Intro:
What is faith? Heb 11:1;
Heb 11:6
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
I.
LOOK AT THE TIME
V 1, "After these things"
Notice the many things that God used to prepare Abraham for this
great test....
1.
His Call.....
a.
To forsake his former associates...12:1
b.
To follow by faith alone....Heb 11:8
2.
His Conflicts....
a.
Within the family....Gen 13
b.
With the foes.....Gen 14
3.
His Covenant....
a.
God promised him a seed.....13:16; 15:5
b.
God promised him a son......15:3-4
4.
His Character.....Although Abraham was a man of Faith, he turned to
the flesh on two major occasions for:
a.
Deliverance from the famine.....Gen 13:10-20
b.
Development of the family......Gen 16
5.
His Communion....Ch 18
a.
He learned of God 's intervention in the affairs of
man.....18:22-23
b.
He learned of Man's
intercession in the affairs of God.....18:23-33
6.
His Conception...Ch 21
a.
Impossible thru the flesh....Rom 4:19
b.
Initiated by faith......Rom 4:18-21
II.
LOOK AT THE TEST.. .... .V 2-14
It was a test of:
1.
Sure surrender.....V 2-3
2.
Stable standing....V 4
3.
Sovereign supplying....V 5-8
4.
Serious side-effects....V 9-10
Think
of: (1) The Son's Life, (2) The Seed's Linage, and (3) Society's Lies....
III.
LOOK AT THE TRIUMPH …..V 5-19
1.
His faith was vindicated.......
2.
His faithfulness was vitalized.....
3.
His fruitfulness was visualized....
