1. Abraham & Isaac: God will provide Gen. 22:8
Learned what God promised and provided Learned what God expected, then obeyed Learned to willingly lose
I. Abraham
A. Had seen God promise and provide Gen. 12:1-9; 15; 17:17
B. Continued learning what God expected and consistently obeying (inward/outward) Gen. 12:10-13:1; 17:9-13
C. Continued learning to willingly lose Gen. 12:1; 13:8-9; 14:18-20
D. So, although he had not faced this exact decision before, he expresses faith in what He did not know because of what He did know.
1. Abraham confessed this when faith meant losing one of his most precious gifts
2. Abraham confessed this while not knowing when or how God would provide
3. This kind of faith is one reason Abraham is called the father of all those who believe (4:11)—today seen:
Abraham:
the father of all those who believe (Rom. 4:11)

2. Sinners who accept the gospel
God will provide
Sinners who accept the gospel
Learn what God provides and promises
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 NKJV)
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16 NKJV)
II. Sinners who accept the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1)
A. Have learned what God has provided, promised Jn. 3:16a; Mk.16:15 (display both verses side-by-side)
B. Have learned what God expects Jn. 3:16b; Mk. 16:16 (Acts 18:9) contrary to Cath/Prot tradition
C. Have learned that faith and repentance require willingly losing some precious things Mt. 16:24-26
D. When I know God has resolved my biggest problem (sin), I can begin a new life with the confidence “God will provide,” in
1. process of learning new things
2. temptation
3. suffering for doing what is right
4. consequences of sin (mine or others)
5. inexplicable problems (thorn in flesh, sorrow, uncertainty, painful certainty)
6. If you have not dealt with all of these, you will
7. If you have dealt with these, you can say “God will provide, sometimes in ways I didn’t anticipate”

3. Sinners who accept the gospel
God will provide
Sinners who accept the gospel
Learn what God provides and promises
Learn what God expects, then obey
Learn to lose Mt. 16:24-26
II. Sinners who accept the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1)
A. Have learned what God has provided, promised Jn. 3:16a; Mk.16:15 (display both verses side-by-side)
B. Have learned what God expects Jn. 3:16b; Mk. 16:16 (Acts 18:9) contrary to Cath/Prot tradition
C. Have learned that faith and repentance require willingly losing some precious things Mt. 16:24-26
D. When I know God has resolved my biggest problem (sin), I can begin a new life with the confidence “God will provide,” in
1. process of learning new things
2. temptation
3. suffering for doing what is right
4. consequences of sin (mine or others)
5. inexplicable problems (thorn in flesh, sorrow, uncertainty, painful certainty)
6. If you have not dealt with all of these, you will
7. If you have dealt with these, you can say “God will provide, sometimes in ways I didn’t anticipate”

4. Sinners who accept the gospel must trust
God will provide
1. while learning new things 2. temptation 3. suffering for doing what is right 4. consequences of sin (mine or others) 5. inexplicable problems 6. If you have not dealt with these, you will 7. If you have dealt with these, you can say “God will provide. . .”

5. Young people committed to being an example in . . . (1 Tim. 4:12)
word
faith
purity
III. Young people committed to being an example (1 Tim. 4:12)
A. For Timothy, this seems to have been his habit and reputation (Acts 16:2), meaning he had learned what God provided and promised with only one believing parent.
B. Paul reminded him, and you, of what God expects—an example in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, purity
1. an example in word—for ex., when you speak you always tell the truth (in love)
2. an example in faith
a. what you believe, why you believe it, and what you do—all the result of what God has said
b. one Lord, one baptism, one body—do you know what and why?
3. an example in purity—
in dress = cover what God defines as “nakedness” and wear what is proper for someone professing godliness (incl style, symbol, association), the result of truth in an obedient heart.
OR entertainment
C. Being an example in these ways will cost you some precious things—will you willingly lose them?
1. participation ppl who lie or urge you to lie will sometimes exclude you from plans or decisions
2. tolerance some ppl who find out you do not accept everyone who says “Lord, Lord” as a Christian may not tolerate you for that reason.
3. am I willing to lose current friends, potential friends, a potential spouse over word, faith, etc.?
D. God will provide
1. when you are totally excluded or noticeably less accepted
2. when you are unfairly accused
3. I could tell you some of the ways He will provide (he did for Timothy), but for now, understand where Abraham was---without knowing how or when, believe “God will provide.”
God will provide

6. Parents committed to bringing children up in . . . (Eph. 6:4)
Abraham was committed Gen. 18:19
Are you committed, as Abraham was?
This commitment comes with a cost
God will provide
IV. Parents committed to bringing children up... (Eph. 6:4) and grandparents and other relations
A. God was confident this would be Abraham’s commitment Gen. 18:19
1. command his children
2. keep the way of the Lord
3. do righteousness and justice
4. Isaac learned these things because they were in his father’s heart first.
B. Like Abraham, godly parents among us have seen what God has provided and promised, continue learning what God expects, and teach this commitment to their children.
1. command his children God’s kind of leadership
2. keep the way of the Lord Believe in truth enough to tell them “Don’t believe or do __ because I told you so but because you understand the will of the Lord, rightly divided the word of truth.”
3. do righteousness and justice We often command our children to clean their room and eat their supper—are we commanding them to read their Bible, participate in classes, or give attention to more than peers? do we?
C. This commitment to God and children comes with a cost
1. children may reject what parents taught them, which J. knew would be very painful (Mt. 10:34ff)
2. if we are salt and light our family will be noticeably different, often having a social cost
3. one day judged by God for decisions that are painful for parents, children, or both.
D. God will provide
1. Mt. 19:29 lost relationships cannot be replaced but God offers comfort and joy from other sources
2. Knowledge, wisdom, and strength needed to be a God-pleasing parent (Gen. 18:19)
3. Righteous judgments for our decisions, not our children’s Ezek. 18:20
- incl grace to forgive the failures we confess to Him
God will provide

7. God Will Provide Abraham and Isaac Are you in God’s family? Mk. 16:16
Genesis 22
Are you in God’s family? Mk. 16:16
Have you Wandered from the Son? Acts 8:22