Introduction

Good morning, church family! Today, we're going to dive into a story from the life of Abraham – a story that teaches us about obedience to God.

As A.W. Tozer once wrote, "The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God and the Church is famishing for want of His Presence." In order to experience the fullness of God's presence, we must be willing to obey Him, even when the cost seems high.

Before we delve into the Word, let's read the full passage from Genesis 22:1-19:

[Read passage]

Let's begin with a word of prayer.

Father God, we come before you today, humbled and ready to learn from Your Word. Open our hearts and minds to hear Your message in this powerful story of Abraham's obedience. Help us to trust in Your promises and to be willing to obey, even when the cost is high. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

The Cost

The cost of obedience is the idea that following God's will and commandments may sometimes require us to make sacrifices, endure hardships, or face difficult decisions.

In the story of Abraham and Isaac, we see a powerful example of the cost of obedience as Abraham is asked by God to make the ultimate sacrifice – his beloved son, Isaac.

To fully understand the cost of obedience, we must first consider the context in which Abraham found himself. God had promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. This promise was a central aspect of Abraham's faith, and he had waited patiently for many years for the birth of his son, Isaac. When Isaac finally arrived, he was a tangible representation of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promise to Abraham.

However, in Genesis 22, we see that God tests Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. This request must have been incredibly difficult for Abraham to comprehend, as it seemed to contradict the very promise that God had made to him. Yet, despite the apparent contradiction and the immense emotional turmoil that this request must have caused, Abraham chose to obey God's command.

He was being asked to give up the very thing that represented God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promise. This was not a small or insignificant sacrifice – it was the ultimate test of Abraham's faith and obedience to God.

As we reflect on the cost of obedience in our own lives, we can identify several aspects that are particularly relevant to our Christian walk.

First, the cost of obedience often involves making difficult decisions that may not align with our own desires or plans. In Abraham's case, he had to choose between his love for his son and his commitment to following God's command. This is a tension that many Christians face as they seek to live in accordance with God's will, even when it requires them to make sacrifices or give up things that they hold dear.

Second, the cost of obedience may sometimes involve enduring hardships or suffering. For Abraham, the journey to Mount Moriah and the act of preparing to sacrifice his son must have been an incredibly painful and heart-wrenching experience. Similarly, as Christians, we may sometimes be called to walk through difficult seasons or face challenges that test our faith and obedience to God. In these moments, we must remember that our commitment to following God's will is not always easy or comfortable, but it is ultimately what He asks of us as His followers.

Third, the cost of obedience can also be seen in the way it requires us to trust in God's promises, even when they seem to contradict our current circumstances. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac demonstrated his unwavering belief in God's promise that he would become the father of many nations.

In our own lives, we may sometimes face situations where God's promises seem to be at odds with what we are experiencing. In these moments, we must choose to trust in His faithfulness and believe that He will ultimately fulfill His promises, even if we cannot see how this will happen.

And fourth, the cost of obedience is also evident in the way it requires us to submit our will to God's will. In Abraham's case, this meant being willing to give up his son, even though it must have been incredibly difficult for him to do so. As Christians, we are called to surrender our own desires and plans to God, trusting that His will is ultimately what is best for us. This can be a challenging process, as it requires us to let go of control and trust that God knows what is best for our lives.

The Reward

In this story, we see that God's rewards are not only material but also spiritual, as He strengthens our faith and deepens our relationship with Him ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO