Are you prepared to meet with God?

Abraham Recognized God when He came by (Gen 18:1-2a)

Explanation: Chapter 18 opens with Abraham receiving another visitation from God. The LORD had appeared to Abraham in a vision (Chapter 15) and God’s appearance at the beginning of Chapter 17 has no description at all. The visitation of God in Chapter 18, however, seems incredibly normal. If Moses had not introduced this section of the account with the words, “And the LORD appeared to him” (v. 1), the reader would be surprised to see the Divine Name speaking to Abraham in v. 10!

By all accounts, these three men looked the same as other men. They were not glowing, the text does not say they were floating 6 inches off the ground, and there was no lightning flash or ominous thunder.

Argument: While they looked like other men there was a touch of the heavenly surrounding them and Abraham recognized it. He most likely did not know this was God in the flesh (a theophany), but he did know these men were special. Abraham’s recognition is revealed by his response, so we can know that Abraham spiritually discerned their character.

Application: Do we Recognize the presence of God when He visits us? Are we able to discern His messengers when they walk among us? Recall the admonition from the book of Hebrews where we are instructed to “entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb 13:2)

We are called to think of others as the priority of normal life as Paul reminds us in Philippians: “let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Phil 2:3) A heart that is open to the needs and cares of others in the Spirit of Christ will be prepared to recognize God when He passes by.

Abraham Responded to His presence with worship (Gen 18:2b-3)

Explanation: Once Abraham recognizes the visitors as being supernatural, he responds quickly in worship. The text informs the reader that Abraham “ran to meet them” (v. 2). When is the last time you have seen a 99 year old man running? As several different commentators note: Abraham was a dignified man of wealth and power. In the Ancient Near East, a man of this class would not be seen running! Recognizing the presence of God, Abraham responded in worship as he bowed down before the presence of Majesty.

Illustrate: Consider how you would respond if the POTUS personally came to your house for a visit. When the secret service knock on the door and you look out and see the presidential motorcade, do you say, “how bout give me 10 minutes - I want to finish watching the end of the football game?” No, you do not - you respond as best as your are able due to being surprised, but you would respond quickly with a level of deference due to the importance of your visitor.

Argument: Many believers are more concerned with decorum than responding to God in genuine worship. It is important to have reverence in worship, and we are not at liberty to turn services into circuses. On the other hand, God would not have us get cleaned up just to show up for a side stop on our way to lunch. Worship IS the reason we assemble. We come together to hear from God and to respond to Him in Worship - and worship is a verb!

Our worship should be aimed at pleasing the audience of ONE! We should not be overly concerned about the opinion of others (cf 2 Samuel 6:14-16, 21-22)

Application: Ask yourself this question: what were my expectations for Church this morning? Did I expect to experience God today in a real and meaningful way? Have I considered how I might respond to God revealing Himself to me?

Abraham Respected God with lavish hospitality (Gen 18:4-8)

Explanation: Hospitality in the Middle East has always been a priority and it continues to be so today. Abraham certainly does his best for the LORD and the two angels. Abraham urges them to stay and he gives them water for cleaning and shade for resting. He then invites them to stay for “a morsel of bread,” and then proceeds to kill the fatted calf and has Sarah prepare bread cakes.

Illustrate: You and your family are getting ready to have a sandwich or heat up some leftovers when some special guests arrive. You give your teenage some money and send him out for something nice.

Argument: The meal preparation took time, but Abraham wanted to do it up right for the LORD. Nothing but the best for these supernatural visitors! That was not the meal that he and Sarah were getting ready to have, but that was OK with Abraham. He knew that he was a blessed man and that God was the One who had blessed him.

1 Chronicles 29:14 ““But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.”

John 3:27 “John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.”

Application: Believers should be the most generous and thankful group of people. We who are IN Christ have been redeemed from the slave pit of sin, we have been brought out of darkness into His marvelous light, and we have the assurance of an Eternal Reward in the Presence of Almighty God Himself.

NOTE: One sign of a healthy church is when people hang around and fellowship after the service. I know that sometimes we are under time constraints and have somewhere else to be, but it is good to see a number of folks sharing life together. The final amen should not be like the dropping of the flag to start a Nascar race!

We should also not be in a hurry in our prayer time. This is a sacred time. Being in the presence of God is not something we try to cram in at the last minute so we can check the box.

Closing Hymn: Pass Me not O Gentle Savior