Hebrews 11:8-10, Genesis 12:1-5
Big Idea: Earthly Faithfulness Requires An Eternal Focus
Foundations Of Forward-Looking Faith:
1) God’s Call is My Command (Heb 11:8; Genesis 12:1-5)
“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. 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 will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan.”
– Genesis 12:1-5
2) God’s Promises Are My Confidence (Heb 11:8-9; Genesis 12:1-5)
“‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’”
- Romans 4:3
How To Focus On God’s Promises:
1) Focus on the who not the how
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
- Romans 12:1-2
2) Focus more on what I’m gaining than what I’m losing
3) Focus on living missionally not comfortably
3) God’s City Is My Hope (Heb 11:9-10)
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
- Hebrews 12:28-29