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INTRODUCTION
ILLUS: Famous people who had died recently - Art Linkletter (97) greatest achievement was his 74 year marriage. Christian Artist Dana Key
(58). Mosihe Rosen (78) founder of Jews for Jesus “The man who knows he’s going to live for eternity can afford to be patient.”
Thank you for your patience in our search for a 2nd pastor.
When we think of Biblical characters that exemplified patience we of course think of Job, but we must also think of Abraham. We are in Hebrews 11,
the Great Hall of Fame of Faith. The most written about examples of faith were Abraham and Sarah. We have looked at Sarah - faith in the midst of
doubts, and last week our first look at Abraham - His calling. Today The Faith of Abraham - His Testing. READ Text Hebrews 11:17-19
1. Faith experiences Testing. vs. 17-18
- Children of God have no guarantee of a life of easy choices.
- “tested” = means probing, to find out what you know and your skills. Testing is common, more common than you think.
ILLUS: Tests at school, driving test, military, even work.
However the new world of education - either eliminate tests, or give more.
- Spiritually, testing by God to see the quality of the faith of the possessor. Testing is regular in the God’s school of life. How
have you been tested this week? Today?
ILLUS: Testing your patience with people, stay home or come to church? Testing on a moral choice? Tested financially, family crises,
a health issue? Our church has experienced some testing. What is God’s will in confusing, contradictory situations?
QUOTE: Uncle John: “Faith is really tested by perplexity. God orders situations for our lives which seem to contradict matters,
especially God’s Word. But true faith will submit to God and trust God’s wisdom to work out apparent contradictions. True
faith insists we must do what God says regardless of how it seems to be contrary to human reasoning” (108).
- Abraham had tests before:
Leaving Ur to go to Canaan - passed with C- stayed too long in Haran
Famine test going to Egypt - failed, should have stayed in Canaan
In Egypt with Sarah - lied - failed
Compromise with Hagar - failed
Parting with Lot - Lot failed, Abraham passed
Test with King Melchiekck giving the tithe - passed
Test with King Abimleck with Sarah, lying again - failed
Test about the promise of a son in one year - passed
But this test was the greatest of all - passed
- We too fail tests at times, not fatal to faith. Repent and start over.
- Testing increases our faith, improves our service and illuminates the glory of God as we trust in God more and more. James 1:2-4
- The writer of Hebrews mentions this testing of Abraham call to sacrifice his son as it was the foremost test of all for anyone. Can you
imagine this test? Genesis 22:1-19
- vs. 1-2 In cultures of OT, the false religions did have human sacrifices. What kind of God would do that? Never to be practiced
by the Jews.
Here the father of the Jewish nation is tested to do the very act.
- It was a test if Abraham really believed if Isaac was the promised seed. How can a dead son bear offspring? Abraham 117, Sarah 107, Isaac
17
- Did Abraham love God more than his son? Did Abraham believe God will keep His promise? All the future of Abraham’s promises of a
great nation were wrapped up in the life of Isaac. Implied in the story of Gen 22 is that Isaac had faith also for there is no resistance
or rebellion.
- “only son” - also had Ishmael, but only son of the promise
- “Moriah” - where eventually would be Jerusalem, Temple Mount
- vs. 3-5 “early” went immediately, worship and return, Abraham’s faith
- v. 8, 10-14 “Jehovah Jirah”
- When we act in faith, God gets into the act. God is uncommon, His means of answering faith are extraordinary, beyond our comprehension.
- Spiritually, testing by God to see the quality of the faith of the possessor. Testing is regular in the God’s school of life. How
have you been tested this week? Are you passing the tests? What perplexing situations are you in where you wonder what is God doing?
- For the unbeliever all their problems have no purpose, for the Christian our problems have purpose - grow our faith, improve service,
glorify God.
2. Faith expects Triumph. v. 19
- Faith expects success, victory, even miracles = expects God to triumph!
- The author of Hebrews states that Abraham believed God would raise his dead son, Isaac, back to life. Resurrection.
QUOTE: “Up to this time there had been no recorded case of resurrection from the dead. Human experience had no statistics to
offer...His faith in the promise of God drove him to the conclusion that God would have to raise Isaac (if he killed him)”
(Believers, 1013).
- Yet even in the birth of Isaac there was a resurrection of Sarah’s womb and Abraham’s ability to bear seed. Abraham faith was
mature enough to figure that God can bring life out of what is dead for he had seen it already Hebrews 11:11-12; Romans 4:19-22.
Why not this?
- Abraham’s unhesitating obedience brings unbelievable triumph.
- Of course, often at the lost moment - the knife was in the air...
- God told Sarah “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Gen. 18:14). The Angel told Mary: “For nothing will be
impossible with God” (Luke 1:37)
QUOTE: Warren Wiersbe: “The tests of faith become more difficult as we walk with God, yet the rewards are more wonderful.”
QUOTES: “The triumph song of life would lose its melody without its minor keys.” “Good wins no victories expect out
of the graves of apparent defeat.”
- This is a type, a picture of God sending His only Son Jesus to suffer and die for the sins of world and rise again third day. The ram is
the picture of the Lamb of God John 1:29. Abraham was spared the pain of the death of his son, a pain that God was not spared at
the death of Jesus on the cross.
- We sing a great hymn often “Faith is the Victory”
- The Bible is filled with stories of faith is the victory.
- The history of the church of Jesus Christ also is filled with stories of faith is the victory. How about your life - filled stories of
faith is victory?
- How, we sing another great hymn often “Victory in Jesus“ Through the old rugged cross we have victory. Sins were taken care
of on the cross. Victory is secured from an empty cross and an empty tomb.
ILLUS: Thomas Kinkade new painting “The Cross” at Billy Graham Library. Largest mural he has done - 32 x 18 ft. Empty
cross over powers everything. The message of the gospel is central.
- Make sure you belong to Christ, otherwise your problems have no meaning. With Christ they are testings to grow you and glorify God.
CONCLUSION
What perplexing events are taking place in your life that tests your faith?
Do you see God at work? Do you trust God to triumph?
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