Journey of Faith - The Ultimate Test (North OC)

Marcel: We are concluding our, , sermon series here, , the journey of faith

that we've been studying out, , Genesis, really, , Genesis chapters, , 12 and

we'll finish up in, chapter 25 and we're learning about the journey of

faith that we go on and we're looking at the lens or through the lens of the

journey of faith that the, , father of faith, Abraham went through.

So we're studying this out on Sundays and also on Wednesdays in our family groups.

And we have a handout if you're, if you haven't seen it in the church app, just

go ahead and look in there in the inbox.

And so I want to kind of recap this here.

I know we always have some people here that are visiting for the first time.

Also want to mention that our college students are out of town.

That's why we're a little bit lighter today.

They're at the campus ministry retreat over in Antelope Valley and they

should be returning home this Sunday.

But God called Abraham to a journey of faith.

And so he calls him out of the land and tells him to go.

And he won't tell him exactly where he's going, but he'll tell him when to stop.

So he's called to this journey.

And he's also given these great promises that God will make him.

He's a, he's a senior citizen at this time.

And he tells him that he's going to be a great nation and this nation will

be a blessing to the entire world.

And we know that was fulfilled, ultimately, by Jesus Christ.

And so, as we have seen throughout our study here, there's many

highs and there's many lows.

There's some great choices and there's some really poor choices that

are made in all of the characters.

And so we see great examples of faith and we see great examples of not having faith.

And so we're able to relate on all these different levels.

Now, before we get into the actual text here today, let me ask you, I

know we have some high school and our college students aren't here, uh,

but everybody can answer this one.

Um, when you were in school or where you are in school, do you like tests?

People say that a little too quickly.

You don't like tests, right?

Most of us don't really like tests, do we?

And so maybe it's the anxiety of the test.

Uh, maybe the, you know, understanding the ramifications of the test.

Especially if it's a big test.

I know I was pretty nervous about the SAT, you know.

And, uh, didn't do too well the first time.

And did so so the second time.

I got another story about taking SAT too that I'll share for another moment

there that is pretty embarrassing.

But, let me ask you this.

Do you like pop quizzes?

You don't like pop quizzes either, right?

So we don't like the tests that we know are coming.

We really don't like the pop quizzes that we receive.

And so some of us, we get stage fright.

We might know the material.

But because it's on the spot or just the pressure, sometimes we

buckle or we maybe don't do as well if it was a different setting.

Now I know we have a number of teachers.

Let me ask the teachers.

Teachers, cause you're the ones who give the tests.

Can you please tell the teachers, what are the purposes and benefits of tests?

Accountability.

Accountability.

Eric said it real loud.

Okay, yes, alright.

Test

Karina: are meant to drive.

Marcel: Okay.

I drive, they drive this.

I, if I, if I test, I know what they know, then I know what to teach.

Okay.

Any other teachers there want to want to mention any other

benefits or purposes of tests?

To see what they're retaining?

Okay.

Yes.

Yes.

Track progress.

Right?

And just because you're evil, right?

Exactly right.

You just want to make life hard for the kid, don't you?

Right.

We know that's number one, but you're in church, you don't want to admit that.

Just playing, just playing, I'm just playing.

Alright, there might be a couple teachers like that, but not you guys.

But here's the thing, right, we can understand, when we're taking the

test, we really don't appreciate it.

But we're on the other side, we can understand, but when we take a step back,

we can see kind of some of the reasons why and also some of the benefits of the test.

Now, in our spiritual journey, we realize we also have tests in our faith.

And we have many spiritual tests.

And so that's what we're going to study and look at today.

And so the title of today is the ultimate test.

The ultimate test.

So turn over in your Bible to Genesis chapter 22.

Genesis 22 · chapter mention

We'll have the scriptures on the screen, but I know a number of us like

to look at it on our phones there.

And in Genesis chapter 22.

Genesis 22 · chapter mention

I want to recap here again.

Last week, Dallas Kauai preached a great sermon to heaven.

Dallas and Daniel just done a great job preaching over

the last several weeks here.

They done a fantastic job preaching, guys.

We're so proud of them.

In the last chapter, chapter 21, Sarah, Abraham's wife, gives birth to Isaac.

And this is really big.

This is the promised child.

25 years have gone since God said, Hey, why don't you move

and I'm going to bless you.

25 years and then finally the child is born and that's a great thing and we

see God's faithfulness to his promises.

And then afterwards we see that there's still some drama in the family

that stems from some poor choices.

And so now, the, uh, uh, Abraham's second wife and child and Ishmael,

they leave, but God protects and He blesses them and He protects

and He blesses Abraham and Isaac.

And so now, here we are, it's about ten years later.

And so Isaac now is probably about 12 to 13, maybe 14 years old.

And we take it up here in Genesis chapter 22 church.

Genesis 22 · chapter mention

Are you with me?

Okay.

You might be wondering why is Karina still on stage?

Does she have another announcement?

No, she doesn't, but she's going to actually be sharing some here as

well as we go through the sermon.

Amen.

Are you guys with us here?

All right.

Amen.

Genesis chapter 22 in verse 1.

Genesis 22 · chapter mention

Let's read it sometime later.

God tested Abraham.

Let's stop right there.

This is helpful for you and me as we read this because we understand, okay,

what's about to happen is a test.

But the best thing to do when you read the Bible, how you get the most, how you can,

uh, really have the Spirit minister to you, is to insert yourself into the text.

And when you do that, then you start to see things differently and the

Spirit of God ministers to you.

So I want you to insert yourself into the text and put yourself in Abraham's shoes.

OK, are you guys with me here?

So he doesn't know that this is a test.

Now we do.

Let's go.

So here I am, he replied.

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 what in the world was that?

Did you hear what was said again?

If you're Abraham, this you don't know.

This is a test.

But somehow God's communicating to you here.

Go, you remember that one kid who you've been waiting on for 25 years?

The promise, all the drama, all the faithfulness, all the tears, the crying.

Remember that child?

I want you to go take him up to that mountaintop and I

want you to go sacrifice him.

That's when you go, okay.

No habla ingles, right?

You don't, you, what are you talking about, God?

That sounds absurd.

It doesn't make sense.

How would you be feeling in that moment?

How do you think Abraham was feeling?

Wait, this is supposed to be the promised child.

There's descendants that it's supposed to be a blessing through this one.

If I sacrifice them, how's that going to work?

Let's continue reading verse 3 early the next morning.

Abraham got up and loaded his donkey took with him two of his servants

and his son Isaac when he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering.

He set out for the place.

God had told him about.

How did Abraham respond?

It says early in the morning.

Was he praying all night?

Was he trying to dissuade and persuade God to have a different plan?

Was he just anxious all night and just couldn't sleep?

And so therefore he got up regardless.

We don't know.

But what we do know is he responded with what?

Obedience.

We continue.

It says on the third day, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.

Wow.

Three day journey.

Imagine what that was like for Abraham as he's going.

Not just one day.

It wasn't a two hour walk.

It was a three day journey.

And in his mind, he knows what God has called him to.

We continue reading the verse five.

He said to his servants, stay here with the donkey while

I and the boy go over there.

We will worship.

And then we will come back to you.

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac.

And he himself carried the fire and the knife.

As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his

father, Abraham, father, yes, my son.

Abraham replied, the fire and the wood are here.

Isaac said, but where is the land for the burnt offering?

What a question.

How was Abraham feeling at that moment?

Isaac's starting to go.

Hey, uh, where's the animal I've seen?

I've seen you do this before.

I've seen others do this before we're getting close Where's

the animal for this offering?

How would you have responded in that moment?

Let's continue reading Abraham answered God himself Will provide the lamb

for the burnt offering my son and the two of them went on together You When

they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar

there and arranged the wood on it.

He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood.

Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, Abraham!

Abraham!

Here I am, he replied.

Do not lay a hand on the boy, he said.

Do not do anything to him.

Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld

from me your son, your only son.

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns.

He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt

offering instead of his son.

So Abraham called the place the Lord will provide.

And to this day, it is said on the mountain of the Lord, it will be provided.

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said,

I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have

not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your

descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the sea shore.

Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies and through

your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me.

Then Abraham returned to his servants and they set off together for Beersheba

and Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

We'll stop right there.

What a story, mysterious.

It's nerve wracking, intense and inspiring all at the same time.

And the question we've asked ourselves throughout this whole time in this

study is what do we learn about our spiritual journey from what

we see in their spiritual journey?

And what do we learn about God through this?

And so the first thing that stands out to me is, first off, is this,

is that our journey includes tests.

Our journey includes tests.

You know, Abraham went through many tests and we'll look

at some of these right here.

There was the family test when he was asked to leave his family and step

out by faith to go to a new land.

There was the famine test.

This is when he's living in this new land, but there's a famine is dry

and he goes to Egypt to receive help.

There was the fellowship test where he gave lot first choice

in the picking of the land.

Then there was the fight test when he defeated.

With the other men, the kings, that were at war and that took lots.

There was the fortune test, when he said no to Sodom's

wealth that was offered to him.

There was the fatherhood test, when Sarah and him came up with this

terrible plan, so that, you know, that they can help God in some way.

And that Hagar would have Ishmael, a child, for them.

And then there was the farewell test.

In last chapter that we saw where he sent Sarah, uh, I mean, excuse

me, Hagar and Ishmael away.

And we see these tests.

Now, not all of these tests, does it say in the text, were from God.

And so some of the tests that you and I face, they're not designed

by God, they're not from God.

It's just a part of life, but they're tests nevertheless.

And so as we can see in our journey, we're going to have tests.

There's going to be a test and what's being tested our faith and our devotion.

Our faith is being tested.

Our devotion is being tested.

Will you trust God enough to follow?

Will you trust God enough to follow even though you don't

know where he is leading you?

He didn't give you all of the answers.

And then the other question, are you devoted enough to God to obey?

Am I devoted enough to you that no matter how hard it is, I

will still follow your word.

Again, these tests are designed for a purpose, just like the

test that the teachers design.

They want to know where we are, but really what this does, it reveals and refines us.

It reveals to us where we are in our faith.

It reveals to us where our hearts are, and then it refines us.

Because it strengthens us.

I'll share this real briefly.

You know, I didn't realize it was a test, but by the grace of God, I'll

try to share this real quickly here.

By the grace of God, we got a free hotel stay in Hawaii,

so we went earlier this year.

And so we went to this hotel, and it was supposed to be real

cheap, but then all kinds of other family members wanted to join us.

So it went from just our family to a whole family trip.

You know what I mean?

My mom came, and we had all kinds of folks come.

And so we're there, we're in Hawaii, and we're on a Sunday,

and then we had this Sunday, and the night before, we're looking to

see where the Hawaii church meets.

And we're there, and I start looking, and I go, wow, this is

like the other part of the island.

We still have a little part of the island that we still want to see.

There's still some things on my to do list.

And then I looked at the Uber prices, and I was like, ooh,

this is going to be expensive.

I was like, man, the convenience, the money, uh, I don't know about this.

And so I'm really thinking, you know what, we'll just do a family

devotional in our, in our hotel room.

And so I'm telling my mom, like, yeah, mom, I don't think we're going to go.

My mom's like, no, I want to go.

I think we should go.

We can make it work.

I was so convicted.

I was like, man, this is terrible.

I was like, here, I'm a minister of the gospel.

And my mom was like, no boy, we don't go to church.

I'm so grateful.

I really am.

I'm so grateful because I was like, wow, it hit me.

And I had a quiet time many months ago and it hit me.

I said, wow, I was going to take an opportunity for my kids to see

the church in a different light.

I'm never going to have that chance to worship with my Hawaiian

brothers and sisters again.

And so I was going to take it.

Because it wasn't convenient and it was going to be a couple more

dollars than I wanted to spend.

But you know what happened is crazy.

It hadn't the uber into being like 35 cheaper than it was supposed to be and

it took a whole lot less to get there.

I was like, God, you are gracious to me.

But I look back and I go, wow, I failed that test.

But my mom and others, they passed.

And even in our journey, sometimes we don't, we don't

pass the test like we should.

Abraham passed the test, but it refined me.

So even though I didn't pass it with flying colors, I would argue

I failed it considerably, but it refined my faith and it revealed

to me, there's still some things at times that have my heart's affection.

There's still some things in my time in which I don't completely trust.

Can you relate at all?

You see, during our journey of faith, there's going to be tests.

Karina is going to share some more about this.

Karina: Um, you know, Sarah, Sarah didn't come with him.

Uh, she, we don't hear that.

He told her about this.

I tend to think he didn't, um, because I think he might've

been on the altar before Isaac.

Um, but

I just can't imagine.

I don't know.

That test, like, I, I think as, as my kids, like, I'd rather

suffer before watch them suffer.

And so, but, Abraham's test was Abraham's test.

Um, when, you know, they got to, um, they got near the place, uh,

where he was going to offer Isaac, he had the servants stay back.

The servants didn't go with him.

And I think that's something that stood out to me that we each have our own test.

God knows us personally and knows what we need and knows, um, what,

what he, um, what we can handle.

Even, uh, we have our own tests and then we have to decide, are we going

to obey and trust and worship God when something is taken away from us or when,

um, we don't receive what we asked for.

Uh, for me, one of the One of the toughest times, um, was

when my brother passed away.

Because I really had to wrestle to believe in God's goodness.

Um, because if I couldn't trust God's goodness, then that would obviously

affect my relationship with God.

It would obviously affect how much I would trust and obey Him.

Um, and so that was, that was a tough time.

Um,

I think also, you know, relationships in the church, like being hurt

by people, like, that's a test.

It's a test to stay faithful to God.

It's a test to, like, stay faithful to the people He's put in my life.

Um, those are tests, and I think tests come in different forms.

Um, health challenges, um, our, our career, our finances, and, Our marriage,

um, our kids, you know, when we have, you know, our, there's times of testing

with our kids, with our families, our relationships, um, but, but God also

knew the right timing for the test.

God knew when Abraham could handle this test.

Abraham didn't have to sacrifice, um, or he wasn't asked to sacrifice Isaac five

years ago, he was asked at that time, and, you know, you see Abraham, um, you know,

God tells him to do this and he's ready.

He gets up in the morning and does it.

And I think Abraham had over the years developed the knowledge that he needed

to have faith in God, um, to, to be able to trust God through this ordeal.

Um, you know, he even gets to a point where, you know, in Hebrews we learn

in Hebrews 11 17 through 19 it says by faith, Abraham, when God tested

him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.

He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and

only son even though God had said to him, it is through Isaac that

your offspring will be reckoned.

Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead and so in a manner of speaking

he did receive Isaac back from death.

So Abraham had to get, Abraham had to get to that point though.

He had to get to a point where he could embrace the promise And where

he could reason that God could bring back Isaac from the dead.

He can raise the dead, so therefore, it, it could, he could

help him through this journey.

But, I think that wasn't always the case.

Um, and so God uses, also, tests to help our faith.

I think God helped, um, Abraham with his faith through this.

Uh, you know, in, in, you know, When we read, he, um, he tells them this command

and then he, Abraham goes and does it.

And then after God repeats, the angel of the Lord repeats the promise.

And we see actually throughout Abraham's journey, God was repeating the promise.

But typically we see that he would tell, he would repeat the promise

as he asked him to do something.

So when he first told him, hey leave your country, leave your family, and go to this

unknown place, I'm going to bless you.

I'm going to give you this, this, and this and that.

Like, so he gives him the promise as he's calling him to this, uh, task.

But this time the promises is not told to Abraham until after.

And I think that's, you know, God uses this for our own faith.

And then God didn't forget the promise.

I don't think God was holding out on the promise.

I think this, hearing the promise after he went through this gave, Abraham, a new

level of confidence, a new level of faith.

And I think, um, that's what he does for us.

Like sometimes we need to hear the promise before, you know, before

we go out and obedience, but sometimes we have to go through it.

We have to obey and we have to see what God does for us

to, um, have greater faith.

Marcel: And then

also, not only do we, we, we see this, but I think we see something about

God as well is that God will provide that's clear from the text there.

And in fact, we go back, uh, in the text there and it says in Genesis chapter 22

Genesis 22:16

verse 16 again, he called that place.

This is where the Lord will provide.

And so we learn something about God.

We learned that's who God is.

That's his character.

He is the one who promises, but he is the one who fulfills his promise.

And God will provide when we are in need.

God will provide, uh, the strength when we feel like we don't have enough

to fulfill his call to sacrifice.

God will provide a way when we're tempted by sin and evil or demonic forces.

God will provide resources when we have none left.

God provides the wisdom for handling situations or relationships.

God provides peace when there's anxiety.

God provides hope when we're discouraged.

God provides love when we're hurt.

God provides relief when we're under pressure.

But if we, if and when we trust and obey, it will be provided

because that's who he is.

He is the God who will provide.

Karina want to share a little more about that.

Karina: Yes, I think the biggest thing that I saw was God

provides sacrificial love for us.

Um, you know, I remember, um, I don't know if I saw this on someone's

Facebook comments or someone said it, but I remember someone saying

that they couldn't worship a God who would ask this of their follower.

Um, and I, and I, But I, I get it.

I get the sentiment because this was a very difficult request

that God asked of Abraham.

Like, I think the, you know, even just thinking about the

process of this sacrifice.

You know, to offer a sacrifice, an animal, you would cut their throat

and then cut it up into pieces and then burn it on the altar.

Like, That is what God was asking him to do with his one and only son, Isaac.

Like that seems severe.

Um, but I also think Abraham had a different view of this command than we do.

Like we don't have human sacrifices.

Um, and you know, that's not what, you know, is around us.

But for Abraham, it was around him and the pagan nations around him.

That's what they did.

They offered human sacrifices.

So I also think that, Abraham probably had a different view, like, okay, well,

these other pagan gods ask this of their, um, that's what the other people do.

So, I guess it makes sense, it's in the realm of possibility, that

God, the true God, would ask this.

Um, and he didn't have the Bible to, to tell him otherwise, or to know later

that, you know, this was forbidden by God.

Um, but it was still a big request, and this is not to minimize

what God was asking of Abraham.

I think, um, the difference though, the reason why I can worship this God is

because God did ask this of Abraham, but he didn't make him go through with it.

And the plan was always for God to be the one to provide and to show us the

extent of his love through his sacrifice.

I think, um, God isn't a God who asks and expects this of us.

He is.

The God who takes the initiative to make this type of sacrifice for us.

You know, in, um, in Genesis we see that God provided a ram as a

substitute sacrifice in place of Isaac.

Um, and fulfilled Abraham's obligation through that, through the ram.

Um, but years later we know now that God would offer his, his

only son as a sacrifice for us and fulfilling our obligation.

Um, Abraham didn't have to sacrifice Isaac and Isaac didn't have to die, just like

we don't have to be punished for our sins.

Um, in, uh, Genesis 22 verse 2, um, it, sorry, uh, it says, uh,

Genesis 22:2

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.

But in john 3 16 through 17, it says, for God so loved the world

that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall

not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world,

but to save the world through him.

And this is the God that we serve.

We serve the God who Blitz the expectation like he tells Abraham

do this and I'll bless you.

Um, but he doesn't allow Abraham to go through with it.

Instead, God takes the initiative and offers his son as the sacrifice

necessary for eternal life.

So he says, I'm going to do this sacrifice and I'm going to give you eternal life.

Like I'm going to give you eternal life.

Um, but I'm going to do the hard part and that's, that's God's love.

That's, he provides the sacrificial love that we need.

Marcel: Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

And so as we close out, uh, want to give some action steps here to really

allow God to minister to us here.

And so this week, here are the action steps.

Number one, review Genesis chapter 22 for yourself.

Genesis 22 · chapter mention

Go ahead and go over the scriptures and and read the story again for yourself.

But then two, here's what I ask you to do is to answer the following.

How should I view the test in my life?

How should I view the test in my life?

And then to follow it up with what does it look like to obey

the Lord who provides this week.

So this week, what will it look like to obey the Lord who provides and

I believe that the Holy Spirit will minister to you and I and so that

we can have the right perspective.

So that leads us to the right faith.

That helps us to have the right heart and therefore make the right choices

that are aligned with God's will.

And so as we conclude our journey of faith, it includes tests.

And some are just life and some are designed by God.

But God knows us and he tests us individually.

And the same God who tests is the same God who provides.

Our God will provide.

He provides love.

And through Jesus, he provides eternal life.

And so we must decide to trust God's character and promises

and obey his call and word.

Let's close out in Genesis chapter 22, verse 14.

Genesis 22:14

So Abraham called that place.

The Lord will provide until this day, it is said on the mountain

of the Lord, it will be provided.

Brothers and sisters, I pray that you and I will pass the ultimate test.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.