Life lessons for times of transition from the story of Abraham part 2
Scripture
Genesis 12:1-5 And Yahweh said to Abram, “[a]Go forth from your land, And from your kin And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so [b]you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who [c]curses you I will [d]curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” 4 So Abram went forth as Yahweh had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 So Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the [e]persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go forth to the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.
We started looking at the life of one of the most important individuals in the Bible last week; Abraham. He is important because God called him to come out of his home country, follow God as the only God, go to a new land which would become a nation that we know as Israel today, and that Abraham would end up being a positive saving force in the world through the Messiah who would come out of his line.
And all of that happened because a 75-year-old man decided to obey God and roll with a lot of changes in his life.
That is the theme of last weeks and this week’s sermon; Abraham as an example in times of transition. All of us go through changes in our lives. Some move with the changes easily, some hate them. I was looking online for quotes about change, and it is fascinating, and a little scary that I only found positive ones. People encouraging us to change.
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”
But what if I like what I’ve always done and always got thank you very much.
“Progress is impossible without change.” Oh, how sweet. But destruction is also impossible without change.
Some of them are just dumb.
“If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.” Yes, and no wasps, scorpions, or poisonous snakes either.
Sometimes, when it comes to change, we can feel like the Duke of Cambridge from the late 1800’s, who was quoted as saying,
"Any change, at any time, for any reason, is to be deplored."
The Duke of Cambridge (late 1800s).
But here’s the difference with Abraham. Abraham was led by God to change. He goes through a major transition in his life. But he does so as a result of God’s initiative and with God’s direction. So, as Abraham’s children in Christ, we can learn from him, not only the doctrines of our faith, but some principles on living life, and going through change.
I shared with you three principles last week that have to do with God. As we go through transition and turmoil in life we need to remember and meditate on some things about God. First, remember that God is in control. The world was on a constant downward spiral up until Genesis 12, and into that spiral, God sent a man that would be the beginning of turning the pattern of the world upside down. Second, when amid change, remember that you in Christ, are chosen. God picked Abraham and God picked you, and He has a purpose for you. And third, remember that God keeps His promises. God made some monumental promises to Abraham about the future of his family and the world. He kept all of them. And He will keep His promises to you.
Prayer
Before we move forward with how we are to respond in times of transition, I want to finish out that last point. I told you that God will keep His promises to you. That’s great, but what are those promises? I searched the Scripture this week and found a large number of them. And those that I found I put into seven categories. God makes promises to His children concerning Propitiation, presence, provision, peace, power, pointing the way, perspective. And they all start with “P.” So, you know your pastor, preacher, pulpiteer, proclaimer, parson, presbyter, and proclaimer can use a Thesaurus. Now, I’m sure that there are other promises that fit in some different categories, but I thought seven was a good number. Let’s look at them. And I want you to think about God’s promises in terms of what causes you distress during times of change. What is it that makes you anxious?
I’m cursed. I’m all alone. I can’t get ahead. I’m in a perpetual state of panic. I can’t do this. I don’t know which way to go. This can’t end well.
1. The promise of propitiation for sins.
I’m cursed.
The first promise that God will keep is the promise of propitiation. Propitiation is the “act of appeasing the wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person.” Propitious means merciful or kindly. So, taking those two things together, Christian propitiation is the act of doing something that appeases the wrath of God toward sin, and changing that wrath to mercy and kindness. And there are two things about Christian propitiation that you need to understand.
The first is about God’s wrath, God’s anger toward sin. It’s not a message that is preached often from pulpits today. Everyone insists that we only preach God’s love. But the message of God’s love is not complete if you don’t also preach God’s wrath. God hates sin and is angry with sinners. Romans 1:18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of menJohn 3:36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.Nahum 1:2-6The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon withers. The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.Psalm 7:11God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
So, to understand the promise of propitiation, you first have to understand God’s wrath toward sinners.
The message of God’s promises doesn’t begin with rainbows and unicorns. It begins with wrath. And we can’t understand salvation until we understand wrath. When we are saved, we are saved from something; the righteous eternal judgment of God against sin.
And to be saved from that wrath, it has to be appeased. It has to be satisfied. And the second thing you must understand is that you cannot appease the wrath of God.
And the promise of propitiation is not that we appeased God and gained His favor by something we did. But that Christ did it for us by taking on Himself God’s wrath. Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Hebrews 2:17 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
1 John 2:2 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 4:10 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
It is only when we understand that, that we can claim the promise of propitiation, and all of the other promises. Then there is a second set of promises, after propitiation.
2. The promise of His presence
I’m all alone.
God has always promised His presence to His children.
God promised the nation of Israel that He would go with them as they went to the promised land and conquered it.
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
And He promises all His children, Jew and Gentile, that He will be present with them.
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, You are with me.
Notice that He didn’t promise that we wouldn’t go through the dark valley. He promised to be with us in the dark valley.
But you might say, “What good is that?” So what? He is with us. How does that help?
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
The imagery here is of a shepherd with his sheep. And right after He says that He is with them He mentions His rod and staff. The rod or club was something the shepherd carried to fight anything that would hurt the sheep. The staff was a symbol of guiding. The shepherd moved his sheep from one location to the next to provide fresh grass, fresh water, and freedom form danger. And that is the promise of God’s presence. He is guiding, He is protecting.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
When we are going through change, we remember that God keeps His promises. His promise of propitiation through our faith in Jesus tells us that we belong to Him, even if we have sinned, we are in His hand. His promise of presence tells us that He is guiding and protecting through the turmoil’s. The next of His promises is the promise to provide.
3. The promise of provision.
I can’t get ahead.
Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
There’s a little mini sermon right here. The reason for difficulty in times of change is often that we feel we are losing something, or that we are in danger of perishing, physically, mentally, spiritually. I’m being sucked into a vortex and there’s nothing I can do. But look at that promise from God.
Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
How many needs will God meet? From where is He going to supply those needs? On Whom does this promise rest?
How many needs will God meet?
“all your needs” First, we need to remember that the word here is “needs” not wants. Jesus said this,
Matthew 6: 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We sometimes get anxious in times of change, not because we are losing those things that we need, but those things that we want.
But God will take care of all your physical, mental, and spiritual needs. He’s not going to let you slide off into the abyss.
From where is He going to supply those needs? “according to His riches” “in conformity with His being rich.” You will never go to God and have Him say, “I can’t afford to help you right now.” “I’d love to, but all my assets are tied up.” “I don’t have it.” Now, He may say. “You don’t need that.” “It is better if you don’t get that.” Or “I have a plan for you that involves a different path than what you are asking for.” But He does not withhold from you because He doesn’t have it.
He is not the Wizard of Oz, putting on a big show, but secretly powerless to provide for your needs.
On Whom does this promise rest?
It is “in Christ Jesus.” Sometimes when we go to God in prayer, asking for help, we think, “I’m not worthy of an answer.” “I’m not worthy of Your help.” It’s not about you.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/philippians/4-19.htm
“that which is promised has its causal ground in Christ, who by His work has acquired for believers the eternal glory.”
It’s not about you.Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Missionary statesman Hudson Taylor had complete trust in God's faithfulness. In his journal he wrote:
Our heavenly Father is a very experienced One. He knows very well that His children wake up with a good appetite every morning... He sustained 3 million Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. We do not expect He will send 3 million missionaries to China; but if He did, He would have ample means to sustain them all... Depend on it, God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply.
Our Daily Bread, May 16, 1992.
God has promised Propitiation, presence, provision, peace
4. The promise of inner peace.
When going through times of transition, one of the things that distresses us most is the internal state of panic. Everything is in disarray. We like having everything in its place. And now nothing is in its place. We feel an unease in many areas of our lives.
But one of God’s promises is peace. Inner peace.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Notice that last phrase. The peace comes, “because we trust in Him.” It doesn’t mean that we will not have times of chaos. It means that our eyes are on the Lord, not the storm. Habakkuk 3:17-18 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Let me read to you some verses of Scripture that tell us the basis on which we can have inner peace in the storm.
Isaiah 41: 13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Psalm 32:8 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Matthew 11: 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Philippians 4: 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Notice in this passage that it promises that God’s peace will guard our hearts. But we have a part to play. Instead of responding to change with anxiety, we are to pray and present our requests to God, with thankfulness. Then notice what comes next.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
He has promised that His peace will guard our hearts. But we often undermine that peace by what we put into our minds. Going back to the analogy of the storm, let me ask you, how much of your time is spent staring at the wind and the waves, instead of Jesus?
We can spend hours looking at all the evil of the world around us, on the news, in videos, in what we read. All of our conversations can center on the awfulness of the world, how bad our circumstances are, that we are circling the drain.
Instead, we ought to meditate on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy.”
That’s not to say that we refuse to talk about reality. We just choose not to meditate on it. And if we do…
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Propitiation, presence, provision, peace, power