Recap
Title: How to action the word God has spoken to you
Key Text: Genesis 12:1-5
Key Message:
One of the greatest experiences in life is to feel and know that God is directly speaking to us through the Scriptures. Many Christians can testify to how they have received comfort, direction and revelation in a very personal way.
Just one word from God can change the life of an individual, a family, a church or even a nation. But this is not automatic. For we have to act on the word that we have received. We immediately have to make changes, or nothing will change.
Everyone needs to understand that when you hear the word of God you have a responsibility to act on it.
Move out from where you are (Luke 11:28; Luke 8:21; Matthew 7:24; James 1:22-24; Genesis 12:3-4; Ruth 1:16; Matthew 4:18-20; John 8:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Isaiah 43:17-18)
Move on with the people God has put with you (Genesis 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 13:20; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Ecclesiastes 4:9; Proverbs 18:22).
Move into the new world God has for you
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Move out from where you are
Abram was given a very radical command from God (Genesis 12:3-4). It was to leave everything that was familiar to him. He was being directed to leave his country, his people, his home and everything that his father’s household represented.
And yet he did it. He made a clean break with the past, just like Ruth did when she left her homeland and told Naomi in Ruth 1:16.
Leaving the past and embracing the future is not as easy as it sounds. But it is very necessary for you to become a Christian and to live the best life as a Christian.
God had great plans for some successful fishermen from Galilee but first they had to move out from the life they were used to. (Matthew 4:18-20)
Following Jesus always means leaving your old way of life behind. (John 8:11)
Sometimes people say ‘well I want to follow Jesus but I also want to continue to live my old sinful way of life.’ But that’s not possible. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
So, you have to choose to leave behind anything that becomes more important to you than Jesus. That’s something the rich young ruler couldn’t do. Why? because much as he loved Jesus His greatest love was money and all that represented. Bottom line was he didn’t want to give up anything that would affect him financially and materially.
Acting on the word then is always the big issue. That involves far more than being touched or inspired by a word from God.
Many of us were impacted by the word Pastor Andrew brought about a new day from Isaiah 43:17-18 that involves forgetting the past.
If you happily received that word then let me ask: what specifically has changed since? Have you already stopped focusing on past failures or successes? Have you cut with any relationships or behaviour that previously held you back? Have you stopped speaking negatively? Have you now left behind every obstacle to follow Jesus?
Move on with the people God has put with you
(Genesis 12:4-5) To move on in your destiny requires that you move on with the right people. (1 Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 13:20; 1 Corinthians 5:11)
If you want to achieve your destiny be very careful about who you are close with. Be with people who are godly, positive and faithful and full of faith. Keep away from those who are proud, unfaithful, cynical and critical who gossip and spread poison. They can literally take you out of your call and cause you to miss out on your spiritual inheritance.
It is interesting to see here who went on a journey with Abram.
· His wife…
He took his wife Sarai. Well that’s a good start in you want to go forward in your destiny. Get a good wife and don’t leave her behind. Make sure she is with you. (Ecclesiastes 4:9; Proverbs 18:22)
To prosper in life and ministry it is a great strength to live together in unity and to serve the Lord as a team. I am so glad to see more and more couples in this ministry going together on a journey with God.
· His family
…his nephew Lot.
Maybe he was his guardian after the death of Lot’s father. Well as we see later on Abram was very faithful to Lot and rescued him when he got into trouble. As the old Sunday school phrase had it: ‘Lot nearly had his lot when he fell in with the wrong lot.’ How important it is that we always act as spiritual guardians of our families at all times.
· People he was responsible for
He took…..all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran. It doesn’t say who or how many there were but there were a group of people clearly attached to Abram and all went with him.
Maybe there is a lesson here also; to be sure that we gather disciples who will also come with us on a journey into our destiny.
Move into the new world God has for you
….and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
Just as God had a new life and new world for Abram, so he has many a whole new life and calling for you and your family.
Meanwhile we need to step into the new day that God has for each one of us. He has many new possibilities for you. He has many new opportunities for you to be blessed and to be a blessing for many. And you can start to receive them right now when you act on every word that the Lord speaks to you.
