This morning I want to talk about, for us, I want to talk about, for you as a Christian, there's going to be moments where you're going to be faced with one direction that looks comfortable, one direction that looks right, that looks the way the world might direct you, and the other direction looks different, unconventional, radically, maybe dangerous.
And those crossroads, those moments, those are gifts from God.
Those are moments where, if we make the right choice, and we go that direction where this doesn't make any sense, that our faith will be strengthened, our joy will be made greater, our trust in Him, in Christ, will be larger,
and our Christian life will be more vivid and have more flavor and more feel and more touch and will just be more alive because we trusted God in those moments.
For example, Jamie and I have been moving to Memphis.
It doesn't really make a lot of sense.
My connection to Memphis is, well, my connection to Memphis is as thin as a string.
It doesn't make a lot of sense.
It's pretty loose.
But God is, I believe God is leading us in that direction.
Another example, me standing here before you preaching, not really not preaching,
I have no perfect education, no seminary degree.
In fact, I didn't even finish college.
But God has directed my life to this point, to this place.
Doesn't make a lot of sense.
And you're going to have these moments.
You're going to have these times.
And I believe that Christ family church, and I believe that you guys and the personal devil are at those moments,
and we'll be in those moments recently.
Especially young people.
It may seem to you right now that your life is just filled with tons of these problems.
You haven't figured anything out.
Well, let's talk about that this morning.
Now, there are several examples in Scripture of these.
Several men that God used that put them in these situations.
For example, Noah.
Noah was told to build an ark in a desert with no rain.
And not just no rain because it was a desert.
Rain didn't exist.
Water didn't fall from the sky like we have today.
But Noah was commanded to build a large ark, a crazy huge boat.
We're going to put angels in there.
We're going to close it up.
It's going to rain.
We're going to flood the earth.
None of that makes any sense.
But God directed Noah to do this, that.
David.
Shepherd boy.
The king.
Doesn't make a lot of sense in our eyes.
It's a great story.
We celebrate that story.
The underdog.
But in reality, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
Paul.
Hater and murderer of Christians.
Persecurer.
Now an apostle.
A church player.
An author of more than half of your destiny.
Doesn't make a lot of sense.
But as Scripture tells us, God's ways are not our ways.
We just may not understand, at the moment, in those times, what he is doing.
What he is.
Working.
So this morning, I want to look at one of those examples that kind of launch off of it.
And it's just a coincidence.
I have no idea.
That will lead me away.
But all the special guests.
We'll be talking about Abraham.
Abraham.
No idea that Sunday school this morning was a kid who was talking about Abraham.
So maybe God is doing something this morning.
Let's pray to that.
My father's off.
Let's pray to that.
Father, I ask you to work.
To speak.
I need you.
To use you this morning.
To say what you want me to say.
To lay out my heart.
All for your name.
To the air that comes from my mouth.
But drop from our hands.
And we all can celebrate.
What Christ has done.
Give it up.
I.
Give it to the air.
I need you.
So we're going to be in Hebrews chapter 11.
Hebrews 11.
We're going to read verses 8 through 12.
We're just going to cut him out on just a couple of those verses.
Hebrews chapter 11.
Some would call the faithful thing.
We want to celebrate these men.
We lift them up.
We've got to be careful when we do that.
We are these men.
Let's talk about Abraham.
Verse 8.
Hebrews 11.
Verse 8.
By faith Abraham obeyed.
He was called to go out to a place.
He was to receive as 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.
And he was full of the same promise.
But he was looking forward to the city that has foundations.
Whose designer and builder is God.
By faith Sarah herself received power and conceived.
Even though she was past the age.
Which she considered him faithful with mother.
Therefore for one man and him as good as him.
For more descendants.
As many as the star of the man.
As many as the innumerable brain.
Who say and buy the sea shore.
Sorry.
I want you to flip back.
The beginning of the chapter really quick.
Kind of see.
I want you to think on this verse.
As we talk.
This morning.
Hebrews 11.
Verse 1.
It says that.
Now faith.
Is the assurance of things hoped for.
The convention of things not seen.
Provided it that people of old.
Receive their condemnation.
By faith you understand that the universe.
Was created by the word of God.
So that what is seen.
Is not made of things that are visible.
Now here's what I want you to get.
By faith is the assurance.
From that faith is the assurance of things hoped for.
Things to come.
We're looking to the future.
Things that we've been told will happen.
But aren't happening yet.
Things we just can't see.
But we've been told about them.
And the conviction of things not seen.
Meaning.
We believe in it.
And we act upon it.
Okay.
That's faith.
Abraham.
What we're thinking of Abraham.
We believe God.
Romans 5 says that Abraham was fully convinced.
That God was going to do what he said he was going to do.
He was full assurance.
That God was going to act.
So as we read about Abraham.
As we talk about in our lives.
Crossroads.
We can have this faith.
We can be fully convinced.
That if God is directing us.
He's going to be faithful.
That he's going to walk with us.
So as we walk through this with Abraham.
And we look at these verses.
Keep that in mind.
In the back of your head.
This morning.
Now the crossroads for Abraham.
Genesis 12 tells us the story.
Hebrews 11 touches on it.
It was that God told him to go.
Abraham had a choice.
I'm going to go.
I'm going to go in this direction.
I'm going to follow what God said.
Or.
I'm going to stay.
You know, we're comfortable.
I'm going to stay.
Where God has.
Originally put me.
And now he's going to be somewhere else.
And I'm just going to stay here.
Where I like it.
Now think about.
In Genesis 12.
God.
Tells Abraham.
Go from your country.
And your hindrance.
And your father's house.
Now when we read that.
We may.
Think it's a big deal.
But listen.
Abraham was told to leave his country.
To leave what he knew.
To leave his family.
And to leave his inheritance.
Three huge things.
That he was told to leave.
And what did he do?
He got out when he left.
Now.
The pull.
To stay.
Would have been.
Strong.
But Abraham obeyed God.
Abraham.
Obeyed.
For God.
And told him.
And he went.
So as we.
Kind of walk through these verses.
Keep those two things.
In line.
Observation number one.
From our text.
God spoke.
To Abraham.
God spoke.
To Abraham.
Verse.
Verse 8.
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.
That's what I'm bringing to him.
God called Abraham.
And we need to be careful.
To.
When we walk through.
Situation.
When we are at crossroads.
To know that God is speaking to us.
We need to know.
For sure.
That he's speaking.
For Abraham.
It wasn't this feeling.
It wasn't this emotional.
Experience.
It wasn't his gut.
God spoke.
And he went.
Now most of us in here.
Are not going to hear.
A awful voice of God.
Speaking from a cloud.
That's probably not.
Going to happen.
So how does.
How do we know.
That God is speaking to us.
Well God speaks to us.
Through his word.
He's speaking to us now.
As you read.
The Bible.
On your phone.
Or on your lap.
God is speaking.
This morning.
We need to make sure.
That we're listening.
Making sure.
That we are aware.
That he.
Is.
Speaking.
So.
If God is speaking.
This morning.
And speaking through scripture.
And speaking through.
The Bible.
In your lap.
When we're faced with a crossroad.
When we're faced with.
Like Abraham.
Through this direction.
And this direction.
Faced with.
A moment.
Where we may be called.
To do something crazy.
That doesn't make a lot of sense.
How do we decide?
How do we.
Figure that out?
When we ask the question.
Is it line up the scripture?
Is this line up.
With what God has revealed.
To us in his word.
Do.
Do people around us.
Affirm.
That call.
Would I say.
Yes.
I think that's a great idea.
For example.
Guys.
Do you want to get married?
Are out of that crossroad.
When I thought that getting married is down here.
It's crazy.
I won't say amen.
Do you want to get married?
and you know you've got to ask a question.
You just don't get together and you're married.
You have to ask her to marry you
and plan a wedding and all that.
But you have this time
and you can search your scriptures
and the Bible talks about marriage.
It says how great it is.
So I think I'm going to get married.
Well, you can't just go on that sometimes.
Maybe you need to talk to somebody.
Maybe you need to go to Nathan
or go to somebody else and say,
hey, what do you think?
What do you think?
Are we healthy?
Do you think it's going to be a good idea?
What do you think?
Go to the parents.
You think I'm in a place
where I can support her?
Just getting married for sex
is having a good reason to get married.
Go support her.
Go provide for her.
Talk to somebody.
Get counsel about that.
Someone can affirm that in you.
They need to help you down that road.
But here's the thing.
God speaks.
And God spoke to Abraham.
And it's really that simple.
God speaks.
We do.
We go.
So the observation number two
is that Abraham went.
He went out.
Second part of verse eight says,
and he went out,
not knowing where he was going.
God spoke.
And Abraham obeyed.
Now,
simple.
And as I said a few months ago,
we have to be careful
not to elevate these men of the Bible
because they aren't just men.
But Abraham obeyed God.
You know the rest.
You know some of those stories
where he went down to Egypt
and Abraham decided to take things
in his own hands
and say,
you know,
you were really,
to Sarah,
his wife,
you're really attractive
and then one of those people
are going to see you
and they might want you.
So why don't you say,
you're my sister.
That way I don't get killed.
And I,
and they can have you,
but you'll come back
and you'll still be my husband
or my wife.
That was a great idea.
That wasn't a great idea at all.
But so,
David,
maybe I should figure it out.
So,
I say all that to say,
don't elevate this guy.
He's a pillar of Christianity.
He's a father of our faith.
However,
he's still a man.
He's not perfect.
He's not cross.
So,
I can sort of say,
well,
Abraham is so great.
Yeah,
God spoke to him
and he obeyed.
Of course he did.
He's a paper man.
Well,
that doesn't work.
Because,
you know,
they pulled you
and he makes
really bad choices
in the time.
It's like you and I do.
But Abraham,
observation or two,
Abraham obeyed.
He went out.
Noah,
who stole the bill of Mark,
and he did it,
right?
That's how the scripture
kind of works.
God speaks
and he told
man,
I'm going to obey.
Jesus
says to love me
and you love
my commandments.
Love me
and you love
your neighbor.
That same idea.
I speak,
you do.
Paul,
in several of the books,
communicates,
this is who you are.
This is what you do.
This is what God has done.
God speaks
and what you do.
One plus one
equals two.
It's fairly simple stuff.
Now,
I understand
the outworking
of this,
outworking
of getting married
might be a little
more complicated.
The outworking
of going somewhere
dangerous
might be a little
more complicated.
Being obedient
is stripped down,
simple fact.
True.
But it's really
easy, though,
for us
to overcomplicate
or even
crazier
to over-spiritualize
these situations.
Here's an example
and we'll kind of
go from there.
Tell me about
marriage again.
Now, ladies,
you guys want to
get married,
I'm sure.
You're going to have
to find a man
first and
they,
the court,
or how your
conviction lies
there.
Now,
I've heard a lot,
not in my
personal life,
but around me
that a lot
of some of
the things
you say
is,
I mean,
I'm sure
this is bad,
but,
you know,
God hasn't
called me
or hasn't
wrecked me
or has
to date you,
or the
Spirit told me
not to.
I still
listened to
play last
night.
We had
dinner,
and you
mentioned
this.
The Spirit
told me
not to date
you.
We say,
I haven't
seen a sign
from God
yet,
but most
likely you're
not going
to.
That's
probably not
going to
happen.
But,
you know,
if you
have the
desire to
get married,
it's pretty
simple.
Find a guy
who loves
Jesus,
who you're
trying to
do,
and then
let's
see where
it goes.
Not that
complicated.
It isn't.
Okay?
Now,
I'm a serious
note.
Another
example,
here at
Christchampton
Church,
very
active
people,
leadership
here at
Christchampton
Church.
Now,
I'm leaving.
Nathan is
the only
pastor
ever here.
Nathan is
not your
CEO.
He's not
your president.
There's
going to be
a point and
a place where
you're going
to have to
help,
where you're
going to have
to step up,
where you're
going to have
to be there
for him.
He needs
men around
him to
accomplish the
work that
is here
put on
Christchampton
Church.
I know
what you're
thinking.
Well,
you're
leaving.
You're
full.
Yeah,
but God's
thinking
me,
so argue
with that.
Over
complicated
saying,
you know,
I haven't
had a sign
from God,
I'm supposed
to help,
it's simple.
If you're
qualified to
leave as an
elder,
talk to
Nathan,
figure it
out,
work it
out,
if you
have gifts,
use them
here at
Christchampton
Church.
We have a
real problem
not to use
Christchampton.
We as
Americans,
we are
consumers.
We buy,
we go to
movies,
we see how
we have
15% for
a decent
service,
and 20%
for a good
service at
the table,
we just
have a
mentality
where,
what am I
going to
get out
of wherever
I'm at?
And we
brought that
into the
church.
We come
on Sunday
morning,
and we
sit down
and we
say,
what am I
going to
receive?
What am I
going to
get?
Well,
that's not
church.
That's a
movie.
That's a
concert.
Church is
about sharing
one another's
burden,
sharing life
together,
being with
one another,
encouraging
one another,
serving
together.
And I'm
afraid that
a lot of
us,
me included,
have become
consumers in
a lot of
our church
life.
And that
doesn't
need to be
the case.
Serve.
Men,
serve.
Even if you
can for only
six weeks,
serve.
If you
don't,
and this,
I don't
need to scare
you,
and I
don't
need to,
if you
don't,
think it's
not going
to be
here in
five years.
This is
the reality.
One man
can't carry
the burdens
of a
congregation
this size.
That's
what the
history
can do
at all.
That's
just
best to
be out
of
the way.
Men,
get in
his left
pocket and
right pocket.
Walk
with him,
encourage him,
don't over
complicate
him,
be there
for him
with him.
observation
number
three.
You're
off my
football.
Observation
number
three
of our
text,
verse
nine,
says,
by faith
he went
to live
in the
land of
promise,
as an
afforded
land,
living in
tent with
Isaac and
David,
where he
was
able to
save
from.
Now,
this is
a real
quick little
snippet
here of
this
observation,
but they
lived in
tents.
Now,
you say,
well,
they all
lived in
tents back
then,
but the
point here
in this
language is
that they
lived in
a temporary
housing.
Not that
they had
this
very huge
gigantic
tent they
put up
on the
estate.
They
lived in
a temporary
home because
they were
ready and
willing at
any moment
for God
to direct
them
to come
around.
So are you
looking for
these moments
in your
life,
these crossroads,
these times
where God
may direct
you to
someplace
different,
to someplace
dangerous
or
uncomfortable?
Are you
looking for
these
intersections
between
status quo
and
this
continuing
down
motions
in life
and
something
beyond
that?
observation
number
four,
verse
10.
For he
was looking
forward to
the city
that has
foundation,
whose
designer and
builder is
God.
Abraham was
able to
act and
live in
tent because
he was
looking forward
to the
city that
was to
come.
He was
able to
live in
temporary
housing because
he was
looking forward
to what
was going
to happen,
the city
to come
that was
being built
by God,
designed by
him.
For
everything
will be
perfected,
no pain,
no suffering,
the earth
will be
perfected
again and
be back
to the
way that
was created
to be.
Abraham
endured
and looked
forward
to that.
Are you
looking forward?
If we look
forward,
if we look
to what
God has
brought
us,
if we
look to
the moments
where we
are going
to be
perfected,
there's
not going
to be
sin and
pain anymore,
if we
look to
that,
then a
simple
decision
of going
someplace
or doing
something
might be
a little
easier.
Will be
a little
easier.
In there
it says,
see that
has
foundations.
Foundations
are very
important.
Everybody
in here
kind of
probably
goes,
duh,
in the back
of the night.
Yeah,
of course,
foundations
are really
important.
If they're
not
foundations,
their
things will
crumble.
A tent
is blown
away by the
wind because
it's a tent,
not a aisle
for a
building built
on foundation.
A foundation
holds things
together,
holds it
in the
ground,
keeps it
sturdy and
stable.
A city
founded and
built on
Jesus,
the chief
floorstone,
that lasts
forever.
Now,
cities without
foundations can
disappear.
There's tons
of old ruins
of cities
that they can't
find because
their foundations
were not strong.
They didn't have
foundations or
whatever.
No room
and no
structure to
support it,
it disappears.
This world,
our world,
where we live
in today,
now,
has no
foundation.
It has
nothing
that will
sustain.
For
everything we
gain,
everything we
have,
will fade
away.
all our
achievements,
so everything
we live
for,
faith,
fortune,
power,
popularity,
comfort,
all,
will fade
away.
It will
not exist.
The world
offers nothing
of its no
value,
no foundation,
and yet,
in these
moments,
in these
crossroads,
we get
counsel from
the world
to decide
which direction
we're going
to go.
It will
make a lot
of sense.
If we
looked forward
at these
moments,
if we
looked to
the city
of comfort,
if we
were fully
convinced
that God
was going
to do,
he says
he was
going
to do,
if our
faith was
sure of
things not
seen,
then our
happiness
would be
easier.
Knowing
our
direction,
the direction
that just
doesn't make
any sense,
might be,
will be,
easier.
Some things
just don't
make sense.
Sometimes
we're faced
with decisions
that just
don't make
sense.
We make
those decisions,
we'll say
we're obedient,
we go down
that road,
and in those
times we
just can't
see why,
we can't
get what's
going on.
But eventually
God reveals,
this is why
I had time,
he revealed
this to
what happened,
and this is
why I
called you
here.
I pray
all of us
are there
at that
moment,
at that
time.
Look down
at Hebrews
chapter 12,
don't
chapter over,
chapter 12,
it would be a
sermon if I
didn't talk
about Jesus,
to be a man,
a lecture
maybe.
chapter 12,
starting
verse 1.
Therefore,
since we are
surrounded by
so great
a cloud
of witnesses,
all these
men and
women that
have been
mentioned here
in chapter 11,
the ones that
they couldn't
even mention,
the ones that
don't even
have names,
let us also
lay aside
every weight
and sin
that's
cleaned so
closely,
and let's
run with
endurance
the race
that is
set before
us.
Looking
to Jesus,
looking forward
to Jesus,
the founder
and perfecter
of our faith,
for the joy
that was set
before him
endured the
cross,
despising the
shame,
and is seated
at the right
hand of the
throne of God.
Now there's
a one-force
sermon right
there in those
two verses,
and I can't
even stress
the surface.
I'm going to
take out one
phrase,
and I'm going to
kind of talk
about it for a
minute.
The phrase
towards the end
of verse 2,
it says,
despising the
shame.
A little
strange phrase.
Looking at
Jesus,
the founder
and perfecter
of our faith,
for the joy
that was set
before him
endured the
cross,
despising the
shame,
and is seated
at the right
hand of the
throne of God.
Now what
does this
mean,
despising
the shame?
Now if
somebody
wants to
be killed
on a
cross,
there would
be shame
on him.
He'd be
shamed for
doing something
for having
that done
in him.
He would
have earned
it,
he would
have been
guilty,
and there
was a shame
brought on
him and his
family and
people around
him.
Jesus despised
that shame.
He earned
from that shame.
He didn't let
it affect him.
He went ahead
through the
crucifixion.
He went ahead
and finished
the job.
We don't
turn the
direction of
different
because of
shame.
We don't
turn that
direction because
we're afraid
of what
somebody or
people will
say.
We don't
go that way
because it
doesn't make
sense,
and it
doesn't make
sense,
and somebody
else is
thinking it
doesn't
make sense,
and they're
looking at
you and
you're
looking at
you and
you're
thinking,
I don't
want to
do that.
He said,
I'm going to
talk to
them and
tell them
why I'm
going down
that road.
Jesus
endured
a horrific
death,
despising
the shame,
the shame
of a cross,
dying on
a cross,
and because
he did,
we can go
that direction,
we can turn
that way,
and it's
okay because
he endured.
Shame like
we've never
endured.
He's
endured a
death,
but we
have
never
endured,
and will
never endure.
Now the
ultimate
crossroads,
it doesn't
make any
sense.
This doesn't
compute,
it's Jesus.
Jesus,
God,
100%
God,
100%
God,
comes down
from heaven,
leaves glory,
to live
on earth,
with a
bunch of
sinners,
to live
here for
33 years.
That in
itself doesn't
make a lot
of sense.
In fact,
if you try to
figure that out,
it doesn't
compute.
Jesus,
who is
perfect and
holy,
lived
perfect and
holy,
like
here on
earth.
Jesus
died a
gruesome,
horrible
death for
others,
not even
for him.
The wrath
of God
was on
him.
His wrath,
him being
caught,
was on
him.
You're all
dead.
That just
doesn't make
any sense.
it's in
Philip
Ferguson.
It says,
look at
the two
trees that
Adam and
Jesus
faced.
Adam,
our
great,
great
grandfather,
our first
dad,
faced a tree
that represented
everything
desirable.
he thought
and he
knew to
have that.
It was
going to
complete him.
It was
going to
fulfill
everything
in him.
He was
going to
be like
God.
And he
believed it.
And he
faced it,
and what
did he
do?
He
did he.
And in
doing so,
he enslaved
all
mankind
to sin.
That tree
was his
due
north.
He
couldn't
think of
anything
else
but that
tree.
His
comfort
was going
to be
found in
that.
His
power
was going
to be
found in
that.
His
fame
was going
to be
found in
that.
His
fortune
was going
to be
found in
that.
His
name
was
found in
that tree.
And instead
of finding
fame,
he enslaved
himself
all
mankind.
Now
Jesus,
the second
Adam,
the perfect
Adam,
the right
Adam,
faced the
tree that
represented
everything
undesirable,
everything
wretched,
everything
evil and
dark and
vile.
No one
would want
that.
No one
could bear
what that
tree represented.
And Jesus,
obediently,
as he
was well
of sin.
It's
for the
joy that
was set
before him
endured
the cross.
That tree
he endured
it.
What did
he do
enduring that?
He freed
the captives.
He freed
you and
he freed
me from
sin.
The sin
that Adam
made.
may
this
happen
to you.
What
Adam
jacked
up,
Jesus
fixed.
What
Adam
messed
up,
Jesus
fixed
forever.
And
because you
have been
set free,
because Jesus
died,
you can
live in
the
uncomfortable.
You can
live in
the unknown.
You can
live in
a situation
that just
doesn't seem
made sense.
because it
is God
calling you
you cannot
disobey.
Because of
Jesus,
we can
go that
direction
and it's
okay.
Because of
Jesus,
he can
help us
take
those steps.
Now this
morning,
I believe
that you're
at one of
those crossroads
this morning.
And here
in a few
minutes,
we're going
to partake
of the Lord's
Supper here
at the table
that we've
been invited
to sit at.
We've been
invited by
Jesus.
If you're
a Christian,
you've been
invited to
eat of
his body
and drink
of his blood
some more.
He's
invited you
to join
him at
the table.
The crossroads
is,
the crossroads
this morning
is,
his doing
it.
Eating crackers
and breakers
doesn't make
a lot of
sense.
We're
celebrating
Jesus' blood.
Another
crossroads
this morning
is maybe
you're not
even a
Christian.
Maybe you
don't know
Jesus yet.
Maybe he's
calling you
this morning
for the
first time.
Maybe you
realize this
morning for
the first
time that
your sin
is great
and his
grace is
greater.
Maybe for
the first
time you
realize,
I can't
do it on
my own.
Maybe for
the first
time you
realize that
that tree
that I've
been going
after,
that girl
or that
maid or
that job
or that
money or
whatever it
is,
is it
going to
fulfill,
Jesus
will fulfill.
Maybe for
the first
time your
eyes have
been opened
to the
great salvation,
the great
grace of
God.
God,
and so
you're at
a cross
road.
Do I
follow?
Do I
follow a
savior that
I couldn't
see?
Do I
follow somebody
that just
the Bible
talks about?
Or do I
continue to
know the
road that
is comfortable
to me,
that makes
sense to me?
That might be
the cross
road you're
at.
And let
me plead
!
Let me
plead with
you.
Make the
right decision.
follow Jesus
this morning.
Church family,
celebrate what
Jesus has
done, but
do it with
joy, not
out of
religious
duty.
Or you
think you're
going to
gain something
out of
it.
Jesus
has been
invited you
to this
table,
in this
moment,
for free
to you.
But it
costs a
great deal
to you.
종
night.
Let's
Thank you.