Grace World Outreach Church

Greetings from Grace World

Thank you for joining us today at Grace World. Whether you are joining us in person or watching online, we are so glad you are here! It's our prayer that you discover life in all its fullness.

If you have a prayer request, you can send that to us here at https://www.graceworldag.org/prayer-requests
Every week we place these request on the altar of the church and our entire team lifts up each request by name.

We'd love to hear from you and be a friend. Connect with us online at
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We Say Yes!
Exceedingly Abundantly: Abraham’s Faith Journey

Now to Him who is able to do exceedinglyabundantlyabove all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20–21)

God has a plan for you & God has a plan for your church. God’s plan is EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL! In order to fulfill His plan in our lives we must grow in faith!

This faith journey is not about what God wants FROM us, but what God wants FOR us!

God does exceedingly abundantly above what we ask or image, so our job is to ask and imagine, and it is God’s job to do the Exceedingly Abundantly though us.

Abraham’s Faith Journey (Gen 12-22) Culminates in Chapter 22

Genesis 22:1 (ESV) After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

#1 THE FIRST “HERE I AM” LESSON: YOU CAN’T MOVE FORWARD LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR

This is the place where God challenges our HEAD. He challenges our mindset, our reasoning…our past. God challenges what we know…to GROW our faith.

Gen 22 begins “After These Things…”

These things were...
- The Call to Canaan (Gen 12)
- The Escape to Egypt (Gen 12)
- The Mistake with the Mistress (Gen 16)

Note the progression…His misstep in Canaan brought a famine that took him to Egypt, Egypt brought Hagar, Hagar brought Ishmael.

Our FAITH or FEAR produces accordingly in our lives!

Abraham would say, “Every time I tried to do what made sense, I made a misstep”

“AFTER THESE THINGS” God calls him and he finally responds… “HERE I AM”

When God calls us, He is not looking for a weak YES! He wants to hear a big bold YES!

Genesis 22:5 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.”

What part does the past play in this faith journey?” TRUST

Genesis 22:7–8 (ESV) 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.

#2 THE SECOND HERE I AM LESSON: WHEN I MAKE EVERYTHING I HAVE AVAILABLE TO GOD HE MAKES EVERYTHING HE HAS AVAILABLE TO ME

This is the place where God challenges what is in our HAND. What we can do for ourselves. This is a huge faith lesson and comes from a faith 25 years in the making. “God will provide for Himself.”

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. 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.”
(Ge 22:9–12).

#3 FINAL HERE I AM LESSON: GOD DOESN’T WANT YOUR TREASURE, HE WANTS YOUR HEART

This is the place where God challenges our HEART! Took 25 years to get Abraham here. Here at this place where his heart was empty, everything on the altar and God can sit unrivaled on the throne of his heart.

What Can God do with such a faith? THE EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY

Here…God makes a profound statement… “Now I know”
Now (at this moment in time) I (the all knowing God) Know (have intimately seen through experience)

It wasn’t Isaac on the altar, It was Abraham’s heart

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This is the place where faith meets action (Called Obedience)
This is the place where we say God HERE I AM… What do you want me to do?

“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.”” Genesis 22:14 ESV

Where are You On This Journey?
Have you laid your head (mindset), hand (ability) and heart (all) upon the altar?

God wants our heart and He wants to sit unrivaled there.
Why because when He is the center of your life, the exceedingly abundantly flows.

Commit to Committing. Pray… GOD Stretch ME!