The Test of a World Changer - II

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by some special friends of this ministry. Pastor Greg wanted to see a special word of thanks to the harvest partners who make this ministry possible next time your online check out Pastor Greg's personal blog@blog.greglaurie.com you so you're going through it just right know there is a little visit your Zucca otherwise God would not allow you if God knows we can handle certain, shall we should take his word for today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurier trust. Laura loves his children to go through farming trials always keeps an eye on won't let it get too hot for you to give him right up by half and they reach a point of frustration that I just can't do it, but we know they can to keep out of when we reach a point of frustration and we say we can get that today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie helps us trust in God we can make away when there seems to be no way Pastor Greg series called the wilderness you think of the significant role it plays in the Scripture. Of course our Lord as we pointed out was tempted in the wilderness.

Moses went into the wilderness, David spent extended time in the wilderness, even the apostle Paul went to the wilderness. The wilderness is sort of a picture of testing on the Bible. People would go there when they were being prepared for something else and that brings us to our message today in a world changers series I'm calling the test of a world changer like you to turn the Hebrews chapter 11 and Genesis chapter 22.

Women talk about the test of a world changer. Why don't we pause for a moment of prayer father. I know there are people here right now that are going through a time of trial and testing the difficulty in there wondering why this is happening were praying as we open your word that we will gain biblical perspective and understand there's a reason for the testings that come in our lives will speak to us as we look at Scripture, we ask it now in Jesus name, amen. Some of the focus in this message on Abraham for one last time I've done three separate messages on Abraham because he so dominates. Hebrews 11 and to the point he so dominates the book of Genesis is very name is synonymous with faith. I will get a look at him one more time and were going to observe one of the greatest acts of faith in human history that is when God asked Abraham to take his son, his only son, the son, whom he loved, and offered him as a burnt offering to me wicked. Hebrews 11 starting in verse 17 by faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac and he who would receive the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said in Isaac shall your CV call concluding that God was able to raise him up from the dead from which he also received him in a figurative sense will stop fellowship for a moment over to Genesis 22 I had you turn there as well and let's read what actually happened in the Genesis account of when Abraham offered up Isaac. Genesis 22 verse one God tested Abraham's faith and obedience and said Abraham.

Abraham replied yes Lord, here I am God says take your son, your only son yes Isaac, whom you love so much and go to the land of Moriah and sacrifice and there is a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will we know well again if you want to be a world changer and live by faith, know that your faith is going to be tested, but this was an epic test.

This is a test that very few people would face. In fact, in many ways, you would have to say to be tested on this level was quite an honor, because the Lord knew Abraham could handle it against what God knows what you can handle. God knows what you can handle, so you're going through a test ride out the nursing I can handle this. Yes, you can. Otherwise, God will not allow you to go through whatever the Lord allows his children to go through fiery trials always keeps an eye on them and a finger on the thermostat. He won't let it get too hot for you, but he knew that Abraham would rally he knew Abraham would pass this test. He knew that Abraham would take this setback in turn it into an opportunity to listen to this. A disability can become inability one dedicated to God, so I don't know what you're facing right now you're facing a hardship tragedy, the death of a loved one. Maybe you had to go through life with some kind of a disability. Here's the bottom line, you can't control what's going to happen in your life. All you get to do is decide how you're going to react to what comes your way and world changers turn seeming setbacks into steppingstones.

Succumbing back to Abraham.

God asked him to make the greatest sacrifice imaginable because you see. Finally, his son was born. Sarah actually did bring forth that child in her old age and he became the light of Abraham's life. Abraham doted on that boy back. The very name that they gave him says that all the name was Isaac, which means laughter. They love that young boy so no Abraham is going to be tested again and he's going to go to one of the most difficult test that he has ever faced, and that is what is he going to do when God asked him to offer his son by the way, this was one of many desk that came the way of Abraham number one, there was the family test when he was called to leave his landing go to a new land. We might give him a passing grade on that see he did obey God completely.

He brought along his nephew Lot, which became a problem later in life. Number two, there was a famine test. Famine came to the land and how it Abraham reactive that we went down to Egypt.

As you know, lied about his wife got rebuked by the Pharaoh that didn't go very well, so we might see. He sort of failed that test. Then there was a fellowship test where he gave a lot of his nephew first choice over the land. He knew we had to part company with his nephew. So I said I'll tell you what lot you go to the right or go to the lab you go to the love I'll go to the right you choose the letter that you want. He put the needs of others above himself by the way he passed out with flying colors. Then there was a fatherhood task would Sarah got impatient with God. Of course, already saw what happened there with the birth of Ishmael. So that became a problem. But now we come to the ultimate test. And God says I want you to bring your son, your only son, let me suggest something that I can say this with certainty, but I think it may be true, could it be that Isaac can actually become the most important thing in Abraham's life.

Let me put it another way, could it be that Isaac that son that Abraham and Sarah had waited for for so long, actually became the idol of his life. Did you know that a lot of things can become idols in our life, not just bad things but sometimes even good things that are out of their proper place. For instance, people will say, for me, family is number one.

It's all about family nothing is more important than family.

Actually that is not true God should be number one in your life. Not for if you're making family, your idle it can become a problem in your own life or some evil so II we can go to church anymore but we have a newborn. We don't want to put the newborn in in the nursery.

They might get sick to couple years pass by wife and I seen your church. We have a toddler know we don't put the toddler church put the kid in Sunday school man listen the kid needs to learn the word of God just like you need to learn the word of God and by the way. Sometimes people don't like it when we don't let them bring their small children into the sanctuary and actually were doing that for the children as well as the rest of us because sometimes children will misbehave, but we want the children to be ministered to on a level that they can understand, so they can look forward to going to church instead of having to sit in the service to be quiet why that bald man drones and making church a miserable experience for your kids – you know, letting go of fun and crayons and drawing employees and their little Bible stories on their level, but don't let your family become the idol of your life for other people their body can become their arrival. Everything's about their body, everything's about their appearance for other people and object can become an idol. Take the place of God. It can be a car. It can be a career they can be a house. It can be cell phone, so maybe God would come to you and say take your cell phone you're only so phone that you love and offer it to me. Yes, God tested Abraham's faith he came and said Abraham. Abraham said here I am the Lord to take your son, your son that you love so much offer him as a burnt offering to me. Let me see at the outset, there was never God's intention to have Abraham kill Isaac. Rather, it was attested. God knew Abraham would pass and this is why Abraham was effectively a super hero of the faith because he believed, even if Isaac died that God would raise him from the dead.

In other words, no matter what happened God was in control, so the Lord says take your son, your only son and rancid son, take a little walk together as they make their way up to the mountains is beginning to dawn on Isaac.

What is about to take place. Bring me to my fourth white world changers give everything back to God because everything is from God world changers give everything back to God because everything is from God.

Listen to your children are a gift to you from God.

You don't own the they belong to him. So our objective is to present our children to the Lord to lead our children to the Lord. Everything that you have everything you've acquired in life, every possession that's been given to you by God, every talent, every skill, every ability you have is a gift to you from God and it's always a good thing to present these things back to God. The Lord gave them to me and I give them back to you. Are you willing to do that Abraham was well.

Evan Isaac in life, so to speak, something that we love so dearly. It's a good thing to present that to the Lord because I'll tell you what is no safer place in the hands when Abraham took a shine to top of the mountain. How old was Isaac newborn. Maybe a toddler will pastor Greg addresses that just a moment, you may be surprised. It's reassuring to hear what the listener has been impacted by the ministry of pastor Greg my story will pastor Greg goes back 25 years to a conference at the LA Coliseum and Greg was speaking I slept through most of it but at the very end of that conference.

I made a commitment to live the Christian life during that time the hunger began to come into my heart to study the word began to be very convicted/some of the things that I had been doing music I was listening to the league I was watching the way I use my language although things began to change, but yet I was still in a very difficult situation I was in my mid-30s living in Southern California and I was at the corner of Oso Parkway and the 405 and pastor Grace had a message around lunch time. I found his radio station. I was listening to him as he had a message about the battle between the flesh and the spirit and that is exactly what I needed is that time and so that's two events in a row. Pastor Greg came as a my life and that message that I heard the radio really encouraged me and help me to understand that I was going to be in a battle, but Christ victories and so here I am 25 years later, my wife and I are involved in church just want to thank you pastor Greg for being faithful. Blessings to you and your ministry. We hear from.

It's not only a blessing.

It also confirms that the program is touching. You can leave a message. 1-866-871-1144. Once again, 866-7111 44. We are considering the faith of Abraham today as pastor Greg brings a message called the test of a world changer must continue together making their way up to the mountains and we have a beautiful picture of what happened at the cross of Calvary is one of the reasons the stories in the Bible because it showed a father was willing to take the greatest step of obedience to God, and it also shows a story of what happened when Jesus died on the cross.

Russell father and son are making their way up. Father is willing to sacrifice his son. Son is willing to be sacrificing by the way how old was Isaac when this happened I bring this up because sometimes using religious paintings and it'll show Abraham bringing Isaac and just a little tight just a little God obviously unable to fend for himself.

Most Bible commentators believe at this particular time. Isaac is around 18 to 20 years old. Some think he may have been around the age of 33.

The Jewish historian Josephus thought he was 25 whatever age it is one thing is clear. Isaac didn't have to do this if he didn't want to get a said that you know what you're going to offer me on the altar look here, an old dude. Why do we offer you instead you got a much longer anyway. Dad, forget that you didn't have to do it, but the sun willingly went.

This is not a perfect picture of what happened on the cross, the father who loved his son so much offered him up for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten, yet the son, knowing what was about to happen, willingly went.

Jesus said no one takes my life for me. I give it of my own accord exactly what happened at the cross.

So here's Isaac laying on the altar now. The father raises up the night he's prepared to sacrifice his son and suddenly we read in Genesis 2211. At that moment the angel of the Lord shouted to him from heaven, Abraham, Abraham, yes Abraham said I'm listening.

Lay down the nine which he did.

Then the angel said don't hurt the boy anyway.

For now, I know you truly fear God you got withheld. Even your beloved son from me notice that it doesn't say it was an angel of the Lord. It says it was the angel of the Lord. Notice, the angel said you've not killed your beloved son from me when the second, who commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son.

God get this angel." Says you got withheld your son, from me see what your point.

I don't think this is an angel.

I think this was Jesus stepping in and telling them to stop calling Christ often a Christ company is an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament virtue, although Christ preexisted before Bethlehem, because he's part of the Godhead. He's always been just like the father and the Holy Spirit. So periodically he appears in the Old Testament. I think when Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo walk to the fiery furnace and the king said there's 1/4 one. Walking with them. The looks like the son of God.

I believe that was Jesus making an appearance and I think this is another one of those appearances and here's why think this is important because Jesus one day said Abraham lived to see my day and then they said what you meant Abraham he said, before Abraham was, I so that means that there was a moment when Jesus met Abraham others a number of incidents in your patriarch's life.

We could maybe point to, but I think this may be the very moment when Christ stepped in and told him to not sacrifice his son Isaac Melissa when Jesus himself went to the cross. He took the nine he took the wrath of God. There was no last-minute rip free. There was no stopping the full impact of God's wrath came in full force upon Jesus Christ died there in our place. He died as a substitution.

He died the death that you and I should have died so we would not have to. This is because God loves us, God was effectively saying I would rather die than the live without you I love you so much I willing to sacrifice my own son on the cross so you can enter into a relationship with me. Let me ask this in closing, do you have this relationship with God right now you know maybe you made a mess of your life. You've done things you should never have done. You said things you should have never said you made a horrible mistake said you don't see how good can ever come out of listen to this God can take your mess and turn it into a message God can take your past. He can forgive it transform you remember as we look here in Hebrews 11 that these people they made mistakes they fell short.

They were messed up just like you and I are but yet the remembered.

In this way because they dedicated their lives to the Lord. Have you done that yet.

You know with complete certainty that your sin is forgiven and that Jesus Christ is living inside of you, and if not would you like to become of your life. This is why he died on the cross so that barrier that separates you from God to be removed so you could be forgiven of all of your sin so you could go to heaven when you die if you don't know for sure that Jesus is in your life. If you've never asked him to forgive you of your sin if you want to go to heaven when you die like to give you an opportunity to do that as we pray together. Let's all bow our heads everybody praying father I pray not for everyone here in everyone that is watching and listening.

Help them to see their need for Jesus and help them come to you and believe in what we ask in Jesus Greg Lord important closing prayer and if you like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes if you weren't able to hear Pastor Greg full presentation today you can get caught up by hearing the message again online@harvest.org or listen.

By way of our harvest mobile app the title to look for is the test of a world changer or call us for a CD copy at 1-800-821-3300 where here anytime 24 seven to take your call again., 1-800-821-3300 and then we want to make available a brand-new book by Jeff and Chante felt Han called thriving in love and money. Jeff and Chante. It is in your typical book about money. It's not a budget planner saving strategy. Your general money management. Pastor Greg, yes, instead of that what you've discovered together about money, giving, budgeting, etc. is the LeBlanc care. We well the big Pixar is that we found in this this blows my mind and it was not a pastor's minds greatest obstacle to all the budgeting to the financial freedom everything that a pastor wants his people to be in his church to be generous to be tithing to be, you know, saving more than they stand in getting added that the greatest obstacle to all and found easy isn't that you don't know how to budget. Although you may not write, you may not help the greatest obstacle is in ability and the husband and wife to sit down at the kitchen table and talk about money. So this is a communication that she is willing to share and so that's the answer to your question, is it really is about the ability to understand all that it's not about the money stuff what what is an amount Was what the research project was and that's the essentially came down into what are those things and we defined us five categories that really really make a difference if this breakthrough crazy really surprisingly simple saying that like blows open the doors to this incredible opportunity for many to be an opportunity, not for conflict but for connection, which is huge for a lot of people right now, especially right now we need that. So I'm speaking with Chante and Jeff felt Han and they've written a book called thriving in love and money. Subtitle five game changing insights about your relationship your money and yourself. And as you can see we are talking about money, but in some ways we aren't were talking about communication. Talking about relationship were talking about understanding one another, listening to one another and much more. But it's all interwoven in topics of finances and other areas as well. And so we want to send you your own copy for your gift of any size to our ministry here at a new beginning because as you know we love to teach the word of God. This is just an illustration of that were helping you to see how Scripture applies to all areas of your life including your finances and that we also proclaim the gospel and give people an opportunity to believe in Jesus so for whatever you send will invested in this ministry and will get you your own copy of this book by Chante and Jeff felt Han thriving in love and money. Yeah, that's right, we have a copy reserved for you just get in touch and asked for were sending it to say thank you for your donation that helps us continue to bring Pastor Greg's teaching your way each day on the station.

We need your help to make that a reality. So thanks for contacting us today and be sure to ask for this new book thriving in love and money you can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 where here to take your call 24 hours a day seven days a week.

Just dial 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Greg, you mentioned how someone can become a Christian was just a simple prayer yeah maybe somebody would like to do that right now.

Could you help them share I love to a simple prayers right affect.

I would like to just pray a prayer and I would ask you to pray it after me right now. Pray these words learn Jesus. I know that I am a sinner but I also know that you are the Savior because you died on the cross for my sin and he rose again from the dead.

Jesus come in the my life and forgive me of every sin I've ever committed.

I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for hearing this prayer. Thank you for answering this prayer Lord, and I pray all of this in Jesus name, amen.

If you just pray that prayer and meant to. I want to the know on the authority of Scripture God Almighty has heard your prayer, and he will answer this prayer. You are now a newly minted child of God. So congratulations, you've made the right decision and welcome to the family of God.

I want to send you a special gift because of that prayer. You've just pray it's called the new believers growth packet and then it is a copy of the New Testament in a very understandable translation called the new living translation. It also is filled with hundreds of notes that I wrote that will encourage you in this commitment you made to follow Christ and there's some other outstanding materials in this little packet. I'll send you as well so order your copy today and let me be the first to see the you congratulations and welcome to the family of God and to get that new believers growth packet just get in touch and will be glad to send it right out. You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 call anytime 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click the words know God. Next time, Pastor Greg points out the significance of a certain midnight wrestling match between one of our spiritual forefathers and a heavenly being fascinating study coming your way next time you're on a new beginning possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org