Introduction

As you walk with the Lord by faith, your mission in life will become clearer. Hopefully, you will stay on track and fulfill the mission that God lays on your heart through the Holy Spirit. Deviating from this mission is equivalent to losing your way in life. However, there can be various reasons for such deviations. We must be careful not to stray from our calling. In the case of Abraham, he almost lost his way if it weren’t for God’s faithfulness. There are four situations that can tempt us to deviate.

Four Situations

1. The temptation to *rely on ourselves*. (Genesis 16:1-16) – Abram and Sarai were tempted to rely on themselves when it seemed that God was taking too long to fulfill His promise. It had been eleven years, and they thought they could help God hasten the process. Similarly, we deviate from our mission when we take matters into our own hands. Thankfully, God is faithful even when we are unfaithful.

2. The temptation to *doubt God’s power*. (Genesis 17:1-18:15) – Despite God proving Himself faithful to Abram, he and his wife struggled to believe that God had the power to fulfill His promise. Both of them laughed. However, God reprimanded them for their lack of faith and made a covenant to fulfill His promise. In the same way, we may be tempted to doubt God’s power and be tempted to deviate from our mission. Thankfully, nothing is too hard for the Lord.

3. The temptation to *love the world* more than God. (Genesis 18:16-29) – When God threatened to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham became deeply concerned. His nephew Lot was living there. Abraham prayed, hoping that God would spare the cities for the sake of his nephew. But even Lot and his family were hesitant to leave these cities. Similarly, our love for the world can become a temptation that leads us to deviate from our mission. Thankfully, God is righteous and just, and He will rescue us from worldliness.

4. The temptation to *save our lives* rather than trust God. (Genesis 20:1-18) – Abraham’s fear led him to distrust God and resort to deception. This highlights how our desire for self-preservation can hinder our trust in God and divert us from our mission. Nevertheless, we can find solace in the fact that God has the power to safeguard us and guide us in fulfilling His purpose for our lives.

Conclusion

1. Central Idea: “*Deviation* from your mission is a constant *temptation*.”

2. Once your mission becomes clear, be aware of the tendency to deviate from it. Stay focused and stay on track in spite of the hindrances. God will help you.

3. This week, ask yourself, “Am I being tempted to deviate from God’s clear mission for my life?” If so, how can you get back on track?

Discussion

1. What do you think it means to have a clear mission in life, as mentioned in the sermon? Have you experienced a moment when your mission became clearer to you?

2. The first situation discussed was the temptation to rely on ourselves. Can you share a personal experience where you were tempted to take matters into your own hands rather than trusting in God’s timing? How did it turn out?

3. The sermon highlights the importance of not doubting God’s power. Have you ever struggled with doubt in your faith journey? What helped you overcome doubt, and how did it impact your mission in life?

4. Abraham’s concern for his nephew Lot in the face of God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah is understandable. But Lot seemed to love the world more than God. In what ways can our love for the world hinder our commitment to God’s mission for our lives? How can we avoid this and stay committed to our mission?

5. The final situation discussed is the temptation to save our lives rather than trust God. Can you share an example of a time when fear or self-preservation hindered your trust in God’s plan? How did you overcome this, and what did you learn from that experience?