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THE CHURCH ON HIGHER GROUND |
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HOMEPAGE |
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OTHER STUDIES |
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SERMON NETS short messages |
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WHAT IS IN THE NEWS?.. a Christian response |
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THE PLAN...... BIBLE STUDY |
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GREETINGS AND GUIDANCE |
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LESSON OUTLINES |
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ADAM TO BABEL |
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PAGE 1 ADAM TO SETH (1-6) |
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PAGE 2 ENOCH TO JOB ( 5-11) |
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SHORT STUDY FALSE RELIGION |
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PAGE 3 S.S./ORIGIN OF FALSE RELIGIONS #1&2 |
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ABRAHAM'S LIFE |
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PAGE 4 ABRAM/ CALL TO FALL ( 12) |
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PAGE 5 ABRAM'S RETURN/ LOT IN SODOM/ABRAM BUILDS ALTER (13) |
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PAGE 6 LOT'S RESCUE/ABRAM'S VISION/HAGAR (14-16) |
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PAGE 7 ABRAM'S NAME CHANGED/SS-PERFECTION/CUTTING THE COVENANT(17) |
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PAGE 8 ANGELS VISIT ABRAHAM (18) |
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LOT'S LIFE |
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PAGE 9 THE DAYS OF LOT (19) |
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PAGE 10 LOT'S WAY (19) |
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ABRAHAM |
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PAGE 11 ABIMELECH/ISAAC BORN/COST OF SIN (20-21) |
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PAGE 12 (21) |
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PAGE 13 (22) |
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PAGE 14 (22-23) |
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PAGE 15 (23) |
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PAGE 16 (24- |
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PAGE 17 ( |
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PAGE 18 ( |
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PAGE 19 |
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PAGE 20 |
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PAGE 8 ANGELS VISIT ABRAHAM (18)
LESSON #1 Abraham Entertains Angels
LESSON #2 God Tells Abraham About Sodom
LESSON #3 Will You Spare the Righteous...
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LESSON #1 Abraham Entertains Angels
Sat Feb 17, 2001
We are told that the LORD came to visit Abraham (1). God visiting Abraham was not a new experience, but the manner of the visit was. The closer we get to God the more intimate is our communion. God had spoken to Abraham on several occasions and had even terrified him with some of His revelations. Here God shows up with two "friends". They appeared as three "men" passing by, but in reality one of them was God in the appearance of a man (vs.13 calls Him LORD or Jehovah) and two angels also appeared as men. When we read about these physical appearances of the LORD or the "Angel of the LORD", we should understand that these are pre-incarnated appearances of Jesus, called "theophanies" or "God appearances."
It was in the heat of the day and Abraham was sitting in the shade of his tent door (1), as would be normal activity for people in that time and place. When he saw three strangers, he ran to greet them (2). As a normal act of hospitality, Abraham offered his services to the guests. He offered to wash their weary feet, let them rest their tired bodies under his shade tree and feed their hungry stomachs (3-5). Abraham sent Sarah to prepare a meal for their guests as he ran to gather some of the fixins. The meal was a virtual feast by our standards (6-8). As we read other ancient writings, we find that exceptionally large meals were consumed by people in those
days.
The first reason for the visit is found in verses 9-14. We need to understand that Sarah no longer could have children since the changes in her body had taken place (11). Abraham was well along in year and it was not reasonable to think he would father a child. It would take a miracle of God for them to have a child together. The LORD told Abraham that He would return within a year and Sarah would have a son. Sarah, standing out of sight, laughed when she heard this said (12). God then asked Abraham why Sarah had laughed at what He had promised (13-14). Sarah denied that she had laughed only to be reproved for her lie (15).
The record of events is important for many reasons, but we
will limit ourselves to just a few.
* On rare occasions God would reveal Himself physically to His people. It is safe to say that these appearances were of The Son, since God the Father is Spirit and a spirit does not have flesh and blood and since no man has seen Him at any time. Remember, Jesus said that Abraham had seen Jesus' day. Other appearances would be as "Captain of the Lord's army" (to Joshua) and as the Fourth Man in the fiery furnace with the three Hebrew children.
* A godly man seeks to be a servant to others, even strangers. Even Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. Though Abraham gave what he could to entertain his visitors, he did nothing for show or pride. We are told, in the book of Hebrews to entertain strangers, because some have unknowingly entertained angels.
* Sarah was not only a gracious hostess, working hard to provide for her guest, she was a wife worthy of honor and recognition. Peter tells Christian women to be like Sarah who obeyed Abraham (I Pe. 3:1-6). Beauty and worth are not judged by outward appearance, but by a meek and loving spirit.
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LESSON #2 God Tells Abraham About Sodom
Tue Feb 20, 2001
In the first part of this chapter (The Plan #19) we saw that God and two of His angels visited Abraham. In that visit God gave Abraham a time frame in which he and Sarah would have a son. We now pick up the account with God and the two angels getting ready to leave (16). Before God leaves Abraham, He has one more item of business to take care of, the SECOND REASON for His visit.
God was about to send judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah for their exceedingly grave sin (20). It has been pointed out that God often allows men a period of grace, unmerited favor, while they are in rebellion. Men often take the kindness of God as either weakness or acceptance. God is neither weak* nor accepting of sin*, but He is longsuffering*. But there comes a time when God will not look away from our sin*, but will look for us in our sin*.
God and the two angels who fellowshipped with Abraham now look down to Sodom (16), for the express purpose of executing judgment. As they start to depart from Abraham, God takes time to tell Abraham about His plan.
There are a couple of things to note here about God telling Abraham concerning this. Abraham was the friend of God and the appointed heir of the land in which he lived. God had chosen Abraham to be a co-worker with Himself and as the Senior Partner He allows Abraham to be part of His plan. God shares His thoughts and plans with His people*. God did not pass judgment on Sodom without allowing His junior partner to have a say. God had chosen to employ Abraham in His redemptive work.
This is true, not only for Abraham but all of His children*. Those who are saved are to labor in His feild for the saving of the lost*. Our work includes witnessing*, praying* and building up those in the faith*. We, the Church, hold the keys of the kingdom, we open and close the door of opportunity. The Church is God's chosen vessel and channel to reach and save a lost and dying world. Not only are we involved in His redemptive work, we are in training for divine assignments in eternity*. If we are faithful over a little here, we will be given much responsibility in eternity. This life is not only a testing ground it is a trianing ground as well. For the theif on the cross who trusted in Christ, his soul was saved but his life was lost. God wants to not only save our souls for eternity, He wants to save our lives for service here and now.
God also told Abraham about His plan because Abraham would command his children and household (descendents) after him, to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice (17-19).
The blessed home is where the head of the household provides Divine direction and correction*. The blessed home is where the head of the household is in a living and loving relationship with God*. The blessed home is where the family members eat the spiritual food and drink the living waters provided by the cheif, head and lord of the house*. The blessed home is where God's Word is loved, honored and obeyed*.
Notice also that God does not pass judgment on people based
on "hear-say" evidence. God is just* as well as longsuffering*. The sins of Sodom had caused the cry of people to come up to God and He was verifying the accusations Himself (20-21). What must the vileness and violence been like in Sodom? What atrocities must have taken place on the children and the weak? What cries for help must have risen above the terrors of the night? Yet God does not judge without solid evidence.
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LESSON #3 Will You Spare the Righteous...
Fri Feb 23, 2001
The two angels set out for Sodom to execute God's judgment. Abraham stood there with God (22) and asked Him if He would sweep away the righteous with the wicked (23), obviously concerned for his nephew Lot. Though God is sure to perform His judgments*, He is longsuffering and merciful*. Abraham, having a personal knowledge of the nature of God, knew that God would not condemn the righteous with the wicked. Apparantly God had put it upon Abraham's heart to interceed for the cities.
Abraham approaches God in a spirit of compassion and humility. He did not come before God demanding but entreating. If Abraham, the creature, can be touched with compassion, how much more should the loving Creator be moved. Abraham bigins his intercession by asking God to spare the city for the sake of fifty righteous. He said, "Far be it from Thee...to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from Thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?" (25) God responds by saying He would spare the whole city for the sake of fifty righteous (26). Abraham acknowledges his low station in the presence of the Almighty God (27). Realizing that there may not be as many as fifty righteous in the city, Abraham is moved to ask God to spare the city for the sake of forty-five righteous men, and God agrees (28). Abraham continues to press his point until he is asking God to spare the city for the sake of only ten righteous men (29-32). As Abraham was asking God to lower the number required to save the city, he becomes more and more sensitive to the balance of mercy and justice. The next statment is, "And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place." (32).
Abraham let off of his intercession at ten. It is possible that He who is mercy and love had drawn the line and would not hear anymore of Abraham's prayers. It is much more likely that the Holy Spirit stopped Abraham from praying for them at that point.
We are told that God moves on His people to pray in and by the Holy Spirit*. When we pray we are seeking to accomplish God's will, not our own will. When Jesus was facing a crucial point in His life and redemptive work prayed, "Not my will but Thine be done." Praying is not left to the whims of man or to man's limited understanding. We are to pray according to the will of God*. God instructed the prophets to cease praying for those who had gone too far in their rebellion (see Je.7:16,11:14,14:11). There comes a time when mercy ends and judgment begins*.
Part of our responsibility in the redemptive work of God is to pray for the lost*. We need not worry about putting a limit on our prayers, but to make sure that we pray enough. Men ought always to pray and not to cease*. In the New Testament we are told to not pray for certain persons or situations*. However, if we err, let us err by praying too much rather than too little. But if we are sensitive to the leading of God, we will not err at all. The world needs Christians who seek God with a broken heart of compassion. Let us be that Christian.
The Glory of heaven died for the sins of the entire world. There was no sin too vile and no Price too great in God's plan of salvation.
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