Sermon notes from Aug. 23, 2009 Salem Baptist Church of Chicago

August 23, 2009 by Roland
Filed under Faith

Rev. James Meeks, founder, Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. www.sbcoc.org

Genesis 12:10-13

“What Do You When God’s Way Doesn’t Work?”

- He leaves home and goes to Canaan on the direction of God.
- He left his home, his family, and his country, where there was never a famine, to follow the will of God and there was a famine in the land.
- Whenever it appears that God’s way isn’t working, we think He made a mistake.

When it appears that way:

1. Don’t let the green grass fool you. Abram looked @ the fertility of Egypt. But rather than stay where God positioned him, he decided to go where the action was.
2. Don’t choose another way that forces you to be God. Abram settled for a quick fix. So he then started lying. When you choose your own way, you have to make your way work. God is only responsible for His way. When it’s your way, you’re on your own! God cancels His contract and you have to live by the terms of your contract.

When it appears God’s way isn’t working, be cool. It’s only a taste.

Abram had just passed a faith test. When you pass one, God is sending another one is on the way.
- The only way you move to the next level is to pass all the tests
on this level.
- God sometimes wants to see if we really trust Him and believe in Him. He sends calamaties or storms to see if we have the capacity to wait on Him. The times we don’t trust Him turn out so disastrous that when the next time we face one, we will definitely wait on Him.
- How would God tell you where to go and tell you to trust Him and depend on Him and turn around and let you down? It’s only a test and God wants to see what you are made of.