WEBVTT 00:00:00.380 --> 00:00:06.960 Today's Bible reading, it's Genesis chapter 11, starting at verse 27, and then we'll keep 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:09.000 going to chapter 12 and verse 9. 00:00:09.939 --> 00:00:13.660 Now these are the generations of Terah. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:21.460 Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran fathered Lot. 00:00:21.460 --> 00:00:31.679 Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:35.799 And Abram and Nahor took wives. 00:00:36.679 --> 00:00:44.500 The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter 00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:47.960 of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:50.920 Now Sarai was barren. 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:52.840 She had no child. 00:00:54.600 --> 00:01:02.420 Terah took Abram, his son, and Lot, the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai, his daughter-in-law, 00:01:03.780 --> 00:01:05.879 his son, Abram's wife. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:13.159 And they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan. 00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:17.939 But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 00:01:17.939 --> 00:01:25.239 The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran. 00:01:25.239 --> 00:01:37.560 Now the Lord said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:39.599 the land that I will show you. 00:01:39.599 --> 00:02:07.780 So Abram went as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. 00:02:07.780 --> 00:02:17.199 Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran, and Abram took Sarai, his wife, and Lot, 00:02:17.699 --> 00:02:23.180 his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:25.139 they had acquired in Haran. 00:02:25.139 --> 00:02:29.139 Abram passed through the land of Canaan. 00:02:29.139 --> 00:02:37.379 When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:39.739 to the oak of Morah. 00:02:41.339 --> 00:02:44.479 At that time, the Canaanites were in the land. 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:52.239 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, To your offspring I will give this land. 00:02:53.519 --> 00:02:57.500 So he built there an altar to the Lord who had appeared to him. 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:05.179 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent with 00:03:05.179 --> 00:03:08.339 Bethel on the west and I on the east. 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:14.240 And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 00:03:15.200 --> 00:03:19.120 And Abram journeyed on, still going towards the Negev. 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:21.960 So this is God's word to us today. 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:23.699 Let us be blessed through hearing it. 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:28.719 Good morning, church. 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:29.980 How's everyone doing? 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:32.960 You can do better than that. 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:35.740 How are you doing, guys? 00:03:35.740 --> 00:03:37.500 You're very good. 00:03:37.780 --> 00:03:38.219 Wonderful. 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:42.260 Well, for those whom I haven't met, my name is Kelvin. 00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:45.100 My wife, Cindy, is over there. 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:46.659 And then my daughters, Esther and Holly. 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:49.360 And it's really exciting to be here. 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:54.900 And I really thank the elders and the staff for just giving me the opportunity to share 00:03:54.900 --> 00:03:56.080 God's word with you all today. 00:03:56.900 --> 00:04:01.080 And yeah, just, and they've been praying for me during the week as well. 00:04:01.160 --> 00:04:03.020 So if this doesn't go well, you can, you know, anyways. 00:04:03.020 --> 00:04:03.500 Right. 00:04:05.760 --> 00:04:05.880 Yeah. 00:04:05.980 --> 00:04:09.600 So, yeah, we're in Genesis. 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:14.140 So how about we bow our heads and just pray together and give this time to God. 00:04:14.379 --> 00:04:14.460 Yeah. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:22.639 Heavenly Father, we need you. 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:23.639 Amen. 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:28.519 And so, what we don't know, please teach us. 00:04:30.019 --> 00:04:31.959 What we have not, please give us. 00:04:33.339 --> 00:04:36.240 And what we are not, please change us. 00:04:37.860 --> 00:04:40.639 Please open our ears and hearts and minds. 00:04:42.860 --> 00:04:48.639 Soften us so that we can respond to you rightly. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.699 And all these things we pray in Jesus' name. 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:52.079 Amen. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:52.180 Amen. 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:53.120 Yeah. 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:57.939 Yeah, so we're going through Genesis as a church right at the moment. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:00.579 And let's pick up from where we left off, shall we? 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:06.779 So last week, we saw that in chapter 11, that human pride persisted after the great flood. 00:05:07.699 --> 00:05:11.319 Instead of going forth and fill the earth, what did they do? 00:05:11.979 --> 00:05:13.259 Well, they found a piece of land. 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:14.819 They decided to settle in it. 00:05:15.180 --> 00:05:20.120 And then they just, you know, started building, you know, Australia home and gardens type stuff. 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:21.120 Build a city. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:21.319 Build a city. 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:21.740 Build a tower. 00:05:21.740 --> 00:05:22.300 Build a tower. 00:05:22.300 --> 00:05:22.319 Build a tower. 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:23.259 Why? 00:05:23.259 --> 00:05:26.639 Because they wanted to make their name great. 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:30.319 And they wanted everybody to stick together. 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:33.079 Exactly the opposite of what God wanted. 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:39.519 So God came down and confused their languages and scattered them over the earth. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:43.479 Now, the question we're left with is, what's next? 00:05:44.259 --> 00:05:52.759 You know, where is this world savior, this serpent crusher, you know, that God has promised, you know, the one, the seed of the woman that's coming? 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:54.719 Well, you know, where is that going to come from? 00:05:54.819 --> 00:05:56.199 People are all over the place now. 00:05:57.500 --> 00:06:05.019 Well, the second half of chapter 11 tells us that it's going to come through the generation of Shem, you know, the descendants of his. 00:06:05.599 --> 00:06:07.560 And then eventually it came to terror. 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:09.279 That's the passage we're looking at today. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:17.439 And then that leads us to one of the most pivotal moments in human history, like Marty has alluded to already, the call of Abraham. 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:22.179 And then later, as we know, he's called Abraham. 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:24.579 And then later, God named him Abraham. 00:06:25.599 --> 00:06:26.759 So it's the same guy. 00:06:26.819 --> 00:06:29.719 I'm just going to stick with Abraham today so that we don't get all confused. 00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:38.740 Today, we're going to look at the essence of God's call, the purpose or some purposes of God's call, and responding to God's call. 00:06:39.520 --> 00:06:40.520 Let's go, shall we? 00:06:41.220 --> 00:06:42.840 So what is the God's call? 00:06:43.660 --> 00:06:45.920 The word call has many meanings. 00:06:46.620 --> 00:06:47.720 It can be a phone call. 00:06:47.940 --> 00:06:49.180 It can be a judgment call. 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:50.980 You know, it can be a shout, right? 00:06:51.280 --> 00:06:57.460 But in the Bible, when it's God calling, it's usually just naming something. 00:06:57.459 --> 00:07:01.620 Like in Genesis 1, we saw God call the light day. 00:07:02.599 --> 00:07:08.579 And then, another time, when he's calling someone, he's actually summoning somebody. 00:07:09.159 --> 00:07:10.060 Summoning somebody. 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:11.399 How do we know that? 00:07:11.919 --> 00:07:21.659 Well, if we look at Hebrews 11, you know how the writer summarizes a bunch of Old Testament people about how they have faith and how they acted in faith? 00:07:21.660 --> 00:07:27.800 When it comes to Abraham in verse 8, the writer describes him as someone that God has called. 00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:33.280 The word there in Greek is kaleo, which is the same word as summoned. 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:36.780 So what is God's call or summon like? 00:07:38.340 --> 00:07:45.480 If you've watched some movies that's got royal families or kings or queens in them, you have some ideas. 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:49.759 For example, if you're older, like me, you might have watched Braveheart. 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:52.460 You know, my daughter just asked me, what's Braveheart? 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:56.379 Well, Braveheart, Mel Gibson, you know, of course. 00:07:57.100 --> 00:08:01.600 You know, and if you have Gen Z, you know, you would have watched, what, Frozen, right? 00:08:02.220 --> 00:08:06.759 And if you want to really kill time, you probably watched The Crown, right? 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:08.939 Yeah, so, you know, you get the idea. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:12.759 Summoning is not always pleasant out there. 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:17.659 You know, sometimes people are, you know, dragged before the throne, screaming and kicking and everything. 00:08:18.459 --> 00:08:20.920 Well, God's calling is not like that. 00:08:21.339 --> 00:08:23.439 It's nothing like it, so wipe it off your mind. 00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:26.180 Okay, what it is like, it's quite the opposite. 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:33.639 God's call or summon is getting a taste of God's beauty and then being drawn to him progressively. 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:41.039 God's call or summon is getting a taste of his beauty and being drawn to him progressively. 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:46.360 So that we don't get confused, God actually called Abraham twice. 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:51.399 First call, as Stephen, the deacon in Acts 7, has told us, 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:58.919 that was when Abraham was in Mesopotamia, where Earl is, and Earl is in Iraq, near Persian Gulf today. 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:06.519 And then that is before he lived in Haran, which is north of Syria, in Turkey, modern day. 00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:11.139 So in Acts 7, verses 2 and 3, Stephen said, 00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:12.699 Brothers and brothers, hear me. 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:18.279 The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 00:09:18.819 --> 00:09:24.019 and said to him, Go out from your land and from your kindred, and go into the land I will show you. 00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:32.939 The second call, and when we go back to Genesis 12, verse 4, we see that Abraham left Haran. 00:09:34.059 --> 00:09:36.059 So that's the second call. 00:09:37.419 --> 00:09:40.460 You'll find both places on Google Maps. 00:09:41.019 --> 00:09:44.179 If you use Google Maps, I think most people do these days. 00:09:44.179 --> 00:09:52.419 You type in Earl, and then Iraq, it will actually show up, and it will show you some pictures of it and everything. 00:09:53.219 --> 00:09:54.620 It gives you some nice background, actually. 00:09:55.339 --> 00:10:00.919 And then if you type Haran, Turkey, it will actually show up again with some ancient-looking huts and everything. 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:03.399 So you can have a go at home. 00:10:03.599 --> 00:10:04.279 Don't do it now. 00:10:05.219 --> 00:10:11.519 And then if you use the direction function in Google Maps, it will tell you it's actually like a 1,000-kilometer walk. 00:10:12.359 --> 00:10:13.479 241 hours, apparently. 00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:14.579 All right? 00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:16.219 So you can try that some other time, too. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:17.259 Right? 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:19.559 Yeah, so that's some background for you. 00:10:20.839 --> 00:10:20.979 Yeah. 00:10:21.719 --> 00:10:22.239 All right. 00:10:22.339 --> 00:10:23.279 So where are we at? 00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:29.299 Yeah, so notice here in Acts 7 that God didn't promise Abraham anything. 00:10:29.979 --> 00:10:35.099 So according to Stephen, God just told him to leave and go to an undisclosed location. 00:10:35.099 --> 00:10:35.639 That's it. 00:10:36.079 --> 00:10:37.719 You know, no flowery or nice promises. 00:10:38.319 --> 00:10:38.679 Just go. 00:10:39.479 --> 00:10:39.599 Yeah? 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:40.200 Yeah. 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:46.779 And so it wasn't that what God said or some nice promises that drew Abraham to God. 00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:48.139 So what did? 00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:54.860 Stephen says here, the God of glory appeared to our father, Abraham. 00:10:54.860 --> 00:10:59.860 God drew Abraham to himself with himself. 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:01.500 I think that's what happened. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:06.080 God is like saying to Abraham, come, get a taste of who I am. 00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:10.320 My holiness, my perfections, my goodness, my character. 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:20.879 Let me blow your mind and draw you to myself, not with what I'm going to do for you or give you, but simply who I am. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:40.240 So Abraham's experience of God summoning or draw could be something like, you know, if you're a coffee lover, it could be something like one day you're walking to work, you know, and all of a sudden you can smell this excellent, wonderful aroma of a coffee. 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:42.860 And you're like, no way. 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:45.379 How can a coffee smell that good? 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:48.360 You know, I really want one. 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:49.799 Okay, where is this? 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:52.139 So you pull out your phone, you try to look it up. 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:53.879 There are no coffee shops nearby. 00:11:54.680 --> 00:11:55.820 Maybe it's just too new. 00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:59.180 But wait, if I go get this coffee, I'm going to be late for work. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:00.320 What should I do? 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:03.340 But then this coffee is just smelling too good. 00:12:03.980 --> 00:12:07.019 You know, you're in trouble here. 00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:07.860 You're really struggling. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:09.139 You really want that coffee. 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:13.379 And you look up and you saw this big sign saying, coffee this way. 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:19.639 But then you look where the arrow is pointing, you see a massive roundabout and there's like four intersections there, you know. 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:22.340 But still, at the end of the day, you really want to go. 00:12:23.059 --> 00:12:31.100 And you know and you're sure that as you get there, the coffee is going to be even better when you're sipping it than the smell that you're getting. 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:38.480 God's summon is getting a taste of God's beauty and then being drawn towards it progressively. 00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:43.659 Now, how is God's calling progressive and not a once-off thing? 00:12:44.819 --> 00:12:47.139 We can see that in Genesis 12 verses 1 to 3. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:49.759 God's second call to Abraham. 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:55.779 Now, God's call this time, like he just spoke to Abraham and didn't really appear. 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:57.639 It doesn't say God appeared. 00:12:57.799 --> 00:12:59.199 He just said God spoke to Abraham. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:06.560 And then he said to Abraham, go from the country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:13.220 This is kind of similar to the one that Stephen was talking about, except actually slightly different. 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:15.980 And this is how God drew Abraham to himself. 00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:17.860 A step at a time. 00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:21.980 You know, you may experience the same thing similar to in your own journey. 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:24.899 And maybe your experience is different and that's all good. 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:31.080 Looking back, I can now recall that God was clearly drawing me to himself again and again. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:34.200 But then somehow at the time, I just couldn't perceive it. 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:35.399 You know, I was like blind. 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:42.200 So in any case, God's calling is getting a taste of God's beauty and being drawn to him progressively. 00:13:42.680 --> 00:13:44.940 I think that is the essence of God's call. 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:47.380 So why did God call Abraham? 00:13:48.060 --> 00:13:49.240 And how about you and me? 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:54.380 Now we come to the second point, purposes of God's call. 00:13:55.420 --> 00:13:59.940 As there are many in the Bible, we will only cover some of the key ones today. 00:14:01.140 --> 00:14:04.340 Now Genesis 12 verses 1 to 3 has two sections. 00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:05.680 I'm not sure if you noticed. 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:09.440 Each beginning with a command followed by three promises. 00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:11.860 So one and three and then one and then three. 00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:17.620 The purposes of the first section is personal and the second section is global. 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:20.500 Let's start with the personal one, the first one. 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:28.960 A personal purpose of God's call is to leave your old self behind and cleave to God for healing and fulfillment. 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:33.480 The first thing God tells Abraham to do is to leave his land. 00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:35.340 Go to another land. 00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:42.320 First one says, go from your country, in Hebrew, the word is actually land, same as the other land in the same verse, 00:14:42.920 --> 00:14:47.420 and your kindred and your father's house and to the land that I will show you. 00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:53.560 To us who live in the suburbs, land is more about housing and lawn mowing, right? 00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:58.779 But back in the day, in Abraham's day, land is a source of livelihood. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:00.500 You know, there is everything. 00:15:00.739 --> 00:15:02.139 You know, there's fineness and security. 00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:06.559 The more land you have, the more animals and more crops that you can produce. 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:08.119 And so you're more secure. 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:10.519 Life was like a game of monopoly. 00:15:11.099 --> 00:15:18.199 You know, if you start losing the land or if your land is not producing, you know, anything, nothing, then you're in trouble. 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:20.219 You know, you're going to go downhill from there. 00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:27.519 So God is saying to Abraham, go, leave your old livelihood and your sense of security behind. 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:33.980 Notice how God never told Abraham where to go, but just said, go, I will show you. 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:34.840 Why? 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:42.639 Because back in the day, you know, to the tale of Babel's story, the humanity's act of rebellion, what did it begin with? 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:49.519 It began with finding a good piece of land, you know, and then using the human common sense as, that's it. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.559 I'm going to stay here. 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:55.620 Yeah, so God doesn't want Abraham to repeat the same mistake. 00:15:56.199 --> 00:16:00.360 God wants Abraham to walk by faith and not by sight. 00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:03.360 Use an uncommon sense. 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:05.679 Live a day at a time. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:09.259 So God is reversing Babel here. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:11.259 A fresh start for humanity. 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:16.100 Beginning with Abraham, go, leave your livelihood and your security. 00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:19.799 Let me take care of you. 00:16:21.319 --> 00:16:24.460 But land wasn't the only thing that God told Abraham to leave. 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:29.240 God also told him, leave your kindreds and your father's house. 00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:33.360 Basically, leave your parents and your family relatives. 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:42.080 Now, leaving family relatives and parents in our Western individualistic culture isn't really a big deal, right? 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:44.080 Independence is highly valued. 00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:46.720 The earlier the kids can leave home, the better, right? 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:55.919 Well, the theme song in Disney's animation movie, Frozen, that brainwashed all our kids and along with the parents, 00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:57.560 you know, is a case in point. 00:16:57.559 --> 00:16:59.719 But that's not the case. 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:00.439 I'm not going to sing it. 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:01.679 I just can't do it anymore. 00:17:02.359 --> 00:17:02.479 Yep. 00:17:03.459 --> 00:17:03.779 Yep. 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:04.500 There you go. 00:17:04.919 --> 00:17:08.579 But that's not the case in Abraham's social context. 00:17:09.399 --> 00:17:14.919 In their culture, your identity is given and forever tied to your family. 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:18.679 Your goal in life is to honor the family name. 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:23.500 Your vocation is dictated by who your parents are and what they did. 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:30.839 They're not ideals like, you know, follow your dreams and go do a personality test, you know, discover who you are. 00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:31.579 There's none of that. 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:36.640 Successes and failures are always shared in your family. 00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:43.180 So in a nutshell, your identity comes from your family and without them, you're nobody. 00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:48.279 So what's God telling Abraham to do when he says, leave your father's house? 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:54.500 Well, kids and teenagers, this is not God's call for you to run away from home. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:57.559 So please stay with your mommy and daddy. 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:59.940 I repeat, stay with your mommy and daddy. 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:06.279 But what God is telling Abraham to do and us too is leave our old identity behind. 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:11.759 Whatever it is that is defining who we are, let it go. 00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:13.559 I can't believe I just said that. 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:25.819 But, anyways, besides leaving security and old identity behind, God also tells Abraham to leave his guilt, his hurt and his shame behind too. 00:18:26.679 --> 00:18:33.319 So in their culture, one of the very key roles and responsibility of being a son is to do what? 00:18:33.879 --> 00:18:34.779 Well, some people love it. 00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:38.500 It's to make babies, you know, make a lot and a lot of babies. 00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:40.500 The more babies you have, the better. 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:43.380 You know, and especially the more sons you have, the better. 00:18:43.859 --> 00:18:46.319 Because the sons, what can they do? 00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:54.700 The more sons you have, they can take care of the fields, do all the hard labor, you know, and also sustain the family line so that family can continue to go on. 00:18:55.960 --> 00:19:03.859 And Abraham's father, Terah, had very high expectations of all his sons and his daughters and even spouses too. 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:05.220 And how do we know that? 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:09.400 Let's take a look at Genesis chapter 11, verses 27 and 29. 00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:11.660 Okay, you see all these names there? 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:20.240 Nahor and Haran and the wives and, you know, Milcah and Sarah was a half-sister, so one of Terah's lineage. 00:19:20.800 --> 00:19:24.660 All these names mean noble, ruler, queen and so on. 00:19:24.820 --> 00:19:26.120 And princess and to rule. 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:31.540 You know, even the name of Abraham can mean exalted father or their strength. 00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:36.579 So Terah wants his family to be like kings and queens. 00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:40.039 Be strong, be powerful, top of the food chain, you know. 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:47.099 But then the Bible tells us in Genesis 11, 30, very sadly, Sarai was barren. 00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:49.440 Sarai is Sarai, same person. 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.000 She was barren. 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.720 She had no child. 00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:55.920 Guess what the community would be saying? 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:56.560 What? 00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:58.560 No son? 00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:00.940 No one to take care of the field? 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:03.259 Oh gosh, what a failure. 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:04.940 You know? 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:08.180 Shame on you, Abraham. 00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.420 What's going on? 00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:15.420 You know, imagine, you know, with a name like that, you know, and then having no child. 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.680 His name must have stunk. 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:21.320 So when God commanded Abraham to leave his relatives, what was God doing? 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:25.940 He was cutting him off from all the shame and guilt and everything else. 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.840 Are you hurting right now? 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.259 Are you hurting right now? 00:20:33.620 --> 00:20:35.200 What are your guilt and your shame? 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:39.980 What's defining you that is causing you this hurt right now? 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:45.019 Whatever it is, God is saying, leave those things behind. 00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:49.779 Leave your identity, your security, your hurt, and your shame behind. 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:53.339 And cleave to me for healing and fulfillment. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:54.700 But how? 00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:58.660 Well, God's going to do that through his personal promises. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.119 His personal promises. 00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:03.079 First, the promise is to heal. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.139 Let's look at Genesis 12, verse 2. 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:11.700 I will make of you a great nation and make your name great too. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.740 How is God healing Abraham? 00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:22.180 God is saying here, instead of you trying to be great and failing in your own strength, 00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:26.680 let me, God, be the source of your greatness. 00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:29.579 Let me give you a new identity. 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:32.980 I see the barrenness that you are suffering. 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:38.240 People are laughing at you, you know, and Sarai, you know, all the time, every day. 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:40.339 But that's okay. 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:43.579 I'll make a strong nation of millions out of you. 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:46.960 I'll turn the impossibility into reality. 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:49.140 Your weakness into strength. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:51.579 Your shame into glory. 00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:56.299 The father of a great nation will be your new identity. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.619 I will make your name great. 00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:01.419 I will make your name great. 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:04.559 Stop being DIYers. 00:22:05.199 --> 00:22:07.099 Start being DIYers. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.839 Trust in Yahweh. 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:15.399 Isn't that the most liberating and healing thing that can happen to us too? 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:20.459 That in Christ, we can have in Him the name above all names? 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:25.279 We can have, we can be the sons and daughters of the king of the universe? 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:31.579 We don't have to find our own identities anymore. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:34.200 We don't even have to create them. 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:37.460 We don't have to create them by climbing some ladder. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:43.960 You know, the social ladder, academic ladder, the corporate ladder, you know, or even, you know, being the best parent kind of ladder. 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:47.240 What's wrong with climbing those ladders? 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:51.640 Well, when we fail, we start losing our identity. 00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:53.160 We lose our job. 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:56.000 You know, fail in class. 00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:58.200 Our kids don't turn out so great. 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:02.200 We are now kingly priests, the Bible says. 00:23:02.620 --> 00:23:05.259 Little Christs, the Bible says. 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:08.259 Can you come up with something more honorable and greater? 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:14.000 The first set of personal promises is healing. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:18.099 But there's one more, and that's the promise of fulfilling. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:21.440 We can see it bang in the middle here. 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:26.220 In the verse, God says, and I will bless you. 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:32.079 Like Pastor Dave told us last week, blessing is deep fulfillment. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:37.039 So God is promising Abraham he will deeply, deeply fulfill him. 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:38.179 I will bless you. 00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:49.839 Your sense of security and livelihood and well-being and satisfaction in life will no longer depend on you and your land or your work and how well that's all going. 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:54.519 Instead, I will fulfill you, inside and out. 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:57.599 No more living like a balloon, you know. 00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:59.059 You know what happens to a balloon? 00:23:59.459 --> 00:24:01.019 You're going to pump it and pump it and pump it. 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:02.019 And then what happens? 00:24:02.399 --> 00:24:03.099 It deflates. 00:24:03.639 --> 00:24:05.500 And you're going to go pump it and pump it and pump it again. 00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.859 And then it deflates again. 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:09.399 No more pumping, God says. 00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:11.459 I will fill you. 00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:13.139 I will bless you. 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:19.060 Jesus says in Matthew chapter 5, verses 3 to 6, 00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:48.559 Taylor Swift, Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:51.200 video games, sporting passions, 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:57.440 wining, dining, work, money, success, properties, pornography, family, 00:24:58.319 --> 00:25:01.859 being busy cannot fulfill us. 00:25:03.159 --> 00:25:06.799 Hunger for the right relations with God, Jesus says, 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:09.019 and he will fulfill you. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:16.039 And we should note that these promises in Genesis 12 to 12 are not conditional. 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:19.559 God didn't say, if you leave this and leave that, 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:22.240 then I will bless you and do this and that. 00:25:23.159 --> 00:25:25.960 It is not a deal, but a partnership. 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:30.019 God does not benefit from Abraham leaving anything behind. 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:35.299 God is like saying, take off your dirty clothes and just put it in the basket. 00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:37.980 I will wash it and dry it. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:39.859 And by the way, here's something new. 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.579 Try it on. 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:45.019 God's promises are pure grace. 00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:48.779 So here we have the personal promises of God's call. 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:51.059 One command and three promises. 00:25:51.919 --> 00:25:56.319 Leave your old self behind and cleave to God for healing and fulfillment. 00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:59.199 And what's the one word summary for this? 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.439 Repent. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:03.679 Leave behind and cling to me. 00:26:04.179 --> 00:26:04.659 Repent. 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.559 180. 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.519 That's it. 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:11.379 So next, we have God's global promise, global purpose. 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:14.779 Just like God's personal purpose, 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:18.799 God's global purpose come in one command and three promises. 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:20.799 So where's the command? 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:23.339 It's at the end of verse 12. 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.220 Let's show it. 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:27.299 The ESV Bible reads, 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:29.059 so that you will be a blessing. 00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:35.619 But then, the words, so that you will, is actually not in the original text. 00:26:35.899 --> 00:26:38.659 So the translators added it for like stylistic purposes. 00:26:39.659 --> 00:26:43.299 The sentence in Hebrew simply reads, and be a blessing. 00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:45.740 And the word be is imperative. 00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:48.379 So basically, the whole thing is a command. 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:57.960 God's command for Abraham and for us is to stop living for self and start being a channel of God's grace. 00:26:57.960 --> 00:27:03.059 Stop living for self and start being a channel of God's grace. 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:04.960 Be a blessing. 00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:11.960 Whatever deep fulfillments that you have received from me, God is saying, go pass it on to others. 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.120 Go pass it on. 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:15.640 Have you seen the champagne tower before? 00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:23.780 Now, the purpose of the top glasses and all the glasses below is not just to be filled. 00:27:25.280 --> 00:27:32.040 But it is so that it can be filled and that it can overflow and then it goes pass on to every other glass underneath. 00:27:33.360 --> 00:27:34.420 That's the purpose. 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:38.040 And so is God's grace that's given to us. 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:45.379 The God that we worship and love is a triune God. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:50.879 One God, three persons, Father, Son, and Spirit. 00:27:51.639 --> 00:27:52.500 They're co-equal. 00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:54.359 They're never self-centered. 00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:59.899 They're always other-centered, unconditionally loving one another. 00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:05.880 Tim Keller says it's like Father, Son, and Spirit are dancing each other all the time. 00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:09.560 That's not one person standing still and goes, you go around me. 00:28:10.080 --> 00:28:11.180 No, it never does that. 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.500 God never does that. 00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:14.900 It's always around the other person. 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:16.220 It's always about the other. 00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:21.180 And then when you read through the book of John, it gets a bit confusing sometimes, right? 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:22.519 Father, Son, Son, Father, Father, Son. 00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:25.340 They're just passing to each other all the time, the glory. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.160 That is God's image. 00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:29.960 We were created in that image. 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:34.120 God said it's not good for Adam to be alone. 00:28:34.800 --> 00:28:35.380 Why is that? 00:28:36.100 --> 00:28:44.460 Because before Eve was around, there's no one that's equal to him that he can dance around with together, metaphorically speaking. 00:28:45.320 --> 00:28:47.700 We are supposed to be other-centered. 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:54.920 We are never supposed to say or think things like, what about me, me, me, me, me, me, me? 00:28:54.920 --> 00:28:59.759 We are supposed to be always about him and about others. 00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:12.660 But when humanity became self-centered, the image was defaced, like a broken mirror, falling short and reflecting who God is. 00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:21.440 So here, God is saying to Abraham, beginning with you, let's restore this broken image and be a blessing. 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.240 Be other-centered. 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:24.640 This is a command. 00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:32.500 Back in April, we had a memorial service here for one of our former church members, Alan Robinson. 00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:36.599 He was with Grace Church, we were told, for more than 30 years. 00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:43.599 And during the service, Don shared a story about Don, about Don, about Alan. 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:50.219 And there came the time, apparently, that he was trying to decide whether he should stick around. 00:29:50.719 --> 00:29:52.199 He was trying to, he's about to retire. 00:29:52.679 --> 00:29:56.679 So he's trying to decide whether he should work more, you know, or retire. 00:29:56.680 --> 00:30:04.120 You know, and the idea is that if he could, you know, retire, he could spend more time serving the church. 00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:08.920 And if he were to keep working, then he can give more money to the church. 00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:14.519 So Don said at the time that the church financial needs were more pressing, right? 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.220 Is that right, Don? 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:15.940 Yeah. 00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:24.180 And so Alan went ahead and kept working for a few more years so that he could give more money to the church and then meet the need. 00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:27.259 What a great example of being other-centered. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:31.240 I believe that is just totally God's image working in him. 00:30:33.340 --> 00:30:41.840 Now, to Abraham, living in other-centered and other-person-centered life can really, you know, be pretty scary, right? 00:30:42.600 --> 00:30:47.700 You know, he probably is thinking, like, if I do this, you know, be a blessing, wouldn't people think I'm weird? 00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:49.460 Now, wouldn't I get burned? 00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:52.039 Now, everyone else is self-centered, right? 00:30:52.560 --> 00:30:54.160 You know, what if they start abusing me and stuff? 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:57.200 You know, what if they take advantage of me? 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:59.480 So these are not unreasonable questions. 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:02.460 But how do you think God would respond? 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:06.100 Actually, the answer is right here in verse 3. 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:09.779 It is a promise to bless and to curse. 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:14.259 God says, I will bless those who bless you. 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:18.440 And him who honors you, I will curse. 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:25.720 Now, curses are something, sometimes, seen as punishments. 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:29.940 But I see it more as God withdrawing his common grace. 00:31:30.860 --> 00:31:33.620 It's like in Genesis 3, you see God cursing the ground, right? 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:36.519 God wasn't punishing the ground. 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:45.440 You know, he's like taking away the common grace so that the ground will no longer do what it's supposed to do. 00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:56.740 Everyone who dishonors Abraham, literally anyone who mistreats Abraham or belittling Abraham, God says he will curse. 00:31:57.420 --> 00:31:58.519 Now, is that fair? 00:31:58.519 --> 00:32:05.680 I think it's probably more fair if people treat God lightly, right? 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:09.519 And belittling God, and God says, I will curse you, you know? 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:12.480 You know, like pay him back, like curse him back. 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.420 Teach him a lesson. 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:14.900 Respect God, right? 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:18.680 But why is Abraham getting this special treatment? 00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:28.940 The only way this promise is going to make sense is that God is promising Abraham that he's now going to represent God to humankind. 00:32:29.780 --> 00:32:31.100 And God's got his back. 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:34.740 As Jesus says in John 5, 23, 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:40.680 Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:41.800 Why? 00:32:41.800 --> 00:32:44.100 The Son, Jesus, represents the Father. 00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.600 He sent the Son. 00:32:46.300 --> 00:32:48.400 So it's like the ambassador of a nation. 00:32:49.100 --> 00:32:54.440 He represents the ruler or government or king of another country in a foreign land. 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:57.340 And if you attack the embassy, what are you doing? 00:32:57.940 --> 00:32:59.660 You're attacking the country he's representing. 00:32:59.780 --> 00:33:00.500 You're declaring war. 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:05.860 So in the same way, mistreating Abraham is like mistreating God. 00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:09.680 So God's saying to Abraham, I will bless those who bless you. 00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:13.920 God is promising Abraham unwavering support. 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:17.300 As Abraham represents God to humankind. 00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:22.200 Now, what do you call a representative of God to humankind? 00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:25.180 There's a very specific term for it in the Bible. 00:33:25.579 --> 00:33:26.440 It is a prophet. 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:32.819 In Genesis chapter 27 and verse 7, a prophet is what God called Abraham. 00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:37.000 When God told Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham. 00:33:37.159 --> 00:33:37.680 Don't touch her. 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:38.259 Return her. 00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:38.980 He's a prophet. 00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:42.180 And what do prophets do? 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:45.960 They receive God's word and they pass it on. 00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:48.660 That's who prophets are. 00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:51.440 They represent God. 00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:52.480 Right? 00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:53.819 They're not fortune tellers. 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:59.160 They are both the foretellers of God's word and also the foretellers of God's word. 00:33:59.620 --> 00:34:00.559 Representing God. 00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:04.700 And God's word, Abraham surely received. 00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:08.260 As the Lord gave him another promise. 00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:10.500 In Genesis chapter 12 verse 3. 00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:11.960 God says, 00:34:12.180 --> 00:34:15.940 In you, all the families of the earth will be blessed. 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:19.280 In Galatians 3 verse 8. 00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:21.500 The apostle Paul calls his promise. 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:22.520 The gospel. 00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:24.000 The gospel. 00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.220 Why? 00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:31.000 Because Jesus, the one who will single-handedly save all the nations. 00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:33.679 Is indeed in Abraham. 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:36.760 What a promise of hope it is. 00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:38.460 To Abraham and to us. 00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:41.260 The gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:42.900 Is the ultimate blessing. 00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:45.119 God gives to this broken world. 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:48.820 So what is the global purpose of God's call to Abraham? 00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:51.039 Stop living for yourself. 00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:54.039 And start being a channel of God's grace. 00:34:54.800 --> 00:34:56.000 God will be with you. 00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:57.820 As he saves the world. 00:34:58.280 --> 00:34:59.079 With the gospel. 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:00.099 Through you. 00:35:00.099 --> 00:35:05.019 Now isn't it why God called you and me as well? 00:35:06.699 --> 00:35:08.960 God is on a mission to save the world. 00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:12.440 And he has called you and me to be part of it. 00:35:13.139 --> 00:35:14.460 God says in Matthew 28. 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:16.519 Go make disciples of nations. 00:35:16.799 --> 00:35:17.279 What's that? 00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:19.339 Bless all families of the earth. 00:35:19.699 --> 00:35:20.500 With my gospel. 00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:24.099 Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:24.699 What's that? 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:26.139 You know. 00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:28.139 Pass on this new great name. 00:35:28.199 --> 00:35:29.079 This new identity. 00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:30.319 That I have given you. 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:34.159 Teach them to observe everything I have taught you. 00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:35.900 Deny yourself. 00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:37.039 And carry the cause. 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:39.799 Love God and others unconditionally. 00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:41.139 And be a blessing. 00:35:41.319 --> 00:35:42.539 Be a channel of God's grace. 00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:45.259 And I will be with you always. 00:35:45.340 --> 00:35:46.319 Till the end of the age. 00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:47.579 What's that? 00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:49.519 I will support you. 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:51.800 Because you represent me. 00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:55.699 Do we see how broken this world is? 00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:59.960 Do we see how broken Australia is? 00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:05.019 Do we see how dark the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area really is? 00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:08.900 Without the gospel. 00:36:08.900 --> 00:36:09.900 Without Jesus. 00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:10.420 Without Jesus. 00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:13.739 People are like zombies. 00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.659 Walking dead. 00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:20.159 God did not call us to make us just better people. 00:36:20.159 --> 00:36:24.500 God called us to show people who he is. 00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:27.799 As he saves people through us. 00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:30.139 What a wonderful purpose. 00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:35.000 So far we have looked at the essence of God's call. 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:37.500 And the sum purposes of God's call. 00:36:38.359 --> 00:36:40.879 Lastly we come to responding to God's call. 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:43.880 And this will be quite short. 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:46.480 As I am now standing between you and the coffee. 00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:53.940 Now obedient action is the main way to responding to God's call I think. 00:36:54.860 --> 00:36:55.740 When we were young. 00:36:56.559 --> 00:36:59.260 My mom used to say to us kids. 00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:01.680 Go vacuum the house and mop the floor. 00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:03.559 And then she would give me a toothbrush. 00:37:05.300 --> 00:37:05.780 Anyways. 00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:09.380 We never said to each other or to mom. 00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:11.420 Let's do a study on it. 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:14.280 Before we clean. 00:37:15.119 --> 00:37:17.220 Or let's form a committee to discuss that. 00:37:18.260 --> 00:37:21.360 Or let's pray about it and see if we have peace. 00:37:23.240 --> 00:37:25.760 We never really just talked about it that much. 00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:28.140 We just went ahead and did it right. 00:37:29.360 --> 00:37:32.900 So sometimes I wonder when God says go do something. 00:37:33.860 --> 00:37:34.660 You know why we just. 00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:35.380 Anyways. 00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:36.360 You know what I mean. 00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:39.500 As we look at Abraham. 00:37:40.220 --> 00:37:43.120 It appears to me that faith driven obedience. 00:37:43.780 --> 00:37:44.460 Not words. 00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:47.700 Is the primary response to God's call. 00:37:48.980 --> 00:37:50.760 In Hebrews chapter 11 verse 8. 00:37:51.260 --> 00:37:51.880 He tells us. 00:37:52.140 --> 00:37:52.820 The writer tells us. 00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:53.920 That it is by faith. 00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:55.660 And not by compulsion. 00:37:56.220 --> 00:37:57.559 That Abraham obeyed. 00:37:57.559 --> 00:38:02.500 And then in Genesis chapter 12 verse 4. 00:38:03.019 --> 00:38:04.539 It says after receiving God's call. 00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:06.259 Abraham went forth. 00:38:06.679 --> 00:38:08.880 As the Lord had spoken to him. 00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:11.019 That's all he took. 00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:12.779 He listened to God. 00:38:13.299 --> 00:38:14.299 And he took action. 00:38:15.299 --> 00:38:16.539 Now that's obeying. 00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:19.400 That's what you tell your kids too right. 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:21.699 Continuing on. 00:38:22.299 --> 00:38:23.639 Verses 5 to 8 tells us. 00:38:24.019 --> 00:38:25.579 What this obedience looks like. 00:38:25.579 --> 00:38:28.659 First Abraham just went all in packing up. 00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:29.440 You know. 00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:31.179 First 5 says that he left nothing behind. 00:38:31.259 --> 00:38:31.900 Took everything. 00:38:32.259 --> 00:38:32.400 You know. 00:38:32.440 --> 00:38:33.539 People and everything else. 00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:35.119 There's no turning back. 00:38:35.759 --> 00:38:37.059 Just as the Lord told him. 00:38:37.860 --> 00:38:38.460 So far. 00:38:38.739 --> 00:38:39.619 No word from Abraham. 00:38:40.719 --> 00:38:42.119 And then in verses 6 to 7. 00:38:42.779 --> 00:38:44.559 We see the Lord appear to Abraham again. 00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:46.380 This time in Shechem. 00:38:47.099 --> 00:38:48.000 And God promised him. 00:38:48.159 --> 00:38:49.759 To give one of Abraham's descendants. 00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:51.039 That piece of land. 00:38:52.039 --> 00:38:53.279 And Paul says that. 00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:54.139 That descendant. 00:38:54.239 --> 00:38:54.639 That offspring. 00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:55.440 Is actually Christ. 00:38:56.079 --> 00:38:56.839 Now in response. 00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:59.039 Here Abraham built this altar there. 00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:00.980 Why an altar? 00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:03.619 Why did he build an altar? 00:39:04.799 --> 00:39:05.059 Right? 00:39:05.779 --> 00:39:06.900 Well he's being a blessing. 00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:08.980 Just as the Lord told him to. 00:39:09.879 --> 00:39:11.819 He didn't offer any sacrifice there. 00:39:11.879 --> 00:39:12.239 Do you notice? 00:39:12.659 --> 00:39:13.299 He just built it. 00:39:13.359 --> 00:39:14.440 It's just a thing sitting there. 00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:16.859 He is preparing. 00:39:17.420 --> 00:39:18.119 A space. 00:39:18.659 --> 00:39:19.500 For other people. 00:39:19.839 --> 00:39:20.900 To experience God. 00:39:21.199 --> 00:39:22.099 Just as he had. 00:39:22.099 --> 00:39:24.799 Maybe it's for the future generations. 00:39:25.219 --> 00:39:25.319 You know. 00:39:25.420 --> 00:39:26.139 Future Israel. 00:39:27.019 --> 00:39:27.219 You know. 00:39:27.279 --> 00:39:28.119 That God has promised him. 00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:29.199 A new nation. 00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:31.799 Maybe it's for all nations of the earth. 00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.299 We don't really know. 00:39:33.420 --> 00:39:34.519 Because the Bible didn't really say. 00:39:34.920 --> 00:39:35.519 Doesn't really say. 00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:39.239 But we know that Abraham is still silent. 00:39:39.840 --> 00:39:40.739 Not a single word. 00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:42.500 No PTL text. 00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:43.880 No prayer hand emoji. 00:39:44.039 --> 00:39:44.259 Nothing. 00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:46.039 He just kept silent. 00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:48.719 Then in verse 8. 00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:49.539 He moved again. 00:39:50.340 --> 00:39:51.400 This time to another place. 00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:53.360 Between this place called Beth El. 00:39:53.679 --> 00:39:54.840 Which means the house of God. 00:39:55.360 --> 00:39:55.860 And AI. 00:39:56.920 --> 00:39:57.179 You know. 00:39:57.179 --> 00:39:59.659 Which means wrongdoing or confusion. 00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:01.159 Not artificial intelligence. 00:40:02.119 --> 00:40:02.400 You know. 00:40:02.400 --> 00:40:04.720 And there he built another altar. 00:40:05.900 --> 00:40:06.840 Kept being a blessing. 00:40:07.900 --> 00:40:08.480 Then finally. 00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:09.500 He opened his mouth. 00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:11.000 And the Bible says. 00:40:11.519 --> 00:40:14.019 He called upon the name of the Lord. 00:40:14.380 --> 00:40:14.820 Yahweh. 00:40:16.200 --> 00:40:17.300 That's all he said. 00:40:18.559 --> 00:40:20.960 No record of him saying anything else to anybody. 00:40:21.619 --> 00:40:22.940 Until he gets to Egypt. 00:40:24.099 --> 00:40:25.320 There's no doubt. 00:40:25.660 --> 00:40:27.260 That Abraham's obedience. 00:40:27.820 --> 00:40:29.220 As driven by faith. 00:40:29.680 --> 00:40:30.840 Is the emphasis here. 00:40:30.840 --> 00:40:34.340 Everything the Lord has commanded. 00:40:34.680 --> 00:40:35.660 He just put it into action. 00:40:36.740 --> 00:40:37.519 Not a word. 00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:40.400 Isn't that interesting? 00:40:41.579 --> 00:40:42.579 Maybe action. 00:40:43.140 --> 00:40:44.780 Really speaks louder than words. 00:40:46.200 --> 00:40:47.680 And as you may have heard it said before. 00:40:48.600 --> 00:40:49.640 Faith that saves. 00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:50.539 Is never alone. 00:40:51.460 --> 00:40:51.660 Why? 00:40:53.340 --> 00:40:55.019 Because faith that is not dead. 00:40:55.480 --> 00:40:56.380 Really works. 00:40:57.500 --> 00:40:58.760 Now before we move on. 00:40:58.820 --> 00:41:00.300 To our very very last point today. 00:41:00.300 --> 00:41:02.019 I want just to quickly touch on. 00:41:02.260 --> 00:41:02.840 What faith is. 00:41:03.400 --> 00:41:04.840 Because it is by faith. 00:41:04.980 --> 00:41:06.480 That Abraham and all of us. 00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:07.920 Respond to God's call. 00:41:08.560 --> 00:41:09.620 And it's by faith. 00:41:09.880 --> 00:41:10.680 That we can obey. 00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:12.140 With the right motive. 00:41:13.340 --> 00:41:14.100 Hebrews 11. 00:41:14.820 --> 00:41:15.860 Verse 1 says. 00:41:16.300 --> 00:41:17.080 Now faith. 00:41:17.160 --> 00:41:18.680 Is the assurance of things hoped for. 00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:21.019 The conviction of things not seen. 00:41:21.780 --> 00:41:22.880 Now what does this mean? 00:41:22.880 --> 00:41:23.619 I believe faith. 00:41:23.619 --> 00:41:25.340 I believe faith. 00:41:25.579 --> 00:41:27.019 Is not a leap in the dark. 00:41:27.519 --> 00:41:28.619 But unseen hope. 00:41:29.140 --> 00:41:29.980 That we are sure. 00:41:30.180 --> 00:41:31.160 Will come to pass. 00:41:31.640 --> 00:41:33.559 Because of who God is. 00:41:34.760 --> 00:41:35.640 In the movie. 00:41:35.760 --> 00:41:37.480 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. 00:41:37.599 --> 00:41:38.119 If you are old. 00:41:38.200 --> 00:41:39.160 You would have watched it. 00:41:39.900 --> 00:41:40.039 Right. 00:41:40.200 --> 00:41:41.019 Harrison Ford. 00:41:41.340 --> 00:41:42.160 Playing Indiana. 00:41:42.400 --> 00:41:43.760 Is in search of the Holy Grail. 00:41:43.840 --> 00:41:44.640 The last cup. 00:41:45.140 --> 00:41:46.579 That Jesus apparently used. 00:41:46.640 --> 00:41:47.220 In the Last Supper. 00:41:47.460 --> 00:41:47.740 Of course. 00:41:47.800 --> 00:41:48.200 Or fake. 00:41:48.939 --> 00:41:50.460 Now he steps into. 00:41:50.619 --> 00:41:51.339 What appears to be. 00:41:51.439 --> 00:41:52.460 The impassable chasm. 00:41:53.519 --> 00:41:53.739 Okay. 00:41:54.179 --> 00:41:55.399 Only when he punches himself. 00:41:55.500 --> 00:41:56.619 He sticks his foot out. 00:41:56.719 --> 00:41:57.139 Next slide. 00:41:57.799 --> 00:41:58.619 He punches himself. 00:41:58.699 --> 00:41:59.159 Into the chasm. 00:41:59.899 --> 00:42:00.139 Alright. 00:42:00.319 --> 00:42:01.399 And then he finds this. 00:42:01.439 --> 00:42:02.579 Like invisible bridge. 00:42:02.859 --> 00:42:03.579 That was previously. 00:42:03.699 --> 00:42:04.299 Couldn't be seen. 00:42:04.839 --> 00:42:04.980 Okay. 00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:05.359 Next slide. 00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:06.719 Yeah. 00:42:06.939 --> 00:42:07.319 Next slide. 00:42:08.759 --> 00:42:09.119 Yep. 00:42:09.460 --> 00:42:09.659 Oh. 00:42:09.799 --> 00:42:10.179 No bridge. 00:42:11.099 --> 00:42:11.259 Oh. 00:42:11.259 --> 00:42:11.279 Oh. 00:42:12.279 --> 00:42:12.519 Okay. 00:42:12.599 --> 00:42:12.719 Back. 00:42:12.779 --> 00:42:12.899 Back. 00:42:12.919 --> 00:42:13.159 Back. 00:42:13.159 --> 00:42:13.339 Back. 00:42:13.339 --> 00:42:13.519 Back. 00:42:13.519 --> 00:42:13.659 Back. 00:42:13.879 --> 00:42:13.899 Back. 00:42:13.899 --> 00:42:14.419 Go back. 00:42:14.599 --> 00:42:14.739 Yes. 00:42:14.899 --> 00:42:15.299 Can you go back? 00:42:15.539 --> 00:42:15.659 Yeah. 00:42:15.939 --> 00:42:16.079 Oh. 00:42:16.099 --> 00:42:16.519 That's the bridge. 00:42:16.619 --> 00:42:16.960 Here you go. 00:42:17.559 --> 00:42:17.739 Yeah. 00:42:17.739 --> 00:42:18.319 And then. 00:42:18.500 --> 00:42:18.819 And then. 00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:19.899 So he was like. 00:42:19.979 --> 00:42:20.099 You know. 00:42:20.119 --> 00:42:20.619 Close his eye. 00:42:20.699 --> 00:42:21.339 Hold on to his hat. 00:42:21.779 --> 00:42:22.039 Bam. 00:42:22.139 --> 00:42:22.759 He went across. 00:42:24.779 --> 00:42:25.839 Is this biblical faith? 00:42:27.939 --> 00:42:29.439 This is not biblical faith. 00:42:29.719 --> 00:42:30.739 A leap in the dark. 00:42:30.839 --> 00:42:31.879 Is not biblical faith. 00:42:32.919 --> 00:42:34.059 When Bible talks about faith. 00:42:34.179 --> 00:42:35.079 It is unseen hope. 00:42:35.199 --> 00:42:36.500 That we are sure it's going to happen. 00:42:37.059 --> 00:42:37.459 We're sure. 00:42:38.219 --> 00:42:39.039 Hope is unseen. 00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:41.139 Because it is God's spoken promises. 00:42:41.419 --> 00:42:42.159 About the future. 00:42:42.739 --> 00:42:43.279 New bodies. 00:42:43.579 --> 00:42:44.039 New kingdom. 00:42:44.239 --> 00:42:44.739 New earth. 00:42:44.839 --> 00:42:45.279 New city. 00:42:45.639 --> 00:42:46.919 God is going to dwell with us. 00:42:46.920 --> 00:42:48.079 No more suffering. 00:42:48.220 --> 00:42:48.680 No more pain. 00:42:48.760 --> 00:42:49.320 No more tears. 00:42:51.280 --> 00:42:54.480 Hebrews 11 says that Abraham kept moving and never settled. 00:42:55.019 --> 00:42:56.780 Because he's looking for a new city. 00:42:57.280 --> 00:42:59.579 One that is designed and built by God himself. 00:43:02.539 --> 00:43:03.420 That is hope. 00:43:04.440 --> 00:43:07.099 Now how can we be sure these unseen things will happen? 00:43:07.099 --> 00:43:14.119 It is because God and his spirit has graciously allowed us to see through the scripture. 00:43:15.739 --> 00:43:17.799 That he can be trusted. 00:43:19.360 --> 00:43:20.799 During the 19th century. 00:43:21.199 --> 00:43:23.719 There's a famous type of walker called Charles Blondin. 00:43:24.219 --> 00:43:25.699 Have you guys heard this illustration before? 00:43:26.980 --> 00:43:27.539 You're all good right? 00:43:27.619 --> 00:43:28.139 Should I change it? 00:43:28.139 --> 00:43:31.279 I feel like every pastor has used this. 00:43:31.319 --> 00:43:32.179 So I'll go ahead anyways. 00:43:33.179 --> 00:43:33.319 Yeah. 00:43:33.420 --> 00:43:38.019 So he's famous for setting up a rope right across the Niagara Falls. 00:43:38.779 --> 00:43:40.379 Doing all kinds of crazy things on it. 00:43:40.440 --> 00:43:40.579 Right? 00:43:40.679 --> 00:43:42.859 He's drinking something here. 00:43:43.119 --> 00:43:43.839 A wine maybe. 00:43:44.480 --> 00:43:44.679 You know. 00:43:44.839 --> 00:43:45.460 Head stands. 00:43:46.259 --> 00:43:46.420 You know. 00:43:46.440 --> 00:43:48.239 And then apparently he brought a stove up there. 00:43:48.339 --> 00:43:49.920 And cooked an omelet there before. 00:43:50.799 --> 00:43:51.039 Right? 00:43:51.159 --> 00:43:51.839 It's amazing. 00:43:52.600 --> 00:43:53.800 And then apparently one time. 00:43:54.360 --> 00:43:54.800 You know. 00:43:54.840 --> 00:43:56.840 He was pushing this wheelbarrow. 00:43:57.559 --> 00:44:00.059 And he went over the Niagara Falls and came back. 00:44:00.460 --> 00:44:00.940 Everybody said. 00:44:00.980 --> 00:44:01.320 Yeah. 00:44:01.460 --> 00:44:02.079 Way to go. 00:44:02.220 --> 00:44:02.579 Blondin. 00:44:02.700 --> 00:44:02.880 You know. 00:44:02.960 --> 00:44:03.180 Yeah. 00:44:03.280 --> 00:44:03.539 More. 00:44:04.079 --> 00:44:04.260 You know. 00:44:04.260 --> 00:44:04.760 You're amazing. 00:44:04.940 --> 00:44:05.480 You're incredible. 00:44:05.680 --> 00:44:06.460 What a great guy. 00:44:07.220 --> 00:44:07.500 You know. 00:44:07.620 --> 00:44:08.820 And then he said to the audience. 00:44:09.059 --> 00:44:09.660 What did he say? 00:44:11.100 --> 00:44:12.620 I need a volunteer right now. 00:44:13.660 --> 00:44:16.940 He would come on to this wheelbarrow that I'm pushing. 00:44:17.519 --> 00:44:18.940 This tiny little wheelbarrow. 00:44:20.200 --> 00:44:21.180 And then all of a sudden. 00:44:21.179 --> 00:44:22.539 Everybody went silent. 00:44:23.579 --> 00:44:23.779 You know. 00:44:24.039 --> 00:44:25.319 Like sometimes in Bible study. 00:44:25.480 --> 00:44:26.500 When we are looking for answers. 00:44:26.619 --> 00:44:27.159 Everyone's like. 00:44:30.419 --> 00:44:31.099 And then. 00:44:32.159 --> 00:44:33.519 Suddenly this little lady. 00:44:34.359 --> 00:44:35.719 Raises her hand. 00:44:35.819 --> 00:44:35.960 Said. 00:44:36.259 --> 00:44:36.819 I will. 00:44:38.539 --> 00:44:39.259 And then. 00:44:39.619 --> 00:44:41.000 He wheeled that little lady across. 00:44:42.339 --> 00:44:43.440 And then later on. 00:44:43.440 --> 00:44:44.139 It was reported. 00:44:44.799 --> 00:44:45.319 That lady. 00:44:45.879 --> 00:44:46.460 Was in fact. 00:44:46.719 --> 00:44:47.119 His mom. 00:44:48.980 --> 00:44:49.759 That's faith. 00:44:51.179 --> 00:44:55.179 Faith is not a leap in the dark. 00:44:55.559 --> 00:44:56.299 But unseen hope. 00:44:56.739 --> 00:44:57.980 That we show will come to pass. 00:44:58.339 --> 00:44:58.599 Because. 00:44:59.460 --> 00:45:00.299 Of who God is. 00:45:00.819 --> 00:45:01.599 Because of who God is. 00:45:02.960 --> 00:45:04.119 Faith is a confident hope. 00:45:04.219 --> 00:45:06.319 That rests on God's promises and character. 00:45:06.539 --> 00:45:07.619 That's another way of putting it. 00:45:09.299 --> 00:45:10.119 Now finally. 00:45:10.679 --> 00:45:11.000 How. 00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:11.039 How. 00:45:11.199 --> 00:45:12.219 To have the power. 00:45:12.440 --> 00:45:14.000 To respond to God's call. 00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:16.219 Where to get this powerful. 00:45:16.760 --> 00:45:17.179 Power from. 00:45:18.039 --> 00:45:19.820 How are we supposed to have faith like Abraham. 00:45:20.320 --> 00:45:21.760 And obey like Abraham. 00:45:22.260 --> 00:45:23.920 And respond to God like Abraham. 00:45:25.039 --> 00:45:27.320 I believe that we can never. 00:45:27.860 --> 00:45:28.980 And should never. 00:45:29.980 --> 00:45:30.420 Try. 00:45:31.380 --> 00:45:31.800 To have. 00:45:32.219 --> 00:45:33.019 Faith like Abraham. 00:45:33.559 --> 00:45:34.599 With our own strength. 00:45:35.159 --> 00:45:36.360 I don't think it works. 00:45:36.360 --> 00:45:38.400 Our faith. 00:45:39.160 --> 00:45:40.300 Responding to God's call. 00:45:40.519 --> 00:45:41.820 We work shamelessly. 00:45:42.519 --> 00:45:43.079 Only. 00:45:43.720 --> 00:45:44.760 If we gaze upon Jesus. 00:45:45.760 --> 00:45:46.519 The champion. 00:45:46.840 --> 00:45:47.559 Of our faith. 00:45:48.120 --> 00:45:48.840 Who saw us. 00:45:49.099 --> 00:45:49.800 As his joy. 00:45:50.380 --> 00:45:51.320 When he endured. 00:45:51.579 --> 00:45:52.079 The cross. 00:45:53.840 --> 00:45:55.019 Measuring success. 00:45:55.240 --> 00:45:56.200 Is not always bad. 00:45:56.880 --> 00:45:58.380 Sometimes it's actually quite good. 00:45:59.140 --> 00:46:00.579 But our faith journey. 00:46:00.820 --> 00:46:02.180 Can get very dangerous. 00:46:02.700 --> 00:46:04.099 We start measuring ourselves. 00:46:04.099 --> 00:46:05.400 Against like Abraham. 00:46:05.699 --> 00:46:06.079 And David. 00:46:06.420 --> 00:46:06.900 And Paul. 00:46:07.019 --> 00:46:07.500 And so on. 00:46:08.900 --> 00:46:09.500 Progress. 00:46:09.619 --> 00:46:10.339 Can lead to pride. 00:46:11.259 --> 00:46:11.779 Failures. 00:46:12.239 --> 00:46:13.339 Can lead to shame. 00:46:13.460 --> 00:46:13.860 And guilt. 00:46:14.139 --> 00:46:15.259 And even backsliding. 00:46:16.420 --> 00:46:17.920 So how are we supposed to. 00:46:17.980 --> 00:46:18.679 Respond rightly. 00:46:18.880 --> 00:46:19.679 To God's call. 00:46:19.960 --> 00:46:20.599 By faith. 00:46:21.179 --> 00:46:22.380 Without using Abraham. 00:46:22.500 --> 00:46:23.119 As a yastick. 00:46:24.420 --> 00:46:25.339 Hebrews 12 says. 00:46:25.639 --> 00:46:26.400 That the only way. 00:46:26.500 --> 00:46:27.059 We can endure. 00:46:27.139 --> 00:46:28.099 This faith marathon. 00:46:28.739 --> 00:46:29.239 We're in. 00:46:29.500 --> 00:46:30.679 Is to fix our eyes. 00:46:30.699 --> 00:46:31.179 On Jesus. 00:46:31.699 --> 00:46:32.360 The founder. 00:46:32.819 --> 00:46:33.659 And perfecter. 00:46:33.659 --> 00:46:34.399 Of our faith. 00:46:34.819 --> 00:46:35.859 Who for the joy. 00:46:35.859 --> 00:46:37.379 That he set before him. 00:46:37.759 --> 00:46:38.639 Endured across. 00:46:39.000 --> 00:46:40.059 Despising the shame. 00:46:40.440 --> 00:46:41.019 And is seated. 00:46:41.259 --> 00:46:42.059 At the right hand. 00:46:42.379 --> 00:46:43.079 Of the throne. 00:46:43.219 --> 00:46:43.659 Of God. 00:46:44.460 --> 00:46:45.399 It is done deal. 00:46:46.739 --> 00:46:47.299 Abraham. 00:46:47.639 --> 00:46:49.059 Is not the real hero here. 00:46:49.440 --> 00:46:50.219 Jesus is. 00:46:51.339 --> 00:46:52.579 He is the perfecter. 00:46:52.739 --> 00:46:53.460 Of our faith. 00:46:53.719 --> 00:46:54.339 What does that mean? 00:46:54.719 --> 00:46:55.199 That means. 00:46:55.319 --> 00:46:56.500 His perfect faith. 00:46:56.799 --> 00:46:57.639 Is credited. 00:46:57.980 --> 00:46:59.480 To our imperfect faith. 00:47:00.519 --> 00:47:01.279 That's it. 00:47:01.839 --> 00:47:02.639 It's done deal. 00:47:02.639 --> 00:47:04.159 And the same time. 00:47:04.480 --> 00:47:05.259 Having done that. 00:47:05.500 --> 00:47:05.940 That actually. 00:47:06.219 --> 00:47:07.239 Fills our faith. 00:47:08.059 --> 00:47:08.400 How? 00:47:08.980 --> 00:47:09.779 How do we see that. 00:47:09.839 --> 00:47:10.599 In today's passage. 00:47:12.519 --> 00:47:13.119 Abraham. 00:47:13.339 --> 00:47:14.179 Left the land. 00:47:14.940 --> 00:47:16.199 And his father's house. 00:47:16.859 --> 00:47:17.460 But Jesus. 00:47:18.119 --> 00:47:19.039 Left his father. 00:47:19.199 --> 00:47:19.659 And heaven. 00:47:20.619 --> 00:47:20.960 Why? 00:47:21.400 --> 00:47:22.000 For us. 00:47:23.159 --> 00:47:24.599 God promised Abraham. 00:47:25.139 --> 00:47:26.539 That he will make his name great. 00:47:27.059 --> 00:47:28.379 But what happened to Jesus? 00:47:28.839 --> 00:47:30.099 He gave us his name. 00:47:30.179 --> 00:47:31.279 The name above all names. 00:47:31.280 --> 00:47:32.580 And came down here. 00:47:32.680 --> 00:47:33.560 Became like a slave. 00:47:33.640 --> 00:47:34.519 Philippians 2 said. 00:47:35.160 --> 00:47:35.720 And then. 00:47:36.140 --> 00:47:37.660 He died a horrible death. 00:47:38.060 --> 00:47:39.220 And lost his reputation. 00:47:39.480 --> 00:47:39.740 Why? 00:47:40.680 --> 00:47:41.500 So that we. 00:47:42.080 --> 00:47:43.019 Can receive. 00:47:43.580 --> 00:47:44.480 The greatest name. 00:47:44.720 --> 00:47:45.140 In him. 00:47:46.180 --> 00:47:46.519 God. 00:47:46.620 --> 00:47:47.620 Also promised Abraham. 00:47:47.880 --> 00:47:49.580 I will bless those who bless you. 00:47:50.260 --> 00:47:51.580 And him who dishonors you. 00:47:51.640 --> 00:47:52.220 I will curse. 00:47:52.640 --> 00:47:53.400 What about Jesus? 00:47:54.840 --> 00:47:56.160 He got hung on the cross. 00:47:56.260 --> 00:47:57.519 Became the cursed one. 00:47:57.920 --> 00:47:58.540 So that we. 00:47:58.740 --> 00:47:59.960 Can receive God's blessings. 00:47:59.960 --> 00:48:02.699 Abraham built an altar. 00:48:02.699 --> 00:48:03.440 For the Lord. 00:48:03.519 --> 00:48:04.559 For others to meet God. 00:48:05.240 --> 00:48:05.740 But Jesus. 00:48:05.740 --> 00:48:06.860 Went on the cross. 00:48:07.119 --> 00:48:07.380 As his. 00:48:07.760 --> 00:48:09.179 As the altar. 00:48:09.760 --> 00:48:10.260 And became. 00:48:10.440 --> 00:48:11.380 A living sacrifice. 00:48:11.880 --> 00:48:12.599 For you and me. 00:48:13.800 --> 00:48:14.179 Abraham. 00:48:14.380 --> 00:48:15.079 Suffered shame. 00:48:15.519 --> 00:48:17.179 Because Sarah was barren. 00:48:17.980 --> 00:48:18.679 Did you know. 00:48:19.039 --> 00:48:20.400 What shame Jesus suffered. 00:48:21.240 --> 00:48:22.840 Besides being mocked. 00:48:22.940 --> 00:48:23.559 And flogged. 00:48:23.820 --> 00:48:25.199 And having a sign on the top. 00:48:25.199 --> 00:48:28.379 He was stripped naked. 00:48:28.759 --> 00:48:30.119 By the Roman gods. 00:48:31.079 --> 00:48:32.099 Because historically. 00:48:32.739 --> 00:48:34.339 That's what they did to everyone. 00:48:34.859 --> 00:48:35.659 Who went on the cross. 00:48:36.500 --> 00:48:37.980 That white loincloth. 00:48:38.159 --> 00:48:38.599 You see. 00:48:38.879 --> 00:48:39.259 In the. 00:48:39.399 --> 00:48:39.559 You know. 00:48:39.639 --> 00:48:40.139 Paintings. 00:48:40.139 --> 00:48:40.919 And stained glasses. 00:48:41.099 --> 00:48:41.480 And so on. 00:48:42.359 --> 00:48:43.399 They were added on. 00:48:44.239 --> 00:48:44.679 You know. 00:48:44.719 --> 00:48:45.179 The western. 00:48:45.559 --> 00:48:46.000 Artists. 00:48:46.079 --> 00:48:46.279 Think that. 00:48:46.379 --> 00:48:47.359 It's more appropriate. 00:48:47.599 --> 00:48:47.779 You know. 00:48:47.780 --> 00:48:51.640 But Hebrew 12 says. 00:48:51.980 --> 00:48:52.019 That. 00:48:52.740 --> 00:48:53.080 Jesus. 00:48:53.280 --> 00:48:53.960 Endued the cross. 00:48:54.800 --> 00:48:55.320 Despising. 00:48:55.580 --> 00:48:56.280 That's shame. 00:48:56.820 --> 00:48:57.060 Why? 00:48:57.880 --> 00:48:59.280 Because while he was suffering. 00:48:59.660 --> 00:49:00.040 Physically. 00:49:00.240 --> 00:49:00.840 And shamefully. 00:49:00.940 --> 00:49:01.560 On that cross. 00:49:02.200 --> 00:49:03.580 He saw you and me. 00:49:04.040 --> 00:49:04.840 As his joy. 00:49:04.960 --> 00:49:05.580 In front of him. 00:49:07.040 --> 00:49:07.940 His joy. 00:49:08.560 --> 00:49:09.480 He saw us. 00:49:10.100 --> 00:49:10.760 On that cross. 00:49:10.800 --> 00:49:11.660 He said to himself. 00:49:12.340 --> 00:49:12.640 Yes. 00:49:12.640 --> 00:49:13.340 This is shameful. 00:49:15.120 --> 00:49:15.600 But. 00:49:16.060 --> 00:49:16.300 They. 00:49:16.840 --> 00:49:17.420 You and me. 00:49:17.780 --> 00:49:18.800 Are totally worth it. 00:49:20.480 --> 00:49:21.280 Dear brothers and sisters. 00:49:21.440 --> 00:49:21.880 And friends. 00:49:22.740 --> 00:49:24.620 This is what our loving saviour. 00:49:25.040 --> 00:49:26.280 Has provided us with. 00:49:26.740 --> 00:49:28.120 To live out the faith. 00:49:28.460 --> 00:49:29.620 That he has called us for. 00:49:30.180 --> 00:49:30.700 Shamelessly. 00:49:30.980 --> 00:49:32.120 All the days of our lives. 00:49:32.920 --> 00:49:33.960 Let us never forget. 00:49:34.500 --> 00:49:35.140 And let's pray. 00:49:35.139 --> 00:49:48.099 Our heavenly father. 00:49:49.699 --> 00:49:51.279 We thank you for calling us. 00:49:51.420 --> 00:49:52.139 And drawing us. 00:49:54.839 --> 00:49:55.900 You never had to. 00:49:56.219 --> 00:49:57.239 But you did it anyways. 00:49:59.379 --> 00:50:00.519 And we thank you. 00:50:01.719 --> 00:50:02.859 For giving us Jesus. 00:50:02.860 --> 00:50:06.700 That we can. 00:50:06.700 --> 00:50:06.780 That we can. 00:50:08.380 --> 00:50:09.860 Receive the gift of faith. 00:50:13.240 --> 00:50:13.940 Oh father. 00:50:14.019 --> 00:50:14.800 We want to believe. 00:50:15.480 --> 00:50:16.440 Help our unbelief. 00:50:16.440 --> 00:50:16.940 God. 00:50:16.940 --> 00:50:16.960 God. 00:50:16.960 --> 00:50:17.079 God. 00:50:21.400 --> 00:50:22.380 Have this hope. 00:50:24.220 --> 00:50:26.159 Have the resurrection of Christ. 00:50:26.320 --> 00:50:27.220 So real. 00:50:27.619 --> 00:50:28.360 In our lives. 00:50:29.619 --> 00:50:30.460 Every day. 00:50:31.880 --> 00:50:33.240 That we can just look to him. 00:50:35.360 --> 00:50:36.659 Knowing that we are your joy. 00:50:37.920 --> 00:50:39.099 And have the strength. 00:50:39.639 --> 00:50:40.360 And the confidence. 00:50:40.980 --> 00:50:41.720 And the identity. 00:50:42.679 --> 00:50:43.480 And all the blessing. 00:50:43.679 --> 00:50:44.760 That you fulfilled us with. 00:50:44.760 --> 00:50:48.080 Help us live it out. 00:50:48.120 --> 00:50:49.400 So that we can really be a blessing. 00:50:50.400 --> 00:50:51.460 In Jesus name we pray. 00:50:51.960 --> 00:50:52.240 Amen. 00:50:52.239 --> 00:50:52.599 Amen. 00:50:52.659 --> 00:50:54.099 For good days. 00:50:54.939 --> 00:50:55.059 I love you. 00:50:55.119 --> 00:50:55.539 I love you. 00:50:55.599 --> 00:50:55.839 I love you. 00:50:55.859 --> 00:50:57.839 I love you. 00:50:58.159 --> 00:50:58.979 Thank you. 00:50:59.079 --> 00:50:59.399 I love you. 00:50:59.519 --> 00:51:00.059 For good days. 00:51:00.119 --> 00:51:01.259 Thank you. 00:51:03.399 --> 00:51:03.899 Thank you.