Coastal Church Podcast

The English word ‘worship’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon ‘weorthscipe’ which literally means to ascribe worth to something. If something captivates our heart’s affection, our mind’s attention and our soul’s ambition, it effectively has our worship. Our ultimate purpose is to worship God. Until we discover our purpose in God, we will never be satisfied.

This last great act of faith we see from Abraham is the finding of a wife for his son Isaac. The fulfillment of the promise God gave him, that through his seed he would bless the nations, depended on Isaac finding the right wife.

Likewise, one of the greatest steps of faith we will make in our lives is choosing who we will marry. The courtship of Isaac and Rebekah provides valuable wisdom of how we should go about looking for a spouse.

Abraham’s test of faith is one of the most well-known accounts of his life and one of the most challenging to understand. To learn from Abraham’s example we must understand the following:

Understand the difference between a test and temptation.

Understand there are options in taking the test.

Understand that faith is obedience and unwavering trust in God’s goodness.

Understand the end your heavenly Father has in mind.

Understand that Jesus passed the ultimate test for us.

Throughout the Bible, believers are urged to pray for one another, to lift up the needs and concerns of others in prayer, and to intercede on their behalf. Intercession is a powerful way to express love and care for one another, following the example of Jesus, who interceded on behalf of humanity.

This year our theme has been The Journey. As believers we are called to journey of faith, and a crucial aspect of this journey is our continual thanks to our Heavenly Father, even before our prayers are answered.

Just as the disciples faced a life-threatening storm, people today encounter various storms in their lives, be it personal challenges, global crises, or uncertainties. The story reminds us to have faith even in the midst of adversity, trusting that God is capable of calming the storms we face.

We live in a society where promises are easily broken, so we find it hard to believe God would keep His Word. However, God is a covenant keeping God who never changes and we can fully put our trust in His promises.

God is bigger than your mountain, more powerful than your suppressor, greater than your depression and has given you victory over all things! However, without FAITH we can receive nothing from God! Faith takes courage, for the blind to see, cripple to walk, for your life to be radically changed, to see your breakthrough – it requires you to take a step forward.

We all make mistakes. Just as it takes faith to step out and follow God, it also takes faith to turn back to God after we have made a mistake. Abraham’s journey of faith is not only noted for his incredible obedience, but also for his human frailty. In Genesis 12:10-20, we find a pivotal moment in his life when he ventured to Egypt during a time of famine and there lied about his wife Sarah.

Through Abraham’s experience, we can learn some valuable lessons on how to overcome our shortcomings and embrace God’s grace.

Abraham’s journey teaches us that a life of faith begins with responding to a call from God. This call involves obedience, trusting in God’s promises, navigating challenges, enduring trials, and ultimately surrendering to God’s will. His story resonates throughout the pages of the Bible, echoing the message that faith is the foundation of our relationship with God.