Just wanted to share this outline. You could preach on this portion of scripture for a long time. It caught me that Abraham ran at 99 years old. If only we would develop a servants heart as he had.

Abraham Ran
Genesis 18:1-8

We must check ourselves in our service to the Lord on a regular basis.

I. Abraham Ran to the Lord vs. 1-5

a. His response and service was quick (he ran at 99 years old)

1. Rom 12:1 be a living sacrifice (something we just don’t do) Give God your all.

b. He bowed himself before God (reverence) Ps 19:9/25:14

c. He desired the Lord to Stay. He drew near. James 4:7

d. He brought them under the cover of the tree.

e. He desired to wash their feet.

1. Ps 119:140 Abraham loved the Word of God.

II. Abraham fetched the meal vs. 6

a. He hastened to the tent (went quickly)

1. He had Sarah prepare a meal John 4:32

a. A servants heart Col 4:12

b. 3 measures of fine meal

2. The fine meal was prepared for the guests

a. He gave of a willing and pure heart Mat 5:8
The self centered man cant see the way of God

III. He gave God his best vs. 7-8

1. He picked the calf himself

a. He ran unto the heard (a task his servants could have done)
Run to the Lord and he will care for you Luke 15:22

b. He did not entrust this to a servant
The servant was capable but it was Abraham’s house that was being visited by the Lord.

c. He picked the best calf Prov 27:23

d. Abraham’s servant hasted to dress it

a. The meal Sarah prepared was the best Heb 13:2

Conclusion

We must; Run to God = Give God your all
Fetch a fine meal = Put God first in everything
Pick the best calf = Give God your best


Tim

This post was last modified: Fri May 22, 2009 11:33 AM by deputydog530.

Dear brother, you are so right about this!

This one alone could be expounded upon all throughout scripture. It is amazing at how many times an obedient servant to the Lord went "straightway", or "immediately", or without a pause. This shows the state of the heart of the servant desiring to obey his masters call.

How often do we have our spirits in a state to be sensitive to the call of the Holy Spirit to immediately say, "Yes, Lord, you called?"

What more love can we show the Lord when we can stop whatever it is we are doing at that moment to heed the call of the Holy Spirit to perform something for Him, instead of complaining because it isn't "convenient" at the time, or simply ignore it for that matter.

Good one Tim,

Jim

Amen! Readiness to obey God says much about the state of a person's heart.

As the young Samuel said to the Lord, "Speak; for thy servant heareth".

One of the best examples of this in the entire Bible was by the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus.

Act 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (emphasis mine)

What a display of a true servants heart! It can be seen from the way the King James Bible is written that Paul knnew exactly whom he was talking to. In this series of verses the word "Lord" is capitalized signifying deity. However when you look at Paul's very next words as he was on his face in the dirt he said, "What wilt thou have me to do?"

Wow! No hesitation. He was ready to do whatever the Lord wanted him to do and that without hesitation. Oh if only I could develop a heart like that. Brother Jim and I spoke of serving God with the heart the other night on the phone. It was quite a good conversation and really convicted me.

In Christ,
George

I too enjoyed our conversation brother, it really made my evening. To God be the glory!