No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus, Because of Your Love, God So Loved, For Who You Are, Good Good Father, Great is The Lord
FAITH IN GOD’S PROMISES
NO MATTER WHAT
JUNE 18, 2023
What do you appreciate most about your father or someone who stands as a father to you?
GENESIS 22:9-14
9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 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!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing 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 raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.”
HEBREWS 11:17-18
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.”
Abraham is known as the father of our faith. Divine sovereignty and human responsibility go together–God chose him but Abraham had a responsibility to fulfill (Genesis 18:18-19).
Abraham placed his faith in God and finished well (Galatians 3:6-9). He is a model of true faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Biblical “faith”: 1) always has an object, 2) is not based on feelings, 3) is trusting God, His character, and His promises, 4) is believing that God can and will keep His promises, in His way, in His time for our good, and 5) is never alone; good works and changed lives are the evidence.
The faith of Abraham was characterized by:
I. OBEDIENCE
God told Abraham to leave his family and go to a place He will show him. Abraham did exactly what God told him to do (Hebrews 11:8, Genesis 12:1-2). He trusted God’s promise that He will bless him to bless others (Genesis 12:3-4). Faith is progressive. Abraham did not have a perfect faith, but he started by obeying God. Faith is obedience.
We must have real faith, not counterfeit faith. James 2:17-19 says faith without works is dead. Intellectual belief is not faith. The demons believed but they have not repented and are not transformed. Salvation is by grace through faith, but faith will never be alone. Faith will have evidence and that evidence is obedience—good works. A real Christian is someone who has placed his faith in Jesus and because of that faith will obey Jesus.
God wants to develop our faith. Our faith will be tested and challenged. Abraham went down to Egypt (Genesis 12:7,10-13). His faith was not perfect; he needed to grow. Pharaoh took Sarah and put her in the harem. God judged Pharaoh so bad that he called for Abraham and let his wife go (vv.17-19). Abraham learned that his security is in God! When God gives a promise, He has to fulfill it.
II. REST
Faith in God’s promises will let you experience restedness (Psalm 37:4-5,7). We need to delight, commit, trust, rest, wait patiently, and not fret in the Lord. Resting in God makes us experience real freedom. This is freedom from: 1) always demanding your way, 2) always wanting to be in control, 3) anxiety, fear, and depression, and 4) to let go and let God. In the midst of problems, we can experience peace and security because our faith is in God’s character and promises. Therefore, we cannot trust God or have faith in God if we don’t know Him.
Abraham and his nephew Lot became so prosperous that the land could not accommodate them (Genesis 13:7). Abraham initiated the division of the land deferring to Lot’s choice (vv.8-9). Abraham is rested because his faith when it comes to prosperity is not in the land but in God. Lot chose the best land (vv.10-11), but the Lord said to Abraham He will give all the land to him and his descendants (vv.14-15). Blessings come from God. God is faithful.
After some time, God told Abraham that He will destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham interceded because he knew God is just (Genesis 18:23-32). God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because there was not even ten righteous people. While He did not spare the cities, God saved Lot and his family (Genesis 19:27-29). Sometimes, God answers our prayers in mysterious ways but we can be rested.
III. SURRENDER
The world thinks that to surrender is weakness, but for a believer to surrender is to become strong. When we surrender, we recognize who the Boss is.
After many years, God tested Abraham (Genesis 22:1). Our faith muscle cannot grow apart from testing (James 1:1-4). God is concerned with Abraham’s character that is why He tested him. God wanted Abraham to surrender Isaac (v.2). Abraham had waited for Isaac for many years (Romans 4:19-21). God knows that if Isaac becomes the number one joy and love of Abraham, he will not finish well. Abraham did not put his faith on the gift (e.g. Isaac), he instantly obeyed (v.3). On the third day, Abraham and Isaac left the young men and they walked together towards the place of offering (vv.4-6). Isaac asked Abraham where the lamb offering is and he answered him that God will provide (vv.7-8). Abraham trusted God’s promise (Hebrews 11:17-19; Genesis 17:18-19,21; Genesis 21:12). Isaac is the promised heir. God is faithful and we should trust Him. The test of real faith is obedience. We cannot obey somebody we do not trust and we cannot trust somebody we do not know. Before Abraham could kill his son, God intervened and provided a ram (vv.13-14). God is never too late and never too early when He provides. Thus, we need to surrender everything to the Lord.
Here is a comparison between Isaac and Jesus:
| Isaac | Jesus |
|---|---|
| Abraham’s only son | God the Father’s only Son |
| Carried the wood for his sacrifice | Carried the wooden cross for His sacrifice |
| Trusted and willingly obeyed his father | Trusted and willingly obeyed His father |
| Sacrificed on Mt. Moriah | Sacrificed on Mt. Moriah |
| With substitute | No substitute |
| God provided a ram | Jesus is the Lamb of God |
We need to put our faith in God who is faithful. God keeps His promises!
(Leaders: Please choose questions that are appropriate to the level of spiritual maturity of your members)
1. Self-Check.
How has God been building your faith and obedience?
2. Setting It Right.
What causes you to be restless and anxious? How can you overcome them?
3. Living It Out.
What are the Isaacs (idols) in your life that God wants you to surrender?
PRAY CARE SHARE IN ACTION
Pray for people to surrender their lives to the Lord and obey Him completely. Share your blessings to others. Tell someone God loves him or her so much that He fulfilled His promise of giving us Jesus Christ to die in our place, to save us from our sins, and to give us eternal life if we believe Him as Lord and Savior.
I. Thanksgiving
- Worship God for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do in our lives.
II. Country and the World
- Upright and moral governance of Public Servants and a God-centered Philippines
- Repentance and Salvation
III. Church
- That CCF Members would honor and love God and make disciples.
- Elders, pastors, dleaders, and families (holy, humble, harmonious, happy, heart-working).
- Ministries and churches expansion worldwide.
IV. CCF Facilities
- Worship and Training Center
- Prayer Mountain
V. Personal Concerns
- Deeper intimate relationship with God.
- Righteous living.
- Salvation of family and friends.
Hebrews 11:17-18
17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.”