The Bible tells us that the angel of the Lord appeared unto him with two other angels. One of these three was the Lord Jesus Himself.
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THEM WAS THE LORD HIMSELF?
He is given the name of God, He is called “Yahweh”:
• In verse 3 - “And said, My Lord…”
• In verse 13 - “And the Lord said unto Abraham”
• In verse 14 - “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
Another reason we know this to be the Lord, is because in matters that deal with God He referred to Himself as “I” ( We see that in Verse 17 and verse 26).
These three heavenly visitors came to Abraham’s house. You can not have any greater visitors than Abraham had.
Illus: If you were going to have a big party at your house, and you socialize with the rich, famous, the most influential people on this earth, you could not invite anyone greater than the Lord Jesus.
WHY DID THE LORD VISIT ABRAHAM?
For a very special reason; The Lord was going to create a new race of people through Abraham, called the Jewish race.
This matter was so important to God, that He did not leave it in the hands of others to create this race, He came down Himself to take care of this business.
The visit was a confirmation that:
• Abraham was going to be father of the Jewish nation. (Gen. 17:15-19; 18:10-14).
• Isaac was to be the promised seed
But the circumstances didn’t look good! However, when the circumstances don’t look good, God shows up to do the impossible.
We have all the ingredients here for God to do something GREAT! Let’s look at-
I. THE APPEARANCE OF THE LORD
God was going to create a new race of people through Abraham, but there were some major things in the life of Abraham that had to be worked out before God could do this.
As we read of the great blessings of God on the life of Abraham, we may not see the many difficulties he had to face to get to the place where God could bless him the way He did.
The Lord appeared to Abraham to remind him that God was greater than his problems - whatever they were.
God had to show Abraham that He was -
A. GREATER THAN HIS FAMILY
It is a wonderful thing to be born into a Christian family where Dad and Mom both know the Lord. But Abraham did not have that blessing, he was born into a home of heathens.
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT?
Look at Genesis 12:1-3, we read, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
• Abraham's father was a polytheistic idol worshipper
• But not only was he an idol worshipper, he also was a merchant of idols
Abraham was born into such a family. But God could see something in his heart that pleased Him. He discarded his father's belief, and began to develop a monotheistic belief.
Illus: The story is told that one day Abraham, as a young man, was left to tend to the store of his father and the many idols that he had created. While left alone to take care of his father's store, Abraham took a hammer and smashed all but one idol. Abraham's father returned to the store, littered with shattered idols, and one intact idol holding a hammer. When asked what had happened, Abraham said that the idols had gotten into a fight, and that the idol in the corner with the hammer had smashed all the other ones. His father said, "Don't be ridiculous. These idols have no life or power. They can't do anything." Abraham then asked, "Then why do you worship them and sell them?"
Abraham concluded that if he was ever going to get any help, he had to have a living God that could help him.
• A God that made him
• Not a god that he could make
God called Abraham, telling him to leave his home and family. In return, Abraham would become the Father of a great nation. So he left his home and began to search for city whose builder and maker was God.
But before God could do this through Abraham, He had to show him HE WAS GREATER THAN HIS FAMILY.
Listen, as great as our family might be, GOD IS GREATER! If we have unsaved family members, we cannot, must not, allow them to hinder our service to the Lord.
God had to show Abraham that He was GREATER THAN HIS FAMILY, and He was -
B. GREATER THAN HIS FOES
Many times it is not family members that are trying to hinder us from following the Lord, it is our enemies.
Abraham, like us, had his share of enemies.
Look at Genesis 12:6-7, we read, “And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.”
WHAT IS THE LORD SAYING IN THESE VERSES?
He is telling Abraham that it does not matter how strong your enemies might be, if God is for you, who can overcome you?
God says basically the same thing to us today. Look at 1 John 4:4, we read, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
The Lord appeared unto Abraham to show him that He was greater then his FAMILY and his FOES. But also God was -
C. GREATER THAN HIS FEELINGS
Every Christian has times when they feel the reality of their own weakness.
WHAT WAS ABRAHAM’S WEAKNESS?
According to Genesis 17:17, he is at least 100 years old, and Sarah is 90 years old, and God is telling him he is going to have a son. This seems to be a laughing matter, because at their ages this seems impossible.
Look at Genesis 17:17, we read, “Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?”
He thought it was so funny that the Bible tells us he fell on his face laughing.
But I want to ask a question, IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD? REMEMBER THIS, if you do not remember anything else in this sermon, THERE IS NOTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD!
When we are weak and frail, we become prime prospects for God to work through us.
• Look at 2 Cor. 12:10, we read, “…For when I am weak, then am I strong.”
• Look at 2 Cor. 3:5, we read, “…our sufficiency is of God.”
The Lord APPEARED unto Abraham to help him overcome all these obstacles in his life, HIS FAMILY, HIS FOES, and HIS FEELINGS!
We have looked at THE APPEARENCE OF THE LORD, but also let’s look at -
II. THE ASSURANCE OF THE LORD
We know God used Abraham and helped him overcome the obstacles in his life, but the question for us is; CAN HE USE US TODAY?
Sometimes we feel so inadequate!
Illus: Do you ever feel like this blonde?
She was sooooooo blonde that......
• She spent 20 minutes looking at the orange juice package, because it said concentrate
• She told me to meet her at the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK
• She sent me a FAX with a stamp on it
• She thought a quarterback was some kind of refund
• If you gave her a penny for her thoughts, you'd get change back
• They had to burn the school down to get her out of third grade
• She studied for a blood test and failed
• She thinks Taco Bell is the Mexican Phone Company
• When she was on the highway going to the airport and saw a sign that said AIRPORT LEFT, she turned around and went home
There are times we all feel like the dumb blonde, and we can not help but wonder; CAN GOD USE ANYONE LIKE ME?
Yes, He can. It does not matter what obstacles we face, God can help us overcome them.
We have some very serious obstacles to overcome, such as -
• The compromise of many churches and the many church members who do not care if the Word of God is being preached
• So little of God’s Word is being preached today but it seems that many churches do not care as long as they are being entertained
• Worldliness among Christians is a major problem
• Ecumenism seems to be everywhere
• There is gross apathy among Bible believing people that is enough to discourage any pastor
However, these things still do not limit God! God is still ABLE to use us in a mighty way! We have every right to be optimistic.
Illus: We Christians are like the little boy that went through a house, and he opened a door, and the room was full of horse manure. The boy had a smile on his face, and his dad said to him, “Why were you so happy when you opened the door, and all you saw was a room full of horse manure?” The little boy smiled and said, “I was happy because I know there is a pony somewhere around this place!”
WHY CAN WE BE SO OPTIMISTIC? We can be optimistic because:
A. NO PROMISE IS TOO HARD FOR GOD TO FULFILL
Look at 2 Pet. 3:9, we read, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Sometimes the difficulties in life are so severe that we can’t help but wonder how much worse they can get.
Illus: It makes us think of the man who saw flashing red and blue lights in his rear view mirror. He pulls to the side of the road, and a minute or so after coming to a stop, a police officer approaches the car.
• The man said, "What's the problem officer?"
• The officer said, “You were going 75 miles an hour in a 55 mile an hour zone. I'm afraid I'm going to have to ticket you.”
• The man replied, “No sir, I was going a little over 60.”
• His wife said, “Oh, Harry. You were going at least 80!” [The man gives wife dirty look.]
• The officer said, “I'm also going to give you a ticket for your broken tail light.”
• The man said, “Broken tail light? I didn't know about a broken tail light!”
• His wife said, “Oh Harry, you've known about that tail light for weeks!” [The man gives his wife another a dirty look.]
• The officer said, “I'm also going to give you a citation for not wearing your seat belt.”
• The man replied, “Oh, I just took it off when you were walking up to the car.”
• His wife said, “Oh, Harry, you never wear your seat belt!”
• The Man turns to his wife and yells, "For cryin' out loud, can't you just shut up?!"
• The officer turns to the woman and asks, "Ma'am, Does your husband talk to you this way all the time?"
• His wife replied, "No officer, Only when he's drunk."
Sometimes we face problems and we cannot help but wonder how much worse they can become. But God has promised to help us, regardless of how bad things might become.
Things got bad in the life of Abraham, but God made a promise to Abraham, that from the human point of view would be impossible to keep!
But there is not a promise too hard for God to fulfill. Also, I am glad to tell you, there is-
B. NO PRAYER TOO HARD FOR GOD TO ANSWER
Look at Eph. 3:20, we read, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”
This verse of Scripture says that THERE IS NOTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD. God says:
• If you can ask it, He can do it
• If you think it, He can do it
Look at Jer. 33:3, we read, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Jeremiah said for us to call unto the Lord, and He would show us great and mighty things.
The reason many folks are not receiving great and mighty things, is because they are not calling on God. A church that is constantly calling upon God will see the mighty hand of God move, over and over again!
There is NO PRAYER TOO HARD FOR GOD TO ANSWER. If you can pray it, He can do it! Also -
C. NO PROBLEM IS TOO HARD FOR GOD TO SOLVE
Look at Ps. 37:3-5, we read, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
Look at Luke 1:37, we read, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Every Christian face severe battles and difficulties.
Illus: I like that chorus, “Got any rivers you think are un-crossable! Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible, and He will do what no other power can do!”
Time and time again, we have watched the hand of God move, and seen problems solved by the might of our great God!
There is NO PROBLEM GOD CANNOT SOLVE! Also, there is-
D. NO PLACE IS TOO HARD FOR GOD TO SEND REVIVAL
Look at 2 Chron. 7:14, we read, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
There are churches across this great land where Satan has done everything he can to completely destroy them. They have been attacked in so many ways, they do not know what to do to defend themselves. But I am here to tell you, if a church will rid themselves of sin and seek the Lord, God will SEND REVIVAL!
There is nothing too hard for the LORD!
E. NO PERSON IS TOO HARD FOR GOD TO SAVE
Look at Heb. 7:25, we read, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Sometimes we can hear a sinner say, “I am to big of a sinner for the Lord to save me!” But I am here to tell you that YOU MAY BE A BIG SINNER, but God is a BIGGER SAVIOR!
• It may be your husband who will not darken the doors of the house of the Lord
• It may be a brother or sister who is cold and distant to the things of God
• It may be a relative that you have prayed about for years
• It may be a neighbor or someone who lives close by
But God is able to save every one of them!
The question is, are we willing to become a vessel, an instrument used of God to reach out to them? God wants to take your difficult situation the same way he took Abraham’s difficult situation, and use you.
Conclusion:
Is there anything too hard for the Lord? No! No! No!
I. THE APPEARENCE OF THE LORD
II. THE ASSURANCE OF THE LORD
