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GENESIS 22:1-14

"THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERING"

Intro: God created man for fellowship. The deepest fellowship is the fellowship of
       suffering. "We have never cried together."

I. THIS IS THE SEVENTH AND FINAL APPEARANCE OF GOD TO ABRAHAM AS HE WAS LEADING HIM INTO
   A SUCCESSIVE DEEPER FELLOWSHIP.
        A. First in Ur of Chaldees called him to leave family and country.
                1. Fellowship with discontentment of God.
                        a. As you look around where we live do you find yourself discontent
                           with the phony standards, the facades.
        B. When he arrived in Shechem, God promised him the land and he built an altar and
           worshipped.
                1. Fellowship with methods of God.
                        a. He gives His glorious promises to us.
                        b. We respond with worship.
        C. God promised him a son to be his heir.
                1. Fellowship with the patience of God.
        D. Vision of great darkness and fear.
                1. Fellowship with hope of God.
        E. God revealed Himself as El Shaddai "All mighty God" or "All sufficient God."
                1. Fellowship with the all sufficiency of God.
        F. When He revealed the impending destruction of Sodom, and Abraham for Lot's sake,
           interceded and sought to understand the justice.
                1. Fellowship with the justice of God. 
        G. This final call is to the deepest fellowship.
                1. The fellowship of His suffering.

II. "TAKE NOW THY SON, THY ONLY SON, ISSAC, WHOM THOU LOVEST, AND OFFER HIM FOR A BURNT
    OFFERING."
        A. What verse carries the central truth of the N .T . "For God so loved..."
                1. Many have been stumbled by God's call to Abraham.
                        a. Obvious God never intended him to do it.
                        b. Not so obvious but Abraham knew it.
                                1. Vs. 5  polysyndeton.
                                2. "By faith Abraham offered Issac."
        B. Notice now the parallels.
                1. Called to give his only son whom he loved. 
                2. Offered him as sacrifice on Mt. Moriah.
                3. Journeyed three days.
                4. His heart trusting in resurrection.
                5. The son yielding to will of father.
                        a. Issac 30 years old at the time. 

Ill. THE FELLOWSHIP OF SUFFERING.
        A. Servants left behind Issac and Abraham. 
                Journey towards Moriah alone.
                1. Dad, we have the fire and wood, where is the Iamb for the burnt offering?
                2. "My son, God will provide Himself a Iamb for a burnt offering."
        B. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh - "In the mount of the
           Lord it shall be seen."
                1. 2, 000 years later on this very mount it was seen, for there the cross of
                   Christ was lifted and God provided Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.