The Test

Genesis 22:1–2 NIV

1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

Who likes tests?

How could a loving Father suggest such a thing.

Too many times we want to understand more than we can handle. We want to dissect scripture but the reality is we should allow scripture to dissect us— our thoughts, our attitudes, our motives, our desires, our dreams, our fears, and our hopes.

We read stories like this and we try to put God on trial; WHY DID YOU DO THAT? As if God is on trial.

But it is not God’s character that is in question, it is our character that is on the stand.

And this is the reason why GOD TESTS US.

God never intended for Abraham to sacrifice his son. It was only a test. God wanted to know if Abraham was willing to obey.

Scripture says “God tested Abraham”

No test = no TESTimony

A test is an opportunity to get a testimony.

You don’t get a testimony while reading a good bible verse. Or at Bible Study. You don’t even get a testimony while praying. The testimony comes when you are out there in the wilderness, or when you are being called to walk on water like Peter. Or when God asks you to sacrifice something in obedience to him.

James 1:3 NIV

because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

According to Jewish tradition, God gave Abraham ten different tests.

Do you know why Abraham was tested? To see if he was all in or not.

There are two reasons why God tests us.

It is an opportunity for God to prove himself to us.

It is an opportunity for us to prove ourselves to God.

It should be a joy to be tested. That’s how we advance. That it how we don’t get stuck.

Do you see it? God will either show up if we persevere. Or we will be promoted once we pass the test.

EXPERIENCE is often times confused with EVALUATED EXPERIENCE.

Just because you have seen it, done it, heard it, etc.. means you got it.

Some people have been saved for 25 years, but not necessarily have 25 years of experience.

They have 1 year of experience repeated 25 times.

When we don’t persevere and endure the tests, we will be frustrated with our faith not because of God, but because we are not willing to LEARN THE LESSONS that God is trying to teach us.

Could it be that some of the ISSUES we have in life that bring frustration in our lives are not caused by others or God but by our lack of faith? And

What I mean by lack of faith is a lack of action.

Callings are progressive.... get your son...

Gen 22:

Genesis 22:1–2 NIV

1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

When Abraham raised the knife he passed the test. God knew in that moment that Abraham was willing to obey and sacrifice what was most precious to him.

Guess what happened? God proved himself as provider.

If Abraham hadn’t gone all in, he would have robbed God the opportunity to provide a ram.

GOD CANNOT REVEAL HIS FAITHFULNESS UNTIL WE EXERCISE OUR FAITH.

He is faithful no matter what. But His faithfulness will not be evident in our lives until we exercise our faith.

If we are honest. In what areas of your life you need God to move today?

Could it be that God is waiting on you to pass the test for him to reveal himself in your situation?

You will have to sacrifice what you love the most for God to show up in your situation. Often times he will let you keep what you though you had to lose.

GOD WILL NEVER TEMPT YOU

James 1:13 NIV

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

James 1:14 NIV

14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

This is against his nature. In fact, he promises to provide a way out to every tempting situation you may face.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 Cor 10:1

But one thing is for sure… He will test your FAITH.

Those tests will not get easier. In fact, they will get progressively harder as the stakes get higher. Where much is given, much is required.

KNOW YOUR ISAAC

Those tests will always revolve around what is most important to you.

What do you find your identity in?

What do you find your security in?

That’s your Isaac!

God will test you to make sure your identity and your security are found in the cross of Jesus Christ.

At the cross is where the EXCHANGE happens.

At the cross Jesus gave up His divinity to die as a human so that we could become God’s children, giving us a new identity.

At the cross we find forgiveness and the security of salvation because of His sacrifice.

GOD WILL GO AFTER ANYTHING WE TRUST MORE THAN HIM UNTIL WE PUT IT ON THE ALTAR.

But you don’t have to live in fear that God is going to take away what is more important to you.

Isaac was God’s gift to Abraham. But if the gift becomes more important than the gift giver, then the gift God gave us to serve His purpose undermines His plan.

The gift was Isaac, but the purpose was beyond Isaac.

One of our biggest problems is that we invert the gospel. We believe at times that is all about us. God becomes the means to an end. And when He is not the END ALL and BE ALL, we have inverted the gospel.

God’s gifts are tools to help us walk on the path he has for us.

His gifts are amazing, but they are also dangerous.

If we are not careful enough, we can begin to rely on those gifts more than God. That’s why it is important to as we receive His gifts also build our character.

Otherwise our greatest strength becomes our greatest weakness.

It was God who gave Lucifer a beautiful form and beautiful voice. And those gifts were used for God’s glory.

But then he started looking in the mirror, reflecting on his own beauty.

He glorified the gift he had been given instead of glorifying God. Here is the lesson on this:

WHATEVER YOU DON’T TURN INTO PRAISE TURNS INTO PRIDE.

We must learn to deflect all praise to God and not let it feed our ego.

Lucifer’s sinful desire to be lifted up was his downfall.

What are your greatest God given gifts?

What are your most significant God-ordained opportunities?

What is your God given dream?

That’s your Isaac.

Every God-given dream must go through death and resurrection.

You gotta love more the giver of the dreams than the dream itself.

Is your dream a means to glorifying God? Or has the dream become the end goal and God is the means to fulfilling it?

God-ordained dreams aren’t just born. They are reborn. If they become more important to you than God then you must sacrifice them for the sake of your soul. Once the dream is dead and buried, it can be resurrected for God’s glory.

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.