Journey to Greatness, Part 2

Are you looking for literature greatness. Jonathan Evans is the difference between godly reward and worldly recognition is forever a moment of silence because man can offer anything celebrating this is the alternative Dr. Tony Abbott, author, speaker, senior pastor of Oakland Bible Fellowship Dallas, Texas, president of the alternative these days, many of us try to get as many likes as we can, but Jonathan Evans says the only like we should really be concerned about is becoming like Jesus, you start our lesson today in Genesis chapter 12 let's join Abraham go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house to the land which I will show you and I will make you a great nation.

I will bless you and make your name great and so you shall be a blessing I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

I felt like a great promise to me and there's many people who have not achieved their promisor made the promise because they're so busy chasing their own expectations is that of sticking with the father and he says Abraham I need you to go from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house to the land which I will show you and what you do these things then we can talk about the benefits. The problem is. Abraham was already settled in Haran. He was good where he was and even though he was good where he was the word of the Lord came to him to unsettle those who were settled and it tells me something when God's word comes to you, he's not coming to you just to settle you in your own thoughts is coming to you to unsettle those who were settled in his plan for you and your plan for your in two different locations, and just because you're settled and you've met the expectations you have for your life, your career, your finances, your family doesn't mean that God is okay or he's finished. Abraham was settled in Haran, and God said, get up, get uncomfortable and go to Canaan go to the land which I will show you. Obviously that's a problem because I want to see it first thing before he can use you and grant you what he has for you.

He wants you to distribute some faith and trust in who we is in your life.

It seems like the cliché thing we talk about faith all the time but it's impossible to please God without it.

So how can you not talk about it all the time I sat down with my dad when I was in the 12th grade because I wanted to know how he made it from his point a to point B.

I had to figure it out because in my life I had come to an agent and a pseudo-maturity level where I decided that in this one chance that I get. I don't want to miss it. Whatever it is I know when I can get a second chance at this. So in my first chance I need to figure out how you got this thing done raised by high school dropouts raised in the inner city of Baltimore, Maryland. All of the store with the word statistic derives its meaning.

We could barely go outside and play. When we visited our grandparents a month into daddy was in there whispering us about all the rope notes across the street and the drug deals that were going on. It was rough and somehow he goes.

The high school and becomes the first to graduate from high school and on and on and on. You know the story and add to figure out how in the world that you make it from your point a to point B. Could you link to her son for second because I don't want to fail in this one chance if God has it for me. I want to take that journey to go get and he said he said son you really want to know is that you really want to know some regular signal read Hebrews chapter 11 and tell me what you see as it was Easter egg hunt or sit right here. Just tell me how you got from your point in your point B is what I was thinking when it came to seminary I cannot knock on your door that was a mess was a lot he said no. So you know how work pick it up and read it you know it. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Verse four by faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain verse five by faith Enoch was caught up verse seven bond faith Noah built an ark.

Verse eight by faith Abraham obeyed even though he would know where he was going verse 11. By faith Sarah conceived even though she was barren.

Verse 20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob verse 22. By faith Joseph made mention of the Exodus before he fell asleep. Verse 24 by faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Verse 31 by faith Rahab had this father said that I know how you did it by faith. Single boy unit sounds great.

What is that mean, and then he gave me the age-old. Tony Evans is acting like it is so even one is not so so that it might be. So, simply because God said so right. Practically, what is that mean that mean I follow my heart son.

I never said that the heart is the most deceitful part of you and desperately sick.

Who can understand it. So would you tell me to do.

I'm telling you not to follow your heart until you make your heart follow the truth.

Once you do that will be just fine.

The hardest thing to do. Make your heart follow the truth, I have all of these desires and the truth is pulling me in a different direction. I have to fight myself emotionally to do what's right and we have to do it. Everything is have faith even though we don't see where he's going go and then I will show you don't get to see it first you get the trust first's incredible places where God takes you in life when he's unsettling you and he's putting you in the very spot you said you never will go.

Just walking by faith I don't get to control this thing.

Neither do you get to be obedient or you get to be obedient. He's granted your free will.

But he also gets to decide who and when he unleashes his greatness on census faith. You don't get to see it. The tough thing girl one day was at the top of a burning building. She was an apartment complex four stories high. She was trying to find her way the police got there. The ambulance got there, everybody was there. They couldn't go win because the building was already engulfed in flames and she found her way as she felt her way to the window and lifted up the window. They said she thought about it. She wiggled for second she thought about it couldn't do what they did know about the little girl is blind.

Heart is at the jump.

You know where you jump in just then she heard another voice baby landed right in the hands of her father, because when she heard that voice. It gave her the courage to jump God is calling us to the same thing but I will see understand I'm not asking you to see you understand and only then will you get to experience your life in the hands of the father may not read this for me and I will administer some tough stuff to have faith like this when God has called us and took a snapshot of it and predestined us based on his foreknowledge and justified us and glorified us but then he says, you still have to track through the wilderness, and trust me is telling everyone ago telling everyone jump by faith, follow me so that I can unleash what I unleashed on Abraham. It wasn't just for him is for you to the same prosperity. I'm not telling you, you can sit around the gospel drops the phone. You are, you gotta work. I know you're settled but I'm calling you to go. Gotta leave everything you know, I know you been thinking about interning about it for a while but I'm saying go up and saying it for years and when you have faith in me and you take that journey go to the land which I will call you. I will show you exactly where I was taken you, you will discover that what I have in my pocket was greater than anything that you've been chasing and then I will give you a great nation. I will bless you, I will make your name great you shall be a blessing I will bless those who bless you curse those who curse you and in you Abraham. All the families of the earth will be blessed. We get to the great promise because we've done some good work saved for free. But sanctification takes work best to get stuff the greatness of promise. The grace that we gotta keep things in order.

He didn't tell Abraham that you have a great name prior to telling them you can have a great nation.

He said you have a great nation that will contribute you have a great night. This isn't about living your life to make them make the name on the back of your jersey as big as possible. This isn't about narcissistic Christianity. This is about the kingdom and the entire body of Christ working together to achieve what God has called us to achieve.

He said Abraham you have a great nation first then I'll give you a great name, Genesis 1819. He tells Abraham if you would just lead your children in righteousness and justice and your entire household. Then I can bring the promise back to you that I made in Genesis 12 but if you think about your self and your chasing your own money with your own time in your own career choices in your own name your own amount and be myself and not all of those different things you can be great that way, says Abraham, your greatness is tied to your impact and when you have this great nation then it'll contribute to you having a great name when God is calling you he's calling you to a life of ministry wherever you are.

You don't have to be working in the church board is calling you to go to have faith in him, so that you can be up for part of his kingdom, so that he can work for you and be a blessing to a lot of people. How are you blessing.

Are you a conduit or your cul-de-sac and will be back with more on the journey to greatness.

When we continue just a moment. First, so I wanted to let you know that Dr. Evans will be returning to the broadcast next Tuesday after we conclude this powerful series from Jonathan Evans, entitled forever starts now. It's a collection of lessons that complement the central teaching of his brand-new book, your time is now in a Jonathan helps you explore your purpose so you can discover all God has in store for you if you feel like you been relegated to the sidelines of life and only watching others pursue their purpose.

This book will help you get up off the bench so you can live out the full reason God has placed you here because this is such an important teaching. We want to give you both the book and all nine messages from the audio series is our gift when you make a financial contribution to keep the ministry of the alternative, coming your way to do that. Just visit Tony Evans.org make a donation and request your copy of your time is now and forever starts now.

This special offer ends on Monday, so contact us right away. Again, that's Tony Evans.org or give us a call at 1-800-800-3222 members of our resource team are there 24 seven to help you in person. That's 1-800-800-3222 that contact information for you, once again, after part two of today's message and this men wireframe at home and in their communities.

In the game of life either make the play yourself where you stand in the sidelines wants to play being made. The choice is yours. Too many have chosen to sit it out and Tony Evans long-awaited sequel memorizing thousand men to rise up in places that are needed most in the field. Listen intently to God's plan and faith to potential this is something reach it's right there can almost touch it if you will rise and become the influencer. God has designed you to be kingdom men it's time to position yourself to leave a lasting legacy. Find out more.

Tony Evans.org also makes a great gift for brother, husband, son, uncle Pastor God is called us to something great go and then I will show up.

It's been turning in your mind for a long time am calling you to it. I've got it for you but it's bigger than you. I was in chapel service talking to Dennis Brian I sent this was 88 before he said Michael Irvin said his name on the Jersey no whose name is on there. Brian, when you retire with your names will be on the Jersey no and never to say thank you for your contribution next. Thank you for what you've done by you mean to tell me that I'm chasing greatness and I will not achieve it here or there. You gotta be kidding me. I'm working this hard everybody just forgets and then God has nothing to say. I will have greatness anywhere but I'm working hard. One of the toughest challenges for me being the chaplain for the last five years for the Cowboys is when Jerry Brown Junior passed away and was killed by his best friend Josh Britton that car accident years ago I walked up to the plane and I was getting on the plane and Jason Garrett was coming down the plane and as I was coming up the plane. He grabbed my arm and dragged me back off and he said we had a player this. What was that Jerry Brown Junior passed away last night. There's a lot of things going on.

This is not what we do. This is what you do get on the plane and do something. I prayed for the guys guys are crying and flying now to go play football game stop we go to chapel service. I had prepared some from Ephesians 3 that didn't matter anymore guys came in chapel never come chapel and when the situation gospel is nowhere else to go. So I share the gospel guys were getting saved all of them in there. It was great to the glory of God. But what hurt my feelings when the game was time to be played. We stood on the sidelines and everybody was standing there when the national anthem. All of those different things and then they said let's give Jerry Brown Junior a moment of silence. I kicked the ball off a lot of claims over sing the national anthem because everybody came to see a football game and I'm standing right next to Mo Clayborn.

He shaken his head like this… This will be living for. We live for moment of silence a day where to look for as you notice what they can give you Hall of Fame or not you can get a moment of silence because man can't offer anything else that will religion for we chasing greatness as you can get a moment you want to stand in front of Christ, and he gives you an eternity of blessing because you told Abraham I know you're so worried you settle is not where I'm taking I need you to go when I need you to do it by faith to the land which I will give you and I will give you what I call true greatness. What is true greatness look like I'll sing it to you father Abraham had many sons and many sons that there Abraham I you know it and I am one of them and so are you.

So let's just praise the Lord, you mean to tell me after over 4000 years were still singing about Abraham is not a moment, because he was willing to get unsettled from his subtle place because he was willing to do it even though he couldn't see it, to let God have the opportunity to show it. He achieved greatness. True greatness in the kingdom of God living for moment are you living for true greatness. I know you're taking some stuff on that you have in dreams. I know you have some desires not due to nothing wrong with that unless they keep you from allowing yourself to be told by God into the candy store of your greatness is challenging for me because all of it is uncomfortable. Can I get some parts of the journey to be a little better. This is for the birds don't like this. This is tough, but then as I celebrate the 40th and we celebrate the 40th 40 years of the faithfulness of God.

My parents meeting in Guyana and then going Atlanta and then taking all of these journeys and then coming to Dallas even though they were accepted to another seminary in Indiana.

They went through seminary, and he had already settled in his mind that he was meant to be an evangelist and go back to the East coast.

He had settled in a place but God had other plans and and everybody was settled and what they had learned in his doctorate he did as TAT did all of these different things and he was ready to skedaddle out of there and then Charles Riley sat him down at a dinner he said with your talent, your giftedness, the things that you've learned the way that you want to do church. I challenge you to start one right here in Dallas Texas and Oak Cliff. I challenge you to do something different than what you're thinking and then as the story goes, he told me that him and my mom stayed up all night trying to shake that off. Could it be God that was talking. I stayed up all night tossing and turning, trying to figure out what they're going to do. They just heard they probably heard from different people and other times of different ideas, but somehow this idea stuck in them even though they were uncomfortable even though they had already settled my debt decide to unsettled him settled itself and continue on to stay in Dallas even though he had plans to go be an evangelist in the Northeast and then you will not get to sit here today, celebrating 40 years of God's faithfulness, God told him to go when it didn't feel good and he couldn't see where it was to be planted. He couldn't see where he's currently sitting. He couldn't see all the sacred and shopping centers in 40 year there's all those things that he couldn't see. But even though there were things that him and my mom wanted to chase. They stayed with their father and then their father reached in his pocket and pulled out something greater than it they could ever conceive. Now, as I think about being in the moment God had for them and probably never thought of another approach that Crystal and Priscilla at the time. Never thought that their youngest son would be standing on the stage that if they could they would have run away from and going right back to the East Coast. As I think about this is a sign I think about this journey standing on stage. God truly has done great thing that's something that Dr. Evans family and all of us here the urban alternative are very thankful for only recently reflected on the Lord's blessings and faithfulness so many ways God demonstrate his faithfulness to me into this ministry over these 40 years, you know, there were times when we just weren't sure we were going to make it. We got down to our last paycheck for our staff. After that there was no money to pay anyone not remember us having a special prayer time and asking God out of nowhere Dona's heart was touched and they will know God placed it on my heart to send you this gift was able to sustain us a while longer until we were able to build.

I praise God for 40 years of his fame. Dr. Evans who said that the more people who meet Jesus more lives will be transformed. And that's been the driving purpose behind this ministry for 40 years. None of what we do here would be possible without the faithful contributions of people like you and that's why we put together that special thank you package of resources I mentioned earlier, Jonathan Evans, brand-new book, your time is now along with all nine messages from his current series on CD and digital download.

The name of the audio collection is forever starts now in the book and series are yours as our thank you gift when you make a contribution to help keep this broadcast coming your way. This is a limited time offer so don't put it off.

Visit us@tonyevans.org before time runs out. Monday night, you can make your contribution and your request online@tonyevans.org or call her 24 hour resource request line at 1-800-800-3222 and let one of our team members assist you. That's 1-800-800-3222. It's easy for us to become discouraged when we find ourselves in a negative situation but on Monday in the final message from his forever starts now series. Jonathan Evans will point out, it only takes a moment for God to turn things around. Even in the most unlikely of circumstances that on Tuesday.

Dr. Evans will return with a series of messages on the kingdom life. So be sure to join us next week.

Right now though Jonathan's back to wrap up today's message. What is it for you. What is God have for you. I don't know what I do know is if you're willing to stop shaking them off. I do know if you're willing to listen. I do know if you're willing to stop making go hardware to interpret. I do know if you're willing to walk by faith, that it may not be this stage, but there will be a stage for you to stand on an experience with God was holding in his talk. God bless the alternative Dr. Tony Evans is brought to you by the urban alternative celebrating 40 years of faithful thanks for the generous contributions of listeners like you