AS ABRAHAM WAS
Introduction:
Most of us have been Christians for a long time, and we are thankful for what God has done to save us from sin and the life we used to live. Most of us (unfortunately) have unsaved loved ones and friends we are concerned for, and want to see them come to Christ.
Proposition:
Many of us have prayed for these people for many, many years. Perhaps we can see how the lives of these people have changed for the worst (over the years). The fact is that the longer sin has a grip on someone’s life, the more we see deterioration takes place in that person. Our unsaved family members and friends once were happy (even though they were not Christians), but over the years you probably have seen their lives slowly change. In the meantime, you keep praying for them to come to know Christ. You keep hoping things will get better for them, but it’s not. Perhaps, we all can grow tired of praying the same prayer for our loved ones, but we should know that time is running out.
Text: Genesis 18:20 – 22
Transition and Prayer:
Last week we looked at the story of The Tower of Babel and we saw where the Lord went down to earth to see the city the people were building. God came to the conclusion that the people were of the same mind and language and there was nothing they could not do. But whatever they did was contrary to will of God and was involved with the worship of false gods and idols.
In our text, we see a similar situation for God and His people. Once again, God has to come down to earth to see the evil and the sin of the people. God was not pleased with what He found. Let me get right to the point here and simply say that the condition of mankind (today) is not much different than what it was here in our text.
Perhaps someone is thinking to themselves that the preacher is becoming more negative (each Sunday) with his outlook on the world. The fact is that the evils of sin are not a message that is easy to listen to, but then it is not any easier to live with. My friend if you want to just take it easy in this life, take the easy way out on everything, turn your radio to easy listening music, or go to church and listen to easy softball sermons, you probably won’t want to hear what the Lord has given me this morning.
On the other hand, if you hate sin, hate what it can do to your life and your family, if you don’t want to fall back (backslide) into the hands of the devil and loose your relationship with our wonderful Savior, if you don’t want to see any of your loved ones spend eternity in a devil’s hell…then listen up!
In our text we find that the three men had brought an uplifting word of promise to Abraham and Sarah. They promised that Abraham and Sarah would conceive and give birth to a son. Suddenly these men left, but Abraham “still stood before the Lord.”
Why is that?
Abraham-
• Was stunned at the thought that God was aware of the evil in Sodom and Gomorrah.
• Was afraid of God’s hand of judgment that would soon destroy all of Sodom and Gomorrah.
• Knew that (in Sodom and Gomorrah) there were relatives of his who once were righteous people (and their family), and they would be destroyed.
Application and Question:
For those of us living in the 21st century, are we living
AS ABRAHAM WAS with his family?
Consider this:
• We are faithful with our relationship with Christ,
• We pay God homage with our worship and our offerings,
• We live righteous lives submitting to His commandments,
But are we AS ABRAHAM WAS?
This morning - We must know that God will not hold back His judgment on sin much longer. The fact is this, God judged Sodom and Gomorrah, and He will one day this earth as we know it.
II Peter 3:10 (KJV)
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Question:
Will we not be so overwhelmed with what is going on this world that we will not be AS ABRAHAM WAS?
Will we not –
• Be as stunned at the thought that God is completely aware of the sins and evil of this world?
• Be fearful of God’s hand of judgment that would soon “melt with fervent heat” all of this world (as we know it)?
• Know that in this world there are relatives of ours who once were righteous people, along with their families who will stand in judgment of sin?
Are we concerned/fearful for those we personally know who are living way down in Sodom and Gomorrah?
Have we become too concerned with our own lives each day that we do not take the time as Abraham did to “stand before the Lord?”
Abraham “stood before the Lord” and he began to negotiate with God for the salvation of his family and friends. In our charismatic and Pentecostal faith, we call that good ole’ fashioned intercession for the lost.
AS ABRAHAM WAS so should we be also!
We must decide that the souls of our lost loved ones and friends is at stake here in these last days.
Unfortunately – all too often – there are many good church people who will only be disappointed and/or disgusted with how their backsliden relatives and friends are living in these the last days.
All too often – we will spend more time talking about how wrong they are, how backsliden they are, how unrighteous they are,…and very little time simply begging God to save, them rather than judge them.
AS ABRAHAM WAS so should we be!
I know as well as you do that there are many people (in our day) who enjoy living in their sinful town of Sodom and Gomorrah. I know they have no interest in ever moving out of Sodom and Gomorrah. They like it there. They wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, but Sodom and Gomorrah.
May I refresh our memory one more time of God’s plan to judge this earth?
II Peter 3:10 (KJV)
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
My friend, God has not changed his mind –
• Since the last time you read that verse.
• Since the day He had to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
God hates sin and He wants this earth (that He created) given back to Him the way He created it. That is – God wants this earth to be without sin!
I’m not too sure how some of you feel about that – but I have to tell you that it frightens me what will happen to those who will continue to ignore or reject God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and His plan of salvation.
This makes me want to consider how Abraham felt.
AS ABRAHAM WAS so should we be!
So then – What should we do?
We must begin to plead with God in these last days as Abraham did. Abraham begged God, pleaded with God, and interceded for those who would be lost.
He started off –
• 50 righteous – vs. 24
• 5 less than 50 – vs. 28
• 40 righteous – vs. 29
• 30 righteous – vs. 30
• 20 righteous – vs. 31
• 10 righteous – vs. 32
We need to beg God, plead with God, and intercede knowing that we really do not know if this world will ever repent and find salvation.
Close:
1. We don’t know if this nation we live in will ever again be a Christian nation.
2. We don’t know if this area of the heartland will ever surrender completely to God’s plan of redemption.
3. We don’t know if this small rural town with it’s casino and it’s bars and meth’ labs will ever see salvation as God would have it.
4. But God – PLEASE save my family and my friends! Get them out of the Sodom and Gomorrah they are living in.
Have mercy on us Oh God!
Now here is some Good News that will help you to pray today…
II Peter 3:9 (KJV)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
