THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM....Please read carefully!

Genesis 22: 8, “And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.”

The Bible usually portraits Abraham as a man of faith, and more than that he was always referred to from Old Testament to New Testament as example of faith and father of faith because of His faith and obedience to God.

The greatest test of faith Abraham encountered in his life was the order from God to offer his only son Isaac as burnt offering.

The Genesis 22:1-3, “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.”

Abraham obeyed the divine order and embarked on the journey to the designated place for the sacrifice, with Isaac and his servants. Though Isaac was a lad, but he had knowledge about the ingredients for burnt offering, since it was the usual activity of his father. He knew it took three items for burnt offering sacrifice: the lamb, wood and fire; but that very day he could only see fire and wood. So he curiously asked his father Abraham in Gen: 22: 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

That was on unequivocal question from Isaac to Abraham, and without confusion or worry, Abraham responded to the question with confidence and faith in God, “And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.” The statement of Abraham was not a diplomatic or cryptic statement; it was a clear statement of faith in God without iota of doubt or confusion. He declared God would provide for Himself; how certain! This is a confession of faith from a patriot of faith.

Abraham believed God could do all things that God could bring something from nothing, so he wasn't disturbed. Because he believed God could make miraculous provision for the burnt offering, so he told his son that God would provide. Here is the heart of the matter: Abraham believed, through his response to Isaac, that God was able to make miraculous provision of the lamb but he also trusted God to lay down his only beloved son Isaac for the sacrifice, even if God choose not to provide the lamb. That is the faith of Abraham: Believing and trusting.

When father Abraham got to the designation for the sacrifice, he built the altar for the sacrifice and through all these processes no miraculous provision of animal. He did not fold his hands and seat down waiting for God to provide the lamb as he had declared to his son, but he went ahead and laid down Isaac for the burnt offering. Though he believed and confessed God could do all things but he also trusted God to lay down his Isaac. Hebrew 11: 17-19 says, By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”

So, why did Abraham laid his son on the altar for to sacrifice, after he had confessed God would provide? Abraham believed God was able to provide, but he also trusted God to give, offer his Isaac even if God chose not to provide. This action of Abraham became typical example of faith, and it was referred to several times in the Bible. Faith is believing and trusting, believing God is able to provide, deliver, heal, do something, do all things and also moving on to trust He Him even when chooses not to intervene in the situation.

The fact that you believe God doesn't means you will not make some sacrifices; the fact that you are a believer doesn't indicates God would not permit you to go through hard and difficult time, and because you believe God is able, all-powerful and all-mighty doesn’t implies you will not pass through moments of trials and afflictions. What really shows your faith, and belief in God is your trusting Him and being calm in difficult situation and affliction, when God does not respond as early or through the means you expect. When things turn upside down, when trials and situations emerge, and you don’t abandon the altar and run away from God, but keep the fire burning on the altar of your commitment and godliness; that is the faith of Abraham.

Faith is not a bed of roses, it’s not always "claim and cash" as the modern preachers speciously teach. Jesus never taught faith as a means of catching money, prosperity and easy life, He never described the journey of faith as trend of luxury and platter of gold. Faith is believing in the power, provision and prosperity of God and also trusting Him to the end even if things doesn’t work as desired. Faith without trust is fake just as faith without work is dead. You believe and you trust, that is the faith of Abraham, the real practical faith of the patriots of faith.

Abraham’s faith is an illustration of the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, of believing and trusting. Jesus believed God more than anyone could and He also trusted God to lay down His life on God’s will, because He trusted Him to raise Him up from the dead. Gethsemane was a battleground of faith for Jesus Christ on the way to the death of cross at Calvary. Jesus made a statement of perfect and real faith in Mark 14:36, “He said; ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will” Believing and trusting! Jesus confessed all things were possible for God, that is faith in God, believing the all-powerful and all-mighty God without any doubt, but it didn’t end there; He said, “not what I will but what you will’ that is trusting God even in the very troubled time, and submitting unto His will.

Jesus believed His Father was able to do all things and He also submitted and trusted Him to do the best; that is faith, which is the best, the will of God is the best. When we trust God and submit to His will even in difficult time, it shows we have the real faith of Abraham, and more importantly, the faith of Jesus Christ. Faith is not solely believing God for something, but also trusting Him even when the situation gets worst. Anybody can believe God but it takes real faith to trust and stay with God in trouble and affliction. Everybody can claim to have faith in God, but it takes a difficult and hard time to prove a genuine faith. Faith is total belief in God’s power and total surrender to God’s will.

Do you have the real faith? The faith that anchors in the word of God, the faith that stands in the flame of fire of trial? Do you have the faith like Abraham that stood strong at mount Moriah when he was asked to offer his only beloved son? Do you have the perfect faith of Jesus at mount of Olive in Gethsemane when He was to offer Himself as sin offering for the whole world? God didn’t allow Abraham to offer Isaac as sacrifice, but He allowed Jesus Christ to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins on the cross.

Characteristics Of Genuine Faith
(1) Genuine faith comes through the word of God. Faith doesn’t come by feeling or by just human experience, it comes by the Word of God. Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

(2) Genuine faith brings new life in Jesus. Faith without new life is fate. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

(3) Genuine faith believes God and trusts God. If your faith is all about believing in God’s power for possibility without trusting God to continue to serve and sacrifice if nothing happens, then you need to get the real faith. Faith in God is not only to claim and cash, but to trust and obey. Hebrews 11:17-19, “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”

(4) Genuine Faith doesn’t give up. Real faith stands and stays to the end. When feeling disappears, faith continues; when human courage vanishes, faith is firm. Hebrews 11:13, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

(5) Genuine faith does not compromise. Faith in God is standing for God’s will in God’s word, it is pleasing God, because it is not possible to please God without faith. Faith is not believing God for our desires, but also trusting God for His will. Real faith doesn’t compromise with sin. The modern churches that preach faith do not really understand what faith is all about. How can you have faith in God as your Provider and you lie or compromise to get provision, contracts or job? How can you have faith in God as your Protector and you are afraid of demonic people? How can you have faith in God as your Healer and you allow your people in village to give you or your family concussion? How can you have faith in God as your Glory and you abort or do sinful things to cover up? I don’t understand the kind of faith many claim in sin, the faith of the Bible doesn’t compromise with sin. A faithful believer does not lie for any reason at any time. It takes faith to stand and say the truth always, but only fear makes people compromise.

Hebrews 11:24, “ By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”

(6) Genuine Faith is submissive to God, not stubborn. Abraham submitted to God’s will, Jesus surrendered to God’s will at the Gethsemane, so real faith yields to God’s will not stubborn to personal decision and desire. You want something this way, but God says no, the other way; faith submits. Mark 14:36, “He said; ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will”

(7) Genuine faith stands to the end. Chapter 11 of Hebrews lists heroes of faith, it only contains the names of people who stood to the end, and you will not see the names of people like Saul and others who fell by the road side. Your faith is only faith if you endure till the end and make heaven or what is the essence of a strong faith that later ends up in hell with unbelievers? Mark 13:13, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

( Genuine faith waits. It is only fear that runs here and there, but faith in God waits upon God for God's time and blessing. Isaiah 28:16, “…Whoever believes will not act hastily.”

(9) Genuine faith does not fear. Fear is opposed of faith. Children of God do not fear but have faith in God at all time and even in the shadow of death. Faith does not fear men, but only God. Hebrews 11:23, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.”

(10) Genuine faith is prayerful. The fact that we have faith does not mean we should be prayerless and just believe, it is faith that actually pushes us to pray more because we believe our God answers prayer. Faith is not weak in prayer, men of faith prayed without ceasing because they had faith in God that answers prayer. Faith will move you to pray for others because you believe God answers your prayer. Prayer without faith is dry and faith without prayer is dull. Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Have faith in God to provide and help you in every situation, and keep the faith no matter the situation. Faith will hold you through the storm of life; faith will keep you strong and confident even to the point of death. Faith will take you to eternal life where father Abraham other patriots of faith are, more than that, faith will take you to the bosom of Jesus Christ in Heaven.

If you will like to totally surrender or rededicate your life to Jesus Christ, please click on this link, read and pray as directed http://www.facebook.com/notes/revelation-of-truth-evangelical-ministries-rtem/how-to-be-saved-and-start-a-new-life-in-jesus/270674586372252

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