Surrender to Me and Multiply (Genesis 22)

Series – Multiply – Based on a sermon series my sending church did but adapted for Garden City. Church – Why God has blessed us and what God intends to do with that blessing. – And I’m asking the same questions to you personally – Where has God blessed you and what does he intend for you to do with that blessing? 

Continuing to walk through the life of Abraham together. God used and multiplied Abraham as he surrendered his life to God. 

Surrender? – Rosy. Shawarma. On her back in full surrender. Usually think – surrender looks like, even to God. It’s a bad thing. We try everything possible to run, hide, fight until we’re out of options and forced into surrender. Not out of fear…

Surrender – Humility – willful and joyful. My life is yours, do as you please. As a response to God’s love and what he’s done for us.

Abraham – Up to Ge. 22 – Series of tests – Failed miserably. He trusted God enough to believe his promises but he tries to attain God’s promises and blessings through his own efforts – which never works out. Tests – What was really inside Abraham. Does he really believe God? Does he really trust him to do what he promises? 

Cause after God makes these incredible promises to Abraham – blessing, great nation, etc. – guess what? God doesn’t immediately fulfill them. He doesn’t take Abraham to the Promised Land right away – In fact – God takes him so he can see it but He’s like – not right now. And then he has to continue along his journey. God promises to give Abraham a family line, a son, but he has to wait decades.

Why would God do that? Wait? Because God wasn’t just trying to take Abraham somewhere. God was trying to make Abraham into someone. And what God is doing in you, is just as important as what he is doing through you and where he’s taking you.

That’s what this Multiply series is all about. Not only God multiplying our church and ministry out there in our city and our world but multiplying faith and surrender in us.

This week, Abraham is going to face the ultimate test yet… Gen. 22. By this time, Abraham has his son, Isaac – “Son of Laughter” – because they laughed – Disbelief/Doubt in the promise – AND Joy in the fulfillment of the promise. – It was kind of funny. Abraham and Sarah having a baby in their 100s, way beyond child bearing years. (The whole family in diapers?) 

Gen 22 1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Tell – Something’s coming. Again? – What do you want now? Haven’t I already done enough? Seems like every time God calls – time to give up something good, something comfortable. But God is also probably going to make an incredible promise. And it’s going to take faith to grab hold of it. 

Don’t you feel that way sometimes? God – Why? Why do you keep bothering me? Why can’t you just leave me alone? Why do you call me to do this or that? To give up things for you? I gave up so much already. I should be good for much longer before you come asking again. Go ask someone else – It doesn’t look like they have much going on in their life.

Here I am – Statement of surrender. I’m ready. Because he trusts God. He’s seen God’s faithfulness. And that’s the key difference between a life of compulsion/dread and joy when following God – Do you trust God? The most miserable Christians are the ones who trust Jesus for their salvation but for nothing else. The most joyful are the ones who trust Jesus in everything – because they know how loving, good, and committed he is to them. Excitement when Jesus calls.

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.”

If you just read/heard that right, you should feel absolutely sick. Your heart, your gut, your soul – aches. What God asks of Abraham here is unimaginable. Look at how many times “son” is used here to remind Abraham what God is asking – Take your son, your only son, the son whom you love – and offer him as a burnt offering. (Not symbolic.)

Isaac is likely a teenager by this point and was everything to Abraham. He was the promised one. All of God’s promises hinged upon him. And imagine just how much Abraham and Sarah loved him. Joy. He may have been the only thing worth living for at their old age.

And if you’re asking the question – How could God ask such a thing? You’re asking the right question. And we’re going to answer that as we continue…

But we all have something like an Isaac in our lives don’t we? Someone/Something that we love and treasure so much – If God were to ask us to offer it to him – We’d be sick. There’s no way we’d do it. Anything but this. And I want you to consider what that is. What is it that you won’t surrender to God? That you won’t/can’t trust him with? (If he took from you – you could never forgive God?) Hold. 

Look – 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. I can’t even imagine what those three days were like. All kinds of thoughts racing around in my head – How am I going to explain this to my wife??? She’s going to kill me! That kind of faith doesn’t come from within. And it doesn’t just magically appear in the moment. It comes from somewhere else…

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.” Worship is probably that last word I’d pick to describe what God was asking in this moment – But surrender and obedience is worship. And look at what Abraham says – We will go over there – and we will come back to you. Abraham doesn’t know what’s going to happen but he’s confident God’s going to do something so they both come back… Where’d he get this confidence? …

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. Now we get a glimpse of what Abraham was thinking – That God is going to provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering. The entire three day journey – Abraham was probably reminding himself – God is faithful. He promised and did the impossible in giving him and Sarah Isaac. And he took responsibility for both sides of the covenant in Gen. 15. God will provide. God will provide. God will provide.

Not – I can do this. I can do this. Just listen to God and do it. No. He was reminding himself – God promised. God is faithful. God will provide. – And could not be more applicable for us today. The strength to follow God, to trust him when things are hard or impossible, to surrender everything to him – it’s not in us. X Pull ourselves up and do it. It’s take hold of God – faithfulness to his promises. God will provide!

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. Isaac – strong enough to carry wood for the altar. He could have run away from his old father. Dad – This is crazy. We’re not doing this. That was a fun joke. But now it’s over.

Isaac – He trusted God and his father. And he freely climbs onto the altar and let’s his father tie him down. I don’t know if Timothy trusts me that much. God, yes. Me, no. Where did Isaac get this faith? From his parents – He probably heard from them a million times – Tell me again about how God made you this promise. How you were too old but God worked and did the impossible. Parents – this series – your faith lived out – could be life-changing not just for you but for your children too.

God’s Ask – Not just about killing Isaac – That could have happened anywhere at any time. Something much more/deeper is happening here…

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.” Abraham passes the tests – There’s nothing he won’t surrender to God. Nothing he doesn’t trust God with.

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.” 

Significant – Not – Where Abraham became the man – obeyed/passed the test. Landmarks. Something much bigger happened here. God’s provision.

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.” Each time Abraham trusts and obeys God, God renews and reminds him of his great promises.

What do we learn from Gen. 22? 3 Questions for us…

1. Do you truly understand who God is? And I’m not just talking about head knowledge – You know some things/facts about him. Even Satan and the demons have head knowledge. I’m talking about at the heart level. God is not a genie. He’s not just a good advice giver. He’s not your assistant. And he’s not just going to wait in the corner quietly as you live your life and then tag him in for his help when you need it. 

He’s God. Your Creator. He’s holy, eternal, all powerful, sovereign, in control of and directing all things. So he can demand as our God anything he likes because he is worthy of everything. Scary? But it’s actually a good thing because God is also all knowing, loving, good, gracious, merciful, patient, and kind. – So we know anything he asks of us is not to our detriment but for our good. 

Question: How could God ask such a terrible thing of Abraham? It’s one thing to ask him to leave his country and his family. It’s on a completely different level to ask him to sacrifice his son. It’s unthinkable. 2 Reasons:

1) Every bit of God’s right to demand anything and everything from us. – He’s God. There’s nothing off limits. Oftentimes we look at our lives – time, talent, treasure – our kids, our jobs as things belonging to us. But they aren’t. We are not doing a favor to God by letting him have a little bit of our stuff here and there. No. He owns it all. It’s all his. And it’s his right to ask us to do whatever he desires. Confidence – God is loving/good and he knows even better than we do.

But God doesn’t just demand and take everything from us. He’s actually the one who has given everything to us…

2. Do you truly understand the gospel? This is the starting point for everything. Because you will never surrender to God if you don’t. In the gospel, who God is – his love and character are on full display.

This story is not primarily about Abraham – about Abraham’s commitment and surrender to God – how awesome Abraham is. It’s about God’s commitment to him/us! Why – “The Lord will provide. On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

Do you understand that you were dead in your sin. Dead. With no hope. Destined for eternity of suffering apart from God. No good works, no matter how hard you try, how good you think you are or better than other people, is going to save you.

And so God, out of his love for us – he didn’t owe us – we’ve didn’t deserve it – sent Jesus, to die the death we deserved for our sin in our place. Jesus traded places with us. He became sin and died on the cross so we could become perfectly righteous sons and daughters – because Jesus’ perfect record was given to us. Gospel – Jesus in my place and I in his. Do you truly understand this? Do you believe it?

When you look back on your life, when we look back on our church, years from now – what we’re not going to remember and celebrate is how much we sacrificed for God but God’s faithfulness to us. And the more we understand that now, the more we’re willing to say – We surrender everything to you cause you have given everything to us.

Because Jesus obeyed, we are saved. And that’s the work that God desires to do through us. He wants to take our faith, obedience, and surrender to bring more people to himself. Through us! So his name and his glory multiplies on the earth. – Just as he did through Abraham.

Christianity is not primarily about how you have to obey God. It’s first and foremost about what God has done for you. It’s receiving that free gift and believing it. And then, the rest of our lives is simply a response to what God has done for us in Jesus…

3. Are you fully surrendered to him in all things? He deserves it all. Again, it’s not that God needs anything from you. And God doesn’t simply make demands for no reason. Loving. Good. The question is, have you surrendered everything over to him? Like a blank check like we talked about two weeks ago. – I’ll do whatever you ask. I’ll go wherever you send. I’ll give and leverage all that I have for you.

Again: What is it in your life that is your Isaac? Cherished and beloved? That if God were to ask you to surrender it over to him, it’d be hard. (Examples: Children, Career, Hobby, Possessions) Everything should be offered back up to God – it’s all yours – Use them how you please.

For me – Years ago, it would have been money. Savings. I was young and stupid – 25 – but I was still very confident I knew everything. Money was my security. If I had enough saved, everything would be ok. If I needed it, I would buy it. Money would get me what I need. Until life happened. $0. – I was a fool to have trusted in money. Next season with nothing – God provided everything we needed. – God’s faithfulness. God – my life is yours. Everything I have is yours. You will provide for me in every season. 

The tighter you hold onto – the more sorrowful and disappointed you will be when it fails you. And it will. Whatever it is you’re grasping onto and won’t let go of – Safer and better in God’s hands than in yours. Open hands – Freely surrender to God.

Abraham – willing to sacrifice his son – Why? Because he believed God would provide or even raise him from the dead. He was confident in God’s faithfulness, in God’s promises. Are you? 

When we offer our lives and everything back to him, he multiplies it back to us – Abraham. How much more can we as a response – knowing Jesus and what he’s done for us – be willing to surrender every part of our lives over to him?

Parents and Children – God may not ask us to literally offer our children as a sacrifice. But he is asking us to offer them up to him for his purposes. We are stewards of our children for God. We temporarily stand in the place of God, representing his authority/love/care, and we are supposed to raise and disciple them to surrender their lives to God – not to us. You can’t if you yourself are not. Our children don’t belong to us to serve us for our purposes.

How would you feel if God called them to serve somewhere in the remote parts of the ends of the earth to reach lost people. They/Grandchildren wouldn’t be able to make it home for CNY, Christmas, or family gatherings. Would you be against it? Would you stop them? – Do you think you know better than God? That you love them more? That they should listen to you over God? Seen – Honor your father and mother – Weapon to control and hold children hostage to their own desires and plans. Instead of as a tool to disciple them to follow Jesus. Guide to God.

Think? – God would never ask such a thing – Are you sure? Abraham. To make God’s name great. 

Surrender – Unlocks/Access to God’s promises. Not – God, I’m going to give you this so you will give me that. It’s never about selfish personal gain. It’s about multiplication for Jesus’ glory. 

Believer/Missional: Multiply Commitment Card and Connect Card Pray and ask God what he desires from you. Not something I can tell you. Not turning this in – X See. Share – CG.

If you were to make a list of 5 things that you treasure most in your life – What would they be? And would you be willing to surrender those things to God if he asked? Maybe. Maybe not.

Should represent:

1. Faith – You get the first and the best. Before anything else. Trust you will provide. Risk. It shouldn’t feel safe/comfortable. – IDK – Can I really afford to do this? – Stretch.
2. Sacrifice – Should make a statement. It should cost you something – Your time, your talent – serving, your resources. David – I’m not going to give to God that which cost me nothing. God’s not so interested by the size/amount of the gift. But in your faith and sacrifice – Are you willing to give/leverage everything for him? Does what we offer to God show that we understand the gospel? That we love him? And…
3. Surrender – It’s what drives your sacrifice – God you gave everything for me. I will give everything for you. Full and total surrender. You can make a sacrifice – and it not be that meaningful – doesn’t represent that God has your heart. Don’t compromise. Don’t just do what other people are doing. – You.

Card – Represent- I believe this will increase our impact and reach in mission – it’ll make an eternal difference in the lives of people in our city and the nations – but it’s also going to change us. So I want to invite everyone here to join in on this journey. To see God move in our lives and in this church – Loosen the grips you have on your life and surrender to him fully.

Again – We don’t give because God needs it. We don’t give to earn God’s favor or love or blessing in our lives. It’s not a transaction like that. The gospel – what God has given to us and then our response of full surrender when we see God’s love for us and the price he’s paid to save us.

Again – I trust God. I just don’t trust the church. – Fine for now. Give your money somewhere else. We’re not after your money and neither is God. But God is after your heart – He desires and deserves to be what you love and treasure most.

How could God ask such a terrible thing of Abraham? (#2?) Maybe you feel like – I could never follow a God who would ask such a thing…

2. AND THAT’S EXACTLY THE POINT! Because that’s exactly what God the Father would do the unthinkable for us in his Son, Jesus – Many years later another son, another one and only beloved Son would walk up a mountain with a wood on his back – cross – upon which he would be sacrificed. Location – Mt. Moriah – Calvary. “It shall be provided” – not just a historical landmark – but a promise. God would ultimately rescue Isaac by providing a ram to take his place. So this time, the Son would not be spared – a substitute would not be provided. Jesus surrendered to the will of his Father and laid down his life as a sacrifice in perfect obedience to his Father. Ram – Thicket on his head. 

God the Father sent his beloved Son, his only Son whom he loved for all eternity, as the lamb to die in our place for our sins. He did the absolutely unthinkable. What kind of love would compel him to do this? The love of the heavenly Father for his lost children. We needed to be rescued. And the only way was through sending Jesus.

God the Father did not withhold even his beloved Son for us. So we, all humanity, could go free like Isaac. Do you understand that? God loves you with that kind of love! He wouldn’t withhold his one and only Son.

Glad you’re here. We don’t want you to feel compelled by us to give. This is for those who already believed and have surrendered their lives to Jesus.

But what is for you is the gospel. It’s the greatest gift. You’re going to have to give up control of your life and surrender.