Teaching the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) Welcome to our service Please visit our website: www.livingstonesnewforest.org.uk
Genesis 18 God comes to visit
Abraham’s Tree
Abraham’s Tree - 1890
What could he see from his tent door
The visitors The LORD Plus two others Tetragramaton Plus two others Almost certainly angels Abraham ran to meet them and bowed before them No fear Great respect A desire for fellowship A desire to give of his best Hospitality
The Promise confirmed Sarah laughs inwardly How do we use laughter? God knew her heart Didn’t let her off her lie He extended grace to her She (and Abraham) would always remember this encounter because of their Son’s name (Isaac, meaning laughter). How do we use laughter? To express joy (Proverbs 17 verse 22) (Psalm 32 verse 11)? To ridicule? To laugh at things that displease God (Ephesians 5 verse 4) To deceive – practical jokes (Proverbs 26 verses 18 & 19)
The Promise Confirmed When Sarah heard about the intentions of God her reaction was unbelief. Many to whom we take The Gospel react similarly Many whom we tell about God’s standards also react similarly Many whom we tell about the coming end times react similarly Sarah looked at herself and her husband and believed it was impossible – not only to conceive but to do what was necessary to conceive. Whereas God had to do the miraculous for all to know this was His act not just a work of the flesh.
The Intercession God entrusts this to Abraham because He Knows him Knows his heart Knows he will command his household righteously There is an outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah The angels head for Sodom Abraham stands before The Lord – between Him and Sodom Exodus 32 verses 30 – 32 – Moses intercedes Ezekiel 22 verse 30 - Israel Judged because there was none to stand in the gap
The intercession Intercession has some prerequisites: God knows them God has matured them They must know God They must understand what the will of God is on the matter in focus Intercession requires that there some righteous people to do it Intercession is driven by God and answered by God (CH 19 v 29) God would have saved the city for just one righteous person
Teaching the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) Welcome to our service Please visit our website: www.livingstonesnewforest.org.uk