Ridiculous Faith: Faith’s Test
Hebrews 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they SEEK a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they DESIRE a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
- Faith Seeks and Faith Desires
Psalm 27:4
4 One thing have I DESIRED of the Lord, that will I SEEK after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
- Faith Seeks First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
- And Faith Desires God and the City He has prepared for us above everything else
- Faith Desires the God of the Promise but Faith also Trusts the God of the Promise to deliver.
- Faith acts in ways that are out of sync with a world that does not desire or trust God.
Hebrews 11: 17-19 (ESV)
17 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, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
#1 Our Faith Can Be and Will Be Tested
Genesis 22:1-2
1 Now it came to pass after these things that God TESTED Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 Then He said, “Take now 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.”
Genesis 22:3
3 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 the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
- The Old Testament always points us to Jesus Christ and the Cross. It is a foreshadowing of things to come
- The New Testament is the account of the Life of Christ, the Messiah, and points us back to Christ and the Cross
2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Genesis 22:4
4 Then on the Third Day, Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off
Genesis 22:2
2 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.”
Genesis 22:5-6
5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” 6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
Genesis 22:7-14
7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” 12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” 13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, Jehovah Jireh The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
John 1:29
29 Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world