Allen Lo (Sept 27, 2015)

Greensboro Chinese Christian Church English Ministry

(Genesis 22: 1-14)

Are the things you presently treasure what they ought to be?

Do your treasures have a lasting value? What would be their value in five or ten years time?

Would their value appreciate or depreciate?

Would there come a time when you would lose interest in these things you presently hold dear.

Do you see yourself ever giving them up or exchanging them for something more valuable—something more enduring?

The Decisive Questions to think about…

Background

God gave Abraham a son

Abraham and Lot in Canaan

God called Abraham out of

Ur

(July) UncertaintyTrust God when you are not sure (Genesis 12:1-4)

(Aug) UncontentiousSee the things your eye cannot see (Genesis 13:7-12)

(Sept) UnselfishGive up the things that you treasure most (Genesis 22: 1-14)

Life of Abraham

God wanted to test Abraham’s faith God asked Abraham to take his son Isaac to a mountain and offer him there for a burnt offering

Abraham obeyed and act immediately

When Abraham took the knife to slay his son, the angel of the Lord stopped him

God now knew that Abraham feared God and not withheld the only son that he treasured most.

God prepared a ram for the burnt offering

The story…

SituationTrialActionResult

Let us follow the STAR…

Gen 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

What a tough test to Abraham !Abraham had only one son with Sarah at his old age

Abraham loved Isaac very muchIsaac was the son that God promised to AbrahamGod asked Abraham to give Isaac as burnt offering

Abraham had to give up his most precious sonShould he keep his son or obey God?

Situation

Abraham did not ask for a son. It is God who gave him a son.

Now God is asking Abraham to give his son as burnt offering to God

“What does God want to do?”“Can we trust God on something that God seems to be contradicting Himself”

“I have to give up my most precious…It is hard to give up what you treasure most

Trial

Trial of value judgment and priority

Gen 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

Gen 22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

Abraham obeyed and took action without hesitation

Abraham did not test God by “trying to do it”. He planned everything as directed by God. (Prepared the wood, Got a knife, tied up his son, ready to slay his son Isaac.)

Action

Absolute trust and obedient to God

Gen 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Gen 22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

Abraham:God reiterated his promises & blessings (v14-17)

Lived a peaceful and blessed life (v18)God’s blessings fulfilled in his life

Result

We should trust God and His promises

Willing to give up the thing that he treasured most.

Get your value and priority rightKnowing that God will prepare the best for us for he is Jehovahjireh

Summary of the Spiritual Principles

Everyone has treasuresWhat are Treasures?Jesus Not Opposed to TreasuresThe Treasures Not to TreasureThe Treasures to TreasureThe Heart Follows the TreasureChoose your treasures Wisely

Something About Treasures…

Question: What treasures are we choosing?

Name the 10 wealthiest people in the world todayName the last 10 winners of the Miss America contest

Name 10 people who have won the Nobel prizeName 10 Academy Award winners for best pictureName the last 20 presidents of the United StatesName the 10 top computer games in the last decade

Name the last 10 Heisman trophy winners

Quiz

What is your true value and priority?

One that day…

“If the world were coming to an end today,

what would be the things that you would

mourn or regret losing?”

Live it out – Jim Elliot

Gen 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

Gen 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Gen 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

Bible Scripture : Genesis 22: 1-14

Gen 22:4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

Gen 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

Gen 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

Gen 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

Bible Scripture : Genesis 22: 1-14

Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Gen 22:9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

Gen 22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

Gen 22:11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

Bible Scripture : Genesis 22: 1-14

Gen 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Gen 22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

Gen 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Bible Scripture : Genesis 22: 1-14