Submitting to God's Will

“Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.” Genesis 12:1, 2

God Told Abraham to Do One Thing

Leave the security of his country, home, and relatives. Abram partially obeyed. He took his father and nephew.

1. This is discipleship - a test of our love for God. We are to leave mothers, fathers, wives, country, and possessions (Luke 14:26).

   a. Bible School students have done this.

   b. This happens in marriage (Genesis 2:25).

   c. It happened with Elisha (1 Kings 19:19-21).

   d. God places disciples into ministry - not converts.

   e. God moves you out before leading you in.

   f. The further you go with God, the fewer options you have.

2. Jesus told us our new families are those who do the will of the Father (Matthew 12:48-50).

3. God may or may not call you back to a home you left.

   a. Epaphras was “one of you.” Timothy was not.

   b. You must be willing to go wherever God says.

4. Abram was only partially obedient and kept trying to rescue himself before he finally depended on God.

5. Most blessings, in the Christian life, are conditional.

Eight Things God Promised Abraham He Would Do

1. I will show you a land. The leading of the Holy Spirit.

   a. Most guidance tomorrow is based on obedience today.

   b. If you wonder why God is not speaking now, go back and check if you are doing the last thing He told you to do.

   c. Specific guidance is a monopoly for disciples.

2. I will make of you a great nation. He would do something big in Abraham. God took something already in him and brought it out.

3. I will bless you. All blessings - spiritual and natural - come from God.

   a. Blessings were connected to Abram’s obedience.

   b. Abraham had to accept the will of God and walk in it. We too must accept so that “the blessing of Abraham might come on us.”

4. I will make your name great. This is our reputation in the earth as followers of God.

   a. Dignity is restored to us as reproach is taken.

   b. Titles are not important to God, ie. doctor, bishop, apostle, prophet, or evangelist.

   c. When God makes your name great, your title is not important (Exodus 18:21 don’t seek titles).

   d. You do not have to try to build a legacy.

   e. Titles do not open doors - your reputation does.

5. I will make you a blessing.

   a. Abraham was blessed by God to be a blessing.

   b. People rejoiced to see Abraham coming.

   c. “Lord, if you are going to bless anyone, bless them through me.”

6. I will make you a blessing.

   a. Because the Lord was his Savior and his protector, Abraham saw others blessed who blessed him.
   b. To bless Abraham was to bless the Lord.

   c. This is called being blessed by association. Believing mates sanctify

   1. Lot and Abraham

   2. Joseph and Potiphar

7. I will curse those who curse. This is God’s protection

   a. The Lord saved Abram and protected him.

   b. To curse you is to curse the Lord.

   c. God can defend Himself and defend you.

   d. You do not have to defend yourself.

   e. Like Elisha, God’s army surrounds you.

8. In you, all families of the earth will be blessed.

   a. Abraham did not live long enough to see this fulfilled.

   b. His life is an example of faith today to all nations.

   c. He is the father of all who believes, not just to the Jew.

   d. Our life can and should be an example and a blessing to others even after we are gone. Our life is more than physical.

   e. Our reputation, words, and deeds continue to live on after we are gone.

“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption.” Acts 13:36

1. David became the standard for all of Israel’s kings.

2. David will be a standard for Jesus Himself as King.

3. Davis is still a standard for our Christian life today.