Nov 4, 2023 SH

Teaching: Journey Through

Introduction

Make it So: Journey Through [Walls]

Walls in Life

God has you on a journey...how the Christian life has been described throughout history, especially in our century.

There’s movement, stops, etc. Takes time.

Don’t know where it’s going

There will be walls - time and places where something happens to us that crushes or blows up our lives (job, divorce, abuse, death of loved one, health, trusted a church/leaders and they fell, disillusioned that life and faith isn’t what you had thought, etc).

Can get stuck.

What you were doing in your Christian life not working anymore. Question God, Christians, the church, etc.

Many people drop out, quit on the journey (Judas).

Where There’s a Wall, There’s a Test

Abraham:

Saga - cycle of stories about Abraham

Legend - Traditional story with historical elements that plays a role in people's understanding of their past.

Genesis 22:1–19 ESV

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 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 on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, 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. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy 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.” 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. 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.” And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.

Saga and Legend of Abraham’s Wall

Test of Father and Son

110 years old. Living in a tent. 1 son. Promises from God to make him a nation - nothing yet. One wall/test after another.

Now this: Sacrifice the only heir through whom the promise will be kept. When is enough enough.

Nsh (nasa) -

God put someone [an innocent person] to the test;

cause or allow a difficult circumstance to prove them;

learn their true nature, discover the motives of the heart to do good in the end

to those he tests and to see if they love him with their whole heart and obey his way.

ALWAYS CHOICES which means, the outcome isn’t so sure.

give experience, train.

Abraham’s trust was to be weighed in the balance against common sense, human affection, and lifelong ambition; in fact against everything earthly.

Foreshadowing Jesus

Loading Up Isaac With Altar Wood

Jesus carrying his cross

Raised Knife: Stopped

No harm permitted

Moment of intervention: human perspective, the ultimate sacrifice is faced and willed; God perspective, no harm is permitted and every nuance of love and faithfulness is noted (your son, your only son).

God’s Provision Was Ready and Waiting

Here, the ram was the substitute; later it was the son.

Abraham saw how God’s promise would come

Abraham believed no matter what happened, both he and Isaac would come again or, according to Hebrews 11:17-19, they would be resurrected or given back from the dead because of God’s promise in Genesis 21:12 that Isaac is the focus of it.

Going Through This Wall...

He Proved Trustworthy, Loyal

Instead of breaking him, the test brings him to the summit of his lifelong walk with God.

Jehovah-Jireh: God Who Makes it Clear

14 - Jehovah-jireh - provide is not the first meaning of this word. It is "to see."

Jehovah-jireh - God who makes things clear. Not providing for needs but allowing us to see what we previously couldn't see; showing us the way we couldn't see before.

When it is time, it will become clear.

Here: on the mountain, it will become clear. Abraham called the place: the Lord made it clear.

In this test, Abraham's obedience allowed him to see how the promise God made to him would come.

How To Go Through Walls

Wall issue: God’s will vs my will.

Wall new, necessary to become deep, mature.

85% Christians get to the wall and never make it through.

Retreat, shut it out of your mindGod has something for you in this experience

Some of us want signs, wonders, etc but not the wall.

We must go through the walls (tests, training) to experience the deep love of the Father, deepen our trust in him and allow him to show us the way we couldn't see before.

What’s the work I have to do at the wall?

Journey Inward

Surrender to God’s will and trusting his goodness

Step out of self, illusions/misconceptions we have about who we are and who God is

Give it time - a long process; involves grieving

More answers than questions

Go through a wall, there is a resurrection on the other side. A LOT that has to die in the process.

Discussion

ANG Debrief

SH Family Items

Building Share Discussion

Misconceptions

This is NOT a merger. Both congregations retain their identity, etc. Find commonality around mission.

LW is NOT hard core SBC in theology or any other way.

Approach to the Conversation

Posture of Trust (vs mistrust) - We are familiar with one another

Start with “What are the possibilities” vs what could go wrong. Work out any issues as we go.

Leadership from both churches will work toward a proposal and if one is agreed upon, will present to our respective congregations for affirmation.

Elder Recruiting/Training

Recommendations for the training

Training to begin this week

Affirmation in December.

Pastor Search

Process

Select the interview team - today.

EFCER recommended search team: elders.

2 Elders remaining. One more person needed. We will select that person today and act to affirm or not, the search team. They can begin their work this week.

Dave King

Sandy Mullis

__________

Action: Will we will recommend Dave, Sandy, and ______ as our pastor search team? Call for affirmation.

2. We have a unique situation so the normal process will be adjusted.

It may not take long.

The search team will review and adapt the EFCER search team guide. SH will be informed of the process.

Candidates will know this is a position without a salary.

Depending on the candidate and when that person can begin, there may be the possibility of a brief handoff period (overlap).