[00:00:01 – 00:00:32] you know a recent online Sur survey called the stress survey was taken among young people who were aged between 18 to 24 years this is one of the most comprehensive surveys that have been taken in recent history and this was actually taken even before Co came along and what they found was that 60% of people in the age between 18 to 24 [00:00:29 – 00:01:01] have felt so pressured by the pressure to just succeed and they have felt overwhelmed and unable to cope that is six out of 10 people 47% of young people have felt so stressed by body image and appearance that they have also felt overwhelmed or unable to cope and [00:00:57 – 00:01:29] 57% of young people have felt so stressed because of fear of making mistakes that they feel also overwhelmed or unable to cope and I can only believe that these numbers are much more higher after the pandemic and even more higher for us here living in a place like the Silicon Valley how do people live in Silicon [00:01:25 – 00:01:58] Valley they say the average work hours of anyone who either goes to school or Works in Silicon Valley is significantly higher than what it is in every other city in the rest of this country it is not uncommon and perhaps you can ask yourselves if this is true that on average a person here living in Silicon Valley works at least 50 to 60 hours a week which can sometimes spill over into [00:01:55 – 00:02:26] the weakens as well and our title today for our sermon is walking by faith and I was thinking about this how do we apply this to life here in Silicon Valley and for people whose lives are so stressed as whether you're young or old and I felt it maybe I may have to change it a little bit because no one walks in Silicon Valley everybody is [00:02:24 – 00:02:55] running we don't walk if you walk you're slow and you'll be out isn't it so it is I think fantastic for us to come back to God's word to see how God's word encourages us to not just to slow down but also to learn how to walk by faith and we're going to look at one of the covering examples in all of scripture someone who is always whose [00:02:52 – 00:03:25] name is associated with faith and that is that of Abraham you know we are walking through the Bible we we saw creation we saw fall and how after the fall even then things went on a decline and God had to almost wipe away the entire human race once again but made his Covenant with Noah and created a Remnant and now we are going to pick up from that point in Redemptive history to [00:03:22 – 00:03:52] see what's going on and as I said it's always important to understand who is writing this book and for whom and when so just to refresh our memories Moses is accepted as the author he's writing to Israelites just before they are about to enter Canan and why would he want to write this to them because he wants Israel to know who they are he wants Israel to remember their [00:03:49 – 00:04:21] identity he wants to know Israel to know where they began this journey he wants Israel to know who their forefather or their father was and so we go to the story of Abraham I just have three points in my sermon today as we work through our text first is we are going to look at God's choice in choosing [00:04:18 – 00:04:50] Abraham second we are going to look at God's call and his promise and third we are going to look at Noah's Abraham's walk of faith God's choice in election God's command and promise and Abraham's walk of Faith so if we want to understand God's choice and why did God after all these years of declin by [00:04:46 – 00:05:20] Humanity pick Abraham we have to back up just a little bit before this chapter if you would turn with me in your Bibles to Genesis 11: 27-30 I'll read it for us it seems seems like very ordinary set of verses that's talking about something very mundane but a precious Hidden Gem is hidden in this it says now these are the generations of Tera Tara fathered Abraham nahor and [00:05:15 – 00:05:46] Heron and Heron fathered lot Heron died in the presence of his father terara in the land of his Kindred in Ur of the Chans and Abraham and nahor took wives the name of Abraham's wife was Sarah and the name of nahor's wife milka the daughter of Heron the father of milka and [00:05:41 – 00:06:11] isca now Sarai was Barren she had no child you know this seemingly insignificant genealogical detail has something significant that's buried in it you know why did God pick Abraham instead of somebody else if you just look at his generation ahead we see that Abraham's father Tara actually had three [00:06:07 – 00:06:39] sons including him and of the three sons the other two sons that God that Tara had were Nahar and Heron and they both had children you know Heron had lot who actually comes along with Abraham to Canaan and his other brother had two other children milka and Isa we read very briefly I think there's perhaps one [00:06:37 – 00:07:08] other words in the Bible where it talks about them in some kind of genealogy so if God were to pick someone he could have picked one of Abraham's brothers or he could have straight away picked lot and said this is going to be my guy I'm going to do something but it's very significant to see that there is a verse that is thrown in there before the 12th chapter opens verse 30 [00:07:05 – 00:07:46] it's just one verse it's a loaded worse it's a words that is significant for someone who actually goes through this it says now Sarai was Barren she had no child so God's picking intentionally someone who says Not only was had no child but was barren which means humanly did not have the capacity to Bear children why would God do that he just [00:07:43 – 00:08:16] doesn't pick them what's surprising is he takes Abraham and Sarah and he first away gives a promise even before the Covenant is made or established and seals so what is God trying to do what do we learn from God's choosing Abraham in this manner God is showing and he's wanting the Israelites [00:08:12 – 00:08:43] and you and I to remember that he is a god of the impossible he is a God who is so mighty so powerful and so Sovereign that he can come and take something that has no inherent potential in it that has so much Brokenness in it so much pain in it so much suffering in it and make something most beautiful come out of [00:08:39 – 00:09:12] that he wants to show that he does what does not seem possible by human standards he he uses the Brokenness the vacuum the Deep needs the unmet desires that we have to do something great and Marvel marvelous may I ask you this morning what vacuum are you feeling in your life [00:09:08 – 00:09:38] today what is it that unmet strong desire that every time you think of it makes you sad what Brokenness do you experience in your life you see first of all his name is called Abraham he's not yet become Abra Abraham but for our sake I'm just going to use the word Abraham God didn't pick Abraham because [00:09:36 – 00:10:08] he is showing remarkable spirituality and seeking after God he was actually worshiping a pagan God who was actually called l in the culture of the land of which he was from in fact God uses that name that exists in this Pagan culture L to amplify and show him later on that he's not just some El he is Elohim he's the god of gods he's El shedai he's El [00:10:05 – 00:10:35] Rafa and all those other suffixes that come after that but ultimately he's Yahweh I am who I am or I will be who I will be as the Hebrew goes he wants to show to Abraham and he wants Israel to remember remember your beginning Israel well you know how you started where you started [00:10:33 – 00:11:03] with whom you started your history began with someone who who thought he would never have a history your history began with someone who thought he will never have a posterity yet here you are Israel look how big you are turn around look around we read later on the number of men who are about to cross into Canaan [00:10:59 – 00:11:29] was guess how much 600,000 starting with someone who could have zero kids God has created a nation just the men alone were 600,000 you know Tesla has this advertisement for their cars you know what the ad advertisement is it's very [00:11:22 – 00:11:54] simple 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds that now God saying I took you from zero to 600,000 in just a matter of few Generations do you see how Majestic and how powerful and how Mighty your God is Israel it had absolutely nothing to do with your power or spirituality or ability but had everything to do with [00:11:50 – 00:12:22] How Majestic and glorious he is he will take the very thing that is so br broken in your life that the world may perhaps use to mock you put you down and he will do something amazing so that in the end he can draw the glory you know if you're here this morning my dear friends if you're someone who does not have a relationship [00:12:19 – 00:12:51] with God who doesn't believe in God or perhaps you're worshiping other gods we are all worshippers whether we like it or not you know even if if you're not worshiping a specific image or a particular God we we we all here in Silicon Valley worship success isn't it or perhaps you are here and you think no my life is so messed up I I don't have anything to bring to the table God [00:12:47 – 00:13:18] cannot possibly love me and it makes you feel Unworthy of yourself God wants to Remind You by his choice of Abraham that he's a gracious God our God Specializes in calling people from Brokenness into his purpose you know just as he picks Abraham from this land of UR that was [00:13:15 – 00:13:45] actually worshiping Idols he's calling you today to step away from whatever you're worshiping and to follow him or perhaps your son someone here this morning you have that relationship with God but you feel suddenly hopeless and helpless at times looking at your sinful heart remember God wants to remind you [00:13:42 – 00:14:14] today that he didn't pick you because of your spirituality or your merits he picked you because of his grace your weaknesses and my weaknesses your insufficiencies and my insufficiencies are opportunities for God to reveal his strength and grace and mercy so you can trust him to use your life for his glory and I have experienced this and I'm pretty sure you have to the very [00:14:11 – 00:14:44] things that I felt were my greatest weaknesses or that would bring shame and pain where the ones God used to do amazing things in my life and I'm sure each one of you when you look back can have stories like that so let me ask you this morning what is your Brokenness what is your shame surrender that to God come to this God he's a gracious God and this God and [00:14:40 – 00:15:12] our God is not done with you and me yet and you can hold on to him secondly we see as we go into our text for today what was God's command and promise you know verses 1 to three it says now the Lord said to Abraham go from your country and your Kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you and I will make you a great nation and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be [00:15:09 – 00:15:40] 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 you know look at the command you know first of all God's command of Abraham goes like this he says I want you to leave all those things that you are holding dearly to from your country [00:15:37 – 00:16:08] your family your father's house why would God want Abraham to do it before he has he gives him this promise and this blessing you know they say the city of UR in those days was one of the most richest glorious and and an and an abundant plane city a city of excess it was tremendous wealth and positions and perhaps Abraham himself came from a very wealthy [00:16:04 – 00:16:35] family and if he had stayed back there's always this thought isn't it especially some of us who are immigrants what would have happened if I had stayed back in my country before coming here perhaps we do not know what could have happened and we cannot think hypothetically but we know in history what happened when a group of people were blessed and they became affluent they built the Tower of Babel isn't [00:16:33 – 00:17:08] it maybe another Tower of Babel might have happened if he stayed back because that's a pattern that's happened repetitively in history whenever people got rich whenever they became affluent or have everything the first thing that goes is they tend to forget God so God wants Abraham to First leave his sources of safety security comfort and provision I don't know if you have uh [00:17:05 – 00:17:37] tried teaching swimming to children or if you have learned to swim you know the biggest sleep or or even learn to bike or learn to teach your children to bike is you first do all those drills you know if you're swimming you're just holding in the edge of the pool and you're kicking your legs or if you're teaching your bike uh kids to ride your bike you're holding them as they ride and there is a moment when you have to let go and and trust that your brain has guarded and you're going to either be [00:17:34 – 00:18:07] riding or swimming or gliding as long as you're going to hold onto the edge of your pool it doesn't matter how fast you kick your legs how strong you kick your legs how much do you move zero you're not going to move even an inch and the same way God is saying I want to show something but before that I want to cut off everything everything you're desperately trying to hold which you think is giving you safety security [00:18:03 – 00:18:34] and comfort it's very hard to do isn't it because God wants Abraham and all the generations that come after him and the Israelites to know and trust him alone as their source of safety security comfort and provision and did he prove that the life of Abraham he did isn't it he did all that for [00:18:31 – 00:19:03] Abraham he has done all that for the Israelites even now and he will do the same for them even when they enter the promised land all they need to do is to shift their trust and their faith on the things they are holding on to not trust themselves or other things but him why is that you know the reason is when we trust TR or lean on these other things [00:19:00 – 00:19:33] we tend to think that these are the things are the ones that are providing and actually caring for our needs they mask or prevent us from the truth we tend to forget the giver behind the giving and make the things that he has given more valuable and give them more of our respect than that ought to be given to God and eventually end up worshiping them by making an idol L of [00:19:30 – 00:20:01] them so God wanted to reveal who he is to Abraham and the Israelites when Abraham had nothing after he had let go of all of that and followed to go God gave him everything when the Israelites had nothing when they left Egypt with nothing and they were living in a place which had nothing the desert God gave [00:19:58 – 00:20:30] give them everything and he's going to do the same for you and for me when we leave everything and when we don't hold on to anything when we realize we have nothing spiritually we are bankrupt we have no good in us and even in our daily lives we have no control to change anything in our [00:20:26 – 00:20:58] lives God says he's going to give us everything you know walking in faith involves two things there are two Dimensions to walking in faith there is a positive Dimension and a negative Dimension you know the negative Dimension is this it requires us to truly Stop Believing in anyone or anything other than God to meet all our needs positively it requires us to [00:20:55 – 00:21:26] believe and trust that this God will will be our provider this God will be our protector and our Lord that's the reason for the command to walk by faith God calls you and me and he just doesn't leave him with a command here comes the beautiful promise what a glorious promise he promises six things in these next few verses what are these promises that God [00:21:24 – 00:21:56] makes to Abraham that Moses is now trying to remind the people of Israel first he says I will make you a great nation second I Will Bless You third I will make your name great fourth you will be a blessing fifth I will bless those who bless you and curse those who dishonor you and six in you all the families of the Earth shall be blessed and guess what time has elapsed a few hundred years have gone and now Israelites can actually [00:21:52 – 00:22:24] verify if this promise that God gave their forefather Abraham had actually come true and guess what even now already at that time all of these had almost come true was Israel a great nation yes they were a great nation 600,000 men perhaps two to three million of them did God bless them yes God did protect them and bless them in so many ways third did he make their name great [00:22:22 – 00:22:54] yes he did make their name great because already all the nations even before they entered Canaan were terrified of them hearing what God did to the greatest Empire on Earth Egypt at that time and how he wiped them clean fourth did everyone who blessed them received blessings God everyone who helped them received blessings and those who fought with them who fought against them did not receive that and fifth All [00:22:52 – 00:23:25] Families of the Earth shall be blessed did that happen they started seeing evidences of that in seed form when you read the book of Exodus it says the Foreigner and the stranger who were with them who went along with them to uh Escape Egypt received the same blessings that they did so there is right there they begin to see that this blessing of God is not just for the Israelites but for the whole nation Moses is telling the Israelites [00:23:21 – 00:23:53] remember first remember who your God is second remember what he can do that he is the faith F God who keeps his promises and you have seen it you are a living testimony you are a living example of that very fact and he's showing them through these promises that have come true you know the implications of that first is God's words are true those are the God's words [00:23:50 – 00:24:22] are the only absolute truth that's the first promise what he speaks he will accomplish so they can believe his word the same even true now in fact we have much more than what Abraham received we have the entire Council of God the whole Council of God in the written word of God which we can believe this is absolute truth my dear friends the inherent infallible word of God what God says here he will [00:24:18 – 00:24:49] accomplish because it's his word second his promises are true what he promises he will accomplish not in your time and in my timeline but in his timeline even if it's temporarily looking Bleak we can trust him in our trials and third what you can see through this and he wants the Israelites to remember that God's plans are bigger [00:24:46 – 00:25:18] and better than our plans they did not understand the magnitude of that last statement how will all families and nations of the world be blessed isn't it they did not know what God was going to do in human history it was always God's plan to bless all nations to draw all nations including you and me it did not just happen after Jesus came in the New Testament you know we [00:25:16 – 00:25:48] saw Genesis 3 has what they call as the First Gospel Proclamation right the Proto Evangelion and here we sees the first proclamation of the Great Commission that the gospel is for all nations doesn't happen in Matthew 28 and here in is the connectivity between the old Covenant and the New Covenant there not two different distinct covenants it's one and the same that flows beautifully we'll talk more [00:25:46 – 00:26:16] about that later when we get to covenants so what is our response to this our response is you can believe in his words you can believe in the promises we have in fact greater and better promises he says he will Deliver us from our sins our suffering and death we can believe in his plans for our life he's not just looking at what he [00:26:12 – 00:26:47] will do with you and your life alone he's a multi-generational God and we need to have a multigenerational vision we need to live in the light of God's big plan which transcends Our Generations not a small plan for your life and mine you know if you have been [00:26:44 – 00:27:16] living your life trusting in the empty promises that Silicon Valley has to offer success money Fame power all of this if you can talk to the people who have them will tell tell you have left them empty they can't be trusted as long as you're success successful people will respect you come to you want to be your friends but the moment things change in your life they will leave [00:27:12 – 00:27:44] you but God's word can be trusted but to be able to do that you need to let go of your deepest fears inse security who or what do you trust your future with you know we can live our lives in two ways we can live our lives in fear or for more constantly fear of constantly missing out how we can live our lives in faith now one of our young people had this wonderful t-shirt which [00:27:41 – 00:28:12] said Faith over fear I think that's a beautiful phrase of how God calls us to live our lives Faith over fear because not because our faith is great but because the object of our faith is a great God he doesn't want us to let our fear or Comfort keep us from experiencing His blessings and if that is something we have done God is calling you and I this [00:28:08 – 00:28:40] morning to repent and recommit to walking in faith trusting his promises to restore and bless us where do you go for acceptance my dear friends if it's to people you will never find what you are looking for but if it's to God you will find it and we will see how shortly you know if you're are having a deep broken need or desire and want that [00:28:36 – 00:29:08] to be fixed or met God's blessings though not are always immediate are Eternal ones he promises to give life Abundant Life now and forever now how does respond Abraham respond to God's command and his promises we look at that in the third point of Abraham's walk of Faith what does Abraham do as soon as he receives [00:29:06 – 00:29:36] this command we read that in Verses 4 to9 says so Abraham went as the Lord had told him and lot went with him Abraham was 75 years old when he departed from Herod and Abraham took Sarah his wife and lot his brother's son and all that possessions that they had gathered and the people that they had acquired in Aon and they set out to go to the land of Canaan when they came to the land of [00:29:33 – 00:30:06] Canaan Abraham passed through the land to the place at sheim to the Oak of moray at that time the Canaanites were in the land then the Lord appeared to Abraham and said to your Offspring I will give this land so he built an altar to the Lord who who had appeared to him from there he moved to the Hill Country on the east of bethl and pitched his tent with bethl on the west and I on the [00:30:03 – 00:30:34] East and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord and Abraham journeyed on still going toward the neget at 75 years old I don't know if you and I how athletic we will be when we are 75 years old he's not talking of walking a few miles he's literally talking of walking hundreds of miles all the way from the [00:30:32 – 00:31:07] now North you know they are going along the uh euphas River and then they are tracking down when they come closer to Israel if you have any study Bibles it'll be cool to check out Abraham's Journey they usually put a map at 75 years old with All Odds stacked against him Abraham made that walk of Faith with his wife it takes something isn't it you know the [00:31:03 – 00:31:33] closest parallel we can see in a more ordinary sense is if you're a Warriors fan and you're watching a Warriors game they have to win it's the winding last 10 seconds the short clock sticking down you have just three 5 Seconds to go it gets me extremely nervous when I see Steph Curry dancing and playing with the ball with then shooting it and I'm [00:31:32 – 00:32:06] thinking in my heart just shoot it just shoot it he knows when he has to with5 seconds remaining he launches a three from nearly half court and he probably is the only guy in the whole history of basketball who makes that shot and wins it Steph Cory trusts his shot he's practiced that forever since he was a kid here Abraham is not athletic he has [00:32:04 – 00:32:36] nothing in him to trust but God's telling Abraham trust me Abraham and I want your Generations after you to learn to trust me in those situations it is a simple trust in God that he would do what he said he would do all of us those of us who immigrated to this country perhaps remember that very first day you got out of the flight [00:32:33 – 00:33:04] and walked out of the airport what did you bring with you just four briefcases four big briefcases now just look at your closet today how much do you how many briefcases would you need for that isn't it remember what God has blessed and provided for each of you and this country is a land of immigrants it's not just your St and my story every people group that came into this country has been [00:33:02 – 00:33:37] blessed we've been blessed financially you know they say indian-americans are the most richest immigrant group right now in the United States we've been blessed spiritually you have a Bible believing Gospel proclaiming Church you're blessed relationally you have friends who walk alongside you when you go through challenges or difficulties you're UPS and downs Abraham walked to [00:33:34 – 00:34:05] Canaan you know the reason why Moses was writing Abraham already walked to Canaan these guys haven't entered Canaan he's basically saying hey Our Father Abraham was already there he's already walked where you are going to walk he just walked the length and breadth of the land they're about to enter verse six it says he passed through the land they were going to enter and it says at that time the [00:34:03 – 00:34:38] Canaanites were in the land what he's saying is your forefather Abraham walked right amidst these enemies and God took care of him he kept him and here's God's promise again in verse seven God says to your Offspring I will give this land and this is at a point when Abraham did not even have a son and God is telling him this so why and how would Abraham trust [00:34:37 – 00:35:11] this God something must have happened isn't it you can't just randomly trust someone who comes and tells you to believe in something you know is humanly impossible to accomplish and something did happen to Abraham it's mentioned briefly and we can miss it if we read it fast verse 7 read with me it says the Lord appeared to Abraham wow theologians call it theop or [00:35:06 – 00:35:37] christop the Lord appeared to Abraham first God tells him but now God Appears to him so there was something Abraham saw that really moved the needle for him what did Abraham see that really helped him make that switch to literally trust in God what was it that Abraham [00:35:34 – 00:36:04] saw if you want to know what Abraham saw you have to turn with me in your Bibles to John 8 verse 56 one of you can read it if you pick it up this is sometimes a problem when we use [00:36:00 – 00:36:32] too many tech gadgets and make you lazy whoa you know who's saying this Jesus he's telling us what Abraham saw what did Abraham see he saw Jesus and not just Jesus he says Jesus says he would see my day wow [00:36:28 – 00:37:00] Abraham was able to see Jesus he got a glimpse of Jesus who had not even come was going to come and what he was going to do you know Abraham would very quickly realize he has perhaps already the need that he has for this savior in his own life we will see that very soon we we [00:36:57 – 00:37:31] see his sinfulness he starts lying to Kings to save his own life so much selfishness so much self-centeredness he doesn't even love his own wife you know a walk of faith I want you to listen to this carefully a walk of Faith does not mean your faith is perfect a walk of faith means that your object of your faith is perfect you know the reason Israelites [00:37:27 – 00:38:01] had problems was not because God was not faithful to them but they were Unfaithful they grumbled they did not trust him they lusted after worldly fulfillment even after tasting The Heavenly Man and Abraham would soon realize that all the problems he is encountering is not because God is Not faithful but he is not faithful and so both Abraham as as well [00:37:57 – 00:38:28] as the Israelites and you and me today who are not faithful we all need the saving work of Jesus and so what is Abraham's response he builds an altar and worships you know when you see that your default act or response would [00:38:24 – 00:38:56] be an act of worship the Israelites are going to need that because they going to keep doing the same things again and again in history and there's only one thing that's going to restore them and that's worship there's one thing they need to do they need to keep coming back again and again to God In Worship offering the sacrifices which they God has revealed to them in the Book of [00:38:54 – 00:39:24] Leviticus but Abraham is seeing all this from from like he's viewing through a telescope he's seeing that even for his failures the failures of his descendence God is creating all these so many complicated sacrifices that are so hard so cumbersome and it's so difficult and and even then it is not sufficient and finally he's saying there's going to be a great sacrifice and it's the greatest [00:39:22 – 00:39:54] sacrifice not just for him and for Israelites it's the greatest sacrifice for all of human history for everyone who is going to fail Christ he saw that day that moved the needle for Abraham cuz all those sacrifices point to that ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ Abraham saw that day when Christ [00:39:51 – 00:40:29] was going to take away the sins of the world and what was his response it made him glad dad to worship Abraham saw his imperfect walk of faith and now he got a glimpse of so many hundreds of years he saw another person's perfect walk of Faith where Abraham failed he succeeded the ultimate walk of Faith [00:40:25 – 00:40:58] Jesus left the glory of Heaven which is way better than Ur more glorious than Ur and walked a walk of Faith to be born in this world humbly as a human being he obeyed his father's will through all trials and sufferings unlike Abraham he saw that he did not take shortcuts like Abraham will [00:40:55 – 00:41:27] do you know the tenden for us is to have a quick fix for our problems isn't it Abraham tried that it's nothing new hey we don't have kids let's just get Hagar and have a son Ishmael and tell God God make this plan work that seems to be how we deal with God isn't it when something doesn't work our way and we believe God should make it work this way God come on I'm going to do this and this and this you better make this work God God doesn't give into those things [00:41:24 – 00:41:56] because he's doing something far bigger far more magnificient that you will have no cognitive abilities to comprehend even if he were to reveal it to you at that time even when he knew this meant he had to die on the cross Jesus was obedient to God's call even when it seemed [00:41:53 – 00:42:26] impossible he said let your will be done not mine and Jesus Took Abraham's sins Israel's sins your sins and my sins too and God accepted his sacrifice and raised him up to offer hope and Life to all now that demands worship isn't it so Abraham with such a a feeble glimpse into Redemptive history seeing through a [00:42:23 – 00:42:58] dim mirror of something that was going to happen so instant in time just that Glimpse created a sense of worship he starts worshipping God immediately and then he goes to another place pitches his tendon immediately worships God again he's just is just his life is transformed into a life of worship and that is the Walk of faith [00:42:55 – 00:43:26] that God is calling you and my to dear friends if you're someone who's never believed in God I want to encourage you Faith begins with a step your start your walk of faith today Begins by saying yes to this Jesus trusting him to lead you into a new life you have never lived before trusting him to lead you into a life filled with purpose and hope and meaning way better [00:43:25 – 00:43:55] than the life and purpose that you are chasing for right now in your life God is calling you to walk your walk of faith today by surrendering your deepest struggles and pains to him and letting him accomplish what only he can accomplish not in your timeline but in his whether it is a financial hardship or a strained relationship or a health [00:43:51 – 00:44:24] issue God's power always is made perfect in our weakness if you're someone who is already walking in faith ask yourself how vibrant is your walk if you have pulled back if you have settled for Comfort how obedient are you to what God is asking you to do is your life filled [00:44:21 – 00:44:53] with worship is worship the natural rhythm of your life are you really trusting God in all the small and big things or are you kind of relying on yourself and for those of you fathers I have a special word for you Abraham is called the father we call him Father Abraham right the song goes Father [00:44:51 – 00:45:22] Abraham had many sons many sons had Father Abraham and I am one of them and so are you you know Abraham what God did to Abraham inspired Moses wanted that to inspire his children and his children's children and that's the pattern of God's word if you are a father this morning ask yourself are you modeling that life of worship in your personal life and in [00:45:19 – 00:45:52] your family are you teaching your children to trust God's plans not just by your words it is easy to tell your children hey read your Bible and pray every day and then go after them if their grades drop or push them to do things on a Sunday morning because they have an exam on a Monday and you're communicating two totally different things worship is what we were made [00:45:50 – 00:46:23] for and if that is what God is impressing in your heart you need you are someone God and courageous to make worship a priority in your home from simple things not missing worship on a Sunday to come together as a family bling worship more than sports or work I know some families who make it a a a specific call or a priority [00:46:18 – 00:46:50] that they will honor the Lord's Day by being giving to God his worship they will not travel for work and even if you travel you don't get paid on a Sunday anyways they won't let their kids compete in sports on Sundays it's not that it's a law and it's a sin God created rest for a purpose if your kids are working five six days a week in school and you're just putting them through a ton of programs on a Sunday [00:46:48 – 00:47:20] you're breaking God's order and when you break God's order that will break you above all every day are you worshiping how is your daily devotion and worship and and fathers this is really a request I have for each of you you know I know life is hard and it's busy but we need these reminders [00:47:18 – 00:47:50] repetitive reminders and now you know you're receiving these daily devotions that's like a followup from the sermons I hope you're receiving it even if you don't have time to prepare just spend 3 minutes taking it in for yourself maybe if you're someone who has never done it at home begin a family bible study it doesn't have to be long you can just read one start with once a week on a weekend or you're married as husband and wife or if you're single you're [00:47:47 – 00:48:20] working just prioritize this hey at least once a week let me do it you know I see as we send out these devotions 90% of the people who respond to it other women in our church which is awesome but I'm hoping you are and here's my challenge for you I'd like to see this week if you are reading it or using it in your family I want you to give a thumbs up not this is not a stroke my ego I I've grown way out of that I don't need that to validate [00:48:17 – 00:48:50] myself but for an accountability for you that I know okay you are reading it and you are using it in your home will you do that and if you're someone who's doing it and if you're at work you're not married you're single and I know how work culture is and how it is so hard that they make you run find an accountability partner to keep you on cheack and if you have slipped away in [00:48:47 – 00:49:07] your walk with God worship can bring you back and connect with him so my dear friends may this remind us and Inspire us to live our lives walking by faith and not in fear let's pray