Thank you, man.
If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn to Genesis chapter 12.
Genesis chapter 12.
One thing I love about the Word of God is that it is truth.
It speaks it clearly, and even when it's not pretty or fun,
even when you don't agree with it, it still speaks the truth.
It's filled with biographies, among other things, of men and women,
and it shows and tells the truth.
Oliver Cromwell was a 17th century English statesman.
And a hero.
And he was known for his authenticity and his frankness.
And it is told that one day he set for a portrait to be painted of him.
And he told the painter this.
Mr. Lilly, I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me
and not flatter me at all,
but remark all these roughest roughness, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me.
Otherwise, I will never pay a farthing for it.
Ugly or not.
And in reality, all of our lives have some ugly in them.
The biographies of the Word of God shows warts and all.
It tells us after Noah trusted the Lord so faithfully
and built an ark in a desert before it ever rained.
Went on that ark with all those animals.
When he came off that ark, he went to the vineyard.
And he enjoyed himself too much.
It tells us that David was in the wrong place at the wrong time
and made wrong choices.
It tells us that Paul was very wrong before he became very right.
And thank God for Peter.
If you've ever said anything stupid in your life and wish you hadn't,
you thank God for Peter.
And if you don't know that you've said anything stupid, well, pitiful.
But anyway, because we all have.
And Abraham in that same way is known for his soul-stirring faith, but.
And over the next few weeks together,
we're going to look at Abraham
and look at what it means to walk by faith.
The steps of his faith.
Along with, because Scripture puts it there for us,
his buts along the way.
Because not only does he deal with those,
but so do we.
I want you to imagine, if you will,
you're in the desert.
You are parched in the desert.
You look around and there's little hope around.
You're getting very dry and you are needing relief
and you just want a sip of water more than anything else.
You'd give all you had just for a drink of water
and you look around and you see a water pump.
A water pump there and hanging from the pump is a canteen.
And that canteen, thank God, is filled with water.
And there's a sign on it.
And the sign reads,
beneath your feet
is all the fresh, cool water you'll ever need,
but the pump will not work
unless it's primed with water.
And the canteen
contains exactly enough water
to prime
the pump.
Sure enough, you open the canteen
and there's water
in the canteen.
What do you do?
How old's that note?
Who wrote it?
Are they reliable?
A canteen full of water
sure wouldn't feel good right now,
but a well,
whoo!
What do you do?
If you trust the sign,
do you pour your life away?
Abraham
had a lot of decisions
like that.
Tough decisions.
Do you keep what's in the hand
or do you go after what's in the bush?
Abraham believed
the promises of God.
He is the quintessential model
of faith
even though
he did not come
from a strong heritage of faith.
The passage we look at today
says that they were in
in Or
and the reality is
he was raised there
and Stephen tells us that
in the book of Acts.
And Or was known
for their idolatry
particularly
worshipping
a moon god
ironically
named Sin.
And it is a sin
to worship
a moon god.
Joshua tells us
that he and his family
he
he and the family
that raised him
worshipped
other gods.
So it was not like
Abram
went looking for God.
No, God came
to him.
And what we know
most about him
is his obedient faith.
we know him
because of his faith.
However,
I will tell you
from the get-go
it was far from perfect.
It was strong faith.
It was an imperfect faith.
But it is here
and God's word
gives it to us
as we march
through his life together
so that we can learn
from it.
Not just the high points.
And thank God
not just the low points.
But we can learn
from all of it.
And so today
I want us to look
at the call
upon Abram's life.
That was his name
early in his life
and God changed it.
The call that was
placed upon him
and if you're like me
when you hear somebody
talk about a call
put upon somebody
you may think
if you're old fashioned
like me
you may think
of a call
upon a preacher's life.
That God's called
somebody to the ministry.
God's called
and that is true
and I believe in that
and I believe
that God put his hand
upon me
and I believe
he revealed it to me
so clearly.
It was a burning bush
type experience for me
and anytime you get down
on Monday morning
I go back to the call
of the Lord Jesus
that he placed
upon my life
and I believe
the reason why
I do what I do
and why I continue
to do it now
right at 30 years later
is because God
placed a call
upon my life.
So I don't back up
upon that at all
but the reality is
God's put a call
on all of our lives
in some form or fashion.
It's not all for the same thing
but he's put a call
upon all of us
and he wants us all
to walk
in faithful obedience
following
whatever it is
that he's put there
before us
and how we do it
may be very different
but
we're to do
what he would have us
to do.
but I'll tell you
the walk
of faith
is where it's at.
Genesis chapter 12
beginning in verse 1
says this
now the Lord
said to Abram
go from your country
and your kindred
and your father's house
to the land
that I will show you.
Don't read over
that too quick.
I want you to hear
what the Lord told him.
Go from your country
from your kindred
not just the family
you don't like
I mean all of them
and your father's house
and I'm not going to tell you
where to go yet
to the land
that I will show you
and I will make
of you a great nation
and I will bless you
and make your name great
so that you will be
a blessing.
I will bless
those who bless you
and him who dishonors you
I'll curse
and in you
all the families
of the earth
shall be blessed.
So Abram went
as the Lord
had told him
it's a good one
to underline
if you're an underliner
and lot with him
he was 75 years old
when he departed
from Haram.
God told him
to leave
everything
as he knew it
and he did
and
he don't always
tell you
to leave
everything
that you got
to be obedient
but he can
but there are
some characteristics
of Abraham's
walk of faith
that is similar
to us
when God leads us
and I want you
to get that
this morning
to walk
by faith
you have
this I have to
you have to
walk out
of your comfort zone
you can't stay
where you're comfortable
and go with God
God
does not always
require you
to leave your country
but he might
he don't always
require you
to leave your people
but he might
he don't always
call you
to leave your
livelihood
but he might
but to walk
by faith
he will always
lead you
out of your
comfort zone
you cannot
stay where you
are
and go with
where God
would have you
you can't do
both
some folks
need to change
where they are
some folks
need to change
who they're
hanging out with
some folks
need to change
what they're
doing
Abram had to
do all
of that
everyone
does not
have to do
all of that
but I will
assure you
that walking
with God
will take
you out
of your
comfort zone
you cannot
stay
where you
are
and go
with where
God
would have
you to go
when you
surrender
your life
to the Lord
Jesus
it's a
no holds
barred deal
there's no
territory
of your
life
that is
off limits
to the
Lord
if you're
in complete
obedience
to following
him
and you're
walking
by faith
now I will
be clear
about something
God's not
going to tell
you to leave
your spouse
and God's
not going to
tell you to
abandon
your kids
and if you
come to me
and tell me
that's what
God told me
to do
I'll tell
you wrong
God's not
going to tell
you to forsake
all matters
of sins
that's not
what God
does
as a matter
of fact
it's a
pretty good
sign
when you
see somebody
getting a
scurry
and make
a lot of
quick rash
decisions
that they
can't stick
to
that they're
off course
kind of like
a proverb
it's not
not exactly
a promise
but it's a
good wise
saying to
understand
that when
things get
a little
chaotic
God's not
in the
chaos
need to
take a
break
swallow
and a
breath
and a
prayer
and see
where you're
at
he will
challenge
you though
he will
touch on
the things
in your
life
that we
consider
untouchable
he will
unsettle
the waters
of your
life
he will
rock
your
world
Vance
Havner
put it
this way
he said
Abraham's
tent
knew no
secure
foundations
only
pegs
driven
in the
desert
sand
I think
we have
to ask
ourselves
how deep
are my
pegs
driven
how set
am I
in my
ways
how set
am I
in what
I want
how open
am I
to follow
the Lord
because to
go with
God
you've got
to walk
out of
your comfort
zone
and walk
by faith
it is
a walk
by faith
not only
that but
to walk
by faith
we have
to trust
what God
has for
us
you have
to trust
him
God
has
much
more
in store
for Abraham
than he
could ever
imagine
but he
he could
not get
it where
he was
he had
to move
out of
his comfort
zone
and trust
God
and that's
a prerequisite
of the
Lord
you know
what a
prerequisite
is
it's
in college
if you
take
one
class
after
another
sometimes
if you
take
English
102
you have
to have
English
101
and they
won't let
you in
that class
until you
followed
that
God
has
prerequisites
in our
life
and the
prerequisite
that he
has in
our life
is steps
of faith
lead to
promises
but we
have to
follow
those
steps
but you
have to
trust
God
and what
he has
for us
now let's
go back
for just
a moment
and let's
see where
Abram
came from
because
Genesis 11
verse 31
and 32
says this
Terah
took
Abram
his son
and Lot
the son
of Haran
his grandson
and Sarai
his daughter
in law
his son
Abram's
wife
and they
went forth
together
from Ur
of the
Chaldeans
to go
into the
land
of
Canaan
now
let me
pause
there
if you
know
anything
about
Old
Testament
history
you may
have
heard
of the
Chaldeans
or if
mispronounced
the Chaldeans
whatever you
want to
call them
but you
may have
heard of
them
they are
a ruthless
bunch
godless
known
for it
they're not
just hanging
out there
that's where
they're from
so we're
not talking
about a
saintly
godly
heritage
here
we're talking
about somebody
who's lived
in the
enemy's
land
and been
one of
them
he travels
out
to go
to the
land of
Canaan
but when
they came
to Haran
they settled
there
if you're
an underliner
that's a good
place to
underline
they settled
there
the days
of terror
were 205
years
and terror
died
in Haran
so I want
you to get
this
they started
on their
way to
where God
would do
a mighty
work in
their life
but they
didn't get
there
they stopped
halfway
they stopped
at Haran
which would
look like a
good place
to stop
it's a good
stopping point
when we
would travel
from Mississippi
to South
Carolina
again and
again
after they
built
Buc-ee's
outside of
Birmingham
it's a good
place to
stop
you know
not only do
you have
250 gas
pumps
you got
the cleanest
restrooms
in America
and they are
cutting brisket
all the time
it's a good
place to
stop
Haran felt
like that
it's like
the Buc-ee
that's going
too far
but anyway
it felt
like that
it was
thought of
as a
promising
land
in itself
now I want
you to get
this
Abram didn't
leave his
father he
brought some
family with
him
and he
stopped
halfway to
where he
was supposed
to go
and interestingly
enough
Haran was a
key city
on a trade
route
influenced by
the surrounding
cities of
Damascus
and Nineveh
and it was
probably a place
of abundance
and an
opportunity
to be rich
good place
to stop
it was also
one of two
key places
of worship
for those
who worshipped
the moon
god
I've already
told you about
that before
whose name
was
five of
you are
listening
sin
there were
two main
spots
Ur of the
Chaldeans
and Haran
and that was
where the two
temples were
for the moon
god's sin
and that's
where they
stopped
chapter 12
sounds like
the call of
god came
to him
after they
were already
in Haran
but that's
not really
the case
Stephen
in his
powerful
gospel
oriented
speech
in Acts
chapter 7
tells us
that God
told Abraham
to leave
before he
ever left
Ur of the
Chaldeans
so Abram
did not
leave his
family as
he was
told
and then
he only
went
halfway
to where
God
led him
and he
probably
had some
mixed
motives
along the
way
they
stopped
at Haran
a supposedly
prosperous
place
but ironically
the meaning
of the word
in Hebrew
Haran
is parched
so what
he thought
was promising
was not
it was actually
parched
dry
and spiritually
fruitless
now to me
Haran
symbolizes
when we
do it
our way
when we
go with
God
just long
enough
to where
it starts
to get
uncomfortable
or when
we go
with
God
just
enough
when
we're
going
to
worship
instead
of
worshiping
and there
is a
difference
it's that
religion
without
change
instead
of life
changing
religion
it's
doing
things
halfway
and I'm
not going
to tell
you
what my
high school
football
coach
called
that
it's
not
getting
it
done
and let
me be
very
clear
I
believe
anything
that we
do
individually
for the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
we
shouldn't
do it
halfway
we ought
to do
it all
the way
and pick
his first
Baptist
church
as a
church
of Jesus
Christ
committed
to the
cause
of
Christ
I
don't
think
anything
we
do
ought
to
be
halfway
I
believe
he
deserves
our
best
and I
believe
anything
we
put
our
name
to
we
ought
to
give
it
everything
we
got
for
the
honor
and
the
glory
of
God
amen
I'll
let
you
sign
up
in
the
foyer
never
go
halfway
with
God
it
will
not
be
fruitful
it's
not
like
you
get
half
the
fruit
no
you
miss
out
it's
not
fruitful
you'll
spend
way
too
much
time
in
unfruitful
territory
and
Abraham
did
not
leave
Haran
until
he
was
75
years
old
he
stayed
there
too
long
folks
once
his
father
was
gone
he
moved
on
sometimes
the
things
you
dread
the
most
frees
you
up
the
most
sometimes
the
transitions
in
your
life
that
you
absolutely
dread
are
the
very
things
that
God
can
use
to
propel
you
to
the
next
level
anybody
that
is
more
important
to
you
or
whose
opinion
weighs
out
more
than
the
influence
of
God
is
an
idol
to
you
and
it
is
not
that
person's
fault
even
though
they
may
enjoy
being
in
that
position
it
is
not
that
person's
fault
it
is
your
fault
because
we
have
to
give
up
those
idols
we
must
remove
our
own
idols
to
get
to
the
place
that
God
would
have
us
to
be
in
order
to
be
used
of
God
we've
got
to
walk
by
faith
and
the
only
way
we
can
do
that
is
to
step
out
of
our
comfort
zone
and
to
trust
God
for
what
he
has
for
us
and
then
also
to
let
God
have
his
way
in
our
life
now
somebody
is
going
to
tell
me
afterwards
about
the
sovereignty
of
God
I
agree
he
can
do
anything
he
wants
and
that's
true
but
he's
a
gentleman
and
he
doesn't
force
his
way
he
gives
us
a
chance
he
initiates
it
and
gives
us
a
chance
and
when
we
follow
it
he
blesses
our
lives
he
told
Abraham
who's
called
Abram
here
he
said
when
you
do
this
verse
2
and
3
says
and
I
will
make
you
a
great
nation
and
I
will
bless
you
and
make
your
name
great
so
that
you'll
be
a
blessing
I
will
bless
those
who
bless
you
and
him
who
dishonors
you
I'll
curse
and
in
you
all
the
families
of the
earth
shall
be
blessed
what
God
tells
him
sounds
impossible
because
the man
is 75
years old
he has
no
children
and
his
wife
has
been
barren
and
he
lives
in
a
barren
parched
land
not
exactly
great
but
God
says
I'm
going
to
make
you
a
great
nation
but
God
says
I'm
going
to
bless
you
but
God
says
I'll
make
you
a
blessing
God
does
the
work
when
we
walk
by
faith
he
also
spoke
of
protecting
him
he
also
spoke
of
blessing
people
through
him
if I
understand
that
correctly
all the
families
of the
earth
shall
be
blessed
that
sounds
like
us
folks
that
we're
blessed
because
somebody
thousands
of years
ago
walked
by
faith
with
God
none
of that
is
possible
until
we
surrender
go all
the way
with the
Lord
and
when
we
do
the
potential
is
beyond
our
imagination
but
you
say
but
pastor
I
would
commit
but
I
don't
know
what's
coming
I
don't
know
that
I
can
you
know
the
only
one
that
knows
what's
coming
is
the
one
who
will
lead
you
to
follow
him
and
he's
also
the
one
that
will
empower
you
to
do
whatever
he's
asked
you
to
do
and
if
you
don't
know
if
you
can
I
will
clearly
tell
you
cannot
nor
can
I
that's
why
God
said
you
will
be
a
blessing
I'll
make
you
a
blessing
I'll
do
the
blessing
and
I'll
make
you
great
it
is
not
until
we
sacrifice
our
ways
for
his
that
we
ever
tap
into
what
God
really
has
for
us
and
I
will
tell
you
in
Haran
Abraham
didn't
tap
into
it
wasn't
until
there
was
a
death
and
a
transition
that
Abram
really
found
his
next
level
that's
a walk
of
faith
not
that
you
know
what's
on
life's
path
ahead
of
you
but
that
you
know
the
one
that
promises
that
he'll
level
your
path
the
one
that
promises
he'll
straighten
your
path
the
one
that
promises
he'll
light
your
path
not
that
you
know
what
tomorrow
holds
but
thank
God
that
you
know
who
holds
tomorrow
and
that
you
can
trust
him
today
for
whatever
tomorrow
may
hold
there
was a
letter
a note
more so
found in
the office
of a young
pastor in
Zimbabwe a few
years ago
and it
said this
I'm part
of the
fellowship
of the
unashamed
I have
the Holy
Spirit
power
the die
has been
cast
I've
stepped
over the
line
the decision
has been
made
I'm a
disciple
of his
I won't
look back
I won't
let up
I won't
slow down
I won't
back away
or I won't
be still
my past
is redeemed
my present
makes sense
my future
is secure
I'm
finished
and done
with low
living
sight walking
smooth knees
colorless
dreams
tamed
colorless
dreams
and tame
visions
worldly
talking
and cheap
giving
and dwarf
goals
I no longer
need
preeminence
prosperity
position
promotions
praise
or popularity
I don't
have to be
right
or first
are tops
are recognized
are praised
are regarded
are rewarded
I now live
by faith
I lean in
his presence
I walk
by patience
am lifted
up uplifted
by prayer
and I labor
with power
my face
is set
my gate
is fast
my goal
is heaven
my road
is narrow
my way
is rough
my companions
are few
my guide
is reliable
and my mission
is clear
I cannot
be bought
compromised
detoured
lured away
turned back
deluded
or delayed
I will not
flinch
in the face
of sacrifice
hesitate
in the presence
of the enemy
pander at the
pool of popularity
or meander
in the maze
of mediocrity
I will not
give up
shut up
let up
until I have
stayed up
stored up
prayed up
paid up
preached up
for the cause
of Christ
I am a disciple
of Jesus
I must go
till he comes
give till I drop
preach till all I know
and work till he stops me
and when he comes
for his own
he will have no problem
recognizing me
my banner
will be clear
they found that
in the desk
of a young
pastor in Zimbabwe
after he was
martyred for his
faith
God does not
want you
to die for him
he wants you
to live for him
and the only
way to do that
is to walk
by faith
go
and he'll
guide you
come
and he'll
lead you
with every
head bowed
and every
eye closed
I want to ask
you this morning
what is it
that's holding
you back
from giving
God
your very
best
primarily
has there
ever been
a time
in your
life
when you
surrendered
your life
to the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
when you
said
Lord
I know
that I'm
a sinner
I know
that I have
done wrong
and I know
that I need
forgiveness
from you
and I ask
you to come
into my
life
and to
change me
today
if that has
never happened
to you
I got good
news for you
today's the
day of salvation
we serve a God
that's the same
yesterday today
and forever
and he will
save you today
and if you feel
any impelling
toward that at all
I want you to know
you didn't come up
with that on your
own
he's guiding
you in that
this part of our
worship is designed
for you to respond
to him
and for us to
guide you
in that process
so as we stand
and sing in just a
moment I encourage
you to come
as God leads you
maybe you're here
and you do know
you're a Christian
but the reality is
your life does not
reflect it
or at least
there's parts of
your life that
don't reflect it
maybe you've
went halfway
maybe you've
not trusted
wholly
will you lay
that down
before the
Lord today
I'm here
to pray
for you
you may
use these
steps
as a
makeshift
altar
to lay
down
your life
to the
Lord
to start
afresh
and anew
with him
I don't
know how
God's leading
you but I
encourage you
to be
faithful
to do
what he
tells you
to do
you may
be here
and God's
drawing you
to be a
part of
this
fellowship
you know
that God
is leading
you to be
a part
of this
church
we'd love
to guide
you in
that process
I encourage
you to just
follow what
God would
have you
do
maybe you
made a
private
decision
for the
Lord
but you
never
made
that
public
and I
will tell
you
that when
you miss
the first
step of
obedience
being baptism
it will
hinder your
spiritual life
so if you
look back
over your
life and
you realize
I have
committed
my life
to Christ
but since
that time
I have
never been
baptized
as a
believer
I want
you to
know
that is
the first
step
of obedience
and it
can be
a tremendous
hindrance
in your
life
and by
you coming
not only
will it
bless your
life
but it
will bless
others
as well
just obey
him
just trust
him
whatever
God
whatever
I know
it's outside
your comfort
zone
that's when
it gets
good folks
outside
your comfort
zone
Lord Jesus
I love
you and I
thank you
for your
word
thank you
for the
challenge
of it
dear God
and I
pray
today
Father
you'll lead
us to be
obedient
in whatever
you'd have
us to do
we love
you dearly
in Jesus
precious name
amen
stand together