s20050123m_The Challenge of the Committed
The Challenge of the Committed—Genesis 22:1-14
“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call,
and may fulfill every good resolve and work of faith by his power.” 2 Thess. 1:11
“14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,
having patiently endured, obtained the promise.” Hebrews 6:14-15
To Meet God’s Challenges Of Commitment You Must:
Genesis 22:1-18
1. [HEAR] God’s [INSTRUCTIONS]!
“1 After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” Verses 1-2
“16There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. 17 … 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.2 Pet 3:16&18
2. [GO] Where God [DIRECTS]!
“3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; and he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off.” Verses 3-4
”17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. 18 O that you had hearkened to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea”. Isaiah 48:17-18
3. [TRUST] God’s [GOODNESS]!
“7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.” Verses 7-8
“17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your descendants be named.” 19 He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” Hebrews 11:17-19
4. [OFFER] To God What You Most Dearly [LOVE]!
“9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.” Verses 9-10
“37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39
5. [ACCEPT] What God [PROVIDES]!
“12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord will provide; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” Verses 12-14
“10 Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; 11 so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10-11
So we sit here in this warm beautiful building this morning. And you need to ask yourself these questions. Have I correctly understood what God wants of me? Have I resolved to go to where God want me to serve Him? Do I trust His absolute goodness that he will do what’s best for me? Am I offering to him what I most dearly love? And finally do I really desire what he provides for my eternal blessing? I hope you answered yes to all five questions.
Please pray with me. Father, help me to hear your instructions so that I may go to where I can serve you best. Grant me the experience of your goodness that I may offer to you my total surrender. I am willing to climb the Mount of Character to have yours. I am ready to scale the Mount of Resolve to serve as your servant. And Lord I am stumbling up the Mount of Works of Faith, but I will trust you and get up every time. Grant me this morning all that you provide that I may be with you forever in Jesus name Amen.
Will you come to the cross and death of Jesus. The first step up the mount of Obedience is baptism. Why not begin your journey today by sharing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Come let’s stand and sing.