The Correct Response to Divine Testing - Gen 22:1-13

INTRODUCTION

Mrs. Nolan / pop quiz

When Mrs. Nolan gave a pop quiz

I discovered some similarities and some differences

The test always caught us off guard to see if we were studying

The test didn’t just cover new material but it covered old stuff that we should have mastered by now

We were never warned the test just came out of nowhere

The test never required us to know what we never learned but to remember and retain what we should have learned

When the test came I could pray and all but if I had not studied to know the material I would fail the test because what I did not study or know could not come to me by osmosis

What happens when we are tested by the Divine?

It’s not the devil - its God who is testing you.

Abraham got is promised child and then when he gets his promised child here comes God coming to test him.

This is contrary to what we would like and even to some degree what we have even been taught.

God reserves the right in your life to bless your socks off. He reserves the right to give you everything He promised you but since He reserves the right to do all that - but it is for the mere fact that whom God blesses He has handpicked you to be tested!

Looking out at some of you today and I see how God has blessed you but when you’ve been blessed there’s a test coming around the corner!

If you’re going to have the correct response to divine testing you’ve got to number 1

Show up for the test (verse 1)

It is the mere fact that you’ve been blessed in chapter 21 that you’re still blessed in chapter 22. You’ve got to stop looking at test as a curse but you’ve got to look at them as a blessing. Because the fact that I’m being tested inevitably means that I’ve been blessed!

Say yes to the test

Life to the promise in chapter 21

Death to the promise in chapter 22

“in Issac shall thy seed be called”

Not only must you show up you must take the test with the same joy that you took the blessing (verse 2-4)

Some folk can stand to be blessed but they can’t stand to be tested.

Follow the instructions given by the Proctor

when the proctor speaks you’ve got to listen carefully to what He says and follow His instructions

Some folks fail tests not because they don’t have the where with all to pass but they don’t know how to follow instructions

But what happens when the proctors instructions are somewhat incomplete. He tells him to go but doesn’t tell him where to God. But Abraham doesn’t need to know where He is going He just needs to know who told Him to go.

Somebody you’ve been on the road to somewhere because God said it but you don’t know where the road will lead. Just like Abraham, you’ve got to keep on walking!

People told you when you start walking you’ve got to know where you’re going but that’s not true! You’ve just got to know who you’re walking with!

Stop looking at the test as just merely a test but look at it as worship (verse 5)

You’ve got to leave some stuff and some people behind when its time to worship - some stuff can’t follow you into the presence of God

When it comes to your worship its got to be between you and God

When it comes to your worship it will always require sacrifice

You can’t serve God without sacrifice

You can’t worship without sacrifice

What are you willing to sacrifice?

You’ve got to be vulnerable and stop worrying about what people will say about you

You might fail but failure was the sacrifice - you had to sacrifice looking crazy to all of those around you and that was the sacrifice. You were Mr. & Mrs. popularity when you were doing what you wanted to do in the word but when God saved you - you weren’t so popular. You had to lay down who and what you thought you were because serving God requires sacrifice.

When you stop looking at the test as merely as test and it becomes worship that means that you’ve taken ownership of the test. You’ll risk looking stupid, being talked about, being ostracized… because this isn’t just a test this is a sign of my worship!

When its worship I make up in my mind come hell or high water I WILL bless the Lord at all times and His praises shall continually be in my mouth!

Can you maintain an attitude of worship when you’re being tested?

When I’m being tested is not time to move away from worship its an opportunity to draw closer!

Worship requires giving something up! What are you willing to give up in worship?

You’ve got to remember what God said (chapter 21) and what God did (chapter 21)

What God said is that all of Abraham’s seed would be called through Isaac

What God did was touched a dead womb in that of Sarah

In other words Isaac had already been raised from the dead once - so God can do it again.

We’re going to worship but we will come again to you (verse 5)

God will do it again!

If you’re going to have the correct response to divine testing you’ve got to be okay carrying your own cross (verse 6)

Matthew 16:24 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Then you’ve got to know the proctor well (verse 8)

Know that the proctor always has a plan in mind.

Where are all my Bible readers

Abraham tells Isaac God would provide a lamb when God did not say He would provide a lamb. As far as Abraham knows Isaac is the sacrifice. But somewhere in his Spirit he has faith enough to know that God will turn this thing around

Faith will sometimes cause you to make a declaration not based on your situation but based on the revelation you have of who God is

Sometimes in your life you will face some situations and circumstances where you don’t have the answers and others around you won’t have the answer! So you’ve got to speak about who you know in circumstances and situations that you don’t know! Because as long as you got somebody you know well rocking with you - you have the power to overcome uncertainty!

CLOSING

Isaac allowed his father to begin to sacrifice him (9) the father is the conductor of the sacrifice of the son

Jesus

The angel stopped him because he had the correct response, he proved that he would do what God said

The ram was in the thicket because he had the correct response, he went to the place in which God showed him after he was obedient to go not even knowing where he was going

If you’re going to have the correct response to divine testing you’ve got to know just like Abraham did that you will pass the test not because who you are but because who He is. Not because of what you know but because of who you know! Not because of your power but because of His power.

But beloved when you come down to the altar you’ve got to be willing to lay down something in order to pick up something - God will replace the spirit of heaviness with the garment of praise. He will replace ashes with beauty. He will replace mourning for dancing. Sorrow into joy.

And you’ve got to make up in your mind that when I come to bring a sacrifice unto the Lord - I’m leaving with something!

I’m leaving with more joy, I’m leaving with more peace, I’m leaving with favor, I’m leaving with hope, I’m leaving with a renewed mind! Because God in my sacrifice has prepared something for me that was there all along I just didn’t see until it was time.

Some of you are looking for something but you haven’t had the correct response to divine testing. If you get your response right then you’ll be a candidate to receive the ram thats waiting in the thicket.