WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.000 It's on page 8. We're continuing our series in Genesis. I think we stopped back in November. 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:11.240 We're going to pick it up just for the next few weeks. We're going to be looking at Genesis 12 and 13. 00:00:11.380 --> 00:00:16.039 But particularly today, I want us to just look at the first three verses of chapter 12. 00:00:19.859 --> 00:00:22.440 Homesickness, it's a terrible feeling, isn't it? 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:33.700 When you're far from home and things just aren't right and nothing really will fix it except just being back home. 00:00:35.120 --> 00:00:39.000 Bethany and I, we really felt that when we lived in America for four years. 00:00:39.939 --> 00:00:48.120 We would spend our nights on YouTube watching people eat British food, just watching people go to Gregg's. 00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:49.920 That was how we filled our time. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:54.240 And we'd watch this documentary on Eddie Stobart lorries. 00:00:54.800 --> 00:00:56.320 They're based in Carlisle. 00:00:57.440 --> 00:00:58.480 It was really good. 00:01:00.300 --> 00:01:02.660 But that's what we needed. 00:01:03.900 --> 00:01:07.579 And we would do all that just to deal with this homesickness. 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:14.359 That longing to be back in your country with the family you belong to and with the people you love. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:17.980 And just think about homesickness for a second. 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:19.260 What is that feeling? 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:22.900 What are we longing for when we're homesick? 00:01:23.780 --> 00:01:26.840 We are desperate to belong again. 00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:29.439 Belong to our country. 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:30.560 Belong to our family. 00:01:30.740 --> 00:01:33.299 Belong to the place where we know we're safe. 00:01:35.219 --> 00:01:40.859 But that need to belong, it's not just for those who are far from home. 00:01:40.859 --> 00:01:46.859 No, you actually see this need to belong in everyone. 00:01:48.659 --> 00:01:50.900 Lying deep in the heart of all of us. 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:54.459 It's this inescapable need to belong. 00:01:55.299 --> 00:01:56.500 You see it all around us. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:01:58.460 People are lonely, aren't they? 00:01:58.459 --> 00:02:00.839 People are lost. 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:03.280 People are directionless. 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:09.759 People are in a darkness and desperate just to belong somewhere. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:14.539 Belong to a place and a people and somewhere where they are loved. 00:02:14.539 --> 00:02:19.979 So it's no surprise young men are so quick to join gangs, aren't they? 00:02:21.459 --> 00:02:24.379 It's no surprise as the world is getting more divided. 00:02:24.859 --> 00:02:27.799 It's also getting more focused on identity. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:30.979 We're looking for groups to belong to. 00:02:30.979 --> 00:02:35.340 We are attempting to find some sense of belonging. 00:02:37.179 --> 00:02:38.319 And what is that need? 00:02:39.339 --> 00:02:43.019 It's this universal homesickness inside of us. 00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:49.079 We know we belong and so we have this need. 00:02:50.939 --> 00:02:53.919 And you might even be particularly feeling that right now. 00:02:55.780 --> 00:02:59.219 Well, Genesis shows us the reason why we feel all that. 00:02:59.219 --> 00:03:05.460 We need to belong because we are made to belong. 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:08.939 Think about how humanity was created. 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:13.000 We were made to be one people. 00:03:14.199 --> 00:03:16.520 God's one humanity. 00:03:17.539 --> 00:03:18.479 Perfectly united. 00:03:18.659 --> 00:03:20.560 All belonging to one people. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:24.460 We were made to be together in one place. 00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:25.079 Our home. 00:03:25.219 --> 00:03:26.620 It was the Garden of Eden, wasn't it? 00:03:26.620 --> 00:03:30.520 And from there, the whole world was meant to be our home. 00:03:32.200 --> 00:03:35.039 And we are made to belong to God. 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:41.759 Under his love and his care and his safety and his presence and his blessing. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:46.460 Our people, our home, our God. 00:03:47.219 --> 00:03:48.620 That's what we are made for. 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:52.340 That is what is in the very structure of being human. 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:55.259 We truly belonged. 00:03:56.780 --> 00:03:57.879 But what happened? 00:03:59.200 --> 00:04:00.580 We destroyed everything. 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:03.480 Sin divided us. 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:04.700 Now a broken family. 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:10.000 We were sent out of the Garden, wandering nomads east of Eden. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:12.960 And we were sent out of God's presence. 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.220 The one we were made to belong to. 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:21.220 And so what are we all left with this side of Eden? 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:23.079 No home. 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:24.500 No people. 00:04:25.060 --> 00:04:25.879 No God. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:27.540 No belonging. 00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:31.959 Just this universal homesickness. 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:37.579 And that, that is the curse of this world. 00:04:39.099 --> 00:04:44.719 As we feel that lost loneliness, we are feeling the curse of this world. 00:04:45.599 --> 00:04:47.139 And it's there in all of us. 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:48.179 Yes, we have family. 00:04:48.899 --> 00:04:49.959 Yes, we can make friends. 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:52.620 And yes, we can buy a house and make a home. 00:04:52.939 --> 00:04:55.519 But this world just isn't right. 00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:56.740 It's still fractured. 00:04:56.740 --> 00:04:59.360 We are still so lost. 00:04:59.660 --> 00:05:02.879 And we are needing to belong to something bigger. 00:05:04.259 --> 00:05:07.960 The weight of the curse, it just presses down on all of us. 00:05:10.259 --> 00:05:14.480 And so that need to belong will always be there this side of Eden. 00:05:15.660 --> 00:05:17.840 Because we aren't back in Eden. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:19.400 We aren't back with God. 00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:27.139 And that curse, that is exactly what God promises to deal with. 00:05:28.779 --> 00:05:37.799 God's big plan for the world is to take a lost and broken people and make us truly belong to what we were made for. 00:05:39.139 --> 00:05:43.959 And here in Genesis 12, we are seeing God announce that very plan. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:47.839 God's big plan to fix the curse of this world. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:52.979 And we see here, God is doing this in a very special way. 00:05:54.299 --> 00:05:58.500 God is fixing the world by calling one man. 00:05:59.699 --> 00:06:04.159 And from him, God promises to start a new family. 00:06:05.559 --> 00:06:08.839 And it's a family you can belong to. 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:20.459 And so while we are cursed and broken and needing to belong, we see today, God has promised to bless the world. 00:06:21.599 --> 00:06:22.859 And it's my first point today. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:24.819 God has promised to bless the world. 00:06:26.179 --> 00:06:30.359 This passage we have in front of us, particularly these first three verses of chapter 12, 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:35.040 It can't be overstated how important these verses are. 00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:42.460 This is one of those key pivotal moments in the Bible that sets the course of history forever. 00:06:43.520 --> 00:06:47.520 God is finally laying out his plan to save the world. 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:52.459 One of my favourite films, it's a Christmas film, it's Home Alone. 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:53.120 I love it. 00:06:53.139 --> 00:06:54.879 I watch it every Christmas, Home Alone 1 and 2. 00:06:55.779 --> 00:06:58.339 And in Home Alone 1, it's about Kevin McAllister. 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:00.539 He's a boy that's left home alone, obviously. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:03.819 And burglars try to break into his house. 00:07:03.979 --> 00:07:05.259 And he has to protect his home. 00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:11.099 And there's this pivotal scene in the film where Kevin finds out the burglars are coming. 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:15.599 And so he decides, right, I can't let this happen. 00:07:16.420 --> 00:07:17.180 I have a plan. 00:07:17.259 --> 00:07:18.639 I'm going to save my house. 00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:21.860 And then the dramatic music kicks in. 00:07:22.159 --> 00:07:28.839 And it cuts to Kevin clearing the table in his house, laying out a map of his house. 00:07:29.240 --> 00:07:32.000 And at the top of the map, it says, Battle Plan. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:37.480 And on it, you see all of Kevin's plan on it, all the traps and the inventions, all the details 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:42.399 of how exactly he's going to stop the burglars and save his house. 00:07:43.540 --> 00:07:45.620 Well, that's what's going on here in Genesis 12. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:49.740 So far, God has said he's going to save the world. 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:57.120 Genesis 3, he said he's going to save his house and fix this curse by sending a serpent crusher 00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:00.560 through a family, someone to defeat Satan, end evil. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:03.579 But the details are unclear. 00:08:05.019 --> 00:08:08.660 So far, it's been like Kevin saying he's going to save his house. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:10.519 But we don't know how. 00:08:11.980 --> 00:08:18.819 Well, here in Genesis 12, this is God clearing the table and laying out the battle plan. 00:08:20.019 --> 00:08:26.839 Finally, here are the details of how exactly God is going to save his house, this whole cursed world. 00:08:26.839 --> 00:08:27.719 And how? 00:08:28.699 --> 00:08:30.119 Well, God doesn't mess around. 00:08:30.259 --> 00:08:32.279 We are thrown straight into the battle plan. 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:32.839 First one. 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:40.860 Now the Lord said to Abraham, go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:43.680 And I will make of you a great nation. 00:08:44.300 --> 00:08:48.680 And I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing. 00:08:48.860 --> 00:08:50.620 I will bless those who bless you. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:53.220 And him who dishonors you, I will curse. 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:58.019 And in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 00:08:58.019 --> 00:09:00.699 First, this is the plan. 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:02.399 It's a promise. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:05.059 And look what this promise involves. 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:06.159 Three big things. 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:09.819 God promises Abraham a land. 00:09:10.439 --> 00:09:10.720 Do you see? 00:09:10.980 --> 00:09:13.179 Go to the land I will show you. 00:09:14.299 --> 00:09:16.319 And he promises a nation. 00:09:17.399 --> 00:09:21.240 From you will come a whole great nation of people. 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:26.620 And third, God promises to bless Abraham. 00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:27.799 Do you see? 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:29.680 I will bless you. 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:36.480 And that means God is going to show a particular favor to this family. 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:44.840 This is where God is going to set his focus, his love, his care, his goodness, his presence. 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:50.560 In essence, God is saying, you will belong to me again. 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:53.000 You will be a people. 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:55.560 And you will be my people. 00:09:57.320 --> 00:09:59.180 And look what this blessing includes. 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:00.540 Do you see? 00:10:00.660 --> 00:10:02.440 I will make your name great. 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:05.560 So your name is your fame. 00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:07.220 It's your reputation. 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:11.360 And God promises he's going to make it great. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:14.960 So there are big names in the history books, aren't there? 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:16.940 There's Alexander the Great. 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:18.200 Napoleon. 00:10:19.019 --> 00:10:19.740 Genghis Khan. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:23.100 Many people that have strived for greatness. 00:10:24.580 --> 00:10:27.320 Well, God promises something beyond the history books here. 00:10:28.340 --> 00:10:29.480 It's with Abraham. 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:32.800 This is where real greatness will lie. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:36.360 And it won't just be Abraham alone, did you see? 00:10:36.460 --> 00:10:36.680 No. 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:39.659 Abraham is going to be a vessel 00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:42.679 through which other people will be blessed. 00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:43.299 Verse 3. 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:46.759 I will bless those who bless you. 00:10:47.319 --> 00:10:49.480 And him who dishonors you, I will curse. 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:53.339 Those who are with Abraham on his side, 00:10:53.819 --> 00:10:55.279 God will bless as well. 00:10:56.079 --> 00:10:58.299 And those who aren't, God will curse. 00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:01.000 And who is this? 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:02.500 This isn't just a few people. 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:04.379 No, this promise is global. 00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:05.399 Verse 3. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:10.539 In you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:14.679 This is how you can sum up the plan on the table. 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:20.700 God promises a people in a place with God's blessing. 00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:24.780 This plan is how God is going to save the world. 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:27.879 And why these three things? 00:11:29.060 --> 00:11:31.060 Well, do these three things ring any bells? 00:11:32.560 --> 00:11:34.580 This is the answer to the curse. 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:40.220 This is the answer to our inescapable need to belong. 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:43.940 To a lonely, scattered world, God says, 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:46.580 I promise to make a new family. 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:50.860 To a world cast out of the garden, God says, 00:11:51.060 --> 00:11:53.080 I'm going to give you a new home. 00:11:54.560 --> 00:11:57.759 And to a world heavy under the curse, 00:11:57.920 --> 00:12:01.139 God says, I'm going to bless you. 00:12:01.139 --> 00:12:05.340 And so this moment here in Genesis 12, 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:09.059 this is a seismic moment in the Bible. 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:10.659 In all history, in fact. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:15.000 It can't be overstated how important this promise is. 00:12:15.319 --> 00:12:17.580 This changes the course of everything. 00:12:18.819 --> 00:12:20.699 God lays out the battle plan and says, 00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:24.019 I am going to reverse the curse of this world 00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:26.259 and turn it into blessing. 00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:30.200 And you can even see that in how many times 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:32.000 bless is mentioned in these verses. 00:12:32.439 --> 00:12:33.720 Did you count or can you count? 00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:35.799 So up until now, 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:39.819 God has used the word curse five times. 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:43.200 From Genesis 1 to 11, five curses. 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:46.460 And now, how many times does he promise to bless? 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:48.259 Five times. 00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:51.899 Curse, curse, curse, curse, curse. 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:56.319 And now, bless, bless, bless, bless, bless. 00:12:57.980 --> 00:13:00.360 This is the plan to restore the world. 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:02.840 God is reversing the curse. 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:07.939 And so God is announcing here 00:13:07.939 --> 00:13:10.299 what is needed to fix this world. 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:13.120 This lostness, this loneliness, 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:16.779 this homesickness, this fractured and broken world. 00:13:16.899 --> 00:13:18.879 It is crying out for help. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:22.120 You might be crying out for help right now. 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:25.000 And this promise is showing us what we really need. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:27.700 We are needing God. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:33.500 We are desperately needing to be back with God 00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:37.939 under his blessing and being his people. 00:13:40.179 --> 00:13:41.559 And here in Genesis 12, 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.500 this is exactly what God is doing. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:47.059 God is planning to restore the world 00:13:47.059 --> 00:13:48.080 to how it was meant to be, 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:49.900 how we are designed to be, 00:13:50.520 --> 00:13:53.180 so that we can belong again. 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:57.980 And this is why this moment is just so huge 00:13:57.980 --> 00:13:59.120 in the timeline of history. 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:01.820 To a world plunged into sin, 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:04.720 an undeserving world plunged into sin, 00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:06.920 God isn't promising to flood the world 00:14:06.920 --> 00:14:07.860 with water anymore. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.540 No, he's now promising to flood this world 00:14:11.540 --> 00:14:13.100 with his blessing. 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:17.060 And how will this blessing come? 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:19.460 It's not out of thin air. 00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:22.200 It's not just going to magically appear. 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:24.639 No, this blessing, it is coming 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:27.740 through Abraham and his offspring. 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.899 And it's my second point today. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:31.460 God has promised to bless the world 00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:33.759 through Abraham and his offspring. 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:37.580 Did you notice this promise? 00:14:37.819 --> 00:14:39.299 It is for the whole world. 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:42.039 Blessing will come to all the families of the earth. 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:42.860 But the promise, 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:45.620 it isn't directed to the whole earth, is it? 00:14:46.299 --> 00:14:47.919 It's directed toward Abraham. 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:48.919 Look at the language. 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:51.740 I will show you a land, Abraham. 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:55.179 I will make of you a great nation. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:57.139 I will bless you, 00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:58.579 and in you, 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:01.639 all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 00:15:03.319 --> 00:15:05.860 The answer to this universal homesickness, 00:15:05.959 --> 00:15:07.919 it's going to be not anywhere, 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:11.879 but it's going to be in this man. 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:17.799 God is starting a family filled with blessing, 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:21.139 and Abraham's going to be at the top of that family tree. 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:25.039 And so, connected to Abraham, 00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:28.799 this blessing will also come through his family. 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:30.159 Look at verse 7. 00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:31.600 Skip ahead to verse 7. 00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:34.259 Then the Lord appeared to Abraham and said, 00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:37.480 to your offspring, I will give this land. 00:15:38.940 --> 00:15:39.960 This blessing, 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:42.480 it's going to come through his offspring. 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:47.019 There's a river in North London 00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:48.740 called the New River. 00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.519 You might have heard of it. 00:15:49.540 --> 00:15:50.460 It's not an impressive river. 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.120 Called the New River. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:54.660 And it flows from outside of London, 00:15:54.780 --> 00:15:56.000 from the Hertfordshire area. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.660 And it flows down into London, 00:15:58.660 --> 00:15:59.960 into the center of London. 00:16:01.160 --> 00:16:02.180 But the New River, 00:16:02.300 --> 00:16:03.240 it wasn't always there. 00:16:04.280 --> 00:16:05.759 In the 1600s, 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:07.560 there was no fresh water in London. 00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:10.059 It was all just kind of dirty, polluted water. 00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:12.399 And so, they dug a new river, 00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:13.319 the New River, 00:16:13.599 --> 00:16:14.259 good name, 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:16.559 and they dug it from outside of London 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:18.979 all the way to the city center 00:16:18.979 --> 00:16:20.899 to bring fresh water into the city. 00:16:21.699 --> 00:16:24.819 This one fresh stream of water 00:16:24.819 --> 00:16:26.819 into a contaminated city. 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:29.620 And that's just like Abraham. 00:16:31.140 --> 00:16:32.660 He and his family 00:16:32.660 --> 00:16:34.020 is the stream 00:16:34.020 --> 00:16:35.200 through which 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:37.120 this polluted world 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:38.240 is going to be 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:39.640 flood with blessing. 00:16:41.180 --> 00:16:41.900 Restored again. 00:16:43.140 --> 00:16:44.600 Here, in God's family, 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:45.560 with God's blessing, 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.400 this is where 00:16:46.400 --> 00:16:48.260 we are going to belong again. 00:16:48.660 --> 00:16:49.900 And so, God has promised 00:16:49.900 --> 00:16:50.960 to bless this world. 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.960 And it's through Abraham 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:54.040 and his offspring. 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:57.459 And so, as God spreads out 00:16:57.459 --> 00:16:58.860 his battle plan on the table, 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:01.120 this is what we all need to pay 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.399 very close attention to. 00:17:03.599 --> 00:17:04.799 If we are to find 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:07.019 any relief from this cursed world, 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.779 if we are to find 00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:10.099 any fresh water 00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:11.279 in this polluted life, 00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:12.619 any true belonging, 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:15.039 any blessing of God at all, 00:17:15.879 --> 00:17:16.960 there is one place 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:18.339 and one place only 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:20.000 that we can go to. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:23.160 We need to be a part 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:24.180 of this family. 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:29.099 But, who is this family? 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:31.660 Who is this offspring 00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:32.579 we need to come to? 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:36.039 Well, from Abraham 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:37.099 does come a nation. 00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:39.180 It's the nation of Israel. 00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:41.940 And they do possess a land, 00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:42.720 verse 5, 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:44.680 it's the land of Canaan. 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:46.279 We call it Israel 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.200 and Palestine today. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:50.299 And God does bless them 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.720 and dwell with them 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:53.580 and make Abraham's name great. 00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:56.019 But when God says 00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:57.400 the blessing, the stream, 00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:58.819 will be found 00:17:58.819 --> 00:18:00.100 in Abraham's offspring, 00:18:01.080 --> 00:18:01.920 he's ultimately 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:03.880 not talking about a nation. 00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:07.200 He's ultimately not talking 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.660 about a plot of land 00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:10.059 in the Middle East. 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.019 No, ultimately, 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.360 God is talking about 00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:14.720 one offspring. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.400 I want you to listen 00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:18.680 to Galatians 3.16. 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.400 Paul preached this 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:20.160 a few months ago. 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:22.019 Galatians 3.16, 00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:22.799 it's talking about 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:23.680 this exact passage. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.900 So, Galatians 3 says this, 00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:28.480 Now the promises 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.960 were made to Abraham 00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:31.680 and to his offspring. 00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:34.000 It does not say 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.819 and to offsprings, 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:37.480 referring to many, 00:18:38.120 --> 00:18:39.440 but referring to one, 00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:42.100 and to your offspring, 00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:44.699 who is Christ. 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:49.079 As God spreads out the plan, 00:18:49.219 --> 00:18:50.619 even here in Genesis 12, 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.839 he is promising 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:53.519 blessing will come 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.319 into this world. 00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:57.079 The lost will find a home, 00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:58.899 the lonely will find a family, 00:18:59.199 --> 00:19:01.059 the homesick will belong again, 00:19:01.199 --> 00:19:02.579 and all that blessing 00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:03.619 is going to be found 00:19:03.619 --> 00:19:04.599 in one man. 00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:07.359 The stream isn't found 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.819 in multiple offsprings, 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:10.919 no, it's found in one. 00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:14.059 It's the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:18.279 He is the offspring of Abraham. 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:22.799 He is the stream of blessing 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:23.939 in this world. 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:27.220 And it's by faith 00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:28.359 in this offspring 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:31.099 that is how you enter 00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:32.359 the stream of salvation 00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:34.679 and become a member 00:19:34.679 --> 00:19:35.399 of this family. 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.859 Listen to Galatians again. 00:19:38.979 --> 00:19:40.479 If you are Christ's, 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:42.679 then you are Abraham's offspring, 00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:45.059 heirs according to promise. 00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:48.000 This is what God 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.019 is doing in Christ. 00:19:49.979 --> 00:19:51.099 It's in Christ 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:52.519 that God is undoing 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.659 the curse of this world 00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:55.859 and bringing in a stream 00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:57.179 of true blessing 00:19:57.179 --> 00:19:57.879 into this world. 00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:00.079 And he's starting 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:00.939 a new family. 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:02.039 And he says 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:03.600 to a lost and lonely world, 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:05.200 you can be a part 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:05.799 of this family 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:07.660 and you can belong again. 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.220 And who is invited? 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.940 It's the whole world. 00:20:13.320 --> 00:20:14.200 In Christ, 00:20:14.320 --> 00:20:16.140 as the gospel goes global, 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:17.799 the stream has gone global. 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.799 It's flooding 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:21.220 across the nations 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.660 and all the families 00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:23.299 of the earth 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:24.559 are being blessed 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.500 right now. 00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:27.440 In fact, 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.120 this room 00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:29.799 is a living testament 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:30.220 to that. 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:32.279 In this room, 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.059 in our congregation, 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.019 we have families 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:35.299 from across the planet, 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.279 across the continents, 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.480 just in this room. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.279 And that should be 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:41.259 no surprise. 00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.740 That is God 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:45.080 fulfilling his promise 00:20:45.080 --> 00:20:46.559 here in Genesis 12. 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:47.700 When God 00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:48.960 decrees something, 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.680 it will happen. 00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:53.880 And so this plan 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.640 God lays out 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.160 on the table, 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:57.700 it's actually the promise 00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:59.039 of Christ 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.019 and his church. 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.819 That's my third 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.600 and final point today. 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:03.660 The blessing of God 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:05.440 is found in Christ 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.140 and his church. 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.759 If you're here tonight 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:10.160 and you're wondering, 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:11.900 what is church all about? 00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:14.299 What's going on here? 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:15.759 Well, 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.860 this promise 00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.720 is going on here. 00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:19.940 This is where God 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:21.460 is restoring the world, 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:22.380 right here. 00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:24.960 If you are looking 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.100 for that stream, 00:21:26.540 --> 00:21:28.380 this is where you find it. 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:31.940 This is the family of God 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:33.760 that God is forming 00:21:33.760 --> 00:21:34.620 and blessing. 00:21:34.619 --> 00:21:37.719 And so it's here 00:21:37.719 --> 00:21:39.559 in Christ 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.719 and in his church, 00:21:41.399 --> 00:21:42.839 this is where you can come 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:43.939 to escape the curse 00:21:43.939 --> 00:21:44.479 of this world 00:21:44.479 --> 00:21:47.139 and truly belong again, 00:21:47.239 --> 00:21:48.219 belong to a people 00:21:48.219 --> 00:21:50.459 and a family 00:21:50.459 --> 00:21:51.839 that will last 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:52.639 into eternity. 00:21:55.199 --> 00:21:56.459 There will be some here 00:21:56.459 --> 00:21:58.000 for whom 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.339 the idea of a family, 00:21:59.679 --> 00:22:00.939 it doesn't bring up 00:22:00.939 --> 00:22:01.839 a sense of belonging. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:03.959 it only brings up 00:22:03.959 --> 00:22:05.059 painful memories. 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:07.759 And you particularly 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:09.199 feel the sharpness 00:22:09.199 --> 00:22:09.939 of this curse, 00:22:10.419 --> 00:22:11.899 of a homesickness 00:22:11.899 --> 00:22:13.359 that is constantly there 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:14.480 but no home 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.159 to go to. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:16.939 Well, 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.559 the Lord Jesus 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.379 promises you, 00:22:19.399 --> 00:22:20.139 come to him 00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:21.980 and you will find 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.480 a family 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.399 that you truly 00:22:23.399 --> 00:22:24.000 belong to 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:26.379 and you will find 00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:26.919 a home 00:22:26.919 --> 00:22:28.079 to be a part of 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:29.879 and you will find 00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:30.919 a heavenly father 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.960 to love you forever. 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:35.160 And so if you are 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:36.060 lost and lonely 00:22:36.060 --> 00:22:37.180 and you cannot escape 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:37.740 that feeling 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.660 that you need to belong, 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.140 well, 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.580 this is the home. 00:22:41.360 --> 00:22:42.660 This is the home 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.400 that you've been 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.380 needing all along. 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:47.440 And most importantly, 00:22:47.560 --> 00:22:48.460 this is where you find 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.300 the blessing of God. 00:22:50.800 --> 00:22:51.920 It is by faith 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:52.640 in the Lord Jesus 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.400 that you will come 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:54.300 under the care 00:22:54.300 --> 00:22:55.720 and love 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.500 and the blessing 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.039 of God. 00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:59.300 And God is calling 00:22:59.300 --> 00:23:00.200 the whole world, 00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:01.240 he's calling you. 00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.600 And in this family, 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.720 this is where names 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.759 are made great. 00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:09.420 For those of us 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:09.920 in Christ, 00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:11.539 the church 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.340 in our lives, 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.180 it often, 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.819 it all feels small, 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:16.340 doesn't it? 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.100 Insignificant. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:18.660 Often, 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.880 it can feel pathetic, 00:23:20.420 --> 00:23:20.779 can't it? 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.900 Like our prayers 00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:24.000 and our ministries 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.960 are just doing nothing 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.960 in the history books. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:29.319 but we really need 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.140 to rethink that. 00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:32.140 We need to see 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:33.180 what all of this 00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:34.019 that we're doing here 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:35.059 is in the light 00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:35.579 of this promise. 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.680 All our serving 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:38.180 and our prayers 00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:39.140 and our conversations 00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:39.920 and our preaching, 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.259 it is all a part 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:41.940 of God's 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:43.539 great plan 00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.880 to restore 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:45.500 this world. 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.880 In the church, 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.539 in this family, 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.620 this is where God 00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:50.900 is making 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:52.019 the name of Christ 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.620 great. 00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:55.839 and this does 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.959 involve the whole world 00:23:56.959 --> 00:23:59.619 because this promise 00:23:59.619 --> 00:24:00.939 isn't ultimately 00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:01.899 about a land 00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:02.639 in the Middle East. 00:24:03.919 --> 00:24:04.059 No, 00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:05.219 Hebrews 11 00:24:05.219 --> 00:24:06.559 tells us 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.099 Abraham 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:08.619 is actually 00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.419 being promised 00:24:09.419 --> 00:24:11.019 something beyond that. 00:24:12.419 --> 00:24:13.519 Here in Genesis 12, 00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:14.619 Abraham is actually 00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:15.339 being promised 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:17.000 a better country, 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.379 a heavenly one, 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:21.119 not just a portion 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:21.919 of this planet, 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:23.100 but what Adam 00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:24.039 was intended 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.519 to have 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.400 from the start, 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:27.060 what is the land 00:24:27.060 --> 00:24:28.039 that we are going 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.539 to inherit? 00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:30.100 Well, 00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:30.600 the Lord Jesus 00:24:30.600 --> 00:24:31.480 tells us, 00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.000 the meek 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.580 shall inherit 00:24:34.580 --> 00:24:36.500 the earth. 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:39.500 This is God's 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.180 great plan 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:41.080 to restore the world. 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:41.860 In Christ, 00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.820 God is undoing 00:24:43.820 --> 00:24:44.420 the curse, 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.700 forming a new people, 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.580 blessing us, 00:24:47.620 --> 00:24:48.340 and one day 00:24:48.340 --> 00:24:49.220 when Christ 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:49.820 calls us 00:24:49.820 --> 00:24:50.640 from the grave, 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:51.900 we are actually 00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.280 going to have 00:24:52.280 --> 00:24:52.880 a land. 00:24:54.320 --> 00:24:55.400 All of this, 00:24:56.840 --> 00:24:57.640 God's people 00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:59.120 in God's place 00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:00.820 under God's blessing, 00:25:01.820 --> 00:25:03.220 this promise, 00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:04.520 it couldn't be bigger. 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:08.000 And how does it all come? 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:10.420 It's through the one offspring. 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.080 All this blessing 00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:14.900 is only found 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:15.560 in the Lord Jesus. 00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:15.679 Jesus. 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:18.299 He's the world's 00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:19.039 only hope 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.200 to fix all of this. 00:25:22.899 --> 00:25:23.419 So, 00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:24.399 you don't need 00:25:24.399 --> 00:25:24.859 to live 00:25:24.859 --> 00:25:26.200 under the curse 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.319 of this world 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:27.819 any longer. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:30.139 Put your faith 00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:30.839 in the Lord Jesus 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:32.639 and come 00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:33.879 and belong 00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:34.579 to the blessing 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.000 of God. 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:36.839 Let's pray. 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:37.419 Let's pray. 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:37.419 00:25:37.420 --> 00:26:07.400 Thank you.