Genesis 22
Abraham Tested
1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
Some time later means that several years after Isaac was born. So, some time later after Isaac was born, Abraham heard God's voice again. Abraham knew it was God's voice, he recognized it was HIS voice. This means that Abraham had a deep and intimate relationship with God. Think, do you still recognize your best friend's voice after 10 years absence? Probably not. However, Abraham could still recognize God's voice although He did not speak to him for 10 or 11 years.
2 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."
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."
Early the next morning, Abraham got up and saddled his donkey, so he did not linger. He did not tardy. He did not question God. He did not protest to God nor he doubted His voice. He did not wait for about two days or a week. He got up early in the morning not late in the afternoon. Abraham did what God wanted, Abraham obeyed God. It was not written whether that night he could sleep or not. Probably not, as a father who loved his son, his heart must have been aching so much that he could not sleep. Just like our heavenly father's heart aching to sacrifice his beloved son, Jesus, for us. Abraham himself cut the wood. Think about this fact, Abraham, advanced in years, more than 100 years old, had to cut the wood for sacrificing his son. That must be tough. You may probably think it is horrible and torturing. Making tools to kill your own beloved child. The child that was promised by God Himself. Could God contradict His own word? However, Abraham obeyed God. Abraham did not order his servants to do these things (woke up early, cut the wood, saddled the donkey). He did them himself. That shows his heart for God. His devoted heart to God's command.
Abraham told his servants to stay while he and Isaac went up to the mountain. Abraham left behind all that might have hindered him from doing God's command. The servants might stop Abraham from piercing the knife to his son. They might say something that would jeopardize his faith in God. What things that hinder us from obeying God? We must leave those things behind.
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,
7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.
Abraham said positive things. He did not tell Isaac what God has said to him a night before. Abraham did not blame anyone. He did not blame God either. He did not broke into tears in front of Isaac nor in front of his servants.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
12 "Do not lay a 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."
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram [a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."
15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring [b] all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
We know the happy ending of the story. But how about if we were in that kind of situation. Can we obey God? Can we stay strong and get through it?
Another important thing about worship. Pay attention to verse 5
5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."
To sacrifice is also an act of worship. Abraham wanted to sacrifice his son, Isaac, he said to his servants that we would go to the mountain to worship God.
Revelation 4:1-2
1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it
Rev. 4:6-8
4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
Rev.4:10
10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."
All the elders bowed their heads, they took off their crowns and worshipped HIM. An act of worship, we should humble ourselves, take off our crowns, pride, etc. to exalt GOD.
Romans 12:1 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship.
Worshipping God should be done by ourselves. We can not ask other people to do it for us, or to do it on our behalf. We ourselves offer our body as a living sacrifice. We can not ask other people to offer his/her body for our worship. We need to purify our body, to live in holiness, because our body is a living sacrifice for God. We can not offer a stained offering. Therefore we need to watch out our deeds, our words, our way of living. Hebrew 13:15-16 15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Our offering may not be only money, but also time, prayer, body, way of life, all.
Think:
what needs to be released from our life that may hinder us from God?
what things may hinder us from worshipping God?
what hinders God blessing to come to us?
Monday, October 11, 2010
Total Increase
Apakah anda ingin mengalami pertambahan dalam segala aspek yang baik dari kehidupan anda? Siapa yang tidak mau mengalami pertambahan tersebut? Pastinya kita semua mau mengalami pertambahan dalam aspek yang baik dari kehidupan kita.
Pertambahan dalam berkat-berkat
Pertambahan dalam keuangan
Pertambahan dalam kemampuan/ketrampilan/ keahlian
Pertambahan dalam kesehatan
Pertambahan dalam visi
Pertambahan dalam pengaruh
Pertambahan dalam kasih karunia
Pertambahan dalam teman/ pergaulan
Pertambahan dalam iman
Pertambahan dalam hubungan dengan Tuhan
Pertambahan dalam buah roh
Pertambahan dalam hikmat
Pertambahan dalam upah dari Tuhan
Pertambahan dalam setiap aspek yg baik dalam kehidupan kita
This sharing was inspired by Pastor Berin Hilfigan's sermon. He is the head of ISOM (International School Of Ministry). ISOM is a school where people are trained and equipped with curriculum for ministry. He came in August with his wife to make a movie about suicide in Japan and to attend ISOM graduation in a Japanese church in Kumamoto. Praise the Lord we can be a blessing to Japanese people.
Bagaimana caranya untuk mengalami total increase?
1. Berdoa dan percaya
Tidak ada seorang pun tokoh dalam alkitab yg hidupnya mengalami pertambahan, terobosan tanpa doa. Yesus sebelum memulai pelayanannya, dia berdoa puasa selama 40 hari (Mat.4). Yesus senantiasa berdoa kepada Bapa. Luk.5:16 Luk.11. Para Rasul sebelum memulai pelayanan mereka memberitakan Injil, para rasul berdoa dan Roh Kudus turun (Kis. 1-2). Raja Daud berdoa sebelum berperang mencari kehendak Tuhan. Daniel berdoa tiga kali sehari (Dan. 6:10) Demi didengar Daniel, bahwa surat perintah itu telah dibuat, pergilah ia ke rumahnya. Dalam kamar atasnya ada tingkap-tingkap yang terbuka ke arah Yerusalem; tiga kali sehari ia berlutut, berdoa serta memuji Allahnya, seperti yang biasa dilakukannya. Esther dan bangsa Israel mengalami terobosan, yaitu kelepasan dari pembunuhan masal, ketika mereka berdoa puasa.
Jemaat mendoakan Petrus (Kis.12:5), Petrus dilepaskan dari penjara oleh seorang malaikat. Tidak ada seorang pun yg sukses tanpa doa.
Doa Yabes I Taw.4:9
Yabes lebih dimuliakan dari pada saudara-saudaranya;
nama Yabes itu diberi ibunya kepadanya sebab katanya:
"Aku telah melahirkan dia dengan kesakitan.“
Yabes berseru kepada Allah Israel, katanya: "Kiranya
Engkau memberkati aku berlimpah-limpah dan memperluas
daerahku, dan kiranya tangan-Mu menyertai aku, dan
melindungi aku dari pada malapetaka, sehingga kesakitan
tidak menimpa aku!" Dan Allah mengabulkan permintaannya itu.
2. Mempersiapkan diri untuk penambahan
II Raja 4:1-7 Salah seorang dari isteri-isteri para nabi mengadukan halnya kepada Elisa, sambil berseru: "Hambamu, suamiku, sudah mati dan engkau ini tahu, bahwa hambamu itu takut akan TUHAN. Tetapi sekarang, penagih hutang sudah datang untuk mengambil kedua orang anakku menjadi budaknya."
4:2 Jawab Elisa kepadanya: "Apakah yang dapat kuperbuat bagimu? Beritahukanlah kepadaku apa-apa yang kaupunya di rumah." Berkatalah perempuan itu: "Hambamu ini tidak punya sesuatu apapun di rumah, kecuali sebuah buli-buli berisi minyak."
4:3 Lalu berkatalah Elisa: "Pergilah, mintalah bejana-bejana dari luar, dari pada segala tetanggamu, bejana-bejana kosong, tetapi jangan terlalu sedikit.
4:4 Kemudian masuklah, tutuplah pintu sesudah engkau dan anak-anakmu masuk, lalu tuanglah minyak itu ke dalam segala bejana. Mana yang penuh, angkatlah!"
4:5 Pergilah perempuan itu dari padanya; ditutupnyalah pintu sesudah ia dan anak-anaknya masuk; dan anak-anaknya mendekatkan bejana-bejana kepadanya, sedang ia terus menuang.
4:6 Ketika bejana-bejana itu sudah penuh, berkatalah perempuan itu kepada anaknya: "Dekatkanlah kepadaku sebuah bejana lagi," tetapi jawabnya kepada ibunya: "Tidak ada lagi bejana." Lalu berhentilah minyak itu mengalir.
4:7 Kemudian pergilah perempuan itu memberitahukannya kepada abdi Allah, dan orang ini berkata: "Pergilah, juallah minyak itu, bayarlah hutangmu, dan hiduplah dari lebihnya, engkau serta anak-anakmu.“
Minyak berhenti mengalir sebanyak bejana yang dipersiapkan. Begitu pula pertambahan yang diberikan Allah pada kita sebanyak persiapan yg kita lakukan.
3. Bertanya kepada Tuhan
Daud bertanya kepada Tuhan 1 Samuel 23
(1)Diberitahukanlah kepada Daud, begini: "Ketahuilah, orang Filistin berperang melawan kota Kehila dan menjarah tempat-tempat pengirikan." (2) Lalu bertanyalah Daud kepada TUHAN: "Apakah aku akan pergi mengalahkan orang Filistin itu?" Jawab TUHAN kepada Daud: "Pergilah, kalahkanlah orang Filistin itu dan selamatkanlah Kehila." (3)Tetapi orang-orang Daud berkata kepadanya: "Ingatlah, sedangkan di sini di Yehuda kita sudah dalam ketakutan, apalagi kalau kita pergi ke Kehila, melawan barisan perang orang Filistin.“ (4) Lalu bertanya pulalah Daud kepada TUHAN, maka TUHAN menjawab dia, firman-Nya: "Bersiaplah, pergilah ke Kehila, sebab Aku akan menyerahkan orang Filistin itu ke dalam tanganmu." I Samuel 30:7-8
Daud berulang kali bertanya kepada Tuhan sebelum melakukan penyerangan.
Begitu pula dengan kita, kita perlu untuk bertanya kepada Tuhan dan mendengarkan apa rencana dan kehendak Tuhan.
4. Pantang menyerah
Gal. 6 :9 Janganlah kita jemu-jemu berbuat baik, karena apabila sudah datang waktunya, kita akan menuai, jika kita tidak menjadi lemah.
Pertambahan dalam berkat-berkat
Pertambahan dalam keuangan
Pertambahan dalam kemampuan/ketrampilan/ keahlian
Pertambahan dalam kesehatan
Pertambahan dalam visi
Pertambahan dalam pengaruh
Pertambahan dalam kasih karunia
Pertambahan dalam teman/ pergaulan
Pertambahan dalam iman
Pertambahan dalam hubungan dengan Tuhan
Pertambahan dalam buah roh
Pertambahan dalam hikmat
Pertambahan dalam upah dari Tuhan
Pertambahan dalam setiap aspek yg baik dalam kehidupan kita
This sharing was inspired by Pastor Berin Hilfigan's sermon. He is the head of ISOM (International School Of Ministry). ISOM is a school where people are trained and equipped with curriculum for ministry. He came in August with his wife to make a movie about suicide in Japan and to attend ISOM graduation in a Japanese church in Kumamoto. Praise the Lord we can be a blessing to Japanese people.
Bagaimana caranya untuk mengalami total increase?
1. Berdoa dan percaya
Tidak ada seorang pun tokoh dalam alkitab yg hidupnya mengalami pertambahan, terobosan tanpa doa. Yesus sebelum memulai pelayanannya, dia berdoa puasa selama 40 hari (Mat.4). Yesus senantiasa berdoa kepada Bapa. Luk.5:16 Luk.11. Para Rasul sebelum memulai pelayanan mereka memberitakan Injil, para rasul berdoa dan Roh Kudus turun (Kis. 1-2). Raja Daud berdoa sebelum berperang mencari kehendak Tuhan. Daniel berdoa tiga kali sehari (Dan. 6:10) Demi didengar Daniel, bahwa surat perintah itu telah dibuat, pergilah ia ke rumahnya. Dalam kamar atasnya ada tingkap-tingkap yang terbuka ke arah Yerusalem; tiga kali sehari ia berlutut, berdoa serta memuji Allahnya, seperti yang biasa dilakukannya. Esther dan bangsa Israel mengalami terobosan, yaitu kelepasan dari pembunuhan masal, ketika mereka berdoa puasa.
Jemaat mendoakan Petrus (Kis.12:5), Petrus dilepaskan dari penjara oleh seorang malaikat. Tidak ada seorang pun yg sukses tanpa doa.
Doa Yabes I Taw.4:9
Yabes lebih dimuliakan dari pada saudara-saudaranya;
nama Yabes itu diberi ibunya kepadanya sebab katanya:
"Aku telah melahirkan dia dengan kesakitan.“
Yabes berseru kepada Allah Israel, katanya: "Kiranya
Engkau memberkati aku berlimpah-limpah dan memperluas
daerahku, dan kiranya tangan-Mu menyertai aku, dan
melindungi aku dari pada malapetaka, sehingga kesakitan
tidak menimpa aku!" Dan Allah mengabulkan permintaannya itu.
2. Mempersiapkan diri untuk penambahan
II Raja 4:1-7 Salah seorang dari isteri-isteri para nabi mengadukan halnya kepada Elisa, sambil berseru: "Hambamu, suamiku, sudah mati dan engkau ini tahu, bahwa hambamu itu takut akan TUHAN. Tetapi sekarang, penagih hutang sudah datang untuk mengambil kedua orang anakku menjadi budaknya."
4:2 Jawab Elisa kepadanya: "Apakah yang dapat kuperbuat bagimu? Beritahukanlah kepadaku apa-apa yang kaupunya di rumah." Berkatalah perempuan itu: "Hambamu ini tidak punya sesuatu apapun di rumah, kecuali sebuah buli-buli berisi minyak."
4:3 Lalu berkatalah Elisa: "Pergilah, mintalah bejana-bejana dari luar, dari pada segala tetanggamu, bejana-bejana kosong, tetapi jangan terlalu sedikit.
4:4 Kemudian masuklah, tutuplah pintu sesudah engkau dan anak-anakmu masuk, lalu tuanglah minyak itu ke dalam segala bejana. Mana yang penuh, angkatlah!"
4:5 Pergilah perempuan itu dari padanya; ditutupnyalah pintu sesudah ia dan anak-anaknya masuk; dan anak-anaknya mendekatkan bejana-bejana kepadanya, sedang ia terus menuang.
4:6 Ketika bejana-bejana itu sudah penuh, berkatalah perempuan itu kepada anaknya: "Dekatkanlah kepadaku sebuah bejana lagi," tetapi jawabnya kepada ibunya: "Tidak ada lagi bejana." Lalu berhentilah minyak itu mengalir.
4:7 Kemudian pergilah perempuan itu memberitahukannya kepada abdi Allah, dan orang ini berkata: "Pergilah, juallah minyak itu, bayarlah hutangmu, dan hiduplah dari lebihnya, engkau serta anak-anakmu.“
Minyak berhenti mengalir sebanyak bejana yang dipersiapkan. Begitu pula pertambahan yang diberikan Allah pada kita sebanyak persiapan yg kita lakukan.
3. Bertanya kepada Tuhan
Daud bertanya kepada Tuhan 1 Samuel 23
(1)Diberitahukanlah kepada Daud, begini: "Ketahuilah, orang Filistin berperang melawan kota Kehila dan menjarah tempat-tempat pengirikan." (2) Lalu bertanyalah Daud kepada TUHAN: "Apakah aku akan pergi mengalahkan orang Filistin itu?" Jawab TUHAN kepada Daud: "Pergilah, kalahkanlah orang Filistin itu dan selamatkanlah Kehila." (3)Tetapi orang-orang Daud berkata kepadanya: "Ingatlah, sedangkan di sini di Yehuda kita sudah dalam ketakutan, apalagi kalau kita pergi ke Kehila, melawan barisan perang orang Filistin.“ (4) Lalu bertanya pulalah Daud kepada TUHAN, maka TUHAN menjawab dia, firman-Nya: "Bersiaplah, pergilah ke Kehila, sebab Aku akan menyerahkan orang Filistin itu ke dalam tanganmu." I Samuel 30:7-8
Daud berulang kali bertanya kepada Tuhan sebelum melakukan penyerangan.
Begitu pula dengan kita, kita perlu untuk bertanya kepada Tuhan dan mendengarkan apa rencana dan kehendak Tuhan.
4. Pantang menyerah
Gal. 6 :9 Janganlah kita jemu-jemu berbuat baik, karena apabila sudah datang waktunya, kita akan menuai, jika kita tidak menjadi lemah.
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