September 26, 2021
Pastor Ricky Smith

Sermon Notes

I. Test of Faith

Hebrews 11:17-18
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

Genesis 22:1
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Genesis 22:2
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.”

God is not surprised by your pain

Genesis 22:3-4
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.

Romans 8:35-39
“we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Genesis 22:5-10
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.

II. Logic of Faith

Hebrews 11:19
He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Faith Can Overpower Logic

Romans 4:20-22
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”

Genesis 22:11-14
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.”

Faith Has No Plan B

Genesis 22:15-19
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.

III. Legacy of Faith

Hebrews 11:20
By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.

God Is Faithful Even in Our Failure

Next Steps

• I confess and repent of my sin to trust Jesus as my Savior and King for the first time.
• I choose to embrace tests of faith as opportunities to to be reminded of God’s faithfulness.
• I commit to trust God’s plan and will point others to Him as I give Him glory.

Deep Dive

1. Read Romans 8:35-39. What do we learn about the love and power of God?
2. Read 2 Timothy 2:13. Why does it matter that God is faithful even when we are not?
3. Genesis 22:11-14 reveals God’s provision. How does this foreshadow Christ’s sacrifice?

Springboards

1. If you have a scar on your body, share the story of how this happened and what life lesson you learned?
2. Jacob’s hip was altered by God in Genesis 22. How can our scars tell a story of God’s faithfulness?
3. Read Psalm 138:8 and discuss what is tells us about God.