Sharpened Together - Week 4

Key Scripture: 
Genesis 12:10
Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

Hi Gents,

Let me take you back in time.

Abram has been called by God to leave his father's house, leave his nation and go to the land God had for him. Like a boss, Abram gets up, gathers his family and follows God’s voice. He’s the prototypical man of faith.

On the way, he meets with God and things are going great. After some time, at end of his journey, Abram arrives in the promised land. He looks around and it’s not a land of plenty. Due to factors outside of Abrams control the outlook is really grim.

Abram drives past his local petrol station and things have gone crazy. Abram checks the news and things are seemingly out of control.

So what Abram does next is he takes his family down to Egypt. He moves away from the good place, the good things that God has for him and seeks to find provision and safety and sustenance in the wrong place – Egypt.

Nothing good comes from Egypt.

For us, when we look around at the moment things look like famine.
It’s genuinely stressful.

Because of this, there’s a temptation for us to head to Egypt.

Binging TV.
Shutting off from our families.
Scrolling our phones.
Extra beers.
Porn.

There’s heaps of seemingly good ways to escape the famine that don't work.

What’s the temptation for you when you’re under stress?

I think God has a running invitation for us to sit with him through this season.
To stay where he wants us, doing the things that grow us.
To stay in the word.
To stay worshipping.
To stay doing the things that bring life to our families.
Holding onto the things that bring life to our souls.
We’re in it together.