Making The Grade: The Faith Of Abraham

Transition: But it's not enough to only hear Him and know Him, we must also TRUST Him as our teacher.

III. TRUST YOUR TEACHER

• Genesis 22:10-12--Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. 12"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

• Abraham trusted his teacher enough to raise his hand against the son that God promised Him.

• If you work in the medical setting you understand the importance of good training.

o You must trust that your teacher has the best interest of your safety and the safety/health of the patient in mind.

o A poor teacher can get somebody injured or in trouble.

• This is why we make choices about where we work, where we take our children to school, where we go to church, and what elders we place ourselves under. We base these decisions out of trust.

• Some of the most trusted people in the church are its elders. These are the teachers who are trusted with the job of protecting and directing the flock.

• If we want to "Make The Grade," we must learn to trust God as our ultimate teacher.

• Hebrews 11 is a listing of the Spiritual Giants of our faith. Abraham is counted as one of those giants and listen to one of the reasons why: "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, 'Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.' He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back." Hebrews 11:17-19

• Abraham trusted God, his Teacher, enough to offer His promised son to Him.

• This trust was rewarded by God. Abraham passed God's test.

• We must not only hear our teachers voice, but we must, also know Him and trust Him if we want to pass life's tests with flying colors!

CONCLUSION

• God already knew what Abraham was capable of, but He wanted Abraham to know it.

• What did Abraham learn from this test?

• He learned that tests would come throughout life; when tested, he must focus on promises; and God is faithful to His chosen. We must also remember this.

• This was not the only test Abraham was given in his life, but it is because of his willingness to hear, know, and trust God that Abraham was listed among the Spiritual Giants and blessed by God.

• God tests us to bring out the good, He wants you to be a Spiritual Giant. He believes in you!

• We can pass any test we come across in the same manner which Abraham did: by hearing God, knowing God, and trusting in God.

• Where is your faith!? Are you making the grade?

• If you are ready to become someone of great faith, but haven’t taken the first step of water baptism; listen to God when He tells you that you can know Him and trust that He will fulfill His promise to you.

INVITATION