It's no laughing matter

Genesis 18 9-14

“And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age, and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is anything 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.”

Hebrews 11:11

“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

It’s no laughing matter if God said it that settles it!!

Introduction

There is a saying that laughter is good for the soul.

As a young boy growing up, I always found everything funny. No matter when or where I was I found a reason to laugh. I was able to find humor in everything. No matter where I was I would find a reason to laugh. Sometimes, my sense of humor often for me in trouble. Because my daughter would often come at inappropriate times at moments that were supposed to be taken seriously.

I don’t know why but growing upcoming the church, Always seemed as though they were some of the funniest moments sitting in the back of the church. But I can always picture my mother and my grandmother sitting in the mother’s corner looking back at me and asking me “What’s so funny”

Even in the classroom, I would be laughing and the teacher's response was what's so funny.

It wasn't that anything was wrong wi

Here in this text, we find God asking Sarah the same question that my mother and grandmother would look at me and ask’ “what is so funny”

He asked wherefore did Sarah laugh.

My brothers and sisters Sarah laughing was not an issue, I don’t believe God had a problem with her laughing, and by no means am I speaking to you and telling you not to laugh, matter of fact some of us need to laugh.

Being saved and sanctified does not equate to being mean and uptight

Herbert procknow stated and I quote “A well-balanced person finds both sides of an issue laughable”. —

In other words, laughter has a way of making us feel better even when we are going through it.

The scripture teaches that “A joyful heart is a good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (proverbs 17:22) and it turns out science is supporting this notion.

Evidence has proved that Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, good laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

~Laughter also boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your disease resistance. You are less likely to catch this corona if you laughed more. Better immune system. Still wear your mask but laugh a little

~Laughter also promotes an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

~Laughter also protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

~Laughter burns calories. Okay, so it’s no replacement for going to the gym, but one study found that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn approximately 40 calories—which could be enough to lose three or four pounds over a year.

~Laughter may even help you to live longer. A study in Norway found that people with a strong sense of humor outlived those who don’t laugh as much. The difference was particularly notable for those battling cancer

However, Sarah’s laugh was quite different from the laugh we are speaking of she laughed within herself, not a lol. Which means laughing out loud. This was a laugh within herself, this laugh was a smirt of doubt, this laughs an internal sign of disbelief.

This laugh is an internal spiritual insult to the promise that God had made over her life.

She had been told this over and over again and now the promises were funny to not be taken seriously.

I am firm that each one of us has a particular call and purpose for our lives. I believe that there is a reason that all of here, there is a reason that we are placed on this earth, not just to exist, not just to survive, but to fulfill the will of God designed specifically for you.

My brothers and my sisters it can become frustrating when it seems as though we are not walking in our destiny. It can become frustrating when you know that God has spoken over your life and it seems as though the word that is spoken has came into fruition.

Can I just encourage you be not weary in well doing for in due season you shall reap if you fainted not.

It is often during the moments of hopelessness that God shows himself mighty.

As some would say that darkest cloud is just before the break of day.

It was Mary and Martha who was at the grave of their brother Lazarus, hopeless and full of tears, it was a that moment that Jesus shows up and asked where did you bury him. Jesus shows up and cries Lazarus come forth.

It was Paul and Silas who was bound in prison walls, and at midnight they praised and sing hums until The prison walls break and their chains were loosed.

Just because it had not happened yet does not means it will not come to pass.

If God spoke it to your spirit, hang in there. Numbers 23:19 said it best

19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

My brothers and sisters many times in our life God has made promises to us. My brothers and sisters some promises that God has made to us seems as though it is impossible. sometimes God will give us a vision he will speak to us and it seems as though our vision is out of reach.

God has shown you somethings that if people heard it they would probably laugh.

Truth be told. Some of has gotten to the point were we have given up on some things we have been praying for and if God told you it was coming to pass. We would laugh ourselves.

It was Noah, that God told to build an ark because it was about to rain due to the corruption of the world, Noah warned the people that it was about to rain. However, the people around him laughed at Noah building the ark wood by wood and no one asked him to help. He just kept building, and sooner or later it begin rain and the same people people who were laughing were looking for shelter.

I can hear Noah saying what’s so funny,

He knew God had spoken to him and stood on the word of God.

it shall come to pass. It may not be today, if may not be tomorrow but if you hang in there sooner or later God is going to turn some things around in your favor.

Us in our own physical capabilities may not be able to compete it. However, we have to look beyond our own abilities and tap into what the word said.

The word says You can do All thing’s through Christ that strengthens you.

The word says I’m the lender and not the borrower.

The head and not the tail.

Your incapabilities is opportunity for for God to show his abilities.

I always remember The great Michelangelo, who could paint a canvas that was so beautiful, and most would laugh if I told you he was blind.

My response would be what’s so funny,

It was the great musician Beethoven, who can play the piano so beautifully and most would laugh if Inrold them that he was deaf,

My response would be what’s so funny.

These men as many others did not let their handicap handcuff their destiny.

Tell someone don’t allow your handicap to handcuff hour destiny. It is through our Inabilities that God shows his ability.

—for the word said that when we are week he is strong.

([My brothers and sisters, when God gives us opportunities the enemy will always bring opposition

Quote Bishop Gilyard Opportunity vs opposition

At every opportunity you can expect opposition

However it’s in those places of opposition that God will bless us right in the middle of it.)]

sometimes God will use unfavorable situations and turn them to work for our good.

Introduction of the text

As we Get to the text in it’s entirety , Genesis 18 9-14 we find Abraham and Sarai,

Many of know the story how God had promised Abraham that he would have a son, how he would be the father of many nations,

Abraham and Sarah in the tent minding their own business. They were at the place were they were well aged and I believe they were coasting through life in their glory days or golden days as some would call it.

They knew they had promise from God that he would bless their generations because God had previously spoke to Abraham and said that he would be the father of many nations.

Although I believe this word was somewhat in Abraham subconscious mind. I don’t believe he was walking in the promise that was spoken over his life.

So here in Genesis 18, Gods visits him again.

Have God ever spoken to you about something that he was going to do. About a call, and it takes so long that you almost forgot. Although we may forget, God has not forgotten.

However, during the promise the Bible said that there were old and well stricken in age.

The text says according to the time of life and Sarah was well over the age for child barring.

[God did not give specifics as to when it will be but according to the time of life. In other words I’m this lifetime.

Can I just encourage you that what God has promise, your going to live to see it happen.]

——Notice that the word came to Abraham, but Sarah overheard the conversation and begin to laugh.

Sometimes we can’t expect everyone to understand what God have spoken over your life.

Can you imagine Sarah and Abraham trying to conceive for 50 years and still nothing and God shows up at the age of 90 saying you going to have a son.

God we have been trying for 50 years and nothing now we’ve come to a place in life where we want to just coast it out we are 90 years old at this point we are just retiring just enjoying life.

Somebody is in that stage right now. You may not be 90. But you have stopped pursuing, you are in cruise control.

Abraham was 75 years old when he first received the promise, and Genesis 21:5 tells us he was 100 years old when Isaac was born. Sarah was 90. So Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for the fulfillment of God’s promise.

In that 25 years between the time that Abram was promised a son and the birth of Isaac, Abram and Sarah had certain ideas of how they might facilitate the keeping of the promise. One was that Abraham’s steward, Eliezer, would become the heir of Abraham’s household (Genesis 15:2–3). Another idea was that Abraham could have an heir through a son conceived by Sarah’s slave, Hagar (Genesis 16:1–2). In both cases, God rejected those

Many of us have gotten to that place were we have given up on the promise of God because it hasn’t happened yet.

We have gotten like Sarah and we are laughing a laugh of unbelief in our spirit.

Don’t allow the delay in manifestation of the promise cause you turn your back on what he said.

My brothers and sisters between the divine promise and the manifestation of the promise lies the temptation of unbelief.

Go after what God has spoken over your life.

Have God ever spoke to you concerning what you should do or what he was going to do and you laughed at what God was saying. It may not been a physical laugh but it was a laugh in our spirit.

Not only Did Sarah laugh but she denied the fact that she laughed

My brothers and sisters while Sarah laughed she asked God a question can I surely bare a child being that I’m wax old.

God respond was is there anything to hard for the lord.

That’s the question I have for you, Is there anything to hard for the lord.

Is there anyone on here that can say that God has shown me something and seemed as though is it coming to pass.

Can I just encourage you that if your vision is not able for you to reach by yourself, you wouldn’t need God.

It maybe impossible with you but with God it is possible.

Matthew 19: 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

For he is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think.

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10

Genesis 17 :17 Abraham laughed

Speak to Ismael how Abraham and Sarah stepped out and had Hagar bare a son by the name of Ishmael.

God will make an exception for you without the acceptance of anyone else.

What do I mean, sometimes he will make an exception for you even when others around won’t accept it.

God made an exception for Abraham and Sarah even thigh it would not be acceptable by what society says is possible.

Sometimes he will make an exception for you even when we ourselves won’t accept it.

When your favored somethings that not supposed to happen for you for but God Mae an exception.

If you don’t believe me it is the law of gravitation that when people attempt to walk in water they will sink, but with Peter, God made an exception.

When people go into a fire they are supposed to be consumed but with shadrsck me shack and Abednegro, God man an exception.

9 times out of ten, if you walk in a Den full of Lions you will get eaten but with Daniel God made an exception.

Most people after they have been dead for three days are down for the count but with Jesus God made an exception.

So it with Sarai, and Abraham, it was past her time to give birth, she was well stricken in age, but with Sarah and Abraham God made an exception.

Many of us God made an exception, the reason you are here today is because God made an exception, the reason the car accident didn’t take me out is because God made an exception,

The reason sickness could not lead to death is because God made an exception, the reason alcohol and drugs couldn’t consume you is because God made an exception.

Point 2.

When he makes an exception it’s may not happen when we think it’s going to happen,

Sarah and Abraham was expecting him to move according to their time table. It’s not in the when, it’s in The Who?

Don’t get discouraged when things don’t work out on our time.

The older saints used to say he may not come when you want him to but he will be there right on time.

2 Peter declares that one day to the Lord is 1000 years to us.

This lets us know that God’s time is not as ours.

Don’t focus on the when, but focus on The Who, which is God.

As the song says God is able to do just what he said is he will do. He is going to fulfill every promise to you, don’t give up on God because he won’t give up on you he’s able.

Point 3. My brothers and sisters When God is involved there is no situation to hard for him to solve

It may look like your past due. It may look like your out of time. But don’t depend on your strength. Depend on Gods strength.

According to mans time-table Sarah was past the age of child bearing, but according to God’s time table she was jut right for a miracle.

Most of us want a miracle but a miracle is often define as a tragic situation when only God’s intervention can solve.

We don’t like the tragedy but we want the miracle.

However, your mess is just right for a miracle.

Conclusion:

If we were to be honest there are some things that God has spoke to us we have did like Sarah and laughed.

Because we have went through so much to try to obtain the very thing that we have been praying for.

God has spoken said you will get that house:

And we laughed have laughed in our spirit

God has spoken said you will get that certification.

and we have laughed laughed in our spirit

God has spoken and said we will get that promotion and we have laughed in our spirits

But the question question I have for you is the same question that God asked Sarah why did you laugh,

What is so funny.

Is anything to hard for God.

It was no matter laughing matter what God can do.

Gods going to have the last laugh I’m your situation.

Hebrews 11:1

Says

“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

God blessed them to have a son by the name of Isaac, which in Hebrew terms means he laughs or he will laugh.

God had the last laugh.

Alter call

Pray for those who have been praying for God to do somethings in their lives.