Sunday Morning Worship Service

Well, Lord bless you. You may be seated. We greet you in the precious name of Jesus. Let me say welcome to every one of you. Glad to have you worshiping with us today here at First Apostolic Church. We welcome all those who are joining us on our multimedia platforms. Thank you for joining us and we hope that you can be in service here with us very soon. To all the saints of God here at First Apostolic Church, thank you for your praise and your worship. If you're a firsttime guest, we do want you to be an honored guest and feel welcome with us and make yourself at home to worship with us. I tell all of our guests, you get to be a guest one time and then after that you're home, folks. So, if you're returning guest, you're home, folks. And we're glad to have every one of you here today. I would give you just a word again uh to repeat uh the voice of Pastor Anthony that's gone before me of letting you know that Pastor Whitley is ministering uh this Sunday or actually this weekend he's been preaching and teaching uh at a uh Bible school and at uh uh churches there in Bloomington, Indiana. And we're praying that God would give him souls for his labor. We're also praying for uh uh pastor or bishop and sister Mcool uh as they minister at Fort Mountain Hull in this church in Rock Creek, North Carolina. This is my mom's home church, the church that we've talked about that uh was established in the fires of uh persecution in that part of the country that uh the Holy Ghost uh allowed it to be so. And that church is still going strong today. They're installing a new pastor, Brother Jeff James, and his family. We're praying uh for them as the Lord blesses that church with a new pastor. But I'm glad to be here with every one of you. Glad to see you back in the house of the Lord today. I want us to get right into the word of the Lord on this Sunday morning. Calling your attention to the book of Genesis, the 22nd chapter. And as you're finding that in your Bible or in your tablet, however uh you would follow with us, I would also uh follow Pastor Anony's words by saying uh thank you uh uh brother Jeremy and uh uh brother Juan Perez, Bishop Perez uh for the mighty conference that uh I had a chance to be a part of on Thursday night. Uh what a mighty mighty move of God. uh we experienced um I don't speak Spanish but I had a good interpreter and uh I didn't understand everything that was said but it sure felt good is all I can tell you and we had a wonderful time and all of the uh the patrons the saints that were uh at that conference uh here in Knoxville we were so glad to have them. Uh second time I've had a chance to preach that conference. The last time uh I got to preach that con conference, we were in El Salvador. So uh had a great time again. And so we're thankful for all the Lord is doing. Calling your attention to our scripture text, Genesis 22, beginning with verse number one. And it came to pass after these things that God did tempt Abraham. Said unto him, Abraham, and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, get thee into the land of Mariah, and offer him there for a burnt offering up on one of the mountains, which I will tell thee of." Now, I read that quickly, but that's no like commandment that God has just given Abraham." Abraham rose up early in the morning, saddled his ass, took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and claved the wood of the burnt offering, rose up, and went unto the place which God had told him. Then on the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. And Abraham said unto his young man, "Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son, and he took the fire in his hands, and a knife, and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, "My father." And he said, "Here am I, my son." And he said, "Behold the fire and the wood, but where's the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, and said, "My son, God will provide." Everybody say, "God will provide." Say, "God will provide." Abraham said unto my son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So they went both of them together. For a few moments, we'll talk about that statement. God will provide. Let's pray. Savior, we love you. God, we're so grateful to be in your house. And I thank you for every individual that have joined with us today for this time of studying your word and receiving all you have for us. Lord, let us never fail to realize that your word is ever settled and anointed. Lord, it feeds us. It teaches us, it guides us, brings us to salvation. Lord, not of my abilities or my voice, but Lord, let your word speak deeply into our hearts. For all this, we're grateful and thankful. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. And amen. God will provide. Part of preparing for most journeys uh is to make sure you have proper provisions when you make that journey. If you go on a picnic, you usually want to have food, some good comfortable shoes, sunscreen, paper plates, drinks, plenty of food. Oh, I already said food, didn't I? Ant acid for the food and maybe even some ant spray. Those are provisions to go on a picnic. It has become a special challenge I've noticed nowadays, especially if you're a minister, to fly to uh someplace to preach. Sister Jamie and I, a couple of weeks ago, uh, we were invited to do a special ordination service down in Lake Wells, Florida. and the uh most convenient place for us to fly. Understanding that convenience also goes with a budget airline. Uh was to fly uh one of our local budget airlines directly into Sanford Orlando airport. And that term budget has a double meaning because that means the flight itself doesn't cost much, but any luggage you want to take extra is going to cost twice as much. And so the challenge of getting your dress clothes and and all the provisions that you need uh to fly uh and still leave a a little bit of room to bring anything back that you might stop at a mall and pick up kind of creates a a challenge with a with packing and provisions for that trip. I was a boy scout when I was younger. One of the things that uh we did in earning merit badges was learning to pack proper provisions in our backpack to go on a couple of three days uh uh camping trip and hike hike. You wanted to make sure you had your provisions together. But our scripture said that God would provide. In fact, when Isaac asked his dad, "Where is the sacrifice?" Abraham simply said God will provide. That term provision defined means the act or process of providing a measure taken beforehand. A stock of needed supplies. Having the proper provisions indicates proper forethought and planning. It's the anticipation of the need for the future and having the needed supplies to meet one's needs. But in our passage of scripture, this was not a pleasure trip nor a picnic. Abraham was on a journey that was of great dread to him. For God had challenged him. This was no pleasure trip. God had said, "Take Isaac, thy son, thy only son, an offering to me as a burnt sacrifice in the mountain that I will specify to you." What a commandment. What a challenging trip. But if you notice without hesitation Abraham himself would call to assistance and then he would start making provisions for the trip to sacrifice. Now this understand was the same son that he and Sarah had asked God for and so deeply desired in a covenant and they had coveted to have this offspring. Isaac was the promised child. The covenant that God had made with Abraham was that his seed would be multiplied. It would be multiplied as the stars in the heaven and the sands on the seashore. Yet now his only son, the only source of multiplying his seed, God had asked for him as a sacrifice. The term sacrifice defined is something offered that is precious to deity. Yet Abraham without hesitation began doing his part to get the provisions he needed for the sacrifice. God would provide by faith. The sacrifice is what Abraham told Isaac. But Abraham also began gathering provisions. Notice he gathered wood, the fuel for the fire. He had the fire itself. They didn't have matches or a butane lighter. He had to carry the fire with him. And he had a knife for slaying the sacrifice. Understand blood sacrifice in this dispensation was given and was accepted. Obviously the horror of what is being mentioned in a new dispensation, a dispensation of grace is so foreign. But at this time you're understanding a generation, Abraham's generation that was a generation once removed from heathenism. that blood sacrifices were given for everything and that atonement for sin was instituted by blood sacrifice. But let me make this statement so you can understand the symbolism that is being given in this story as we study it today. Understand God will not provide his part unless we do our part in making provisions for sacrifice. God is not a sugar daddy just feeding his people who are ungrateful and nonsacrificial in their attitude. God expects us to provide the provisions for sacrifice if he's going to provide. Now understand Abraham was a man of faith. You find a statement even in our text a statement of faith. Abraham it seemed an impossible thing that God had asked of him. A grizzly horrible requirement. But Abraham had so much faith in God. He didn't know how it was going to turn out. But he trusted in God that God was going to make it come out good in the end. >> If you'll notice in verse five of our text, it said, "And Abraham said unto his young men, abide ye here with the ass or with the beast, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship." Now, worship was the code word. They were going to go sacrifice. But notice he said, "And come again to you." He didn't say, "I'm going to come again." He said, "I and the lad are going to go. We're going to worship." And his statement was, "We're coming back." Let me tell you, Abraham didn't know what God was going to do, but he trusted in God. There are provisions for sacrifice. You may not understand that God will ask of us. But if we will just do what he asked us to do and trust him in the end, it's going to come out all right. Let me tell you, if your situation isn't all right yet, turn it over to God and trust in the process. He's going to work it out. Now, God's people are given as an example of those who would not make provisions for sacrifice. They wanted God just to give them everything. The Psalmist recounted the story of the Israelites after they were delivered from Egypt's bondage who had to learn the process that they must give of themselves. And God was not just going to give them everything. The psalmist in Psalm 78:18 says, "And they," speaking of God's people tempted God in their hearts by asking me for their lusts. Yay, they spake against God. They said, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" You remember the story? They were in the wilderness and they'd become a lusting. They said, "Do you not remember the garlics and the leaks and the onions that were in Egypt?" It's amazing how we can have revisionist history if we aren't careful about sin. The Israelites were so willing when they got in the wilderness to remember the good cuisine from Egypt, but they conveniently forgot the whips and the task masters. You see, before we take a longing look back at sin and act like it's such a sacrifice to serve God, you better remember what you've really been delivered from. The addictions, the troubles, the distresses. Oh, the sacrifices that I make now are just a small thing. For you see, God has delivered me from too much. He's brought me to my health. He's brought me to a happy marriage. He's brought me out of so many things. Don't ever look with a longing look back at sin without re realizing you have to make some sacrifices for God to provide for you. >> You see, it was important to understand. Yes, Abraham did not have a lamb for the sacrifice. He had the wood. He had the fire. He had the knife. Oh, but there was one other provision that Abraham had made a long time before God had ever required of him. This sacrifice. Abraham and Sarah had birthed and raised an obedient son. You must realize that Isaac was no stranger to the provisions for sacrifice. That's why he asked the question. He knew everything that it took to have a sacrifice. He knew about the fire. He knew about the wood. He knew about the knife. And he was puzzled for he had not heard the voice of God speak that said, "Offer your son as the sacrifice." very likely. Many historians say at comparative age, this was not a small child. Isaac was of age and would have been well capable physically of overpowering an aging Abraham. But he was an obedient son. And when he asked the question of Abraham, where's the lamb? Abraham simply said, "God will provide." Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way should go. When he's old, he will not depart from it." Sadly, I see so many today who have never taken the time to train another generation in the ways of sacrifice unto God. They've provided everything for everything that their next generation wants, but they've never provided an example of sacrifice unto God. Romans 12:1 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Let me Let me give you an example of some another generation that knows how to sacrifice. I came over here Thursday evening for the first night of the Hispanic conference. And to my excitement, I began looking around and I started seeing young men who were high school students. They were not out running the streets getting into mischief on Thursday night or on a Friday morning cutting class or on Friday night or on Saturday. But you know what they were doing? They were in providing the technical help. Brother Jeremy high school students. Now look, I've heard all this stuff. Oh, this next generation, they're not going to amount to anything. >> Baloney. >> I'm telling you, I saw young folks who were sacrificing their time and their abil. I saw network quality production going on in the strings. I started getting text messages from people around this country thanking us for strength. It was our high school students who could have been doing anything on a Thursday night or a Friday night, but they said, "No, I'm going to give of my time and myself." Why? Because somebody taught me to give some sacrifice of my time cuz God's going to bless me. But you, you know, I I started noticing now. Now, some of them are first generation apostolics, but you know what else I started noticing? Some of you young guys that were out there, I won't embarrass them by trying to call everybody's name. Some of you young guys that were upstairs in production on cameras and and working. I know your grandmama and your granddaddy. I know your mama and your daddy because I've seen them sacrifice to keep you in the house of God. I've seen them sacrifice to have you in a Christian school. I've seen them sacrifice to send you to camp meetings and conferences. >> You see, if we'll raise up a generation who is obedient and they're familiar with sacrifice unto God, when the time comes, God's going to reward them. And he's going to do his part. He's going to provide. If we'll do our part, God will do his prov. God will provide. >> Oh, hallelujah. You see, here's the sacrifices we can give. The psalmist said in Psalms 4 and5, "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord. If you need a working definition of righteousness, it means as a comprehensive term, what is right and moral in God's sight. Forget about what's right in man's sight. What's right in God's sight? No situation ethics. No. Be honest only when people are watching. Do right because it's right to do right because God's always watching. Do the right thing. That's part of righteousness. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in the Lord. He said, "Do it, then trust the process. God's going to work it out." Too many folks don't want to live righteous, so they get in trouble. They've never made provisions for righteousness. I remember my uncle Spencer telling the story about his sons when they were young in the days before a required car seat just as little old guys. He said we were taking them to school one day. They lived up there in Michigan and they actually still have school when it snows up there. I don't understand those people. They missing a good opportunity not to be at school. Anyway, he said they were headed to school and we got in the car and he said I said boys buckle up. He said they weren't paying any attention. Said I knew they weren't. He said, "So we started the school and said there was one place over there between our house and school said there was a a downhill and he said there was ice." He said, "I got on that ice and said that car started doing this and started doing that." And I said, "Boys, hold on." He said, he looked back seat and both of them were trying to get their seat belts buckled. That's the way some folks want to serve the Lord. Wait till they start a downhill slide. Oh God, I want to be righteous. Listen, let's make provisions. There will be troubles. There will be trials. There will be tests in our life. But if we're already living a righteous life, then we can trust in the process that God's going to provide everything we need. Oh, hallelujah. The psalmist in Psalms 51:17 said, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, oh God, thou will not despise." You know what that means? That means folks that are able to quickly say, "I'm sorry." Woo! Shout dance. Hallelujah. You would be surprised how much God can do for a spirit that's quick to say, "I'm sorry." That doesn't go around thinking they're always right and I'm never wrong. But someone that can say, "Oh, I'm so sorry. If there's anything I've done, a broken and contrite heart, oh God, thou will not despise." The psalmist also said in Psalms 107:22, "And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing." We need to know how to thank God for what he's done. And we also need to teach our kids how to say thank you. We need to teach another generation how to be thankful for what God has provided for us. Man, I love to hear all the stories and we frequently recount all God has done in our life and in the history of First Apostolic Church. Man, I love the story that Bishop tells about uh uh providing the the framework for the steps. I love all of those things. But you know, there's a there's a generation I I've got some grandbabies right now. The only place they ever know is this sanctuary. And I'm thankful for that. I'm glad they haven't had to worship the Lord on dirt floors. I I'm glad they haven't had to go through some of those things that the last generation has gone through or that my generation has gone through or the next or the But if we aren't careful, we will forget to teach another generation how to be thankful for what they got, not to beaughty and think they're better than everybody else. Be thankful for the church that you've got. Be thankful for having a Christian school and a Christian child care center. Be thankful for your job. Be thankful for your businesses. Be thankful for your family. Know how to say thankful to stay thankful. Know how to say thank you. Oh God, let me have a thankful spirit. Let me give the sacrifice of thanksgiving and declare his work. It's not what I've done, it's what he's done. I want to thank you, Lord, for all you've done. Thank you for another day. Thank you for waking me up this morning and starting me on my way. Thank you for my help. Thank you. Thank you. >> And the psalmist said, I will notice the modifier here. He said, I will freely sacrifice unto thee. I will praise thy name, O Lord, for it is good. There's a difference in sacrifice and freely sacrificing especially when it comes to praise. Freely sacrificing your praise means that there's no inhibition to it. It's not a forced praise. You know, I obviously praise and worship leaders, they lead us in worship, but God sometimes needs a little more than a good golf club. Sometimes he needs you to stand up, open your mouth, lift your hands, and say, "God, I just want to praise you. I didn't come ask I didn't come asking you for anything. I'm not after anything today, Lord. I just feel like I need to praise you. I need to give you free praise. I need to freely unashamed it." Somebody right now could get your breakthrough if you would open up and just say, "God, I praise you. I don't care what anybody thinks. I don't care what somebody else says. I'm not worried about anyone else's opinion." Oh, hallelujah. Hallelujah. The sacrifice freely I'll praise him. Hebrews 13:15 says, "By him, therefore, let us off the offer the sacrifice of praise to God every once in a while. By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifices of praise when everybody else is doing it, when it's popular, when it's in vogue." No, he said by him therefore let us offer the sacrifices of praise to God continually. That is uhoh the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. That means sometimes you need to say something. Oh, he knows what's in my heart. Sometimes you ought to say something. Sometimes you just need to speak up. You need to pray and praise sometimes loud enough that you can at least hear yourself. >> I know some of you guys in this place, you are vocal artists in the shower. >> Sounds good in the shower. But let me tell you, sometimes God's not wanting to hear that you're on key. He wants to know that your heart's in tune. There's a big difference. Sometimes you need to open your mouth and say, "God, I just praise you today. God, I thank you. Lord have mercy." In this world that we live in, if you'll come out and give praise, the world's going to wonder what you're up to. The world sees so much negative. The world needs to see some praisers that when you when you step out and it's raining, you say, "Oh, thank you, Jesus. Somebody's garden's getting blessed today. If the sun's shining, Lord, thank you for this beautiful day. If it's snowing, Lord, thank you. They're going to school in Michigan, not in Tennessee. No. But notice this. This is still talking about sacrifice. He said, "By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to him." But notice verse 16. These are tied together. Please notice this. But to do good and communicate, forget not. For with such sacrifices God is well pleased. It is a sacrifice to communicate. Hear me. I told folks and I tell you again, I keep a ribbon in my Bible in my office, that bookmark ribbon, not to Acts 2:38. I can quote that. But I to preach to me, I keep a ribbon in my Bible. I've got it highlighted. It says, "And the preacher sought acceptable words." Let me tell you, it's awesome to have the revelation of who Jesus is. But can you properly communicate it? It's a sacrifice to communicate. Husbands and wives, many marital situations could be solved if you would learn to communicate. The silent treatment is not communicating. Waiting your turn to talk and not listening is not communicating. I'm not supposed to do the marriage retreat today, am I? Communicating is not learning four-letter expletives to express yourself forcefully. We're better than that. God's people should have the ability to communicate properly with grace. We should have languages of gra. Does that mean we get run over? No. That means we can express ourselves in kind, considerate, consiliatory manners, but still do what God has called us to do. Oh, there's been too many times that the best communications I could have been was to a good listener and say, "Yes, you're right. The sacrifices of communication forget not." And all of this is tied together talking about sacrifice in Hebrews. Verse 17 says, "Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable to you." Many have relegated this passage of scripture to to trying to be some master slave thing. You need to do everything the pastor says. Lord have mercy. No. Obey them that have the rule over you. Yes, the pastor does have requirements. Scriptural bases will will bear that out that he will give an account for you. But this is speaking more than just spiritual leadership that you know there's a lot of us our life would go a whole lot smoother if we would stay in our lane and quit trying to usurp authority over those who have authority over us and just follow the instructions. You'd get a lot lot along a lot better at work if you will follow the instructions of those who have rule over you. So what are we making provisions for for a next generation? Some of you have sacrificed. You've made the provisions of sacrifice for your children to have a Christian education. Trust the process. God's going to reward that. You've made provisions for your family. Some of you do great sacrifice in your work ethic that you just get up and go to work every day and do your best. Don't discount that. That's a great That's a great example of God's people. You've made sacrifices for your kids to go to camp meeting. Oh, I see some who sacrifice for their kids to be involved in everything but the church. The things I speak of are not in and of themselves a sin. But if they are elevated above serving God, we can make them a sin. A bass boat's not a sin unless it keeps you out of church all the time. What's that old adage that give a man a fish and he can eat for a day? Teach a man a to fish and he'll buy a bass boat and miss Sunday school. I might have changed that a little bit. Athletic success is important, but if it's supreme and that's the only thing you've provided, provisions for your family, God can't work through sacrifices that are put above him. Academic success is so important. The vanity of beauty is not wrong. But if it's placed ahead of serving God, suddenly you find yourself making the kingdom of God optional and other things essential. Do not make provisions that put God second in your life. God help us when movie stars, pop stars, and superstar athletes have more prominent in our kids' lives and their intellect than the 12 disciples, David, Ruth, or even Christ himself. Yeah, maybe you want your kids to know how to pack for a cruise to Cancun, but they better know how to pack to go to camp meeting as well and conference. when they can save for the newest Jordans, but they're not familiar with tithing and offerings, what are you making sacrifices of provision for? Romans 13:14 said, "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provisions for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof." 1 Peter 2:11 said, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims. Abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul." Never mistake, there's a war going on. There's a war going on for the next generation. There's a war going on for your soul. There's a war going on for the previous generation. No matter where we find ourselves, there is a war to distract us to make provisions for the flesh and for the lust of the flesh rather than provisions for sacrifice unto God. >> And what we make provisions for will say a lot about where we're going. That could could I kindly Oh, please. I I realize I haven't seen anybody run the aisles yet or anybody want to walk the bench backs rolling the floor, but I hope you're listening to me today because God's provision for sacrifice is dependent on what we prepare ourselves for. I've had those who want to get married and oh pastor, we want you to marry us. Now understand, I I want to give you a little heads up. At our reception, we going to be doing the boot scoot and boogie. Boy, it's quiet. Listen, you can hear the air conditioners running. Somebody says, "Turn them up. It's getting hot in here." Oh. Uh, we're having a wedding now. Uh, there's some of my family that are unsaved. So, we're going to have an open bar. Pastor won't be there. I won't be there. I won't be doing the ceremony. Our pastoral staff won't be doing that. It won't be happening here in the church. What are you making provisions for for your marriage? What foundation are you setting as an example of what your marriage is going to be about? Man, it may be cold as ice in here, but I'm still preaching to you today. We better be taking our families in a way that provides for a godly marriage, not a sinful marriage. We We're going to have a birthday party. We're going to go to some worldly concert that is glorifying all types of perversion and sinful. Hey, don't try to No man can serve two masters going to love one or hate the other. What are you making provisions for? Are you making what are you feeding? Are you providing provisions for the spirit? Are you providing provisions for the flesh? >> Now, he goes on to say, and I'm hastening. I promise you, I'm aware of the time. He said, "But put ye on the Lord Jesus. Dress myself up. I I want him to be in me and and him on me. I want to represent him and make not provisions for the flesh. I don't want to look like the world. I don't want to be mistaken for the world. I don't want to go to the worldly activities. I I only want to represent Christ. Where would you take him if he's going with you? If he's in you, that's where you're taking him. In Romans 13, well, I read verse 14. If you go back and read it, verses 1-5, I'll paraphrase for time's sake. It deals with disobedience and rebellion. Verses 6 and 7 talks about uh it deals with the sacrifice of giving. Verse eight deals with debt and indebtedness. Make the sacrifice of paying your bills on time. You'd be amazed at those who find themselves slow to pay their bills that the bills that they're slow to pay suddenly becomes the places that they don't like the service anymore. You know, the the stuff I bought there isn't any good anyway. Had has nothing to do with me getting that late notice from them. You know, then it goes on verse 13. Verse 12 and 13 says this of Romans 13. And I hasten praise team musicians, come and get ready cuz I want you to sing that song that you were singing when we got up here. We're going to talk about that worthy praise. He said in verse 12, "The night is far spent. The day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness. Let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantedness, not in strife and envy. Some might think it narrow and radical to expect anyone to present themselves to God as a living sacrifice. as Romans 12:1 said. But here's what here's the way you do that. Romans 12:1 and2 said, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is reasonable service." And it goes on to say, "And be ye conformed, or rather, be ye not conformed to this world." Quit trying to be like the world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. We're not trying to conform to this world. I'm not worried about transitioning. I'm worried about transforming. I want to be transformed into a creature that God is acceptable and pleased with. >> I want to be spiritually transformed in him. Stand with me. Let me take you to the conclusion of the matter in our text. For we left Abraham and Isaac on the mountain with God's command to sacrifice. We left them with the statement to Isaac that God will provide. Genesis 22:9 says, "And they came to the place which God had told them of, and Abraham built an altar there, and he laid the wood in order, and he bound Isaac, his son, the obedient son, and laid him on the altar on the wood." And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven and said,"Abraham, Abraham." And he said, "Here am I." Listen, in the direest of circumstances, in the midst of your sacrifice, keep listening for the voice that God has for you. And he said, "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him. For now I know that thou fearst God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me. Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in thestead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Gyra as it is said to this day in the mount of the Lord it shall be. Bible scholars would tell you that Jehovah Gyra literally interpret meant interpreted meant the Lord will see but is most usually translated in the Lord will provide. Let me ask you today, is there any sacrifice too great for all God's already done for you? I say a thousand times no. But I submit to you this day. If we will make provisions for sacrifice in our life, God has untold miracles and provisions for us that he wants to freely pour out on his people. I would ask us today in these closing moments for a time to step out and say, "God, I want to make a vow before you. I don't understand what maybe what I've been facing, what I've been going through, but Lord, I know you're going to provide for me. God, I'm going to do my part, and I know you're going to provide." See those coming right now? We have issues that may be unsolved in our lives. I don't know. I'm not trying to speak as a prophet, but I'm here to tell you in a congregation of this size, we have issues that we're needing to make a sacrifice cuz God is wanting to provide a miracle in our lives. If you'll come praising, if you'll come believing, you'll come trusting. God wants to provide for you.