Standing on the Promises
Sermon June 7, 2026, Genesis 12:1–9
Standing on the Promises
Reverend Fred Okello
There are times in our lives when we must leave that which is familiar behind and enter the unknown. It could be a new job, moving to a new city or state, stepping out into ministry, or making a tough decision. We do not know what to expect, but we know it is time to move.
When I was young, I chose to follow Christ. I knew I had to deny myself many of the things my friends were after. Popularity, worldly things, and instant gratification. But I said no to them. I chose God. I walked with God, and though the road seemed lonely at times and the destination unknown, I learned that obedience to God was the best decision.
In many ways, Abraham's call from God was similar. God wanted Abraham to leave behind the familiar and trust Him with the unknown. Abraham did not know every detail of his journey, but he trusted God enough to be obedient. God still calls His children today to leave and follow Him.
Believers are set apart. Genesis 12:1 “Get thee out of thy country…” The call from Abraham began with a leave. God separated Abraham from his home, his comfort zone, and his former lifestyle. When God calls believers today, they, too, are called to be set apart.
To leave involves a personal encounter with Jesus as Lord and Savior. It is the moment we confess Christ, turn away from sin, and pursue Jesus with our whole heart. Do not let that moment pass you by. Remember the day God changed your life.
Many believers today are unsure what it means to be born again or whether that is different from just being a good person. There are many good people in this world. Look around, and you will see philanthropists giving to charities, businessmen and women helping others in need, and even people doing wonderful works in their communities.
While these are admirable qualities, they do not save a person. True separation comes when we have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and become His disciples. Even our years in Church, our positions of leadership, our ministries, and good works only have true meaning when they flow from a relationship with Christ.
Christianity is not an activity; it is an intimacy with God. By being set apart, we leave sin behind, leave compromise behind, leave the old life behind, and choose obedience over popularity. "For you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people" 1 Peter 2:9. God calls His people to be different even today.
Being set apart comes with a promise. Genesis 12: 2 “I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee…" God does not call his people to leave something without calling them to something MORE. While Abraham was told to leave, he was also promised blessings.
God promised Abraham that a great nation would come from him. His name would be great. He would see divine favor. His descendants would be many. He would provide for and protect him.
God blesses his people today by giving them peace in stressful seasons, strength for difficult trials, wisdom and direction for life, and eternal salvation. God also blesses by meeting their needs, opening doors and opportunities, and providing healthy relationships.
Not all of God's blessings will be material things. Many of God's greatest blessings are spiritual. To know God, walk in His presence daily, and have eternal hope are greater than any riches on this earth.
When we live set-apart lives, we place ourselves under God's blessing. Obedience does not make us saved, but it does align us with God's will, where he can pour out blessings. Abraham was blessed so that he could be a blessing to others. God does not want his blessings to end with us; he wants them to flow through us to others.
God's call demands faithful obedience. Standing in the promises of God! Genesis 12: 4 "So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him…" Many of us desire the blessings of Abraham without Abraham's obedience. We desire the blessing, but not the relationship.
Abraham departed, not knowing every detail of the journey. Abraham left by faith, trusting God when he couldn't see the whole picture. I can honestly say that about my walk with God today. And I know the same to you!
There may be areas about being set apart that we do not understand, but we can step out in obedience because we TRUST God, the One who called us.
Let me ask ourselves today: Have we remained FAITHFUL? Have we remained faithful in prayer? Have we remained faithful in worship? Have we remained faithful in living a Godly life? Have we remained faithful in stewardship? If we are honest, there are areas in which we fall short in our lives.
We sometimes are misled into breaching the covenant we made with God to serve Him as a Church. Please understand me when I say this – one of the hardest things I have seen in the Church today is our congregations abandoning long-standing commitments to faithfully giving our apportionments.
I have heard the excuses, but apportionments are not church requirements; they are Christian commitments to the Lord. What is God's should never be withheld from God. When we withhold tithes and offerings from God, we limit our spiritual growth and distance ourselves from the blessing of obedience.
God wants us to "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10.
In conclusion, God calls us to leave our compromise and our dependence on self and enter into a covenant relationship with Him. One that demands our faithful obedience for His eternal blessing. Let us respond to that call with faith and obedience.