"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, the many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have  become too self- sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to  pray to God that made us! It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness. -- April 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation for a National Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer

Verse 1 = Principle

Verses 2-end = Application

The whole history of Abram may be arranged into four stages, each commencing with a personal revelation of Jehovah. The first, when the patriarch was called to his work and mission (Gen 12-14); the second, when he received the promise of an heir, and the covenant was made with him (Gen. 15, 16); the third, when that covenant was established in the change of his name from Abram to Abraham, and in circumcision as the sign and seal of the covenant (Gen 17-21); the fourth, when his faith was tried, proved, and perfected in the offering up of Isaac (Gen 22-25).

Abraham had a dream because God had spoken to him Gen 15:1-6 

Nehemiah had a dream Neh 2:4 (He knew what he wanted)

Our Motivation to Live for God and Serve Gen 24:1

Our Salvation -- There is no distinction in many lives Mal 3:18

John 1:12, 13  Our Position --  salvation alters your Position  Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— John 1:13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Colossians 3:4  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Our Perspective - salvation alters your perspective

Our Priorities - salvation alters your priorities

Our Passions - salvation alters your passions

Psa 119:36  Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.

Psa 141:4  Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.

The Holy Spirit and Grace

Ro 12:6  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

Eph 4:7  But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

1 Peter 4:10  Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Hag 1:13-15  Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: “I am with you,” declares the LORD. 14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God,

Phil 2:13  for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Pro 21:1  The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD;  he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

Applications:

Claim a Promise - Abraham sent his servant on the basis of God’s promises (Gen 24:7-9) 

Pay the Price  - Abraham used his resources to accomplish God’s will  (Gen 24:10-11) 

Continue in Prayer - Abraham’s servant prayed  (Gen 24:12-14)

Trust the Lord - Abraham’s servant expected results (Gen 24:15-46) 

Praise the Lord - Abraham’s servant praised God (Gen 24:47-49)

Never Give Up!!! - Abraham’s servant saw the task through (50-67)

Conclusion: An Irishman was down on his luck and was panhandling on Fifth Avenue before the annual St. Patrick's Day parade got underway in New York City. As a couple strolled by, he called out: "May the blessing of the Lord, which brings love and joy and wealth and a fine family,  follow you all the days of your life." There was a pause as the couple passed his outstretched hand without contributing. Then he shouted after them, "And Never Catch Up To You!"