By Ronald E.
George Jr. at the
Fayetteville
Baptist
Church
Is coming to worship your rush hour?
How important and urgent is your worship?
Do you sense the need to come to honor the Lord?
When we were growing up, it seems like we were always rushing to get to
church. Dad didn’t want to be
late. But, we had to pick up my
aunt. So we had to wait.
We couldn’t get up on the hill where she lived so we sat in the car
and waited. Dad blew the horn and
we waited on her to make the long trip down to the car so that we could
continue on our way to church. We
had to hurry up and wait.
Rushing through the drive through and being told to pull over and wait
for your food. You may feel like
you are in detention because you have ordered something that you are going to
have to wait for. Is it worth
waiting for? Will God wait for you
to fix him something to eat? He
did for Abraham.
Genesis 18 The
Lord appeared to Abraham near the
great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the
heat of the day. 2 Abraham
looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from
the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3
He said, “If I have found favor in
your eyes, my lord,a do not
pass your servant by. 4
Let a little water be brought, and then
you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so
you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your
servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to
Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahsb of
fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.” 7 Then
he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a
servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk
and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they
ate, he stood near them under a tree. 9 “Where
is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. 10
Then the Lordc
said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your
wife will have a son.” [1]
1.
This is God’s pleasure.
He wants to give you his grace. God
appeared. When you see
God you experience his grace. God
appeared to Abraham. God chose to
sit down at Abraham’s table. God
chose to eat Abraham’s food. God
chose to be concerned for Abraham’s future.
God chose to be concerned for Abraham’s wife.
God chose to bless them with a promise and a son.
God chose.
2.
This is God’s promise.
The making of a promise. Abraham
had no son to carry on his name. Abraham
showed kindness and love to the Lord.
Why God chose him?
3.
This is God’s presence.
He asks you to let Him into your life.
Rev. 3:20 Behold I stand at
the door and knock and if anyone would open the door I will come in and sit
down at his table.
4.
This is God’s plan.
He has given you a son who is your salvation.
His son to Abraham and Sarah was Isaac.
His son of promise to you and me is Jesus.
He is our salvation. Sarah
laughed and thought that it would be impossible.
Do you believe? Abraham
believed and received the Lord into his camp.
What did he do? What was
Abraham’s response? What is your
response?
1.
Abraham looked up and saw
the Lord. He looked up and saw
the Lord? Have you looked up
lately? If you don’t look up you
may miss him. He is passing by
today. Has the Lord ever appreared
to you? When?
Could he? Would He?
Has He? Why would the Lord
want to appear to you?
2.
Abraham worshiped and
bowed before the Lord. He
honored the Lord. How do we?
God’s gift to Abraham was life. His
gift was to give rest to the weary. He
saw the three men. He ran to greet
them. He bowed before them.
3.
Abraham invited the Lord
to stay and be refreshed by his efforts. Would
you invite the Lord to come to your house?
If you have done this to one of the least of these my brethren you have
done it unto me. He saw three men
and he realized it was the Lord. Why
three? He is the three in one.
Why did Abraham hurry and bow before them.
He rushed over to them and worshiped.
Why?
4.
Abraham worked together
with his household to make the Lord at home.
Would we work together to serve the Lord?
5.
Abraham hurried to get
the job done. Hurry.
Why? Why wait?
What is due season? Could
God move on and leave you behind? Will
the Lord pass you by? Has He?
What if he has? Pray that
he will come back. The rush of the
hour indicates that Abraham knew of the importance of who this is.
He had faith.
6.
Abraham gave the best of
what he had. He gave a choice
tender calf to be eaten by the Lord. What
do we give to the Lord? Do we give
to the Lord our best? Do we take
our giving to the Lord seriously or is your giving an after thought?
Why did Abraham feel that it was urgent? What
could you give to the Lord? Would
the Lord want anything from you? Could
you be found refreshing?
Who has found favor in the sight of the Lord?
What do you have to do to find favor in the sight of the Lord?
Would you give to the Lord your time?
Would you have fellowship with Him?
God answered Abraham’s prayer for a son.
He made him a promise to give him a son next year.
Would you hurry to serve the Lord?
How long will he wait?