our profanity. Believe those facts. Trust in that good news. By faith, trust in this. That Jesus died. Trust in his death. Trust in his resurrection. Quit trusting in your works. Quit trusting in what you do. Trust in what he has done. Obey the gospel." [01:28:02] (77 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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