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GENESIS 12:1-9 · HOW MANY OF YOU GOT TO THIS PART IN YOUR LIFE WITHOUT STRUGGLE, WITHOUT OBSTACLES…WITHOUT DETOURS? · HOW MANY TIMES IN YOUR LIFE HAVE YOU TRAVELED A GREAT DISTANCE, RETURNED TO A PLACE AFTER A LONG ABSENCE FROM SOMEWHERE….ANYWHERE…HAD ALL THIS ANTICIPATION BUILT UP IN YOUR MIND OF A GRAND CELEBRATION UPON YOUR ARRIVAL…AND NOBODY EVEN GREETED YOU WHEN YOU GOT THERE….THEY MIGHT OF EVEN WENT TO BED!!! THOSE DISAPPOINTMENTS….OR LETDOWNS OFTEN CAUSES US NOT TO LIVE FULLY…BECAUSE WE DON’T WANT TO GET HURT AGAIN. SOMETIMES WE EVEN LET THOSE EXPERIENCES CAUSE US TO DOUBT OUR OWN WORTH. THE PROBLEM IN REALITY, IS WE ARE THE ONE’S THAT ALLOW OURSELVES TO CREATE THESE EXPECTATIONS IN OUR HEAD, AS IF AT THE END OF THE DAY OR EVENT, THAT WE SHOULD EXPERIENCE A SORT OF “HOMECOMING”, AFTER ALL WE DESERVE IT…AFTER ALL WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS DAY!! THE TRUTH…I BELIEVE IS THAT ALL OF LIFE IS A “HOMECOMING”…A PREPARATION…AND SOME ARE GOING TO BE BETTER THAN OTHERS. 2 I PRAY THAT TODAY’S HOMECOMING IS ONE OF YOUR BEST YET!!! LET’S LOOK AT OUR TEXT TODAY. WE READ THAT ABRAHAM WAS CALLED TO MOVE HIS FAMILY TO CANAAN…FROM FAMILIAR TO UNFAMLIAR…OUT OF FAITH…BASICALLY A MOVE OF FAITH FROM THEIR PRESENT RESIDENCE OF UR. NOW ABRAHAM DID NOT TRAVEL THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE…AS THEY FOLLOWED THE PATH OF RIVERS, VERSUS CROSSING A BARREN DESERT…WHICH TOOK THEM THROUGH THE CITY OF HARAN. · ISN’T THAT JUST LIKE OUR OWN LIFE’S JOURNEYS? ALTHOUGH WE MAKE A PLAN…WE SET OUT ON THE ROAD OF LIFE…EXPERIENCE SOME BUMPS…TAKE NOT ALWAYS THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE, MISS OUR ORIGINAL EXIT ALL TOGETHER…GET COMPLETELY GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION…BUT WE PERSEVERE…AND EVENTUALLY ARRIVE SOONER OR LATER!!! AS WE READ FURTHER IN THE TEXT…WE SEE THAT WHEN ABRAHAM AND HIS FAMILY ARRIVE TO THEIR DESTINATION IN CANAAN…THERE WAS NO SIGNS WELCOMING THEM HOME…NO BANDS PLAYING…NO DANCING IN THE STREETS…NO HOMECOMING… BUT THEY DID FIND SOMETHING…FAMINE!!! TODAY WILL BE MY 4TH HOMECOMING HERE AT BAYS CHAPEL…AND I KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT EXPERIENCE FAMINE TODAY!!! 3 SO WHAT DOES ABRAHAM DO…HE TEMPORARILY PACKS UP HIS FAMILY AGAIN…AND TOOK THEM TO EGYPT WHERE THEY FOUND FOOD AND REST…BUT AGAIN NO HOMECOMING!!! AS WE COMTINUE TO STUDY THIS TEXT WE LEARN THAT ABRAHAM THROUGH ALL OF THIS…KEPT HIS FAITH…BECAUSE HE TRUSTED IN GOD’S PROMISE AND HE KNEW THAT HIS GREATEST AND ULTIMATE HOMECOMING WOULD NOT BE OF THIS WORLD…BUT WITH HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN!! MEMORIES OF GREAT HOMECOMINGS · RETURNING FROM COLLEGE FOR THE FIRST TIME · LC 10 YEAR REUNION WITH STUDENTS · KIDS AT THE DOOR (2) REASONS I REMEMBER · GREAT ANTICIPATION · SLIGHT LETDOWN…NEVER LIVES UP TO THE BUILD UP!!! FAVORITE SAYING…IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE…AND IT IS…I HAVE A BLESSED LIFE…BUT IT IS ONLY A DRESS REHEARSAL FOR WHAT IS AHEAD…AND KNOWING THAT… (3) THREE WAYS TO PREPARE DAILY FOR THE GREATEST HOMECOMING · CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE…PSALM 118:24 · SUIT UP…PUT ON YOUR ARMOR… 4 ROMANS 13:12…THE NIGHT IS NEARLY OVER; THE DAY IS ALMOST HERE. SO LET US PUT ASIDE DEEDS OF DARKNESS AND PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT!!! EPH. 6:11-PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR STAND AGAINST THE DEVIL’S SCHEMES. · KNOW YOUR STUFF… EZRA 7:10 FOR EZRA HAD DEVOTED HIMSELF TO THE STUDY AND OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW OF THE LORD, AND IT’S DECREES AND LAWS IN ISRAEL. RUNNING TOWARDS THE LIGHT… RETURNING TO THE MOTHERLAND!!! · This summer I experienced a great homecoming · Traveled with my sister….rare opportunity because we both have families · Went back to Ohio for 3 days to visit my grandmother · Excited for three reasons…sister, back to Ohio and of course grandmother · I told everyone that I was going back to the motherland…yes I was born in the Buckeye state but raised in Texas · I lived in Ohio until grade 4…moved four times in five years · Took pictures of all houses and the schools that I went to….not much was the same…except one thing….my grandmother’s love!! 5 · When we first got there…my 85 year old grandmother was out the front door to greet us before we even drove up the driveway!!! · She greeted us with open arms…and we found out that she had already pre-cooked and prepared every meal…she didn’t want us to take anytime away from us, visiting and catching up! · What I felt those 3 days this summer at my grandmother’s house – was a glimpse of heaven. Ø If we choose an attitude of joy Ø If we suit up—for Christ Ø If we know your stuff—through prayer and study · One day we will see Jesus standing with open arms greeting us at the door of the Greatest homecoming for all times! · WELL DONE…MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT… · To God be the glory that gives us the greatest victory. · Amen… |
