The Mirror with late Prophet T. B Joshua

(…An effective witness, not only knows his faith but shows it)

Abraham

Our duty is to obey God instructions. His duty is to keep His promise.

“Some times later God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham’! ‘Here I am,’ he replied. Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about’. 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. ‘Do not lay 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 22:1-2, 10-12, Father Abraham did not allow his love for Isaac, his only son, to affects his relationship with God, knowing that the purpose of his own life was beyond his love for Isaac. The pain of sacrificing his only son did not affect his relationship with God. He knew that the purpose of life was beyond the pain and joy of life. When you glorify the Creator rather than the created, you live each day to overcome. I mean, you will live above human destruction.

Imagine what would have happened to Abraham if he had waited for more convenient time to carry out God’s instruction. We know it was not convenient for Abraham to sacrifice his only son-Isaac, just as it is not convenient for anyone to give out the only possession he has.

“Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountain I will tell you about.’ “Genesis 22:2.

The Bible says, “Whom you love” (not “whom you hate”). You know you have many children. There are some of your children of whom you would say, “I don’t want to hear about that boy. He’s a troublemaker. He’s stubborn.”

Suppose Abraham had waited for a more convenient day to carry out God’s instruction, what would have happened to him? As we know, it was not convenient for him to take his only beloved son for sacrifice, as it is not convenient for anyone to take his only beloved son for sacrifice. If Abraham’s belief did not see beyond Isaac, he would not have had the courage to obey God’s instruction. You need to remember that our duty is to obey God’s instructions. His duty is to keep His promise. The way of obedience is the way of blessing.

The expression, “Here I am “, means, “I am all yours”. “Your will is my command.” “Lord I am committed to you, whatever you ask me, I will do” (see Genesis 22:1).

If you were sent to unpleasant places, would you go? Abraham was ready to carry out not only pleasant instruction but also painful ones. Are you, however, ready to go to unpleasant place today? I mean a place of sacrifice. People want to go to places of reward rather than of sacrifice. Today people show less interest for things of the Spirit, which cannot be quantified in terms of position, money and physical reward. Placed in the same condition as Abraham, you would likely say, “Here I am, send me, but how much will you give me? You would want to know how much money, position or any other physical reward you would gain after carrying out the instructions.

Listen to Abraham: “Here I am; I am all yours. Your will is my command; I am committed to you, Lord. Whatever you ask me to do, I will do. “

He was not saying he would be ready only to follow pleasant instructions; whether pleasant or painful, he was ready. when I say I have faith in God, I mean I have confidence in Him; I believe in Him; I obey all His commands, I mean I am committed to Him, I know Him.

PRAYER POINTS

Ask God to fill your heart with the Spirit of obedience in Jesus’ name.

Say, “Lord, I ‘m ready to do your will and to obey your words. Jesus, I want to be a doer of your words, in your holy name.”

Lord Jesus, I am giving up to your will.

I have given up to your will.

I am ready to go wherever you want me to go; so say whatever you want me to say; to be whatever you want me to be.

I am ready Lord; I am ready now!

This time is short- the world is coming to an end.

I don’t want to waste my time.

I am ready to evangelize your message, all over the world, by yourself, if necessary.

I’m ready; I’m ready now, -let’s go God!

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. In any true relationship, each party should be ready to make some sacrifice in order to keep the relationship going. What sacrifice are you making in order to maintain your relationship with Jesus?
2. What made Abraham say, “I and the boy will go over there? We will worship and then we will come back to you”. If he knew that he had to sacrifice Isaac? (See Genesis 22:5)
3. The cost of disobedience is far greater than the cost of obedience. What would have happened if Abraham had not obeyed God’s instruction?