Do You See What God Sees?

Pericope:  Genesis 12: 1-9 12 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your countryand your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 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.” 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.

Sermon Text: Genesis 12: 12 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you

Sermon Title: 2020 Vision For Living: Part 1 Do You See What  God Sees?

Point 1: Don’t let age or time clutter your vision. Vs 4 4 …Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

8AM - 

         In the text we see Abraham is 75 years old when God gives him a vision. Seventy-five years old, can you imagine that? At this age you would think he would be slowing down.  Not so! His age tells me something about how God feels about age and time. 

Psalm 90:9-10 (NLT) 10 Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. 

Psalm 90:12 (NLT) 12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. 

 Psalm 90:15 (NLT) 

James 4:14 (NLT) 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

10AM – 1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT) 12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young… 

James 4:14 (NLT) 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

Remember the ages in chapter 11. 

·      Vs 11 Shem lived 500 years

·      Vs 13 - Arphaxad lived 403 years

·      Vs 15 - Shelah lived 403 years

·      Vs 17- Eber lived 430 years 

·      Vs 19 - Peleg lived 209 years

·      Vs 21 -  Reu lived 207 years

·      Vs 23 - Serug lived 200 years

·      Vs 24 - Nahor lived 119 years

·      Vs 32 Terah – Abraham’s father lived 205 years

Point 2: Recalibrate your relationships. Vs 1, 4-5 1Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan  

Point 3: Build a better relationship with God! Vs 7-8 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel… And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.

1. Yahweh Ro’i: “The Lord my Shepherd.” Portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture (Ps. 23:1).

2. Yahweh Shammah: “The Lord is there.” Portrays the Lord’s personal presence in the millennial kingdom (Ezek. 48:35).

         It all boils down to relationship with God.  How does Abraham lessen the voice of God? How does Abraham get a plan for his life?  How does Abraham lead his family with 2020 vision in the wake of the upheaval of the world – relationship with God. 

Presence . James 4:8 (ESV) 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. 

Perspective. Genesis 15:1 (ESV) 15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.. We call things that are not. 

Romans 4:17 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Faith without works are dead. 

James 2:26 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Life Application:

1. Register for Lifegroups

2. Follow the consecration guide

LifeGroup Questions:

1. How do you see what God sees?

2. What is going God showing you concerning your life?