Hearing From God: Fresh Faith

May 25th, 2025/Seventh Day Adventist

Title: Fresh Faith

Intro:

We’ve been walking through this series, Hearing from God, and we’ve covered some big truths.

We’ve talked about how God speaks, how to discern His voice, how to fight distraction, and how to take the right posture to hear.

But today, we pivot.

Today isn’t just about hearing.
Today is about responding, about stepping forward with fresh faith.

Because here’s the deal, some of you have been asking, “God, why aren’t You saying anything?” And maybe He’s saying, “Why aren’t you moving?”

So here’s the Big Idea up front… When God speaks, faith isn’t proven by how much you hear, but by how far you’re willing to go.

Passage: Genesis 12:1-4 CSB

1 The Lord said to Abram:

Go from your land,
your relatives,
and your father’s house
to the land that I will show you.

2 I will make you into a great nation,
I will bless you,
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt,
and all the peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

Pray:

Background:

Abraham’s story is one of the most pivotal in Scripture, not because he was perfect, but because he was willing. Throughout Genesis, we see his partial obedience, his doubts, his impatience (hello, Hagar), and moments where his faith wavered.

He wasn’t some untouchable spiritual hero; he was deeply human, prone to fear, mistakes, and waiting seasons. Yet over his life, he kept returning to trust. His “yes” wasn’t flawless, but it was faithful. That’s why God shaped him into the father of nations, not because he got everything right, but because he kept believing God’s promises even when they seemed impossible.

“Abraham’s life illustrates the journey of faith, with its ups and downs, victories and defeats, yet the direction is always toward the Lord and His will.” - Warren Wiersbe

Even more, Abraham’s story points to the Abrahamic covenant, God’s eternal promise that through Abraham’s line, all nations would be blessed, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

Paul says in Galatians 3 that those who belong to Christ are “Abraham’s offspring”, heirs to that promise. Every act of obedience, every “yes,” isn’t just about your moment; it’s part of a much larger, generational story of faith that echoes across history.

Main Points:

1. God’s Voice Will Call You Out

   1. “Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house…”

   2. EX: God’s first word to Abraham wasn’t “Stay and be blessed.” It was “Go.”

      1. Other translations put it this way:

         1. “Leave behind everything familiar.”
         2. “Set out to a land I will show you along the way.”

         3. Let me tell you this as simply as possible: God often calls you out of comfort before He leads you into promise. And that requires fresh faith. 2. Imagine this today… You’re sitting on your couch, kids running around, dinner’s on the stove, the dog’s barking, and God says: “Pack your bags. Get in your car. Start driving west. I’ll tell you when to stop.”

         4. Whoa. Wait, God… Can we at least drop the kids off at Grandma’s first?

         5. To the recent college graduate, it’s like God saying, “Leave your college town, your neighborhood, your best friends, and trust Me, even though you don’t know where we’re going yet.” 3. “You can’t step into what’s next and stay where you are.”

            3. Illust:
               1. Question: Where’s your comfort zone? What’s the thing you grip so tightly it feels almost untouchable?

         6. For Abraham, it was his family, his land, his inheritance, everything he’d known.

         7. For you, maybe it’s your career. Your routine. Your money. Your plans. Or maybe it’s just control, that secret belief that as long as you stay in charge, everything will be okay. 2. Personal story: I remember when I sensed God leading me to take a step in ministry, and to be honest, it was incredibly intimidating. It felt risky. I liked the idea of calling; I didn’t love the idea of leaving. 3. Humor moment: It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff jump, inching forward, toes curled over the edge… and then stepping back and saying, “Actually, God, why don’t You go first? Show me how it’s done.” *Waimea Bay Jump
            4. App: So what does this mean on Monday?

      2. Maybe God’s been stirring you to:

         1. Leave a toxic relationship.
         2. Step into generosity.
         3. Launch that ministry.
         4. Make a bold career change. 2. Young or old, single or married, church kid or new believer, the “go” is different for each of us. 3. Question: Where is God asking you to step out before He explains the full picture? Can you trust Him with the first step, even if you can’t see step two yet? Just let that sit for a second. Can you feel where He’s nudging you… even now?

2. Faith Begins Where The Map Ends

   1. 18 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.
   2. I need the worship team up here for a little “If you said it we believe it! Cause you’re a Man of your Word!”

   3. EX: Romans 4 says Abraham “believed, hoping against hope.” In other words, when it looked ridiculous.

      1. He kept trusting when his body said, “Impossible,” when the timeline said, “Expired,” and when logic said, “Give up.”
      2. Imagine a 100-year-old man saying, “Yep, I’m about to have a son.” His neighbors were probably like, “Okay, Abraham, time to stop drinking camel milk at night, buddy.”
      3. To the youth in the house, it’s like your grandpa and grandma saying, “Guess what! We’re having a baby!”... “Excuse me GRANDPA!!!”

      4. Fresh faith isn’t a feeling, it’s hoping against hope. It’s the choice to believe again when you don’t see the outcome yet.

         4. Illust: Let me ask you: Where have you been tempted to give up?

      5. Maybe you’ve been praying for something for years, and nothing’s changed. Maybe you’ve been waiting on God’s promise, but you’re tired of feeling like you’re standing still.

      6. Maybe you’ve been hoping against hope, and honestly, you’re tired. Let me tell you: God sees you. Faith doesn’t mean you pretend you’re okay. Faith means you bring your raw, honest heart before God and trust that He’s still working, even when you can’t see it.
      7. Personal story: I’ve had moments in my life where I honestly thought, “God, You told me this — but did I hear You wrong? Why hasn’t it happened yet?” And what I’ve learned is this: The delay isn’t always denial. Sometimes it’s development. God is working things in us during the waiting that we can’t always see.
      8. And let’s be honest, waiting is hard. Waiting tests your patience, your faith, and your hope. But not all waiting is wasted.

      9. Humor moment: It’s like waiting at Chick-fil-A during the lunch rush. You know the line is long, but deep down you believe those waffle fries are worth it.

         5. App: For the parent praying for a prodigal.

      10. For the single adult waiting for marriage.

      11. For the person wrestling with addiction.
      12. Faith holds on when sight gives out.
      13. Question: What’s the last promise God gave you that you need to hold onto again?

3. God’s Voice Requires A Fresh “Yes?

   1. Genesis 12 says, “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.”
   2. Romans 4 says, “He was fully convinced that what God had promised, He was also able to do.”

   3. EX: This wasn’t a one-time yes. It was a daily, gritty, “I’m still in, God” kind of yes.

      1. Abraham isn’t remembered because he performed perfectly. He was counted righteous because of his faith, his trust in God’s ability, not his own strength. And that’s the same for us.

      2. We’re made right with God not by working harder, but by believing deeper in His promises, especially the promise fulfilled in Jesus.

         4. Illust: What’s the last thing God asked you to do? Are you still waiting for Him to give you all the details?

      3. Personal story: There have been times I’ve hesitated, thinking, “God, I just need one more confirmation…” But what I’ve learned is that obedience opens doors explanations never will.

      4. Humor moment: Sometimes it’s like standing at an automatic door that says “push to open” but we just stand there waiting for God to push it for us.

         5. App: Abraham’s faith points us forward to Jesus, the ultimate promise-keeper.

      5. It’s because of Christ that we’re counted as heirs of this covenant. So when you respond today, you’re not just stepping into personal faith, you’re stepping into the family of God, grafted into this ancient, global promise fulfilled in Christ.

Closing:

Let me leave you with this. This isn’t just a message for you. It’s a word for Pinewood Church. We’re stepping into this beautiful new space today, and it’s not just a building. It’s a launching pad. It’s a space filled with Kingdom opportunity.

And I want you to hear me, what God wants to do here isn’t just dependent on one leader or one family. It’s dependent on a people. A people willing to hear His voice and say “yes”. What could God do through this church if we all said, “God, we’re available. We’re willing. We’ll go wherever You call us, even if it costs us comfort, even if it stretches our faith.”

I believe God is calling Pinewood to be a church of radical yes, of FRESH FAITH, OF DEPENDANCE ON GOD, a church that doesn’t just hear God but moves when He speaks.

Imagine what could happen in this city…
Imagine the stories we’ll tell years from now…
Because we didn’t settle for safe, we trusted the voice of God and followed Him into the unknown.

This is our moment.
This is our chapter.
This is the season to hope against hope and believe that He is more than able.

So as we move into ministry time, this is a moment to respond, as individuals, yes, but also as a church. Let’s lift the roof with our faith today.

Walking Points:

1. For the Unbeliever: If you want to take your first step of faith and say yes to Jesus, come forward and let us pray with you. Today can be your day to move from hearing about God to knowing Him personally.

   1. Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you
   2. I confess that I have sinned against you
   3. I believe that God raised you from the dead
   4. And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”
   5. Thank you for forgiving me
   6. By your grace I am saved
   7. And by your power I am set free
   8. For the Lukewarm or Drifting Believer: If you’ve been stuck, distracted, or hesitant to obey, come forward and let’s pray for fresh faith. You don’t have to stay in partial obedience, today is a day to give God a fresh yes.
   9. For the Spirit-Filled Believer: If you’ve been hearing God’s voice and you’re ready to step into something bigger, or you want boldness and fresh anointing to keep trusting Him, come forward and receive prayer. Let’s believe together for more.

Invitation Transition:

Before we sing this out, I need you to catch something.

We are not coming to the altar today hoping that God might show up.
We are coming because we believe He is more than able.

He’s more than able to break chains.
He’s more than able to heal the broken.
He’s more than able to restore your marriage, rebuild your faith, call your prodigal home, and breathe new life into dead dreams.

We are not praying to a God who is distant or distracted.
We are praying to a God who is present, right here, right now.

So as we step into this moment, here’s what I want you to do:

If you know you need to come forward, don’t wait.
Don’t look around. Don’t hesitate.
Move.
Respond.
Say, “God, I believe You’re more than able, and I’m ready to trust You again.”

Come on, church, let’s fill this altar.
Let’s fill this room with faith.
Let’s lift up a sound that says we believe in a God who still speaks, still moves, and still does miracles today!

Let’s sing it out!