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NEW BEGINNINGS

Introduction

We began this series on “New Beginnings” last Sunday morning.

Last week we saw how that God called Noah to be a part of a new beginning.

We saw how that sin had devastated the world in Noah’s day and it grieved the heart of God. So God decided to destroy the world with a flood and begin again with Noah and his family.

It was through faith and obedience, Noah accepted God’s “New Beginning” for him.

Today we look at God’s call to a man called Abram (who later became Abraham). God came to Abram and called him to a new beginning in his life.

And the life of Abram was changed by God in a wonderful way!

It is interesting that the first eleven chapters of Genesis covers some 2000 years of history. In those chapters we read about the creation, the fall, the flood, and the tower of Babel.

However, in chapter 12 we begin to see the start of something new. It is the start of God’s chosen people, who eventually became known as Israel.

These next fourteen chapters of Genesis deal with Abram or Abraham.

Besides the Lord Jesus Christ, Abraham is possibly the most important figure in the Bible.

Do you realize that Abraham is the one man who is dear to the Jew, the Muslim, and Christians alike. In fact, when his name was changed from Abram to Abraham it was for a good purpose. Abram means “high father” and Abraham means “a father of a multitude.”

But, here in our text, we see God move into the life of Abram and call him to a new beginning in his life. What do we mean by the call of God?

Did you know that God has a calling for each of us? It doesn’t matter who you are this morning, God is calling you to something. The question is, will you heed the call?

1.            First and foremost, God is calling all of us into a right relationship with Him.

               God has made a way for us to be in right relationship with Him.

               It is through His only begotten son the Lord Jesus Christ!

2.            Once we are in a right relationship with God, God then calls us to other things:

               a.          God Calls Us To Godliness.

               b.         God Calls Us To Service.

               c.          God Calls Us To Be Ambassadors For Him.

               d.         As we follow God, God may issue calls for specific areas of service.

There are some who have a hard time with God’s call on their lives because they feel God must be making a mistake. “Me? No way. I’ve done this and that. I can’t do this or that. I’m not good at this or that.” (i.e. like Moses)

I.            WHEN GOD CALLS US TO A NEW BEGINNING, IT IS NOT ABOUT WHO WE ARE, BUT ABOUT WHO GOD IS!

               A.         Who Was Abram? (11:27)

                            He was the son of “Terah” whose name meant “wandering.”

And that is what Terah and his family were doing spiritually speaking too!

According to Joshua 24:2, Abraham was part of an idol worshiping family.

Joshua 24:22 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.”

Now, does that sound like someone who God would choose to become the father of His chosen people?

We may think not, but that is how God works. He does not call us based on who or what we are, but rather on who He is and what He is going to make us into.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29–“26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

               B.         There was nothing about Abram that made him stand out. Nothing good about him that made God choose him.

The same is true for us today. There is nothing good in us that causes God to love us. There is nothing in us that makes us worthy of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

There is nothing about me that I should be the one here today preaching. There is nothing within me that is good, except that which God has done in me.

                            1 Corinthians 15:10–“But by the grace of God I am what I am.”

               C.         God’s call on our life means that He desires to call us, as we are, where we are and begin to lead us to the place He desires us to be and to become all that He wants to make us.

                            Look at verse 12:1

                            God, in so many words, is telling Abram here:

                            “Get out of where you are and go where I will show you.”

And that took some faith on Abram’s part because he could see where he was and he knew where he was, but he could not see and did not know this place where God would take him.

God wants to take us from where we are to where He will show us.

               D.         Now understand that when the call from God comes, God doesn’t include all the details, but the call still comes.

Details aren’t needed in God’s call because remember, it’s not about you, but all about God and His calling on your life.

Right now there are men and women serving our country in the Armed Forces both overseas and at home. They are making many sacrifices to be doing what they are doing. Some people would argue that they volunteered to do it. They chose to serve. Praise God they did.

Nevertheless, they are making sacrifices in answer to the commander in chief’s call.

One reason so many people today don’t hear God’s call clearly or are not fulfilling the call of God on their life is because they are not willing to make sacrifices. And that brings us to our second point….

WHEN GOD CALLS US TO A NEW BEGINNING, IT IS NOT ABOUT WHO WE ARE, BUT ABOUT WHO GOD IS! (Vs 27)

II.           WHEN GOD CALLS US TO A NEW BEGINNING, IT REQUIRES SOME SACRIFICE ON OUR PART. (12:1)

Anytime we are going to follow the will of God for our life, it will require a separation from something.

In Abram’s case, it was a separation from his past. This was no easy thing to do.

Abram did not fully answer the call the first time. Let me show you what I’m talking about. Look at Acts 7:2-4.

By reading this we come to understand that Genesis 12:1 was not God’s first call to Abraham. God had called him first when he was in Ur of the Chaldees.

But, when Abram left Ur, the Bible says that he settled in Haran.

               At that point, in settling, Abraham was settling for less than God’s will.

Haran had something in common with Ur. There was familiarity there. Both Ur and Haran practiced idol worship with a moon god.

When God called Abram the second time, we see there is again the command to leave all that was familiar.

God told him to get out of his country, get away from his kin folks, and get out of his father’s house. Can you see the sacrifice Abram had to make?

               1.          God removed Abram from his comfort zones.

               2.          God removed Abram from his idolatrous surroundings.

               3.          God removed Abram away from all that would be a hindrance to him becoming the father of a great nation.

If we are going to truly pursue the call of God on our lives, we must be willing to give up those things that will not move us toward fulfilling that call.

Abram was hung up with family, clinging to his roots. He first had to have a funeral and then he was able to pick up and follow the call of God.

Some of us today need to have a funeral. We need to bury some of those things that hold us back from answering God’s call to a new beginning in our life.

                Jesus said we must deny our self, pick up our cross and follow him.

               I don’t know where you are in your life this morning.

               You may be feeling like you have blown it.

Maybe somewhere along the way you stopped short of what God has called you to do. Well, maybe its time to bury those things that are holding you back and then press on with God’s calling for your life.

If you have a hard time separating from your past in pursuit of God’s call on your life, you are not alone. You’ve got good company!

               God didn’t give up on Abram and gave him a second call.

               God doesn’t give up on a person He is calling.

That’s the only way I can explain how I am here today. God did not give up on me and He won’t give up on you!

Philippians 1:6–“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Now, let me say this: Following the call of God and fulfilling the call of God on your life, does require sacrifice.

You will have to give up certain aspects of life as you knew it when you lived a life separated from God. But, that brings us to the third point. . .

III.         WHEN GOD CALLS US TO A NEW BEGINNING, IT COMES WITH PROMISES FOR THOSE WHO ANSWER THE CALL.

               A.         Look At God’s Promises To Abram: (12:2)

                            1.          “I will make of thee a great nation.”

Abraham had to leave his country, but God was going to make a great nation out of him!

                            2.          “I will bless thee.”

I will do more for you than the gods you served before me.

                            3.          And I will “make your name great.”

God took Abram from his family, took that identity away, only to give him a greater one.

                            4.          “And thou shalt be a blessing.”

God would make Abram into a person who would bless others.

                            5.          “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee.”

Blessings and curses on those who bless or curse Abram (Israel), a promise of protection.

                            6.          “And in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”

Abram would be a blessing to all the families of the earth.

The Jews did nothing to inherit God’s favor, it was all in God keeping His word to Abram.

And listen, You and I did nothing to deserve the Saviour, it was all in God keeping His Word to Abram.

               B.         God will bless those who answer His call in their lives.

               C.         Abram could have said.

                            1.          “What if ….I get out of your will or misunderstand you?”   I will make you a great nation.

                            2.          What if my descendants worship idols?

                                         I will make you a great nation.

                            3.          What if I find myself in a famine and go to Egypt for food? I will bless you.

               D.         We could say the same things today.

                            1.          What if I mess up after I start following God?

                                         God says, “I have saved you.”

                            2.          What if I lack faith sometimes?

                                         God says, “I have saved you.”

               E.         Remember, it is all based on who God is, not who we are.

I can’t hold on to my own salvation. I’d lose it. God holds my salvation secure. God maintains the calling on my life. My responsibility is to follow Him with a child like faith.

                            That brings us to our last point for today. . .

IV.         WHEN GOD CALLS US TO A NEW BEGINNING, IT REQUIRES FAITH ON THE PART OF THOSE WHO ANSWER THE CALL.

               A.         Abraham Did Not Know Where He Was Going.

All God told him was, that he was going “to a land that I will shew thee.”

               B.         Abram Was Going To Be A Great Nation.

                            Well, how was that going to happen? He had no children.

                            His wife was barren ( look at 11:30).

                            Why is that there? It just kind of sticks out.

I believe it is there to illustrate the faith it took for Abram to get up and go.

               C.         Abram Was Just Beginning His Journey Of Following God.

                            There would be mistakes made along the way.

But according to verse 4, Abraham did what the Lord instructed him to do at that point.

                            Abram went forth by faith. Trusting God just because God said.

Conclusion

God is calling some of you to a new beginning today.

If you have never come to Him for salvation, I can assure you that He is calling you to take that step of faith.

If you are caught up in a life of sin, God is calling you out that life to live for Him!

If you are saved, God is calling you to walk by faith in your service to Him.

Will you step out on faith and answer God’s call today. Quit trying to figure out why God would call you, it’s not about who you are, but about Who He is and what He wants to do with you. To answer the call will require some sacrifices and it will require faith, but with the call comes the promises of God if you will answer the call.

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!