Trusting God's Word

Bible Book: Genesis 12 : 4-9

Subject: Bible; God's Word

Introduction

Moses wrote Genesis 12:4-9 explaining how Abraham trusted God’s Word. Christians today too must trust God’s Word. The question is, how must Christians today trust God’s Word? Moses in Genesis 12:4-9 gave us 3 ways Christians are to trust God’s Word.

Today, in America, we are often saturated in luxuries. We all almost live within 30 miles of a hospital, grocery store, department store, etc. Our news is brought to us through turning on a computer, TV, or walking outside to get the paper. Our jobs afford us homes, food, clothes, water, etc. Our electricity comes to us through turning on a switch and our water through a facet. If we get sick, then we go buy medicine.

Due to our technological advances, we often feel superior, almost as if we’re in need of nothing. Because of these advances, and the fact that we’re learning more and more everyday, America has come to trust in our own abilities instead of the One who has given us the know-how, the means, and the health we use everyday.

Unfortunately, Christians aren’t much different. We trust in doctors, jobs, Electric Companies, Water Companies, Medicine, etc. instead of realizing that all abilities, matter, and energy come from Christ. We must get back to the fact that “The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1).

The apostle Paul, in Colossians 1:16 wrote, “For by him [Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

Christians must trust in the Lord, not our own abilities. It’s time for Christ’s church to respond in service to Him. We must trust in His Word more than we trust in man’s word. Man’s word is constantly changing while God’s Word has forever been true and unchanging. His Word is timeless, unchanging truth. The purpose of tonight’s message is to get all Christians here to trust and correctly respond to God’s Word in worship.

I. Christians Must Trust God’s Word Regardless

Verse 4 - So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; Abram directly obeyed the Lord. When God spoke His Word, Abram responded. This is exactly how Christians should respond to God’s Word. Church, whenever we understand what God has said in His Word, then we must respond immediately as Abram did.

“…and Lot went with him:” Abram’s nephew departed with him.

“… and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

Abram was seventy-five years old. God had told Abram that his descendants would be given this land. The reality however, is that Sarah, Abram’s wife was barren, and he was getting into his non-child producing years.

Sarai being barren and Abram’s growing age could have easily side-tracked Abram to the point of disobedience. He could have stayed where he was. He could have even stayed in Ur with his family, instead of coming out in response to God’s word. He trusted the Lord that he would have descendants, and that these descendants would come from his barren wife, even though this is/was humanly impossible. He trusted God’s Word though his situation communicated the contrary.

Today church, do we trust all of God’s promises in His Word?

II. Christians Must Trust God’s Word Even When Inconvenient

Verse 5 - And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

“…And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son,”

So, Abram, Sarai, and his nephew Lot left…and all their substance that they had gathered. They took everything they had gathered up to that point. Even though moving obviously is inconvenient, Abram trusted the Lord’s Word, and left his home to go to Canaan.

“…and the souls that they had gotten in Haran;”

They also took the souls that had been brought in under God’s grace, with them. It must be noted that Abram not only followed and trusted God’s Word, but he also sought to have others follow and trust God’s Word as well.

“…and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.”

They headed into the land of promise. Trusting the Lord’s words, regardless how inconvenient, is exactly how we need to respond to His Word. They left where they called “home” and headed into Canaan.

We read that J. Vernon McGee said, “A great many people think that Abram left a terrible place in Ur of the Chaldees and came to a land of corn and wine, a land of milk and honey, where everything was lovely. They think that Abram really bettered his lot by coming to this land. Don’t you believe it. That is not what the Bible says. And through archaeology we know that Ur of the Chaldees had a very high civilization during this time. In fact, Abram and Sarai might well have had a bathtub in their home! Ur was a great and prosperous city. Abram left all of that and came into the land of Canaan, “and the Canaanite was then in the land.” The Canaanite was not civilized; he was a barbarian and a heathen, if there ever was one. Abram’s purpose in coming to Canaan was certainly not to better his lot. He came in obedience to God’s command.”

Verse 6 - And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

Even though this land was inhabited by the Canaanites, a barbarian people, a people who the twelve spies sent in by Moses referred to as giants in Numbers 13:32-33; Abram still trusted the Words of the Lord.

How many of you watch the news? It’s awfully depressing to see the evils that are tolerated even in our own city.

I’m reminded of a study that was done some years back where a man went to various places interviewing men and women asking what they would do if they could invisible. At first each person spoke about helping other individuals; however, as they grew more comfortable in the discussion and began thinking more, they shared how they would use it to satisfy their sinfulness. The Girls talked about stealing clothes, jewelry, etc. While the men spoke of sneaking into areas where they could view women in their birthday suits.

Our country is so depraved that Fox is prepared to give $500,000 to any person in America who can answer 21 questions honestly. In their Game Show The Moment of Truth, airing on Wednesdays, they ask questions to various men and women while hooked up to a polygraph test. If they’re honest, they’ll walk away with $500,000. Do you think Fox is planning on giving away $500,000 on a weekly basis? Fox is banking on the fact that no one in America can be honest. This is a testimony of the depravity of America, and the depravity of mankind as a whole.

In Spite of this depravity, Jesus Christ is Lord. Do we really believe Acts 7:48-51, which reads, “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”

If we truly believe we serve the only true sovereign Lord of all whose throne is in heaven and whose footstool is earth, then we will respond worshipping him even if this nation or our families or our jobs or our homes topple to the ground.

III. Christians Must Trust God’s Word even when Fulfillment is Far Off

Verse 7 - And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Abram trusted that God would indeed give him the land.

“…and there builded he an altar unto the LORD,

Abram proved he believed the Lord by responding in worship to Him. At this point Abram hadn’t received anything physically from the Lord. He worshipped not based on whether or not had already fulfilled His promise. He worshipped based on one lone fact, that God had said this land would be his.

Do we worship the Lord this evening based on whether or not He’s already given us heaven? Or do we worship Him based on what He has said? Many Christians want heaven now… this is what’s made the “prosperity, health and wealth gospel” so popular.

Jesus said in John 14:2, 3 -“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

…”who appeared unto him.”

Abram built an altar to the Lord, not an altar to his family, not to his wealth, not to his job, not to his wife, not to any other idol his family had previously worshipped in Ur.

Who or what do we credit for our lives? Whenever I was in high school, I was trying to explain creation to one of my buddies. He was an Atheist. While telling him how God had created him, he interrupted me telling me his parents had created him. Now, is this foundationally true? Of course not! Let God be true and every man a liar!

Verse 8 - And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

It must be noted that one way we can show the Lord we trust Him is by worshipping Him, even when the fulfillment of His promises to His church seems so far off. There are times whenever heaven seems so far away. Even in these moments, we must come worshipping the Lord, for His Word is true.

Psalm 119:160 reads, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.

He word is absolutely true from eternity past to eternity present.

“…and called upon the name of the LORD.”

Verse 9 – And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

Conclusion