First Baptist Church, South Haven
Thank you for joining us for worship this morning! We are so glad you’re here today. Whether you are joining us in-person, online, as a vacationer, or as someone who is looking for a church home, we hope that you enjoy our gathering time and sense God’s presence. To help prevent the spread of germs, please wear a mask. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to adapt to these challenging times.
This Doesn’t Make Sense
Gen. 22:2-14
Pastor Jerry Koller
Building trust is a gradual process.
· For trust to increase in any relationship, it will be a continual process.
· Trust is developed through trials and adversity.
When we face trials and adversity, when a crisis looms before us, we typically have three responses:
· This doesn’t make any sense.
· This doesn’t seem very fair.
· This doesn’t seem very loving.
Genesis 22:2 NIV
Abraham had waited 25 years for God to fulfill His promise.
Genesis 22:3 NIV
Level One: General Acknowledgment
“God, I trust You. In know You are in control. I trust You know what you are doing.”
Genesis 22:4 NIV
Level Two: Applying Trust to Circumstances
“I said I trust You, God. You have led me to this place, the place of Your choosing, the place where I must offer my son as a burnt offering. I’m not certain I understand, but I still trust You.”
Genesis 22:5 NIV
Level Three: Building Altars of Sacrifice
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife.
Genesis 22:6 NIV
Genesis 22:7 NIV
Genesis 22:8 NIV
When life throws some of its greatest challenges at us, it is one thing to say the right thing, to say the spiritual thing. It is another thing to live what out what you believe, to do what you say.
· Trust can be fragile for it is something that we choose to do.
· Trust is something that is awakened and practiced because we believe.
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. (Genesis 22:9a)
Level Four: Sacrificing All
He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. (Genesis 22:9b)
· At this point, it was a sacrifice of commitment.
· It was a sacrifice of surrender.
· It was a sacrifice of trust.
· It was a sacrifice that says, “God, I trust you with everything—in any and all areas of my life. Anything that hinders me from trusting you, I lay on the alter. May it be totally consumed so that nothing stands in the way of trust… not even my son of promise.”
Genesis 22:10 NIV
Genesis 22:12 NIV
APPLICATION
Four Levels of Trust as seen in the example of Abraham.
· Level 1: General Acknowledgment
· Level 2: Applying Trust to Circumstances
· Level 3: Building Altars of Sacrifice
· Level 4: Sacrificing All
To what degree are you willing to trust?
God, I trust you with everything, in any and all areas of my life. Anything that hinders me from trusting you, I lay on the alter. May it be totally consumed so that nothing stands in the way of trust… not even ____________________.”
(Fill in the blank)
· Stan & Jean Robinson and their family upon the loss of Stan’s sister, Peggy Smothers, on 9/24.
· Crystal Jennings (sister of Tracy Marshall’s brother-in-law, Louie) completed chemo for stage 4 breast cancer. She has a scan scheduled for 10/6, pray that treatment was successful.
· Linda Newell is recovering from surgery for a total hysterectomy.
· Kevin & Andrea Tait as they recover from the total loss of their home due to a fire on 9/15.
· Tina Dell is having some health concerns and significant pain related to a hernia.
· Annette Koller continues to heal following a bike accident.
· Deborah Kirby (Vasha Ferguson's sister) has been moved to a rehab center following a massive stroke. She is making better progress than initially expected, but continued prayers for healing are appreciated.
· Ginny Dorsey (Rhonda Dobberstein's mother) is recovering from surgery for a hysterectomy, a bladder lift, and a possible cancer area being removed. She is determining treatment options for additional cancer cells that were found.
· Jim (Rhonda Dobberstein's stepdad) just finished radiation recently for prostate cancer. Pray that it worked.
· Lynn Rarick continues to deal with hip issues. Pray that a resolution can be figured out.
· Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.
First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com