Step Out
Genesis 17: 3-7 - Abram fell face down, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
Before God changed Abram's name to Abraham, there was an action that had to be done by him in order for God to move into his favor. He had to step out.
This past weekend was a very busy, blessed, but tiresome weekend. With a total of 5 services that I attended, one that I preached in, today I do not feel like doing anything. Instead I'm here posting in my blog something that has not left my mind since hearing it. As part of his message yesterday, my Sr. Pastor shared how Abraham had to put God first in order for him to see and receive what God had planned for his life. That the plan he had for him was far greater than he imagined. To understand what happened in chapter 17, you have to go back to chapter 12 where the Lord tells Abram to 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you." (v. 1). What's amazing about this passage is that God is telling Abram to step out from what you know. Step out of your comfort zone. Step out to the unknown, but overall ... you have to Trust Me in order to see the plans I have for you.
This January, I began leading the young adults of my church on Saturday nights. Has it been easy giving up my Saturdays to Pastor people? No. We used to meet in more of a life group setting on Thursday nights where we would average close to 30 people a night. Since kicking off on Saturday nights we have had over 100 people a night, with close to 600 on-demand viewers that have streamed our services online and most importantly, over 40 lives responded to salvation. After every service, my wife and I continue to hear testimonies from people on how God has truly spoken to them and changed their outlook on life, with even one person telling me that I saved their life with my message. Many people continue to tell me that they are so glad that there are Saturday night services and how it was difficult for them to go on Sunday mornings. Now that could keep me motivated being that I'm seeing that God is truly moving on Saturday nights, that God is truly in the plans of this ministry, and that God has a lot more in store for the young adults of this community and that overall we are a part of it. But, if I was to see it working on Saturday nights before actually stepping out and obeying God, then it would have not required me to trust or put faith in God's word. Abram had to make a decision to step out in faith and leave everything he knew. He had to only obey and trust God. What's amazing is that right after God tells him to step out, he immediately tells Abram what he was going to do with him:
"2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Gen 12:2-3)
There will be moments in your life that God is going to put a demand on you and you'll just have to simply obey and trust God. There is nothing that God will put upon you that you cannot handle. With my Saturday nights now taken for God's will, it wasn't an easy thing for my family and I to accept. But one thing that we did together was obey. God reminded me through Abraham's story that it is not only about me. That everything He does is beyond what my eyes see, but that everything He can do will be a result of my obedience in stepping out. Abraham became the father of many nations, but in order for him to receive the blessings God promised him, he had to step out in faith.
I encourage you today to obey God in everything that you do. God wants to bless you. God wants to see you prosper and his grace and mercy are new every day. But overall, he wants you to trust Him and put action to your faith. God will move in your favor. I hold on to the calling he placed on my life and know that if I don't move, he will simply move to the next Pastor that is willing to step out. Take a moment and think about what God is calling you to do and simply trust in His word. God made Abraham's name great and made him very fruitful. He had to step out. He can do the same for you. Step out.
2 Corinthians 5:7 - For we live by faith, not by sight.
God is committed to his promises. We only have to believe it. - Pastor Carlos Lopez
Words from my heart.
Pastor Andres
Before God changed Abram's name to Abraham, there was an action that had to be done by him in order for God to move into his favor. He had to step out.
This past weekend was a very busy, blessed, but tiresome weekend. With a total of 5 services that I attended, one that I preached in, today I do not feel like doing anything. Instead I'm here posting in my blog something that has not left my mind since hearing it. As part of his message yesterday, my Sr. Pastor shared how Abraham had to put God first in order for him to see and receive what God had planned for his life. That the plan he had for him was far greater than he imagined. To understand what happened in chapter 17, you have to go back to chapter 12 where the Lord tells Abram to 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you." (v. 1). What's amazing about this passage is that God is telling Abram to step out from what you know. Step out of your comfort zone. Step out to the unknown, but overall ... you have to Trust Me in order to see the plans I have for you.
This January, I began leading the young adults of my church on Saturday nights. Has it been easy giving up my Saturdays to Pastor people? No. We used to meet in more of a life group setting on Thursday nights where we would average close to 30 people a night. Since kicking off on Saturday nights we have had over 100 people a night, with close to 600 on-demand viewers that have streamed our services online and most importantly, over 40 lives responded to salvation. After every service, my wife and I continue to hear testimonies from people on how God has truly spoken to them and changed their outlook on life, with even one person telling me that I saved their life with my message. Many people continue to tell me that they are so glad that there are Saturday night services and how it was difficult for them to go on Sunday mornings. Now that could keep me motivated being that I'm seeing that God is truly moving on Saturday nights, that God is truly in the plans of this ministry, and that God has a lot more in store for the young adults of this community and that overall we are a part of it. But, if I was to see it working on Saturday nights before actually stepping out and obeying God, then it would have not required me to trust or put faith in God's word. Abram had to make a decision to step out in faith and leave everything he knew. He had to only obey and trust God. What's amazing is that right after God tells him to step out, he immediately tells Abram what he was going to do with him:
"2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Gen 12:2-3)
There will be moments in your life that God is going to put a demand on you and you'll just have to simply obey and trust God. There is nothing that God will put upon you that you cannot handle. With my Saturday nights now taken for God's will, it wasn't an easy thing for my family and I to accept. But one thing that we did together was obey. God reminded me through Abraham's story that it is not only about me. That everything He does is beyond what my eyes see, but that everything He can do will be a result of my obedience in stepping out. Abraham became the father of many nations, but in order for him to receive the blessings God promised him, he had to step out in faith.
I encourage you today to obey God in everything that you do. God wants to bless you. God wants to see you prosper and his grace and mercy are new every day. But overall, he wants you to trust Him and put action to your faith. God will move in your favor. I hold on to the calling he placed on my life and know that if I don't move, he will simply move to the next Pastor that is willing to step out. Take a moment and think about what God is calling you to do and simply trust in His word. God made Abraham's name great and made him very fruitful. He had to step out. He can do the same for you. Step out.
2 Corinthians 5:7 - For we live by faith, not by sight.
God is committed to his promises. We only have to believe it. - Pastor Carlos Lopez
Words from my heart.
Pastor Andres
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