Laying Down on the Altar, and Getting Up Again
Because of the Cross and Resurrection, We Can Be A Living Sacrifice
Genesis 22
April 21, 2019 AM Resurrection Sunday
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (2Cor 5:14,15; Romans 12:1)
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. (LET THAT SINK IN) And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
A. The resurrection, and the resurrected life is found from start to finish in the Bible
B. You see, The Bible means nothing if there is no life after death – no life from the dead – no hope
C. And the Christian who claims to believe in the resurrection must accept the fact that they have been given a second chance at life now, and should live it differently than they used to before they believed
D. That’s why Romans 12:1 calls us to live as “living sacrifices”
E. Which is exactly what Isaac, the son of Abraham learned to do
II. Background (Hebrews 11:17-19)
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting (believing) that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
A. Referring back to a time in Genesis 22
B. God had made several big, literal promises to Abraham
1. All the Promised Land was his and his descendants
2. Loads of children, grandchildren, great grand children – as many as the stars of the sky
3. All through not Ishmael, but through a miraculously born son named Isaac – God said that Isaac would have Abraham’s grand-children and so on
4. And that the whole world would be blessed through the descendants of Isaac
C. Best of all, Abraham believed all those promises would come true
D. And then God tested Abraham
1. It is easy to believe anything when it is not tested
a. It is easy to believe a rope holds, until you put all your weight on it (swing rope)
b. It is easy to believe something will fly… until it is actually tested (thoroughly)
2. God asks Abraham… “Do you REALLY believe me?”
a. Let me throw a wrench into your world
b. Let me have Isaac back!
E. So, How did Abraham and Isaac respond to this test?
1. I know how “I” would respond if I was Abraham
a. What? But you told me Isaac is how you’re going to give me a lot of grandchildren
b. I can’t sacrifice my own son!
2. But Abraham went ahead and prepared to sacrifice his only son in worship to God. Notice, Abraham “Offered up Isaac” (17)
3. I know how “I” would respond if I was Isaac
a. No way Dad!
b. Dad I love you, but something doesn’t seem right here
c. I’m NOT getting on that altar
d. Things DIE on an altar!
4. But Isaac got up on that stone altar, and surrendered his hands and feet to the tying ropes, and then laid still, not panicking, not moving, not flinching, watching his dad!
F. How could Abraham do such a thing? “offer up his only begotten son”
1. Just know this – God doesn’t ask anyone else to do such a thing ever again – it was for a very special reason
a. There are actually about 50 big reasons why God asked Abraham to go through this
b. As well as for Isaac to go through this
c. And none of it was cruel
d. Just realise – What God asks of you, is for a purpose that you cannot possibly understand now
e. That’s why the Christian life is lived by faith and trust in God’s goodness
2. Because he loved God, (most will never understand that), and he obeyed a good God
3. He actually fully trusted God to keep all His promises, even when nothing made sense
4. It was then that Abraham really believed in the resurrection
5. And he experienced the resurrection when Isaac got back up off of the altar, and a ram took his place!
6. That moment was probably greater than what he had felt when Isaac was born!
G. Believing in the resurrection is hard…
1. It was hard for Abraham to believe in it
2. It was hard for Martha and Mary when their brother Lazarus had died
3. It seems to be hard once again amongst most people today
4. People just believe that when a person dies, that is it. Game over. Finité
5. Well, the resurrection is the only way to have hope when nothing makes sense
6. And if Jesus rose from the dead, and we have received the new life He purchased for us on the cross, then Romans 12:1 is possible
III. Message (Genesis 22)
A. God Tested Abraham (Genesis 22:1,2)
1. Testing, is a normal thing God does, and that Christians experience (1Peter 4:12,13)
2. Any good teacher tests his students to see if they are understanding what he is teaching
3. Those who hate the testing, do not believe in a good God, and really, only worship their own happiness
4. So, God called for Abraham to offer his only son, Isaac
a. Asked Abraham, to personally give up his son
b. The promised son – the Miraculously born son
5. Go to a small hill called Moriah
6. To a specific spot that I will show you when you get there
7. Question: What is most important to you ladies and gentlemen?
a. Whatever it is, God have it to you – children, health, husband, wife, job, money
b. Can He ask for it back?
B. Strong Obedience (Genesis 22:3,4)
1. The very next morning - Very early in the morning – did not put it off
2. Got up and cut the wood for the burnt offering
3. Walked away from Sarah and home with his son Isaac
4. Began a three day journey to Moriah
5. Not knowing how this would turn out
C. Just Father and Son (Genesis 22:5,6)
1. Abraham gets close to Moriah and told the servants Isaac and he would go and worship
2. And then said something amazing… “We will come again to you!” (5)
3. Remember… By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting (believing) that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:17-19)
4. Then he put the wood on the back of Isaac
5. Carried the fire in a bucket
6. And took a knife
7. And they went on up the hill together - alone
8. No one could go with them – they had to do this alone
9. I don’t know if you see any similarities yet, but let me give you just a few
a. A father, and an only son on a journey to a place of death
b. A promised son, Supernaturally born, was going to have to die
c. The son was loved supremely by his father
d. They would travel THREE days together
e. Does this sound vaguely familiar with another event? Hmmmm. Let’s keep reading
D. But Something is Missing (Genesis 22:7,8)
1. “Dad! There is no lamb to offer” – no proper animal to sacrifice
2. I thought we came to worship God
3. Not knowing it was supposed to be HIMSELF that would be offered
4. Abraham blurted out how that God will provide Himself a lamb
5. A strange way to talk –
a. Not that God would provide FOR Himself a lamb
b. But that God would give Himself as the Lamb
6. So, they kept walking up that hill
E. Abraham Prepared to Do the Unthinkable (Genesis 22:9,10)
1. Built a small altar of stone
2. Laid the wood on top of the stones, in order – took care to lay it out right
3. Tied the hands and feet of his only son
4. Then lifted his son up onto the altar, onto the WOOD
5. And then drew the knife that would kill his only son
a. None of us can imagine what Abraham felt like
b. It was against his nature to do this
c. Animals had to be killed, to eat, and to sacrifice
d. But people – No! Especially your own son
e. Abraham loved Isaac
6. At no point does Abraham hesitate and stop – he doesn’t know this is just a drill, a test
F. Look at how Isaac Reacted (Genesis 22:9)
1. As hard as all this was for Abraham, it was just as hard for Isaac
2. Even as a knife appeared, and death seemed certain
3. Isaac did not argue, panic, try to run away
4. Isaac Laid Down on the Altar
5. Absolute surrender - Absolute trust in his father, and in the God of his father
6. Whew!
7. Would you like me to open up some more similarities?
a. The sacrifice was being offered in the land of Moriah – right where Jerusalem would later be located
b. This is a tale of more than one son
c. Both sons carried the wood for their own sacrifice
d. Both willingly allowed themselves to be offered as a sacrifice
e. Both were "bound" and placed on top of wood
f. Both were effectively dead for three days
g. Both sons were "resurrected" or "given back" the their fathers on the third day!
G. It Was Not the End (Genesis 22:11-18)
1. A Voice Stops Him
a. An angel calls out his name TWICE
b. Stop! “Don’t do it!” “You can put the knife down now!”
2. “Now I know…” (It’s God speaking)
a. That you fear ME more than anything – it’s HIM you worry about staying close to
b. That you love ME more than your own only son
c. That you believe my promises no matter what you may face
d. That your faith is real, through and through
e. And now the whole world knows all this about you too!
3. Folks, You and I may think that this was cruel - but it was absolutely necessary
a. This is one of the 10 most important events in the Bible that so much hangs upon
b. Genesis 22 is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. It is a shadow or an example of God the Father offering up His Only Begotten Son on Mt. Moriah (Jerusalem) for the sins of the world.
c. Abraham was not traumatized by all this
d. Isaac was fine coming off that altar
e. Abraham was stronger than ever
f. And thankfully Sarah was not there!
4. God marvellously provided a Ram in Isaac’s place
a. A swap was made - In the place of Isaac, a male lamb was instead killed and burnt up as a sacrifice in worship of God
b. This kind of substitution would take place again later
1) At the Passover, when a lamb had to be killed for every family
2) And then when JESUS Himself would be the final Lamb and take away the sin of the whole world!
5. Did you notice that Isaac Got Up Again?
a. It was as if he had died, and was now living again
b. I bet he took a deep breath and enjoyed living a lot more now when he watched that Ram be placed on that altar and killed instead of him!
6. And the Promise Continued (Genesis 22:15-18)
a. Through Isaac would come a blessing to all the people of the world
b. A Messiah
c. All because BOTH Abraham and Isaac believed God and trusted God enough to point to a future Lamb that would one day die, and then rise again!
IV.Application
A. Chapter 22 is a wonderful album of pictures, illustrations, descriptions of:
1. Abraham and Isaac illustrate God and HIS Son, Jesus
2. The altar showed the Cost of Sin and of Worship is loss and death
3. The power of Faith and Trust in God’s promises that can overrule confusion and fear
4. The reality of the Power of the Resurrection
5. And the need for us to have our own altar of sacrifice like Isaac did
B. God asks of us to experience the same altar that Isaac got on, and then off of, and be a living sacrifice as well – Isaac didn’t die, but he was willing to
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
1. Trusting in the Lord with ALL our hearts, and not trusting our own understanding of things (Proverbs 3:5)
2. Daily dying to our self and our nature
a. Did you know it is easier to just quit and die, than actually change?
b. To die to your self means, Resisting any urge to quit, or complain, or live the way we may want to now! And just press on anyway like it doesn’t matter anymore!
c. Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
d. It is a daily decision. 1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
3. Living life NEW each day – A living sacrifice is NOT dead, or defeated, but alive, full of hope and full of second chances – living now like Isaac did after HIS altar
4. Willing to do whatever God asks of us each day
a. Letting go of some things that God wants back – like your time, or your success
b. Allowing God to test you whenever He thinks necessary
c. Accepting whatever God gives you and being thankful
d. Seeking to worship God more than seeking to win at anything else in life
5. Doing whatever is hardest, calmly, fully trusting in a good God
6. Living holy and godly with your body
7. Willing to live and even die as we follow Christ
a. Philp 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
b. 2Cor 5:14,15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
c. 1John 3: 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
d. It probably won’t come to it, but are we WILLING?
V. Invitation
A. Today you have been tested
1. Question: What is most important to you? Can God ask for it back?
2. Because when HE gets it, He will give it back to you even better!
B. Believing in the resurrection is hard…
1. It was hard for Abraham to believe in it
2. Believing in the resurrection is the only way to have hope when nothing makes sense
3. Because, if Jesus rose from the dead, then we who believe have been given a new life - eternal life - and Romans 12:1 is possible to live every day now!
4. And it the only reason why we can live differently, and victoriously now!
C. How quick are YOU to obey God’s words in this Book?
D. Are you willing to follow Christ alone? Just you and Him sometimes?
E. There is an altar for every believer in this room, that you must climb onto and die
F. But instead of actually die, just Be a living sacrifice from now on
G. If you have not been born again yet, God has provided a Lamb in YOUR place