Getting A GOD-Eye View | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

During The Sound Worship Conference last month (hosted by David & Nicole Binion at Covenant Church), Pastor Mike Hayes delivered a phenomenal message entitled "Meet Me On Moriah" on the first night.  While he made a number of awesome points, what really got my wheels turning was how Abraham said that GOD's provision will be seen (Genesis 22:8).  As Abraham looked up from the bottom of Mt. Moriah and saw the place at the top to which GOD called him to worship, I can only imagine what was going through his head.  He's here in this valley because GOD had instructed him (in Genesis 22:1-2) to sacrifice his only son, Isaac; and by this point, Abraham, his son Isaac and the two servants accompanying them were three days into their journey to worship GOD in the place Abraham was being shown (Genesis 22:3-4).  But upon closer look, what we see here is GOD testing the heart of His servant Abraham.

Has GOD ever called you to a place that you've never before been and called for a sacrifice that you've never before been asked to offer?  Have you ever been led to an unfamiliar place to pay a price that you're just not totally sure of?  Abraham most certainly didn't understand what GOD was doing, but I can say with great certainty that he knew the heart of GOD.  Isaac was the son of promise through whom Abraham would become the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4-5, 19).  And since Isaac was unmarried and without a son, Abraham was confident that GOD would provide a sacrifice in Isaac's stead.  Abraham knew what the instructions were and his actions indicated his obedience to GOD, but the same believing faith that caused GOD to declare Abraham righteous (according to Galations 3:6) was in operation here at the foot of Moriah.  It was the unwavering belief of faithful Abraham that kept him focused as he and Isaac ascended Moriah (Hebrews 11:17-19).  Despite popular opinion, it doesn't take GREAT faith to persist through life's dark moments.  Let's just use the faith we have: it's powerful enough to silence every demon screaming into our ears those things that are contrary to what we believe.  If the enemy can get us to doubt GOD in those times when we don't understand Him, then we won't even be able to make it to the place of worship in which GOD has called us to meet him.

What we have to understand is that GOD WANTS to meet with us, but in the place of His choosing.  Moriah, the place to which Abraham was led, means "seen of Jah" and represents the place wherein we can get a GOD-eye view.  That's really the main idea behind worship.  It's not so GOD can enjoy all the attention we lavish upon Him, as if He really needs that from us to feel important.  Worship benefits us more than it does Him because, in order for GOD's will to be done through us, we need to obtain His point of view.  And once we've obtained His perspective, then we can willingly choose to run with GOD's vision.  So as we worship GOD, we obtain understanding because the place of worship is where GOD allows us to see through His eyes.  But getting to the place of worship is not always an easy journey.  The enemy will stop at nothing to prevent us from gaining a GOD-eye view; and He will use anything and anyone to distract us from speaking forth our faith declarations and pressing our way up the mountain to worship.  Therefore, as we stand in the valley looking up toward the mountain peak, we must keep our minds stayed on GOD's promises to us.  Our mouths must declare by faith the end result before we begin the climb!