ABRAHAM'S LOVE TESTED

 

ABRAHAM’S LOVE TESTED

Gen. 22:15-17 Then the angel of the LORD called again to Abraham from heaven. “This is what the LORD says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son, I swear by my own self that I will bless you richly. I will multiply your descendants into countless millions, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore.” NLT

Abraham loved the Lord more than anything else on earth. He loved his wife, Sarah, and Isaac, his son, with all his heart, but not more than the Lord. He was willing to give up the only son God had given to him through his wife as a love sacrifice because God asked him to. It was the ultimate test of Abraham’s faith and love for God. Because Abraham did not just say he loved God, he proved it. God not only spared Isaac’s life, He promised to bless Abraham richly by giving him more descendants through Isaac than could be counted.

The issue before us today is,” How much do we really love God?” We say we love Him and our allegiance is to Him, but is it really? In what ways do we really put the Lord before anyone or anything else in our lives? How does our love for Christ affect us? Is it reflected in all we do and say? Does our love for Him cause us to pause and consider how we act and think might reflect on Him or affect our relationship with Him? Do we give Him the best of our lives or the leftovers?

The true test of our faith and love for the Lord is seen in what we are willing to give up for Him. He probably will never ask us to do what He asked Abraham to do, but He does demand that we give Him our whole heart, mind, and soul. He commands that we give Him all that we are before we give priority to anyone or anything else. He asks us to willingly keep Him first in our allegiance. He will not bless those who have divided loyalties.

To whom or what are you loyal to? Before you answer that too quickly, your loyalty is determined by the amount of time, energy, and passion you put into something. It is what you are willing to invest your life into. It is more action than it is talk. It is what drives you, what defines your life. What has the most prominence in your life? What do you spend the most energy and time pursuing? Be honest with yourself.

If you are truly loyal to the Lord and He is your Lord, you will follow and obey Him explicitly, no matter how difficult it may seem to be. The Lord honors and blesses the lives of all who are loyal to Him.

THE LORD WILL PROVIDE

 

THE LORD WILL PROVIDE

Gen. 22:14 Abraham named the place, “The LORD Will Provide.” This name has now become a proverb. “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” NLT

You may be climbing up a mountain today. You may be facing a situation you just don’t know how to overcome. You may be so tired and weary from the climb that you just want to give up. You may be beaten down to the point where discouragement rules your heart. Hear the words of Abraham today, “The Lord Will Provide.” Dear friend, no matter how big your mountain may be today, the Lord will provide what you need to conquer it. He will not fail you.

You may not see which way to go; the Lord will show you the way. You may not see how it is possible to overcome your mountain; the Lord will provide the means, one step at a time. You may be all alone in your struggles; the Lord will provide you with all the companionship you need. Whatever you may be dealing with in your life today, the Lord will provide all that you need to overcome and be victorious.

Dear friend, let these words sink deep into your soul; believe them. “The Lord Will Provide.” Let the peace of God flood your soul. “The Lord Will Provide.” Let your soul swell up in praise and thanksgiving. “The Lord Will Provide.” Let your soul be strengthened and hope restored. “The Lord Will Provide.” Humble yourself before the Lord and worship Him. “The Lord Will Provide.”

If you are fortunate enough to not be climbing up a mountain today, don’t worry; you will. And when you approach your mountain, let these words resonate deep within your soul, “The Lord Will Provide.” There is no such thing as an insurmountable mountain when Jesus is Lord and leading the way.

TRUST GOD?

 

TRUST GOD?

Gen. 22:8 “God will provide a lamb, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both went on together. NLT

Abraham and Isaac were on their way to Mount Moriah where God had told Abraham he was to offer his son, Isaac, up on an altar as a sacrifice to Him.

Here was an interesting scenario. God had told Abraham to take his son, Isaac, up to the mountain to offer him up as a sacrifice to Him. It was a very puzzling and difficult thing for Abraham. It didn’t make any sense at all for God to ask that of him. Isaac was the son God had given him in his old age; he was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. Isaac was dearly loved by Abraham and Sarah, his wife. God was asking Abraham to let go of the most cherished thing in his life, his son. Yet, Abraham’s love for God and confidence in God’s love for him moved him to obey. He didn’t understand God’s ways, but he did understand God’s character enough to know that God would provide for him.

Isaac too had some real testings of faith. He knew that a sacrifice required a lamb; yet, there was none. He had learned from his father the importance of sacrifices and how they were done. He knew that his father was going to offer up a sacrifice in obedience to God’s command. As they drew closer to the place of sacrifice, I believe that Isaac must have realized what was about to happen. He traveled along with his father, trusting in him because Abraham trusted in God. Isaac too had to have a strong faith in God in order for him to not revolt and flee from the moment of impending danger.

Buoyed by a trust rooted in the character of God whom they loved, they continued on in their journey. They did not know the whys or understand how this was going to be a good thing, but they trusted in God.

We too can trust in God when we are faced with circumstances that make no sense to us at all. We too can trust Him to provide what we need in our journey of faith. We can trust God no matter what, because trust is rooted in the character of God who is holy love and only does that which is good for us.

What is going on in life doesn’t always make sense to us. Will you trust in God? He never changes. His ways are always bathed in holy love. Be patient and God will provide what you need and it will always be good.

IN GOD WE TRUST

 

IN GOD WE TRUST

Gen. 22:8 “God will provide a lamb, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both went on together. NLT

God will provide for himself a sacrifice. He always makes it possible for man’s sin to be atoned for. Without God’s provision, there is no hope for man to be saved.

Long before God gave Moses the law and the means whereby man could have his sins forgiven, Abraham offered sacrificial offerings unto the Lord. He had a heart for God and desired to show God his love through his offerings. It is interesting to note that every offering Abraham offered to God cost him something. By his actions, Abraham showed his reverence, respect, and regard for God.

God provided for us a Savior. In Christ. we are saved from our sins. He is the only sacrifice God will accept. There is no other way for us to have our sins forgiven. We know we are forgiven by how we respond to Christ in the way we live, think, and react to life. Those who are forgiven value highly their salvation and their Savior. Appreciation for Christ’s saving grace should flood every believer’s heart every day.

Children of God should have an unwavering confidence in their salvation. They should have a reverence for God that overshadows their lives. They should be moved to worship the Lord, not out of duty, but out of a love for Him that compels them to fall on their knees before Him. The redeemed respect God. They appreciate who He is and show their respect for Him by how they live and how they treat Him. They have a high regard God. They think about how God’s presence affects their living. They strive to live honorably before God. They take seriously God’s ways and strive to live holy lives. The Lord is not just a part of our living; He is our living.

If you are struggling with your confidence in your salvation today, go to God’s Word and claim it. God declares that when we come to Christ in faith, confess our sins, seek forgiveness for our sins, and give our hearts to Him, we are saved. Trust what God says, not what your feelings may be saying to you or what others may say to you.

ISAAC'S FAITH

 

ISAAC’S FAITH

Gen. 22:6-7 Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac said, “Father?” “Yes, my son,” Abraham replied. “We have the wood and the fire, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” NLT

Much has been written and said about this event in Abraham and Isaac’s lives. It has been preached and taught how it relates to the love of God for us shown by His willingness to let Jesus come and die for our sins. It is good for us to meditate on God’s sacrificial love for us.

I want us to think for a moment about Isaac. Isaac knew what was needed in order for a sacrifice to take place. How? The only reasonable explanation is that Abraham had taught him by his words and actions. This wasn’t the only time Abraham had made a sacrifice to the Lord in the presence of Isaac. I am confident that this was a regular part of their lives.

Isaac trusted his father. Even though he did not understand what was going on, he knew that his father would not fail to do what is right before God. He knew that whatever was about to happen, his father could be trusted. At this point, Isaac did not know he was to be the sacrifice, but Abraham did. Isaac rested in the faith of his father as they walked on together.

Abraham didn’t just teach Isaac about his faith; he lived it. Isaac knew that this offering they were about to make required the shedding of blood. He knew that this was the way in which man was to approach God. He knew there was no other way to be accepted by God apart from the shedding of blood.

Like Abraham, we need to not only teach the truth, but live it. We need to show others how important the Lord is to us by the way we live. We need to pass on to our children how much we love and value our relationship with God. Our living is our greatest teaching tool. God blesses those who live out what they believe consistently in their lives.

Oh but that we would be like Abraham. Oh but that we would all have such a love for God that we would be willing to give Him our all, no matter how much it may hurt us to do so. Do you love the Lord your God more than anyone or anything else in life? Do you? Are you willing to let the Lord test your love? When was the last time you laid your all on the altar before God and gave it to Him?

RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH, NOT WORKS

 

RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH, NOT WORKS

Gen. 15:6 And Abraham believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith. NLT

We are counted as righteous before God because of faith and not works. We cannot make it to heaven because of anything we can do. To believe is not a mental exercise; it is a life we live. Saving faith is taking literally what God says about us and our need for salvation through Christ and embracing it for our own. We turn to Christ for forgiveness and then we act forgiven. We strive to forsake the sin that separated us from God. We set our path on submission and obedience to Christ, willing to turn our back on sinful thoughts and practices.

Many profess to be saved because of what they believe about Jesus, but it’s simply not enough. We must give Jesus permission to change us. We must let Him take away our sin and live like we mean it. God does not mess around with sin and neither should we.

Righteousness is living by what is right in God’s eyes, not our own eyes. There is a huge difference between the two. We tend to compare ourselves to others and feel good that we are better than many. On the other hand, God compares us to His Word and sees us in need. When we realize just how far short of God’s perfect law we live, we have no other recourse but to live in Christ and take on His righteousness for He alone has perfectly lived a righteous life before God.

Righteousness is gained by faith and not by works. It is rooted in Christ and not man. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for your salvation and you will be saved and declared righteous before God.

WORKING TOGETHER

 

WORKING TOGETHER

Gen. 11:5-6 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. “Look!” he said. “If they can accomplish this when they have just begun to take advantage of their common language and political unity, just think of what they will do later. Nothing will be impossible for them!” NLT

United we can do great things, confused we scatter. There is an important lesson here for the Church. There are so many different church bodies under the umbrella of the Church. Each body seeks to do its own thing. We give lip service to our unity. We major in our differences instead of on Christ who unites us. We limit our exposure to each other and seldom work together for the common good of Christ. We are reluctant to have fellowship with each other out of fear of the effect it may have on our relationship with Christ.

The Church is divided and the effectiveness of reaching the world for Christ is weak. We may have some degree of success, but nothing like what it would be like if we were to work together for Jesus’ sake and glory. There is strength in unity. There is much more creativeness in our thinking and the pool of our giftedness is much deeper. There are so many benefits that we deprive ourselves of when each part of the body works independently from the whole.

If we want the Lord to come down and do a mighty work amongst us, we need to be one in heart before the Lord. We need to humble ourselves before Him and together desire to work for His glory. We need to be a people after His own heart, united together at the foot of the cross.

We need to keep our relationship with the Lord pure and wherever possible be as one for the sake of Christ’s witness in the Church and world. Christ unites, not divides, the Church under His lordship.

Granted, there are church bodies who have wandered so far away from Biblical truth that we can’t have a common fellowship or ministry with them. However, there are many church bodies that we should be having fellowship and ministry with that we don’t because they don’t label themselves like we do for ourselves.

Let us seek to work together for the cause and glory of Christ in the world today.