We continue from the last sermon taught in March about Abraham and Lot as narrated in Genesis Chapter 13. Brief recap : Lot followed his uncle Abraham from their ancestral land in the east to the land God promised Abraham. They had just come out of Egypt and were in the Negev area where Abraham decided that they had to separate due to the constant friction between their servants seeing that both of them were rich in livestock. Abraham gave the first choice to Lot with regard to the direction and the location he wanted to go. We read that Lot saw that the land near the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah were looking good, like the 'Garden of Eden'. For sure he did not seek the counsel of God through prayer. The decision made entirely on human judgement alone proved costly because we read later that he & family had to flee the doomed cities which were subsequently entirely destroyed by God. He even lost his wife because of her disobedience to look back at the cities. He escaped with only the clothes on his back. Abraham who followed after God was blessed just as God promised him. Not only that, we also read that his descendent both physical and spiritual were also blessed as in the promise that God made to him in Genesis chapter 12 verses 2-3. We remind ourselves that Abraham looked beyond to God and His word and promise but Lot looked only at the material surroundings.
There are four areas in our lives that we need to go beyond if we are to be like Abraham the 'Father' of Faith. Galatians 3:7. If we want to be blessed both in this world and the next and into eternity, it would do us well to heed and practice there 4 areas of going beyond.
A) We need to go beyond self. All areas where self rules and gives rise to self-centeredness, self-interest, self-directed agendas and self gratification need to be put away. The operative word is to SEPARATE. Stop chasing all these and obey the Lord's command to die to self and the constant restlessness to fulfill the desires of self. Remember The Lord's condition in Luke 9:23 to those who would follow Him. See also John 12:24. Lot chose to be near the 'attractive and prosperous looking world' of the plains near the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah. As we become more and more worldly, contention and strife will predominate more and more. Forget the pursuit of the limelight. Stop chasing after power and position. Seek rather Christ alone and His light and glory will manifest through us !
B) We need to go beyond reason. FAITH is the operative word. Abraham heard the call of God and obeyed. Did he see the promise land at the beginning? The Bible says in Hebrews 11:8-12 that Abraham went to the place he had no idea about and stayed among strangers in an alien land. It goes on to say that he was seeking a city not build by hands! Is there any reason in such pursuit? None ! It's simple faith and faith alone. So, what is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says ..." Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for."
C) We need to go beyond borders. Most of our lives are hemmed in by all sorts of borders. They could be physical, geographical, cultural, and psychological and others. However they have a common effect to suppress, restrict and bind us so that we seldom operate in the full potential that God made us to fully function in Christ. Result is limitations. To overcome we need the power and influence of the Holy
Spirit in us to INFLUENCE our neighbourhoods, societies, communities, towns and nation. Remember that you are unique and no clone of you exist ! Only you have the kind of influence that God could make use to bring about transformation. So let's be excited and passionate. Time is running out. The world needs to experience God through His people.
D) We need to go beyond time. That is our Lifetimes ! When we leave this world we can either deposit behind a godly legacy or an evil legacy. Some extremist groups in Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen continue the work of Osama by continuing terror, bombings and killings of innocent people, old and young. He may be dead but his legacy lives on. There is truly a need for God's people to bring about good in our communities not only in our lifetimes but even when we're not here anymore. Abraham continues to bear godly influence to all those who walk by faith even after 4000 years!
Finally, remember Ephesians 5:15-16. " Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."
Summary of sermon by Ps. David Tan on 29th April 2012. Diakonia Christian Church.
77, Jln. Bayu Permai 5,
Taman Bayu Permai,
48000 Rawang.
