Lesson Outline

Series: Abraham: The journey of faith

Title: Take one step and God will take two

Lesson 0607-2 (Miller)

 

KEY VERSE: Genesis 12:1-4

Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

 

INTRODUCTION: Abram was told to leave everything that was safe and secure for him. He was told to go to a new land, a land that he had never seen before. Abram was 75 years old at the time. With each passing year it becomes more difficult to make bold decisions for God or for that matter for anyone. Our bones crack, our backs hurt. We would rather stay at home than move forward. Yet God does not require anything of us that is outside of our abilities. God called a senior citizen to begin a new journey, a journey of faith. As difficult as this may have been for Abram, he obeyed and went. Because of Abram’s obedience God blessed him. Abraham took one step and obeyed God at face value. After Abram’s step of obedience God took steps toward Abram. God gave him many multi-generational promises. God is always wanting to bless those that are faithful to Him.

 

  1. God has a plan for our future.
    1. He has plans to prosper us and to not harm us. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
    2. If we obey then God will take care of us. He states:

                                                               i.      I WILL MAKE you a great nation

                                                             ii.      I WILL BLESS you

                                                            iii.      And YOU SHALL be a blessing

                                                           iv.      I WILL MAKE you a great nation

                                                             v.      I WILL BLESS those that bless you

                                                           vi.      I WILL CURSE those that curse you

    1. So many times we receive a promise and try to make it happen ourselves but God was very clear to Abraham. God said, “I WILL, I WILL, I WILL”

 

  1. God has created us for purpose
    1. God has purpose for our life and designed us exactly for His purposes.

                                                               i.      Call of Jeremiah. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5)

    1. Call of Esther. “You were created for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14)
    2. Call of Paul. “He is a chosen vessel of mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel. (Acts 9:15)
    3. We too are called for a purpose. Ephesians tells us that he gives His church apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists and pastors. We may be called to one of these positions.
    4. Or we may be called help, serve, bless, give, encourage.
    5. No matter what, each believer can add value to the kingdom of God. We are not called to just sit in a pew.

 

  1. He will bless our obedience but with God’s blessing comes responsibility.
    1. “YOU SHALL be a blessing”

                                                               i.      He is not calling us just to bless us. His goal is not to make us rich or famous. His goal is to bless us so we will bless others.

                                                             ii.      We are to become distribution centers. God will give to us because he can trust us to distribute the blessings to others

                                                            iii.      If He blesses you with good health, He expects you to work in His kingdom.

                                                           iv.      If He blesses you with a good income He expects you to distribute it to bless his kingdom.

    1. “And in you ALL THE FAMILIES of the earth shall be blessed.”
    2. The call of God cannot be separated from the call to bless.       

                                                               i.      The call to bless others

                                                             ii.      The call to be responsible for the blessing of others

                                                            iii.      The call to be responsible for the salvation of others

                                                           iv.      The call to be responsible to carry the message of God to the nations.

                                                             v.      The call to care for and protect families and the family unit.

                                                           vi.      The call to be faithful to HIS people.

    1. Because of Abraham’s faithfulness ALL the families of the earth are blessed.

                                                               i.      Jesus was a descendant of Abraham. Because of Abraham’s faithfulness God was able to send His son to the earth. He found a man that he could trust

                                                             ii.      Our faithfulness to God and our obedience to His word has multi-generational ramifications. If we are faithful we will see our children, grandchildren and many others receive the LORD.

 

  1. So Abram begins the journey
    1. “So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him.”

                                                               i.      Obedience. To obey is better than sacrifice. (1Samuel 15:22)

1.      Abraham just obeyed.

                                                             ii.      Trust in the Lord with your whole heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

1.      Did any of this make sense to Abraham? Probably not but God was in control.

 

  1. Abram departed at age 75
    1. Abraham was told to “Go” and he went.
    2. Moses was called at 80
    3. Are we to old to GO?

                                                               i.      GO and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19)

1.      Go when we are young? Where is that age qualification of this mandate?

2.      Does the scriptures say, “Go when you graduate bible college, or go when you have extra money in the bank or go when you are ordained?”

    1. The mandate on all Christians is the same. We are all called to Go. The journey of faith doesn’t even begin until we go.
    2. I repeat, “The journey of faith doesn’t even begin until we go!”
    3. “There is no journey if there is no going.” (Miller 2006)

 

DISCUSSION KEYWORDS:

            Blessing

            Responsible

            Faithfulness

            Journey

 

OPTIONAL DISCUSSION TOPICS:

            What does GO mean today to us as Christians?

            Do I have to leave Pensacola or Jubilee to go?

            Are we going yet?

            Are we faithful to God’s word?

Do we recognize that our faithfulness to God will affect our children and many others?

            Are we being responsible to those that will come after us?