WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.320 I don't like them. I never have. As a matter of fact, when I was a student, I had two recurring 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:15.339 nightmares. The first one is naked in a high school hallway. I don't know why you dream that. 00:00:15.540 --> 00:00:19.300 I studied dreams as a minor in psychology. I never figured out what that was about, 00:00:19.500 --> 00:00:23.059 but that has nothing to do with the sermon, but I had to be honest. I got two nightmares. 00:00:23.059 --> 00:00:32.379 Anyway, the second was that at the end of a semester, don't make that come back to haunt me, 00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:40.019 but anyway, at the end of a semester, I have an exam and I haven't been to class. It's a class I 00:00:40.019 --> 00:00:46.500 signed up for and I never went to the class, and now I don't know what to do. So I don't like tests. 00:00:46.500 --> 00:00:53.020 I sure don't like pop quizzes and are tests that you're not expecting. And today, 00:00:53.520 --> 00:01:00.380 we look at one of the biggest tests, probably in all of history, but we sure look at the biggest 00:01:00.380 --> 00:01:10.280 test in Abraham's life. And it's not in a classroom. It's at a place of worship. Now, in Hebrews chapter 00:01:10.280 --> 00:01:18.099 11, they have a list of those who lived by faith. It's a wonderful example of how to live by faith and 00:01:18.099 --> 00:01:25.140 what they did in their lives that stood out to live by faith. It is what's often called the hall of fame 00:01:25.140 --> 00:01:34.299 of faith. And Abraham is one of the, he's in the foyer of the hall of fame of faith. And you don't get 00:01:34.299 --> 00:01:40.039 there without going through some trials in your life, some tests in your life. And this is probably 00:01:40.039 --> 00:01:48.579 the climax of his life. He has withstood his toughest test of faith in our passage today. 00:01:49.039 --> 00:01:55.400 And it's pretty crucial for us too, because we learn a lot, I believe, from this passage about one of 00:01:55.400 --> 00:02:04.280 the most difficult subjects of our faith. And that is the tests of God. They're often unexpected. 00:02:04.299 --> 00:02:10.620 They're often misunderstood. They can be very frustrating. However, they're always for a purpose. 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:21.400 And they're always timely. For instance, this could not have taken place at any other time in Abraham's 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:30.599 life. And God had been preparing him, at least indirectly so, for a hundred years, literally, 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:40.979 for this test. Yet, even with that, the demanded sacrifice is admittedly hard to grasp. Now listen, 00:02:41.459 --> 00:02:50.620 this is a familiar story to many. But if it is not to you, brace yourself. Okay? Genesis chapter 22, 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:57.439 beginning in verse 1, it says this, after these things, God tested Abraham and said to him, Abraham, 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:04.560 and he said, here am I. He said, take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:12.139 Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. 00:03:13.139 --> 00:03:18.099 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and 00:03:18.099 --> 00:03:23.680 his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to a place of which God had 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:30.319 told him. On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:38.400 to his young men, stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:44.640 to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac, his son. And he took 00:03:44.640 --> 00:03:50.460 in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father, 00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:57.719 Abraham, my father, my father. And he said, here am I, my son. He said, behold the fire and the wood, 00:03:57.840 --> 00:04:05.100 but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, God will provide for himself 00:04:05.100 --> 00:04:15.120 the lamb for a burnt offering, my son. So they went, both of them, together. When they came to the place 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:22.660 of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac, 00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:31.379 his son, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the 00:04:31.379 --> 00:04:38.560 knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:47.500 Abraham. And he said, here I am. And he said, do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:53.259 For I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:05:00.899 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his 00:05:00.899 --> 00:05:07.679 horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:15.139 So Abraham called the name of that place the Lord will provide. As it is said to this day, 00:05:15.779 --> 00:05:25.699 on the mount of the Lord, it shall be provided. Let's pray together. Heavenly Father, I pray today 00:05:25.699 --> 00:05:31.519 that more than the historic details of Abraham and Isaac's life, as important as they may be, 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:36.659 that we'll instead see the relation of this story to our own lives. 00:05:38.599 --> 00:05:47.980 God, I speak to folks today, some of which are going through tests. Some of them have been through tests 00:05:47.980 --> 00:05:57.220 and some of them will go into tests. But God, I pray today that you'll give us guidance. 00:05:58.500 --> 00:06:05.879 Guidance for what has happened to us. Guidance for what is happening to us. Guidance, oh God, 00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:13.840 for what will happen to us. And help us, Lord, to trust you more after learning the truths of your word. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:30.139 In Jesus' precious name. Amen. What an event. Why was Abraham asked to do this? Now, don't let the end 00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:39.819 result take away from the difficulty of the story because when you suffer difficulty from a test of God 00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:48.060 and you're in the middle of it, you feel the weight of it. So I want you to feel the weight 00:06:48.060 --> 00:06:55.259 of what Abraham dealt with. This was a three-day walk with Abraham and Isaac. And there was some 00:06:55.259 --> 00:07:02.319 pondering going on on that walk. Isaac's wondering, how is this all going to work out? And Abraham's 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:07.360 going, how is this all going to work out? Now, I could tell you about pagan rituals of that day 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:13.100 that would make something like this rather common. It was a familiar concept for pagans of that day 00:07:13.100 --> 00:07:18.580 to make those kinds of sacrifices. Those rituals that made the society more susceptible 00:07:18.580 --> 00:07:25.699 to understand the story than we do today. But I can't soften the request. 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:32.639 And any way you soften it, the demanded sacrifice, it's difficult to grasp. 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:43.300 But the lesson from it is invaluable. Anyone that God is going to use, he's going to test. 00:07:46.680 --> 00:07:56.860 It relates to every one of us because God wants to use you. And in order to make you ready for that, 00:07:56.860 --> 00:08:04.560 he has to test you. I don't pretend to say that every test is the same. I don't believe you ought 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:14.120 to ever tell anybody, I know exactly what you're going through. Because you don't. You may have lost 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:20.139 the same kind of relational loved one as they did, but those relationships were different. You don't know 00:08:20.139 --> 00:08:27.279 exactly those circumstances. You may have had a relative that got into trouble like yours has got 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:33.100 into trouble. And so you understand that somewhat, but all those circumstances are different. 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:39.319 You may be going through a health crisis right now or a relational crisis right now 00:08:39.319 --> 00:08:46.259 or a personal and mental crisis right now. And the reality is when somebody tells you, 00:08:46.259 --> 00:08:51.159 I know exactly which. No, they don't. No, they don't. Maybe they've suffered through the same 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:55.340 kind of test that you've went through, the medical test and all those things, trying to find a 00:08:55.340 --> 00:08:59.720 diagnosis. Maybe they've dealt with that. Maybe they've had similar confusions than you have. 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:05.399 But the reality is we're all individual. I mean, listen, no temptation exceeds you except what is common 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:13.399 to man. There's a commonality among us. But when it comes to the difficulties of our life, we don't know 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:22.159 exactly what anybody is suffering for that. So each situation is different, even when they look the 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:29.639 same. And when we bring into a test or a dilemma, what we bring into that is different for every 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:35.959 person. You can emphasize or empathize or you can sympathize with them, but don't ever pretend to know 00:09:35.959 --> 00:09:38.539 you understand completely what they're going through because you don't. 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:46.319 And by the way, if you don't know what to say, don't say anything. Okay. I have heard more 00:09:46.319 --> 00:09:51.399 preachers fill up an empty spot with words because you could tell you didn't know what they said, what 00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:58.519 they had to say. Your presence makes a difference when somebody's going through a dilemma. I promise you. 00:10:00.079 --> 00:10:06.039 All of God's tests are not the same. There's some common characteristics, and I want to focus 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:11.360 on the common characteristics of those tests because they're found here in this account. 00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:14.199 But they're all different. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:24.699 Let me give you the commonalities. The tests of God are unexpected. 00:10:26.439 --> 00:10:32.179 I doubt when a test comes you ever understand the timing of it. 00:10:32.179 --> 00:10:36.099 But never does it come out of the blue. 00:10:37.359 --> 00:10:39.439 God knew it was coming 00:10:39.439 --> 00:10:41.959 for him, and he placed it 00:10:41.959 --> 00:10:44.239 in his infinite timing 00:10:44.239 --> 00:10:47.000 where it needed to be for the circumstances. 00:10:48.819 --> 00:10:50.199 And Genesis 22 verse 1 00:10:50.199 --> 00:10:52.679 begins by saying, after these things. 00:10:52.739 --> 00:10:55.359 That's what the ESV that I use, the English Standard Version, 00:10:55.599 --> 00:10:57.819 that's how it describes it. It says, after these things. 00:10:57.819 --> 00:10:59.519 To me, that's a poor translation. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:02.860 They got it wrong. 00:11:04.779 --> 00:11:06.720 Because in the Hebrew, it says, 00:11:07.079 --> 00:11:08.980 in the fullness of time. 00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:13.480 This is more than just another chronological event. 00:11:14.319 --> 00:11:17.659 This is in God's timing. 00:11:18.460 --> 00:11:20.500 It's a divine appointment. 00:11:21.939 --> 00:11:25.039 And when Abraham's life was ready for God's test, 00:11:25.539 --> 00:11:26.419 God allowed it. 00:11:26.419 --> 00:11:28.519 It's like when Christ said, 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:29.839 the hour is at hand. 00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:32.139 It's like in Luke 9 31 00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:33.439 when he says, 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:35.159 he set his face towards Jerusalem. 00:11:35.419 --> 00:11:36.579 It was time 00:11:36.579 --> 00:11:37.759 to endure 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:39.839 the last week of Christ 00:11:39.839 --> 00:11:40.579 at that point. 00:11:41.459 --> 00:11:43.899 And when Jesus knew 00:11:43.899 --> 00:11:46.139 there with the disciples, 00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:48.139 the time was up. 00:11:48.199 --> 00:11:49.620 He said, the hour is at hand. 00:11:49.699 --> 00:11:50.659 God's time has come. 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:51.879 In the same kind of way, 00:11:51.939 --> 00:11:53.439 when Abraham had experienced enough, 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:55.400 when he had grown enough faith, 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:57.860 he didn't understand it, 00:11:57.940 --> 00:11:59.400 but when he had grown enough faith, 00:11:59.520 --> 00:12:01.000 God had a test. 00:12:02.180 --> 00:12:03.620 God understood exactly 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.820 where he would be, 00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:06.800 and God has a time for everything. 00:12:07.680 --> 00:12:09.620 Ecclesiastes 3 lists many. 00:12:09.900 --> 00:12:10.880 I'll give you an example 00:12:10.880 --> 00:12:12.080 in the very beginning of it. 00:12:12.160 --> 00:12:13.800 It says, Ecclesiastes 3 verse 1 00:12:13.800 --> 00:12:14.220 says, 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:15.460 there is an appointed time 00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:16.480 for everything, 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:17.800 and there is a time 00:12:17.800 --> 00:12:19.780 for every event under heaven. 00:12:19.779 --> 00:12:22.360 Therefore, the time had come 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:23.539 for Abraham. 00:12:25.019 --> 00:12:27.179 Although we may never understand it, 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:28.399 God has a time 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:30.879 for everything that we experience, 00:12:31.179 --> 00:12:33.539 and his timing is always right. 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:36.079 Does it always seem right? 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:39.059 No, it does not seem right. 00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:40.240 And that's the problem. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:42.360 We don't look forward to the test. 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:44.539 I've never liked the test, 00:12:44.579 --> 00:12:45.579 nor the timing of them. 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:47.819 God's tests are unexpected. 00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:51.080 What we see is limited, 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:53.060 and what he allows is unexpected, 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:55.400 but God sees it all the time. 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:58.840 Therefore, you can rest in his judgment 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:01.440 and know that what happens to us 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:03.860 is in his time. 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:07.620 Has the rug been ripped out from under you? 00:13:08.920 --> 00:13:10.240 I promise you, 00:13:10.920 --> 00:13:12.180 God's still on the throne, 00:13:12.880 --> 00:13:14.520 and it's in his timing. 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:17.280 The other thing is this. 00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:20.200 I wish I could sugarcoat this, 00:13:20.280 --> 00:13:20.860 but I can't. 00:13:21.780 --> 00:13:23.700 The tests of God are difficult. 00:13:25.260 --> 00:13:26.320 They're difficult. 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:28.120 Now, I want you to understand, 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.879 a test of God is not a temptation. 00:13:30.420 --> 00:13:31.840 God does not tempt. 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:35.360 James 1, verse 13 through 15 says, 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:36.759 Let no one, 00:13:36.820 --> 00:13:37.879 when he is tempted, 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:40.300 say, 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:42.159 I am being tempted by God. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:44.259 For God cannot be tempted with evil. 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:46.659 For God cannot be tempted with evil, 00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:48.320 and he himself tempts no one. 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:49.800 But each person is tempted 00:13:49.800 --> 00:13:50.820 when he is lured 00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:51.940 and enticed 00:13:51.940 --> 00:13:53.800 by his own desire. 00:13:54.180 --> 00:13:54.779 Then desire, 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:55.779 when it is conceived, 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:57.060 gives birth to sin, 00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:58.019 and sin, 00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:59.279 when it is fully grown, 00:14:00.060 --> 00:14:01.840 brings forth death. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:05.259 Tempting is what we walk into. 00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:08.379 Ushered along by the evil one, 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.920 God does not do that. 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.720 If you wonder, 00:14:13.280 --> 00:14:14.139 there are two differences 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.399 between a test of God 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:15.960 and a temptation. 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:17.740 One is, 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:19.800 we lead ourselves into temptation. 00:14:20.980 --> 00:14:22.220 God don't lead us into temptation. 00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:25.100 We lead ourselves in that. 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:26.460 That scripture tells us that. 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:28.120 When we are caught up 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:28.600 and lured 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:29.279 and enticed 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.460 by our own desires, 00:14:31.300 --> 00:14:33.500 God leads us into a test. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:35.899 Second thing is, 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:38.300 tempting involves evil. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:41.879 Testing is different. 00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:44.720 I want you to notice in verse 2, 00:14:44.800 --> 00:14:45.139 it says, 00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:47.060 Your only son 00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:50.620 whom you love. 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.940 Now, 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:53.019 if you've been following along 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:53.759 and tracking us 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.919 for these last few weeks, 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:57.179 you know that's not his only son. 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:00.679 He's got another son 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:01.340 with Hagar, 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:02.720 his maidservant. 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:03.580 When his wife 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:05.019 could not have a child, 00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:06.799 they took alternative means, 00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:07.360 which was 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:09.720 not what God had in store, 00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:11.799 and Ishmael was born. 00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:14.560 God doesn't mission to Ishmael. 00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:16.759 Ishmael is 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:18.340 his first son, 00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:19.100 but God speaks 00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:20.279 as if he does not exist 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:21.360 because Isaac 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.579 was the son 00:15:22.579 --> 00:15:23.659 of promise. 00:15:25.459 --> 00:15:26.879 Isaac was the son 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:27.740 that Abraham 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:28.959 had been waiting on. 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:31.299 And I want you 00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:32.379 to get the weight of this. 00:15:33.839 --> 00:15:35.059 Isaac is the one 00:15:35.059 --> 00:15:37.679 that all of God's promises 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:39.220 were based on. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:42.000 Everything we know, 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.639 even the childhood song 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:44.159 we sing, 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.079 Father Abraham 00:15:45.079 --> 00:15:45.959 had many sons 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:46.780 and many sons of him. 00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:48.660 It all came back 00:15:48.660 --> 00:15:49.340 to Isaac. 00:15:52.180 --> 00:15:53.400 The nation of Israel 00:15:53.400 --> 00:15:54.139 would come through 00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:55.060 that bloodline. 00:15:57.340 --> 00:15:59.720 All of Abraham's future, 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.660 his heritage, 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.620 his legacy, 00:16:03.060 --> 00:16:03.639 were held 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:04.560 in the life 00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:05.139 of Isaac. 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:05.200 Isaac, 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:06.040 he looked 00:16:06.040 --> 00:16:06.740 to the birth 00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:07.400 of his son 00:16:07.400 --> 00:16:08.460 for decades, 00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:09.200 yet he was 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:10.340 a hundred years old 00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:10.980 before his boy 00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:11.540 was born. 00:16:12.660 --> 00:16:13.860 And now God 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:14.780 speaks 00:16:14.780 --> 00:16:16.000 of Isaac. 00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:18.640 And when God 00:16:18.640 --> 00:16:19.400 spoke of Isaac, 00:16:19.540 --> 00:16:20.280 he spoke of 00:16:20.280 --> 00:16:21.220 Abraham's 00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:22.140 everything. 00:16:23.280 --> 00:16:24.000 It's tough. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:27.460 It is the things 00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:28.600 that we love 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:30.740 that God 00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:31.279 will often 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:32.679 ask us 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:33.840 to put 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:35.259 on the altar 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.440 of sacrifice. 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.500 Now I want you 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:39.059 to hear me. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.759 That don't mean 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.620 he's going to take it. 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.740 Whether he takes it 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.320 or not, 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:49.279 we walk away 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:50.440 with it 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:51.700 in its proper place. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:54.740 It's his. 00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:59.460 By the way, 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:00.059 it was his 00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:00.940 to start with. 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:04.420 But it has 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:04.940 to register 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.539 with us. 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:07.559 It's his. 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.579 Whatever it is. 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:12.200 When you put 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:13.480 what you love 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:15.819 on the altar 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:16.740 of sacrifice, 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.299 whether God 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:17.920 takes it 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.700 or not, 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.079 it's his. 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:24.240 And that 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:25.119 is the proper 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:25.960 perspective 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:26.759 that we are 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.299 to have 00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:28.699 about our stuff. 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.779 About what's 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.439 ours. 00:17:33.919 --> 00:17:34.559 Remember, 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:36.639 God does not 00:17:36.639 --> 00:17:37.379 give us tests 00:17:37.379 --> 00:17:37.919 to see where 00:17:37.919 --> 00:17:38.460 we are. 00:17:40.179 --> 00:17:41.139 He knows 00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:41.500 that. 00:17:42.939 --> 00:17:43.759 He gives 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:44.500 us tests 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.579 so that 00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:46.519 we can see 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.279 where we are. 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:50.559 Tests are tough. 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.679 They're tough. 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.240 Third thing 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:54.619 is this. 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:56.480 The test 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:57.220 of God 00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:58.179 demand 00:17:58.179 --> 00:17:58.960 obedience. 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:00.939 There are 00:18:00.939 --> 00:18:01.819 two signs 00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:03.579 of Abraham's 00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:04.679 sure obedience 00:18:04.679 --> 00:18:05.119 here. 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.199 First is 00:18:06.199 --> 00:18:07.000 how he 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.699 obeyed. 00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.159 I want you 00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:09.699 to notice 00:18:09.699 --> 00:18:10.799 he went 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.939 when God 00:18:11.939 --> 00:18:12.539 told him 00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:12.839 to. 00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:14.899 Verse 3 00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:15.379 says, 00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:16.899 so Abraham, 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:17.419 let me give you 00:18:17.419 --> 00:18:18.059 the context. 00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:20.240 take your 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:20.819 son, 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:21.500 your only 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.119 son whom 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:22.619 you love 00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:22.839 and go 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:23.079 to the 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:23.379 land of 00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:23.759 Moriah 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.339 and offer 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:24.819 him there 00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:25.259 as a 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:25.480 burnt 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.000 offering 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.679 on one 00:18:27.679 --> 00:18:27.899 of the 00:18:27.899 --> 00:18:28.299 mountains 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.700 of which 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.099 I shall 00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:30.679 tell you. 00:18:32.179 --> 00:18:32.700 That's 00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:33.279 verse 2 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.619 of Genesis 00:18:34.619 --> 00:18:35.039 22. 00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:36.460 Verse 3 00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.039 begins, 00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:38.019 so Abraham 00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:38.639 rose early. 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:40.599 He didn't 00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:40.879 even wait 00:18:40.879 --> 00:18:41.259 until mid 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:41.559 morning. 00:18:41.659 --> 00:18:41.960 He got 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.259 up. 00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:43.899 He got 00:18:43.899 --> 00:18:44.519 up and 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.079 got after 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:45.359 it. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.399 I think 00:18:46.399 --> 00:18:46.619 that's 00:18:46.619 --> 00:18:47.119 significant. 00:18:47.859 --> 00:18:48.159 It does 00:18:48.159 --> 00:18:48.619 not speak 00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:48.879 of a 00:18:48.879 --> 00:18:49.199 struggle 00:18:49.199 --> 00:18:49.759 with going 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.279 when God 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:50.659 told him 00:18:50.659 --> 00:18:51.079 to go. 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:52.479 Did the 00:18:52.479 --> 00:18:53.079 Bible leave 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.599 that struggle 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:53.899 out? 00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:54.319 I don't 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:54.679 believe it 00:18:54.679 --> 00:18:55.199 did because 00:18:55.199 --> 00:18:55.619 the Bible 00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:56.199 speaks of 00:18:56.199 --> 00:18:56.699 his struggle 00:18:56.699 --> 00:18:58.079 watching Sodom 00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:59.359 burn and 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:00.000 the difficulty 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:00.679 of that. 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.399 He did 00:19:03.399 --> 00:19:04.219 struggle there 00:19:04.219 --> 00:19:05.459 but he does 00:19:05.459 --> 00:19:05.899 not struggle 00:19:05.899 --> 00:19:06.219 here. 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:06.599 He just 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:09.559 went because 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:09.979 he knew he 00:19:09.979 --> 00:19:10.339 could trust 00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:10.799 God. 00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:13.000 And I'm 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.439 telling you 00:19:13.439 --> 00:19:13.740 folks, 00:19:13.899 --> 00:19:14.539 just trust 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.000 God. 00:19:15.899 --> 00:19:16.899 Go with 00:19:16.899 --> 00:19:17.339 the Lord 00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:17.959 and trust 00:19:17.959 --> 00:19:18.099 him. 00:19:18.219 --> 00:19:18.679 As you 00:19:18.679 --> 00:19:19.139 pray, 00:19:19.699 --> 00:19:20.119 you can 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:20.679 question. 00:19:22.219 --> 00:19:22.859 As you 00:19:22.859 --> 00:19:23.159 go, 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:23.539 you can 00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:23.959 pray. 00:19:24.419 --> 00:19:24.699 And as 00:19:24.699 --> 00:19:25.099 you pray, 00:19:25.219 --> 00:19:25.519 you can 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.000 question. 00:19:26.179 --> 00:19:26.479 Whatever, 00:19:26.939 --> 00:19:27.839 but move 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.259 in the 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:29.279 direction of 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.579 obedience for 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:31.059 God. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:32.599 He went to 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.419 the place 00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:34.579 where God 00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:35.419 had told 00:19:35.419 --> 00:19:35.779 him. 00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:36.419 And by 00:19:36.419 --> 00:19:36.679 the way, 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.000 when he 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:37.459 started, 00:19:37.859 --> 00:19:38.299 God hadn't 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:38.719 yet told 00:19:38.719 --> 00:19:39.039 him where 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:39.599 exactly he 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:39.939 was supposed 00:19:39.939 --> 00:19:40.319 to go. 00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.679 He learned 00:19:41.679 --> 00:19:42.799 along the 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.299 journey. 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:46.019 I'm a 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.519 planner. 00:19:47.219 --> 00:19:47.919 I can 00:19:47.919 --> 00:19:48.539 ruin a 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.019 vacation. 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:50.519 Okay? 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:52.979 A couple 00:19:52.979 --> 00:19:53.359 of years 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:53.639 ago, 00:19:53.699 --> 00:19:53.939 right, 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:54.399 when things 00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:54.740 were coming 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.039 out of 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:55.299 COVID, 00:19:55.419 --> 00:19:55.719 but yet 00:19:55.719 --> 00:19:56.179 people were 00:19:56.179 --> 00:19:56.579 wanting you 00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:57.099 to travel 00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:57.519 and all 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:57.899 that stuff, 00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:59.399 I watched 00:19:59.399 --> 00:19:59.879 a movie 00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:01.559 about South 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:02.159 Dakota and 00:20:02.159 --> 00:20:02.740 that area, 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:04.620 and I 00:20:04.620 --> 00:20:04.900 wanted to 00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:05.140 go. 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:05.980 And I 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.279 wanted to 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:06.519 hit it 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:06.740 before 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.039 everybody 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.279 else 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:07.640 hit it. 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.299 And so 00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:09.200 as soon 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:09.620 as school 00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.099 was over, 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:10.859 I booked 00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:13.200 us a 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:14.559 trip where 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:14.940 we would 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.700 see all 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:15.920 of the 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.240 Northwest 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:16.680 in about 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.259 four days. 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:24.000 I was 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.680 a test 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:25.240 to see 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:25.599 if my 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:26.099 family would 00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:26.720 stay together 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.319 through the 00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:27.559 trip. 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.180 We'd be 00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:29.519 scattered 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:29.839 throughout 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:30.400 the West. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:34.440 I think 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:34.640 we was 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:34.840 going to 00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:35.180 book about 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:35.780 400 miles 00:20:35.780 --> 00:20:36.200 a day. 00:20:37.360 --> 00:20:37.700 Look. 00:20:38.800 --> 00:20:39.280 Look. 00:20:44.280 --> 00:20:44.800 But 00:20:44.800 --> 00:20:46.980 Millie was 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.480 graduating 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:47.820 from the 00:20:47.820 --> 00:20:48.340 eighth grade, 00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:50.060 and I 00:20:50.060 --> 00:20:50.660 found out 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.040 late in 00:20:51.040 --> 00:20:51.480 the process 00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:51.860 that there 00:20:51.860 --> 00:20:52.160 was an 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:52.700 eighth grade 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.360 graduation. 00:20:54.780 --> 00:20:55.680 So much 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:56.160 to my 00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:56.560 chagrin, 00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:57.100 because nobody 00:20:57.100 --> 00:20:57.460 wanted to 00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:57.880 go but me 00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:58.280 anyway. 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:01.140 I told 00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:01.820 Millie, 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.440 I said, 00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:03.160 listen, 00:21:04.100 --> 00:21:04.840 your gift 00:21:04.840 --> 00:21:05.240 for getting 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:05.420 out of 00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:05.660 the eighth 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.040 grade is 00:21:06.040 --> 00:21:06.420 to get 00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:06.840 out of 00:21:06.840 --> 00:21:07.019 middle 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.460 school and 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:07.720 go to 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.220 high school. 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:08.820 And that's 00:21:08.820 --> 00:21:09.060 it. 00:21:09.300 --> 00:21:09.660 We ought 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:09.860 to be 00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:10.100 in the 00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:10.440 West. 00:21:10.540 --> 00:21:10.820 But I 00:21:10.820 --> 00:21:11.100 went 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:11.759 begrudgingly 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.019 and I 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:12.300 canceled 00:21:12.300 --> 00:21:12.660 all my 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.060 plans. 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.140 I love 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:15.700 to plan. 00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:16.200 I love 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:16.660 to plan 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:16.980 it out 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:17.400 and know 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:17.820 what the 00:21:17.820 --> 00:21:18.220 deal is. 00:21:18.300 --> 00:21:18.720 But the 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.360 reality is 00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:20.140 you can't 00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:20.600 plan out 00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:21.000 the test 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.380 of God. 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:24.759 You got 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.200 to trust 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:25.500 him. 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:30.740 You got 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.280 to move 00:21:31.280 --> 00:21:33.000 and trust 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:34.540 him along 00:21:34.540 --> 00:21:34.980 the way. 00:21:36.600 --> 00:21:37.180 Not only 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.680 did he go 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:38.820 when God 00:21:38.820 --> 00:21:39.220 told him 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.519 to go, 00:21:39.620 --> 00:21:39.900 but he 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.660 went where 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.240 God told 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:41.480 him to 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:41.620 go. 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.180 He went 00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:42.500 to the 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.080 place where 00:21:43.080 --> 00:21:43.600 God had 00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:44.060 told him. 00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:44.940 It was 00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.480 not easy. 00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:45.860 It was 00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:46.320 three days 00:21:46.320 --> 00:21:46.640 away. 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:46.940 It was 00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.280 not a 00:21:47.280 --> 00:21:47.540 long 00:21:47.540 --> 00:21:47.920 journey. 00:21:48.080 --> 00:21:48.460 But I'm 00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:49.060 telling you 00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:49.680 with what 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:50.080 was going 00:21:50.080 --> 00:21:50.380 on, 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:50.820 it was 00:21:50.820 --> 00:21:51.740 a long 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:53.320 journey. 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.380 Can you 00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:57.140 imagine the 00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:57.800 pondering on 00:21:57.800 --> 00:21:58.259 that trip? 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.640 Scripture 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.780 also tells 00:22:03.780 --> 00:22:05.220 us why 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:07.140 he obeyed. 00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:08.120 Verse 12 00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:08.460 says, 00:22:08.600 --> 00:22:09.220 God said, 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:09.960 do not lay 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:10.560 your hand 00:22:10.560 --> 00:22:10.880 on the 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.259 boy or 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.820 do anything 00:22:11.820 --> 00:22:12.380 to him. 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.440 For now 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.140 I know 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:14.680 that you 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.560 fear God 00:22:15.560 --> 00:22:16.259 seeing you 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:16.820 have not 00:22:16.820 --> 00:22:17.460 withheld 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.280 your son, 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.300 your only 00:22:19.300 --> 00:22:19.900 son, 00:22:20.280 --> 00:22:20.860 from me. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.340 He feared 00:22:22.340 --> 00:22:22.840 God. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.240 Now, 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:27.280 I want you 00:22:27.280 --> 00:22:28.000 to understand 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:28.519 there's two 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.200 types of 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.519 fear, 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.180 at least 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.839 two types. 00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:33.059 There's a 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:34.000 phobia kind 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.519 of fear, 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:36.180 an irrational 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:36.960 fear, 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.639 the kind 00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:40.200 of fear 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:40.980 that I 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.559 have for 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:41.980 snakes, 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:42.519 for instance, 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:42.879 okay? 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.619 I may run 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:44.920 a fit, 00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.299 but I ain't 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:45.440 going to 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:45.779 handle a 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:45.980 snake, 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:46.200 I can 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:46.420 tell you 00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:46.660 that. 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:49.960 And I've 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.359 always had 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:50.740 this sick 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.259 fascination 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:51.819 with snakes. 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.079 I mean, 00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:52.539 that's my 00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:53.139 favorite part 00:22:53.139 --> 00:22:53.519 of the zoo 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.119 to go to, 00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.960 to watch 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.599 and to look 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.059 and all that 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.279 stuff. 00:22:57.379 --> 00:22:57.720 However, 00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.620 if there 00:22:58.620 --> 00:22:58.980 was one 00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.319 on this 00:22:59.319 --> 00:22:59.620 stage, 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.079 I wouldn't 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:00.400 be on 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:00.579 this 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:00.940 stage. 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:03.720 When I 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.059 was growing 00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:04.279 up, 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:04.500 there was 00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.380 a creek 00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:05.740 that went 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.100 through our 00:23:06.100 --> 00:23:06.480 neighborhood 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:06.860 and there 00:23:06.860 --> 00:23:07.500 was a 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.440 bush that 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:09.819 hung over 00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.420 that creek 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.240 and one 00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:11.559 day I 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.140 was down 00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:12.620 the creek 00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:13.740 and I 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.980 saw a 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.500 snake in 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:16.120 that bush. 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:17.759 Another 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.039 day I 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.500 saw another 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:18.920 snake in 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.400 that bush. 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.319 Some 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:20.600 days I 00:23:20.600 --> 00:23:21.019 saw two 00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:21.440 snakes in 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:21.720 that bush. 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:21.960 So I 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.500 got fascinated 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.500 with seeing 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.600 them and 00:23:24.600 --> 00:23:25.160 scared and 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:25.500 all that 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:25.759 stuff. 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:27.000 One day 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.299 I went 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:27.579 down there 00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:28.059 and looked 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:30.680 and the 00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.039 snakes were 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:31.559 green and 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:31.799 so they 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:32.240 matched the 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.440 bush. 00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:32.599 It was 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:32.960 hard to 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.839 see and 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.720 I didn't 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:35.200 see any. 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:37.400 So dejected 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:37.839 and somewhat 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:38.839 glad, as 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.339 weird as that 00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:40.579 is, I 00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:41.400 started home 00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:43.180 and all of a 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:43.400 sudden I 00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:43.940 looked down 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.420 and on this 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:45.220 little rock 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:46.740 was a 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:47.500 little snake, 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.039 a little 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.819 brown snake 00:23:49.819 --> 00:23:50.359 sunning, 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:51.879 about that 00:23:51.879 --> 00:23:52.240 long. 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:53.920 By the time 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:54.379 I looked at 00:23:54.379 --> 00:23:54.539 him, he 00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:55.039 had his head 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:55.619 raised up 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:55.899 and his 00:23:55.899 --> 00:23:56.819 tongue out 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:58.099 and I 00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:58.839 started running. 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.559 I lived 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:00.839 about a 00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:01.200 quarter of a 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:01.619 mile away 00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:02.039 and I ran 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.379 all the way 00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.720 home, worried 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.159 that snake 00:24:04.159 --> 00:24:04.639 was chasing 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.079 me down the 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:05.200 road. 00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.059 I have an 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:07.899 irrational fear 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:08.639 of it, okay? 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:10.740 That's not the 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.220 fear this is 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:11.799 talking about. 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.319 The other 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:14.920 kind of fear 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.399 is a fear 00:24:15.399 --> 00:24:16.159 of respect. 00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:19.740 This has 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.319 more to do 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:20.680 with the 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:22.000 character of 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:22.359 the one 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:23.099 respected 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:25.159 than it 00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:25.619 does the 00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:26.219 one doing 00:24:26.219 --> 00:24:26.419 the 00:24:26.419 --> 00:24:27.019 respecting. 00:24:30.459 --> 00:24:31.199 It's not 00:24:31.199 --> 00:24:31.799 a fear of 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.379 punishment. 00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:34.779 It's a 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:35.679 fear of 00:24:35.679 --> 00:24:37.079 reverence. 00:24:39.159 --> 00:24:40.139 My dad's a 00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:40.619 whistler. 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.539 He'd work in 00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.039 the garage and 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.439 he had one of 00:24:44.439 --> 00:24:44.980 those big 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:46.599 tube radios 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:47.599 where it had 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.279 to warm up 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:48.659 when you hit 00:24:48.659 --> 00:24:49.119 the button. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:50.879 And he 00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:51.159 played 00:24:51.159 --> 00:24:51.739 instrumental 00:24:51.739 --> 00:24:52.239 music, 00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:53.159 elevator music 00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:53.559 out there 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:53.879 and he'd 00:24:53.879 --> 00:24:54.459 whistle to 00:24:54.459 --> 00:24:55.639 it while he 00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:56.039 was out there 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.399 working. 00:24:58.279 --> 00:25:00.179 But he also 00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:00.719 had another 00:25:00.719 --> 00:25:01.379 whistle that 00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:01.799 was somewhat 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:03.199 legendary and 00:25:03.199 --> 00:25:03.719 that was the 00:25:03.719 --> 00:25:04.299 come home 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.679 whistle. 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.039 And when he 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.500 wanted his 00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.139 boys to come 00:25:08.139 --> 00:25:08.579 home he'd 00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.339 walk outside 00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:09.839 and he'd 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:10.219 whistle. 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.039 And when 00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:13.019 dad whistled 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:14.439 it was time 00:25:14.439 --> 00:25:15.000 to come home. 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:17.839 one time I 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:22.079 know as 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.519 the bird 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.460 flies that I 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.319 was over a 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:25.019 half a mile 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.619 away from 00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.960 him and I 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:27.319 heard him 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:27.680 whistle. 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.160 And the 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:29.619 moment I 00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:29.940 heard him 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:30.519 whistle I 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.039 commenced 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.559 running. 00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:34.119 Jumping 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.539 creeks, 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.039 running through 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.519 woods. 00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:36.920 I commenced 00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:39.099 running because 00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:39.819 I wanted to 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.700 get home and 00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:41.440 beat the 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.900 dreaded second 00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.680 whistle. 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:47.259 I'm just 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:47.460 going to be 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:47.859 honest with 00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.000 you. 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:50.359 I don't 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.279 ever remember 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.019 being punished 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.460 for not 00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.000 coming home. 00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:55.980 I never 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.539 remember being 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:58.779 scolded for 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.299 not coming 00:25:59.299 --> 00:25:59.619 home. 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.180 I don't 00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:03.019 ever remember 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.720 not coming 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:05.519 home when I 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.059 was called. 00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:08.759 I just knew 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.259 to come. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:11.980 My dad 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.960 expected me. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:15.400 my father 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:16.019 never asked 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.620 much of me. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:16.920 He never 00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:17.259 does. 00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:19.319 But when he 00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:20.000 has I've 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.400 tried to 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:20.779 deliver. 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:23.340 And supper 00:26:23.340 --> 00:26:23.860 was ready. 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.700 And it was 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.340 time to come 00:26:26.340 --> 00:26:26.640 home. 00:26:28.340 --> 00:26:29.259 And I had a 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.980 fear of him. 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:33.740 I didn't fear 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.220 what he would 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:34.640 do. 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.319 I didn't fear 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:37.640 what he 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.279 wouldn't do. 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:41.139 I just knew 00:26:41.139 --> 00:26:41.420 what he 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:41.720 wanted. 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.460 And I 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.240 respected him. 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:48.680 The test 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:49.559 of God 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:51.899 demand 00:26:51.899 --> 00:26:53.279 obedience. 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.339 And Abraham 00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:57.099 heard the 00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.660 whistle of 00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:59.740 God and 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.099 he knew 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:00.579 to obey. 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:05.759 the test 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.159 of God 00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:06.819 also 00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:08.319 demand 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:08.879 faith. 00:27:10.159 --> 00:27:10.919 They demand 00:27:10.919 --> 00:27:11.339 faith. 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.599 Abraham knew 00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:14.399 whatever God 00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:15.000 would ask he 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.480 would trust 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:15.699 him. 00:27:16.939 --> 00:27:17.359 How? 00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:17.819 Because he 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:18.179 walked with 00:27:18.179 --> 00:27:18.460 God. 00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:20.299 And when you 00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:20.759 walk with 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.439 folks you know 00:27:21.439 --> 00:27:21.779 whether you 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.220 can trust 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.699 them or not. 00:27:23.439 --> 00:27:23.960 You learn 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.139 them. 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:24.899 And he had 00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:25.599 learned God. 00:27:26.199 --> 00:27:26.679 He had lived 00:27:26.679 --> 00:27:27.099 with him and 00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:27.839 he knew him 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:28.480 and so he 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:28.960 could trust 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.139 him. 00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:30.100 There are 00:27:30.100 --> 00:27:30.880 two sure 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:31.600 signs of 00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:31.860 that. 00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:32.560 The first 00:27:32.560 --> 00:27:33.060 one is seen 00:27:33.060 --> 00:27:33.460 in verses 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.240 four and 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:34.820 five. 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:35.720 When it 00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.120 says on 00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:36.580 the third 00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.240 day Abraham 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:37.920 lifted up 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.400 his eyes 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:38.740 and saw 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.120 the place 00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:39.660 from afar 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.300 and then 00:27:40.300 --> 00:27:40.860 Abraham said 00:27:40.860 --> 00:27:41.080 to his 00:27:41.080 --> 00:27:41.420 young men 00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:41.860 get this 00:27:41.860 --> 00:27:42.160 now. 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:43.420 Stay here 00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:43.780 with the 00:27:43.780 --> 00:27:44.140 donkey. 00:27:44.360 --> 00:27:44.940 I and 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.360 the boy 00:27:45.360 --> 00:27:45.820 will go 00:27:45.820 --> 00:27:46.540 over there 00:27:46.540 --> 00:27:47.100 and worship 00:27:47.100 --> 00:27:47.780 and come 00:27:47.780 --> 00:27:48.700 again to 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.160 you. 00:27:50.080 --> 00:27:50.380 Did you 00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:50.940 catch that? 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.540 He knew 00:27:54.540 --> 00:27:55.040 they would 00:27:55.040 --> 00:27:56.340 worship and 00:27:56.340 --> 00:27:57.040 he knew 00:27:57.040 --> 00:27:57.600 they would 00:27:57.600 --> 00:27:58.840 come back. 00:27:59.140 --> 00:28:02.160 He 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:02.460 didn't 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:02.800 doubt 00:28:02.800 --> 00:28:03.160 God 00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:03.360 would 00:28:03.360 --> 00:28:03.680 somehow 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:04.020 take 00:28:04.020 --> 00:28:04.259 care 00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:04.360 of 00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:04.460 the 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:04.759 matter 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.360 and 00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:06.000 Hebrews 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.400 chapter 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:06.880 11 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:07.500 verse 17 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.060 through 19 00:28:08.060 --> 00:28:08.960 gives us 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.740 insight into 00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.120 how he 00:28:10.120 --> 00:28:10.400 thought it 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:10.620 would be 00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:11.040 handled. 00:28:11.580 --> 00:28:11.800 It says 00:28:11.800 --> 00:28:12.259 by faith 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:12.620 Abraham 00:28:12.620 --> 00:28:12.940 when he 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.660 was tested 00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:14.259 offered up 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.600 Isaac 00:28:14.600 --> 00:28:15.800 and he 00:28:15.800 --> 00:28:16.200 who had 00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.700 received 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.360 the promises 00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:17.840 was in 00:28:17.840 --> 00:28:18.240 the act 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.720 of offering 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.060 up his 00:28:19.060 --> 00:28:19.700 only son 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.040 of whom 00:28:20.040 --> 00:28:20.180 he 00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:20.860 was said 00:28:20.860 --> 00:28:21.440 through 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:21.860 Isaac 00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:22.200 shall 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.440 your 00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:22.860 offspring 00:28:22.860 --> 00:28:23.220 be 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.700 named. 00:28:24.560 --> 00:28:24.740 He 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.180 considered 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:25.640 that God 00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:26.360 was able 00:28:26.360 --> 00:28:27.220 even to 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:28.040 raise him 00:28:28.040 --> 00:28:28.720 from the 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.039 dead 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.660 from which 00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:30.059 figuratively 00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.460 speaking 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.259 he did 00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:31.980 receive him 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:32.400 back. 00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.460 He gave 00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.120 up Isaac 00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:37.720 and God 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:38.120 gave him 00:28:38.120 --> 00:28:38.620 back. 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.400 He trusted 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:42.799 that his 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:43.480 willingness to 00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.220 sacrifice to 00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:44.620 God would 00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.120 lead to 00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:45.860 worship and 00:28:45.860 --> 00:28:46.259 that is 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.140 exactly what 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:47.900 happened and 00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.559 he knew 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:49.160 God was 00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:50.140 at work 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:50.759 before he 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.140 ever went 00:28:51.140 --> 00:28:51.539 up that 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:51.839 mountain. 00:28:52.100 --> 00:28:52.680 He trusted 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.180 God with 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:53.779 that because 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.400 God will 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:54.900 provide. 00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:55.579 I can 00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.240 promise you 00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:56.700 as well 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.599 in every 00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.620 test God 00:28:58.620 --> 00:28:59.380 will provide 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.039 and when 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:00.960 God provides 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.680 it will 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.599 change 00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:03.400 your 00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:04.259 worship. 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:05.880 When you 00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:06.339 see God 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:06.880 come through 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.359 it will 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:08.140 change 00:29:08.140 --> 00:29:08.579 your 00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:09.000 worship. 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:10.059 Verse 13 00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:10.480 and 14 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.019 tell us 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.720 that just 00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.539 as Abraham 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.440 had said 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:14.400 God provided 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:14.880 and it was 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:15.259 time to 00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:15.539 worship. 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.039 Our job 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.480 is to 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:18.980 obey. 00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.400 God's job 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:20.759 is to 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.700 provide and 00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:22.099 when we 00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:22.779 choose not 00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.380 to obey 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.240 we try to 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:24.620 go our 00:29:24.619 --> 00:29:25.259 own way 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:25.819 and when 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.339 we obey 00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:27.119 we don't 00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:27.459 go our 00:29:27.459 --> 00:29:27.819 own way 00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:28.519 we trust 00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:28.679 him. 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.339 You may 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:29.879 not like 00:29:29.879 --> 00:29:30.919 the experience 00:29:30.919 --> 00:29:32.019 of a test 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:33.619 but the 00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:34.500 benefit of 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.319 God's test 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:36.579 outweigh the 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.359 agony I 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:37.939 can promise 00:29:37.939 --> 00:29:39.519 you and 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.339 in that 00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:41.479 we are 00:29:41.479 --> 00:29:42.199 changed. 00:29:44.219 --> 00:29:44.859 Lastly 00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:47.459 the test 00:29:47.459 --> 00:29:48.059 of God 00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:48.819 are 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.199 blessed. 00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:53.259 Sure 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.599 don't feel 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:53.959 like it in 00:29:53.959 --> 00:29:54.179 the middle 00:29:54.179 --> 00:29:54.500 of it. 00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:59.799 I can't 00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:00.239 explain to 00:30:00.239 --> 00:30:00.459 you how 00:30:00.459 --> 00:30:00.819 God will 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:01.199 bless you 00:30:01.199 --> 00:30:01.519 through your 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.039 trials and 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:02.299 through your 00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:02.679 test. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:06.259 That may 00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:06.659 be some of 00:30:06.659 --> 00:30:06.919 the most 00:30:06.919 --> 00:30:07.459 distinct 00:30:07.459 --> 00:30:08.019 differences 00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:09.139 that you 00:30:09.139 --> 00:30:09.599 will ever 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:09.979 hear in 00:30:09.979 --> 00:30:10.319 people's 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:10.679 testimony 00:30:10.679 --> 00:30:12.139 when they 00:30:12.139 --> 00:30:12.579 talk about 00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:13.039 how God 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.599 came through 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.219 for them. 00:30:15.639 --> 00:30:16.259 God is 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.899 an individual 00:30:16.899 --> 00:30:17.539 God that 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.000 gives us 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.359 what we 00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:18.779 need whether 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.639 we know 00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:19.959 what it 00:30:19.959 --> 00:30:20.219 is or 00:30:20.219 --> 00:30:20.619 not. 00:30:21.399 --> 00:30:21.799 But let 00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:22.139 me tell 00:30:22.139 --> 00:30:22.639 you three 00:30:22.639 --> 00:30:23.179 ways that 00:30:23.179 --> 00:30:23.539 God 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:25.279 blessed 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:26.019 Abraham. 00:30:26.159 --> 00:30:26.899 Three blessings 00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:27.240 and I'll 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:27.579 close. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:28.680 Three blessings 00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:29.180 that I want 00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:29.480 you to see 00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:29.940 about Abraham. 00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:32.779 One is 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.940 he walked 00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.440 away from 00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.220 this with 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:35.539 an even 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.119 stronger 00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:36.859 commitment to 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:37.240 God than 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:37.480 he had 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:37.759 before. 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:39.500 I want you 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:39.879 to notice 00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:40.259 something. 00:30:41.399 --> 00:30:42.619 God never 00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:43.940 wondered how 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.779 Abraham would 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.259 respond. 00:30:45.399 --> 00:30:46.079 God knew it. 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:46.599 Why? 00:30:46.719 --> 00:30:47.139 Because he's 00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:47.619 omniscient. 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.000 He knows 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.559 all things. 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.579 But now 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:52.699 Abraham would 00:30:52.699 --> 00:30:53.439 never question 00:30:53.439 --> 00:30:53.899 his own 00:30:53.899 --> 00:30:54.299 level of 00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:54.619 obedience 00:30:54.619 --> 00:30:55.119 again. 00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.259 He knew 00:30:59.259 --> 00:30:59.579 that he 00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.899 could and 00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:01.259 he knew 00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:01.579 that he 00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.399 would trust 00:31:02.399 --> 00:31:02.959 God. 00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.159 Makes a 00:31:05.159 --> 00:31:05.480 world of 00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:05.839 difference. 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.459 Second thing 00:31:07.459 --> 00:31:07.819 is this. 00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:10.339 What he 00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:12.019 had now 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:14.079 was the 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:14.559 Lord's. 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:19.460 He might 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:19.799 be sitting 00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:20.099 at his 00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:21.339 table but 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:21.619 he's not 00:31:21.619 --> 00:31:21.879 his. 00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:22.220 He's the 00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:22.660 Lord's. 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:31.900 What's 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:32.500 God asking 00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:32.940 of you? 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:39.960 Give it 00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.319 over to 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:40.460 him. 00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:43.119 trust him 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.460 with it. 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:44.819 You may 00:31:44.819 --> 00:31:45.079 get to 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:45.559 keep it 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:47.720 but it'll 00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.160 never be 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.859 yours again 00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:50.440 once you 00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:50.740 give it to 00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:50.980 him. 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.039 And it's 00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:53.700 our job 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:54.160 to be 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:54.759 stewards 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.379 of the 00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:55.779 blessings 00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.420 that God 00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:57.460 gives to 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:59.279 us as 00:31:59.279 --> 00:31:59.900 long as 00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:00.500 he allows 00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:02.139 us to 00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:02.660 have them. 00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:03.859 And one 00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:04.379 more blessing 00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:04.819 he got. 00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:07.920 He knew 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:09.000 he did 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:10.440 what God 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:10.859 asked. 00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:14.539 he walked 00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.039 off that 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:15.460 mountain 00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:17.599 knowing that 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.180 he did 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:19.420 exactly what 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:19.940 God told 00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:20.180 him to 00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:20.339 do. 00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:20.740 That he 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.680 obeyed 00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.240 God. 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.319 And that 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:25.019 makes my 00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:25.940 friend a 00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:26.519 world of 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.759 difference in 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.359 your life. 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:29.480 When you've 00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.379 trusted God, 00:32:30.879 --> 00:32:31.400 when you've 00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.259 obeyed God 00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:33.119 and just 00:32:33.119 --> 00:32:34.299 let him have 00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:35.079 it and 00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:35.859 watched him 00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:37.240 work in 00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:37.599 the midst 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:37.980 of that. 00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:39.819 it is my 00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:41.539 goal that 00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:41.900 I will 00:32:41.900 --> 00:32:42.460 stand before 00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:42.799 the Lord 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:43.339 one day 00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:44.420 and he 00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:44.819 will look 00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:45.120 at me 00:32:45.120 --> 00:32:45.680 and say 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:47.759 well done 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:49.200 my good 00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:49.599 and faithful 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:50.079 servant. 00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:52.000 You 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.759 obeyed. 00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:54.880 You 00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:55.339 trusted. 00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:58.660 Trust 00:32:58.660 --> 00:32:59.620 God 00:32:59.620 --> 00:33:01.079 in your 00:33:01.079 --> 00:33:01.799 test. 00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:04.039 He will 00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:05.240 not let 00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:06.380 you down. 00:33:07.859 --> 00:33:08.380 He's 00:33:08.380 --> 00:33:08.859 good for 00:33:08.859 --> 00:33:09.240 it. 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:11.759 With 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:12.120 every head 00:33:12.120 --> 00:33:12.559 bowed and 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:12.940 every eye 00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:13.759 closed, I 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.359 don't say 00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:15.079 any of this 00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:15.559 lightly. 00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:18.880 Because 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:20.920 I walk 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.720 through valleys 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:24.140 with many 00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:24.660 of you. 00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:28.220 Many of 00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:28.500 you I 00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:28.920 pray for 00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:29.380 daily. 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:31.039 Because I 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.400 know the 00:33:31.400 --> 00:33:32.000 struggles that 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:32.400 you're going 00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:32.720 through. 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.259 I know the 00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.819 difficulties. 00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:37.019 I'm also 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:37.680 well aware that 00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:38.400 for those that 00:33:38.400 --> 00:33:39.100 I know of, 00:33:39.420 --> 00:33:39.920 there's that 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:40.620 many more 00:33:40.620 --> 00:33:41.160 that I have 00:33:41.160 --> 00:33:41.759 no idea 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:42.259 about. 00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:49.079 Whatever 00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:49.700 it is 00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:51.960 that you're 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:52.960 facing today, 00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:55.420 give that to 00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:55.880 the Lord. 00:33:57.140 --> 00:33:57.660 Give that to 00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:58.039 the Lord. 00:33:59.080 --> 00:34:00.019 It may be 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:02.580 that you've 00:34:02.580 --> 00:34:03.279 never really 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:03.860 surrendered your 00:34:03.860 --> 00:34:04.299 life to 00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:04.840 Christ. 00:34:06.180 --> 00:34:06.680 You've been 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.160 playing the 00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:07.900 game or 00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:09.559 hanging pretty 00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.380 close, but 00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:11.440 you've never 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.280 surrendered your 00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:12.720 life to 00:34:12.720 --> 00:34:13.260 Christ. 00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:16.340 And the 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:16.720 good news 00:34:16.720 --> 00:34:18.519 is, when 00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:19.019 you give 00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:19.259 love and 00:34:19.259 --> 00:34:19.900 surrender your 00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:20.340 life to 00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:22.179 Christ, he 00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:22.739 won't take it 00:34:22.739 --> 00:34:23.800 from you, but 00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:24.480 it'll be his. 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:27.739 You've never 00:34:27.739 --> 00:34:28.280 done that and 00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:28.519 would like 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:29.119 guidance in 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:29.400 that you 00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.019 come today. 00:34:31.820 --> 00:34:32.460 As soon as 00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:33.019 we stand and 00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:33.340 sing, you 00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:33.639 come. 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:35.539 Maybe you 00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:35.860 have done 00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.139 that, but 00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:36.519 you've never 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:37.099 acknowledged that 00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:37.500 publicly. 00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:37.840 It's just 00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:38.360 something you've 00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:39.000 done privately. 00:34:39.739 --> 00:34:40.039 And the 00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:40.500 first step of 00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.239 obedience is to 00:34:41.239 --> 00:34:41.860 follow him in 00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:42.300 baptism. 00:34:44.259 --> 00:34:44.619 Or maybe 00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:45.159 God's leading 00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:46.440 you to be a 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:46.800 part of this 00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:47.159 fellowship. 00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:47.319 fellowship. 00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.539 You know 00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:49.159 God's drawing 00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:49.659 you here. 00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:50.819 It's clear to 00:34:50.819 --> 00:34:51.119 you. 00:34:52.299 --> 00:34:52.739 I just 00:34:52.739 --> 00:34:53.379 encourage you to 00:34:53.379 --> 00:34:53.980 trust him with 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:54.239 that. 00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:56.719 Or there may 00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:57.319 be something else 00:34:57.319 --> 00:34:57.980 in your life 00:34:57.980 --> 00:35:00.179 that you've just 00:35:00.179 --> 00:35:00.839 got to give over 00:35:00.839 --> 00:35:01.259 to God. 00:35:01.319 --> 00:35:01.859 You can do that 00:35:01.859 --> 00:35:02.420 where you are. 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:02.980 You can do it at 00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:03.379 this altar. 00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:03.940 You can do it 00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:04.399 with a pastor 00:35:04.399 --> 00:35:05.259 praying for you. 00:35:07.779 --> 00:35:08.619 But today, 00:35:09.339 --> 00:35:11.039 let's trust God. 00:35:13.399 --> 00:35:14.119 He's worthy 00:35:14.119 --> 00:35:15.359 to be trusted. 00:35:17.259 --> 00:35:17.960 Lord Jesus, 00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:18.699 lead us right 00:35:18.699 --> 00:35:19.039 now. 00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:20.819 Have your will 00:35:20.819 --> 00:35:21.319 in your way 00:35:21.319 --> 00:35:22.139 with every one 00:35:22.139 --> 00:35:22.759 of these folks 00:35:22.759 --> 00:35:23.639 today, dear God. 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:25.639 Help them to 00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:26.219 feel the power 00:35:26.219 --> 00:35:26.940 of your presence, 00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:27.759 the direction 00:35:27.759 --> 00:35:28.839 of your spirit, 00:35:29.299 --> 00:35:30.159 and work and 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:31.079 move in our midst 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:32.299 right now, 00:35:32.359 --> 00:35:32.719 oh God, 00:35:32.759 --> 00:35:33.179 I pray. 00:35:34.259 --> 00:35:34.960 In Jesus' 00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:35.440 name, 00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:36.440 amen.