"Take Another Look" Pastor Albert Almore
LAST WEEK’S KEY VERSE
“WE ARE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, NO MATTER WHO WE ARE.”
Romans 3:22 NLT
WE’VE BEEN MADE RIGHT WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
From that perspective, we pick up this week in Romans 4:1 where it reads,
“Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about BEING MADE RIGHT WITH GOD?”
Romans 4:1 NLT
“If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. BUT THAT WAS NOT GOD’S WAY.”
Romans 4:2 NLT
“For the Scriptures tell us, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, and GOD COUNTED HIM AS RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH.”
Romans 4:3 NLT
Once when speaking about Abraham, Jesus Himself said in John 8:56…
“Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”” John 8:56 NLT
“The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham? ”” John 8:57 NLT
“Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS EVEN BORN, I AM! ””
John 8:58 NLT
Let’s look at verse 56 one more time...
"Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. HE SAW IT and was glad.””
John 8:56 NLT
I want to speak to you from this subject this morning,
Today’s Sermon Title: TAKE ANOTHER LOOK
Jesus said that Abraham, SAW IT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR LIFE, WHAT DO YOU SEE?
Do you see pain? Do you see heartbreak? Do you see your life as broken scattered pieces with no context, no meaning, only leaving you with questions? Or do you see God at work, the Master Author, our Chief Editor, working on a masterpiece in your life, with Jesus Christ as the STAR? What-do-you-see?
In the midst of the wait. In the midst of the heartbreak, and one of the greatest test that anyone ever faced in the Bible Jesus said that somehow ABRAHAM SAW IT. I believe that God brought you here today to let you know the very thing that Abraham would later understand...
📝 There’s PURPOSE behind your PAIN.
God doesn’t waste TIME. God doesn’t waste TEARS. God doesn’t waste TRIALS. There’s purpose behind your pain.
It was through test and trial, that the name Father of Faith would later be bestowed on Abraham. The story tells us in Genesis 12:14,
“And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty.”
Genesis 12:14 NLT
But prior to this, Genesis 11:30 records one detail that we must not overlook.
“But Sarai was unable to become pregnant and had no children.”
Genesis 11:30 NLT
Everyone noticed Sarah’s beauty. Everyone went home marveling at how beautiful Sarah was while at the same time Sarah went home crying herself to sleep with her head on Abraham’s lap, as he wiped the tears from his wife’s face as he stared into the darkness himself.
They had land, they had wealth, they had possessions, but they had no child. Sarai was beautiful but barren. She was beautiful on the outside but on the inside there was an emptiness that none of her instagram or facebook followers knew anything about.
It’s amazing to me that...
PEOPLE CAN FOLLOW YOU YET STILL NEVER KNOW THE REAL YOU.
She had A hole. Sarai had a desire. Sarah had one question that Abraham couldn’t answer, " Why?” The answer to your why & her why is this, there’s more to your story but you will never understand this unless you take the time to TAKE ANOTHER LOOK.
The Bible says in Genesis 15:1,
“Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.””
Genesis 15:1 NLT
“But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.””
Genesis 15:2-3 NLT
“Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.”” Genesis 15:4 NLT
“Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “LOOK UP into the sky and COUNT THE STARS IF YOU CAN. That’s how many descendants you will have!””
Genesis 15:5 NLT
Pay attention to the next verse...
“AND ABRAM BELIEVED THE LORD, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
Genesis 15:6 NLT
“For the Scriptures tell us, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.””
Romans 4:3 NLT
ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD….
📝 God has blessings in His STOREhouse
that only your faith can PURCHASE.
Sarai was barren, but the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!””
📝 God will make a promise to you IN THE BARREN, so that only He can get the glory IN THE HARVEST.
In the midst of Sarah’s & Abraham’s barren season, God told Abraham to look up.
📝 Take your eyes off of your BARREN situation and place your eyes on your BOUNTIFUL God.
“I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES TO THE HILLS— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”
Psalms 121:1-2 NKJV
Later on God visits Sarah and tells her that that one day she will have her own son. Sarah laughed at God. So much so that Genesis 18:13 says,
“Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’”
Genesis 18:13 NLT
"IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD? I will return ABOUT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, AND SARAH WILL HAVE A SON.”
Genesis 18:14 NLT
“Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.””
Genesis 18:15 NLT
A couple of chapters later the Bible says,
“THE LORD KEPT HIS WORD and did for Sarah EXACTLY WHAT HE HAD PROMISED.”
Genesis 21:1 NLT
📝 The Lord doesn’t just keep you, THE LORD KEEPS HIS WORD.
“She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. THIS HAPPENED AT JUST THE TIME GOD HAD SAID IT WOULD.” And Abraham named their son Isaac. Genesis 21:2-3 NLT
Abraham was happy. Sarah was amazed. Isaac was growing up so fast. Life was great until the phone call came in. Until they checked the mail (there’s always an until), until Abraham got alone with God one day and heard these words from God...
“Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.””
Genesis 22:1 NLT
““Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, WHICH I WILL SHOW YOU.”” Genesis 22:2 NLT
What do you do when God ask’s you to WALK AWAY from what you worked so hard to WALK INTO?
What do you do when you have to give up what you have been waiting 25 years to receive?
What do you do when you have to sacrifice the promise?
📝 Faith doesn’t come with DETAILS but God’s got them.
WHICH I WILL SHOW YOU…
Everyone talks about the faith of Abraham, but what about the faith of Sarah? I’m talking about a mother’s love. After harboring the shame after all that time for not being able to have a child, and to finally be able to feel that baby kick in her womb, and to finally be able to hold that baby in her arms, after carrying him for 9 long months at her age, now you’re telling me to let him go?! What would she tell her friends? What would she tell her family when they ask, "How is Isaac doing?”
Can you imagine the conversation that Abraham had with Sarah that night? Can you imagine him on his way home getting off of work, trying to figure out how he would tell his wife what God said?
I wonder what was racing through Sarah’s mind that night as they did their night time routine? I wonder what did she say to Isaac that night as she tucked him in? What was racing through her heart as she watched her baby boy sleep that night, uncertain if it would be her last night with her son under her roof.
The Bible says in Genesis 22:3,
“The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about.” Genesis 22:3 NLT
“On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.”
Genesis 22:4 NLT
““Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. WE WILL WORSHIP THERE…””
Genesis 22:5 NLT
““Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, AND THEN WE WILL COME RIGHT BACK.””
Genesis 22:5 NLT
“So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. AS THE TWO OF THEM WALKED ON TOGETHER,”
Genesis 22:6 NLT
📝 “For WE WALK BY FAITH, not by sight.”
II Corinthians 5:7 NKJV
“Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?””
Genesis 22:7 NIV
“Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” AND THE TWO OF THEM WENT ON TOGETHER.” Genesis 22:8 NIV
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
II Corinthians 5:7 NKJV
📝 If you’re yet to see what He promised—KEEP WALKING.
“When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.” Genesis 22:9 NIV
“Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.” Genesis 22:10-11 NIV
““Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.””
Genesis 22:12 NIV
“Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.”
Genesis 22:13 NIV
Luke 24:27 says…
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES ABOUT HIMSELF.
Luke 24:27 BSB
I submit to you this morning, that this story is ALL ABOUT JESUS. As we look IN BETWEEN THE LINES, we quickly see thought number one this morning,
• CHRIST IS THE PATTERN
We’re called to pattern our lives after Jesus Christ. Paul said it like this in 1 Corinthians 11:1,
Imitate me, JUST AS I ALSO IMITATE CHRIST.
1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV
What about Philippians 3:17, where Paul says,
Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, AS YOU HAVE US FOR A PATTERN.
Philippians 3:17 NKJV
Paul was saying you have our lives as a pattern, but we didn’t come up with this pattern. We patterned our lives, we imitated the life of Jesus Christ!
Lets look for the pattern of Christ in the story of Abraham and Isaac this morning. Genesis 22:2 says,
“Then God said, “TAKE YOUR SON, YOUR ONLY SON, WHOM YOU LOVE—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah...Genesis 22:2 NIV
📝 In Genesis 22:2, this is the first time that the word, “LOVE” is ever mentioned in the Bible.
This is significant and it also sounds a lot like John 3:16 where it says,
“For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, that he gave HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 KJV
AND GO TO THE REGION OF MORIAH...
Genesis 22:2 NIV
“So Solomon began to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David, his father.
2 Chronicles 3:1 NLT
Mount Moriah or the region of Moriah is only referenced twice in the Bible. Many believe it was a special place. It was a holy place unto God. It’s widely accepted in the faith that Jesus Christ was crucified in very close proximity to this very same area that Isaac was sacrificed and where Solomon built his temple to offer sacrifices unto God.
““...GO AND SACRIFICE him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”” Genesis 22:2 NLT
Years down the road, Jesus shows up on the scene talking about sacrificing His life. In John 10:18 Jesus said,
"No one can take my life from me. I SACRIFICE IT VOLUNTARILY...
John 10:18 NLT
Jesus sacrificed His life voluntarily just like Isaac was willing to do. Paul challenges us to follow this patterned life of sacrifice. In Romans 12:1 he writes,
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. LET THEM BE A LIVING AND HOLY SACRIFICE—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Romans 12:1 NLT
“So Abraham placed THE WOOD for the burnt offering ON ISAAC’S SHOULDERS...
Genesis 22:6 NLT
Very similar to how Jesus carried the beam of his cross which was made out of wood. John 19:16-17 says,
“Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away. CARRYING THE CROSS BY HIMSELF, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha ).” John 19:16-17 NLT
Jesus challenges us to follow this same pattern in Matthew 16:24. It reads,
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, TAKE UP YOUR CROSS, and follow me.
Matthew 16:24 NLT
📝 We’re called to follow the pattern of LOVE, SACRIFICE, and PICKING UP OUR CROSS, just like Jesus did.
As we look IN BETWEEN THE LINES, we also see our second thought for this morning,
• CHRIST IS PROMISED
“Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?””
Genesis 22:7 NIV
“Abraham answered, “GOD HIMSELF WILL PROVIDE THE LAMB for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.” Genesis 22:8 NIV
“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.””
Genesis 22:14 NIV
The Hebrew language that Abraham was using in this scripture, this imperfect tense, was implying an ongoing act. Even after receiving Isaac back, Abraham was saying that a greater provision from God is yet to come. Abraham was saying something was yet to still be provided.
John 8:56...
"Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. HE SAW IT and was glad.”” John 8:56 NLT
I believe that Abraham saw what John the Baptist saw in John 1:29,
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “LOOK, THE LAMB OF GOD, who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 1:29 NIV
Isaiah looked forward to Jesus’s coming. Isaiah saw Jesus 700 years before Jesus was born and wrote these words in Isaiah 53:7...
He was abused and punished, but he didn't open his mouth. HE WAS LED LIKE A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER. He was like a sheep that is silent when its wool is cut off. He didn't open his mouth.
Isaiah 53:7 GWT
As we read in between the lines we see...
• CHRIST IS PRESENT
First we see this angel intercepting the judgement that was on Isaac’s life. Genesis 22:11-12 says,
“But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him... Genesis 22:11-12 NIV
But in verses 15-17 we can tell that this is no ordinary angel. The bible says in verse 15,
“The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,”
Genesis 22:15-16 NIV
“I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,”
Genesis 22:17 NIV
“and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”” Genesis 22:18 NIV
“I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.”
Revelation 22:8 NIV
“But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!””
Revelation 22:9 NIV
This angel in Genesis 22 isn’t your typical angel. This is the angel of the Lord, which can literally be translated to THE SENT ONE. Some scholars call Him God from God.
In Genesis 22, this “God from God” stopped the sword of judgment from falling on Isaac. Two millennia later, the very same Mediator would climb a hill in very close proximity to intercept God’s judgment for his people.
Jesus said,
"Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. HE SAW IT and was glad.”” John 8:56 NLT
Is it all coincidence when you look at the life of Isaac and Jesus that,
Both fulfilled PROMISES:
Both were the ONLY SON of their father.
Both had a MIRACULOUS BIRTH:
Both had a conception and birth that was PRE-ANNOUNCED.
Both were NAMED before their birth.
Both were MOCKED and persecuted by their own kindred - Genesis 21:9 & Mark 15:29–32.
Both were UNDESERVING of their sacrificial death
Both were sacrificed near the very SAME PLACE.
Both were LOVED by their fathers.
Both had a THREE-DAY experience:
Isaac had a 3-day hike to Mt. Moriah.
Jesus had 3 days from the cross to the grave to the resurrection.
1Both WERE accompanied by TWO MEN:
Isaac by two servants (Genesis 22:3)
Jesus by two thieves (Matthew 27:38)
Both carried their own WOOD:
Both SUBMITTED to their father:
Both asked a QUESTION of their father:
Isaac asked Abraham “Here is the fire and the wood, Father, but where is the lamb? (Gen. 22:7).
Jesus cried “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” from the cross (Matthew 27:46).
15. Both were BROUGHT BACK from the dead:
Isaac was “brought back” figuratively (Genesis 22:12) by the faith of Abraham.
Jesus rose from the dead 3 days after he was crucified (Matthew 28:6-7).
I’m trying to get you to see this morning, that there are no accidents or coincidences in God! The story of Abraham and Isaac was given to us to show us that before mankind ever had a problem God already had a plan!
It’s impossible for an ETERNAL GOD to be caught off guard at any point IN TIME.
📝 Your life isn’t RANDOM, your life is REDEEMED.
📝 Christ wants to use your life as a PATTERN, so that others can see His PROMISES, and come to believe that He’s always PRESENT. Take another look!
📝 God doesn’t know how to be an ABSENT, UNREWARDING Father.
“Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, AND YOUR REWARD WILL BE GREAT.””
Genesis 15:1 NLT
📝 Your SAVIOR is greater than your SITUATION!
God is doing more in your life than you could ever imagine. TAKE ANOTHER LOOK.
“For the Scriptures tell us, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, and GOD COUNTED HIM AS RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH.”
Romans 4:3 NLT
“Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. HE SAW IT and was glad.””
John 8:56 NLT
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
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