Sunday Morning - March 15, 1998
Text: Genesis 18:1-8 "And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;"
WALK AND WORSHIP
Genesis 18:1-2 "And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2. And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,"
Exodus 33:10 "And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door."
MINISTRY TO THE LORD
Genesis 18:3-4 "And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: 4. Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
MINISTRY TO THE SAINTS
Hebrews 6:10 "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister."
YOU MINISTER TO HIM
Matthew 25:40 "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
ABRAHAM HIS SERVANT
Genesis 18:5-8 "And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. 7. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. 8. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat."
JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES
Luke 22:27 "For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth."
THE BEGINNING DAYS OF LOT
Genesis 18:17 "And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;"
Genesis 18:20 "And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; "
FROM THE WORD
Amos 3:7 "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
THOSE IN THE WORD
1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness."
HEAT OF THE DAY
Genesis 18:1 "And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day."
Unexpected visitors. Few traveled in the heat of the day.
WATCH, YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN
Matthew 25:13 "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
ABRAHAM WAS LOOKING UP
Genesis 18:2 "And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
LOOK UP
Luke 21:28 "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
THESE THINGS
Luke 21:25-26 "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26. Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Luke 21:34-36 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged [overload, in debt] with surfeiting [too great of an amount time, money, things; to overindulge], and drunkenness [overcome by alcohol, or powerful emotions], and cares [mental pain, worry, anxiety] of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things [surffeiting, drunkeness, cares] that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."
WATCH THEREFORE
Matthew 25:13 "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
YOU WON'T BE READY
Matthew 25:10-12 "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not."
NO EXTRA OIL
Matthew 25:8-9 "And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone [GOING] out. 9. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves."
LET US NOT SLEEP
1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."
LOVING HIS APPEARING
2 Timothy 4:8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
THE HENCEFORTH OF VERSE 8
2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"
WATCH, BE STRONG
1 Corinthians 16:13 "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."