WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:06.860 Well, good evening everyone. It's great to see you here. As has already been said, my name is Alistair and let me add my welcome to Neil's. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:10.759 To begin this evening, I want to ask you one question. 00:00:11.939 --> 00:00:15.560 Who do you think the most quizzed people in the UK are? 00:00:15.939 --> 00:00:20.000 Who are the people who get asked questions most in any given day? 00:00:21.300 --> 00:00:28.320 Well, in 2013, The Telegraph wrote an article based, and they based the study on that very question. 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:33.280 Who are the most quizzed people on the UK in subjects far and wide? 00:00:33.980 --> 00:00:37.719 And the answer to that question is mothers. 00:00:40.020 --> 00:00:42.079 There we go. Mothers. 00:00:42.420 --> 00:00:43.659 And the article says this. 00:00:44.400 --> 00:00:57.219 From breakfast at 7.19am to tea time at 7.59pm, the average mother faces a testing 12.5 hour day of questioning. 00:00:57.219 --> 00:01:03.240 Working out at one question every 2 minutes and 36 seconds. 00:01:03.740 --> 00:01:08.120 So on average, a mother is asked 23 questions an hour. 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:15.359 So to put that into a little bit of context, a teacher is asked roughly 19 questions an hour. 00:01:15.859 --> 00:01:17.879 A doctor, roughly 18. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:21.359 And a waiter or waitress, roughly 13 questions an hour. 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:28.099 So mothers, you are in the lead with a whopping 287 questions a day. 00:01:28.620 --> 00:01:32.799 And I thought being asked three questions in three hours in an exam paper was tough. 00:01:33.620 --> 00:01:39.079 Never mind 23 questions per hour on almost any topic under the sun. 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:46.019 So if you are a mother, or if you're an auntie, or if you're an uncle, or a Sunday school teacher, 00:01:46.019 --> 00:01:51.819 or if you've spent any time with children at all, you will know that they love to ask questions. 00:01:52.819 --> 00:01:58.060 Children ask so many questions, but the question that many of us hear will want to hear children ask. 00:01:58.060 --> 00:02:04.420 Well, the question that we pray that children in this church would ask one day is, 00:02:04.579 --> 00:02:06.040 who is a Christian? 00:02:06.900 --> 00:02:12.500 I know for my goddaughters, the question I want them to ask above all is, 00:02:12.699 --> 00:02:14.240 what does it mean to be a Christian? 00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:18.420 And secondly, how can I become a Christian? 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:22.199 Those are the two most important questions that I want children to ask. 00:02:22.199 --> 00:02:28.539 And our passage this evening in Genesis gives us a good understanding of what it means to be a Christian. 00:02:29.259 --> 00:02:32.519 And so that's the question I want us to have in the back of our minds this evening. 00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:36.299 What does it mean to be a Christian? 00:02:37.419 --> 00:02:41.099 I think Genesis 12 gives us two explanations of what it means to be a Christian. 00:02:41.519 --> 00:02:43.659 I've worked really, really hard on this outline. 00:02:44.019 --> 00:02:47.859 So hopefully I'll be able to call you on Friday morning and you'll remember it. 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:49.620 So there are two things. 00:02:49.620 --> 00:02:53.480 The first is that we are to trust God and obey him. 00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:58.879 And the second one is we are to continue to trust God and obey him. 00:02:59.099 --> 00:03:00.120 So you have one point to remember. 00:03:00.420 --> 00:03:01.240 So it's not that difficult. 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:08.200 But we hope this new sermon series on the life of Abraham will, yes, help us understand the Old Testament better. 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:11.379 But we also hope that it will be very practical. 00:03:11.939 --> 00:03:17.240 That will help us wrestle with our faith and how we live our faith out in everyday life. 00:03:19.620 --> 00:03:26.259 And one of the things we will see in this whole series is that whilst Abraham is seen as the father of our faith, 00:03:26.659 --> 00:03:30.000 whilst he is called in the Bible a friend of God, 00:03:30.620 --> 00:03:34.180 we will see that he is an imperfect man who makes mistakes. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:41.700 We'll see that like everybody else in this world, Abraham falls short and doesn't meet God's standards of perfection. 00:03:41.699 --> 00:03:47.599 But God still used him mightily despite his failings. 00:03:48.859 --> 00:03:53.719 Many of us have heard of Abraham before, and that's the name that he's referred to most in the Bible. 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:56.819 But in Genesis chapter 12, he's called Abram. 00:03:57.339 --> 00:04:02.599 But so that I don't trip over his name every single time I say it and so that we all can follow along, 00:04:02.699 --> 00:04:03.699 I'm just going to call him Abraham. 00:04:04.060 --> 00:04:07.079 Now, it's the same person, but yeah, it's just a different name. 00:04:07.080 --> 00:04:10.940 So let's see what Abraham can teach us about what it means to be a Christian. 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:14.800 But first of all, we're breaking into Genesis in chapter 12. 00:04:15.020 --> 00:04:18.540 So we need to understand what's happened thus far in the book of Genesis. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:25.020 So Genesis 1 and 2 opens with the amazing account of God creating the world, 00:04:25.300 --> 00:04:30.360 where God powerfully speaks this world into being and everything is good. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:34.560 Humanity is created as the pinnacle of creation. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:39.519 God looks at Adam and Eve and declares that all is very good. 00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:44.699 Adam and Eve live in perfect harmony with God. 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:49.160 But then in Genesis 3, we see a shift. 00:04:50.180 --> 00:04:53.319 Adam and Eve decide that they no longer want to be under God's rule, 00:04:53.379 --> 00:04:55.800 and they disobey him and sin enters the world. 00:04:57.840 --> 00:05:00.279 Humanity is corrupt. 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:04.000 The world is cursed as a result. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:07.860 God's wonderful creation is now damaged because of sin. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:12.860 And then in Genesis 3, verse 15, we see hope. 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:18.980 We see a promise, a promise of a person who will one day defeat sin and defeat Satan. 00:05:20.660 --> 00:05:24.660 But sadly, this promise is followed by a downward spiral of mankind. 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:26.600 We see murder. 00:05:27.060 --> 00:05:28.740 We see people with multiple wives. 00:05:28.740 --> 00:05:32.500 We see the world become so evil that God sends a flood. 00:05:32.900 --> 00:05:36.860 But even after the flood, when mankind was given a second chance, 00:05:37.100 --> 00:05:39.120 they still go back to their old ways. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:43.579 And then things go from bad to worse. 00:05:44.100 --> 00:05:47.639 And in chapter 11 of Genesis, we see the people are so bad. 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:53.459 They are so against God that God disperses them all over the world. 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:57.539 And then in the end of Genesis 11, we read about this man, Abraham. 00:05:58.500 --> 00:06:02.459 And the question that people would have been thinking is, is this the promised one? 00:06:02.459 --> 00:06:09.479 Is this the one who Genesis 3, verse 15 says will come and defeat sin and restore humanity to God? 00:06:11.479 --> 00:06:13.719 Well, we will see that Abraham is not perfect. 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:17.180 And over this series, we'll see that his faith is real. 00:06:18.840 --> 00:06:22.320 That his God is amazing, is marvelous. 00:06:22.580 --> 00:06:24.580 But we will also see that he is human. 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:28.900 Abraham's faith waxes and wanes, but despite his failing. 00:06:29.660 --> 00:06:35.220 And the big line that runs through this whole series is that God is faithful. 00:06:37.340 --> 00:06:40.640 And so keep this question in the back of your minds as we look at Genesis 12. 00:06:40.760 --> 00:06:41.960 What does it mean to be a Christian? 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:46.099 Well, the first thing it means is to trust God and obey. 00:06:46.459 --> 00:06:47.859 To trust God and obey. 00:06:48.819 --> 00:06:53.939 In the first verse of Genesis 12, we see something amazing about the character of God. 00:06:54.859 --> 00:06:58.759 In his sovereignty, he chooses to speak to Abraham. 00:06:59.679 --> 00:07:02.839 This is the God who created the world by speaking. 00:07:03.459 --> 00:07:06.759 This is the God who made the stars from nothing. 00:07:07.159 --> 00:07:09.279 Who created Adam from dust. 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:12.559 And now we see him speaking to Abraham. 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:16.959 We see this almighty and powerful God. 00:07:17.459 --> 00:07:22.299 This infinite God speaking to a finite fallen man. 00:07:22.779 --> 00:07:26.000 Not because Abraham deserved the honor of hearing God's voice. 00:07:26.339 --> 00:07:27.799 But because God is gracious. 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:35.040 And God in his gracious greatness has revealed himself to each and every one of us this evening. 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:46.519 The Bible is God's revelation of who he is, who we are, and how he has made it possible for our problem of sin, of wrongdoing to be fixed. 00:07:46.519 --> 00:07:50.099 God has spoken to us through his word. 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:54.620 The Bible isn't a book full of nice stories to make us feel good. 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:58.139 It's not a book of stories to make us feel happy. 00:07:58.379 --> 00:08:03.399 But the Bible are the words of God, which were written so that we could know God. 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:06.699 So that we could know what we were created for. 00:08:06.699 --> 00:08:12.099 So that we could live in harmony with God and praise him and enjoy him forever. 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:20.360 Think about the promises that God speaks to Abraham in verses 2 and 3 of Genesis 12. 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:23.319 God holds him to leave his father's house. 00:08:23.779 --> 00:08:25.860 To go to a land that he would show him. 00:08:26.980 --> 00:08:29.839 And God will make Abraham's descendants into a great nation. 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:34.179 God will make Abraham a blessing to the whole world. 00:08:34.459 --> 00:08:36.399 And those who bless Abraham will be blessed. 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:38.299 And those who curse him will be cursed. 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:42.159 Now these are amazing promises, but they require two things. 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:43.339 They require trust. 00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:45.419 And they require obedience. 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.959 You see, Abraham was told to go to a land that God would show him. 00:08:50.939 --> 00:08:53.319 But he didn't actually know where that land was. 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:55.019 He didn't know where he was going. 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:58.139 He didn't know if he'd be able to provide for his family. 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:04.519 He was told he would be away from the security of his father's household. 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:09.940 Away from the security of a community who knew him and who would care for him if he needed it. 00:09:10.780 --> 00:09:12.080 And so you can imagine the scene. 00:09:13.080 --> 00:09:14.379 Abraham is packing to leave. 00:09:14.460 --> 00:09:17.200 The whole contents of his house are on the street. 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:20.580 His wife and himself are getting ready. 00:09:21.100 --> 00:09:23.040 People are packing the camels and the donkeys. 00:09:23.160 --> 00:09:24.060 They're all ready to leave. 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:25.800 And then a neighbor spots them. 00:09:26.300 --> 00:09:28.660 And shouts over, Abraham, what are you doing? 00:09:29.139 --> 00:09:30.000 People don't do that. 00:09:30.079 --> 00:09:30.879 People don't leave. 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:33.079 And he responds, well, I'm going. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:34.860 Why? 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:37.159 Well, because God has told me. 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:38.899 Well, where are you going? 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:41.000 I don't know where I'm going. 00:09:41.139 --> 00:09:45.319 But all I know is that the Lord has spoken to me and he has revealed himself. 00:09:45.779 --> 00:09:48.059 And he has promised wonderful things to me. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:50.000 And I must trust in God's goodness. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:51.620 And I must obey. 00:09:51.620 --> 00:09:56.379 See, Abraham needed to trust God because he didn't own any land. 00:09:56.980 --> 00:10:00.080 He was 75 and he didn't have any children. 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:03.980 And yet he was to be the father of a great nation. 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:06.980 I think that requires a little bit of trust. 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:14.820 But still in verse 4, we read that so Abraham went as the Lord told him. 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:21.320 Now, because people move around today, I don't think we realize just how difficult this would have actually been. 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:27.720 It was quite normal and almost expected that people would have stayed as one family unit. 00:10:27.800 --> 00:10:35.720 And if they moved, they would have moved together with parents, grandparents, grandchildren, children, everyone in one household. 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:40.040 So it's not like today where we can have family members all over the world. 00:10:40.180 --> 00:10:44.320 I have family members in four different countries across the world. 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:46.560 And it's quite normal for today. 00:10:47.220 --> 00:10:48.480 But not in Abraham's day. 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:52.960 And nevertheless, he trusts God and goes where he tells him. 00:10:54.360 --> 00:11:00.660 But just because Abraham trusted God and obeyed did not mean that life would be easy from there on out. 00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:08.559 See, we get a seemingly small detail as Abraham arrives in the promised land in verse 6, 00:11:08.980 --> 00:11:10.740 where you see that it says, 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:14.159 At that time, the Canaanites were in the land. 00:11:15.199 --> 00:11:20.019 Right at the beginning of this family who would become the nation of Israel, 00:11:20.839 --> 00:11:26.779 right at the beginning of the outset of God's plan for the people, we see the Canaanites. 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:30.779 A people who would later lead Israel astray. 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:34.279 A people who would bring trouble on Israel. 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:37.439 And we see them right here at the start as Abraham arrives in the land. 00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:41.600 But God says, don't worry about them. 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:42.639 Focus on me. 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:46.000 And he reveals himself to Abraham and says, 00:11:46.079 --> 00:11:48.539 This is the land that will be for you and your descendants. 00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:53.419 And instead of objecting or questioning God and saying, 00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:55.860 Well, God, how exactly is this all going to work out? 00:11:55.860 --> 00:11:59.060 Abraham worshipped God. 00:12:00.180 --> 00:12:03.399 Abraham worshipped God because of these promises. 00:12:04.019 --> 00:12:09.019 And we can worship God today because we have seen these promises fulfilled. 00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:15.039 We have seen Abraham's offspring and how it has been a blessing to the whole world. 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:16.039 How? 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:20.439 Well, if you look in your own time at Matthew chapter 1, 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:24.279 you can see Abraham's descendants written down. 00:12:25.059 --> 00:12:28.939 And the promise in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15, the promise of hope, 00:12:29.199 --> 00:12:31.899 and the promise here in Genesis 12 verse 3, 00:12:33.079 --> 00:12:36.120 of the seed who would be a blessing to the whole world, 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:40.319 we see that that descendant, that seed, is Jesus Christ. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:44.120 See, these promises are not just for Abraham, 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:47.720 nor are they just relevant for the people of Israel. 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:52.360 But these promises are of huge significance for Christianity 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:57.220 because all of these promises point forward to the one 00:12:57.220 --> 00:13:00.400 who would end the world's biggest problem, 00:13:00.520 --> 00:13:05.200 the problem of our sin and the problem of our separation from God. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:10.040 Jesus, God's own son, came into the world, 00:13:10.140 --> 00:13:12.759 lived a life of perfect obedience, 00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:14.960 a life that we could never live, 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:18.860 which led him to the point of being nailed to a cross 00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:22.379 so that we could be forgiven and restored to God, 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:24.620 that we could be in a right relationship with him. 00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:30.620 That is why these promises are fundamental to the Christian faith 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:32.960 and such an important part of the Old Testament. 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:37.200 Abraham trusted God and obeyed him. 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:39.780 So let me ask us this evening, 00:13:39.900 --> 00:13:42.860 are we trusting God and are we obeying him? 00:13:43.540 --> 00:13:47.220 God has revealed himself to us in his word. 00:13:47.800 --> 00:13:50.220 And as Christians, as has already been said this evening, 00:13:50.300 --> 00:13:51.480 we are called to be different, 00:13:51.900 --> 00:13:54.960 to live lives that are distinct for God's glory. 00:13:55.040 --> 00:13:58.600 And that requires us trusting God and obeying him. 00:13:58.600 --> 00:14:02.320 And one of the things that brings me comfort 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:04.460 in this ever-changing world that we live in 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:08.159 is that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:12.180 God isn't going to change his mind on something tomorrow. 00:14:12.540 --> 00:14:14.820 He isn't going to suddenly decide that he was wrong. 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:17.680 We will never be able to understand God, 00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:19.600 but he calls us to trust in him, 00:14:20.180 --> 00:14:22.080 to trust in his sovereign plan 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:26.120 and to trust our lives in his hands 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:27.500 and to obey him. 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:30.340 Now the obedience that I'm referring to 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:33.040 is not the kind of obedience that we see in a toddler 00:14:33.040 --> 00:14:35.720 when their parent tells them to clean up their toys 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:37.020 in a huff, 00:14:37.780 --> 00:14:39.600 nor is it the obedience of an employee 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:42.759 who's asked to do a boring and tedious job by their boss. 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:47.000 But the obedience that the life of Abraham is calling us to have 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:52.059 is one of joyfully and willingly submitting to God, 00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:54.240 not because he is a cruel taskmaster, 00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:57.779 not because we fear his reaction if we do not obey, 00:14:58.439 --> 00:15:02.779 but we trust and obey God because we know that he loves us. 00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:06.460 Maybe you've never thought of it that way before. 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:11.860 Maybe you've always seen God as this big man in the sky with a stick 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:14.399 who will punish those who don't obey him. 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:17.060 Or maybe you've seen the Bible as a rule book 00:15:17.060 --> 00:15:20.200 that people follow so that they can be right in God's eyes. 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:23.180 Well, I want you to know this evening 00:15:23.180 --> 00:15:25.019 that God is a loving father 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:28.759 and he wants us to hear him speaking in the Bible. 00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:31.419 He wants us to trust and obey him 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:34.279 because he loves us and wants the best for us. 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.820 There is no better way to live 00:15:36.820 --> 00:15:40.740 than in line with what our creator has made us for. 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:44.480 Now, this doesn't mean life is going to be easy. 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:48.620 There will be a cost and there is a cost to being a Christian. 00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:51.480 You see, Abraham left his family behind. 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:55.539 He went to an unknown future, to a distant land, 00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:58.120 but God was in control. 00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:01.720 And that truth is still the same today. 00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:03.539 God has not changed. 00:16:03.700 --> 00:16:05.600 God sees everything. 00:16:06.300 --> 00:16:08.500 God cares and God loves. 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:11.480 And if we trust and obey God, 00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:15.700 we'll be living in line with the will of our loving father. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:19.320 And so the example that Abraham shows us 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:20.580 of what it means to be a Christian 00:16:20.580 --> 00:16:22.500 is to trust and obey God, 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:24.480 even when life is tough. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:28.639 And the second thing that this text teaches us 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:30.200 about what it means to be a Christian 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:35.179 is that we should continue to trust God and obey him. 00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:38.719 Now, this is where we see the first failings of Abraham, 00:16:38.979 --> 00:16:40.539 the first lack of faith. 00:16:41.239 --> 00:16:43.179 We have an example which shows us 00:16:43.179 --> 00:16:45.599 that he, like us, is imperfect. 00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:48.759 See, the Bible has so many stories 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:50.539 which show negative things 00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.659 that the people of God have done. 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:54.959 And we shouldn't skim over them with embarrassment, 00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:57.259 but we should learn them. 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:59.259 We should learn from them. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:02.759 And we should not follow in their footsteps 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:04.680 because we don't want to make the same mistakes. 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:08.480 We see two things which show us 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:10.519 that Abraham is an imperfect human being. 00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:11.980 And the first thing to notice 00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:14.519 is in verse 10 of chapter 12. 00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.920 There was a famine in the land 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:19.920 and Abraham left and went to Egypt for a while. 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:21.940 Now, you might be thinking, 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:25.119 well, it isn't wrong for somebody to act 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:26.859 when things don't seem to be going their way. 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:29.759 It isn't wrong for someone to move 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:32.859 so that they can provide for their families. 00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:34.379 Now, if you're thinking those things, 00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:36.319 absolutely agree with you. 00:17:37.379 --> 00:17:38.940 The application of this passage 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:40.700 is not if you are hungry 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:43.099 to sit at home and not do anything. 00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:45.440 It's not to sit at home and pray harder. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:48.940 But this detail is neither condemned 00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:51.299 nor condoned in the Bible. 00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:53.640 It's just simply stated that Abraham went to Egypt. 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:57.660 But I think this detail should make us stop and think. 00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:59.980 And we should be thinking, 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:02.779 is this really the right thing to do, Abraham? 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:05.680 Is it really right for you to leave the land 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:07.480 that God has promised to you? 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:10.200 See, there are two extremes 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.540 when it comes to things like this. 00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:14.040 We can either run straight ahead 00:18:14.040 --> 00:18:16.160 without thinking and without praying, 00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:18.980 or we can sit and do absolutely nothing 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:21.380 and say that God will fix everything for us. 00:18:21.800 --> 00:18:23.480 Those are two extremes. 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:25.460 And both of these extremes can be harmful. 00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:28.600 Now, I'm sure you've heard the illustration before 00:18:28.600 --> 00:18:32.019 of a man trapped on the roof during a flood. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:35.640 And as the floodwaters rise, 00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:38.400 he's praying, God, will you save me? 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:41.140 And a lifeboat goes past and shouts to him, 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:42.539 come on, get in, I'm here to save you. 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:44.819 And he flags it past, saying, no, don't worry. 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:47.400 God's got me, I'm fine, God will save me. 00:18:47.840 --> 00:18:48.740 And they go on. 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:51.120 And then a helicopter comes and he says, 00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:53.000 no, don't worry, God will save me. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.859 I've got it, God's got it all sorted. 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:59.720 And then when the flood rises and the man dies, 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:03.079 he goes to heaven and he stands before God and says, 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:04.380 God, why didn't you save me? 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.900 I called to you and God says, well, 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:09.720 I sent you a lifeboat and I sent you a helicopter, 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:11.140 but you didn't get on either of them. 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:14.539 Or you think about the other extreme 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:17.019 of a person who maybe hears a sermon 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:21.059 about encouraging Christians to consider overseas mission. 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:23.839 And the first thing they do is they go home, 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:26.379 they book flights and they move to a distant country. 00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:28.940 But they haven't prayed. 00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:33.119 They haven't asked godly Christians what they think. 00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:36.180 And they maybe didn't use their God-given discernment. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:37.960 And after a few months, 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:40.000 they return from their mission trip, 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:42.980 hurt and discouraged because it didn't work out. 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:46.980 Now, I don't think that the application of this passage 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:49.319 is to rush to either of these two extremes, 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:51.180 but rather to use our minds 00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:54.440 and to continue to trust and obey God. 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:57.680 So practically, when it comes to decisions, 00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:59.039 ask yourself two questions. 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:01.460 What does the Bible say about this? 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:04.720 And what do godly men and women say about this? 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:08.279 See, the Bible is God's word recorded for us 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:09.279 so that we can know him. 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:11.960 And it speaks into so many areas of our lives, 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:13.899 but obviously there are areas 00:20:13.899 --> 00:20:15.000 that it doesn't speak into. 00:20:15.399 --> 00:20:17.700 The Bible doesn't tell me which job to take, 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.180 which house to buy, 00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:21.160 which school to send my kids to. 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:26.339 And that's why it's important 00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:28.420 to speak to godly men and women. 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:32.039 People who will pray through decisions with you. 00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:34.460 People who will give you godly advice 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:36.079 as you wrestle with a decision. 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:38.259 People who care about you 00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:40.359 and who care about God's glory 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:43.079 and how to glorify him in all things. 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:45.420 And so Abraham leaves the land 00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.579 that God has promised to him, 00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:49.039 which should be an indication to us 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:51.319 that this might not be the best thing for him. 00:20:52.379 --> 00:20:54.079 And then we see the second thing 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:57.119 is that as Abraham and Sarah 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:58.279 were journeying to Egypt, 00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:00.839 he turns to his wife and says, 00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:01.960 would you lie for me? 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:04.220 Would you say that you're my sister? 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:08.420 See, Abraham was afraid 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:10.720 that Pharaoh would see how beautiful Sarah was 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:13.579 and that Pharaoh would kill Abraham 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:16.039 so that he could take Sarah to be his own wife. 00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:18.900 And so he asked his wife to lie 00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:19.920 because she was beautiful. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:23.120 Abraham was relying on himself. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:26.600 He used deception for his own safety 00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:27.680 and didn't consider 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:31.220 that if the Pharaoh did find Sarah to be attractive, 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:33.680 that he might actually lose his wife. 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:36.940 Abraham wasn't relying on God 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:39.059 or on God's promises to him, 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:41.360 but instead he used deception 00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:44.259 to gain safe passage into Egypt. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:46.819 So not only was Abraham sinning 00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.620 because he was lying, 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:50.259 but he was encouraging sin in his family 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:52.720 because he was asking his wife to lie. 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:55.140 Abraham was doubting God. 00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:57.640 And they arrive in Egypt 00:21:57.640 --> 00:22:00.900 and Pharaoh took Sarah into the palace 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:02.920 and he gave Abraham sheep, 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:05.960 cattle, donkeys, servants and camels. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:08.540 All the things that one king would give to another 00:22:08.540 --> 00:22:10.340 for a political agreement. 00:22:11.600 --> 00:22:12.600 And so in a sense, 00:22:12.780 --> 00:22:14.980 Abraham's bank account was full, 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:17.480 but he was missing his wife. 00:22:18.100 --> 00:22:19.580 And despite all of this, 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.860 despite the confusion, 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.400 the lies, the deception, 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:25.759 the complications that now tie this family up, 00:22:26.280 --> 00:22:29.780 God steps in and intervenes in a supernatural way. 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.460 Why does he do that? 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:35.259 Why doesn't God just let Abraham live 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:37.420 with the consequences of his actions? 00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.640 Well, here's why. 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:43.940 Because God is faithful to his promises. 00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:47.540 God has promised Abraham a land, 00:22:47.780 --> 00:22:49.700 a people and a blessing. 00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:51.960 And God is not going to go back on his word 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:54.220 and God's plans are not foiled 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:56.319 by mankind's actions. 00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:59.200 And so God intervenes, 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:01.319 sends diseases on Pharaoh's house. 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.660 And Pharaoh understands 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:04.460 that all of this is because of Sarah. 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:06.720 So he sends her back to Abraham 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:08.720 and sends them both out of Egypt. 00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:11.680 Now, what a humbling rebuke 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:13.240 that must have been for Abraham. 00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:17.500 Maybe he'd started to think about staying in Egypt. 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:20.480 He seemed to be doing quite well for himself. 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:23.799 He might have started to forget about the promises 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.880 that God had given him. 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:27.940 We don't know, but from the text, 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:29.680 it doesn't seem that he was in any hurry 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.579 to leave Egypt. 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.740 How do you think that conversation went 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.940 between Sarah and Abraham 00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:36.799 as they walked away from Egypt? 00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:39.720 They maybe talked about the promises 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.740 that God had given them, 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:43.900 talked about how they needed to obey God, 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:45.299 how they needed to be forgiven. 00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:47.839 And as they thought about these promises, 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:50.099 as they entered back into the land of Canaan, 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:52.220 they maybe had an excitement 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:55.220 about how God's plan would unfold. 00:23:56.819 --> 00:24:00.019 The amazing truth that this story shows us 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:01.839 is that despite our shortcomings, 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:04.980 despite our failings as weak people, 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:08.559 and despite our natural desire to serve ourselves 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.859 and not to serve God, 00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:11.179 despite all of that, 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.899 God is still gracious 00:24:12.899 --> 00:24:16.079 and God still chooses to use us. 00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:18.059 Like Abraham, 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:20.559 each of us constantly does things wrong. 00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:23.139 We rebel against God and his word. 00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:24.959 We decide that our way is better 00:24:24.959 --> 00:24:28.159 and still God doesn't cast us away. 00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:31.439 In fact, God shows us great grace 00:24:31.439 --> 00:24:33.819 because he goes even further 00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:35.479 than not just casting us away, 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:37.480 but he's actually made it possible 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:40.299 for us to be forgiven of our wrongdoings. 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.680 God sent his son Jesus 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:43.720 to take the punishment 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:45.940 that we deserve for the judgment of God 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:47.920 so that we don't have to 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:49.220 and so that we can be 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:51.099 in a right relationship with God. 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:54.799 But this doesn't give us a license to sin. 00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:57.420 Just because we've been forgiven 00:24:57.420 --> 00:25:00.220 doesn't mean that we can purposefully walk in sin. 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:02.400 But what Abraham should have done 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:05.680 and what this passage is encouraging us to do 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:09.480 is to honor God in both word and deed. 00:25:10.800 --> 00:25:13.220 This passage should be an encouragement for us 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:15.840 to continue to trust and obey God 00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:19.280 even when life is really, really tough. 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:22.900 So are we honoring God and living that out? 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:25.720 Maybe you're here this evening 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:27.380 and you can't say that you're honoring God. 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:29.720 Maybe you've never heard about this 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:31.759 or you simply like to live life 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:33.100 the way you see fit. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:36.140 Isn't it better to live life 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:38.360 the way your creator designed you to? 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:43.259 See, God made humanity with a plan and a purpose. 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:44.740 No matter what anybody tells you, 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:46.600 we are not a mistake, 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:48.740 but we are a created people 00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:51.059 who have a creator who cares for us 00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:52.339 and who loves us. 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:55.880 Or maybe you're here this evening 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:56.680 and you're thinking, 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:58.240 well, I would love to know God 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:00.420 and I would love to obey God and trust him, 00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:02.680 but I don't think God wants me. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:06.440 Maybe you're thinking that God wouldn't want you 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:08.160 because of your past. 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:10.660 Well, let me tell you that that is not true. 00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:14.299 God is never limited because of your past. 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:17.519 God's forgiveness has no limit. 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:20.019 God's grace has no end 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:22.759 and God's love is unfaltering. 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:26.720 If God can take an imperfect man like Abraham 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:30.099 and promise him amazing things, 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.799 a land, 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.259 promise him descendants 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.720 that would become a great nation 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.539 and promise him 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:36.940 that he would be a blessing to all people. 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:38.420 If God can do that 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:40.220 with an imperfect man like Abraham, 00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:43.519 God can definitely forgive you and me. 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:47.279 And we can be absolutely sure 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:48.819 that God will give us forgiveness 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:50.700 because God is faithful. 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.619 And in his word, 00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:54.879 he promises his forgiveness 00:26:54.879 --> 00:26:57.519 to those who believe in him 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.779 and accept him as Lord. 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.900 Forgiveness has been made possible 00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:03.779 through Jesus and his death on a cross. 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:05.940 And the Bible says that all who believe 00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:07.720 in their hearts that Jesus is Lord 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:09.359 and confess with their mouths 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.779 will be forgiven. 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:13.200 And their relationship with God 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.460 will be made right. 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:16.399 And so will you honor God 00:27:16.399 --> 00:27:18.039 and will you live it out? 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:21.220 Or maybe you have been forgiven. 00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:24.119 Maybe you've been a Christian for many years. 00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:26.559 We need to ask ourselves 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:27.759 that very same question. 00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:30.220 Are we honoring God 00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:31.720 in both word and deed? 00:27:32.379 --> 00:27:36.059 Are we living out trust and obedience? 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:39.379 Are we constantly waging war against sin? 00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:41.060 Or have we become blind 00:27:41.060 --> 00:27:43.460 to the sin that has plagued us for years? 00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:47.280 Are we striving to live a holy life? 00:27:47.320 --> 00:27:48.700 Not because that will save us, 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:51.420 but because we want to live a life of worship 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:53.420 and we want to glorify God 00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:56.240 in everything that we do, think and say. 00:27:58.940 --> 00:28:00.420 Abraham's story is an example 00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:02.700 which shows us the amazing truth 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:04.380 that God uses people 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:06.260 even when they are weak 00:28:06.260 --> 00:28:07.500 and when they are sinful. 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:09.859 And that's an amazing truth 00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:11.200 because it means that God can use 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:13.220 each and every one of us in this room. 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:16.720 Because each and every one of us 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:19.759 is a fallen, imperfect human being. 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:23.240 But God is still a mighty, 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:27.400 awesome and powerful, forgiving God. 00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:32.340 And so let's ask that question again. 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:34.320 What does it mean to be a Christian? 00:28:36.600 --> 00:28:38.820 Well, it means to continue. 00:28:39.600 --> 00:28:41.360 It means to trust and obey God, 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:43.860 to hear God speaking through his word, 00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.360 the Bible, 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.580 to know God's plan 00:28:45.580 --> 00:28:47.240 and his promises for our lives 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:48.180 and to trust him 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:50.960 even when the world would tell us not to. 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:55.779 It means to continue to trust and obey God. 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:59.140 It means to live lives that match what we say. 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:04.500 It means to live lives that show our worship to God 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:06.960 and to continue to trust and obey him 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:09.980 even when life is extremely difficult. 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.539 Let's pray together. 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:16.680 Heavenly Father, 00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.519 in this world 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.639 which 00:29:18.639 --> 00:29:22.119 is fallen and corrupt because of sin, 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:24.000 in this world 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.420 which would constantly seek 00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:27.639 to pull our attention away from you 00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:29.920 and to focus on ourselves, 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:33.299 Father, we ask that you would fix our eyes on you, 00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:37.339 that we would have a desire to trust you, 00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:40.539 that you would give us the strength to obey you 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:44.299 and that we would live a long life of obedience 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:46.119 and of adoration. 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:50.059 Father, we ask this because we love you 00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:52.759 and we love you because you loved us. 00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:56.299 We ask that you'd help us in this regard, 00:29:56.399 --> 00:29:59.059 help us trust and obey in all ways. 00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:01.220 In Jesus' name, amen.