December 31, 2006

(CLIFF’S POEM)

Gen 23:1 - 15 We are drawing to the end of a wondrous time in Biblical History. A time when God’s obedient family, the family of Abraham, is used, because of faith, to be the primogenitors of God’s image bearing nation.

Now, at age 127 Sarah, faithful submissive bride of Abraham is laid to rest.

Sarah had married Abraham while they still lived in Ur of the Chaldees (Gen 11:29-31).
She was his half sister, the daughter of his father but not his mother (Gen. 20:12) Sarah was very loyal to her husband, even acceding to his sinful request that she pass herself off as his sister, first to the Egyptian Pharaoh and later to Abimelech.

She also displayed a vindictive spirit in turning against Hagar after Ishmael was born to Hagar and Abraham.

Lets look at the honor of God for Sarah. Then secondly at the honor Abraham for Sarah.
The Honor of God for Sarah. Lets remember that Sarai became Sarah in Genesis Ge 17:15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah [shall] her name [be].16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother] of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
This is a special time for her, not just a random name change here, but a very important event both for her and in History.

The Name she had been born with was Sarai and it meant “my Princess" But God changes it to simply “princess”. No longer was she to be Abraham’s princess, but in this very passage the motherhood of the whole Jewish race is promised to her. Also she is promised to become the mother of many nations.

This is the honor that God bestows on this woman at 90 years of age. Ge 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him.

Ge 17:21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

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First honor here is the honor of motherhood, then the honor of being the mother of a nation, and then many nations. Isa 51:2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

Motherhood is a great honor today too, did you know that?

Oh yes many Americans see it differently but God says “Children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward” So moms, take heart, that little cherub is God’s special gift. (sometimes I wonder what it is we are being rewarded for) Now note the next honor that God gives Sarah. 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; 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,

3 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:

5 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 fetch 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.

Here Sarah is honored by being able to give service to God.

It is very important that we see this as an Honor. In a day and age when God’s servants or ones who purport to be that, are falling left and right and dishonoring themselves, it is important to know that if God uses you it is honor indeed. And here we see this woman ministering to the Angel of the Lord, the preincarnate Christ. In Luke 10: we find something that is very important when it comes to serving Jesus:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
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40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Listen and get this: Service to God is not devotion to God in itself, but service to God is to flow from DEVOTION to God. Martha was bothered by much serving and wanted Mary’s help and you know just how she felt don’t you? And Jesus said “chill out woman. Yes, Mary should help but it is more important to get to know ME first then the service isn’t a burden. So it is an honor to serve God and here God has honored Sarah in this way.

Another honor of God on Sarah is His protection when she got into hot water by covering for Abraham. Gen 20 Recall that here, for the second time in his life, Abraham had been afraid and had put his wife in jeopardy to a ruler. She was a beauty and that can be of little doubt. Even at 90 Abraham knew she was attractive. But God is always around and I admit I don’t understand what he allows to go on sometimes, but here he is honoring Sarah with his protection.: 14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and women-servants, and gave [them] unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. 15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land [is] before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. 16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand [pieces] of silver: behold, he [is] to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that [are] with thee, and with all [other]: thus she was reproved.

17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare [children]. 18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

God was pleased with Abraham’s faith, but Abraham did not accomplish this alone. God is also faithful to remember Sarah’s faith. Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

God honors Sarah here with remembrance. She makes the Most important hall of fame in History, the faith hall of fame.

You know a lot of ministry goes on here that you never see.
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I like it when I go to a MANNA breakfast or speakers are invited and they know about the faithful generosity of this little church. Guess what? I never hear them saying, outside of what is really the truth, the truth that Tyler spoke on a video as we were honored by our 10th anniversary service, “Mom,” he said, “I remember how you were always there being faithful and supporting dad, and I remember how he never would have made it without you.”

Do you like having the same pastor year after year? Then you have to know something, Donald never would have made it...I could not be here year after year if we did not have the faithful wives we have. Many of you men know that truth in your lives, because God has blessed you that way. Honey? I will proudly stand back with joyful tears when Jesus honors you better than I ever can honor you with “well done, well done indeed faithful servant,”

We have seen the honor of God for Sarah,

Secondly we see the honor of Abraham for Sarah.

Someone said that every man needs a wife, because so many things go wrong that he cannot blame on the government. Abraham was not one of those men. He was a man, for the most part, who honored his wife. Now her death leaves him alone and he seeks to offer her a final honor.

When I worked in the cemetery in Newport, I recall thinking that a certain man’s arrangements for his wife’s funeral were extravagant. The coffin was of the highest cost and quality, the vault was white fiberglass with a 50 year guarantee. It was a colossal expense.

I have changed my mind over the years. I have come to love my wife more deeply and I can fully understand that he wanted more than anything to honor her on that day. Now I need to tell you that sort of funeral would not honor my wife so if anything happens don’t get mad at me if I carry out her wishes.

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But if it were up to me she’d have a large marble monument and in it would be carved Proverbs 31, And it would be surrounded day and night by an honor guard saying “I honored and loved this woman.

Abraham in this section purchases the only land he ever need purchase in the conquest of Canaan. God has promised the land to him and only this time does he buy some land. He buys a burial place for his bride of many years, the one who has walked by his side and been the counterpart that God intended.

This sort of honor is nice, but far greater is the honor a man can show his wife while she lives.

Did you know that if you do not show your wife honor your prayers will be hindered?

Listen to this passage of scripture:

1 Peter 3: 1 Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any (husbands) obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the manner of life, of the wives; 2 While they behold your pure manner of life, [coupled] with reverence.

3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4 But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all.

This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will. (Gal. 5:23)) and tranquil spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

I want to note first that Sarah Honored Abraham as senior executive in their relationship. And that is God’s order of things. BUT that MUST be coupled in a Christian marriage with this:

7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Did you ever hear a woman referred to as “the weaker vessel”?

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Did you ever stop to look at this in context and see what was really being stated? Some think its that women are supposedly physically less durable...well guys that’s not so...why do they bear the kids and we don’t? And any one here want to try and out lift Karen?

So what is Peter saying here? First whatever it is it starts with Knowledge: you need to really get to KNOW that lady. Then note that this “weaker vessel” is someone that is commanded by God to receive honor. Weaker isn’t necessarily inferring a bad quality. I propose that this is a “more fragile” vessel in opposition to a “more durable” vessel. (aesthenas)I see it as similar to comparing a Ming dynasty vase with a cast iron pot. Which one is more durable? Which one is more valuable. Which one would you throw under the cupboard? Which one would you keep in a display case? In the context of this verse I believe that Peter refers to this sort of “weaker vessel”. HONOR your wife as a valuable Ming dynasty vase. Treat her like the fine china that came from Great Grandma, or like that shiny new pickup rather than like the Rubbermaid trashcan or the ash container from the stove.

HONOR is a dying thing in these days. Children do not honor their parents as in older times...but I believe that this is in large part due to parents not honoring each other, specifically Husbands not giving proper honor to their wives.

Notice also as we leave first Peter that IF you do not honor your wife your prayers will be hindered.

Abraham honored his wife in death and I believe in in most cases in life. I say that because he had an unhindered prayer life. He was a friend of God. And if you are a friend of God you obey His word and honor your wife.

HONOR her (1 Peter 3:7) Genuinely appreciate her, and let her know it. Brag her up all the time, to the kids, to your friends and to her. Temper criticism with compliments, make it 3 to 1 in favor of compliments. Love her unashamedly

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(Father in church, son had seizure; father held him at back of sanctuary; no hint of embarrassment; just love)

That's just how you need to honor her.

Now don’t be alarmed that Abraham wanted to bury his dead out of his sight...That was a custom and showed special reverence.

So Sarah, a princess of God, Mother of a race and of many nations is laid to rest with honor.

Ladies, You might ask How will God honor me? I ask instead this question," How will you honor God in your life....if you honor God he will honor you...if you humble yourself before God He will exalt you in due time.

Secondly, men...how are you honoring your wife? Do you talk respectfully of her to the kids/ to friends? Or do you talk disparagingly of her? Listen, this is an important thing to get...You are to model Jesus and the Church in your marriage...how are you doing?

Helmut Thielicke in “How the world Began” writes this: “I once knew an old married couple who radiated a tremendous happiness. The wife especially, who was almost unable to move because of old age and illness and in whose kind old face the joys and sufferings of many years had etched a hundred lines, was filled with such a gratitude for life that I was touched to the quick. Involuntarily, I asked myself what could possibly be the source of this kindly person’s radiance.

In every other respect they were common people, and their room indicated only the most modest comfort. But suddenly I knew where it all came from, for I saw those two speaking to each other and their eyes hanging on each other. All at once
it came clear to me that this woman was dearly loved.

It was not because she was a cheerful and pleasant person that she was loved by her husband all those years. It was the other way around. Because she was so loved she became the person I saw before me. You think about that...Amen.