Momentum - Learning to Give God What He Wants the Most, Part 1

Let me ask you a question. What does God want most from you any ideas. I know for me. The first several years of the Christian. I didn't have a clue when I didn't know what God wanted all I knew was I had all these new activities going in my life ever wanted to know what God really wants from you how to give it to them. Stay with this addition of Living on the Edge with shipping chips are Bible teacher of this international discipleship program. This program trip continues a series of momentum how to ignite your faith by explaining why the path to God's greatest blessings in your life is short. It's not easy. He shows us through the life of Abraham needs to walk with God despite our missteps.

God never gives up, loves to bless our free if you have a Bible open to Genesis chapter 12 let's join Chip Belfour's message. Learning to give God what he wants.

The most so I wanted to jump right in and I want to share with you.

This is the first I I would call my first honest adult prayer 18 years old share little bit about my story and in my little tiny people.

I'd kinda been successful and thought that that would bring happiness and instead I found this huge emptiness and I found myself at about 2 AM in the morning sitting on my bed looking out through window is one of those stories filled skies and feelings empty and I member this is my prayer. God if you exist what you want from me at this point not enough there was a God or not. Had a terrible church experience growing up I did meet any Christians I ever want to be like or be around but I thought there's got to be more than setting goals and quote trying to be successful to get happy. God if you exist mean, at some point in time. If there's a God, he must want something but I do know what was Living on the Edge, we instituted a research project, the Barna group and we ask Christians in America. That question so what is God really want from you what what's it mean to be a quote good Christian, and 80% of the Christians in America. Actually, 81% said keeping the rules, especially the 10 Commandments is what God wants most interesting is since we can't keep up is that's kind of a bummer of a life what God really wants is key please but no one can keep them okay good luck on that true spirituality we learned is built on the principle of relationship. Second, we learned that others indicated that faithful church attendance, Bible reading and tithing is what God wants most sort sort a picture of a cosmic scorekeeper who your performance when you do those things. You're a good boy or girl and if you ever miss one of those things and will boy you better watch out are those activities wrong or bad.

Absolutely not, but done as a performance to earn God's favor or to make you spiritual there a total disaster done as an access out of the heart to your heavenly father to connect with his grace totally different story.

Here's my question for you if I gave you 3 x 5 card and on one side was printed very boldly. Dear your name. What do you think I God really want from you, and you flip over the card when you pull out of 10 and you tell God this is what I think Mount don't tell me even in your mind right now. Don't write on the back of the card. What you ought to say and don't write what you think might be the right answer. If you looked at your own behavior.

If you could get inside your mind and look at how you think and how you behave and how you feel. What does your life say reveals what God wants the most from you is is probably getting played out somewhat.

What would you put got to spend the rest of our time asking and answering the question how to give God what he wants the most. If you open those notes were to dig in together Abraham's journey reveals what God wants most from each of us is called the father of the faith working to study his life.

And as we study his life. It's going to unfold exactly what God wants from you and wants for me if you have your Bible open it to Genesis chapter 12. If you don't have one that should be one in front of you. The very first book in the Bible and Marin dudes were going to go on a journey from Genesis 12 all the way through chapter 22 so I'm gonna hit the mountain peaks and just give you an overview because you have to see what Abraham's life is like because we tend to think that these people were in stained glass and they never made a mistake in the super holy people were these regular ordinary cruddy people that these terrible thoughts and God could never use us in. You can learn from Abraham. It's a journey, and he has some really nice marks and what he really blows it at times it begins in Genesis chapter 12 where he is called by God to follow him listen.

Since then the Lord told Abraham to leave your country, your relatives, your father's house and go to a land that I will show you I will cause you to become the father of a great nation.

I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you all the families of the earth will be blessed through you know is this like not only a big call but a big promise in your what is really saying is you know what will you trust me with your future on a certain day at a certain time and one of the greatest cities of the time God speaks to one man and says Abraham I want to leave the security the geography and the family. I want you to follow me, but I can tell you where right now. Just follow is getting scarier ready, but here's the promise I will make you great. I want to bless you. I don't want you to surrender or sacrifice so I can get something from you.

I want you to surrender or sacrifice so I can give you something greater and bigger and better than you could ever think or imagine the first step is to follow no notice. We can go through some tests and I'll give you the passage still on the left side test number one is famine, and you can write chapter 12 just right and little notes on the left and the question here is, will you trust me to protect you mean, you know, he says, okay God I hear you another verdict versus an Abraham departed. By the way hands be 75 years old.

For those of you thinking you're too old for this. Well you not, and here's what I want you to get. Often when you step out when you surrender to get God's biggest and best blessings we we unconsciously think well and take a step of faith avoids going to get better. Usually gets worse before it gets better because God will test and so we learned that there's a famine in chapter 12. And so it was a severe famine. So Abraham goes down to Egypt and as he goes down.

He says to his wife, who happened to be very, very beautiful. He says Sarah I rented out Egypt and you're a very good looking babe.

This is very loose translation and they're going to see you and they're gonna take you and the gonna kill me.

So here's the plan, just say you're my sister and then Bill treat you well know, treat me well because of you while they go down the Pharaoh. Caesar takes in her into his harem before he gets to sleep with her. God steps in and I mean there's some real judgment for goes what what you tell me about this and says this is your sister this is your wife is a Pharaoh basically says here some sheep here some camels in her some gold. Here's some silver and get out my hair so test number one Abraham fails God asking where you trust me to protect you and Abraham instead manipulates tries to work it out himself. Test number two is greed we you trust me to provide for you. This is can be chapter 13 while you'll notice a chapter 13 open so they left Egypt and they traveled north into the negative and then as you skip down you'll see that his nephews within the slot and and over time, God is bless them both so lot has all kind of camels and all kind of animals and he's wealthy and Abraham has this and they get to the land is like, there's none of room for both of us and so Abraham is starting to learn about what it looks like to trust God and so he's now going to learn and he gets to pass this test.

Would you trust God that will provide for you and so they get here in Abraham's the older one and so he has the authority but he says to lot you know work on up on this hill and there's all this land were you can have this and I'll take it down there or latte what you can take down there else they appear and lot, looking it looked like he was green pastures and there were some water and so lot does, I'll take that neighbors him okay you get to choose and so he takes it now what lot did know there was Sodom and Gomorrah down there like doesn't get pretty later. But it's interesting. After instead of saying I've got have mine. I get to be in control. He says God is hey what you choose for me and then notice the text says after lot was gone. Verse 14 of chapter 13 the Lord said to Abram look as far as you can see in every direction. I'm going to give you all this land to you and to your offspring as a permanent possession and I'm going to give you so many descendents, but like dust. They cannot be counted and this is Abraham I want to take a walk in every place your foot goes, it's all yours is a sound like a goddess try to take something away from them.

Every time he responds in surrender and faith. You find God appears and sort ups the ante of a bigger blessing and so he passes this test number three is prosperity. This is chapter 14 and this is will you trust me with your possessions you it's one thing to learn not to be greedy and agree has nothing to do with what you have, you can have a lot in yours got have more or a lot of the greediest people in the world of people have very much of what you have this I could have that but it's different once you get once you get a lot. Note this is statistical. This is impersonal. Most people that get a lot of stuff get less and less of God.

Jesus said, it's very very hard for rich people to trust him because all their needs are met. And so that's can be test number three we you trust me with your possessions is a chapter 14 opens up in these five kings get together and I say we can attack these other kings done Sodom and Gomorrah. They come and they wipe them out and lot in the family and is all of his resources and his everything goes and so Abraham is like to do that. He gathers his men.

They go at night that that others is big five kings and they rush in Terrace breakdown group to come out and he rescues everybody an exciting Bible is an and so even having like machine guns or anything like that but he did stuff and so he's coming back and he defeats these kings and so he's got his men, but that he has not only all the bounty of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, and a few others, but he also has since he defeated those kings, I'm he's got like more camels and more gold and more silver. I mean, he's like he's got it. And as he comes back he has a meeting and the meeting was with the pre-incarnate Christ Jesus shows up in the Old Testament.

Most commentators see Mackenzie deck is the king of Salem is a priest of God most high, and Abraham has all this stuff and is a hero and is rescued and Melchizedek blesses Abraham and he says, Blessed be Abram by God most high Creator of heaven and earth and Blessed be the God most high, whose help you conquer your enemies.

Then Abram gave Melchizedek the 10th of all the goods he recovered now.

There's no law there is no rules. All he knew was look at all the stuff I've got. And he comes face-to-face with the pre-incarnate Christ, and he goes you know I need to remember all the stuff in the victory. It comes from you and so he gives the first portion of everything to this pre-incarnate Christ and then little bit later he sees the king of Sodom. He's very grateful.

He says Abram tell you what that was an awesome job. I thought a lost of this people, all the bounty you can keep camels and the goats and the sheep. The money everything just give me the people back and you think there is little temptation there but Abram understood that stuff can really get your way and he says I wouldn't take one thread of one sandal from you. It's all yours because never ever ever do. I want anyone to say that the king of Sodom made me rich and basically said my priorities.

This test I'm trusting the most high God with my possessions and for my possessions test number four is a test of courage.

Now in chapter 15. This is an interesting one, because as you find chapter 15. Notice the word after is chapter 15 opens in your Bibles.

Each time he he takes a step of faith in God appears to him and this is afterward the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision, and said because he knows this is his Achilles' heel. Do not be afraid, for I will protect you and reward you and you will be great for me.

Each time he takes a step toward godlike draw near to God. God draws near to him and then Abraham has this moment of courage I think is really cool and he begins to talk to God in a little bit different way and he he he has the courage to come to step up and instead of praying the sort of milquetoast of God. We really help me. I'm really afraid of this. We work this out in life is really hard and please please please please. Here's this big promise for like the third or fourth time they says God how can I know this can be true.

He said what what what is a good of all these promises and all this blessing all this wealth right now my servants going to get every medicine and he goes toe to toe and he says I need a sign I need you to show me and then God says in Abraham look ready. This is how clear this is. We talked about sand look at the stars member there's no city lights.

Imagine being out in the desert and maybe Montana or someone. The summer is now look at the sky.

You see all the stars I'm telling you, Abraham, out of you. Your descendent will be like that. Many stars and it says in Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned or counted to him as righteousness net. Don't forget that writer of Hebrews. In chapter 10 will bring this back in Old Testament prophet later will say the same thing. The way the only way any man any woman at any time is ever made righteous before a pure and holy God is by faith. Does anybody think that this might be God's agenda for Abraham anybody start to think, as you sit in your seat right now.

I bet this is God's agenda for me so he's courageous. He steps into it he trusting now we get to step test number five. This is chapter 16 and this has to do with time and so you know you know God promises things and you really want to do life God's way and then some people come in. I say you know what I think God is a little slow.

Let me help you out with this. So, his wife comes to him and you know she's thinking that biological clock is really running on me and afford to fulfill God's promise, he just needs will help. So I got this maidservant and I think a big idea.

Abraham you have sex with her and she will have a baby and since she's our servant, they will make you know him, our son, and will get this thing rolling because you wouldn't wait on God, long time, and the test here is are you willing to patiently endure when God is shown you this is what I want to do in your life. This is where I want you to go but you know Holdaway second is not happening during that time.

This is when God does this in your life.

This is when God builds character. This is when you're lonely. This is when you cry out to him. This is when instead of leaning on people leaning on money leaning on job God. What about where are you where you are and you did can you get in the Bible like you've never been in it before and you cry some tears and you get desperate and something happens and you doesn't happen any other way and he fails this test and so he has six with a handmade.

She has a baby, Ishmael is born and we had problems ever since Mr. Minnis conflict in the family now got honors and makes a nation of him, but he fails miserably you need understand it is a journey and you can pass a test pass a test and fail, and in what I like about this reality of Scripture is God as a gosh this is the second to Gabriel gave her of Abraham not really know very well know you didn't do good with the security wine and is not doing it with this one. Let's throw him out and start someone new is a tech say that where is God understanding when you blow it and when he blows it, and out of his mercy and his grace when you come back and say Lord you know I should've waited on you, but I didn't. Sorry you meet a God whose most high, and merciful, and so he flunks test number four or number five and we go to test number six and this is a test of obedience you might jot chapter 17 chapter 17 is is pretty interesting and those of you their own church for a while. You've heard this word a lot and you just sort of skim right over and some of you, like me, that never open the Bible to like you're 18 or 25 or whatever God ask him again. He makes this covenant in God again reaffirms Abraham I'm with you and I'm going to do this incident, God says, let's seal the deal in a very special way in the test here is are you willing to trust him when he ask you to do something that doesn't make any sense. And so, let's get all the sort of the biblical thinking out it out of the room just for like a minute and imagine being Abraham in your following and in your learning is is okay them or not is open to. I want you to circumcise yourself all your servants all the men and your boy what you could you give little instruction on this one. Yeah, but it hurt yet. I mean, you know, we can't apply. Don't get too graphic here, but I money think how weird that that would like are you kidding me what's this got to do with worship. I'm telling you God on your journey of faith will ask you to do some things that don't make sense and he'll make it clear that may not be his will for anyone else but for you it is we trust. Chapter 20 which he goes back and revisits test number one on security any details that one in here. Are you getting to see it to journey to human.

It's a God who loves and filing it to the final exam and the question is will you trust me with everything and everyone in your life in my life. You don't get to the final exam like this until you realize all these things will leading up to and so God makes an outrageous.

Absolutely outrageous request and from the culture of the day and the way that other deities were worshiped. This was not too bizarre, because many of the Canaanites and others were practicing these kind of things. It's an outrageous request is okay. Abraham always take your son, your only son. I want you to sacrifice him. I'll show you on about little show you and then it's very interesting he's really grown the boys about 13 now he's seen that God keeps his promises were learned from the book of Hebrews a little bit later that he he believed that if God promised it's going to come through Isaac that if he does this guy would actually raise him from the dead and then he takes after his obedient response. He takes a long walk. It's a three day journey a lot of time to think about. Do I really want to follow this God or not.

This is way too hard.

I mean this is the pinnacle see what God new is is that that boy that he longed for. Little by little by little, was usurping the place and the role that only God can have for us to be healthy and that boy just like can happen in our marriages or with our kids are with our jobs with our money becomes an idol and God knows it. Anytime you have an idol anything or anyone that takes his rightful place as the king and master Lord and CEO in your life. What he knows is little destroyed.

I don't destroy you industry relationship with him so he brings a test insensate. I want the boy and then they built an altar moment of truth. He takes the knife and he brings it up.

That's where God comes through when we surrender everything and everyone and then listen to the reason the Lord said because you have obeyed me have not withheld. Even your beloved son. I swear by my own self that I will bless you richly, I will multiply your descendents into countless millions like the stars of the sky in the sand on the seashore they will conquer their enemies and through your descendents. All the nations of the earth will be blessed. All because you have obeyed. As you mean the great war, your heavenly father. Goodness, he has for you. Abraham is our example that the apostle Paul would look back on Abraham and he would call him the father of the faith. This is the picture of what God really wants you to give him and you know what keeps you from the relationship with God from the reward from the blessing from the piece. From what he wants to do in you and through you is that taking your Isaac and offering it back to God and for some of us it's a relationship for some of its it's money for others it's ego for some of it's a hobby or sports or music for some of us it's it's one of our kids or even our mates and they just get too big and too important, and if we look at our time and our energy and our money and we said, what does it revolve around and where does our mind go when we don't have to think about anything that person or that thing or that hobby that if you get possessed about often. It's work that's the Isaac in your life today. God wants to give you better and Abraham received because he obeyed. Father I pray right now that you would cause every person listening to my voice whether there driving in their car, whether they're working out.

I prayed that you would move in their heart where you would identify in their mind and heart exactly the Isaac any idol anything that's keeping them from getting the very best from you and Lord I pray right now that they might offer up even if there driving in their car and say, oh God, I want to give that to you all and obey you fully God, I surrender today and I trust you. I may be afraid, but I trust you Lord that I asked for great and awesome reward in Jesus name. You've been listening to part one of chips message.

Learning to give God what he wants.

The most serious momentum how to ignite your faith based on Romans 12 momentum flushes out the structure of chips series true spirituality but exploring the lives of some of the most famous men of the Bible from Abraham and Moses to Joseph and Daniel Tripp helps us appreciate how these guys lived out the practicalities of true spirituality in the process. Triple ignite the momentum of your faith journey.

Momentum is one of those series you're gonna want to keep handy and listen to from time to time, so let me remind you that accessing momentum is easy with the chipping remap now here strip with a quick update. Well, for those who listen regularly, Dave. They've heard a lot about the major match and it heard about our vision, the part about our mission and I just want to pause today to say thank you.

It'll be a little while before we pull all the numbers together, but I have to tell you it's very encouraging and what fills my heart today is. Thank you.

Your partnership is so encouraging and I believe that every financial decision is a spiritual decision because Jesus said, that were ever our money goes. That's where heart goes so God directed you to partner with us and I want to say thank you for your commitment for your love for partnering with Living on the Edge as we help Christians live like Christians ill were the ways we help Christians live like Christians is by providing free resources. So either on the chipping remap or on our website, you can get these messages absolutely free if you found a particular message helpful may be to have Cheryl me up or get the MP3 from our website. LivingontheEdge.org and share it with a friend maybe include a note about how it made a difference in your life. Just before we close our remind you that a great way to get the most out of each message is to use chips message notes while you listen you will get his outline all of the Scripture references and lots of fillings to help you remember what you're learning. Use them personally, or even with your small group chips message notes are a quick download@livingontheedge.org under the broadcasts tab app listeners tap fill in notes and your set will be sure to join us next time to live, this is Dave thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge