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.
9. So we see, The life of worship is tried and tested, and it comes with a cost, but it also
3. The Life of Worship is Ordered by Obedience (v.3-4)
Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. [4] On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
„à The life of worship requires obedience to God¡¦s Word in spite of feelings, circumstances or consequences. It means holding on to God¡¦s truth no matter how heavy the burden or how dark the day. This obedience requires a¡KSpeedy Response to the deity of God¡¦s Word ¡V ¡§And Abraham rose up early in the morning.¡¨
„à Abraham didn¡¦t waste any time. Having received the word from God, he knew that despite His shortcomings in the past¡K He was to follow God¡¦s word without delay. He rose up early in the morning. At this point in his life of worship, Abraham grew to love God by obeying Him wholeheartedly.
4. The Life of Worship is Fueled by Faith (v. 5-10)
He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will
worship and then we will come back to you." [6] Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, [7] Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" [8] Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. [9] When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. [10] Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
„Ã Faith requires us to live radically according to the Word of God. He took God at His word¡K Despite the difficulty of what was before him, Abraham would not let go of the promises that God spoke to him that were yet to be fulfilled.
„à In Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Somehow, Abraham was able to reconcile in his mind, obedience to God¡¦s command and God faithfully fulfilling His promises that were yet to be fulfilled. Heb 11:17-19 ¡V ¡§By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED." 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.¡¨
„Ã The bible tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Perhaps Abraham knew that even when we are faithless, God abides faithful, in that He cannot deny himself.
5. The Life of Worship is Secured by His Sight (v.11-14)
But 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." [13] Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. [14] So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided."
„Ã Belief that the Lord provides enables the true worshipper to sacrifice without reservation. The Lord revealed Himself to Abraham in a new way on Mt. Moriah that day. He came to know God as the true source for everything that he would ever need.
„Ã The name Moriah ¡V means Foreseen of JehovahThe word Jireh translated provide in verse 8 and verse 14 is most accurately translated Sees. That place of Sacrifice could easily be known as Jehovah Sees. The Lord sees our hearts of Worship, and in response to what He sees, He makes Himself seen.
„à Isn¡¦t it good to know that whenever we go through a season of testing, ¡K Jehovah Sees!!!
When our month outlasts our money¡K Jehovah Sees, When we can¡¦t quite see the light at the end of the tunnel¡K Jehovah Sees, and When we are troubled on every side¡KJehovah Sees
„à David said, ¡§For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His¡¨ 2 Chron 16:9
Conclusion
Why should we live this life of worship? Isaiah said, He was WOUNDED for our transgressions, He was BRUISED for our iniquities¡K the Chastisement of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes We Are Healed. David said, ¡§Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD¡¨ 1 Chron 16:27-29KJV
