Overcoming the trials of life

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

DIOCESE OF OSOGBO

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, 28^TH JUNE, 2020.

GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S PEOPLE.

THEME: “Overcoming the trials of life.”

             “Sisegun idanwo aye.”

TEXT: Gen. 22:2.

https://methodistosogbo.blogspot.com/2020/06/overcoming-trials-of-life.html

“Take your son, your only son - yes, Isaac, whom you love so much and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will show you.”

“O s iwi fun un pe, mu omo re nisinsinyi, Isaaki, omo re naa kan soso, ti iwo fe, ki iwo kio si lo si ile Moria; ki o si fii rubo sisun nibe lori okan ninu oke ti emi o so fun o.”

According to the Biblical account, Abraham was 75years old when he started the journey of faith (Gen. 12:4) Definitely, no one can ever be too old or too young to face new challenges, to fight new battles and to learn new truths in life. As at the time of our text, Genesis 22:1-14, Abraham was over 100years old, and he was still having soul stretching and life span cutting experiences. Truly, when human beings stop to learn they stop to grow; and the moment a man or woman stops growing, he or she stops to live. It was Arthur Schopenhauer who wrote that, “The first 40years of life give us the text, and the next 30years supply the commentary.” I believe that other years of existence afterward turn us to consultants. For us Christians, our text is simply, “the just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4) while our own commentary is being written as we listen to God and obey his directions day by day. Abraham is well known for this and it is his faith and obedience which gave him victory in his time of trials. His life experiences and victory, especially as contained in Genesis chapters 21 and 22 are big lessons today showing us obedient faith which overcomes in the trials of life. Father Abraham teaches us how to face and handle the tests of life to the glory of God. To overcome life challenges, therefore, we need to learn from the experiences of Abraham and know the following three things:

1. Christians must expect test from God (Gen. 22:1-2) As believers, we must know that occasional test must come in form of challenges to help us know and understand where we are spiritually. Father Abraham, as we can see from old testament scriptures, had his share of tests right from the beginning of his journey of faith with God. The first trial came to him when he was asked to leave his family and the loved ones, and to go to a new land (Gen. 12:1-5). Next was the ‘famine test’ which he failed because he doubted God and went down to Egypt for assistance against the instruction of God. (Gen. 12:10-13:4) He passed the 3rd test which was “fellowship test” He was wise enough to give Lot the first opportunity to choose the pastureland in which to settle (Gen. 13:5-18) The fourth test was when he fought and defeated kings in Genesis 14:1-16. The ‘fortune test’ was when he said no to Sodom’s wealth in Genesis 14:17-24. Abraham failed the ‘fatherhood test’ when Sarah got fed-up with God and his promises, and hooked Abraham, her husband, together with Hagar, her maid, for the purpose of child bearing (Gen. 16), but he passed the ‘farewell test’ when he was persuaded to send Ishmael away together with his mother (Gen. 21:14-21) Brothers and Sisters in the household of faith, it must, however, be noted that not every life challenge is a personal test from God. (James 1:12-16). Sometimes our own disobedience causes pain and disappointment just as Abraham experienced at Egypt (Gen.12:10f) and at Gerar (Gen.20). At other times, our hard experiences could be part of normal human life. (Job 2:10) It is true that all believers face similar temptations to sin (1Cor. 10:13), but not all Christians experience the same trials of faith in life. In Genesis Chapter 22, God asked Abraham to kill the promised child he gave to him. What a big trail of faith! This is a lesson for all of us that if we must be promoted by God in the school of faith, we must expect trials from God, because the Christian life we chose to live is not easy at all.

2. Christians must focus on the promises of God and not on explanations (Gen. 22:3-5) Do you know that our faith is not really tested, as Christians until God asks us to bear what seems unbearable, do what looks unreasonable and expect what seems impossible. Humanly speaking, one may say it is unreasonable for God to ask Abraham to kill Isaac, his only son, when actually he was the one who persuaded him to send Ishmael away in Gen. 21. Isn’t it? We all know that the future of God’s covenant rested in Isaac and not in anyone else. How then on earth could God have requested for the death of the miracle child, his own gift to Mr. & Mrs. Abraham, in response to their faith? But it is obvious that when God asked for Isaac as the only sacrificial lamb, he was only testing Abraham’s faith, hope, obedience, and love, and it seemed as if God was wiping out everything Abraham and Sarah, his wife, had lived for. If you were Abraham, what would be your reaction to this kind of test? I am sure that our first response would be a question – WHY ME? (Judges 6:13) We would have quickly demanded for an explanation from God, because it is in our thought that God has reason for sending tests to us. For we know from the scriptures that trials show the genuineness of our faith (1Peter 1:6&7) or to perfect our character (James 1:1-4), or better still, to protect us from pride (2Cor. 12:7-10). These are the hidden facts we failed to see in the time of trials and that is why in our shallow mind, we ask for explanation from our God whenever we are tested. In our text Gen. 21:1-14, Abraham heard God requesting for his son as sacrificial lamb and he  obeyed him by faith without asking for explanation, because he never forgot God’s promises and he believed that God will never contradict his promises. Though he was asked to sacrifice Isaac, he still believed that Isaac is the son through whom his descendants will be counted. (Gen. 21:12). Abraham had in his mind that even if God allowed him to kill Isaac, he would still raise him from the dead. (Heb. 11:17-19) Faith only rests on promises, it does not request for explanation. Abraham was optimistic that Isaac was not going to die when he said to his servants, “…I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you” (Gen.22:5).

3. Christian must depend on God’s provision (Gen. 22:6-14) Let me remind you of Abraham’s response to Isaac’s question in verse 7 when said “where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” What was Abraham’s reply? “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son…” (Gen. 22:8) It was the believe and Abraham’s total dependence on God that brought about the special name of God – Jehovah-jireh (Gen. 22:14) meaning “The Lord will provide.” Men and brethren, are you also confident like Abraham, that our God will meet every need, even at this trying period of the attack of COVID-19 pandemic on the entire world. Abraham could not depend on his feeling, because he loved God and wanted to obey him. He could not depend on any human being even Sarah, his wife, because there are some trials in life which people must face alone. It is only then that we can see what God can really do for us as Christians. Hence, Abraham depended only on the promises and provisions of the Lord. Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in Christ, whenever you are facing the daily demand and trials of life, when situation has become hopeless, try and ask yourself, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Gen. 18:14) and remind yourself the words of St. Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13). In Gen. 22:1-14, God did provide the lamb for the sacrifice, a ram took the place of Isaac (Gen. 22:13).

Your own and my own shall not be an exceptional, God will surely provide and satisfy our needs. We only need to trust and obey him. (MHB516). As long as we are in the will of God, he will meet our needs.

Dear people of God, fear not for God is there always to help us overcome all our challenges and trials of life if only we will trust and obey him. Let us end this message with Yoruba Methodist Hymn numbered 325:

1: Kò tọ k'awọn mimọ bẹ̀rù, 

Ki nwọn sọ 'reti nù; 

'Gbà nwọn kò reti 'ranwọ 

Rẹ̀ Olugbala y'o de.

2: Nigbati Abra'm' mu ọbẹ 

Ọlọrun ni, "Duro! 

Àgbo ti o wà lọhun nì 

Y'o dipo ọmọ na"

3: 'Gbà Jona rì sinu omi, 

Kò rò lati yọ mọ́; 

Ṣugbọn Ọlọrun rán ẹja 

T' o gbẽ lọ s' ebute.

4: B' iru ipa at'ifẹ yi 

Ti pọ̀ l' ọ̀rọ Rẹ̀ tó! 

Emi ba mã k' aniyan mi 

Le Oluwa lọwọ!

5: Ẹ duro de iranwọ 

B' o tilẹ̀ pẹ́,─Duro 

B' ileri nã tilẹ̀ falẹ̀, 

Ṣugbọn kò le pẹ de.

Let us pray.

Rt. Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.

Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.

OS-CAN Chairman.