Sacrifice, Shelter, And The Sustaining Solution

Thirsty Enough Yet?

Sacrifice, Shelter, and the Sustaning Solution

TEXT: Gen. 26:17-25 (esp. vs. 25)

The Jews, even today, refer often to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (spiritual fathers)

Abraham is the father of the faith. He is known also as a man of altars. He built one about everywhere that he went.

ISAAC--his journey from an experience to a relationship

In Gen. 26:1 we find that there was a famine in the land. This was God-designed to lead Isaac farther away from Egypt.

God may send a famine to your life, but the purpose is to distance you from that of this world.

I. Sacrifice

Isaac was no stranger to altars. His dad had taught him much. At one point, Isaac had even been placed upon the altar as the proposed sacrifice.

Romans 12:1 "living sacrifice"

We need many altars in our life. Sometimes our altar is like the one that Elijah had torebuild.

1 Kings 18:30

30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. (KJV)

30 Entonces dijo Elías a todo el pueblo: Acercaos a mí. Y todo el pueblo se acercó a él: y él reparó el altar de Jehová que estaba arruinado. (RVG04)

It may be our fault or it may be the fault of another. At any rate, we need to get it fixed.

An abandoned altar is just as useless as a broken altar.

SACRIFICE (altar)= DEDICATION

II. Shelter

A temporary residence or refuge from the elements.

Isaac was a sojourner. He knew that his lodging in this land of Gerar was only for a limited time.

Heb. 11:9,10

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: (KJV)

9 Por fe habitó en la tierra prometida como en tierra ajena, morando en tiendas con Isaac y Jacob, coherederos de la misma promesa: (RVG04)

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (KJV)

10 Porque esperaba la ciudad que tiene fundamentos, cuyo artífice y hacedor es Dios. (RVG04)

We are pilgrims and strangers here below. Let us not get too connected and settled here on earth. Nothing here is of eternal value; only what we have in the Lord will last forever.

Mt. 6:19-21

19 ¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (KJV)

19 No os hagáis tesoros en la tierra, donde la polilla y el orín corrompen, y donde ladrones minan y hurtan. (RVG04)

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (KJV)

20 Mas haceos tesoros en el cielo, donde ni la polilla, ni el orín corrompen, y donde ladron es no minan ni hurtan. (RVG04)

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (KJV)

21 Porque donde esté vuestro tesoro, allí estará también vuestro corazón. (RVG04)

Our affections have to be kept in check. A heart that becomes fixed on earthly things will grow roots that go deep and are hard to detach.

1 Jn. 2:15-17

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (KJV)

15 No améis al mundo, ni las cosas que están en el mundo. Si alguno ama al mundo, el amor del Padre no está en él. (RVG04)

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (KJV)

16 Porque todo lo que hay en el mundo, la concupiscencia de la carne, y la concupiscencia de los ojos, y la soberbia de la vida, no es del Padre, sino del mundo. (RVG04)

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (KJV)

17 Y el mundo pasa, y su concupiscencia; pero el que hace la voluntad de Dios, permanece para siempre. (RVG04)

SHELTER (tent)=DETACHMENT

III. Sustaining Solution

When you really get thirsty----only water will satisfy.

Coke or Coffee may be 95% water, but it cannot do for you what pure water will do.

Isaac became know as the well-digger.

Isa. 55:1

¶ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (KJV)