Hebrews 11:8-12

This morning I want to talk about, for us, I want to talk about, for you as a Christian, there's going to be moments where you're going to be faced with one direction that looks comfortable, one direction that looks right, that looks the way the world might direct you, and the other direction looks different, unconventional, radically, maybe dangerous.

And those crossroads, those moments, those are gifts from God.

Those are moments where, if we make the right choice, and we go that direction where this doesn't make any sense, that our faith will be strengthened, our joy will be made greater, our trust in Him, in Christ, will be larger,

and our Christian life will be more vivid and have more flavor and more feel and more touch and will just be more alive because we trusted God in those moments.

For example, Jamie and I have been moving to Memphis.

It doesn't really make a lot of sense.

My connection to Memphis is, well, my connection to Memphis is as thin as a string.

It doesn't make a lot of sense.

It's pretty loose.

But God is, I believe God is leading us in that direction.

Another example, me standing here before you preaching, not really not preaching,

I have no perfect education, no seminary degree.

In fact, I didn't even finish college.

But God has directed my life to this point, to this place.

Doesn't make a lot of sense.

And you're going to have these moments.

You're going to have these times.

And I believe that Christ family church, and I believe that you guys and the personal devil are at those moments,

and we'll be in those moments recently.

Especially young people.

It may seem to you right now that your life is just filled with tons of these problems.

You haven't figured anything out.

Well, let's talk about that this morning.

Now, there are several examples in Scripture of these.

Several men that God used that put them in these situations.

For example, Noah.

Noah was told to build an ark in a desert with no rain.

And not just no rain because it was a desert.

Rain didn't exist.

Water didn't fall from the sky like we have today.

But Noah was commanded to build a large ark, a crazy huge boat.

We're going to put angels in there.

We're going to close it up.

It's going to rain.

We're going to flood the earth.

None of that makes any sense.

But God directed Noah to do this, that.

David.

Shepherd boy.

The king.

Doesn't make a lot of sense in our eyes.

It's a great story.

We celebrate that story.

The underdog.

But in reality, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Paul.

Hater and murderer of Christians.

Persecurer.

Now an apostle.

A church player.

An author of more than half of your destiny.

Doesn't make a lot of sense.

But as Scripture tells us, God's ways are not our ways.

We just may not understand, at the moment, in those times, what he is doing.

What he is.

Working.

So this morning, I want to look at one of those examples that kind of launch off of it.

And it's just a coincidence.

I have no idea.

That will lead me away.

But all the special guests.

We'll be talking about Abraham.

Abraham.

No idea that Sunday school this morning was a kid who was talking about Abraham.

So maybe God is doing something this morning.

Let's pray to that.

My father's off.

Let's pray to that.

Father, I ask you to work.

To speak.

To speak.

I need you.

I need you.

I need you.

To use you this morning.

To say what you want me to say.

To lay out my heart.

All for your name.

To the air that comes from my mouth.

But drop from our hands.

And we all can celebrate.

What Christ has done.

Give it up.

I.

Give it to the air.

I need you.

I need you.

So we're going to be in Hebrews chapter 11.

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

Hebrews 11.

We're going to read verses 8 through 12.

We're just going to cut him out on just a couple of those verses.

Hebrews chapter 11.

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

Some would call the faithful thing.

We want to celebrate these men.

We lift them up.

We've got to be careful when we do that.

We are these men.

Let's talk about Abraham.

Verse 8.

Hebrews 11.

Verse 8.

By faith Abraham obeyed.

He was called to go out to a place.

He was to receive as inheritance.

And he went out not knowing where he was going.

By faith he went to live in the land of promise.

As in a foreign land.

Living in tents with Isaac and Jacob.

And he was full of the same promise.

But he was looking forward to the city that has foundations.

Whose designer and builder is God.

By faith Sarah herself received power and conceived.

Even though she was past the age.

Which she considered him faithful with mother.

Therefore for one man and him as good as him.

For more descendants.

As many as the star of the man.

As many as the innumerable brain.

Who say and buy the sea shore.

Sorry.

I want you to flip back.

The beginning of the chapter really quick.

Kind of see.

I want you to think on this verse.

As we talk.

This morning.

Hebrews 11.

Verse 1.

It says that.

Now faith.

Is the assurance of things hoped for.

The convention of things not seen.

Provided it that people of old.

Receive their condemnation.

By faith you understand that the universe.

Was created by the word of God.

So that what is seen.

Is not made of things that are visible.

Now here's what I want you to get.

By faith is the assurance.

From that faith is the assurance of things hoped for.

Things to come.

We're looking to the future.

Things that we've been told will happen.

But aren't happening yet.

Things we just can't see.

But we've been told about them.

And the conviction of things not seen.

Meaning.

We believe in it.

And we act upon it.

Okay.

That's faith.

Abraham.

What we're thinking of Abraham.

We believe God.

Romans 5 says that Abraham was fully convinced.

That God was going to do what he said he was going to do.

He was full assurance.

That God was going to act.

So as we read about Abraham.

As we talk about in our lives.

Crossroads.

We can have this faith.

We can be fully convinced.

That if God is directing us.

He's going to be faithful.

That he's going to walk with us.

So as we walk through this with Abraham.

And we look at these verses.

Keep that in mind.

In the back of your head.

This morning.

Now the crossroads for Abraham.

Genesis 12 tells us the story.

Hebrews 11 touches on it.

It was that God told him to go.

Abraham had a choice.

I'm going to go.

I'm going to go in this direction.

I'm going to follow what God said.

Or.

I'm going to stay.

You know, we're comfortable.

I'm going to stay.

Where God has.

Originally put me.

And now he's going to be somewhere else.

And I'm just going to stay here.

Where I like it.

Now think about.

In Genesis 12.

God.

Tells Abraham.

Go from your country.

And your hindrance.

And your father's house.

Now when we read that.

We may.

Think it's a big deal.

But listen.

Abraham was told to leave his country.

To leave what he knew.

To leave his family.

And to leave his inheritance.

Three huge things.

That he was told to leave.

And what did he do?

He got out when he left.

Now.

The pull.

To stay.

Would have been.

Strong.

But Abraham obeyed God.

Abraham.

Obeyed.

For God.

And told him.

And he went.

So as we.

Kind of walk through these verses.

Keep those two things.

In line.

Observation number one.

From our text.

God spoke.

To Abraham.

God spoke.

To Abraham.

Verse.

Verse 8.

By faith.

Abraham obeyed.

When he was called.

To go out.

To a place.

That he was to receive.

As an inheritance.

And he went out.

That's what I'm bringing to him.

God called Abraham.

And we need to be careful.

To.

When we walk through.

Situation.

When we are at crossroads.

To know that God is speaking to us.

We need to know.

For sure.

That he's speaking.

For Abraham.

It wasn't this feeling.

It wasn't this emotional.

Experience.

It wasn't his gut.

God spoke.

And he went.

Now most of us in here.

Are not going to hear.

A awful voice of God.

Speaking from a cloud.

That's probably not.

Going to happen.

So how does.

How do we know.

That God is speaking to us.

Well God speaks to us.

Through his word.

He's speaking to us now.

As you read.

The Bible.

On your phone.

Or on your lap.

God is speaking.

This morning.

We need to make sure.

That we're listening.

Making sure.

That we are aware.

That he.

Is.

Speaking.

So.

If God is speaking.

This morning.

And speaking through scripture.

And speaking through.

The Bible.

In your lap.

When we're faced with a crossroad.

When we're faced with.

Like Abraham.

Through this direction.

And this direction.

Faced with.

A moment.

Where we may be called.

To do something crazy.

That doesn't make a lot of sense.

How do we decide?

How do we.

Figure that out?

When we ask the question.

Is it line up the scripture?

Is this line up.

With what God has revealed.

To us in his word.

Do.

Do people around us.

Affirm.

That call.

Would I say.

Yes.

I think that's a great idea.

For example.

Guys.

Do you want to get married?

Are out of that crossroad.

When I thought that getting married is down here.

It's crazy.

I won't say amen.

Do you want to get married?

and you know you've got to ask a question.

You just don't get together and you're married.

You have to ask her to marry you

and plan a wedding and all that.

But you have this time

and you can search your scriptures

and the Bible talks about marriage.

It says how great it is.

So I think I'm going to get married.

Well, you can't just go on that sometimes.

Maybe you need to talk to somebody.

Maybe you need to go to Nathan

or go to somebody else and say,

hey, what do you think?

What do you think?

Are we healthy?

Do you think it's going to be a good idea?

What do you think?

Go to the parents.

You think I'm in a place

where I can support her?

Just getting married for sex

is having a good reason to get married.

Go support her.

Go provide for her.

Talk to somebody.

Get counsel about that.

Someone can affirm that in you.

They need to help you down that road.

But here's the thing.

God speaks.

And God spoke to Abraham.

And it's really that simple.

God speaks.

We do.

We go.

So the observation number two

is that Abraham went.

He went out.

Second part of verse eight says,

and he went out,

not knowing where he was going.

God spoke.

And Abraham obeyed.

Now,

simple.

And as I said a few months ago,

we have to be careful

not to elevate these men of the Bible

because they aren't just men.

But Abraham obeyed God.

You know the rest.

You know some of those stories

where he went down to Egypt

and Abraham decided to take things

in his own hands

and say,

you know,

you were really,

to Sarah,

his wife,

you're really attractive

and then one of those people

are going to see you

and they might want you.

So why don't you say,

you're my sister.

That way I don't get killed.

And I,

and they can have you,

but you'll come back

and you'll still be my husband

or my wife.

That was a great idea.

That wasn't a great idea at all.

But so,

David,

maybe I should figure it out.

So,

I say all that to say,

don't elevate this guy.

He's a pillar of Christianity.

He's a father of our faith.

However,

he's still a man.

He's not perfect.

He's not cross.

So,

I can sort of say,

well,

Abraham is so great.

Yeah,

God spoke to him

and he obeyed.

Of course he did.

He's a paper man.

Well,

that doesn't work.

Because,

you know,

they pulled you

and he makes

really bad choices

in the time.

It's like you and I do.

But Abraham,

observation or two,

Abraham obeyed.

He went out.

Noah,

who stole the bill of Mark,

and he did it,

right?

That's how the scripture

kind of works.

God speaks

and he told

man,

I'm going to obey.

Jesus

says to love me

and you love

my commandments.

Love me

and you love

your neighbor.

That same idea.

I speak,

you do.

Paul,

in several of the books,

communicates,

this is who you are.

This is what you do.

This is what God has done.

God speaks

and what you do.

One plus one

equals two.

It's fairly simple stuff.

Now,

I understand

the outworking

of this,

outworking

of getting married

might be a little

more complicated.

The outworking

of going somewhere

dangerous

might be a little

more complicated.

Being obedient

is stripped down,

simple fact.

True.

But it's really

easy, though,

for us

to overcomplicate

or even

crazier

to over-spiritualize

these situations.

Here's an example

and we'll kind of

go from there.

Tell me about

marriage again.

Now, ladies,

you guys want to

get married,

I'm sure.

You're going to have

to find a man

first and

they,

the court,

or how your

conviction lies

there.

Now,

I've heard a lot,

not in my

personal life,

but around me

that a lot

of some of

the things

you say

is,

I mean,

I'm sure

this is bad,

but,

you know,

God hasn't

called me

or hasn't

wrecked me

or has

to date you,

or the

Spirit told me

not to.

I still

listened to

play last

night.

We had

dinner,

and you

mentioned

this.

The Spirit

told me

not to date

you.

We say,

I haven't

seen a sign

from God

yet,

but most

likely you're

not going

to.

That's

probably not

going to

happen.

But,

you know,

if you

have the

desire to

get married,

it's pretty

simple.

Find a guy

who loves

Jesus,

who you're

trying to

do,

and then

let's

see where

it goes.

Not that

complicated.

It isn't.

Okay?

Now,

I'm a serious

note.

Another

example,

here at

Christchampton

Church,

very

active

people,

leadership

here at

Christchampton

Church.

Now,

I'm leaving.

Nathan is

the only

pastor

ever here.

Nathan is

not your

CEO.

He's not

your president.

There's

going to be

a point and

a place where

you're going

to have to

help,

where you're

going to have

to step up,

where you're

going to have

to be there

for him.

He needs

men around

him to

accomplish the

work that

is here

put on

Christchampton

Church.

I know

what you're

thinking.

Well,

you're

leaving.

You're

full.

Yeah,

but God's

thinking

me,

so argue

with that.

Over

complicated

saying,

you know,

I haven't

had a sign

from God,

I'm supposed

to help,

it's simple.

If you're

qualified to

leave as an

elder,

talk to

Nathan,

figure it

out,

work it

out,

if you

have gifts,

use them

here at

Christchampton

Church.

We have a

real problem

not to use

Christchampton.

We as

Americans,

we are

consumers.

We buy,

we go to

movies,

we see how

we have

15% for

a decent

service,

and 20%

for a good

service at

the table,

we just

have a

mentality

where,

what am I

going to

get out

of wherever

I'm at?

And we

brought that

into the

church.

We come

on Sunday

morning,

and we

sit down

and we

say,

what am I

going to

receive?

What am I

going to

get?

Well,

that's not

church.

That's a

movie.

That's a

concert.

Church is

about sharing

one another's

burden,

sharing life

together,

being with

one another,

encouraging

one another,

serving

together.

And I'm

afraid that

a lot of

us,

me included,

have become

consumers in

a lot of

our church

life.

And that

doesn't

need to be

the case.

Serve.

Men,

serve.

Even if you

can for only

six weeks,

serve.

If you

don't,

and this,

I don't

need to scare

you,

and I

don't

need to,

if you

don't,

think it's

not going

to be

here in

five years.

This is

the reality.

One man

can't carry

the burdens

of a

congregation

this size.

That's

what the

history

can do

at all.

That's

just

best to

be out

of

the way.

Men,

get in

his left

pocket and

right pocket.

Walk

with him,

encourage him,

don't over

complicate

him,

be there

for him

with him.

observation

number

three.

You're

off my

football.

Observation

number

three

of our

text,

verse

nine,

says,

by faith

he went

to live

in the

land of

promise,

as an

afforded

land,

living in

tent with

Isaac and

David,

where he

was

able to

save

from.

Now,

this is

a real

quick little

snippet

here of

this

observation,

but they

lived in

tents.

Now,

you say,

well,

they all

lived in

tents back

then,

but the

point here

in this

language is

that they

lived in

a temporary

housing.

Not that

they had

this

very huge

gigantic

tent they

put up

on the

estate.

They

lived in

a temporary

home because

they were

ready and

willing at

any moment

for God

to direct

them

to come

around.

So are you

looking for

these moments

in your

life,

these crossroads,

these times

where God

may direct

you to

someplace

different,

to someplace

dangerous

or

uncomfortable?

Are you

looking for

these

intersections

between

status quo

and

this

continuing

down

motions

in life

and

something

beyond

that?

observation

number

four,

verse

10.

For he

was looking

forward to

the city

that has

foundation,

whose

designer and

builder is

God.

Abraham was

able to

act and

live in

tent because

he was

looking forward

to the

city that

was to

come.

He was

able to

live in

temporary

housing because

he was

looking forward

to what

was going

to happen,

the city

to come

that was

being built

by God,

designed by

him.

For

everything

will be

perfected,

no pain,

no suffering,

the earth

will be

perfected

again and

be back

to the

way that

was created

to be.

Abraham

endured

and looked

forward

to that.

Are you

looking forward?

If we look

forward,

if we look

to what

God has

brought

us,

if we

look to

the moments

where we

are going

to be

perfected,

there's

not going

to be

sin and

pain anymore,

if we

look to

that,

then a

simple

decision

of going

someplace

or doing

something

might be

a little

easier.

Will be

a little

easier.

In there

it says,

see that

has

foundations.

Foundations

are very

important.

Everybody

in here

kind of

probably

goes,

duh,

in the back

of the night.

Yeah,

of course,

foundations

are really

important.

If they're

not

foundations,

their

things will

crumble.

A tent

is blown

away by the

wind because

it's a tent,

not a aisle

for a

building built

on foundation.

A foundation

holds things

together,

holds it

in the

ground,

keeps it

sturdy and

stable.

A city

founded and

built on

Jesus,

the chief

floorstone,

that lasts

forever.

Now,

cities without

foundations can

disappear.

There's tons

of old ruins

of cities

that they can't

find because

their foundations

were not strong.

They didn't have

foundations or

whatever.

No room

and no

structure to

support it,

it disappears.

This world,

our world,

where we live

in today,

now,

has no

foundation.

It has

nothing

that will

sustain.

For

everything we

gain,

everything we

have,

will fade

away.

all our

achievements,

so everything

we live

for,

faith,

fortune,

power,

popularity,

comfort,

all,

will fade

away.

It will

not exist.

The world

offers nothing

of its no

value,

no foundation,

and yet,

in these

moments,

in these

crossroads,

we get

counsel from

the world

to decide

which direction

we're going

to go.

It will

make a lot

of sense.

If we

looked forward

at these

moments,

if we

looked to

the city

of comfort,

if we

were fully

convinced

that God

was going

to do,

he says

he was

going

to do,

if our

faith was

sure of

things not

seen,

then our

happiness

would be

easier.

Knowing

our

direction,

the direction

that just

doesn't make

any sense,

might be,

will be,

easier.

Some things

just don't

make sense.

Sometimes

we're faced

with decisions

that just

don't make

sense.

We make

those decisions,

we'll say

we're obedient,

we go down

that road,

and in those

times we

just can't

see why,

we can't

get what's

going on.

But eventually

God reveals,

this is why

I had time,

he revealed

this to

what happened,

and this is

why I

called you

here.

I pray

all of us

are there

at that

moment,

at that

time.

Look down

at Hebrews

Hebrews 12 · chapter mention

chapter 12,

don't

chapter over,

chapter 12,

it would be a

sermon if I

didn't talk

about Jesus,

to be a man,

a lecture

maybe.

chapter 12,

starting

verse 1.

Therefore,

since we are

surrounded by

so great

a cloud

of witnesses,

all these

men and

women that

have been

mentioned here

in chapter 11,

the ones that

they couldn't

even mention,

the ones that

don't even

have names,

let us also

lay aside

every weight

and sin

that's

cleaned so

closely,

and let's

run with

endurance

the race

that is

set before

us.

Looking

to Jesus,

looking forward

to Jesus,

the founder

and perfecter

of our faith,

for the joy

that was set

before him

endured the

cross,

despising the

shame,

and is seated

at the right

hand of the

throne of God.

Now there's

a one-force

sermon right

there in those

two verses,

and I can't

even stress

the surface.

I'm going to

take out one

phrase,

and I'm going to

kind of talk

about it for a

minute.

The phrase

towards the end

of verse 2,

it says,

despising the

shame.

A little

strange phrase.

Looking at

Jesus,

the founder

and perfecter

of our faith,

for the joy

that was set

before him

endured the

cross,

despising the

shame,

and is seated

at the right

hand of the

throne of God.

Now what

does this

mean,

despising

the shame?

Now if

somebody

wants to

be killed

on a

cross,

there would

be shame

on him.

He'd be

shamed for

doing something

for having

that done

in him.

He would

have earned

it,

he would

have been

guilty,

and there

was a shame

brought on

him and his

family and

people around

him.

Jesus despised

that shame.

He earned

from that shame.

He didn't let

it affect him.

He went ahead

through the

crucifixion.

He went ahead

and finished

the job.

We don't

turn the

direction of

different

because of

shame.

We don't

turn that

direction because

we're afraid

of what

somebody or

people will

say.

We don't

go that way

because it

doesn't make

sense,

and it

doesn't make

sense,

and somebody

else is

thinking it

doesn't

make sense,

and they're

looking at

you and

you're

looking at

you and

you're

thinking,

I don't

want to

do that.

He said,

I'm going to

talk to

them and

tell them

why I'm

going down

that road.

Jesus

endured

a horrific

death,

despising

the shame,

the shame

of a cross,

dying on

a cross,

and because

he did,

we can go

that direction,

we can turn

that way,

and it's

okay because

he endured.

Shame like

we've never

endured.

He's

endured a

death,

but we

have

never

endured,

and will

never endure.

Now the

ultimate

crossroads,

it doesn't

make any

sense.

This doesn't

compute,

it's Jesus.

Jesus,

God,

100%

God,

100%

God,

comes down

from heaven,

leaves glory,

to live

on earth,

with a

bunch of

sinners,

to live

here for

33 years.

That in

itself doesn't

make a lot

of sense.

In fact,

if you try to

figure that out,

it doesn't

compute.

Jesus,

who is

perfect and

holy,

lived

perfect and

holy,

like

here on

earth.

Jesus

died a

gruesome,

horrible

death for

others,

not even

for him.

The wrath

of God

was on

him.

His wrath,

him being

caught,

was on

him.

You're all

dead.

That just

doesn't make

any sense.

it's in

Philip

Ferguson.

It says,

look at

the two

trees that

Adam and

Jesus

faced.

Adam,

our

great,

great,

great,

great,

great,

great,

great,

great,

great

grandfather,

our first

dad,

faced a tree

that represented

everything

desirable.

he thought

and he

knew to

have that.

It was

going to

complete him.

It was

going to

fulfill

everything

in him.

He was

going to

be like

God.

And he

believed it.

And he

faced it,

and what

did he

do?

He

did he.

And in

doing so,

he enslaved

all

mankind

to sin.

That tree

was his

due

north.

He

couldn't

think of

anything

else

but that

tree.

His

comfort

was going

to be

found in

that.

His

power

was going

to be

found in

that.

His

fame

was going

to be

found in

that.

His

fortune

was going

to be

found in

that.

His

name

was

found in

that tree.

And instead

of finding

fame,

he enslaved

himself

all

mankind.

Now

Jesus,

the second

Adam,

the perfect

Adam,

the right

Adam,

faced the

tree that

represented

everything

undesirable,

everything

wretched,

everything

evil and

dark and

vile.

No one

would want

that.

No one

could bear

what that

tree represented.

And Jesus,

obediently,

as he

was well

of sin.

It's

for the

joy that

was set

before him

endured

the cross.

That tree

he endured

it.

What did

he do

enduring that?

He freed

the captives.

He freed

you and

he freed

me from

sin.

The sin

that Adam

made.

may

this

happen

to you.

What

Adam

jacked

up,

Jesus

fixed.

What

Adam

messed

up,

Jesus

fixed

forever.

And

because you

have been

set free,

because Jesus

died,

you can

live in

the

uncomfortable.

You can

live in

the unknown.

You can

live in

a situation

that just

doesn't seem

made sense.

because it

is God

calling you

you cannot

you cannot

you cannot

disobey.

Because of

Jesus,

we can

go that

direction

and it's

okay.

Because of

Jesus,

he can

help us

take

those steps.

Now this

morning,

I believe

that you're

at one of

those crossroads

this morning.

And here

in a few

minutes,

we're going

to partake

of the Lord's

Supper here

at the table

that we've

been invited

to sit at.

We've been

invited by

Jesus.

If you're

a Christian,

you've been

invited to

eat of

his body

and drink

of his blood

some more.

He's

invited you

to join

him at

the table.

The crossroads

is,

the crossroads

this morning

is,

his doing

it.

Eating crackers

and breakers

doesn't make

a lot of

sense.

We're

celebrating

Jesus' blood.

Another

crossroads

this morning

is maybe

you're not

even a

Christian.

Maybe you

don't know

Jesus yet.

Maybe he's

calling you

this morning

for the

first time.

Maybe you

realize this

morning for

the first

time that

your sin

is great

and his

grace is

greater.

Maybe for

the first

time you

realize,

I can't

do it on

my own.

Maybe for

the first

time you

realize that

that tree

that I've

been going

after,

that girl

or that

maid or

that job

or that

money or

whatever it

is,

is it

going to

fulfill,

Jesus

will fulfill.

Maybe for

the first

time your

eyes have

been opened

to the

great salvation,

the great

grace of

God.

God,

and so

you're at

a cross

road.

Do I

follow?

Do I

follow a

savior that

I couldn't

see?

Do I

follow somebody

that just

the Bible

talks about?

Or do I

continue to

know the

road that

is comfortable

to me,

that makes

sense to me?

That might be

the cross

road you're

at.

And let

me plead

!

Let me

plead with

you.

Make the

right decision.

follow Jesus

this morning.

Church family,

celebrate what

Jesus has

done, but

do it with

joy, not

out of

religious

duty.

Or you

think you're

going to

gain something

out of

it.

Jesus

has been

invited you

to this

table,

in this

moment,

for free

to you.

But it

costs a

great deal

to you.

종

night.

Let's

Thank you.