Genesis 23
LIFE OF GRACE OF ABRAHAM
( Gen.18:1-21 )
Abraham is the father of faith. Abraham believed in God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. We must clearly know that a person is justified
not by the works of the law but by faith (Romans 3:28, Romans 5:1, Galatians 2:16).
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Our ancestors in faith, that is, our forefathers, received evidence through
this faith. If we focus our attention on the Lord and meditate on His words, we can receive His guidance and walk together.
*Abraham believed covenant and continue to pray.
1) When people of the covenant pray God opens the way continually.
Mt.6:33 Mt.24:14 Ac.1:8 Mt.28:16-20 Mk.16:15-20
2) And God gave new strength. Ac.1:8 Ac.2:1-7
3) God opens door continually.
Ac.2:9-13 Ac.3:1-10 Ac.4:1-5 Ac.6:7 Ac.8:1-8 Ac.9:1-10 Ac.10:1-45 Ac.11:26 Ac.13:1-4 Ac.14:20-24
Ac.6:12-15 Ac.16:18 Ac.19:31 Ac.17:1-9 Ac.18:4 Ac.19:10 Ac.26:40
1. The place where Abraham received grace.
1) Gen.18:1 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) Gen.13:18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
3) Gen.14:13 One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite,
a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram.
2. God sends His angels.
1) Gen.18:2 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.
2) Gen.18:3-5
3) Gen.18:6-7
* Abraham did not miss opportunity (2 Cor. 6:1. v.1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.
v.2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is
the day of salvation.)
3. Promise of son(Gen.18:9-15)
v. 13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'
v.14 Is anything too hard for the LORD ? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."
4. Foretell of destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen.18:16-21)
* Gen.18:17 Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
Conclusion:
Like Abraham, who was the first evangelist after the time of Noah, I hope that you too will live a life of living faith, obedience, and the love of giving and being kind to your neighbors. We, who can be seen as living into the end of the world by holding on to the final baton of the gospel can receive greater blessings than Abraham. I pray in the name of the Lord that this grace will be granted to all of us today.