Theme: What stands between you and God?
Introduction: Years ago there was a man who claimed that God told him to scarifice his son, and he did but it wasn't to God. Satan is Jealous of the praise and worship that God get from his creation. He desires to be worshipped today, and he is getting alot of it.
This story is about Abraham the father of faith. Issac was God's promise to him and his wife. They were very old and well stricken in years, but God give them a promise that through them all the families of the earth would be blessed.
God's promise became a hinderance to Abraham when he began to cherish his son more than God.
Matt 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Some things to note:
1. The pregnacy was a Miracle to begin with.
2. Issac was to carry on Abraham's name.
3. The heathen scarificed their children to false god's.
Divisions:
I. God demands to be FIRST.
A. Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
God was first in the beginning, and He demands to be first today. He not only demands to be first, He demands to be everything.
B. This can also be seen in the garden of Eden.
Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
To me this implies that God met Adam in the morning. In other words God wanted to be First on Adam"s list.
David said in Psalm 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
David talked alot about the morning. God should be the First person you talk to in the morning.
C. The Ten Commadments
Ex 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Would you agree that this implies that God is to be first?
D. Jesus Christ
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
E. Preeminence
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
II. God Demands that things between us be scarificed.
A. God is Jealous
Ex 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
B. Maybe God wanted to see if Abraham loved Issac more than Him.
They had the same thoughts because God also gave.
C. Abraham proved his loyality and that he trusted him completely.
D. God took David's son ( sin ) that stood between them.
E. God wants that thing that stands between you and Him to be layed on the ALTER BOUND.
Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
A. God provided the Lamb and he will cast our sins into the depths of the sea, if we will put these thing on the Alter bound so it can't get loose again.
1. Fornication
2. Tobacco
3. Gossip
4. Greed
5. Alcohol
6. Racism
7. Religion
B.It has to be given up voluntary.
C. How can I do this?
Good question Let me point you to the Word of God.
Abraham gave us the key when he said in Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
And the Lamb God provided said in 2 Cor 12:9A And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
The Answer is BY THE GRACE OF GOD
Copyright 1999
Rev. Stephen Peele
188 Grace Lane
Liberty, S. C. 29657
sdpeele@greenville.infi.net
