The Call to Faith and Obedience: Lessons from Abraham's Test

Today, we reflected on the journey of faith, obedience, and sacrifice through the life of Abraham, especially as he faced the ultimate test of offering his son Isaac. The story of Abraham is not just about a man who received a promise, but about someone who learned to trust God through a series of tests, each one deepening his experience and confidence in God’s faithfulness. Abraham’s journey began in a land of idols, but his hunger for something real led him to encounter the living God. That longing, that willingness to look beyond what is familiar and comfortable, is the starting point for all of us who desire to walk in God’s promises.

God’s call is never just about the promise; it’s about the process. Abraham had to leave everything familiar, step into the unknown, and trust God with the one thing he valued most. The principle is clear: God works miracles not out of what we lack, but out of what we already have. We must be faithful with the “one thing” God has placed in our hands, even when it seems insignificant. True worship, as Abraham demonstrated, is not about music or ritual, but about obedience, sacrifice, and faith—especially when we don’t understand, and when the cost is high.

We all find ourselves in God’s waiting room at times, suspended between promise and fulfillment, wrestling with uncertainty and fear. Yet, it is in these moments that God calls us to surrender our will, to say, “Not my will, but yours.” The life of faith is not about having all the answers, but about trusting the One who calls us, even when the path is unclear. Our obedience, even in the face of the impossible, opens the door for God’s supernatural provision and blessing.

This journey is not meant to be walked alone. God places us in a community of faith, a family not of our choosing, but of His design. We are called to walk with one another through both the joys and the darkest valleys, to share our stories of God’s faithfulness, and to encourage each other to keep trusting, keep obeying, and keep building altars of worship in our lives. The call is to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Jesus—knowing that every act of obedience, every sacrifice, and every step of faith is met by a God who is always faithful, always present, and always working for our good and His glory.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith Begins with Hunger and Surrender Abraham’s journey started with a deep dissatisfaction with the idols and emptiness around him, leading him to seek the true God. Our own faith often begins when we are willing to let go of what is familiar and comfortable, and earnestly seek something more. God responds to a heart that is hungry and willing to surrender, even when we don’t have all the answers. The first step is always to look up and say, “There must be more,” and to be open to God’s call, wherever it may lead. [57:10]
• 2. God Uses What You Already Have God’s miracles in our lives are not based on what we lack, but on what we already possess. Abraham had only one son, yet God’s promise to make him a great nation began with that single child. We are often tempted to focus on our deficiencies, but God asks us to start where we are, use what we have, and trust Him to multiply it. Faithfulness with the “one thing” in our hands is the key to unlocking greater blessings. [61:17]
• 3. Obedience and Sacrifice Define True Worship Worship is not confined to music or ritual, but is expressed most powerfully through obedience and sacrifice. Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac was the ultimate act of worship, demonstrating trust in God even when the command seemed impossible. True worship means saying “yes” to God’s will, even when it costs us dearly, and trusting that God’s purposes are always good, even when we cannot see the outcome. [65:31]
• 4. The Waiting Room is Where Faith Grows There are seasons when we find ourselves in God’s waiting room, suspended between promise and fulfillment, not knowing how things will turn out. These are the moments that test our faith, refine our character, and deepen our dependence on God. The way out of the waiting room is surrender—“Not my will, but yours, Lord”—and remembering the promises and past faithfulness of God as we wait for His provision. [67:54]
• 5. Your Story of God’s Faithfulness is Needed Those who have walked with God for years carry a testimony that the next generation desperately needs. Every answered prayer, every trial endured, and every promise fulfilled is a story that can encourage someone else who is still waiting for their breakthrough. Ministry is not just what happens from the pulpit, but in the everyday moments when we walk alongside others, sharing our stories and helping them see that God is faithful, even in the hardest times. [94:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [50:14] - Gratitude and Calling
• [51:40] - The Heart of a Shepherd
• [52:24] - A Prayer to Pastor One Church
• [53:26] - Never Alone in Trials
• [53:58] - Learning Unity and Community
• [54:36] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
• [56:10] - Abraham’s Final Test
• [57:10] - Abraham’s Search for the True God
• [58:32] - Wrestling with Identity and Promise
• [59:14] - The Challenge of Obedience
• [61:17] - God Uses What You Have
• [65:31] - The Essence of True Worship
• [67:54] - The Waiting Room of Faith
• [74:15] - Remembering God’s Faithfulness
• [82:28] - The Call to Self-Denial
• [84:56] - Whose Voice Are You Listening To?
• [94:12] - The Power of Testimony
• [96:00] - Ministry Beyond the Walls
• [100:41] - Surrendering in the Waiting Room
• [107:01] - Building Your Altar
• [109:16] - The One Thing Holding You Back
• [109:56] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Reading

Genesis 22:1-14 (ESV) — > 1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
> 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.”
> 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.
> 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.”
> 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.
> 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.”
> 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.”

Hebrews 11:17-19 (ESV) — > 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,
> 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”
> 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Luke 9:23 (ESV) — > 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Observation Questions

1. In Genesis 22, what specific instructions did God give Abraham, and how did Abraham respond?
2. According to the sermon, what was significant about Abraham’s journey up the mountain and the three days he spent traveling? [[01:17:00]]
3. In Hebrews 11:17-19, what does the writer say about Abraham’s reasoning as he prepared to sacrifice Isaac?
4. How does Jesus describe the call to follow him in Luke 9:23, and what does this imply about the nature of discipleship?

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says, “God’s call is never just about the promise; it’s about the process.” What does this mean in the context of Abraham’s story, and how does the process shape Abraham’s faith? [[01:11:09]]
2. Why do you think God asked Abraham to sacrifice the very thing that represented the fulfillment of His promise? What does this reveal about the relationship between faith, obedience, and sacrifice? [[01:06:51]]
3. The pastor mentioned that “true worship is not about music or ritual, but about obedience, sacrifice, and faith—especially when we don’t understand, and when the cost is high.” How does Abraham’s story illustrate this principle? [[01:05:31]]
4. The sermon talks about “God’s waiting room”—the time between promise and fulfillment. What are some reasons God might allow us to wait, and how can that waiting grow our faith? [[01:07:54]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says faith often begins with a hunger for something more and a willingness to leave what is familiar. Is there an area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out of your comfort zone? What would it look like to respond in faith? [[57:10]]
2. Abraham had only “one thing”—his son Isaac—but God used that to fulfill His promise. What is the “one thing” in your life that God might be asking you to trust Him with or offer to Him? How can you be faithful with what you already have, instead of focusing on what you lack? [[01:01:17]]
3. The pastor described the “waiting room” as a place where faith grows. Are you currently in a season of waiting? How are you handling it, and what would it look like to surrender your will to God in this season? [[01:07:54]]
4. True worship is shown through obedience and sacrifice, even when it’s costly or doesn’t make sense. Can you think of a recent time when God asked you to obey or give up something important? How did you respond, and what did you learn? [[01:05:31]]
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of sharing stories of God’s faithfulness with others. Who in your life could benefit from hearing about a time God provided for you or answered a prayer? How can you intentionally share your testimony this week? [[01:34:12]]
6. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. What is one practical way you can practice self-denial or sacrificial obedience this week? [[01:22:28]]
7. The pastor said, “Ministry is not just what happens from the pulpit, but in the everyday moments when we walk alongside others.” Is there someone in your church or community who is in a “waiting room” season? How can you come alongside them to encourage or support them? [[01:34:52]]