A Faith Test
A FAITH TEST
TEXT: Genesis 22:1‑14
INTRODUCTION:
A Faith That Cannot Be Tested ‑ Cannot Be Trusted.
Discovery channel‑ testing of prototype plane. How would you like to ride a plane that has never been flown/tested?
-Woman ‑ surgery ‑ nervous. "Doc, I'm nervous, this is my 1st surgery." "I know how you feel.. This is mine too."
‑tempt ‑ test for good.
‑God tempts no man to evil ‑ James 1:13
‑God‑ putting Abraham to the test.
‑devil‑ tempts us to do wrong in order to stumble.
‑God ‑ tempts us to do right in order to stand.
This is a great. Story ‑ (verse 2) ‑ go to Mt. Moriah (would become Mt.Calvary) & there sacrifice your son.
Never before has God asked for a human sacrifice
(Verse 3) no time delay ‑ heard...obeyed (verse 1).
(Verse 4ff) imagine sitting at camp fire.
–Abraham ‑ remembers promise ‑ `give you a son..all nations will be blessed in him'
‑‑remembers fun times ‑‑ times he told Isaac of the covenant.
Thought: what will it be like when I tell him of God's command ‑‑ the look n his eyes.
All is here between the lines in Genesis 22!
God is taking Abraham through a faith test:
I. FAITH IS TESTED BY THE DEPTH OF ITS DEVOTION.
A. Why did God say verse 2a?
1. Abraham was n danger of loving the son more than the father.
2. Of loving the gift more than the giver.
3. Of loving the promise more than the promiser.
B. God doesn't want prominence, He wants preeminence!
1. "No other gods before me" ‑ Exodus20:3.
2. Question ‑ does God have preeminence with you?
a) Is anything ahead of him?
b) It is not that he doesn't want us to love our mates / children / etc.
c) God doesn't want us to love anything ahead of himself.
!!!! d) R.G. Lee ‑ before marriage ‑ wife‑to‑be asked him if there was anything he loved more than her? "Yes..God"‑‑she said, "we shall have a great marriage"
3. If there is anything you love more than God ‑you will hear him say, "take it to Mt. Moriah ‑ offer it there.”
a) Take that treasure, etc..'
b) Do you have faith enough to do that?
II. FAITH IS MEASURED BY THE HEIGHT OF ITS OBEDIENCE
A. How quick is your obedience?
1. Sir Edward Hillery ‑ 1953 ‑ a feat done by none other before him ‑ climbed 29,000 ft. to top of Mt. Everest ‑‑ climbed as high as man can climb on earth!
a) Abraham climbed higher!
2. Faith is not believing God in spite of evidence
3. Faith is believing a word from God in spite of consequences
B. Believing faith rests upon a solid foundation
1. Must hear from God (word)
a) Must be intelligent faith
b) Not just a hunch
2. Must be intentional obedience
3. A desire to do God's will.
4. "As many as are led by the spirit of God" Romans8:14
C. Believing faith is immediate obedience
III. FAITH IS TESTED BY THE LENGTH OF ITS SACRIFICE
A. Hebrews 11:17 doesn't say he delighted in it said he willingly did it.
B. From time Abraham left home ‑
1. Isaac was as good as dead.
2. In Abraham's heart / mind ‑‑ Isaac was offered up
3. Abraham was sacrificing his joy.
4. Abraham was sacrificing his future (decedents through son; all nations blessed through Isaac)
5. Abraham was sacrificing his family
6. What would he tell Sarah
7. What would he tell Isaac? ‑ `where is the Lamb?'
8. What would he tell others?
!!! 9. The Lord must come first! "He that loveth father or mother.."