Jesus in Genesis: The Call to Radical Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus in Every Story

The Bible is a unified narrative that reveals Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation. By reading Scripture through the lens of the cross, we can see how every story, including those in Genesis, points to Jesus and His redemptive work. This perspective transforms our understanding and deepens our faith, allowing us to see the continuity of God's plan for salvation. The stories of figures like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are not just historical accounts but are filled with glimpses of the Gospel and the foreshadowing of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. [00:20]

Genesis 22:13-14 (ESV): "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. 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.'"

Reflection: Consider a story from the Old Testament that you are familiar with. How does viewing it through the lens of Jesus' redemptive work change your understanding of that story?

Day 2: The Cost of True Discipleship

Following Jesus requires complete surrender and obedience, much like Abraham, who was called to leave his comfort zone and trust God for the unknown. A faith that costs nothing is worth nothing, and true worship involves sacrifice. This call to discipleship is not one of convenience but of radical commitment, where we are willing to give up our own plans and desires to follow God's will. It is through this surrender that we encounter God more deeply and experience the fullness of His presence. [12:49]

Luke 14:27-28 (ESV): "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 3: Acting on God's Promises

God's promises often require us to take action. The Promised Land was given to Abraham's descendants, but they had to work to possess it. Similarly, we must be willing to drive out the "Canaanites" in our lives—those things that hinder us from fully experiencing God's blessings. This requires trust, obedience, and a willingness to follow God even when the path is unclear. By taking action on God's promises, we align ourselves with His will and open ourselves to His blessings. [19:04]

Joshua 1:3-5 (ESV): "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life."

Reflection: Identify a "Canaanite" in your life that is hindering you from experiencing God's blessings. What steps can you take today to begin driving it out?

Day 4: Jesus, the Greater Abraham

Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham. While Abraham's obedience brought blessings to the nations, Jesus' obedience brought salvation to the world. Our relationship with God, like Abraham's, is the greatest reward we can have. It is through this relationship that we find true fulfillment and purpose. Jesus, as the greater Abraham, exemplifies perfect obedience and sacrifice, offering us a model to follow in our own walk of faith. [25:24]

Hebrews 11:8-10 (ESV): "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God."

Reflection: Reflect on how Jesus' obedience has impacted your life. How can you emulate His example of obedience in your own life today?

Day 5: Living a Life of Radical Faith

We are called to live a life of radical faith, trusting God even when the path is unclear. This involves pressing into God, seeking deeper encounters with Him, and being willing to go against the tide for the sake of the Gospel. Radical faith is not passive but active, requiring us to step out in boldness and confidence, knowing that God is with us. It is through this radical faith that we experience the fullness of God's power and presence in our lives. [30:33]

2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV): "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Reflection: What is one step of radical faith you can take this week to deepen your relationship with God? How can you trust Him more fully in an area where the path is unclear?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that Jesus is present throughout the entire Bible, even in the Old Testament stories of Genesis. The Bible is not merely a collection of historical accounts or moral guidelines; it is a revelation of Jesus Christ on every page. By viewing Scripture through the lens of the cross, we can see how the stories of figures like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob point to Jesus and His redemptive work. Abraham, in particular, rejoiced to see the day of Jesus, and through his life, we can see glimpses of the Gospel.

The call to follow Jesus is not one of convenience but of complete surrender and obedience. Just as God called Abraham to leave his comfort zone and trust Him for the unknown, we are called to step out in faith, even when it costs us something. A Christianity that costs nothing is worth nothing. True worship involves sacrifice and obedience, and it is through these acts that we encounter God more deeply.

Abraham's journey teaches us that God's promises often require us to take action. The Promised Land was given to Abraham's descendants, but they had to work to possess it. Similarly, we must be willing to drive out the "Canaanites" in our lives—those things that hinder us from fully experiencing God's blessings. This requires trust, obedience, and a willingness to follow God even when the path is unclear.

Ultimately, Jesus is the greater Abraham. While Abraham's obedience brought blessings to the nations, Jesus' obedience brought salvation to the world. Our relationship with God, like Abraham's, is the greatest reward we can have. It is through this relationship that we find true fulfillment and purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. Seeing Jesus in Scripture: The Bible is a unified story that points to Jesus Christ. By reading Scripture through the lens of the cross, we can see how every story, including those in Genesis, reveals Jesus and His redemptive work. This perspective transforms our understanding and deepens our faith. [00:20]
2. The Cost of Discipleship: Following Jesus requires complete surrender and obedience. Like Abraham, we are called to leave our comfort zones and trust God for the unknown. A faith that costs nothing is worth nothing, and true worship involves sacrifice. [12:49]
3. God's Promises and Our Action: God's promises often require us to take action. The Promised Land was given to Abraham's descendants, but they had to work to possess it. We must be willing to drive out the "Canaanites" in our lives to fully experience God's blessings. [19:04]
4. Jesus, the Greater Abraham: Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham. While Abraham's obedience brought blessings to the nations, Jesus' obedience brought salvation to the world. Our relationship with God is the greatest reward we can have. [25:24]
5. Living a Life of Radical Faith: We are called to live a life of radical faith, trusting God even when the path is unclear. This involves pressing into God, seeking deeper encounters with Him, and being willing to go against the tide for the sake of the Gospel. [30:33]
** [30:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:08] - Introduction: Jesus in Genesis
[00:35] - Seeing Jesus in Every Page
[01:12] - Understanding Scripture Through Jesus
[02:02] - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: Seeing Jesus
[03:17] - Jesus' Identity and the Jews' Misunderstanding
[05:32] - Abraham Rejoiced to See Jesus' Day
[07:08] - Knowing Jesus vs. Knowing About Jesus
[09:20] - Abraham's Call and God's Promises
[11:36] - The Cost of Following God
[13:49] - The Trade-off of Obedience
[19:04] - Possessing the Promised Land
[22:26] - Establishing an Altar in Our Lives
[24:42] - Jesus, the Greater Abraham
[28:03] - Radical Faith and Complete Surrender
[32:16] - Final Video and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

John 8:48-58
Genesis 12:1-3
Hebrews 11:8-10

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Observation Questions:

In John 8:56, Jesus mentions that Abraham rejoiced to see His day. What does this imply about Abraham's understanding of God's promises? [05:32]
According to Genesis 12:1-3, what specific promises did God make to Abraham, and how do these promises relate to the coming of Jesus? [10:15]
The sermon mentions that Abraham had to leave his comfort zone to follow God's call. What were some of the challenges Abraham faced in Genesis 12:1-3? [12:32]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between Abraham's obedience and the blessings that followed? [14:00]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of seeing Jesus in every page of Scripture, as mentioned in the sermon, change the way one might read the Old Testament? [00:20]
The sermon emphasizes the cost of discipleship. What does it mean to have a faith that costs something, and why is this important? [12:49]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's promises require action on our part, and how does this relate to the story of Abraham? [19:04]
The sermon refers to Jesus as the "greater Abraham." What does this mean, and how does it impact our understanding of Jesus' role in God's plan? [25:24]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt God calling you to step out of your comfort zone. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [12:32]
Identify a "Canaanite" in your life—something that hinders you from fully experiencing God's blessings. What steps can you take this week to address it? [19:04]
The sermon talks about living a life of radical faith. What is one specific area in your life where you feel called to trust God more deeply, even when the path is unclear? [30:33]
How can you incorporate the practice of seeing Jesus in every page of Scripture into your daily Bible reading? What difference do you think this will make in your spiritual growth? [00:20]
Consider the idea that true worship involves sacrifice and obedience. What is one area of your life where you can practice this kind of worship more intentionally? [23:09]
The sermon mentions the importance of establishing an altar in our lives. What does this look like for you, and how can you create a regular space for encountering God? [22:26]
Reflect on the statement that a Christianity that costs nothing is worth nothing. How does this challenge your current understanding of your faith journey? [12:49]

Sermon Clips

We need to see the Bible as not some just history book or a book of do and don'ts but rather a book that gives us more about Jesus and every single page. It's been said before but if you need the right lens like the right kind of glasses to wear when you read scripture, the glasses need to come in the form of a cross because you need to see Jesus Christ in everything that happens. [00:22:50]

Abraham saw the Lord Jesus Christ, he saw him and if you can take the story of Abraham and tear it apart you're going to see so many pictures of the Gospel it'll blow your mind. Abraham absolutely saw Jesus he rejoiced to sin he was glad that he saw it. Abraham saw Jesus even though he and he saw Jesus even though Jesus lived after him. [00:06:43]

When God calls a person it's a call to complete surrender and complete obedience and complete Trust, and what God's going to spend the rest of his dealings with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob is removing the compromise out of their heart so he can purify their faith that honors him, and sometimes the Lord is going to show you the idolatry in your heart. [00:12:52]

The trade-off of obedience is blessing every time, but blessing doesn't always come instantaneously. The reward of obeying God are not always instant, the reward of doing wrong doing sin or incent for a moment, right right I mean they're instantaneously I mean the moment you do something but then that feeling that high that whatever it goes away. [00:14:03]

The land that God had given them was a land it was a Promised Land but just because God promised you some eventually they're gonna have to drive out the Canaanites, and God's promises it doesn't mean you see you just sit back and all the promises happen and you do nothing that's just here they're coming no eventually you're gonna have to do some things to clear the land. [00:19:36]

There is never any real worship without sacrifice there is never any real worship without obedience and I believe this is the first step into which Abraham is going to fully encounter God is this the moment that I think that's referring to in John chapter 8 I do not. I think that moment that I don't want to steal the Thunder of that sermon is when Abraham is told to offer his one only son Isaac. [00:22:59]

Jesus Christ is a greater Abraham. If you had to pick an All-Star team in Israel even to this day they'd probably say oh man we pick Abraham we pick Moses we pick David. Abraham, one of the most iconic figures in scripture is simply a placeholder so people can see Jesus as the Son of God and Abraham rejoiced to see that day he saw that day. [00:25:24]

God is not interested in half-hearted obedience in the Christian Life. God's on I mean listen it's got like if you guys came through and said pastor Malachi I'm like man I mean I'm like 80 into Jesus man I'm 80 into Jesus oh 80. 80 okay, right she's not in here right now but imagine me going to Rachel going hey hey Rachel, I'm like 80 into you. [00:26:59]

The problem with the Church of Jesus Christ today is we think that God accepts our half-hearted obedience and he does not, oh but so I'm so grateful he's merciful and loving and gracious and kind, but what I'm asking you to you guys to do today is to become people who carry crosses to become people who trust God like Abraham trusted God to to be willing to go against the tide. [00:28:03]

I promise you you walk with him and you seek his face and you press into him you will have moments of deep encounter with God that you cannot explain you will have times in the night where God will meet you in a dream you'll have times in your life well God will will open up the heavens and you'll see things you never thought you would see before. [00:28:59]

Jesus left the Throne of Heaven to go to a place he never been before Abraham left and obeyed so the Nations through him would be blessed Jesus left the Throne of heaven and obeyed and died on a cross so that through him the world could find Salvation Jesus the greater Abraham. [00:47:44]

Obedience in your life will bring blessing to other people's life. God had a plan for Abraham they never saw it completely unfold and God has a plan for you that you're not seeing all of it yet, but he can make all those terrible times and turn him around for his glory and his good if you'll just stay surrendered to him. [00:38:32]

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Jesus in Genesis: The Call to Radical Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus in Every Story

Day 2: The Cost of True Discipleship

Day 3: Acting on God's Promises

Day 4: Jesus, the Greater Abraham

Day 5: Living a Life of Radical Faith

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Jesus in Genesis: The Call to Radical Faith

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