warm-up

Do you like making plans? Why or why not?

Recall a task that you accomplished with the help of others. Tell us about it.

Have you ever made plans for a vacation or get-together that changed at the last minute? How did it make you feel?

word

⁴So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. ⁵And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. GENESIS 12:4,5

(Read also GENESIS 12:1-9.)

When God spoke, He revealed His purpose for Abraham’s life—for him to be a great nation and to bless him, so that in him all the families of the earth shall be blessed. It takes faith to pursue the plans and purposes of God for our lives. In this lesson, we will look at Abraham’s life and see how our purpose in God is fulfilled by faith.

1
Knowing God’s purpose takes faith.

²“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” GENESIS 12:2,3

The purpose of God for Abraham was to make him into a great nation. God has a purpose for each of us. We need faith in order to hear from Him and know the purpose for which He has set us apart. How can you know the purpose that God has for you? How can you be in faith to ask Him for this?

2
Receiving God’s purpose takes faith.

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him . . .  GENESIS 12:4

To receive the purpose of God for him and move toward an unknown land, Abraham needed faith. It takes faith to receive and claim the purpose of God in our lives, especially when He is calling us to leave what we are comfortable with. Have you had a hard time taking the first step toward God’s purpose?

3
Fulfilling God’s purpose takes faith.

⁶Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. ⁷Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. GENESIS 12:6,7

The promise of God for Abraham’s life was too great for him to complete alone. Abraham needed to respond in faith—total dependence on God—for the fulfillment of God’s purpose and promise for him. When he responded in faith, from him were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore (Hebrews 11:12). According to Isaiah 55:11, why can we respond in faith to the purposes and promises of God?

application

Do you believe that your ultimate purpose in life comes from God? Are you ready to surrender your plans to His Lordship in order to pursue His purpose in your life today?

How will your sensitivity to God’s voice increase? What are two action steps that you can take to listen better to Him this week?

How can you encourage others around you to know and receive their purpose in God? Commit to approach one family member or friend to help him or her grow in faith this week.

prayer

Thank God for your relationship with Him and the purpose that He has for you. Thank Him for helping you stay the course and fulfill your purpose in Him.

Pray for God to give you the grace to continually seek Him and be sensitive to His voice.

Ask God to show you one person who needs to receive their purpose in God. Pray for the right words to say to encourage this person.

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Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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