"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 [is] the lamb for a burnt offering?" Genesis 22:7
The question that Isaac raises is crucial. It is eternally
crucial. The concern he had was serious. It was an eternally serious one,
because the worship of GOD is both crucial and serious, eternally crucial
and serious.
Our LORD told the woman at the well, you know not what
you worship. What a horrible state to be in; to be ignorant of the worship
that is acceptable to GOD. And yet everywhere incense is burning in the
name of the LORD . People are experiencing a sense of happiness and joy.
They feel confident that their homage to GOD is accepted. People now more
than ever are zealous to gather sing songs and pray and here a devotional
message.
But honestly , where is the Lamb? Am I being too particular?
Am I seeking to be contentious or irksome for having the same concern that
Isaac did? Isaac and his father were going to worship. They knew what constituted
right and acceptable worship. It was important that they meet GOD in the
act of worship. And to do this the lamb was necessary.
Is the lamb necessary to your worship of GOD? Do you think
that GOD will hear you for your much speaking and your fervent praying
and your eloquent words? Will GOD accept you in his presence without the
lamb?
And yet I ask the question, where is the lamb? I, like
Isaac, see the fire. The fire of zeal and fervor. But it is without knowledge.
"For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not
according to knowledge." Romans 10:2.
And I, like Isaac, see the wood. The wood of tradition
and form. The wood of orthodoxy without life. I see the wood of reformationism
and a new zeal for Luther and Calvinism. For a return to the old paths
of denominationalism , since the sixties have left us with nothing but
anti-intellectual fogheads and anti-structural 'charasmaniacs'. Like the
sweeping rain that leaves no meat. "A poor man that oppresseth
the poor [is like] a sweeping rain which leaveth no food."
Proverbs 28 3.
But still the question remains. SOMEBODY please tell me
and Isaac where is the lamb today? Isaac was a young lad, about 15 or 20
years of age, and he knew the necessity of it. But the people today are
ignorant of the worship of GOD. They have not sought him after the due
order. They worship HIM in VAIN. It does not matter how you feel. It does
not matter what you get out of It. It does not matter if it satisfies you
or not. IF THERE IS NO LAMB, IT'S NOT ACCEPTED! GOD help us to understand
this. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. If the
blood doesn't flow the wind won't blow; that’s all to it. If ever we will
see the blessed Holy Spirit come down upon men and women in grace, mercy
and forgiveness it will be, only, because the lamb is present as a burnt
offering. The lamb of GOD.
When the precious blood of the Son of GOD is flowing in
the preaching of his everlasting gospel, then the magnificent wind of the
Life giving Spirit blows in a commandment of life giving life to dead sinners,
and to restore renewed life to afflicted saints. And then will the worship
of GOD be acceptable. It will be the spiritual worship of his people whom
he sought out and caused to approach unto him with the blood of Jesus Christ
their mediator and High priest. (No feelings involved here.) Yet the power
of that accepted worship is no less dynamic than the sound of a mighty
rushing wind, though it blow ever so calm in the humble but spiritually
accepted worship of GOD in Christ.
I have heard an astonishing thing which has compelled
me to write such a commentary. Some who know this blessed truth. Yet are
content to attempt to worship close to home in a freewill works religion
church who had ousted the last preacher they had because he became convinced
of Calvinism and the doctrines of grace. They got another preacher void
of the truth of the gospel who in turn left them because they refused to
go out and bring in new members. It is certain that no lamb is there! WOULD
YOU PLAY WITH GOD IN SUCH A WAY? Can your soul be edified in such a folly,
though you wish to believe it your freedom? I have said this generation
of well knowing Christians are increasingly content to drink from the trow
of the swine of false religion, to entertain themselves with the poisonous
drink of plastic, sugar coated, false prophet TV evangelist. They DENY
the LORD that bought them. GOD help those who have heard. Lest the WORD
slip. Help us worship and serve you according to the truth. MY people are
destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Oh that we might be like Jeremiah the prophet ! "Thy
words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy
and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of
hosts. I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone
because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation."
Jermiah 15:16-17
People of GOD listen! It must be perfect to be accepted.
It must be Christ to be accepted!
Jesse Gistand, Pastor
Grace Bible Church
San Leandro, CA 94572
510-799-7934