WEBVTT 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:05.280 Thank you for joining us on the CCW podcast. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:10.960 Make sure you connect with us on social media to stay up to date on ministries and events happening at CCW. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:14.960 We hope you're encouraged, inspired, and motivated by today's message. 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:19.120 To find out how to connect with us, keep listening after the message ends. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:27.359 Turn your Bibles this morning to Genesis chapter 22. 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:30.079 Genesis 22. 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:36.799 As I considered what to share this morning, God brought me to the Isaac tests. 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:40.320 And this last year has been a test for Eli. 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:45.119 And when we talk about tests, life is full of tests. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:49.280 For some of you, to hear the word tests felt like a test. 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:51.920 Why'd you have to say that, Pastor? 00:00:52.880 --> 00:01:02.799 The Isaac test in Genesis 22, on the mega level, it is the test of Abraham to become the father of nations. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:05.120 Eli no sweat today. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:07.040 That is not the expectation. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:16.079 On a macro level for us, the church, and for Eli, it is a test of surrender. 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:23.840 With the result for Eli being ordination, and for us as a Christian is godly surrender. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:28.799 And I want you to ask yourself the question this morning have I surrendered all? 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:33.760 All to Jesus, have I surrendered everything to him? 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:38.879 Now, I want you to understand today, you don't have to surrender. 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:48.239 You don't have to be the father of nations, you don't have to be a pastor, but you also don't have to enjoy the blessings of God in your life. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:54.640 But I propose to do any of those things well, you have to pass the Isaac test. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:55.760 Let me pray. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:59.840 Father, we love you, and we thank you for the word of God. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:03.519 We pray that it would do its work this morning. 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:04.879 God, go before us. 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:10.159 We came here to be challenged, we came here to be changed, and we came here to meet with you. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:11.919 So, Father, fill this place. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:16.080 We thank you already for what we've heard and how we've worshiped. 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:20.240 Lord, we're just asking that your presence would stay. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:23.599 Lord, beckon us, call us in Jesus' name. 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:24.400 Amen. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:28.960 The first point this morning of the Isaac test is this it's an arduous summons. 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:40.240 In Genesis 22, verses 1 through 2, it says, Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham and said to him, Abraham, and he said, Here I am. 00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:52.240 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. 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:57.039 Letter A, we see this is Abraham's relationship assessment. 00:02:57.280 --> 00:03:02.879 As the test begins, the first thing that we see is an assessment of his relationship with God. 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:08.000 It says, after these things, in verse 1, well, what things? 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:14.400 Life things Abraham has called by God in Genesis to get out of his country. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:16.240 And he goes out of his country. 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:22.560 He marries Sarah, and they've waited 25 years on this promise of God. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:26.639 They've waited and waited and waited on this promise. 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:30.240 By the way, I want to tell you on the call to ministry. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:35.360 The call to ministry is this: any time, any place, anything, yes, God. 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:37.599 That's the call to ministry, Eli. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:40.240 Any time, any place, anything, yes, God. 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:50.479 It's not God, I'll go here, or God, I'll go there, or God, that looks comfortable, or God that seems like that lines up just right, or this makes sense, or I prefer that. 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:59.199 On the license ordination that Eli received, it says, we have seen evidences that God has called Eli to the gospel ministry. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:07.439 The gospel ministry isn't worship ministry, it's not children ministry, it's not youth ministry or adult ministry. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:10.159 It's all in any of those things. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:12.960 Could be soccer ministry, basketball ministry. 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:14.159 It's all kinds of things. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:20.560 And when you become a pastor, you find out there are a lot of things that give you a doorway to the gospel. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:24.639 Eli has started on Monday night sharing a devotion during pickleball. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:29.680 Pastor Danny stamped this stage for years talking about pickleball. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:37.600 And now Eli gets to bring the word of God because he's called not to pickleball, to the gospel ministry. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:48.000 And so we don't get to say, God, this or that, or well, if you want to call me to this state or this area, God, that'd be okay. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:51.600 It's anytime, any place, anything, yes, God. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:54.000 He said, Abraham, get out of your country. 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:56.720 Abraham and Sarah wait 25 years. 00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:02.240 Now I want you to understand, a lot of people might see this and go, well, that's kind of a glamorous thing. 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:04.560 That's a lofty position. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:08.240 Have you ever been tent camping for 25 years? 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:14.480 Tent camping for one night is not that glamorous. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:22.240 Waiting on the promises of God, and then God, in your 90s and in your 100s, says, Your promise is coming. 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:28.639 And Abraham and Sarah laugh at this point at the promise of God. 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:38.879 And Isaac is born, and about 15 years goes by, and God then says, I think Abraham is ready for the test. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:44.720 Now I'm glad, Eli, you didn't have to wait 15 years for this day to come. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:55.839 But before you ever even take the test to qualify, before you ever get into that testing, it first begins with a relationship. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:06:06.480 And in James 2, verse 21 through 23, on the relationship of Abraham and God, it says that Abraham was called a friend of God. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:12.480 That relationship, the cost of the test reveals a relationship. 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:14.480 He said, thy only son. 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:15.759 Think about that. 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:17.040 Why? 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:19.279 It's testing a relationship. 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:23.040 Is Isaac, has he become your idol? 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:26.480 What are you willing to give up? 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:28.079 What are you willing to surrender? 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:36.319 It answers the question: do I obey God because part of the deal comes with a blessing? 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:39.360 Or do I just want more of God? 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:50.079 When you think about it, Christian, do you want to be a Christian because a part of the deal is a blessing, or do you want more of him? 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:52.879 That's the Isaac test. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:55.519 The Isaac test is a relationship assessment. 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:56.879 Letter B is this. 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:01.279 It was Abraham's readiness analysis. 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:03.360 Was he ready? 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:05.439 Was he ready? 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:06.079 A challenge. 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:08.480 25 years he waited for the promise. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:14.800 And I want to tell you, when it comes to your readiness, real faith, church, is always tested. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:19.120 If God trusts you, he'll test you. 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:25.279 It shows that he can take care of you through the test and shows the world that he is worthy of your surrender. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:28.879 But look at verse 2 and 3, it's interesting. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:31.680 Verse 2 and 3. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:34.800 It looks like in my Bible there's just a small space. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:40.160 God tells him where to go, a mountain which I shall tell you, so Abraham. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:46.879 And I feel like there should have been some words there from Abraham, and it's maybe just my humanness. 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:49.839 But is there a contemplation? 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:51.199 No feelings? 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:53.120 No emotions? 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:54.800 No why? 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:59.199 Doesn't it hit Abraham that this makes no sense? 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:01.839 The seed of my promise? 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:10.000 When I think about these things, it's a it's a theological incongruence, it's a relational incongruence, it's an emotional incongruence. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:18.160 My son, who I've waited a hundred years, the thing that I love most, God, this doesn't make sense. 00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:21.600 Look at verse 3. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:27.040 More than that, how am I supposed to tell Sarah? 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:29.680 She's gonna kill me. 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:34.960 That's why in verse 3 it said, Abraham rose up early. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:40.399 He'd never been so quiet as he tiptoed through that tent. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:43.519 And he got the boy up and he said, We gotta go. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:48.000 And he left a post-it note in the tent that said, Me and the boy taking a hike. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:52.559 He rose up early. 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:54.480 Isaac probably had one shoe. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:59.120 You know how it is, dads, when you take the kid to Walmart, mom's, look. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:02.399 Was he ready for the test? 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:11.759 When God calls a major test, the results of the test always reveal how you studied and you listened in class. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:13.440 I'm gonna say that again for you. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:21.120 When God calls for a major test, the results of the test always reveal how you studied and listened in class. 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:25.440 A hundred years, Abraham had been listening to God. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:27.440 The summons was arduous. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:31.360 Point number two this morning is this an acquiescent surrender. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:32.720 Look at verse 3. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:34.720 I love verse 3. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:39.840 I love that there isn't anything for me to go on there and any emotion. 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:42.720 But look at what happens in verse number 3. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:47.519 God gives him this command, this terrible, this hard command. 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:56.960 And verse 3, it just says, So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:03.360 And he split the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place which God had told him. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:07.840 Letter A is this Abraham commenced to working and worshiping. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:13.120 James 1, 22 says this, to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only. 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:16.879 I said for a year to our teenagers one time, be a doer. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:21.120 Don't be adultery, be a doer, get to work. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:28.559 In my house, if there's an argument, man, you ever have an argument with your wife? 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:30.639 In my house, nobody. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.039 Wow, what a holy church. 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:36.080 Just me and Heather going at it. 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:42.320 In my house, if we have an argument, I'll tell you what happens. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:46.559 We don't yell, we don't scream, we commence to working. 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:56.159 And I'm gonna tell you what, Heather gets to unloading dishes and slamming doors and cabinets clank speed and bang, boom, and I'm like, that's it. 00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:57.519 She ain't gonna outwork me. 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:02.799 I grab the swiffer and I'm like, I will swift this floor off the floor. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:04.639 You're not gonna outwork me. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.960 And we just get to working. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:08.720 I know that something's gone wrong. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:13.039 If there were there's tension in our house, boy, gets clean, buddy. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:17.440 I think sometimes she might want to aggravate me just so I help clean better. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.840 I'm just kidding. 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:22.240 You got work anger. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:24.960 But Abraham, maybe that's it. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:26.639 We're not told, but he got to work. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:27.360 I know that. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:34.799 It doesn't say he cried, doesn't say he pouted, didn't say he he had a meeting, it didn't say he had a prayer meeting or talked to Sarah. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:39.679 It said he saddled the donkey, split the wood, got his posse together, and they got going. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:40.720 He got to work. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:44.399 By the way, that's a four-letter word at Saul's poverty, church. 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:46.879 You better love to work. 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:52.559 The secret to doing a hard thing, church, is to get started. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:54.879 There's nothing wrong with hard things. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:58.159 We got something in our society today, in our culture today. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:02.000 Well, I don't know if I want to go that route because that's not really so comfortable. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:04.399 I'm not really comfortable with that. 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:06.720 You don't have to be comfortable. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:09.279 God didn't call you to comfort. 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:11.519 He probably called you to sweat a little. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:14.399 He probably called you to do some things that are difficult. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:20.559 And God tells Abraham, take your only son and go do something hard. 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:22.799 And this is what I love about Abraham. 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:27.679 He doesn't stir anything up, he heard God's voice. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:29.279 Now you gotta be committed. 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:35.039 Eli let me tell you, you gotta be committed and dedicated to the Lord and his word to know that whisper. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:41.200 And when you hear God's voice, Abraham says he listened explicitly. 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:42.399 He gets to work. 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:43.519 God said go. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:45.519 He didn't worry about what he didn't know. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:46.480 He went. 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:48.399 And he went off of what he did know. 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:50.399 God said, Go, so I'm going. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:54.960 Sometimes my children will pass the clock tower in Chelsea Park. 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:58.720 We live in Chelsea Park, and their antennas go up because we passed the clock tower. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:00.879 They say, Dad, Dad, where are we going? 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:05.840 And there's a couple of places I know they're gasping inside, hoping that's not the answer. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:09.440 My kids hate and despise Aldi. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:10.879 You know what I'm talking about? 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:11.519 Aldi? 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:15.519 Like sometimes I'm like, kid, you better clean up that room, I'll take you to Aldi. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:18.720 It's a room clean. 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:23.840 But I'm like, you don't, I don't have to tell you where I'm going. 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:28.000 All you need to know is that I know where we're going. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:33.919 For 15, 17 years, it's never been on your agenda to figure out if we needed bread. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:37.200 You've never had to know if we need dawn soap. 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:39.600 And all of a sudden you gotta know where we're going. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:46.000 Well, just trust this that your father knows where he is taking you. 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:53.919 You may not like where you're going, but you don't have to worry if you trust in God. 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:58.480 About the direction, you don't have to worry if you trust in God. 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:03.200 So just get to work and get going like Abraham. 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:04.639 Well, here's an important question. 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:06.720 Go down to verse 4 and 5. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:11.120 How do you worship God with a broken heart? 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:15.279 Verse 4 and 5. 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:24.080 Then on the third day, that's important, Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:30.879 And Abraham said to his young man, these are important words, listen to everyone, stay here with the donkey. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:34.960 The lad and I will go yonder and worship. 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:41.120 Hear this, highlight this, and we will come back to you. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:46.159 The lad and I will go and worship, and we will come back. 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:50.720 There's a secret to this test, and it has to do with that relationship. 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:55.759 Abraham, I think, on day two or three, maybe had a breakthrough. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:59.519 Maybe he thought to himself, God said he'd bless me through Isaac. 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:00.799 God gave me Isaac. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:02.000 God has never lied. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:03.039 God can't lie. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:04.080 God won't lie. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:07.039 And God is immutable, which means he can't change. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:13.120 So God who can't lie gave me a son and now has told me to give him my son, but he can't lie. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:18.000 And God said, I'll bless your lineage, but now he wants me to offer him up. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:22.879 Maybe that means for God to bless my son, he has to have my son. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:28.080 Why don't you look over to Hebrews chapter 11 for a moment? 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:32.559 Hebrews 11, 17 through 19. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:39.679 Says, by faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:49.039 And he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, in Isaac, your seed shall be called. 00:15:49.279 --> 00:16:00.000 Concluding, look at this, that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, from which he also received in a figurative sense. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:09.600 So Abraham, maybe on day two, maybe just before he went up and they ascended Mount Moriah. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:16.559 Here's the thing when you are close, hear me, church, when you are close to the heart of God, you get spiritual insight. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:19.919 You get superior to human insight. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:29.840 Abraham was called the friend of God, and he says, I'm going to slay my son, but maybe God will resurrect my son. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:34.240 It says in Hebrews there that he believed that God could resurrect. 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:44.080 He said to the guys back here, we are going to worship, but we, not I, we are going to return. 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:46.799 God promised this boy, and God cannot lie. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:51.759 I don't want you to miss this insight, church, the enormity of this moment. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:58.240 Before Scripture ever said the word resurrection, Abraham thought about resurrection. 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:06.240 Before it was ever mentioned, Abraham, the crux of Christianity, is held by the glue of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:10.160 And Abraham had this insight in this moment. 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:19.279 He had faith in God that was so real before anyone had ever heard of this idea or seen it, he believed in it. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:20.799 Now that's faith. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:22.319 It's literally faith. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:27.759 Hebrews 11:1 says, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:30.720 He hadn't seen it, but he believed it. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:33.440 Abraham had that kind of faith. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:38.880 Letter B, we see Abraham communicates by willingness. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:46.640 He said, I'm going to worship. 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:49.440 He's communicating his worship. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:59.119 Verse 6 says, 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. 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:04.880 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, My father, and he said, Here I am, my son. 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:09.440 Then he said, Look the fire and the wood, but where's the lamb for a burnt offering? 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:16.720 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:18.160 So the two of them went together. 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:21.039 Then they came to the place of which God had told them. 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:28.240 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. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:32.000 This church is fully surrendering. 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:39.519 He hands his son, the son of promise, this teenage boy, the wood. 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:42.960 He grabs a torch and a knife. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:48.480 It's amazing how children in a moment like this, how uncanny they are to finally speak. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:57.519 Isaac speaks up in a moment that I think Abraham was trying to be quiet about, and he says, Dad, where's the lamb? 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:01.759 And don't miss the tenderness of Abraham. 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:06.319 He says, My son, God will provide the lamb. 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:08.480 He builds the altar, the wood. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:11.759 He never tells Isaac what's fully going on that we can tell. 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:14.000 He can't say, Isaac, you're the lamb. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.319 Why is that? 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:18.559 Because Abraham is old. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:23.680 And can you imagine a hundred-year-old chasing a 15-year-old through the woods? 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:29.039 He binds him up, he puts him on the altar. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:31.599 I want you to hear that, church. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:36.160 We are a church that believes in an altar, an altar call. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:38.480 He binds him up and puts him on the altar. 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:41.519 There's a song I love that says, Oh, come to the altar. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:42.640 Why is it? 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:50.880 This is wooden, this is not magical, but it's a place that communicates some form of worship to our God. 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:56.160 And so Abraham goes to the altar with his son. 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:58.160 This is worship. 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:07.200 When you're willing to surrender anything, the promised thing that you love with all that you are, are you willing to surrender? 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:15.279 Church, are you willing to surrender everything to a God who has everything? 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:23.920 Spurgeon says this nothing teaches us the preciousness of the Creator as when we learn the emptiness of everything else. 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:30.640 There's nothing that'll fill the gaps and holes in this heart like a surrender to the Almighty God. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:31.839 Surrender. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.720 Point number three this morning is this. 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:36.160 Look at verse 10 through 12. 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:37.839 An Almighty supply. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:48.240 It says, And Abraham stretched out his hand and he took the knife to slay his son. 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:52.640 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham. 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:54.400 So he said, Here I am. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:21:04.319 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. 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:07.440 Letter A is this God's promises are real. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:11.920 Abraham fully committed to that moment. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:27.839 God took him up that mountain, and Abraham stretched out his son, and he looked to the heavens with a knife raised in hand, ready to do anything, the absurd, the most hardest thing he had to face. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:44.559 This test was coming to an end, knife over hand, believing he was going to kill his son, but also believing that God would then resurrect his only son, knowing in his heart God was not a liar, but believing in something nobody's ever seen. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:51.680 Isaac's eyes wide open, ultimate obedience because he believed in God's word. 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:54.240 He believed in God's promise. 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:59.759 And Eli, if I can share one thing it is the promises of God that we have. 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:08.640 With our surrender, the one most important thing that we have is the promises, the steadfast promises of God. 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:13.759 It is by this book that we do everything, that we filter everything. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:18.160 And God gave a word to Abraham and he just believed in his word. 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:21.599 When I was a fifth grader, we sang every day in school. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:23.119 I went to Christian school. 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:25.599 Every promise in the book is mine. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:28.000 Every chapter, every word, every line. 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:30.400 All the blessings of his love divine. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:32.960 Every promise in the book is mine. 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:43.519 The call to ministry is the call to believe in his book, in his promises, to preach the whole counsel of it, not skipping one thing. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:46.319 It's the secret to surrender. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:48.559 It was Abraham's secret. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:52.640 He actually believed in what God said. 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:56.720 And that's the secret, church, Christian. 00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:59.039 When God calls you. 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:01.359 I was sharing to the serve team this morning. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:03.680 Heather and I knew a family of the Valeros. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:10.480 They're in heaven now, in their 50s, had built up a business empire, and God said, Mr. 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:15.599 Valero, you need to serve me and people in Venezuela. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:18.240 He cashed it all in. 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:20.160 He surrendered everything. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:32.000 I started to imagine all the things that we take our whole life to get to the age 50 and all the building that America says you have to do, and the house, and the car, and the jobs, and the 401k, and the vacation, all of it. 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:34.319 And he said, I'm cashing it all in. 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:36.079 I surrender all. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:38.559 Abraham was a hundred. 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:42.480 We think if we hadn't made it in our 30s, then we just gotta give up. 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.920 We've tried. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:49.519 God is continually calling you to a surrender. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:52.720 His call is now. 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:55.920 Do you believe in his word? 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:59.200 It's the inerrant, infallible word of God. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.559 It's our guide. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.799 Let her be. 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:05.519 God provided a ram. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:09.920 Look at verse 13 and 14. 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:26.480 As Abraham threw his hand up in the air, believing in God's word, willing to sacrifice his son, he heard from the angel, Do not lay your hand on the lad, for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:32.319 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:38.400 So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:43.680 And Abraham called the name of the place the Lord will provide. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:47.200 As it is to this day. 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:49.599 God provided. 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:52.160 God provided. 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:58.640 God does not need or accept human sacrifice because man is morally blemished. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:01.200 God provided a ram. 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:16.079 It's interesting in some study this week looking at this, and just I kept going back to that third day, and when Abraham looked up at the mountain, John 8.56 is a very sort of fascinating passage. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:21.839 It says John 8.56, he explains to the Pharisees about Father Abraham. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:28.720 It says, Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and was glad. 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:32.079 What does that mean? 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:34.799 Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:42.880 Remember, Genesis 22, 4, on the third day, Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:50.720 It says, Jesus said that Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he was glad. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:56.000 So maybe we know this, Abraham was on his way to Mount Moriah. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:26:01.279 And maybe, just picture with me, he looks off in the distance and sees something. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:03.839 Jesus Christ said he saw my day. 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:05.680 I don't know what that means in a vision. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:07.119 I don't know what that means. 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:21.759 Scripture doesn't lay it out the way I want it to, but I believe there was a secret, and this is what I do know at Mount Moriah, it's located just a few hundred yards from a hill called Mount Calvary. 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:28.880 We know that Abraham believed in resurrection without ever seeing it. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.720 He was a man of great faith. 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:35.359 What if that day is the same day as John 8 56? 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.319 He looked off. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:40.000 I don't know why we're told that, but it says he lifted his eyes and looked off. 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:40.480 Why? 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:42.319 There's got to be a reason. 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:49.680 And so as he was heading up to this place, Jesus said Abraham saw it and he was glad. 00:26:50.960 --> 00:27:06.400 Was he walking to sacrifice his son and looked up and smiled because God possibly gave Abraham a glimpse of what would come later on, a resurrection, a real resurrection, the day of Jesus Christ? 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.759 Because I know this. 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:10.960 Abraham said, We're going up to worship. 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:12.480 We will be back. 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:18.880 Jesus said to us, I am going to be put on a cross. 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:21.680 But one day, church, I will be back. 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.599 I'm coming again. 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:25.920 The final test of surrender is this. 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:28.319 I believe it's found in Hebrews 12, too. 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:30.319 Pastor Eli, it's this. 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:37.200 We're told to look unto Jesus, the author and perfecter, the finisher of our faith. 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:44.559 While you're on the journey, while you're on the quizzes in the church and at the altar, keep your eyes focused on Jesus. 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:50.240 He says, keep our eyes on Jesus, and it'll get you up the mountain. 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:53.200 Don't look at people, look at Jesus. 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:57.119 Don't look at the Southern Baptist denomination, look at Jesus. 00:27:57.359 --> 00:28:00.000 Don't look at CCW, look at Jesus. 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:02.960 Don't look at your pastor, look at Jesus. 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:06.160 Don't look at your ministry, look at Jesus. 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:08.559 Not your family, look at Jesus. 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.799 Not your government, look at Jesus. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:13.200 Not your president, look at Jesus. 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.480 Look at Jesus. 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:17.279 When you're in doubt, I want to tell you, look at Jesus. 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:19.599 When you're afraid, look on Jesus. 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:22.160 When you feel like quitting, look on Jesus. 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:25.440 When your feelings get hurt, look on Jesus. 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:29.519 Don't look at anything else, but look at Jesus. 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:31.599 Look at Jesus, church. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:33.440 Keep looking at Jesus. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:37.359 Would you look at your neighbor and say this? 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:39.359 Don't look at me. 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:42.559 Look at Jesus. 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:47.039 Abraham looked on Jesus. 00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:54.079 And because he did, he passed the Isaac test, the altar test. 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:57.279 He surrendered all. 00:28:58.640 --> 00:29:02.559 But it was because he had one laser focus. 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:06.880 God said, I'll do. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:11.599 We're excited you joined us for today's message. 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:16.799 Our heart is to connect with others in our community, to grow with one another, and build a bigger kingdom. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:19.680 If you accepted Jesus today, we want to hear about it. 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:23.680 Take a moment and text CCW Connect to 94000. 00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:26.880 Thank you again for joining us on the CCW podcast. 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:30.240 We hope you'll make plans to join us in person on Sundays.