TEXT:  Gen. 12:1-3

INTRODUCTION:

A.      BEING A CHILD OF GOD REQUIRES A COMMITMENT.

B.      THERE IS A COST ( Luke 14:28 ).

C.      ABRAHAM WAS WILLING TO PAY ( Rom. 15:4 ).

I.      ABRAHAM ( Gen. 12:1-3 ).

A.      FORSOOK ALL THAT WAS FAMILIAR.

B.      THE TRIALS OF ABRAHAM ( Heb. 11 ).

          1.       vs. 8.           Didn’t know where he was going.

          2.       vs. 9.           A land not his own – Dwelt in tents.

          3.       vs. 13.         Strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

          4.       vs. 17-19.    Isaac sacrificed.

C.      WHY? ( vs. 9-10 ).

II.     MOSES ( Heb. 11:24-27 ).

A.      REFUSED TO BE CALLED THE SON OF PHAROAH’S DAUGHTER.

          ATTENDANT WEALTH WAS LEFT BEHIND.

B.      CHOSE TO SHARE ILL TREATMENT WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

          1.       What was their lot? ( Ex. 1).

          2.       No fear of the king ( Heb. 11:26-27 ).

III.    PAUL.

A.      A RICH YOUNG RULER ( Phil. 3:4-6;  Gal. 1;14;  Acts 22:3 ).

B.      POWER! ( Acts 22:4-5 ).

C.      HOW IMPORTANT WERE THESE THINGS? ( Phil. 3:3, 7-8 ).

IV.   WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT IS PRIORITIES.

A.      JESUS WARNS & CHALLENGES US ( Luke 14:26-27;  Matt. 10:34-39 ).

B.      THE PARADOX OF CONFUSED PRIORITIES ( Matt. 16:24-26;  6:19-21 ).

C.      Matt. 6:33.  PUTTING JESUS FIRST SOMETIMES INVOLVES LEAVING

          YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE.

D.      TRUTH ( John 8:31-32;  Prov. 23:23 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      GREAT LESSON OF OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS.

          1.       Rahab and Ruth ( Ruth 1:16-17 ).  “Whither thou goest ….”

          2.       Peter ( Matt. 19:27 ).  “We have left all …”

B.      WHAT IS FIRST IN YOUR LIFE?