Walking down Moriah

Bible study 28 Sept Monday

Down the Road of Moriah, living the life of endurance.

In a race, there are five stages.

1. Pleasure

2. Drudgery

3. Labour

4. Temptation to quit

5. Endurance/quitting.

à the capacity to finish well is what the New testament calls endurance/perseverance.

Perseverance is the ability to honour commitments when honouring them becomes difficult.

1. In our spiritual lives what phase are we in right now?

Personally, I’m in the drudgery stage. I guess in SSM in June, like all camps, I just really was at stage 1, enjoying EVERY moment, without even a trial at one point. But as the weeks of school began and I returned from that spiritual high, trials and tests both emotional/mental/spiritual that were laid before me make me feel like I’m carrying weights but not to the point of labour. I still enjoy His presence everyday, though the trials are getting increasingly difficult, it helps me magnify Him amidst troubles. (Someone reminded me of this lesson for her own devotions J )

2. What commitments do I have?

1. Son of the most high king
2. Son and brother
3. Studies
4. Cell
5. Friendships/younger ones

Hebrews 12: 1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Perseverance through suffering

James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

àThe biggest factor formative in spiritual growth was suffering,

1. When we face through suffering, look at how it can benefit us, and not at the problem itself.

2. Look to Him for the solutions, not at the problem.

Road to Moriah

Moriah was the road Abraham took on his way to sacrifice Isaac.

“Take your son, your one and only son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burn offering on one of the mountains.”

à It was a dark road to Moriah because it meant Abraham had to give up what he loved the most in the world

à The road was a lonely road because no one knew how Abraham felt. (God actually gave him a son after so many years of waiting (Sarah was ninety! I think) only for him to lose Isaac!) At times during our trials we feel that no one understands, and that’s normal because only He does.

He understands what it meant because; God took Abraham’s place. In every bible story like David/Job/Daniel they all had good endings but for Jesus, God let him die. There was no thundering from heaven saying “STOP” when the nails pierced his flesh. Yes, Jesus rose in 3 days, but then he endured the pain, and God endured the pain Abraham avoided- watching his own son die.

The role of testing

Testing is only for the people who have a relationship with God. So if you’re going through a trial, it pretty much means you’re enjoying an act of love on God’s part.

Q: How was Abraham able to walk that road up to the mountain to sacrifice Isaac, the road must have been a pretty depressing journey.

à He remembered God’s promise to make him the father of all nations. In our trials, look to the bible for His promises.

Eg. Seek first his kingdom, and all these things shall be added unto you

I have plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you.

à Every journey has a beginning, middle and an end. When we’re in the middle, no one is allowed to know what the end will be.

- Abraham chose to walk in faith down the road of Moriah, when you’re in your trial, will you walk in faith?

Q: why does God test us?

1. To teach us to depend on Him
2. Transformation in our lives
3. Glorify Him and be a testament to others
4. To test our faithfulness

What does it mean for YOU to be faithful in the dark land of Moriah?

I.e. What trials are you facing now, no matter how big or small?

“Suffering alone does not produce perseverance. Only suffering that is endured somehow in faith produces it.” John Ortberg

When Jesus was bound, no voice cried out to stay the ropes, when the blade pierced his body, no power held it back. This time, no other sacrifice was provided. This time the Son died on the cross. This time the Father grieved.

But the third day came; as it will come someday for you and me, meanwhile, don’t quit, persevere.

-Sam