Obedient Faith: Trusting God's Call and Leading Families
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we delved into the story of Abram from Genesis 12:4-9, focusing on his obedient faith in response to God's call. We began by reciting Acts 2:42-47, emphasizing the importance of memorizing and internalizing God's Word. We then prayed for our nation, our community, and specific individuals like Mike, who is currently exploring faith in Jesus.
Abram's story is a powerful example of how God's call transforms lives. Despite being an unlikely candidate, Abram responded to God's promises with obedient faith. He left his homeland, took his family, and journeyed to an unknown land, demonstrating his trust in God's Word. This obedient faith is not just about belief but about acting on God's Word, reorienting our lives and families towards God, and modeling trust in His promises.
We discussed how true faith is not merely a belief but a rock-solid assurance that leads to action. Abram's faith was evident in his immediate obedience to God's call, his leadership in guiding his family towards God, and his consistent worship and trust in God's promises. This kind of faith is what we are called to emulate in our own lives.
We also touched on the importance of family in our faith journey. Abram didn't just go alone; he took his family with him, modeling what it means to worship and follow God together. This highlights the significance of leading our families in faith and ensuring that our homes are centered around God's Word.
Finally, we looked at how Abram's life, marked by his tent and the altars he built, symbolized his sojourner status and his unwavering trust in God's promises. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, Abram's faith grew stronger as he continued to walk with God, leaving a legacy of faith for his descendants and for us to follow.
### Key Takeaways
1. Obedient Faith Hears and Acts on God's Word: True faith begins with hearing God's Word and responding to it. Abram's immediate obedience to God's call demonstrates that faith is not just belief but action. This kind of faith requires us to trust God's Word completely and act on it, even when it leads us into the unknown. [40:23]
2. Faith Reorients the Family Toward God: Abram's journey was not a solo endeavor; he took his family with him, modeling what it means to lead a family in faith. Our faith should drive us to guide our families towards God, ensuring that our homes are places of worship and devotion. This is crucial for the spiritual growth of our loved ones. [53:39]
3. Trust in God's Promises: Abram's life was marked by his trust in God's promises, even when he didn't see immediate results. He built altars as a sign of his faith and worship, showing that true faith involves trusting God's promises and worshiping Him amidst uncertainties. This trust is a testimony to both our families and the world. [59:48]
4. The Role of the Holy Spirit: Faith is not just an outward call but also an inward transformation by the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit's work, we cannot truly believe and act on God's Word. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live out our faith and grow in godliness, making our faith genuine and life-changing. [45:48]
5. Evaluating Our Faith: Genuine faith is evidenced by our actions and obedience to God's Word. We must continually evaluate our lives to see if we are living out our faith in a way that honors God. This involves not just personal devotion but also leading others, especially our families, in faith and worship. [51:37]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[08:51] - Prayer for the Nation and Mike
[21:00] - God's Sovereignty and Our Prayers
[32:23] - Introduction to Abram's Story
[33:32] - God's Call and Abram's Obedience
[34:44] - Faith and Works
[35:47] - True Saving Faith
[36:53] - Abram's Faith in a Hostile Culture
[37:55] - Reading Genesis 12:4-9
[39:17] - Obedient Faith Hears and Acts
[40:23] - Obedient Faith Hears and Acts on God's Word
[45:48] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[51:37] - Evaluating Our Faith
[53:39] - Faith Reorients the Family Toward God
[59:48] - Trust in God's Promises
[01:09:32] - Building Altars in Our Lives
[01:20:33] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Genesis 12:4-9
- Acts 2:42-47
- Romans 10:13-15
### Observation Questions
1. What did Abram do in response to God's call according to Genesis 12:4-9?
2. How does Acts 2:42-47 describe the early church's devotion to God's Word and community?
3. According to Romans 10:13-15, what is necessary for someone to call on the name of the Lord and be saved?
4. In the sermon, what were the two main images associated with Abram's faith journey? ([01:00:47])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Abram's immediate obedience to God's call in Genesis 12:4-9 demonstrate the nature of true faith? ([40:23])
2. What role does the Holy Spirit play in enabling believers to respond to God's Word, as discussed in the sermon? ([45:48])
3. How does Abram's act of building altars symbolize his trust in God's promises despite uncertainties? ([59:48])
4. Why is it significant that Abram took his family with him on his faith journey, and how does this relate to the importance of family in our faith journey? ([53:39])
### Application Questions
1. Abram's faith led him to act immediately on God's Word. Reflect on a time when you felt called to act on God's Word. Did you respond immediately, or did you hesitate? What was the outcome? ([40:23])
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of leading our families in faith. How can you practically model worship and devotion to God in your home this week? ([53:39])
3. Trusting in God's promises can be challenging, especially in uncertain times. Identify a promise from God's Word that you find difficult to trust. How can you remind yourself of this promise daily? ([59:48])
4. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in transforming our faith. How can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily life? ([45:48])
5. Evaluate your current faith journey. Are there areas where you need to grow in obedient faith? What specific steps can you take to strengthen your faith and trust in God's Word? ([51:37])
6. Abram built altars as a sign of his faith and worship. What are some "altars" you can build in your life to signify your trust and worship of God? ([59:48])
7. Reflect on the importance of memorizing and internalizing God's Word as mentioned in Acts 2:42-47. How can you incorporate Scripture memorization into your routine to strengthen your faith? ([08:51])
Devotional
Day 1: Obedient Faith Hears and Acts on God's Word
True faith begins with hearing God's Word and responding to it. Abram's immediate obedience to God's call demonstrates that faith is not just belief but action. This kind of faith requires us to trust God's Word completely and act on it, even when it leads us into the unknown. Abram's journey to an unknown land, leaving behind his homeland and familiar surroundings, is a powerful testament to the kind of faith that God desires from us. It is a faith that listens, trusts, and moves forward in obedience, regardless of the uncertainties that lie ahead. [40:23]
Hebrews 11:8 (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."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt God calling you to step out in faith. How did you respond? What is one area in your life where you need to act on God's Word today?
Day 2: Faith Reorients the Family Toward God
Abram's journey was not a solo endeavor; he took his family with him, modeling what it means to lead a family in faith. Our faith should drive us to guide our families towards God, ensuring that our homes are places of worship and devotion. This is crucial for the spiritual growth of our loved ones. Abram's example shows us the importance of involving our families in our faith journey, creating a household that is centered around God's Word and His promises. By doing so, we not only strengthen our own faith but also nurture the faith of our family members. [53:39]
Joshua 24:15 (ESV): "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Reflection: How can you lead your family in faith today? What practical steps can you take to ensure that your home is a place of worship and devotion to God?
Day 3: Trust in God's Promises
Abram's life was marked by his trust in God's promises, even when he didn't see immediate results. He built altars as a sign of his faith and worship, showing that true faith involves trusting God's promises and worshiping Him amidst uncertainties. This trust is a testimony to both our families and the world. Abram's unwavering faith, despite the challenges and delays, serves as an example for us to hold on to God's promises and continue to worship Him, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill His Word. [59:48]
Romans 4:20-21 (ESV): "No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised."
Reflection: What promises of God are you holding on to today? How can you demonstrate your trust in God's promises through your actions and worship?
Day 4: The Role of the Holy Spirit
Faith is not just an outward call but also an inward transformation by the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit's work, we cannot truly believe and act on God's Word. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live out our faith and grow in godliness, making our faith genuine and life-changing. It is through the Holy Spirit that we receive the strength and guidance to follow God's call and to live a life that reflects His love and truth. [45:48]
John 14:26 (ESV): "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
Reflection: How have you experienced the Holy Spirit's guidance in your life? What steps can you take to be more attuned to the Holy Spirit's leading today?
Day 5: Evaluating Our Faith
Genuine faith is evidenced by our actions and obedience to God's Word. We must continually evaluate our lives to see if we are living out our faith in a way that honors God. This involves not just personal devotion but also leading others, especially our families, in faith and worship. By regularly assessing our faith and actions, we ensure that we are growing in our relationship with God and living in a manner that reflects His love and truth to those around us. [51:37]
2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV): "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"
Reflection: Take a moment to evaluate your faith. Are there areas where you need to grow in obedience to God's Word? How can you lead others, especially your family, in faith and worship today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Guys, if yesterday doesn't show you our nation needs to hear the gospel and they need to be changed by it so let's just pray for our nation everything that's going on in this election season." [21:00] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Listen, as we dig into these next set of verses, looking at how Abram responds to God's call. Again, I really just want to highlight Abram's obedience. He had an obedient faith. Guys, his response to God's call, it's exactly what happens to us as believers when we hear God's word for the very first time. God's call as genuine believers, it should cause us to act on his word." [39:17] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Listen, I just love Abram's life, especially in these early parts of his life, because it just models what it looks like for us today as Christians. It's hard, it's challenging, especially when we live amidst a culture that just constantly pushes back on everything that the Bible teaches. It's hard to be obedient." [36:53] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Listen, if you're here, and as you think to yourself even now, you realize, maybe I don't believe in Jesus. Or maybe I do believe in Jesus, but I don't know Jesus, right? You're not motivated by the things of the Bible. Maybe you realize you've not been empowered. You've not been empowered by the Spirit. There's really not been any life change in you." [01:12:18] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Listen, if you're sitting there and you're thinking, I want that. I want to follow this Jesus. I want to be changed by this Jesus. It's simple. The Bible, it says all you have to do is repent and believe. All you have to do is turn to Jesus and confess with your mouth. Believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, that He raised from the dead. It's that simple." [01:14:13] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Listen, I think the point here goes even deeper than this. For someone that's come to know Jesus, their faith, it'll drive them to obediently lead their families toward God. In the next couple of verses, which we'll talk about in just a moment, God reaffirms his promise to Abram, and he tells him, to your offspring, I'll give you this land, or give them this land. And then what we see is Abram, he builds an altar to honor and worship the Lord." [56:09] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Listen, pay attention to the details in all of our passes so far. There's two main images that we see here. We see Abram's tent and we see the Lord's altar. Those are the two big images in our passage this morning. When Abram finally got to this land of promise, his home, guys, you have to understand, it was always a tent. He was a sojourner in a foreign land, in a land that God promised to give him." [01:00:47] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Listen, you really want to evaluate your own salvation this morning? Your own walk with Christ? What weight do you put on or in his word? I mean, just like Abram, you've heard it. You know what it says. How you should live. What he expects of you. Do you obediently follow his word? Because you trust him and you love him? I mean, that's what genuine converts do. They hear and they obey him." [52:16] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Listen, I know you're like, obedience, that word, it's like, it's a sticking point for us Protestants, right? But obedience is a result of hearing God and being changed by God. Like, I do the things to be a godly husband as best as I can, not because I have to for Brittany, because I love her. I want to, right? It's the same idea." [01:11:19] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Listen, as we come to verse four this morning, we see that Abram, he went forth as the Lord had told him. Now, I want to keep everything in context here. This whole chapter. This whole chapter. As we. As we progress through, it's about faith. It's about God's faithfulness, and it's about Abram's faith in God's promises. But what I want you to see here is that without hearing God's word initially, it is impossible to have any kind of faith in God or what it is that he says. You have to hear his word." [40:23] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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