Go, Then He’ll Show

  • Pastor Josh Smith
Have you ever felt like the least likely candidate for God’s work? Discover how God uses the unexpected and the overlooked to fulfill His divine purposes. This message explores the story of Abram and how God’s promises can transform even the most unlikely individuals into vessels of His grace.

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Go, Then He’ll Show

Message Summary
Have you ever felt like the least likely candidate for God’s work? Discover how God uses the unexpected and the overlooked to fulfill His divine purposes. This message explores the story of Abram and how God’s promises can transform even the most unlikely individuals into vessels of His grace.
Key Scripture
Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
Genesis 15:5-6 NLT
Additional Scriptures

5 Day Devotional

Day 1

Day 1: The Call of the Unexpected

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

  • Devotional: Abram was called by God to leave everything familiar and step into the unknown. This call was not just about a physical journey but a spiritual one, where Abram had to trust in God’s promises despite his circumstances. At seventy-five, Abram might have seemed an unlikely candidate for such a monumental task, yet God saw potential in him. This teaches us that God often calls the unexpected to fulfill His purposes, challenging us to trust Him beyond our understanding.
  • Response Questions:
    1. What does it mean to you to leave your “native country” in a spiritual sense?
    2. How do you respond when God calls you to step into the unknown?
    3. In what ways can you relate to Abram’s journey of faith?
  • Prayer Points:
    1. Pray for the courage to step out in faith when God calls you to the unknown.
    2. Ask God to reveal His promises to you and help you trust in His plan.

Day 2

Day 2: Faith in the Promise

Sometime later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.” Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

  • Devotional: Abram’s faith was tested as he waited for God’s promise to be fulfilled. Despite his doubts and logical reasoning, God reassured him of His promise. Abram’s belief in God’s word was counted as righteousness, highlighting the importance of faith in our relationship with God. This passage encourages us to hold onto God’s promises, even when circumstances seem impossible.
  • Response Questions:
    1. How do you handle doubts when waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled?
    2. What promises from God are you currently holding onto?
    3. How can you strengthen your faith in God’s word?
  • Prayer Points:
    1. Pray for patience and faith as you wait for God’s promises to unfold.
    2. Ask God to help you see beyond your circumstances and trust in His timing.

Day 3

Day 3: The Covenant of Grace

Then the Lord told him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.” But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?” The Lord told him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” So Abram presented all these to him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half. Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away. As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came down over him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth. (As for you, you will die in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.) After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction.” After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses. So the Lord made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River—

  • Devotional: God’s covenant with Abram was a profound act of grace, symbolized by the passing of the smoking firepot and flaming torch. This covenant was not dependent on Abram’s actions but on God’s faithfulness. It reminds us that God’s promises are secured by His character and not our performance. This assurance allows us to rest in His grace and trust in His unwavering commitment to His word.
  • Response Questions:
    1. How does understanding God’s covenant of grace impact your faith journey?
    2. In what ways have you experienced God’s faithfulness in your life?
    3. How can you rest in the assurance of God’s promises today?
  • Prayer Points:
    1. Thank God for His covenant of grace and His faithfulness to His promises.
    2. Pray for a deeper understanding of God’s character and His commitment to you.

Day 4

Day 4: The Unexpected Journey

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

  • Devotional: Abraham’s journey was marked by faith, as he obeyed God’s call without knowing the destination. His life exemplifies the unexpected journey of faith, where trust in God’s promises leads to unimaginable outcomes. This passage encourages us to embrace the unknown, confident that God is leading us to a future designed by Him.
  • Response Questions:
    1. How do you respond to God’s call when the destination is unknown?
    2. What does it mean to live by faith in your current circumstances?
    3. How can you cultivate a forward-looking faith like Abraham’s?
  • Prayer Points:
    1. Pray for the courage to embrace the unexpected journey of faith.
    2. Ask God to strengthen your trust in His guidance and provision.

Day 5

Day 5: Living as the Unexpected Ones

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

  • Devotional: God delights in using the unexpected and the overlooked to accomplish His purposes. This passage reminds us that our worth is not determined by worldly standards but by God’s calling. As the unexpected ones, we are invited to boast in the Lord, recognizing that our identity and purpose are found in Him alone.
  • Response Questions:
    1. How does knowing you are chosen by God impact your self-worth?
    2. In what ways can you embrace your identity as one of God’s unexpected ones?
    3. How can you boast in the Lord in your daily life?
  • Prayer Points:
    1. Thank God for choosing you and giving you purpose beyond worldly standards.
    2. Pray for the boldness to live out your identity as one of God’s unexpected ones.

GrowGroup Guide

A weekly guide to carry the conversation beyond Sunday morning.

“The Unexpected Ones: God’s Unlikely Vessels”

Introduction: Welcome your group and open with a brief prayer, asking God to guide your discussion and open hearts to His message. Introduce the theme of the sermon series, “The Unexpected Ones,” and explain that the focus is on how God uses unlikely individuals to fulfill His purposes.

Discussion Questions and Context:

  1. Question: How does Abram’s call to leave his native country resonate with your own experiences of stepping into the unknown?
    • Context: In the sermon, the pastor highlighted Abram’s call at the age of 75 to leave everything familiar and trust in God’s promise. This was not just a physical journey but a spiritual one, requiring faith in the unseen. Encourage group members to share personal experiences where they felt called to step out in faith, leaving behind comfort zones.
  2. Question: What are some promises from God that you are currently holding onto, and how do you maintain faith in them?
    • Context: The sermon emphasized Abram’s struggle with doubt and God’s reassurance of His promises. Abram’s faith was counted as righteousness, illustrating the importance of believing in God’s word. Discuss how group members can relate to Abram’s journey and the promises they are trusting God for in their lives.
  3. Question: How does understanding God’s covenant of grace impact your view of His faithfulness and your relationship with Him?
    • Context: The pastor explained the significance of God’s covenant with Abram, which was based on God’s faithfulness rather than Abram’s actions. This covenant is a powerful reminder of God’s grace and commitment to His promises. Explore how this understanding can deepen group members’ faith and trust in God.
  4. Question: In what ways can you embrace the unexpected journey of faith, like Abraham, in your current circumstances?
    • Context: The sermon highlighted Abraham’s journey of faith, where he obeyed God’s call without knowing the destination. This journey exemplifies trust in God’s promises and His guidance. Encourage group members to share how they can apply this lesson to their own lives, embracing the unknown with confidence in God’s plan.
  5. Question: How does knowing you are chosen by God as one of His “unexpected ones” influence your self-worth and purpose?
    • Context: The pastor concluded with the idea that God uses the unexpected and overlooked to accomplish His purposes. Our worth is not determined by worldly standards but by God’s calling. Discuss how this truth can empower group members to live out their identity and purpose in Christ.

Closing: Wrap up the discussion by summarizing key points and encouraging group members to reflect on how they can apply these lessons in their daily lives. Close with a prayer, thanking God for His faithfulness and asking for His guidance as they continue their journey of faith. Encourage group members to support each other in prayer and accountability throughout the week.

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