Trusting God: A Legacy Beyond Comfort

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting the Voice of God Over All Other Voices

The voice of God is powerful, creative, and life-giving, yet from the beginning, humanity has been tempted to doubt and distrust what God says. The enemy’s oldest tactic is to whisper, “Did God really say?”—causing us to question God’s promises, His provision, and His love. Every struggle with worry, anger, self-hatred, or disobedience can be traced back to whether we truly trust God’s voice or rely on our own understanding. Like Abraham, we are called not just to believe in God, but to believe God—to take Him at His word and anchor our lives in His unchanging truth, even when circumstances are uncertain. [07:40]

Psalm 29:1-11 (ESV)
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

Reflection: Where in your life are you hearing the whisper, “Did God really say?”—and how can you intentionally choose to trust God’s voice above all others today?

Day 2: Building on God’s Promises, Not Our Own Strength

The story of Babel is a vivid reminder of humanity’s drive to make a name for ourselves, to seek significance apart from God, and to trust in our own abilities and achievements. Yet, God’s promise to Abraham—“I will make your name great”—stands in stark contrast to self-made ambition. The choice before each of us is whether we will strive to build our own legacy or surrender our gifts, talents, and future to God, allowing Him to define our significance and purpose. True greatness and meaning are found not in what we can build for ourselves, but in trusting God to fulfill His promises in and through us. [11:10]

Genesis 11:1-9 (ESV)
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.
And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”
And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.
And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.
Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.
Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

Reflection: In what area of your life are you tempted to “make a name for yourself” rather than trusting God to define your significance? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him today?

Day 3: God’s Covenant: He Keeps His Promises, Even When We Fail

God’s covenant with Abraham is a breathtaking picture of grace: while ancient contracts required both parties to walk between the pieces of sacrificed animals, God alone passes through, taking upon Himself the full weight of the promise and its consequences. This act foreshadows the gospel—God’s willingness to bear the curse for our failures, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, who was “cut off” for our sake. Our relationship with God is not a partnership of equals, but a covenant where God’s faithfulness covers our unfaithfulness. We can rest in the assurance that God keeps His word, even when we fall short, and His promises are anchored in His unchanging character. [18:05]

Genesis 15:1-18 (ESV)
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”
And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”
And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”
But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”
He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half.
And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.
Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.
But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.
And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.”

Reflection: Is there a promise of God you struggle to believe because of your own failures? How does knowing God alone bears the weight of the covenant change your confidence in His promises?

Day 4: Living for Future Generations, Not Just for Ourselves

Abraham’s journey was not just about his own blessing, but about building a legacy of faith for generations to come. Unlike Hezekiah, who was content with peace in his own lifetime, Abraham looked beyond his own comfort and security, enduring hardship so that his descendants—and ultimately the world—could be blessed. Faith is a public journey, not a private philosophy; it calls us to step out of comfort, to sacrifice for others, and to trust God for a future we may never fully see. The measure of our vision is revealed in our willingness to pay a price today for the sake of those who come after us. [27:42]

Hebrews 11:11-16 (ESV)
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
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.
For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can invest in the faith or well-being of the next generation, even if you may not see the results in your lifetime?

Day 5: Embracing the Spirit of Adventure and Sacrifice

God calls His people, especially fathers and leaders, to step beyond comfort and safety, to pioneer, to take risks, and to fight for the inheritance and promises that will bless future generations. The spirit of Abraham is a spirit of adventure, courage, and sacrificial love—a willingness to leave behind what is familiar for the sake of God’s kingdom and others. In a world that often encourages passivity and self-preservation, God is raising up men and women who will pay the price so that others may flourish. Will you answer the call to live boldly, to leave comfort behind, and to pursue the promises of God for the sake of those who come after you? [34:50]

Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Reflection: Where is God calling you to step out of comfort and take a risk for the sake of His kingdom or for someone else’s good? What is one step you can take today to move beyond safety and into God’s adventure?

Sermon Summary

Abraham’s story is a powerful invitation to trust God’s voice above all else, to anchor our lives in His promises, and to live for a legacy that outlasts our own comfort. Abraham was called out of a place of wealth and security at the age of 75, showing that God’s purposes are not limited by age or circumstance. His journey began with a simple but profound act: he listened to God’s voice and obeyed, even when the full picture was hidden from him. This willingness to trust God’s word, rather than his own resources or understanding, set Abraham apart and made him the only person in Scripture specifically called a “friend of God.”

The story of Babel stands in stark contrast to Abraham’s life. At Babel, humanity sought to make a name for themselves, building a monument to their own significance and security, refusing to trust God’s promises. They used their gifts and technology to serve their own ends, rather than submitting them to God. In contrast, God’s promise to Abraham was, “I will make your name great.” The choice remains for us: will we strive to build our own legacy, or will we allow God to define our significance?

Abraham’s faith was not perfect. He faltered, made mistakes, and sometimes tried to fulfill God’s promises in his own strength. Yet, God’s covenant with Abraham was not dependent on Abraham’s ability to keep his end of the bargain. In Genesis 15, God alone passes through the pieces of the covenant sacrifice, symbolizing that He would bear the consequences for both parties if the covenant was broken. This points forward to Christ, who was “cut off” for our sake, fulfilling the covenant on our behalf.

Faith is not a private philosophy but a public journey. Abraham’s obedience was not just for his own benefit, but for the blessing of generations to come. He lived as a stranger and pilgrim, seeking a better country—a heavenly one. The call of God is to step out of comfort and safety, to live for something greater than ourselves, and to build a foundation for those who come after us. Especially on Father’s Day, we are reminded that the spirit of a father is to pay the price now so that future generations can inherit the promises of God. God is calling us to rise up, shake off complacency, and live lives of faith, adventure, and sacrificial love.

Key Takeaways

1. Trusting God’s Voice Over All Others The root of so many of our struggles is not trusting the voice of God. The enemy’s oldest tactic is to whisper, “Did God really say?”—causing us to doubt God’s promises about provision, love, and freedom. True faith is not just believing in God, but believing God—taking Him at His word, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Anchoring our lives in His unchanging voice is the only way to withstand the shifting tides of life. [63:00]
2. The Danger of Building Our Own Name The story of Babel reveals humanity’s drive to make a name for themselves apart from God, using their gifts and resources to secure their own significance. There is a subtle temptation to trust our abilities and only turn to God as a last resort. In contrast, God’s promise to Abraham is that He Himself will make our name great if we trust Him. The question is whether we will use our gifts to serve God, or use God to serve our own ambitions. [71:10]
3. God’s Covenant: He Bears the Cost In the ancient covenant ceremony, God alone passes through the pieces, taking upon Himself the curse for both parties if the covenant is broken. This is a profound picture of grace: God commits to keep His promises even at the cost of His own life, which is ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Our relationship with God is not a partnership of equals, but a gift of unmerited favor—He is faithful even when we are faithless. [82:29]
4. Living for Future Generations Abraham’s faith was not just about his own blessing, but about building a legacy for those who would come after him. Unlike Hezekiah, who was content with personal peace even if his descendants suffered, Abraham lived and died in faith, seeking a city whose builder is God. The measure of our faith is often seen in our willingness to endure discomfort and sacrifice for the sake of future generations. [87:42]
5. The Spirit of a Father: Courage to Leave Comfort The nature of a father is to call his children beyond comfort and safety, to risk and to pioneer for the sake of others. God is raising up men and women with the spirit of Abraham—to leave behind what is familiar, to fight for the promises of God, and to build something that will bless generations. The church is called not just to be a place of comfort, but a launching pad for lives of faith, adventure, and sacrificial love.

** [92:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Father’s Day and Dad Jokes
[03:30] - Introducing Abraham: Friend of God
[07:10] - The Power of God’s Voice
[13:00] - The Enemy’s Tactic: “Did God Really Say?”
[17:30] - Trusting God vs. Trusting Idols
[22:00] - Anchored in Christ: The Anchor Illustration
[27:00] - The Story of Babel: Making a Name for Ourselves
[34:00] - Trusting Gifts vs. Trusting God
[39:00] - God’s Promise to Abraham: “I Will Make Your Name Great”
[44:00] - Abraham’s Imperfections and Failures
[48:00] - The Covenant Ceremony Explained
[54:00] - God Alone Bears the Cost of the Covenant
[60:00] - Faith as a Public Journey
[65:00] - The Spirit of a Father: Living Beyond Comfort
[70:00] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 12:1-4 — The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him...

2. Genesis 15:1-18
(The covenant ceremony where God alone passes through the pieces, promising to bear the cost for both parties.)

3. Hebrews 11:8-16
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going... They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Observation Questions

What did God ask Abraham to do when He first called him, and how did Abraham respond? (Genesis 12:1-4)
In the covenant ceremony in Genesis 15, who passes through the pieces of the animals, and what is the significance of this? ([01:18:05])
According to Hebrews 11, what was Abraham looking forward to, and how did that shape the way he lived? ([01:27:42])
In the story of Babel (Genesis 11, referenced in the sermon), what was the motivation behind building the tower, and how does this contrast with Abraham’s story? ([01:11:10])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chose to call Abraham at the age of 75, when he was already settled and comfortable? What does this say about how God works in our lives? ([07:10])
The sermon says, “There’s a difference between believing in God and believing God.” What does it mean to actually believe God, and how is that different from just believing He exists? ([13:00])
Why is it significant that God alone passed through the pieces in the covenant ceremony? What does this teach us about God’s faithfulness and our relationship with Him? ([01:22:29])
How does Abraham’s willingness to leave comfort and live as a “stranger and pilgrim” challenge our own approach to faith and security? ([01:27:42])

Application Questions

The sermon highlighted that the enemy’s oldest tactic is to whisper, “Did God really say?” In what areas of your life do you find yourself doubting God’s promises? What are some practical ways you can anchor yourself in God’s voice this week? ([13:00])
Abraham was willing to leave behind wealth, comfort, and security to follow God’s call. Is there something in your life that God might be asking you to leave behind or risk for the sake of His calling? What would it look like to take a step of faith in that area? ([07:10])
The story of Babel warns against using our gifts and resources to build our own name instead of trusting God. Are there areas where you are tempted to seek your own significance apart from God? How can you reorient your gifts to serve God’s purposes? ([01:11:10])
The covenant with Abraham shows that God is faithful even when we are not. How does this truth affect the way you approach your failures or shortcomings in your walk with God? ([01:22:29])
Abraham’s faith was about building a legacy for future generations, not just his own comfort. What are some specific ways you can invest in the spiritual future of your family, church, or community? ([01:27:42])
The “spirit of a father” is described as having the courage to leave comfort and fight for the promises of God for others. Who in your life needs you to step out of your comfort zone for their sake? What is one thing you can do this week to bless or encourage them? ([01:32:13])
The sermon challenged us to shake off complacency and live lives of faith, adventure, and sacrificial love. What is one area where you feel God is calling you to be more adventurous or sacrificial? How can the group support you in this? ([01:32:13])

Sermon Clips

In fact, God creates the world through his words. And we know in John that it says the word became flesh. And God doesn't just create through his words and his voice, but he speaks to his creation. And he speaks to Adam. And he speaks to Eve. And things are going well. But if you're watching this like a movie or watching this like a play, the big question would be, will creation listen and obey the word of God? That is the big question from day one in the garden. [01:00:21]

The enemy is aware of how powerful the voice of God is. So what is the first thing that he does? He asks Eve, did God really say? He comes to undermine the word of God, comes to undermine the voice of God that can set us free. And that is still a question that is being asked of us today. [01:02:16]

All of our problems and difficulties come from not trusting that voice, from not trusting the word of God, not trusting the voice of God. Are you worried? Maybe it's because you don't trust his wisdom. Are you angry and bitter? Maybe it's because you don't trust his justice. Do you hate yourself? Maybe it's because you don't trust his love and his grace for you and over you. [01:03:17]

What we say to ourselves is, I better do what I believe will make me happy, because if I trust God, I will miss out. It's a good definition of sin right there. I'm gonna make myself happy because I don't really trust that God can do it. [01:03:56]

See, an idol is not always something that you love more than God. Often it's something that you simply trust more than God. In fact, many idols people hate. I hate this thing that keeps me where I am. I hate this addiction. I hate this stuff. I hate working myself to death every day. But you know what? I trust this thing more than I trust God. [01:04:14]

There's a difference between believing in God and believing God. Say that again. There's a difference between believing in God and believing God. [01:04:40]

Taking God by his word is something that we need to grow in and get stronger in. [01:05:17]

When you are in a sea of uncertainty, which often life does to us, what you need is an anchor. Because the sea bed is unshakable. It's unmovable. It's been there for all of existence, and it's not going anywhere quickly. And what you need is something that's going to anchor you in a sea of uncertainty. Something unshakable, unmovable, a foundation beneath you. [01:06:31]

Hebrews 6 verse 19 says, We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Jesus is our firm foundation. The Father is our firm foundation. We are anchored in this life that the circumstances cannot pull us away or pull us out to sea. [01:06:59]

Are we going to use our talents, our skills, our technology, our capacity, everything we have to make a name for ourselves? And God has given us all those things. There is nothing wrong with using the talents and the skills and the things that you have been given. But there is a difference between trusting God and using your gifts versus trusting your gifts and using God. [01:09:48]

One of the contrasts is they say, let us make a name for ourselves. And what God says to Abraham is, I will make your name great. And there is this question that or this thing that faces all of us. Are we going to try and make ourselves great or do we submit ourselves to God and allow him to do that for us? [01:12:59]

The story of Babel with its tower reaching for the heavens is a powerful picture of humanity's quest for significance apart from God. The drive to make a name for ourselves through achievement, technology or intellect is as alive today as it was then. Yet God's promise to Abraham is the antidote. I will make your name great. The choice is stark. Will we strive to build our own legacy or will we allow God to define our significance? [01:13:29]

Abraham leaves it all behind, forsaking all of the comfort that he has to follow God. But Abraham is also not perfect. That's one of the things I love about the Bible is the characters are so human and they make mistakes that we can relate to. [01:14:27]

God is saying, I will take upon me the curse of the covenant for both of us. God is saying, may I be cut off if I don't fulfill my part of the bargain. But Abraham, may I be cut off if you don't fulfill your part of the bargain. And God says, I will bless you even if it means that I have to die. [01:24:46]

Jesus became that which we see, that broken, that ram cut in two. Jesus becomes that because we couldn't hold up our end of the bargain. Abraham had no idea what it was going to cost God to keep his promise to him and to us. God is a promise -keeping God. His word is true. We can trust him. He is faithful when we are faithless. [01:25:51]

He is someone that we can trust. He is the anchor, the unmoving, unchanging anchor that we can connect our lives to so that we will not be shaken. [01:26:28]

Faith is a public journey, not a private philosophy. Abraham's life demonstrates that God's call often requires leaving behind comfort and security to step into the unknown, trusting in his promises. This journey is not just for personal benefit, but for the sake of blessing the world as God's redemptive plan unfolds through those who trust him. [01:26:54]

Abraham didn't even live in all the promises. He saw some of the blessings, some of the promises, some of the things that God had spoken of came true in his lifetime. But Abraham was building for a future generation. And I want to ask us, how large is our vision? What measure of discomfort are we prepared to endure for future generations? [01:29:43]

And the story of Abraham is a father who leaves the safety, who leaves the comfort, not for himself, but for the future generations that God has promised. [01:33:22]

God is calling us to fight for the generations and to fight for promises that we're going to pay in sweat and blood and we're not going to live in. Our children and our children's children are going to live in. And I think God is raising up the spirit of a father, which is the spirit of Abraham, which says, I'll pay the price. I'll pay the price so that my kids can live in the things that God wants to. [01:34:02]

And God is calling men to rise up again and to shake off the lies of the enemy that is dragging us into this weak, neutered, insipid form of Christianity that never looks to pioneer, never looks to push, never looks to take ground for the kingdom. [01:34:30]

And it's time that we get up like Abraham did and we leave the comfort of our space and we go and see the promises and see the inheritance that God has for us. [01:35:10]

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