Abraham's Covenant | A Sermon on Genesis 12:1-3

Introduction
As I write this, we just "fell back" one hour on our clocks for daylight savings time.  Have you ever wondered why there are twelve numbers on a clock face?  Why not ten?  The reason goes back over 4,000 years to the Sumerian Empire.  The Sumerians counted to twelve on their fingers.  Yes, they had 10 fingers just like us, but they counted the knuckles on their fingers instead of the fingers themselves.  If you look at your hand, you will see the fingers (excluding the thumb) has three knuckles (or creases) on each finger.  If you use your thumb to point to and count each crease, you will count to twelve on each hand.  So, the based their number system on twelve instead of ten like us.  And

by their reckoning, there were twelve hours of daylight (one hand) and twelve ours of night (the other hand).  And that is why today, we still have the tradition of twelve hours of day and night adding up to 24 hours.  It is also the reason there are 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour (60 is divisible by 12).  And it is also the reason we have 12 months in a year.

The Sumerian empire was the cradle of civilization nestled between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.  It is near where the Biblical Garden of Eden is described to have been

located.  We have a lot for which to thank the Sumerians.  They invented the wheel, cities, writing, and the rule of law to govern civilization.  

The reason I mention all this is because a man three major world religions revere was from the ancient city of Ur in the Sumerian empire.  We call him Father Abraham, though he was called Abram before God changed his name to Abraham.

Genesis 12:1-3
¹ The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. ² I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. ³ I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

God’s Rescue Plan
We are studying the five great covenants in the Bible that reveal God’s plan to rescue humanity from the brokenness of sin. Last week, we learned when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, they "fell" from grace.  They became spiritually broken (along with all humanity and all creation).  We used the analogy of a of a mountain climber who fell 100 feet in a climbing accident.  He is severely injured, but still alive.  His rescue and recovery will be long and arduous, recurring a life flight rescue, ICU treatment and a long stay in a hospital with multiple emergency surgeries.  Then, even if he survives all that, there will be a long healing process with lots of physical therapy before the injured climber can return to a normal life.  

Similarly, God's rescue plan for humanity is a long and difficult process that has taken thousands of years and many different steps, which we can corelate to the different covenants in the Bible.

Today, we look at God’s covenant with Abraham.  In a covenant, there are promises and there are responsibilities.  God’s promises to Abraham:  I will make you into a great nation.  I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.  These are promises that are appealing to Abraham and that tells us some about Abraham's character: he wanted to be a blessing to others.  

Most people are self centered.  We would find God's promises to bless Abraham and make him a great nation appealing.  But not everyone would be as enticed by the promises to use us to be a blessing to others.  But Abraham did want to be a blessing to others and God made a covenant with him.

God’s ask for Abraham was: “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.”  Now, the reason I started by telling you how great Sumeria was is because I wanted you to understand something about what God was asking Abraham to give up.  Leaving his relatives and his father's family would be difficult.  But Abraham would also be walking away from the greatest, most advanced civilization on earth at the time.  Abraham would be giving it all up for the unknown.  God didn't even tell Abraham where he was going.  He just said for a land He would show him.  

Let’s think about why God would ask Abraham to leave his home in the wealthy Sumerian empire and go to the unknown land of Canaan to receive His blessings. These reasons matter for our own journeys of faith, too.

1. It Requires Faith in God
Leaving behind the comforts, security, and success of Ur meant Abraham had to rely completely on God. This journey wasn’t easy; it was an act of trust and obedience. Abraham showed he was willing to put his faith in God above any human security.

Like Abraham, sometimes God asks us to leave behind our “comfort zones” and trust Him fully. Maybe that means stepping into a new role, forgiving someone, or starting a project we’re unsure of. Faith means trusting that God is with us, even when we don’t have all the answers. 

2. It Forms a New Identity
God wasn’t just calling Abraham to a new place; He was calling him to a new life and purpose as the father of a chosen people. Leaving Ur meant letting go of its influences and forming a new identity based on worshiping the one true God.

When we follow God, we’re called to live differently, letting go of influences that pull us away from Him. Our faith should shape our actions, relationships, and even our purpose. Who we are in Christ becomes our true identity, guiding us in every part of our lives.  This may be extremely important for us all to remember this week during the presidential election.  Let’s remember that our true identity isn’t found in a political party, a leader, or even our nation.  Our identity as Christian is in Christ alone. No matter the outcome, we belong to Him, and our hope rests securely in His unchanging love and purpose for us.

3. It Set Abraham Apart for a Divine Mission
Moving to Canaan separated Abraham from a society filled with idols and complex politics. In this simpler place, Abraham and his descendants could focus on their relationship with God, staying faithful to His covenant without the distractions of a worldy empire.

God calls us to be “set apart” too, living in a way that honors Him even when it’s different from the world around us. Staying true to God’s mission for us means choosing His ways over what culture might tell us to value. This means focusing more on love, humility, dependence on God, and service than status or success.

4. It Kept Abraham Humble
Canaan wasn’t powerful or prosperous like Ur. God brought Abraham to Canaan to keep him humble and grounded. God wanted Abraham to rely on Him, not on wealth or status, as He blessed and built Abraham’s family.

God sometimes places us in humbling situations so we can learn to rely on Him. It can be easy to think we’re strong on our own, but true blessing and growth come from depending on God’s strength, not our own. Humility reminds us to stay close to God, especially when He blesses us.

5. Israel as the Center of the World
The Promised Land, Canaan, what would eventually become Israel, sits at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe--where three continents come together. This location made it central to major empires for thousands of years. Moving Abraham here set the stage for God’s salvation plan for the whole world, as Abraham’s descendants would grow into a nation that shines God’s light to all.

Just as God placed Israel at a crossroads, He places each of us in unique places to influence those around us. Whether it’s at work, school, home, or church, God has a purpose for where we are right now, using us to reflect His love and truth to others.

Saints Among Us
I am who I am today because of so many people of faith who influenced me.  I originally thought I might share a touching story about someone who , because of their faith in God and gracious love, helped shape me.  But then I thought, who would a name.  There have been so many!  Would I tell of my mom or me grandma?  Or what about my karate instructor or a pastor or Sunday school teacher.  There were even people who didn't know me well, but who said an encouraging word that made all the difference.  And then, there have been so many anonymous people who have helped that I'm not even aware of.  If I tried to name them all, it would take too long and I would certainly leave someone out.  But the point is, I have been shaped by many saints in my life.  And you have too.  And we are called to be saints to others as well.  Like Abraham, God has blessed us to be a blessing to others.  But we have to have the faith to follow Jesus and god where God sends us.  Sometimes, we even have to have the faith to walk away from something we've known and trusted in order to trust God more and enter the Promised Land He has for us.

All Saints Celebration
As we close today, we have the privilege to remember and honor the saints who have gone before us.  In our tradition, “saints” refers to all persons who were saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  In other words, all Christians. 

Hebrews 12:1 says, “we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith…”  They are cheering us on as we run our race of faith.  And we recognize and honor them today.

Instructions:
First, we will read the names of two saints who passed away over the last year who were members of our church.  We will say their name and ring a bell as people stand in their memory.

Then, we will allow you to name any person who has passed that you would like to remember and honor as a saint.  We will ring the bell as you stand in their memory.

Finally, we will remember that all who repent of their sins and follow Jesus as Lord are saints.
But first, let us pray:

“Lord, we gather in gratitude today, remembering the saints who have walked before us and the faithful among us today. May their lives of faith inspire and strengthen us as we carry on the work You have given to each of us.”

Members:

Helen Gross
Feb 13, 1932  -  Feb 10, 2024

Lorene Smith
Mar 8, 1942 - Sept 24, 2024

Others:
At this time, we invite you to stand and name a person who has passed that you would like to remember and honor as a saint.  We will ring the bell as you stand in their memory.

All:
Today, I would also like to honor each of you, the living saints who carry the faith and hope of the gospel into our world. You are the church, God’s people, called and loved, bearing witness to His love and grace.  Therefore, please stand, all of you (if you are able).

“May the light of Christ guide you and may the faith of all saints inspire you. Live as the beloved community, serving, loving, and carrying the hope of Christ into a world that needs His light. Amen.”  

Biblical Ghost Stories

Introduction
For Halloween, I want to share some ghost stories from the Bible.  Halloween is the abbreviated word for what was originally All Hallows Eve.  Halloween is the night before All Hallows Day, what we call All Saints Day.  Therefore, tomorrow is All Saint’s Day.  And next Sunday, we will celebrate Homecoming and All Saints Sunday (the first Sunday in November).  I hope you will come.  All Saints Day is the day Christians remember and celebrate the lives of the saints who have died and gone to be with the Lord.  Since Methodists believe all Christians, believers are saints, “the saints” includes your friends and loved one’s who have “died”.  I use the word “died”, because it is the customary word people use to describe what happens when our earthly body stops living.  However, Christians do not believe people really die when our heart stops beating.  We believe Christians have eternal life through Jesus.  Therefore, we believe when the body dies, the spirit leaves the body and goes to be with Jesus.  2 Corinthians 5:8 says, “…to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”

All the saints—Christians who’s earthly bodies have died—are now with Jesus, cheering us on as we live this life (Hebrews 12:1).  One Day, Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead and give us all a new, perfect body.  We will not be spirits or ghosts.  We will be real people, with a physical body, only it will be perfect—without sin or sickness or suffering or death.  It will be an eternally living body, just like Jesus had.  We will be like the resurrected Jesus.  Listen to this story about the resurrected Jesus and his physical body.  After Jesus had died on the cross, he rose from the grave and appeared to his disciples in a physical body.

Luke 24:36-40
And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. ³⁷ But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

³⁸ “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? ³⁹ Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” ⁴⁰ As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.

The Resurrected Jesus Was Not A Ghost
So we see in this, that the resurrected Jesus is not a ghost.  He has a body.  They can touch him.  He can walk.  He can even eat.  Verse 42-43 say, “They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched.”

Aren’t you glad to know that we will not be ghosts in eternal life?  We will be living people with a perfect body.  We are incredibly blessed indeed by what Jesus did for us on the cross.  His death and ressurection changed everything.  He truly defeated death.  For all who put their faith in Jesus have eternal life.

We are so incredibly blessed by what Jesus did for us on the cross.  Because of His death and resurrection, we can have eternal life.  And we can know this directly from God.  God speaks His unchanging truth to us in His Holy Bible.  Not only that, but God also came to us personally in the flesh as Jesus Christ to live on earth and teach the way to life.  Jesus left the glory of Heaven and came to earth to call everyone to repentance and salvation.  Everything we need to know God and how to be saved is written in the Bible.  But if that wasn’t enough, Jesus even died and came back to life and showed himself to His disciples to prove He is the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the father, but by Him. (John 14:6)

In ancient times, people tried to hear the voice of God through witchcraft and sorcery.  They used black magic to try and conjure up the dead. God told His people, “Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:31).  God didn’t want His people to rely on witchcraft and frauds who take money, put on a spooky show, and pretend to hear ghosts.  If some spirit did speak to the living from the dead, how would you know if you could trust it?

God said, “I am the Lord Your God.”  God speaks to His people directly through the prophets and priest He has authorized to speak for Him.  They don't speak for money; they serve the Lord.  In the Bible, we see that if ever these priest or prophets were unfaithful, they were punished by God.  Therefore, we can depend upon the Word of God.

1 Samuel 28:5-7
In 1 Samuel 28, King Saul broke God’s command and consulted a medium to conjure up the ghost of Samuel.  Saul was desperate because God rejected him and was tearing the Kingdom from Saul to give it to his rival, David.  1 Samuel 28:5-7 says, “⁵ When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. ⁶ He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets. ⁷ Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.”

So God played along and allowed Samuel’s ghost to speak to Saul and the ghost said, “The Lord has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David.” (1 Samuel 28:17).  God had already told this to Saul when the Samuel was alive.  God already spoke, but Saul didn’t like the message.  Isn’t that just like people?  When we hear a truth we don’t like, we go looking for someone else to tell us something different.

Well, you don’t have to consult a ghost to tell you what you need to know.  God has already told you in the Bible.  And if there’s anything else you need to know, God gives us His own Holy Spirit to be our guide.  However, it requires you to put your faith in Christ, that you follow Him as Lord, and give Him your full allegience.

Jesus told a parable to teach that everything we need to know the truth about God and the way to eternal life is written in the Bible, but many people still will not listen. 

Luke 16:19-26
¹⁹ Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. ²⁰ At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. ²¹ As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

²² “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, ²³ and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

²⁴ “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’

²⁵ “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. ²⁶ And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

“There Is A Great Chasm Separating Us”
We see in this a description of the afterlife.  Those who are faithful find grace, forgiveness, and salvation in Jesus Christ and are rewarded with peace and comfort in the presence of God.  These are the saints we remember and celebrate on All Saints Day.  Those who reject God in this life suffer eternal torment and separation from God.  And there is a great chasm in the afterlife that cannot be traversed that separates the faithful from the unfaithful.

Luke 16:27-29
²⁷ “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. ²⁸ For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’

²⁹ “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’

The Bible is Sufficient
Here we see an important truth.  Everything we need to know to find eternal life with God in Heaven is already written in the Bible.  “Moses and the prophets” are the books of the Old Testament.  Are you reading and studying this Book? Are you listening and living accordingly?

Luke 16:30-31
³⁰ “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’

³¹ “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Jesus Rose From the Grave
“If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.”

And yet, just in case, as an extra measure of abundant mercy and grace, God did indeed send someone back from the dead in order to make sure we get the message.  What did Jesus say?  What was His message?  He said, repent of your sins and be forgiven.  “Unless you repent, you will perish.” (Luke 13:5).  And He said, “Follow me and be my disciple.” (Luke 5:27).  And He also said, “Go and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19).

In the parable, rich man was concerned after he died and was in torment about his five brothers who were still alive.  He wanted someone to warn them.  Who do you have in your life you want to be saved?  You better tell them about Jesus now while you still can.

Closing
So, in closing, what do you need to do today?
Do you need to hear Jesus message, while you are still alive, saying, “Repent of your sins and return to God”?  Do not delay.  Get your heart right with God today.

Do you need to make a commitment to Read God’s Word, the Bible, more faithfully?  If you want to hear God speaking to you, if you want to know what you should do and how you should live, it is all written here.  You don’t have to consult a ghost from the past.  You don’t need a fortune teller to tell you the future.  You need to read and listen to the Word of God in the Bible and obey.  God will be your guide and you can trust Him and Him alone.

The saints are in glory with God cheering you on (Hebrews 12:1).  They want you to succeed.  But you must decide how you will live your life today.  Only you can choose. 
So make your choice.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.