|
Example to Follow and God to Hallow Trinity Bible Church 4/17/05
“Where are places we need a heater?” Ice fishing house? Car or van? Home? School? Church? We just came through a MN winter, was anyone cold? What happened? Did anyone go sledding? Skiing? Ice skating? What is something we all need to survive during a winter in MN? A heater!
God cares about us; this world can be a cold place spiritually and God has given us His word to keep us spiritually warm. Ps 119:9-11 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
We’re going to learn about Abraham today, he was in a spiritually cold climate by Sodom and Gomorrah. It was because he believed God’s Word that he was able to be kept safe!
Introduction: Gen 18:17-19 NAS And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? "For I have chosen him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice; in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him."
I was intrigued by the question God asked, “Shall I hide…?” It made me think of the topic of what’s hidden and what’s been revealed? I want us to look at these things today as we return to our study in Genesis.
I. Hidden and Will Be Revealed. Gen 18:17 NAS And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Gen 18:20-21 And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know."
A) The plight of his fellow man. In Abraham’s country lived some people that were slotted for judgment from Almighty God. Up until this time, Abraham had no knowledge of what God was about to do. It was revealed to him that these two cities and the entire valley was to be destroyed by God. What did Abraham do? What does any godly person do when hearing of impending doom? He starts to intercede for them! B) What about the people in your life? Are there any that are deserving of judgment? Are there any at school or work that are living in gross sin against a Holy God? What can you do? What can any godly person do? The impending doom of the Tsunami came w/o warning, there may be an equal tragedy soon to happen to those around you, what can you do? Pray! Intercede w/the same compassion that Abraham had. Do they deserve it? No more than you or I or the people of Sodom deserved it. C) The first point in examining God’s language about hiding was there are some things that are currently hidden and will soon be revealed. The second point -
II. What Has Already Been Revealed.
After an overnight flight to
meet my father at his latest military assignment, my mother wearily arrived at
Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany with my eight siblings and me - all under age
11. Collecting our many suitcases, the ten of us entered the cramped customs
area.
It was obvious to all what trials this woman had to face. It was plainly revealed to anyone taking a look!
Heb 11:8-16 TEV It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him to go out to a country which God had promised to give him. He left his own country without knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a foreigner in the country that God had promised him. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who received the same promise from God. For Abraham was waiting for the city which God has designed and built, the city with permanent foundations. It was faith that made Abraham able to become a father, even though he was too old and Sarah herself could not have children. He trusted God to keep his promise. Though Abraham was practically dead, from this one man came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, as many as the numberless grains of sand on the seashore. It was in faith that all these persons died. They did not receive the things God had promised, but from a long way off they saw them and welcomed them, and admitted openly that they were foreigners and refugees on earth. Those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. They did not keep thinking about the country they had left; if they had, they would have had the chance to return. Instead, it was a better country they longed for, the heavenly country. And so God is not ashamed for them to call him their God, because he has prepared a city for them.
B. What about you? Are you an example of faith? *I remember hearing a Bible teacher on the radio telling his story about faith. He desired a sailboat, put a picture of it on his fridge, claimed Mk. 11:24, and what do you know? It came! He used that illustration to prove how faith works. Is this the only way we can use faith? Though getting everything that we want now, to name it and claim it? If Abraham is any example to us about faith, then no. Now I don’t want you to go out and throw away your pocket promises books but I want you to think seriously about your life of faith. Can you believe as Abraham did w/o being upset if you don’t see the promise fulfilled right away? If so, you will find the next point comforting.
III. Chosen Gen 18:19 Most translations say “chosen” and that’s a good word. How do others translate it? For I know him, KJV; For I have known him, ASV; I have singled him out, NLT; And I have picked him out, TLB A. Can we peek? There are many things in heaven that are too wonderful for us to comprehend now with our earthly minds. And only in heaven will it be revealed what is hidden to all now, that is, who is really the elect and who is not. But can we peek? Is there anyway to tell now if we are elect or not? John 20:31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. We can know if we believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God!
B. Abraham. What did God say about him? In this there is a clue as to what we ought to be looking for in our own lives. (Hint, the title to this message). Gen 18:17-19 NAS And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? "For I have chosen him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice; in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him."
Two telltale signs of those that are “chosen”. 1) Example to follow. Abraham was to direct those around him to keep the way of the LORD. How? How was he to direct (NAS command) them? by doing righteousness and justice. Or as the NIV puts it: by doing what is right and just. Abraham was an example to his family in his worship habits; are you? He was an example of what is right and just in his business dealings, are you? He was an example to others in his attitude towards those in authority, are you? He was an example to his family in the way he treated his wife and children, are you?
2) God to hallow. Abraham was an example all right, but that’s not the end of the story. God was honored in this man’s life because he believed. It’s important to be an example, but even unsaved people can live moral and ethical lives. No, Abraham believed as well.
Rom 4:19-25 TEV He was then almost one hundred years old; but his faith did not weaken when he thought of his body, which was already practically dead, or of the fact that Sarah could not have children. His faith did not leave him, and he did not doubt God's promise; his faith filled him with power, and he gave praise to God. He was absolutely sure that God would be able to do what he had promised. That is why Abraham, through faith, "was accepted as righteous by God." The words "he was accepted as righteous" were not written for him alone. They were written also for us who are to be accepted as righteous, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from death. Because of our sins he was given over to die, and he was raised to life in order to put us right with God. How was God hallowed in Abraham’s life? By him living perfect? No, that’s not the record in Genesis or the rest of the Bible. God was honored in Abraham’s life because Abraham trusted God.
Conclusion: Phil 2:12-13 NLT You must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. Do you live in a cold, sin-sick world? Do you see your fellow man as soon to fall under the judgments of God? Have you wondered what your purpose is in this life? It could be that you will be a great spiritual leader, civic leaders or commercial leader; or it could be you have a simple calling. It could be that God has chosen you as He did Abraham. If so, then you have been chosen to be an example to follow and to hallow God as Abraham did. |