Living A Life Of Worship

Living the Life of Worship

Genesis 22:1-14

Background.

At the age of 75 Abraham was called by God. At this time Abraham was approximately 115 years old and his beloved son of promise Isaac was between 15 and 17 years old

Today¡¦s text centers around a worship service and is birthed out of Abraham¡¦s life of worship. In life we become like what we worship. If we:

Worship possessions¡Kbecome a materialistic person.

Worship money¡K become a greedy person.

Worship Sex¡K become a lustful person.

Worship Power¡K become a corrupt person. But¡K

Worship Jesus¡K become a Christ like person

The Hebrew word for Worship in verse 5 of our text is the word Shachah. Although there are several examples of worship in the Bible, prior to this passage, this is the first mention of the word in all of scripture. It means: To bow down, to prostrate ones self, as an act of respect before a superior being. It means to surrender or to fall down in submission.

Worship is service of God expressed, not only in religious gatherings, but also in every area of life.

In Christ conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus plainly removes the veil that was masking what was the very pursuit of God. Jesus said, in John 4:23, ¡§But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.¡¨ God Seeks true worshippers!! Abraham was such a worshipper of God.

1. The Life of Worship will be Tried and Tested (v.1)

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.

„à God tests the hearts of His worshippers to gauge their spiritual condition. Moses instructed Israel in Deut 8:2, ¡§Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.¡¨

„Ã The Hebrew word tempt in our text, Nacah, means to test, to try, to prove, to assay, to put to the test, to put to the proof. This verb carries with it the idea of testing the quality of someone or something or someone through a demonstration of stress.

„Ã There is a big difference between testing and temptation. In James chapter 1 tells us that Temptations come from the wicked desires within us. Tests come from the Lord who has a special purpose to fulfill in us.

„Ã Abraham had been tested from the beginning in his walk with God. He faced:

The Family Test: when he had to leave his father¡¦s household and kindred and go to a land that God would show him.

The Famine Test: which he failed when he doubted God and went to Egypt for help.

The Fatherhood Test: Which he failed when he fathered a child by Sarai¡¦s handmaid Hagar

„à Job proclaimed, ¡§0 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.¡¨ Job 23:10 NIV James said: ¡§Count it all Joy when you encounter diverse trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. If we are to live the Life of worship, the first thing that we must realize is that The Life of the Worship will be tested and tried.

2. The Life of Worship always Comes with a Cost (v.2)

Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

As a worshipper, your sacrifice matters to God.

„Ã Read Gen 4:2-7, Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground, but Able brought God the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. Literally translated, He brought the fattest of the firstlings of his flock. Able gave God his best!!! The writer of Hebrews said that by faith Able offered a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain. (Heb.11:4)

Jesus required that His disciples leave all that they had livelihoods, family, and relationships to follow Him. The life of worship comes with cost. Jesus Marveled over the widow that gave her last mite in the temple when there were others who gave out of their surplus, she gave out of her need. David said, ¡§¡KI will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.¡¨ 2 Sam 24:24

„Ã The Burnt Offering was to be wholly consumed in ashes. It was the highest of gifts to God, representing total unreserved dedication of the offerer; body, soul, spirit and will to God. The burnt offering signified a total and complete sacrifice. Throughout his life Abraham had been called on to make sacrificial offerings to the Lord. His life of worship was characterized by significant burnt offerings to the Lord. The Worshipper of God is willing to pay the price with Joy because he knows that no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.