Genesis 12:1–3 (NLT) — 1 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. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 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.”
1. FAITH - “Only God gives true legacy”
- Genesis 15:6 (NLT) — 6 And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.
- It takes a MAN of faith.
- Genesis 18:19 (NLT) — 19 I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”
- God is the one who visits your children, their children, and their children’s children!
2. Covenant - “I’d rather die than quit”
- Genesis 17:7–9 (NLT) — 7 “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
- What is a covenant?
- Covenant - I have chosen you and I’ll be loyal to you
- Endurance - I will endure hard things to keep this covenant
- Honor - I want to esteem the person, the value, the promise.
- Covenant has a cost, and it DEMANDS a high cost when broken!
3. Sacrifice - “Legacy comes with a cost”
- Genesis 22:1–3 (NLT) — “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” 3 The next morning Abraham got up early…
- Genesis 22:16–18 (NLT) — 16 “This is what the LORD says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that 17 I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. 18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”
- Sacrifice says:
- I will give up selfish ambition to allow my family to thrive.
- I will give up my time to invest in my family.
- I will give up my carnal impulses to be faithful to my spouse.
- I will give up financial excess to ensure my children have a strong foundation.
- I will give up comfort to build something lasting for future generations.
- I will give up immediate gratification to secure a greater future.
- I will give up my need to always be right so my marriage can be strong.
- I will give up certain friendships if they pull me away from my covenant.
- I will give up distractions so I can be present with my family.
- I will give up resentment so my family can experience peace.
- I will give up my pride to seek reconciliation.
- I will give up personal desires if they conflict with God’s greater plan.
- I will give up bitterness so my family does not inherit dysfunction.