You Must Go Through To Come Out: Abraham (Genesis 22:2) - Rev. Terry K. Anderson

Main message: Faith is proven by tests and costly obedience; like Abraham, we must put God first, surrender what we love most, and trust that as we go through trials, God will provide and bring us out.

Key points:

• God tests to strengthen us; Satan tempts to make us stumble. Trials reveal the reliability of our faith.
• Measure faith by its dimensions: depth (devotion) — God must have preeminence; anything that rivals Him must go on the altar.
• Height (obedience) — obey without demanding details; faith is obeying in spite of consequences.
• Length (sacrifice) — true worship is sacrificial; surrender in your heart before the act, as Abraham did with Isaac.
• Width (confidence) — obedience meets God’s provision (Jehovah Jireh); anything God gave you, you can trust Him with, and what He withholds you don’t need.
• Endure the “tunnel” of suffering; on the other side you recognize God’s sustaining promises and renewed strength.

Scriptures mentioned: Genesis 22:1-2, 14, Exodus 20:3, Isaiah 40:8, Psalm 100:1-5, Psalm 150:6, Psalm 107:2, Psalm 37:25, Psalm 30:5, Isaiah 40:28-31, Daniel 3:16-18