Flannelgraph Gospel Part 2: Pressure is Privilege Micaiah Irmler Genesis 22:1-18 ESV 1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take 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.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” 15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” Pressure is a Privilege vs. 1-3 1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take 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.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Few Christians progress far in the faith because they don’t want to experience pressure. Question:Why are you afraid of what you will face? Question:Is God not with you? Better yet is not God the Holy Spirit living on the inside of You?. Question:Can God come to you at any time and test you with the privilege of some pressure in your life? Note: The reality is that cancer is likely, divorce does happen, betrayal does happen, divorce, trauma, bankruptcy and so much more. Prepared for the Pressure vs. 2 Question:How many sons did Abraham have? One or two? Question:Why does God call Isaac Abrahams only son? 2 He said, “Take 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.” Genesis 21:10-14 ESV 10 So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” 11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 13 And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. Note: This crisis was conditioning for a bigger compliment. Remember: God prepares you for the pressure Touch Your Neighbor: I’m prepared for the pressure. God always prepares you for what He’s prepared for you. Remember: The pressure get bigger your confidence gets stronger. You have to learn how to let something go before you will know how to let something die. Note: Looking back sending a son away is easier then sacrificing a son. Note: The Christian life is not always constant preparation there does come a time for performance. Note: God is a Good Father and a Good Father prepares His children for the Future. Note: Abraham obeyed and didn’t see it as optional. Quote: Optional thinking leads to optional living. ~ Pastor Kevin Myers Persevere Under the Pressure vs. 7-8 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. Remember: Your faith inspires the faith of others. Remember: How you handle a crisis is contagious. Note: Three times Abraham said Here I am. Remember: When You Are Under Pressure Persevere I know you think you would be a better Christian if you never got the disease, never lost the loved one, never struggled with your wrong desires, never had to make hard decisions and didn’t know what to do, never went through job loss however that is simply not true! God can do it God has done it God will do it again Abraham gave priority to the promise not the problem. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. Note: Jehovah Jireh means God will provide. Remember: You need to see through the suffering to the success. Scripture says, “For the joy that was set before him He endured the cross despising its shame.” Pressure is a Privilege vs. 15-18 15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” Remember: Don’t confuse the crisis as correction but see it as a compliment. God is confirming your calling and He is confident in you. Question: Are you ready for the test and the temptation? Are you ready for the compliment and the crisis? Remember: God’s compliment to you is His confidence in you. Note: Have confidence that no trial, test, or temptation will destroy you.