Theme: The Three Sides of Abraham’s Life
Text: Genesis 18
Introduction
A. Greetings.
B. Each one of us carries various responsibilities and many different sides of personality. Like for example, I am a husband, a father, a son, a pastor, a friend, and many other things. Yet wonderfully, God has made us able to discharge our different responsibilities. Praise the Lord! Indeed our sufficiency is in Him.
C. Now, we shall look at the three sides of Abraham’s life revealed in our passage this morning. This has something to do with his relationship with God. As we go along with our study, let us see what characteristics Abraham had displayed as he personally encountered God. Let us see how he composed himself before the Presence of the Lord. We notice here that the Lord had personally visited Abraham.
But please take note: What we have today is not a visitation, but a constantly abiding Presence of God. Wherever we are, God’s presence is with us. We therefore have to live confident and holy lives.
The three sides of Abraham’s life are:
I. A SERVANT OF GOD (v.1-8).
1. The opening verse tells us that the “Lord appeared to Abraham” in human form. Three men appeared to Abraham and one of them was the Lord. Of course the Lord who appeared to him was the Second Person of the Trinity, or the Word. In our theology, we call it “Christophanies” or “Physical Manifestations of Christ before His Incarnation.”
2. The important and notable part of this incident that we are going to look at this morning is the reaction of Abraham when the Lord visited him. His reaction tells us two things about his character and heart being a true servant of God.
a. Abraham recognized God even in the form of man. Though God appeared to Abraham several times, but this was the first time that God appeared to him in human form. But still Abraham was able to recognize God. You know why, because his heart knows God, and his eyes were constantly gazing and waiting at his Lord through faith. There was no veil of doubt or sin that keep him from seeing the Glory of God.
Someone asked a christian saying, “I’d like to see God.” The christian answered; “Look around you. Look at the trees, the birds, the flowers, the people, the church, etc.” The truth is, the glory of God is all around us, but only the eyes of God’s true servants who constantly gaze at and wait upon Him by faith will recognize it.
b. Abraham served God with utter readiness. From verse 2 down to verse 8, the nature and the quality of Abraham’s service and ministry for the Lord were described.
First, Abraham was probably 87 years old this time, but look at that, he ran to serve his heavenly guests. Despite his age, he had such great vitality and excitement in serving God. I’d like to pose here for a moment and ask you: Knowing that God is our Lord and Master, are you serving Him with all your heart?
Second, Abraham took the fattened calf. It’s the best kind among his herd. Abraham did not give God a second hand or a left over; he gave God the best. The true servant of God realizes the truth that God deserves the best of everything he has, either of his time, talent, or treasure.
Third, Abraham encouraged others to join him in the ministry of the Lord. He gave the animal to a young man who hastened to prepare it. God’s servant knows how to encourage and let others share in the work of God. He does not do all the work; he shares it with others.
Lastly, Abraham has modeled himself for active and humble service to God. He had many servants, but Abraham personally served his guests. While his guests were enjoying the meal he himself and the other young man prepared, there Abraham just stood by their side waiting quietly what his guests need.
3. Do we have that kind of servant heart like Abraham’s?
II. A SAINT OF GOD (v.9-21).
1. After the sumptuous meal, the Lord spoke to Abraham about two things: the child to be born through Sarah, and what the Lord was going to do with Sodom and Gomorrah. Verse 17 tells us why the Lord was doing it. It says, “And the Lord said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since he shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?’”
2. God knew what caliber of man Abraham was. He knew that Abraham would stand the test and be all that God wanted him to be. So here, God Himself clearly considered and pictured Abraham as His saint, someone who is in the position of being close to God.
First, God reiterated His promise of a son to Abraham. God knew that Abraham had firmly believed on it. God just liked to acknowledge Abraham’s faith. We ourselves like to mention and acknowledge something that pleased us, so God is. Faith pleases Him, so He likes to acknowledge and even commend it.
Second, God told Abraham what He was going to do with the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Of course, this was because God found Abraham to be someone who closely walked with God and someone whom God could share His heart and His will.
3. What if, God is going to make an evaluation of your life, what picture God is going to give about you? What is your spiritual caliber? Can you honestly say to yourself that you are close to God? Does God find you as someone who walked closely with Him and someone that God could share His heart and will?
III. A SON OF GOD (v.22-33).
1. As we know, God told Abraham what He was going to do with Sodom. The message was a difficult message to hear. It was about God destroying the city because of its awful and grievous sins. The message motivated Abraham to action before the Lord. May we have that kind of spirit. Knowing that the world is in danger of God’s impending judgment, we’ll be motivated to action before the Lord. First we see Abraham the servant of God, next the saint of God, and now here we can see Abraham the son speaking with his heavenly father.
2. Maybe, God’s purpose of sharing this awful message was that God desires Abraham to move deeper in his relationship with God. So verse 23 tells us that Abraham drew near to the Lord. You know, this is what the Lord is desiring for everyone of His children. In fact this has always been the invitation of God to each one of us. James said, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” Praise God for the truth that we can approach our Heavenly Father and draw as near as we want to Him. Praise God for the opportunity He gave to us as His children to call upon Him and tell Him about everything we desire.
3. Abraham talked to God about the situation, and…I’d like to put an emphasis here…he got God to agree to spare the city if 10 righteous people would be found there. That’s the wonder of prayer. You can get God to agree with your desire through incessant prayer!
4. Yes, the city of Sodom was destroyed, however, the prayer of Abraham to spare the righteous was answered. When the morning came Abraham looked at Sodom and saw the smoke at the place. He would have been discouraged thinking that his prayer was not answered. However, God did answer his prayer. Behind his request to spare the city was the desire to save the righteous family of his nephew Lot. God spared the righteous when He destroyed the wicked.
5. Sometimes our prayers seem to be very ineffective and weak, but only in eternity that we will know the full impact of our personal ministry of prayer in the lives of others. Therefore, do not be discouraged beloved children of God.
D. CONLUSION:
Are you aware this morning that you are God’s servant, God’s saint, and God’s child?
