Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 3 April 2021

Call to Worship Pastor Charles Tan

Opening Prayer

Scripture Reading:

1. Genesis 13:1-4

2. Genesis 13:5-9

3. Genesis 13:10-13

3. Genesis 13:14-18

Scripture Readers: Chloe Tang, Bethany Toong, Asia Tan and Tessa Kang

Pastoral Prayer: Intern-Pastor Jonathan Jacob

Message: “Lift your eyes”

Speaker: Pastor Charles Tan

Closing Prayer

INTRODUCTION

1. The Faith of Abram

It was genuine

It was growing

2. The Faith of Abram Tested I

Famine in the land

Fleeing to Egypt

3. Lessons of Faith learned in Egypt

Faith can Falter

Faith can Fail you

Faith needs a stronger Focus

4. The Faith of Abram Tested II

The principle of “testing”

It is a part of life

It helps us to gauge the strength of our faith

It helps us understand ourselves

The testing involved

Family

Choice

Wealth

RETURNING TO CANAAN

1. Returning from Egypt

With his whole family

Sarai

Lot

2. Retracing steps

To the South first

To Bethel next

To where he has first built an altar to the Lord Genesis 13:4

3. Returning to God

He called on the name of God Genesis 13:4

He returned to the LORD

In faith

In worship

In gratitude (for God’s protection and provision)

4. Riches

Abram was “very rich” Genesis 13:2

b) In livestock Genesis 13:2

Herds of cattle

Flocks of sheep and goats

In silver and gold

CONFLICT EXPERIENCED

1. Lot’s possessions Genesis 13:5

Flocks of sheep / goats

Herds of cattle

Tents

No mention of silver and gold; probably not a significant amount

2. Conflict experienced

They could not dwell together Genesis 13:6

There was strife between: Genesis 13:7

Abram’s herdsmen

Lot’s herdsmen

There was inherent danger

The Canaanites

The Perizzites

There were thousands of them

Compared to just Abram and Lot

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM OFFERED BY ABRAM

1. No strife Genesis 13:8

Between Abram and Lot

Between their herdsmen

2. Reason

Because they were “brethren” Genesis 13:8

They were “family”

3. Solution proposed

To “separate”

Physically

Practical reasons (to feed the herds / flocks)

Lot may choose

Abram would go the opposite direction Genesis 13:9

LOT’S CHOICE

1. Lot lifted his eyes (literally)

He saw all the plains of Jordan Genesis 13:10a

It was well-watered everywhere Genesis 13:10b

Like the garden of the LORD Genesis 13:10c

2. Lot chose for himself

All the plains of Jordan Genesis 13:11a

He went East Genesis 13:11b

They were separated Genesis 13:11c

3. Dwelling in the cities of the plain

He pitched his tent as far as Sodom Genesis 13:12

Sodom’s reputation Genesis 13:13

It was exceedingly wicked

Sinful against the LORD

THE LORD’S WORD TO ABRAM

1. This word was given to Abram after Lot left Genesis 13:14

2. Content of what the LORD said

Lift up your eyes Genesis 13:14a

Look from the place where you are Genesis 13:14b

Four directions

Northward

Southward

Eastward

Westward

All the land God indicated would be given

To Abram

To his descendants Genesis 13:15

Arise, walk in the land Genesis 13:17a

Through its length

Through its width

I give it to you Genesis 13:17b

THE FAITH OF ABRAM

1. Abram moved his tent Genesis 13:18a

In obedience to God

In faith

2. He went and dwelled in Mamre, Hebron Genesis 13:18b

He built an altar there

To offer worship

To thank God

For His word

For His leading

CONCLUSION

1. Faith must be Restored

2. It must also be Renewed

3. It will be Rewarded