Risk: Baby Steps Part 2 Of 3 - A Journey Of Faith Series

Baby Steps Part 2

RISK

Last week we began a journey of baby steps… taking one step at a time to find true faith.

What is faith?

Hebrews 11:1-3 1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Our backdrop for this series is the story of Abraham in Isaac found in Genesis 22… We left them last week as God was taking them through a test of Trust… remember God’s hand in yours, T.R.U.S.T….

A 3 day journey where God is asking for everything from Abraham… a test if Abraham is willing to let go of his dreams, his son, whom he loves…

Genesis 22 - 1 Later on God tested Abraham’s faith and obedience. "Abraham!" God called."Yes," he replied. "Here I am." 2 "Take your son, your only son – yes, Isaac, whom you love so much – and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will point out to you."

3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son Isaac. Then he chopped wood to build a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place where God had told him to go. 4 On the third day of the journey, Abraham saw the place in the distance. 5 "Stay here with the donkey," Abraham told the young men. "The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back." 6 Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the knife and the fire. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac said, "Father?""Yes, my son," Abraham replied."We have the wood and the fire," said the boy, "but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?" 8 "God will provide a lamb, my son," Abraham answered. And they both went on together.

Today we are looking at the aspect of Risk… as an important part of faith…

Last week we learned…

FAITH WITHOUT TRUST IS IMPOSSIBLE

Today we learn…

FAITH WITHOUT RISK IS A CONTRADICTION

What is obedience?

submissive to the restraint or command of authority :

willing to obey

with God… To trust enough to follow through even when you don’t understand why.

What is disobedience?

refusal or neglect to obey

The belief that I can see the picture clearer than God can. To ignore… or neglect… the warnings God gives us in scripture…

9 When they arrived at the place where God had told Abraham to go, he built an altar and placed the wood on it. Then he tied Isaac up and laid him on the altar over the wood. 10 And Abraham took the knife and lifted it up to kill his son as a sacrifice to the LORD.

FAITH WITHOUT RISK IS A CONTRADICTION

God, wait a minute… this doesn’t make sense…

To leave my job now… to give this amount of money… to volunteer to do this… God my time, my resource, it’s my life…

And I know you are a good God but I think I got this one…

The risk of obedience is a step of maturity. To go beyond the childish understanding of no…

(I.E. when an older sibling baby sits a younger one… the younger one has the fork and sees the outlet – what do you do?)

(when your kids come and ask to do something you know is not a good idea for them…)

HOW BIG IS GOD?

Let’s get scientific for a moment…

Let me introduce you to a friend of mine…

This is Fred (I was going to call him Bob)

Fred is a two dimensional person…

We are 3 dimensional people…

Now imagine me trying to get involved in Fred’s world… my 3 dimensional hand trying to reach Fred… Almost like me trying to communicate with a group ants…

Scientists say that at least 10 dimensions exist... so God is atleast 10 dimensional. So how can we as 3 (4 if you include time) understand God. Obviously God is big enough to see my life clearly.

FAITH WITHOUT RISK IS A CONTRADICTION

To believe God has the bigger picture in mind… this is a risk.

To have faith and believe in something you can’t see… this is a risk.

To get in your car and drive… this is a risk.

What happens if you honestly ask this question?

God if you are so big… bigger than any circumstance or problem… then I can ask this question…