Next level in God

I believe that the "next level" is always a testing time, that God is constantly calling us to it, and the Devil constantly trying to keep us from it.

Test 1. Am I willing to do what God wants?


Genesis 22:1-14 Abraham's Faith Tested “1 Some time later, God tested Abraham's faith. "Abraham!" God called. "Yes," he replied. "Here I am."


We have to be close enough to hear Him.


Illustrate here: things in between God and I. Use chairs, boards, cardboard, anything to show more and more distance between you and God. Add more during the sermon to create effect.


Genesis 22: 2 “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.” 3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about.”

• It’s not always what we want.
• Am I willing to follow at any cost?
• God’s plan is His plan I just have to know it and clearly follow it.
• Abraham showed this by saddling up and loading.

Test 2. Am I being Obedient to God?

• God looks for a willing heart.
• God looks for someone that will respect His assignment.

Test 3. Leave the donkey behind (v-4-5)

4 “On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 "Stay here with the donkey," Abraham told the servants. "The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back."

• See the vision in front of you the purpose of God.
• Abraham left the outside influence behind to get alone to worship with his assignment and with his God
• Leave your habits (good or bad) and people that hold you, hinder you, or might stop you from being Gods vessel.

Test 4. Be ready and willing to sacrifice something you love.

“6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac's shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "We have the fire and the wood," the boy said, "but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?" 8 "God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son," Abraham answered. And they both walked on together."

• The fire of God will not fall if there is no sacrifice on the altar.
• You must be willing to give up something to honor God.
• If your sacrifice does not move you it will not move God.

Test 5. Set your own wood (v-9)

“When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood.”

• Don’t look for someone else to set your stage. 
• God called you for the job.
• His assignment for your life. You are irreplaceable.
• You’re the best man/woman for the job.

Test 6. Have the ability to change passions in the middle of the road. (V-10-13)

• Again it is imperative that we are close enough to hear His voice to receive clear, concise, and crisp instruction.
• What if Abraham was haphazard about his relationship with God?
• What if he was too busy to hear the VOICE OF GOD?!

“10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.11 At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Yes," Abraham replied. "Here I am!" 12 "Don't lay a hand on the boy!" the angel said. "Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son." 13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son.”

• God may take you so far one way; then to see if you will go the other way. ( follow the leader)
• God told Abraham to kill him then, God said stop I see your heart.
• To do things Gods way we must be transparent and transitional.

Isaiah 55:9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Test 7. God has a Substitute for everything your willing to give up.

• For every temptation, He has a satisfaction.
• For every trial, He is the solution.
• For every hurt, He has healing.
• For every stormy, raging problem, He has peace.
• For every friend, He is the friend that sticks closer than any brother.
• For every habit, He is your fix.
• For every Isaac, there is a ram.

You and I should pay for our sins , the price is Death, God sent a substitute: JESUS

Pay the price go to the Next Level.