Sermon Tone Analysis

Prayer

Introduction:

The say imitation is the highest form of flattery…Well not from you.

From you it is just plain creepy.

I thought that was funny…I wonder how often God feels that way about us?

In Genesis 1:27, Moses tells us...

We are the image bearers of God.

We are called to represent God to the world.

We are called to represent His rule to the world.

We are called to harness creations potential to create beauty and order in our world.

We are His image bearers, but at times we do a poor job of reflecting His rule.

His Image.

Like Adam and Eve we still make the choice today that we want autonomy and have the desire to define good and evil based on our understanding.

Something humans have struggles with throughout the centuries.

We see it in the actions of Cain.

We see it in his decedent Lamech, who claims to be more wicked than Cain was and is proud of it.

We see it in those mentioned at the beginning of chapter 6 where it tells us that God saw, “how great the wickedness had become on earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.”

God starts over with Noah, just when you think things are better Noah gets drunk, Ham responds inappropriately and the world begins to spiral out of control again.

Till we end up at the Tower of Babel.

Where man disobeys God’s command to spread out into the world and set out to make a name for themselves instead of God.

How will God respond?

We find ourselves today in Genesis 12. Genesis 12 divides the book of Genesis from a focus on all the peoples of the earth to a story about one family and God’s plan to move through them.

This is the Story of Abram or who the one we know by the name Abraham.

God pulled Abraham out of paganism into a covenant relationship with Him.

So that all would be blessed through him.

It is not a story of a perfect man, but its a journey of one man and his family who learn to live by faith.

It is a story about how God seeks to address the sin problem in the world, because He has promised not to ever again wipe the slate clean and start over.

So, let us listen to this relationship begin to unfold and see the promises that God made to Abraham that I see as promises God still makes today and have been fulfilled through Jesus.

So, let’s look at some elements of this calling.

Abraham was called to go in faith.

Before this encounter, Abraham was a pagan, worshipping the God’s of his ancestors.

But God called Him.

Now, pay attention to the language in verse one and verse seven.

In verse, one he speaks to Him,this calling me back to the old Bill Cosby skit where God calls to Noah.

But something in His voice convinced Abraham to step out in faith and leave his country, his people and his family.

It was a complete separation during a time with no roads, no police force, no hotels or rest stops.

When he left he was on his own, trusting that God’s promise to protect him.

SPOILER ALERT- SOMETIMES HE DOESN’T FULLY TRUST.

Does that stop God from keeping his promise?

No. Does it mean sometimes Abraham was scared of the unknown?

Yes!

Let me share a secret with you?

It is scary to let go and let God.

Whether it is financial, a move, a different job, creating a clean slate or any other thing you can do?

Trusting, even God comes with its share of unknowns and that creates fear.

But God can overcome our fears?

He can take care of our what ifs?

Even when we don’t see the promise land, God does.

It is his job to get us there…It is our job to respond to the calling.

What is God calling you to today?

What is he calling us as a family to do?

Abraham was promised a great nation.

I believe this calls back not only to those we see in Genesis 11 at the tower of Babel, but I believe it calls back to God’s original command.

First in Genesis 11, we see...

Part of their concern is being scattered over the face of the earth.

They want to be gathered.

The want to be in one place.

In a great city that they create.

But see, God’s plan for a great nation was different.

It was all the people united under Him.

God wanted a people for his own.

When we begin to break ourselves into nations, tribes, communities, denominations, we are seeking to grab autonomy.

We begin to want to do things are way.

God calls Abraham to be a part of His family and to build a nation that turns to Him.

Today, we are a part of that nation.

We must see ourselves as part of that promise.

The promise of a great nation, united under God.

Not just America, but all who call on the Lord.

Abraham was promised a great name.

If you flip back to Genesis 11:4, you will notice one of their concerns was to make a great name for themselves.

They wanted a name based on their accomplishments.

But God tells Abraham that He will make Abraham’s name great.

He later tells him he will be the father of many, as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands on the seashore.

But not only will he be a great name, but he will be a blessing to others.

See as the image bearers of God, our concern should be making God’s name great and allowing God to write our name.

See the final promise...

Abraham was promised that he would be a great blessing.

God tells Abraham...

All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Do you think that Abraham even had an inkling of what that really means?

I don’t.

But I think he understood that he was in a relationship with His creator.

That relationship helped him to keep his eyes on his creator and His promise, even when he was called to sacrifice his only son.

See, we have been blessed by Abraham, because his answering of God’s calling, was the beginning of God’s plan to rescue His people and bless this rebellious world.

He did it through Jesus.

If you doubt it, go back and read the first chapter of Matthew.

Matthew traces the promise from Abraham to Jesus.

I want you to know today...

We are a great nation.

God is working through us to make beautiful things in His name.

We are a great name.

We are the image bearers of God.

We are blessed with salvation.

So that we may bless others.

That is our mission.

But, we can only be these things through faith.

This week I want you to spend some time in the presence of God asking Him where you need to have faith.