GREAT EXPECTATIONS

 Genesis 12:1-4; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17

Introduction

Faith is about taking one step in Christ and keep increasing your dependence on Him all the way through. The Hebrew writer puts it, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 (ESV). 

Stepping out in faith is taking a high risk for God with full conviction that He is going to catch you no matter what happens. It is about going beyond to do God's will even if you do not know what those steps in the process are or what the end result is going to be meanwhile, you lean on God for understanding.

Abram Steps out in Faith

"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." Genesis 12:1 (ESV)

The seventy-five-year-old man living in his father's house was called by God to leave his kindred and father's house to a place he has no knowledge about. All that he receives in assurance are promises of being blessed, a great nation, a great name and people around him being blessed. 

His life among his kindred was a temptation for him. He could not continue to live among them without being infested with their idols. The change of environment is to propel the transformation by the renewal of the mental processes. 

The command God gave to Abram, is much the same as the gospel call for you and I, for natural affection must give way to Divine grace. Sin, and all the occasions of it, must be forsaken; particularly bad company. Here are many great and precious promises. All God’s precepts are attended with promises to the one who steps out in faithful obedience.

"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." Genesis 12:4 (ESV). 

Abram believed in God, that the blessing of the Almighty would exceed all he could lose or leave behind, supply all his needs and wants, and promptly respond to all his desires; and he knew that nothing but misery would follow disobedience. 

Those who step out with faith in Christ, have peace (shalom) with God. They are not discouraged by the difficulties in their way, nor drawn aside by the delights they meet with. 

Those who set out with faith in Heaven must persevere to the end. Stepping out in faith is obeying the command of God. Obeying God’s command, and humbly leaning on his providence, will certainly make us successful and end with deeper comfort at last. Canaan was not, as other lands, a mere outward possession, but a type of Heaven, and in this respect the patriarchs so earnestly prized it.

Paul draws our attention to the fact that it is not just about believing in our heart but the steps we take in faith that brings us to the divine ambiance. Abram had nothing to boast of because "...he believed the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness." Genesis 15:6 (ESV).

Stepping out in faith brings the fulfillment of the fleet of promises God has laid before us; "That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring" Romans 4:16 (ESV).

3 Things to Note when Stepping Out in Faith

1. The whole plan is concealed. 

Abram was asked to leave his comfortable companions of kindred and father's house but was not told the exact place God was taking him, "...to the land that I will show you." 

The whole plan for the exact destination was hidden from him but had the conviction of the beautiful destination through his faith in God. Do not expect to have the full picture of where God is asking you to step out to before you do, that would not be an act of faith.

Maybe you are still confused about a step out in faith God is asking you to because you have no idea how it would possibly work out. I want to tell you that, Christianity would have been boring if we get the full picture before we step out.

2. The Steps Don't Make Sense to Human Logic

As it does not give us any meaning so it doe not make meaning to others.

If Abram was to explain why he was stepping out in faith to his kindred, they would have assumed him to be insane. Faith steps are mostly divorced from human logic.

Stepping out in faith almost always has resistance from people that want what is best for you. I’m not saying that ignore other people’s advice. God gave us relationships and fellowship for a reason. But at the end of the day, if you have truly prayed over this inside and out, and still feel like this is what God wants, it may simply not make sense to anyone else. Because it’s not supposed to make sense.

3. It is the Opportunity to Experience God's Miracles

As the faith step does not make meaning to humanity, it makes possible the miracle of God. 

As the apostle makes reference to Abraham in the New Testament, it all makes sense out of the senseless steps he took by obeying God's commandment.

We would never have testimonies to share if everything went according to our plan. However, when we have stories that seem too crazy to be true, it’s a potential testimony that could possibly lead someone else to Christ.

Conclusion

Jesus speaks of what seems impossible to Nichodemus and connects to our faith and salvation in Christ Jesus. 

Always know that stepping out in faith may not be understood but our whole dependence on God will always bring us to the expected end. Do not seek human opinions on your faith steps but on spiritual insight.

Shalom aleichem...