Ultimate Faith

LGT - Precourse and final exam and inservice

Abraham truly believed in God’s word. His faith was put into action and given a chance to be realized. It was not just superficial. It was not useless faith, but useful faith. As a father of the nation that was to be a blessing to the whole earth, his faith was made perfect as God foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice that would bless the world - the giving of His own Son.

Review:

Gen 12 - Abraham Called

Gen 15 - Promise Renewed, Covenant Made

Gen 16 - Hagar and Ishmael

Gen 17, 18, 21 - Isaac Promised and Delivered!

Genesis 22:1–2 NASB95

Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”

What a TEST!!!!

What would you do?!

Genesis 22:3–5 NASB95

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.”

Verse 5: WE will worship AND return - WE. He didn’t know how it worked, but he believed in the promise and he knew what God told him to do.

Hebrews 11:17–18 NASB95

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.”

Genesis 22:6–8 NASB95

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 the two of them walked on together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.

Verse 8: GOD WILL PROVIDE

Genesis 22:9–13 NASB95

Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay 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 stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.

WHAT KIND OF FAITH IS THAT!!!

Hebrews 11:19 NASB95

He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

ABRAHAM PROVED HIS FAITH. He trusted God’s Word b/c he trusted God!

God said, that settled it!

To Isaac, God gave 2 sons - Jacob and Esau. They had issues. But eventually Jacob trusted God, too.

To Jacob, God gave 12 sons - and then renamed him ISRAEL.

James 1:2–4 NASB95

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

LGT Test 2

Have you heard about this mountain where they were? Mt. Moriah?

2 Chronicles 3:1 NASB95

Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Right now, at this moment, there is are 2 Muslim guards watching the Eastern Gate of the old city of Jerusalem. That gate is the closest to this place - Mt. Moriah. Right now, there is not a Jewish Temple sitting on it. The one that was there when Jesus walked the earth was destroyed by Rome.

Right now, this part of Jerusalem is controlled by the Muslims. Islam is the religion of the Muslims. Muhammad is said to be a descendant of Ishmael. They hold Ishmael as the chose son b/c Muhammad said so. There is the Dome of the Rock - on this same site. It is said that in a dream Muhammad flew to a mountain and on a rock ascended to heaven and had a conversation and then descended and flew home. That is why they control it.

But they know that the Jewish scriptures say that the Jewish Messiah will return to the east of Jerusalem, and come in through the Eastern Gate, to that temple site and restore worship to the Jewish God.

We know that the name of the Jewish Messiah is Jesus.

The Muslims seem to actually believe God’s word MORE than professing Christians BECAUSE THE ACT ON IT.

What about you?