Oakbrook Evangelical Free Church

Hebrews 11:8-10 “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. “By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. “For he (Abraham) was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” NIV

Hebrews 11:13-16 “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. “People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. “If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. “Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” NIV

Introduction: What are you looking forward to?
~ Being “in” the building
~ Having a Saturday in which we are not working on the building.
~ Our daughter, Julie, just got engaged.

I.    How did Abraham respond when called?
Responsiveness to God.
Born and raised in a pagan home.  But still he heard the voice of God.
When called…he obeyed and went

We are all naturally stubborn (in whatever form it takes in our lives)
~ Say we will do…and don’t
~ Say we won’t…and then do.
~ Look back in response with an inner “I will do as I please”

But have I responded positively to God’s voice in my life?
Matthew 11:28 “”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” NIV
John 1:12 “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-” NIV
Am I learning to listen?
Rusty vs Max!
Has it ever occurred to you that there are reasons you don’t know about?

James 1:19-21 “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; “for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”

Do you think God feels like He has to always fight you to get you to listen?
When lost: climb, communication, confess, comply!

II.    What was the basis on which he lived his life?
He…obeyed and went
he made his home in the promised land
when they died they had not receive the things promised

The basis on which people live their lives?
~ Education
~ Media: Talk radio, TV commentators - hearsay!
~ Feelings / emotion

Sure, maybe Abraham was similarly influenced.
But when it came to his life choices he listened to the voice of God.
By obeying God’s voice “call”.  Not just God’s Word - but…
By trusting God’s promises
How do you respond to stress and difficulties?
Worry
Panic?
Matthew 6:28, 34 “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin…So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Luke 9:26 “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” NIV
Luke 11:46, 52 “Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them…Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”" NIV
Matthew 22:29 “Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” NIV
I don’t think this is merely about Abraham.
It is about us.
On what basis are we daily living our lives?
~ There are only two bases on which to live life!  Sight / or faith
You must absolutely learn to trust your instruments!
Are we making time to read and reflect on the Word of God?
It wasn’t easy.  “These all died and they had not received the things promised - they saw them only from a distance”
Let’s admit it.
~ Life doesn’t always fit our expectations.
~ What life looks like when it arrives is not often how we “saw” in our minds things would turn out.
~ We say, “God, this or that isn’t fair.”
~ We think, “God let us down.”
James 1:2-4, 12 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything…Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” NIV
Yet they lived by faith and even with their own imminent death they still expected God to keep his word!
They willingly lived as aliens and strangers.
Link between the present and the ultimate: not ashamed to be called their God and the city he has prepared for them!  Don’t deal!
Faith is being sure of what we hope for!
We can’t demand instant fulfillment or instant answers from God.
But we can welcome them from a distance.
III.    What was he looking forward to?
“he (Abraham) was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God…they were longing for a better country”

Result?
“Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” NIV
And we live in between!
Notice: the there and then is linked to the here and now!
1.  God IS NOT ashamed
2.    God has prepared a city
John 14:1-4 “”Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. “You know the way to the place where I am going.”" NIV
1 Thessalonians 4:14 “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” NIV
1 Thessalonians 4:17 “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” NIV
Revelation 21-22