Awakened to Grace

Chad Roberts: Welcome to Awakened to Grace. I'm so glad you're listening today. My name is Chad Roberts and I believe God has connected us for a great purpose. You're about to hear a powerful sermon that I know is going to encourage you. If you like what you hear, share it with a friend and subscribe to our weekly devotions and get encouragement right to your inbox at chadroberts.org. My prayer for you is that this year is the best yet.

Well, let's go to Hebrews chapter 11 this morning. How many is in a good mood today? Amen. The rest of you join us. You'll get there. Hebrews chapter 11, verses 17 and 19. I want to call today Faith That Waits; we're going to explore Isaac. Last week we saw Faith That Waits and we explored Abraham and his call and his obedience.

This week we're going to see Isaac's willingness to be a sacrifice. And then next week, Lord willing, I'm going to call it Faith That Waits: The Patriarchs and we'll touch again with Isaac and then Jacob and then Joseph. And I trust that Hebrews 11 is impacting you. It's making a great impact on me.

Now today we're just going to look at verses 17, 18, and 19. And then like we've done throughout our exploration of Hebrews, we're going to go back to Genesis. We're going to touch on chapter 22. With Abel we went to Genesis 3 and 4, with Enoch Genesis 5, with Noah Genesis 6, 7, 8, and 9, and then with Abraham Genesis 12.

Today with Abraham and Isaac we're going to be in chapter 22. Today is week six of our exploration of Hebrews 11 and we are just taking our time and we are savoring the word of God. It says, by faith Abraham when tested sacrificed, offered up his son Isaac, his only son whom he loved.

Then the next verse, 18, says that God's promises that it was through Isaac that all of his descendants would come. In other words, I want you to note this because this is going to be key throughout today, throughout the text today. All of God's promises were wrapped up in Isaac. All of them. And now God says sacrifice him? It makes no sense.

And then verse 19 says that Abraham considered, it was by faith he considered, he believed that God was able to raise him from the dead. That's why he was willing. Now today I'm going to touch on some wonderful themes that will impact your daily life. How many of us believe today that God provides all of our needs? Amen.

Many of us believe it, but most of us don't live like it. Many of us believe that God will provide our needs, but we don't pray like it. You know, one of the greatest seasons of my life was when God revealed to me how many prayers I prayed that were panic prayers. Panic prayers are not faith prayers. Panic prayers are not pleasing to the Lord.

And God showed me over a series of time how I say I believe, but yet I don't pray like I believe. And I'm going to show you today out of the word of God why scripture is true, why God will provide everything you need, and more importantly, I'm going to show you how you can live like that. So let's go to Genesis chapter 22.

We're going to understand a little bit of Abraham's thinking today based on the light of Hebrews 11. We're going to understand why Abraham moved in faith. We're going to understand why he was willing to sacrifice Isaac. We're going to understand why he obeyed God to its fullest. Now as a disclaimer, let me say this very clearly.

Throughout all of the scriptures, there are at least 15 that I am aware of, God condemns sacrificing your children. Condemns it utterly. God does not accept that. As a matter of fact, I was listening just this week, anybody following the story of the woman in Idaho, the mother that killed her two sons?

And I listened to her sentencing this week and she was in court and I was absolutely stunned how she expressed to the court how it was a good thing and how her children are now in heaven. And let me tell you, when you can't see, it's amazing what you can hear. And let me tell you what I heard in her.

I heard a twisted, I heard a deceitful, demonic influence. That is not of God. It never has been, it never will be. God over and over and over condemns the sacrifice of children and our generation would do well to pay attention to the scriptures. Amen. In the old days, in the ancient times, the God that they sacrificed children to was called Moloch.

Let me tell you, the spirit of Moloch is alive and well. And you would do well to link the scriptures that God expressively says it is wrong to sacrifice children and link that to today's abortions. You would be wise to pay attention. You know why? Because history repeats itself.

Do you know why they sacrificed their children to Moloch? Because Moloch was the God of fertility and prosperity. And do you know why so many abortions take place today? Convenience, economic reasons. Not much has changed and God condemns it.

Now God prevented Abraham from going through with the sacrifice of Isaac. So why did he even set it up? Why was this even recorded? I want to show you today some absolutely beautiful parallels between Father Abraham and his son Isaac and Father God and his son Jesus.

Look with me Genesis chapter 22, verse number one. Note this with me that after Abraham, he was tested after these things and God said to him, sacrifice your son. Now watch the parallel. Your only son whom you love. What did God the Father say of Jesus? This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

The Father loves the Son. Abraham loved Isaac. It was his only son whom he loved. The Bible is, the Holy Spirit is careful to note this. And then God says to Abraham, I want you to go to the land of Moriah, to a mountain that I am going to show you and sacrifice your son.

What stuns me about this entire narrative is that the scripture says the very next morning Abraham got up and went to the land of Moriah. Now think about that. If I were Abraham, you talk about kicking the can down the road, I would say, well God, why don't we give it a year and let's see what happens.

Well God, why don't we wait six months? Or let's give it three months and see if I'm really hearing you correctly. See if this is what you really want. But how many of you know, delayed obedience is the same as disobedience. And Abraham obeyed God.

And Abraham got up early the next morning and they began to make their way to Moriah. Now again, look at the parallel. How long did it take them to get to Moriah? Three days. Why would you suppose the Holy Spirit wants us to know this? I was thinking about this earlier this morning, just the truth and the magnificence of God's word.

Do you know who is writing this for us? Do you know who the author who is recording the book of Genesis is? It's Moses. Moses lived hundreds of years after Abraham. Moses never met Abraham, he never interviewed Abraham. God revealed all of these details to Moses. Why did Moses grow up in Pharaoh's house?

I was thinking about it this morning so that he might be so educated that he could chronicle the history. See, the Israelites had forgotten their history. They had been enslaved for 400 years. They didn't know their history and God revealed it to his friend. And he recorded it.

Furthermore, I'm going to show you today how Jesus lived so long after Moses and what Jesus verifies about the narrative of Genesis 22. And I'm going to show you how Hebrews 11, verse 19 verifies what Jesus said in John 8:56. What Abraham lived in Genesis 22 and what Moses wrote and chronicled.

Do you know why? Because the Bible has one author, the Holy Spirit. And we see this thread through the scriptures that is absolutely beautiful. Now follow along with me. They make their way for three days, three days' journey. Why would the Holy Spirit tell us this?

Because how long was Jesus buried for? Three days. Oh, there's going to be so many parallels. So now Abraham takes his son, his only son Isaac whom he loved. They travel for three days. What is happening? Abraham is obeying God.

Can you imagine the things that's going through Abraham's mind? Can you imagine the questions that he has? Can you imagine the uncertainty that he feels? Can you imagine the doubts that he's struggling with? Because let me tell you this, Abraham was not a loose cannon.

Abraham was not emotionally distraught or troubled or mentally ill. Abraham is walking by faith. How can I know that? I'm going to prove it to you with the text. Abraham makes his way to what is called the land of Moriah.

In verse number four, the Bible says he lifted up his eyes and God showed him the mountain he was to go. Do you know what the mountain is in the land of Moriah where Abraham and Isaac went? It was Calvary, Golgotha, where the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified and slain.

And when the Bible says that Abraham lifted up his eyes and he saw, Jesus tells us what he saw in John 8:56. Jesus said that Abraham saw the day of Jesus. Jesus told the Pharisees, had you known the day of your visitation, you would have treated me different.

But Abraham saw my day and rejoiced and was glad. Do you know what I believe that means, precious friends? Abraham didn't understand all of the outcome, Abraham didn't have all of the answers, but do you know what I believe that God showed Abraham?

Hebrews 11:19 tells us he believed, he accounted, he considered that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead. Amen. That even if he obeyed God and he sacrificed his son, God would have raised him up from the dead. Do you know how I know he knew that?

Because Jesus said Abraham saw his day and was glad. Do you know what I believe that means? I believe that Abraham on Moriah saw the Messiah. He saw the birth, the life, the crucifixion, the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And furthermore, do you know how I know that Abraham had the confidence in God that God would raise Isaac from the dead? Because what did he say in verse number four and five? He told his two servants, I and the boy will go and worship and we will come again.

Abraham had all confidence in the promises of God. Why? Because the Messiah Jesus was going to come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He knew God would protect and take care of his promises. So they began to make their way up the mountain.

Isaac, who scholars believe would probably be around 17 at this point, he starts figuring things out. He goes, Dad, there's the wood for the sacrifice, there's the fire, but where is the lamb? And Abraham says something that's timeless, something that if you allow it today it will change your life.

Something that if you embrace it today it will change your perspective, something that if you receive it today it will change your faith. Abraham said, God will provide himself a lamb. Hallelujah. I don't know what your life is today, I don't know what you're believing God for, I don't know what keeps you up at night.

I don't know what has you stressed, what has you anxious, what has you worried, I don't know what's choking the life out of you, I don't know your doubts, I don't know your fears, I don't know your struggles, but I know this, we all have them.

And I want to proclaim to you today why God will provide everything in your life that you need. And for those of us who we do believe God and we know that he will provide, I'm going to show you how to begin to pray like it. I'm going to show you how to walk in it.

I'm going to show you how to receive it today and not walk around in doubt and unbelief and disappointment with God. Can we say amen? Amen. So here they are going up the mountain. They have the fire, they have the wood, but where is the lamb?

And then the Bible says that when they get to the place where God showed them, Abraham built the altar, he arranged the wood in order, but there's no sacrifice. And do you know what the scripture says? He bound his son Isaac. Now let's put two and two together.

At this point Isaac is probably a strong, robust, healthy 17-year-old. Abraham is nearly 120. Do you think Isaac could have gotten away from Abraham? Absolutely. But what was Isaac? He was willing. And here Abraham is passing his faith down to his son Isaac.

Can you imagine the doubt, can you imagine the questions, can you imagine the fear and the uncertainty? Picture it in your mind as Isaac is bound and he's laid across the altar with the wood on every side. Unthinkable. It's his son, his only son, the son of promise, the son whom he loves.

And as Abraham takes the knife and he is about to do the unthinkable—remember there wasn't a law at this point, Abraham didn't have a Bible—Abraham's walking with God face to face. But he didn't have the law and he didn't know in Leviticus it says not to sacrifice children, he didn't know in Deuteronomy it says not to sacrifice children.

And in Ezekiel and in Jeremiah and throughout all of the Old Testament it's condemned. What's God doing? And as Abraham takes the knife and just before he slays his son, the angel of the Lord stops him and prevents him. Why? Because God will never do anything contrary to his word. Never.

That's why we have to scratch our heads when if we know that decisions we're making in life, choices we're making in life, is contrary to God's word, then how can we expect our prayers to be answered? How can we expect God to bless us when we're living opposite of his word?

God will never ever go contrary to his word, ever. And God did not on this day. The angel of the Lord stops him, prevents him, and says, Abraham, because you were willing to give your son, your only son whom you love, I know that you love me. And God spared Isaac.

Well, the Bible then says that Abraham lifted up his eyes—I love that phrase—he lifted up his eyes and do you know what was caught in the thorns and in the thicket on top of a mountain? A ram was caught by its horns. Do you know what God did that day?

God provided himself a sacrifice. And do you know what Abraham called the place? Jehovah Jireh. Do you know what that means? The Lord will provide. Now say amen if you're with me right now. Amen. What does the word provide mean?

Again, many of us believe God will provide but we don't live like it. We believe it but we don't act like it. We believe it but we don't pray like it. What does the word provide mean? It's a beautiful word and I want you to write it down. The word pro, the root there of the word pro means before.

That's critical to understand. Remember Abraham didn't know the outcome. Here they're making their way up Mount Moriah and Isaac goes, but where is the lamb? And what does Abraham say by faith? God will provide himself a lamb. Hallelujah.

Pro means before, the word vide is so interesting, it's where we get our English word video. It means to see, it means to observe, it means to watch. Do you know what the word provide means? It means that before there is ever a need that arises, God has already seen the need.

He's already met the need. God already has the solution before you realize there's a problem. Amen. He already knows. He already provides. Think of the word pro, before, provision, to see. Do you know what that tells me today, church?

That tells me that God sees what's happening in your life, God sees what you're worried about, God sees what you're praying for, God sees what's keeping you up at night, God sees what's bringing anxiety, God sees where you're struggling. God sees it. Provision. And with seeing your need before it ever came, he's already met the need. Amen.

Now what are the implications of this? What is the weightiness, what is the gravity of what we're talking about today? Now follow my link here. God told Abraham, go to where I show you, and after three days he lifted up his eyes and he saw what God showed him.

What did it do? According to Hebrews 11:19, it gave him faith and confidence that if he sacrificed his son, God would raise his son up from the dead. How did he have that confidence? Because John 8:56, Jesus said Abraham saw my day and rejoiced.

Did you know that I'm a pastor, husband, and father of four who suddenly went blind in 2018? Today I teach people how life is not random, but it is actually orchestrated by God for a great purpose. Learn more about my story and Awakened to Grace at chadroberts.org.