"Sarah Laughed"

BIG IDEA: IS THERE ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD?

REFERENCES: Genesis 17:17 (Abraham fell on his face and laugh); Hebrews 11:11 (Sarah inducted into the Hebrews Hall of Fame because she considered him faithful who had promised); Genesis 3:8 (God visiting Adam and Eve in the cool of the day); Hebrews 13:1-2 (Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unaware); Matthews 25:40 (… Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me); Psalms 34:7 (The Angels of the Lord encampeth round about, them that fear him and deliver them); 2 Peter 3:9 (The Lord is not slow/slack concerning His promises); Romans 4:16-21 (… being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform); Judges 16:25 (And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars). Psalms 18:28-29 (… By my God have I leaped over a wall); Genesis 18:1-15 (Here is a very homey scene, what we might call kitchen-sink religion. It is faith-in-overalls, a combination of grace and groceries. These few verses center around three persons.

We see God in disguise; Abraham in haste; and Sarah in doubt).

**Your reputation is what you do when everyone is looking,

while your character is what you do when no one sees.

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Genesis 18:9-15

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Genesis 18:9-15

III. READ THE TEXT: GENESIS 18:12 & 14a (Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son).

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to TRUST GOD to bring His promise

(in their life) to past.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “SARAH LAUGHED”

INTRODUCTION: (PARARELL… GOD IS GOOD … AND ALL THE TIME … HE IS SUCH A WONDER TO BEHOLD. SOMETIMES WHAT GOD SAYS TO US, OR TO OUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER , SOUNDS RIDICUOULOS (AND SO ABSURD) IT MAKES US either LAUGH WITH JOY OR CYNICALLY SMILE AND LAUGH IN UNBELIEF.

For Don’t You Remember … in Genesis 17:17 when God mentions (The PROMISE OF A CHILD) to Abraham for about the fourth time, Abraham falls-out into a hearty laugh. When he considered his own age; his own natural circumstances and the feebleness of his body … IN THE MIND OF ABRAHAM, GOD HAD TURNED INTO A COMEDIAN; AND THE JOKE WAS HILLARIOUS … BUT SERIOUS

ACCORDINGLY, YOU MAY RECALL IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS – CHAPTER 4; AND BEGINNING WITH VERSE 19 through 21 … THE BIBLE SAYS CONCERNING ABRAHAM … “AND BEING NOT WEAK IN FAITH, HE CONSIDERED NOT HIS OWN BODY NOW DEAD, WHEN HE WAS ABOUT AN HUNDRED YEARS OLD, NEITHER YET THE DEADNESS OF SARAH’S WOMB; HE STAGTGERED NOT AT THE PROMISE OF God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

IN contrast, THE SCRIPTURES implies that SARAH laughed in unbelief …

****************TAKE 5 BEATS***************

MOVE 1: But can you blame her?

a. Sarah was simply looking (factually) at her circumstances which communicated to her that it was IMPOSSIBLE (FOR HER) TO GIVE BIRTH.

b. IN HER EYES … THIS WAS RIDICOLOUSLY IMPOSSIBLE …

c. She was a 90 years old lady; her hair was white, and her body was weak and feable.

d. She had lost her faminine desires to be intimate with her husband; and he was not a STUD … in any stretch of the imagination.

e. In Sarah’s mind … this was not even FUNNY … IT WAS ABSURD!

*****************TAKE 5 BEATS****************

MOVE 2: IN FACT … ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY (IN SCRIPTURE) SHE WAS PERHAPS ATTENDING TO DUTIES IN THE KITCHEN …

a. WHEN SUDDENLY ABRAHAM IN HASTE REQUESTED A SARAH

COOKED MEAL.