I. Sarah’s Promise – Gen. 18:1-15
II. Abraham’s Prayer – Gen 18:16-33
III. Lot’s Protection – Gen 19:1-38
Knowing the Lord is everything. Was there every a time He met you in a special way? His presence is everything to us.
What is your response to God when He comes?
3 people, 3 responses, God responds to each
God is both friend and judge.
God rewards faith but judges faithlessness.
God gives Sarah the promise personally.
I. Sarah’s Promise – Gen. 18:1-15
Whenever the pre-incarnate Christ shows up in OT it’s for a very specific purpose and there’s something very specific He wants to accomplish/reveal.
This time the Lord came for Sarah. God is not a chauvinist.
How does Abraham react to the 3 men?
- He runs to meet them and does not wait for them to come to him
- He serves them immediately – even running to do it at the age of 99
- He doesn’t serve leftovers
- Sarah cooperates completely and does not complain
- Abraham shows reverence and respect
Key Points:
- The selflessness and humility of Abraham
- We are to count others as more important than ourselves
- People know whether we are judging and criticizing them or not
- Selfless submission opens the door for opportunities
When the Lord comes to you to have conversation, will you run to Him? Give Him the best of your time?
They all ask for Sarah – where is Sarah? Abraham says: Behold, in the tent. It was customary in the day for the woman to stay in the tent while the men talked.
v. 13 – the Lord is building her faith
v. 14 – He repeats His promise. He will always repeat what we need to know.
She laughs in her own thoughts. The Lord asks why she laughed. She knew it was the Lord, because He knew her thoughts. She lies about it. Fear not faith causes us to lie. The Lord forgives her and moves on. There’s other more important business to attend to.
God rewards faith in His Word with fruit that lasts. What is God asking you to believe? Where are you believing that your circumstances are bigger than God’s? Where are you as good as dead in something that He’s asking you to do? Impossible is not in God’s vocabulary.
II. Abraham’s Prayer – Gen 18:16-33
Birth announcement and now death. Rom. 6:23
We must walk with Him to know Him and His will.
God doesn’t take any delight in the wicked perishing.
How much trouble would we spare ourselves if we stayed before the face of God?
Prayer will change you – the Holy Spirit groans alongside you
v.25 Abraham makes a question statement: Will the Lord kill the righteous with the wicked – shall not the judge of all the earth do right?
If God gives you a burden, pray until He lifts it. When He does lift it, pray for what else He has for you to pray about. God is using us to bring His will on the earth.
- We want to make sure we are interceding after God’s will
- Ask God for the new burden
- God does not trick His children
- Abraham could have been tempted not to pray for Lot – he used and hurt him (in taking the best land; in going back to Sodom after Abraham rescued him)
- God reward fervent faith-filled prayers according to His will
- We are to speak God’s character back to Him in praise and then listen.
- For who will you begin or continue to pray for today?
- Ask God to show you new ways to pray
III. Lot’s Protection – Gen 19:1-38
God hates sin
We will suffer loss and chastisement for our sin and loss of eternal reward
Lot had faith to get to heaven (2 Peter 2:6-8), but that’s it. He wasted his life and ruined his family.
Worthless pursuits end in a wasted life – power, prestige, position – Lot got them – but in the end, he lost it all. What are you pursuing that’s worthless.
Yes, he sat in the gate of the city (position of authority) but he had no real power or authority. When he tried to warn his son-in-laws, they laughed at him, because they thought he joked. The people of the city did not listen to him. When you blend in so thoroughly, you have no real influence.
When you are out of God’s will, you cannot fellowship with him
The angel’s appear hesitant to take hospitality from Lots
When you start down the way of letting the world become your god, it will suck the life out of you like a vortex.
When you’re out of the will of God, you cannot think straight (Lot offering his virgin daughters to the men of the city).
God is able to restore the wasted years.
God’s mercy runs alongside his judgment always.
v. 16 Lot hesitated! The angels had to drag him out of the city. Lot tried to negotiate with God.
Lot’s daughter’s had children through their father, who eventually spawned the Moabites and Ammonites. But, the Lord’s mercy is again revealed in Ruth, a Moabitess, who came to faith and became in the line of Christ.
Lot didn’t believe that God would be enough for him. He didn’t hear God’s warnings. God judges unbeliever and unrighteousness in a righteous manner.
How much of the world is in you?
What corrupt influences are leading you astray?
Is there enough evidence to convict you of being God’s child?
How is your family suffering the effects of being sold out to the world and not to God?