Title: To Be Approved by God
Contents
09 11/8 Text; Genesis 22;1---12, How to become approved by God?
Recitation; Jeremiah 29:11 Praise; live obedient
Goal: Remember that there is a test of God in the journey of the life of faith, and whenever that opportunity comes, show your faith and pass the test, so that you will know that you must become a person who receives and enjoys amazing blessings.
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I. Introduction
Dear children of the state! Have any of you ever seen gold? You've probably seen gold at least once. When I look at my mom's and dad's rings and necklaces, many of them are made of gold. However, not all gold is the same. Among gold, there is expensive gold that many people like and want to own. That gold is pure gold. Pure gold that is not mixed with other metals is also called pure gold or pure gold. Pure gold does not come naturally. There is a stone called gold ore, which is made by soaking the stone several times in a hot fire and filtering it out. The gold ore is immersed in a hot fire several times, removing everything other than gold in it. Only gold that has overcome this process hard becomes pure gold, and this type of gold is loved and recognized by people.
Just as gold becomes pure gold by overcoming such a difficult process, we all want God to remove all unbelief in us through testing and show us pure faith in God like gold. In the name of the Lord, I bless you in the name of the Lord that you will become the children of the Lord who clearly understand this fact through today's Word and come to God with pure faith.
Ⅱ.Into the Word
God called Abraham. The reason God called Abraham today was to test him. There are two types of exams. Satan has a temptation to make us sin. This test is called temptation. The test God gives Abraham is not a temptation to sin, but a test to see if he obeys God's Word. In other words, it is called a test. Think of it as a test you take to see how well you understand your studies in school. Let us not forget that the God who gave Abraham a test still gives us a test today.
What kind of test did God give Abraham? Abraham had a son, Isaac, who was 100 years old. Isaac was the son that God promised Abraham when he first called him. That is why Abraham and Sarah loved their son so much. But God told him to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering on a mountain in the land of Moriah. God said something so shocking. I will offer my beloved son as a burnt offering. The burnt offering was one of the sacrifices offered to God in the Old Testament times, and the whole animal, which was a burnt offering, was burned. But now he tells Abraham to burn his son Isaac, whom he loves, and offer it to God.
Why did God tell Abraham such a terrible thing? Why was this test given? It was to test Abraham's true faith in whether he truly feared God. Because Abraham did not trust the promise even though he had received the blessing of having the land that God had promised, the source of blessings and prosperous descendants. So I lied and showed God that I did not obey God's word. God told him that a son Isaac would be born, but Sarah and Abraham, who were wives, did not believe in God's word and even laughed at them with laughter and even had a son from a woman other than Sarah. Because Abraham was established by God as the father of all believers, he must be an example of faith. So, God is testing Abraham right now so that he can set that example.
How can we distinguish whether it is a test from God or a temptation from the devil? To make you love this world or things in it are all temptations of the devil. It is temptation to make us love God's creatures more than God. On the other hand, the test that God gives is to grow in the faith to love and fear God more. It is a test that God gives you to put your heart on God's word and obey it according to what is in the world. “Do you love God more? Do you love the things of the world more?” It is God's test to let you choose the answer to the question asked. I hope that you will be able to make a good distinction so that you can overcome temptations from the devil in the name of Jesus and the tests from God will lead you to the position of obedience by faith.
How did Abraham react to God's test of offering up his son Isaac? Abraham obeyed God's word by faith. It was very heartbreaking to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac as a burnt offering, but Abraham, who received God's promise, believed that God would surely do something good. How painful must Abraham's heart must be when his son Isaac calls out, “My father!” Nevertheless, to the question asked by Isaac his son, he answered with faith, “Son, God himself will provide a lamb for a burnt offering.” When he arrived at the place God instructed, he tied up his son Isaac and put it on the altar. Then he took a knife in his hand and tried to kill his son.
God, who tested Abraham, also tests us through the Word every hour. How are you doing that test? Are you listening to God's word, but not obeying it? Even though you know that worshiping on a Sunday is pleasing to God, when your parents or friends ask you to go out to play on Sunday and ask you to come to the academy on Sunday, how do you overcome that test? I know that evangelism pleases God, but how are you taking that test when you need to evangelize?
When Abraham was about to kill his son with a sword in his hand, an angel of God called him from heaven and told him not to kill Isaac and do nothing to him. Then he said that Abraham now knew that he feared God. Even though it was a very heartbreaking and difficult command to obey, God recognized Abraham when he believed in God's promises and acted with faith. Abraham is passing God's test so nicely. After passing this test, I was able to offer the ram that God had prepared as a burnt offering according to Abraham's confession. And God called Abraham once more and gave him a promise to bless him.
Dear children in the Lord! There are certainly times when the test of God given to you is difficult. Even in that case, I hope that you will firmly believe in God's promises and pass the test nicely. God doesn't just give you tests. I hope you do not forget that God's promises and blessings are clear. I bless you in the name of the Lord that you will pass God's test splendidly, receive God's approval like Abraham, "I know that you fear me," and receive God's blessings abundantly.