WONDROUS
In Jesus name amen. Amen. All right, if you got your Bibles go ahead and open up to Genesis Chapter 18. We're continuing to walk through the first book of the scriptures first book of the Hebrew scriptures the book of Beginnings the Book of Genesis. We're going to pick up again this morning in the life of Abraham and Sarah I have now been renamed by God as Abraham and Sarah. Genesis Chapter 18, let's jump into the text.
And the Lord appeared to him, this is Abram by The Oaks of mom Ray as he sat at the door of his tent In the Heat of the day.
Our text opens up this morning with Abram. Abraham now living insects God came to him. decades before and called him out called him into a life of Faith called him into a life of Allegiance got called him.
to be an agent of God's Kingdom got called him to go into land that the Lord would show him and Abram Against All Odds believe and obey. And even followed him and let him know it wasn't easy. It certainly wasn't without problems. In fact, right from the get-go there a problem you follow God. There was a drought he walked away from God's lamp goes to Egypt Pharaoh tries to steal his wife problem after problem after problem. He comes back to the land his nephew lot gets kidnapped. He's got to go to work. There's there's just been this journey. Through it all. He's been trusting. Not only that God would be with him and that God would be for him. But that God would honor his word and give him and his wife and are an offspring. This was the Deep need of Abraham and Sarah's life. They were unable to conceive. God had promised not only to give them a child but through them to give Nations.
And yet here they are. Decades after that initial call and promise.
Sarah is now 91 years old.
And it had no child. And yet here we find Abraham. where God called him to be sitting by The Oaks of mamre
In the Heat of the day
and God shows Texas very clear the Lord Yahweh. If you've been fair with us, the last couple weeks tried to explain. This is a theophany an actual appearance of God in real space-time. God shows up. How does he show up? What looks as a man? It's not just God. There's three men that show up the Lord appeared to him by The Oaks of mamre as he sat at the door of his tent In The Heat Of The Day He lifted up his eyes and look the whole three men were standing in front of him when he saw them he ran from the 10th door to meet them and bowed himself to the Earth. Now if you have been paying attention in Genesis and trying to pick up on the literary theme. Because one of the way the ways of the Bible authors communicate truth is by bike building these themes this repetition we get Shadow and fulfillment and Shadow on film. Just please opening 2 verses of chapter 18 are just pregnant with allusions to what has come before here. We find person Abraham. Dream by The Oaks of mamre in the cheats of the day and God shows up to visit with him. This takes us back to the opening chapters of Genesis after God brings order out of chaos after God shapes and forms a functional world to exist as his Temple where he would dwell with his images. What does God do plants a garden and faces his person in the garden. And what does God do with them in the guard? He dwells with them. He meets with them. We received this after Adam and Eve choose to eat of the fruit. They were commanded not to eat the God shows up in the garden in the midst of the trees in the cool of the day. Hang out with his people.
far too often we we we bought into cosmology an understanding of how the universe works that has a great distance between God and us. The God is far away. God is other God is distant. And if that's the way it's supposed to be Genesis tells us clearly time and time and time again that is not the way it is supposed to be.
That is not hearts. And that is not what is normal for Humanity way. It's supposed to be is God wants to dwell with his people.
Adam and Eve's Choice their Rebellion their willful decision to find meaning and substance in something than other than God gets them removed from the garden.
And the main point of Genesis I think is that God doesn't give up on his plan and his purpose for his creation, even when his creation gives up on him. We need to internalize it we need to understand the heart and the faithfulness and the generosity and the wisdom and the power of God. He will not give up on us even though we might deserve and given up on us. It's not in him. It's not who he is. So can we find? Generations later so much has happened. But God has not given up. Now. God is going to make it happen. He's going to bring Redemption to his creation. He's going to dwell with his image. He's now called Abram Abraham has been walking with him in perfectly, but he's been walking with him and what we see here in the opening verses of Genesis 18 is what we should expect to see God dwelling with his people.
Abrams sitting out
sitting out in the middle of the trees in the heat of the day. He looks up. And he's got some visitors.
He runs to them he boughs himself to the Earth and he says to them O Lord. If I have found favor in your sight. Do not pass by your servants. Let a little water be brought and wash your feet rest yourselves under. the tree
Well, I bring you a morsel of bread that you might refresh yourself. And after that you may pass on since you have come to your servant so they said do as you have said. what are amazing entry in the life of a reminder think you woke up that morning and thought
I'm going to cook God of meal. I'm going to hang out with the author of creation. I'm going to spend some time with him in the shade of the trees that he spoke into existence. That's exactly what happened. God showed up. Now if if if we've been in the story, it shouldn't surprise us that God showed up and it shouldn't surprise us that God showed up at The Oaks of mamre. We've seen Abram here multiple time. Let's go back to Genesis 13 Verse 18 Abraham moved his tent and came and settled by The Oaks of mamre which are at Hebron and there he built an altar to the Lord.
I don't want you to see this morning about this opening of this encounter. Is that God comes to Abram at his home?
Which is also a temple.
Got comes to him at his home. Which is also where he worships The lure. This is where the Eden imagery comes. So strongly even was what a garden Eaton was. What a temple even was what the home of Adam and Eve the base from which they were to bring God's Rule and Reign to the year. Eden was where God met with them. So that God's plan and purpose might be made known in the world. Where do we find Abraham meeting with God at The Oaks of mamre where she has built an altar. This is not only his home where he dwells. It is his Temple where he dwells with God.
These these opening verses remind us of what we've seen already in Genesis over and over again you were made to abide with God.
I thought that's what you were made for. That's that's how the designer designed you.
An insult if that's not to say that you can't have life. outside of that relationship
But you can't have real life. Abundant Life everlasting life you can't have the life that you were designed for outside of that relationship. Every human was made. at their core intimate honest worshipful relationship with their creator not a relationship of transcendence and distance in a relationship of eminence and closeness. You were made to know God and be known by him.
I think one of the great lessons for me this week as I've been digging into this chapter. Especially in the season that were in right now. Where we've been forced into our homes in ways that let's be honest. We don't always appreciate. As we've been forced to not Gather in public.
the way that we've become accustomed to
What are the takeaways for me from this?
So we need to be reminded and I think it's one of God's purposes in this season. That we were meant to abide to live with to dwell with God.
all the time
Not just when we gathered here in a in a sanctuary not just when we come to a church building not just when we have a public gathering. Yes. We're meeting with God in a special way right now together, but that doesn't mean
I'm not meant to meet with him. a regular consistent basis Abraham's home Was his Temple? Where he met with God is your home a temple. Do you look at your home? You look at the rhythms and ordinary traffic patterns of your lie as a place where you can meet with God and God meets with you. Have you bought into the false idea that if you want to meet with God you got to go somewhere special?
But somehow God is more in this little spot of land than he is where you lay your head down at night. The gods more present here than he is where you go to work? Reality for us as New Testament followers of Jesus is that we've actually been mate. We are the temple. When we come to Faith In Jesus the spirit comes and dwells with us always.
So whether I am at a church service or I'm at work or I'm driving or I'm at home. He is dwelling with me. That's that's that's not a question for the follower of Jesus. God is dwelling with you the question. If there is one is do you see it that way?
Are you treating your home as a temple? Do you see your home as a place where you can dwell with God where God meets with you or God speaks to you or God grows you and stretches you and helps you.
in order for God's Kingdom
the thrive on Earth as it is where he is. As Jesus taught us to pray. Lord's Prayer In order for that to happen.
God's people have got to wake up and recognize that we don't box God in on Sunday morning. The God will not be relegated and delegated to a building constructed by human hands the Lord and everything there that we asked his people who have been given the spirit as a down payment for being crafted informed him to his Temple. We bring the presence of God with us wherever we go.
Can we spend more or as much as anything more time in our homes than anywhere else?
How do we look at our home?
What's your expectation? For what your home? Not just your house that you're home.
How old is a function?
We just see it pragmatically is a place where we eat and sleep and then do the things that we want to do or do we see it as something that God has given us.
To use as a tool for his purposes. and his primary purpose is to abide with us. the bee with a I know I've said this in some way shape or form many times in the past, but if if this
Is the extent of your relationship with God? You're in trouble.
You'll never experience the joy. And the peace patience kindness goodness and self-control the fruits of the spirit if this is your experience with God 1 hour, will you sing a couple songs? You let some guy yell at you for about 40 minutes if this is how expensive how you relate to God, you're not really relating to got it may be the start.
I got. jealous God
he didn't make you so that you could give him an hour and a half of your time once a week. He doesn't want a part of you. He won't settle for most of you. God wants all of you. And he wants you to go all in. Abrams All In He's all in that God hasn't given him yet what he's promised, but Abraham is all in.
Are you all in sky?
If you bought a reductionist the gospel that says Jesus came and died and rose again so that you can pray a prayer and some day after you die. You get the float off to some place called heaven.
Are you living in the power of the true gospel? It says God will not give up on his plants as well with his people and he's already doing it right now in the church through the spirit. And it's not a once-a-week reality. It's an all the time everywhere reality.
This season's put us in our homes more than anywhere else more than any other time for most of us in our lives.
Is your home? Temple
do you expect to meet with God? in your home just as much as you would anywhere else.
Let's jump back into the store Abram quickly into the tent to Sarah and said quick flower needed make cakes Abraham ran to the fender and Hood.
then he took curds and milk in the cap that have been prepared and he said it before them and he stood by them under the tree while they
what a tornado of activity that was right. I mean, he just goes into make it happen mode, right?
Runs out of the right. I don't know how you find the tastiest calf. Like that's not I don't know. If you like to poke them like you do with fruit in the supermarket on the stomach. That was tasty. Give it to somebody they start cooking. They start making. Are the point here is not just giving them a snack. He's making a feast. You don't you don't in that culture. You don't kill tap everyday. This is not a everyday sort of meal and if not physically showed up at your house. You're not going to go hit you on some Ritz cracker.
You're going to give him your bats you can you get it? You're going to show him. reverence and honor By what you offer him? And and and that's what he does. Abraham wants to give God the best. I mean I find this whole scene amazing. Not just the God would show up but that God would allow Abraham to create this little siesta for him underneath the trees in the shade Abrams brought him a drink. He's wash their feet. And now he delivers them this meal and then Abram like a good host just stands back and watches them eat.
what something else or Let me fill that up. Let me take care of you in any let's not Overlook the miracle that's going on here. God eats the meal. so the texts at the video with him There's something profound going on here. And it's actually a big part of the ancient near Eastern culture the emphasis on hospitality. A cultural reality that quite frankly. I think we have lost. It's been greatly lessened in our culture. In the time of Abraham if I if a gesture or somebody came in to your house, there was this incredible privilege and responsibility to take care of your gas. To provide for them for their animals for whatever it is that they that they might need as they go along on their Journey.
God shows up and Abraham acts with incredibly generous and attentive. hospitality He creates an environment.
Meets the needs of the other. I like the detail doesn't have him sitting down eating right? He's he's making sure that they eat. His his focus is on taking care of the other being with them providing for them. And enjoying them. reading through this and just meditating thinking on it just find my heart kept flashing 2 scene after scene in the New Testament scene after scene from the gospels in the life of Jesus.
Jesus welts with people Jesus one of the Hallmarks of Jesus's Ministry is something that Scholars and theologians called table Fellowship. Jesus had table Fellowship.
Not just with the religious good people. Not sure he ever did that. Jesus had table fellowship with sinners. He created environments that were hospitable even though he didn't have a place to lay his head. Jesus was constantly dwelling and abiding. in Hospitality with other allowing those that Society had rejected allowing those that have been pushed to the margins to come close to him. Giving importance to those the world deemed unimportant. Think about that scene where where Jesus is hanging out and people are coming to him and send parents start coming and they want to bring their children to Jesus to have Jesus bless their children in the disciples men are so full of themselves. Like we never have I get those kids away from Jesus kids away from him. We got important things to do. 8 disciples are rebuking these parents for The Audacity Of wanted Jesus to bless the thing that they love more than anything their children and Jesus rebukes the disciples.
Springer think of a heaven belongs to them and all those like them. Jesus was constantly welcoming inviting encouraging and people it did not feel comfortable with religion people that felt ostracized and denigrated people that have been marginalized felt accepted and loved in the presence of Jesus.
Because of his overwhelming hospitality.
one scene Mark chapter 2 as Jesus reclined at table in his house many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples out in the culture of Jesus and his dad and sit in chairs around a table at all table for their meals. They would sit at a low table on cushion on the ground. The recline and grab a little bit from the table and they would eat and they would talk meals for not a rush. They don't have fast food.
Emil wasn't something that you just got through a meal with something to be embraced. It was shared with corporate. Communal, it was familiar. In fact to invite somebody into your home to serve and share a meal with them was to accept them as part of your family.
Jesus here is accepting as a part of his family. He's sharing bread and meat tax collectors. spinner
I've always said what were the options Jesus either ate with Sinners or he ate by himself? That's not the way that the world saw it see the world at that time. Just like the world today thinks that there's good people and bad people.
Man weave we thrive on that don't get this. Isn't that what's going on in our country right now? We're redefining who the good people are who the bad people are and we're redefining how we treat who we consider to be the bad people.
we're at a point in a place now in a country where if you if you decide somebody is a bad person or a part of the bad people than you're allowed to punch him. You're allowed to leave them. You're allowed to burn them down here not to say anything you want to about them?
News flash. That's not how it's supposed to be among the people of God.
We don't buy into this false dichotomy that there's good people and bad people. Here's the message of the Gospel.
There's one who is good?
There's one who is faithful and righteous. It was Jesus. There was one who is without sin. It's Jesus if Jesus doesn't eat with Sinners, he's not going to eat with me and you
Black, this is not Jesus Jesus. Jesus was hospitable as he's eating with them all in the scribes and the Pharisees when they saw what he was what he was doing who he was eating with Sinners and tax Buster's they said to his disciples. They're fundamentally Powers him, but they said to his disciples. Why does he eat with tax collectors and Sinners and the contempt? Smug self-righteous arrogance a meeting with them instead of us.
In Jesus hurt hears it, right.
This time he hears that there's a couple other instances really even here at you just knows what's going on at freaks everybody out this time of year was Jesus heard it. He said to them.
What's know what he says? Those who are well have no need of a physician.
Those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous. but sinners
I guess we know. Where are the Righteous Romans 3 there are no righteous all have gone astray wandered away glory and rightful rule. Jesus come to give adeboye's to the good guys that we're getting it, right. Cuz they didn't exhibit. Dickson County say Hey, you looking really healthy. Good job. Jesus came for all of us. We're wearing a self-righteous religious moralistic Rebellion against God or wearing a teen Mystic simple do whatever. I want Rebellion against God. It's all right.
The religious are just as much Rebels. As the tax collectors and sinners in Jesus came. Persinar that church that's good news. That's good news, cuz you're looking at a wicked terrible sinner.
And right back at you. We've all done things.
We both thought things. That if it's somehow they they were aired or flashed up on the screen right now. We don't run in Terror when we
Who did Jesus come for? sick Soul Sick the broken by sin-sick he comes as the great physician. to heal and set free those who are in bonded.
Jesus was constantly demonstrating a beautiful sense of hospitality that invited people in.
They wanted to be with him.
This I think is an expression of the images of God. What Were Meant To Rule with God do we think back to the opening chapters of Genesis? A kind of layout God's plan in his heart for his creation. We saw that when God made man, I made them in His image. And that's unique God made everything that is but he only made in the material world mankind as imager unique we're different than the animals and the trees were made to be his images were made to partner with him were made to emulate him. God is a Creator. We are supposed to create God brings order out of chaos. We are to bring order out of Chaos. We are to promote the flourishing of God's creation where made? Teruel we see Abram that was that look like in an Ordinary World in ordinary day. What does that look like? Abraham shows us here. Make some bread. Let's get the good stuff. Let's service. He is creating an environment that without his action would not have existed. He's bringing order to chaos. Keep providing. Doing what God created mankind to do.
does it the simple Act of hospitality
opening is home.
providing for others How's your home? hospitable talking to my wife just I've been deeply convicted about this. I think I've been in a season where I've wanted my home to be a fortress. I wanted my home to be all about me. I need to recharge there's so much going on. I just I need don't bother me. Don't just leave me alone. And I'm I'm a bit of an introvert and sometimes it's not safe to be around me saimin.
And that's true. I've been thinking about on this journey and some of my most Treasured Memories Are the the multiple times we've invited people into our home to actually live with up people that were struggling that were lost have been kicked out of their homes, whatever we've had. I don't know. A lot of people spend either a month or a couple of years.
blessing them loving them inviting them into our home and our Temple
I'm not saying that that's something that we all have to do it. Here's what I will say is we all have to be hospitable. We all need to see that in the ordinary Act of sharing a meal.
Watching a game if we ever really good sports again. I don't know. having a cookout
opening a good bottle of wine Let me in in the in the shared moments of relationship of inviting people into our space. so that they can I just see us.
Let's see the one who is in US.
Something Beautiful happen
We've been forced into our homes and it's it's a weird time.
Any of the Mandate for hospitality?
Has not changed.
We above everyone else should be hospitable because God has been so hospitable to us.
I think the way forward for the church. Not just in this season, but in whatever Seasons come after s is not going to be in large gatherings. The will be in the church being the church not just in a dedicated building at a dedicated service, but the church being the church where God places us in our homes in our workplace places where we play.
Is your home maybe it's better to stay this way is your life. hospitable Are you open to the inconveniences of the other and let's be honest. The other is always an inconvenience. We're all open to the other if they're millionaire and they want to give us something is amazing how we'll make time for that.
Are we open to the inconveniences of the other? for the sake I've got calling on our lives to be his people. And to rule with him. I think we primarily do that through acts of hospitality. Mercy and service. Let's follow in the footsteps of favor. Was incredibly hospitable. I think the writer of Hebrews probably had this scene in mind when he wrote this let Brotherly Love continue do not neglect to show Hospitality to strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares
Actually think Abraham was aware of what was going on it met with God before at The Oaks of mamre where but here's what this text is telling us in Hebrews Hospitality because you just don't know who is in front of you.
And you have no idea. the implications and the ripples showing hospitality and Grace to whoever God brings into your path. Here's what I've learned. It's rarely who I want God to bring into my bath.
Don't neglect it show hospitality. kahoot The Strangers easy to show Hospitality to Somebody That You Love already
jump back into Genesis 18
They've had their meal and they say to him. Where is Sarah your wife? He said she's on the 10th.
and the Lord said I will surely again. This is the name of God. Speaking. Unordinary Angel is the Angel of the Lord. God says I will surely return to you about this time next year and Sarah your wife will have a son and Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him course she was
She's like, oh my God. I'm going to take a nap.
She's listening and she hears this. verse 11 now Abraham and Sarah We're all.
Advanced in years. That's a nicer way of saying it right but it's the same thing.
the way of women had ceased to be what's Farrah their way of saying in the Hebrew should stop menstruating. She she's past the years of childbirth.
This is a physical material human impossibility at this point. It cannot happen.
I almost wonder if she wants to happen.
I mean I watch pregnant women. And mme we often joke if pregnancy was left up to man and Men. There be no more people. We're not Tough Enough. We're not.
Give me a war over a baby any day.
But I'm not sure it 91. You're wanting to go through that physical reality, you know all your life. That's what you want.
So she laughed yourself?
after I'm worn out My Lord is old now. I'm going to have pleasure.
The Lord said to Abraham.
Why did Sarah laugh? I think it's a funny question. Why wouldn't you laugh?
Sarah laugh and say she'll IND Fairchild now that I am old.
is anything
too hard For Yahweh. I think a better way to translate that is anything too wondrous for some English translations that do that is it if the positive way of saying it? Is there anything too amazing for the Lord? Is there anything too difficult negative way of saying is there anything too wondrous for the Lord? Is there anything. Is there anything to be author and creator of everything cannot make happen? There's all sorts of stuff. You can't do in 91 year old women don't get Knocked Up.
Is there anything too wondrous for the lot?
the god champola at the appointed time. I will return to you about this time next year and Sarah cell have a son.
referring to 100
Dude, I'm telling you. I'm going to be back here next year right about this time. You're going to have a baby boy.
Sarah denied it
haggar
She was afraid. But God said no you did laugh.
You know it and I know it. Wasn't a sneeze you laugh.
Who she is this?
old woman
John Eldredge is one of my favorite authors is newest book beautiful. Outlaw. He writes this about this text. She's an old woman and after a lifetime in the desert her face is cracked and rutted like at 6 months of drought. She hunches her shoulders around her ears and starts to shake. She squinnies her eyes. Shut and her laughter is all teeth and wheeze and tears running down as she rocks hard back and forth in a kitchen chair. She's laughing because she is pushing 91 hard and it's just been told she's going to have a baby even though it was God who told her she can't control herself and her husband can't control himself either. He keeps a straight face a few seconds longer and then He cracks up to. Old woman's name is Sarah. Of course, the old man's name is Abraham and they're laughing at the idea of a baby being born in the geriatric Ward. And Medicare picking up the tab.
They're laughing because the angel and God not only seems to believe it but seems to expect them to believe it too they're old enough to be great-grandparents Abraham and Sarah are swapping The Walker for a stroller. It's just too much. The arthritic patriarchy and is wrinkled wife. Try to hide their laughter from the Living God. He seals the humor of the whole thing himself. by naming Isaac for them Isaac memes laughter
They're laughing because with part of themselves they do believe it They're laughing because if by some crazy chance it should just happen to come true
Then they really would have something. laugh about
I love I love God's gentleness.
and his generosity
In fact, every time you call that little boy you're going to be reminded that you laughed cuz you're going to name him Isaac. You're going to name him laughter. How many times a day does a as a mom? Say their child's name, Isaac Isaac Isaac
Everytime laughter stop it laughter laughter.
When God promised me my heart's desire. I laugh.
and even though I laugh God made it happen. And so who gets the last laugh. everybody God different Abraham gets it Sarah gets it and I think it's the people. This is Hulu and how our God?
The story reminds us once again. That we were made to trust God.
Were made for faith. We're designed or dependents. We're not created to be independent. We are created to be interdependence. We're not self-sufficient.
We're self-sufficient. We need to be fully and truly human if you want to be the man or woman that God made you to be if you want to do the things that God made you to do if you cannot and will not do them by yourself in Partnership. only in community only abiding with God Will you bear fruit fruit that will as Jesus said last?
Were made to trust God Abram wasn't made to trust God and we're made to do something else. We're made all of us are made to trust God you were designs for faith.
You were crafted and created. To be allegiance to God himself. before anything else in God's creation
the question for Abraham and Sarah in this text and trust me. The next couple of chapters this keeps getting flushed out. the question for them and the question for you, and I this morning is do we trust him?
Do we have faith? The God can do what he said he will do. The God will be faithful to his Covenant promises that God is capable.
But there is nothing too difficult and there is nothing to one dress.
One of my favorite ways to express this. Is this question. How big is your guy? The size of your God will determine the size of your faith. It will shape the size of everything in your life. Give a small God. You'll have small faith. You'll attempt small things and you'll have small Joy. How big is your God? How great is your God? How wondrous is your god far too many today in the church worship a teeny tiny little God.
We need to hear. the words of God himself Is there anything too wondrous? forgot And with the ReSound hearing cry we together raise our voices and say no. There's nothing to wondrous for I got with man many things are impossible. But with our God all things are possible. Our God is faithful to his word. Our God is capable.
insufficient
there's no sin in this room that cannot be absolved by the blood of the Lamb. There's no Brokenness that can't be put back together. There's no chain or prison door that Jesus. Can't Ninja Kick open. There's no enemy. That's come against you. Jesus isn't already been raised the buff. There's no Authority that hasn't been given unto Jesus already.
What shall I say? Write the Apostle Paul if God is for us. Who? Or what? Can stand against us? Is anyting to wondrous? forgot Search how big is your god?
How big is your God if you're anything like me right now?
I don't know. How big is that? I wanted I wanted to be bigger. I'm convinced of this. He's bigger. Then what I think he is.
He's better than what I think he is. He's more competent and capable than I gave him credit for and so I find myself once again. Like a man in the gospel. I believe Lord. Help my unbelief.
I'm with you guys. Help me to be all in. I'm trusting you God. There's ways that I can trust you better help me God. Help me to see you as you are enlarged and expand my understanding of your competence. your capacity for good got show me who you are. And Grant me the faith. same faith of Abraham Who believed God? And it was credited to him. as righteousness